Earn Your Right To Progress
Applying the principle of progression properly will ultimately define a wise coach, a disciplined athlete and personal success. Understanding the principle of Progression will allow you to safely and efficiently reach your fitness and technical goals; ignoring this rule will lead to injury, frustration and inefficient skill development. Quite simply there is an optimal level of ‘overload’ that should be applied and an optimal time frame for this ‘overload’ to occur.
Start slowly and methodically whilst learning the proper techniques involved in resistance training and your chosen Martial Art. This controlled progression will reduce injuries from poor biomechanics and increase motivation as you gain greater success in your workout and your skill execution. Increasing weight and intensity gradually to your workout will enable the supporting structures of your muscles (bones, ligaments, tendons) to adapt to the overload placed on them.
Of course, too little progression will lead to boredom, increased ‘drop-out’ rates, injury from playing catch-up and lack of faith in the coach or system. Finally, progressing sensibly will increase mental toughness and also ensure the body rests adequately so it is ready to fight to it’s full potential. The principle of progression should influence all parts of your combat training, so take control of your ego and make common sense your common practice.
Witten by Scott Stevenson BEd (Hons), MMA CC
Director of Education & Mental Conditioning
