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Basics

This is the foundation of all we do.

The basics are literally the building blocks of your training learning and development in Martial Arts.

When your learning your basics you should be striving for good form and correct method of delivery.

A lot of students want to skim over or even skip basic practice.

In my decades of involvement in Martial Arts and other sports it’s the basics that count.

Champion fighters use basic techniques to win.

Watch a pro boxer shadow boxing going through his paces.

High level grades should look at being able to perform the basics in an advanced way. By this I mean they should be mastering the techniques to a high level. There should be all the ingredients coming together, correct delivery, speed, power, timing, focus, balance, accuracy and control.

Like the saying goes “repetition is the mother of all technique” so if we repeat and repeat our basics, we will begin to gain mastery and perfection is our goal.

Do not neglect practice of your basics whether in line drills, shadow boxing, pad bag work. Whatever training your doing, style you practice get your basics down.

Think of it like fine tuning the engine.

Think of it like the roots of a tree, the foundations of a building. If they are weak then everything else is weak.

Make your basics strong, confident in the knowledge that you’ve practiced and practiced and are still honing them, sharpening them.

Chief Instructor & Founder

Keith Gilliland

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“Listening”

Do people really listen?

Do students really listen in class?

I look at students and think you’re really not listening, are you? Your making out you are but if I ask a related question a few minutes later you look at me as if to say what are you on about?

People in general do not listen properly, they do not concentrate on what’s being said to them. Children in particular seem to find it hard to actually listen and take in what’s being said to them!

Concentration is hard to focus on. We have a saying in our Academy, Look, Listen and Learn. Do not talk when being spoken to by the Instructor. Another way of helping concentration on listening is to make students assume a listening stance. Hands behind the back, feet a shoulder width apart, looking straight at the Instructor.

Try an exercise where you explain something to the students, no listening stance just talk to them about a topic then do something else not related to what you just said i.e.; a technique. After this go back and ask them about what you were explaining before the technique and see what they remember.

Now tell them to assume the listening stance and explain another thing, anything you wish related to your class then again do something else not related to the topic you just did. After this go back again and see what they remember. I’m sure you will see and hear a difference because you’ve made them concentrate more by way of the listening stance.

Attention Stance

Listening Stance

Two tools to help with concentration.

Chief Instructor & Founder

Gilliland Martial Arts & Fitness

Keith Gilliland

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“You can’t make them do it”

I hear this quite a lot from parents, its not that you want to make them go to class its more about advising them and encouraging them as to why they should go.

If you just accept that they are telling you they don’t want to go then you’re not finding out the reasons and therefore are not finding a solution to the problem.

In stead of just accepting it sit down with them and ask them to explain why they don’t want to go.

Sometimes it might be they are tired, sometimes its because their friends are doing something else (or just nothing). They will find excuses and your job is to be prepared with a solution. A push in the right direction is not a bad thing. Over the years I have taught and coached juniors and seniors to a high level, British, European and World Titles. They had their excuses and reasons not to come training but their parents saw the bigger picture and got behind them and pushed them on. Without their support the students would not have made it!

Its easy to just say “oh well they don’t want to do it anymore” etc, etc. People who get somewhere are the ones who did not quit, they pushed forwards even when they didn’t feel like it. They had their parents, relatives, fellow students, coaches right there with them.

Instil a belief in them. If you doubt them then they will doubt themselves. Be positive and encourage them to reach further. Tell them about people who didn’t give up, who went through hard times, self-doubt and negativity.

You don’t want your child or yourself to give up every time there is a hurdle, a problem. Solve it and move forwards.

Champions are made from within, dig deep and persevere.

Keith Gilliland

Chief Instructor & Founder

Gilliland Martial Arts & Fitness Academy