Fitness goals are very important. They give a direction, a
focus, something to strive for and a gauge to measure progress. Setting fitness
goals can be a challenge, short and long term goals both are helpful. Fortunately one of the awesome things about HEMA
is it makes fitness goal almost automatic. I set goals pretty much without
thinking. How you ask? Study.
HEMA is
as much a mental pursuit as it is a physical one. As I discover more treatises, I find more I want
to try, therefore making more goals. Goals can be long-term like taking a title
at Longpoint 2016. They also can be pretty short term-like making a proper
Zwerchau in practice tonight. I have
more trouble in setting too many goals rather than too few; so many swords, so
little time.
Once you
have your goals, next you need a plan. Just like studying a manual, you need to
research how to reach those goals. Want
to be more flexible? Look into Yoga. Increased core and grip strength?
Kettlebells. Looking to increase your
footwork? Try jumping rope or ladder drills. There are so many possibilities
out there if you know where to look. Other sports have training programs that
can help with HEMA. Boxing, MMA, CrossFit, sport fencing, even dance all have exercises
that can aid your fighting.
Once
you have a plan, then get to work. Hit the gym, get to practice or whatever you
need to do to get the ball rolling. HEMA club mates can be very helpful here.
They give you someone to bounce ideas off of or even company along the journey,
providing mutual support or a little good natured competition to keep you
going. Not just local club mates but the
internet community as well. I have never seen so supportive and helpful of a
community as HEMA.
Once
you reach those goals, keep going. They say ‘It Doesn’t Get Easier, You Just Get
Stronger.” Got Zwerchau down, try your hands at Krump. Took the title at Longpoint, try to keep it
next year. The beauty of HEMA is that everybody has goals and we all can reach
them with a plan and some hard work.
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