| As an athlete, you should always be looking for | | | | increased chance of avoiding what needs to be |
| ways to (legally) enhance your performance. | | | | avoided and pouncing on opportunities as they |
| Runners will work out their legs, baseball players | | | | present themselves. Drill exercises, such as |
| will work out their core muscles and upper body, | | | | jumping from one portion of the ground to |
| but all athletes should work on their speed and | | | | another or running through moguls, will increase |
| agility. Most athletes will need to work on a few | | | | your coordinated speed. Reaction - Training |
| basic areas: Flexibility - No, you may not be a | | | | yourself to shorten your reaction time is one of |
| gynmast, but having extended levels of flexibility | | | | the best ways to increase your agility. Learning to |
| will give you an edge over your competition. | | | | react as quickly as possible will help you avoid |
| Keeping your muscles stretched and flexible will | | | | income strikes, obstacles, or attacks. A quick |
| allow you to make more natural movements, | | | | reaction time will also allow you to recover and |
| without fear of injury or cramping, as well as | | | | counter faster. You can train your reaction time |
| commit to movements that are a bit | | | | by testing it. Have a friend hold a stick below |
| unconventional or strenuous. No one expects you | | | | your hands. When they drop it, try to reach down |
| to gain the flexibility of a Ninja overnight, but | | | | with your hands and grab it before it hits the |
| working on your physical limits will eventually | | | | ground. Remember that agility is more than one |
| increase them. Exercises that emphasize | | | | element- is the the machine that is made up by |
| stretching and flexible resistance are key to | | | | the individual components, and by increasing the |
| developing flexibility. Speed - A big portion of | | | | capabilities of one you are increasing the |
| being agile is your speed. Being able to move | | | | performance of the other. |
| quickly and effortlessly is important in most | | | | Craig Harkins has been an active fencer for over |
| combat and team sports. Increasing the speed of | | | | 20 years and has been credentialed to report at |
| all of your movements, from walking/moving, to | | | | the Beijing Olympic Fencing competitions. |
| upper body/arm movements, gives you an | | | | |