| As an athlete, you should always be looking for | | | | Increasing the speed of all of your movements, |
| ways to (legally) enhance your performance. | | | | from walking/moving, to upper body/arm |
| Runners will work out their legs, baseball players | | | | movements, gives you an increased chance of |
| will work out their core muscles and upper body, | | | | avoiding what needs to be avoided and pouncing |
| but all athletes should work on their speed and | | | | on opportunities as they present themselves. |
| agility. | | | | Drill exercises, such as jumping from one portion |
| Most athletes will need to work on a few basic | | | | of the ground to another or running through |
| areas: | | | | moguls, will increase your coordinated speed. |
| Flexibility No, you may not be a gynmast, but | | | | Reaction Training yourself to shorten your |
| having extended levels of flexibility will give you an | | | | reaction time is one of the best ways to increase |
| edge over your competition. Keeping your | | | | your agility. Learning to react as quickly as |
| muscles stretched and flexible will allow you to | | | | possible will help you avoid income strikes, |
| make more natural movements, without fear of | | | | obstacles, or attacks. A quick reaction time will |
| injury or cramping, as well as commit to | | | | also allow you to recover and counter faster. |
| movements that are a bit unconventional or | | | | You can train your reaction time by testing it. |
| strenuous. | | | | Have a friend hold a stick below your hands. |
| No one expects you to gain the flexibility of a | | | | When they drop it, try to reach down with your |
| Ninja overnight, but working on your physical limits | | | | hands and grab it before it hits the ground. |
| will eventually increase them. | | | | Remember that agility is more than one element- |
| Exercises that emphasize stretching and flexible | | | | is the the machine that is made up by the |
| resistance are key to developing flexibility. | | | | individual components, and by increasing the |
| Speed A big portion of being agile is your speed. | | | | capabilities of one you are increasing the |
| Being able to move quickly and effortlessly is | | | | performance of the other. |
| important in most combat and team sports. | | | | |