Posted by Royal Dragon on April 23, 2002 at 12:11:21:
In Reply to: Good exercise for speed posted by New OYD Student on April 23, 2002 at 10:59:47:
Speed is often developed by doing movements that change direction raidly WILE THE BODY IS STILL FRESH.
Any number of things can do this, just doing your forms as quickly as possible once warmed up will produce alot of speed, but isolating exercises from the form and repeating them over and over againg as fast as possible may work better.
In my system, speed drills area intagrated into the forms, and just working to do them with correct mechanics will inadvertantly build temendious speed over time. the trick is to NOT force the speed, but to go as fast as you can, and still do the movement precisely and correctly. In time, the speed will come if you train like this 3-4 times a week at the start of your practice (after warmups).
I feel it is best to wait until you have plenty of physical strength built up, as the stronger you are, the faster you can go. HOWEVER, building strength does not nessarily build speed. Speed is built OFF of strength. Strength is the foundation. Speed, actually, is the act of putting strength into motion so to speak.
Royal Dragon
*; =qq(