Balance and Coordination: The Hidden Keys to Mastering Martial Arts

Mastering balance and coordination boosts your technique, prevents injury, and builds body control—essential for every martial artist.

Ruben Crawford
Ruben Crawford
3
 min read
May 5, 2025
Ruben Crawford
Ruben Crawford
3
Minuten Lesezeit
May 5, 2025
Mastering balance and coordination boosts your technique, prevents injury, and builds body control—essential for every martial artist.

"If you don’t have balance, you can’t stand up for anything." – Anonymous

From spinning kicks to grappling maneuvers, martial arts demands impressive balance and coordination. These skills might not get all the attention, but they’re foundational to your progress. Here’s why:

1. Body Awareness

Balance training improves proprioception—your ability to sense where your body is in space. A study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that core stability exercises enhance overall movement efficiency (Behm & Anderson, 2006).

2. Injury Prevention

Good balance helps maintain joint alignment, reducing strain on ligaments and lowering the risk of sprains and other injuries.

3. Enhanced Technique Execution

When you're stable on your feet, you can transfer power more efficiently through punches, kicks, or takedowns—and you’re less likely to lose your footing in the heat of the moment.

Reference:

Behm, D. G., & Anderson, K. (2006). The role of instability with resistance training. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 20(3), 716–722.

Ruben Crawford

IMPACT Mitbegründer & MMA Cheftrainer, Ex-Bellator-Kämpfer, #1 in Deutschland, BSc Psychologie, MSc Executive Coaching.

Ruben Crawford

IMPACT Co-founder & MMA Head Coach, Former MMA fighter with Bellator & #1 in Germany BSc Psychology, MSc Executive Coaching.