We know, we know. When you spend hours every week training kickboxing, Brazilian jiu jitsu, MMA or all of the above, as well as making time for strength and conditioning, the last thing you want to hear is that you need to make even more time for mobility training. But if consistent drilling, sparring and strength and conditioning are your meat and potatoes, mobility is your vegetables, and we all know how important it is to get those in.
Why do you need to train mobility? In short, better mobility leads to improved stability and range of motion and decreases your risk of injury. It also helps to recover faster in the short term and keep your joints healthy in the long term, as well as improving your overall game. We’ll go into a bit more detail later. But first, what actually is mobility training?
What is mobility?
Mobility is the ability to move your body freely and naturally, with control but little effort. Good mobility means being able to bend, reach, twist and stretch without pain, and to be able to access your end ranges of motion while still having control over your limbs.
Importantly, mobility is active, meaning it’s less about being able to passively stretch as far as you can into a certain position, like the splits, but more about how you are able to move into and out of that position without external support. This requires strength, not just flexibility.
Why you shouldn’t skip mobility training
As mentioned, mobility training has loads of benefits, not just for martial arts training but for general functionality. Consistent and focused mobility training will make completing daily tasks easy, and keep you feeling nice and limber. But, for martial arts, better mobility translates directly into better results.
Injury prevention and better recovery
Mobility training – particularly of the hips, shoulders and ankles – is a great way to develop stability and maintain better balance, which is vital in decreasing your risk of injury. Mobility training also promotes blood flow and keeps you supple day to day, making it easier to train more frequently without becoming stiff and creaky.
Better execution of techniques
Whether its head kicks, inversions or defending joint locks, mobility plays a huge part in helping you execute certain techniques to a high standard. Being able to reach your full range of motion, exert force from a lengthened or contracted position and maintain the correct alignment while performing a technique all make for a more efficient game.
Improve speed and agility
While good technique is the most important aspect of any martial art, other attributes such as strength, agility and athleticism are just as important in ensuring success against another opponent. Training mobility can help you move more efficiently, quickly and fluidly, which in turn allows for better reaction times and speed when executing techniques.
Fighting Fit is a Manchester fitness and martial arts gym. We offer bi-weekly mobility classes to complement your training. Find out more.
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