Just RELAX?

Hey all, I've been training in Muay Thai for a little over a year now... getting pretty good. One problem though: Apparently im too tense (physically speaking)


Whenever we're doing padwork and what not, my trainer is constantly telling me to "RELAX!".


He thinks it might have something to do with me doing Wing Chun for around 9months a few years ago.


Anyways, im doing pretty good but needless to say, i feel im losing a lot of striking power (especially kicks) any hints on staying a little more relaxed and less tense during training?

Just RELAX?
dude, i have the same problem when sparring and i'll gas out fairly quickly from it. i also notice that i tend not to breath when i'm stricking at times on the bag or during sparring. my suggestion is to practice your breathing and train cardio. when sparring step back really quick and shake loose your shoulders. and then get back into it. i'm not saying don't take your training seriously, just don't over think anything. i try to do the same myself and i'm actually getting better. i can feel when i tense up and then i shake myself loose and i'm going longer now with out tensing. good luck and i hope i helped some. oh yeah, you're gonna get hit. so keep in mind that you'll take more damage if you tense up.
Reply:Focus on relaxing the shoulders, and on your breathing.
Reply:Your arm is actually stronger when you relax.


There is a point, around your belt level (bit lower for women), which is your center of gravity (right at the center of your body). The Japanese refer to it as hara. Through practice, you can learn to be aware of Hara. Usually, if that point is tense, so are you, and vice-versa.


Also, internal martial artists are reminded to keep weight underside. This is the feeling you get when somebody tries to lift your arm up and instead of fighting them, you just let them bear the weight of it. You can practice this with a partner: They hold your arm with their own and suddenly let it go. If you are truly relaxed, it should fall straight down. Practicing familiarity with this feeling that way should help you keep relaxed and be aware of what you're looking for in terms of feeling.
Reply:Hello. I do Tai Ji, where relaxation is really crucial in developing whats called "internal energy", or chin. One guy from the Yang family is said to have uttered it 100s times a day during class! its interesting that your trainer is telling you to relax.
Reply:Make a habit of meditating on whatever god you beileive in. If you are non-religous try meditating on a thought. If having troble meditating try my method=


1. If you can sit in lotus postition without causing your self pain do it. If not sit cross legged (If you have normal legbones) if neither work for you sit with your back against the wall.


2. Breathe in breathe out. Try to feel your breathing out soothing your tense muscles try to feel your brething in bringing calm energy into your body (or spirt)


3. consontrate on your breathing DONT LET YOUR MIND WANDER


3. if using a thought bring it into your mind now focus on it (Try the word 'calm') If using a god bring them into your mind and try to feel with them (visualise if possible)


4. repeat 3 if needed


5. slowly work your way back to focusing on your breathing


6. repeat # 2


7. slowly bring your self back to your surroundings


This is diffucult at first but practice and it gets easyer
Reply:practice going into your stance and then relaxing all your muscles, but staying in the same position. tightened muscles make ya a bit slower so you aren't able to put the snap in your strikes.
Reply:Make sure you are breathing correctly. If you breathing is in conflict with your movements it can create stiffness. Breath out during your techniques.





Also, try not to be tense, just let your muscles be loose. the looser you are the faster you are. Stand natural.
Reply:I was priviledged enough to be able to train and get pointers from a Living Legend named Ajarn Chai Sirisute. Relaxing was one of his biggest pointers. Rocking the traps (shoulders) up and down as you are in your "guard" (hands up) position, helps the shoulders relax...thus relaxing your arms. Everything else flows from there. From your footwork, etc. Try this and see if it helps you. The rest is mental. Because as you know, if you have to tell yourself to relax, it might be too late to react.
Reply:Work on relaxation when you aren't sparring 1st. Do deep breathing excercises. Consiously relax different muscle groups 1 at a time. Work up to relaxing several groups at once, then your whole body. Then carry that into your sparring workouts.
Reply:I take a martial art called ki-aikido and it teaches you how to stay calm and relaxed better. It as really improved my reactions and makes it so I don't panic so easily either in a match, during practice, or while taking a test. You could probably take a little ki-aikido on the side.





Also, It is important to just practice arts of relaxation and calming down, ki-aikido does this well, bu so does meditation and yoga.
Reply:When you are not relaxed, some muscles are working against the muscles delivering the blow.





This reduces the delivery force.


.
Reply:Well, one more thing. If you do get into a fight, you won't be able to flow very from move to move as well if you're too tense.
Reply:same, I get told to relax...sometimes I wonder if its just me, becoz I think im relaxed this is me relaxed, but still...they are right, I have been practicing to stay relaxed the whole day today,...I have noticed when im hurying work, it feels like im using more energy, but when im relaxed and taking my time the work gets done even more efficiently and I dont get tired.

cotton tree