Any skilled martial artist understands that unnecessary tension in the body reduces mobility, sensitivity and power.

Getting rid of that unnecessary tension means examining the causes, often rooted in anger, aggression, anxiety and fear.

Easy movement requires an easy mind, and this is why martial art coaches need to be both mind and body coaches with exercises to train both.

Grappling is an essential part of all traditional martial arts, and in addition to that easy and mobile body, the practitioner needs to utilise the energy and power of the opponent and serve it back to them.

The chain of skills required for this is the ability to stimulate energy with educated emotion, store it in bows, bends and twists of the body, release it with ease, transmit it through an agile structured body and discharge it like letting go of an object thrown, focusing it into vital points in the opponent’s body for the optimum effect.

Any unnecessary tension in any part of that chain will block or restrict the process.

Emotional intelligence, mental awareness and focus coupled with technical skill are key players in high level martial arts.