Mike Gittleson

The Essence of Speed | Alteration Speed

by Mike Gittleson March 31, 2010
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This entry is part 4 of 4 in the series The Essence of Speed

In conclusion on the series of The Essence of Speed we will look at Alteration Speed.

Alteration speed is the measurement of how fast you can change a motion after it has already been committed to. For instance, your adversary leaves their head uncovered, so you throw a straight punch for the opening. Just before landing, they step to the side to evade it. Where alteration speed comes in is how quickly you can change your straight punch into a backfist to catch them as they move.

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The Essence of Speed | Mental Speed

by Mike Gittleson March 3, 2010
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This entry is part 2 of 4 in the series The Essence of Speed

Mental Speed is how quickly your brain can interpret what you have perceived and send a message to your body to react.

Increasing mental speed is sometimes more difficult than any of the others, as well as being the most useful. The ability to process the action in your head faster than your opponent is priceless. This gives you the chance to control the action instead of simply reacting to it.

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The Essence of Speed | Perceptual Speed

by Mike Gittleson February 18, 2010
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This entry is part 1 of 4 in the series The Essence of Speed

Perceptual Speed is just as it sounds. It is measurement of how quickly you recognize the need to move (i.e. kick, block, etc.). For example, the measurement of perceptual speed starts when your opponent drops their guard and expires when you have noticed the hole in their defense.

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Martial Arts | The Development of Power, Part 3

by Mike Gittleson January 26, 2010
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This entry is part 3 of 3 in the series Martial Arts | The Development of Power

BODY CONDITIONING To exert a great amount of power, the body has to be in the utmost condition.  Strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular training increase power greatly.  To make use of all previously discussed attributes; the body itself must be capable of the performance.  The body is the tool to achieve any result. Weight training or [...]

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Jeet Kune Do | The Power Of Interception

by Mike Gittleson January 1, 2010
Mike Gittleson and Sifu Ted Wong

Jeet Kune Do, as most of us know, translates as ‘The Way of the Intercepting Fist’. It seemed appropriate to provide an article about interception itself.

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Art of Fighting | Yin & Yang

by Mike Gittleson December 18, 2009
Photo of Mike Gittleson and Sifu Ted Wong

The idea of Yin & Yang is a concept that goes back centuries in Eastern philosophy. Yin & Yang symbolizes the positive and negative forces of nature, showing their equality and their interdependency. Without Yin, Yang energy has no control and quickly destroys itself. Without Yang nothing will be achieved. Yin relies on Yang to supply sustenance or drive. For without it, Yin energy will subside, giving in to its surroundings and withering away. One without the other cannot exist. An excess towards either extreme results in instability.

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