There are two components to martial arts training: the development of attributes and the development of skills. Attributes include physical qualities such as flexibility, strength and endurance. Skills include learned motor movements like kicking and punching. The development of skills will be severely limited if the development of attributes is neglected. However, attributes can easily be developed exclusive of skills. Of course developing attributes without skills falls into the realm of calisthenics, not martial arts.
In the early stages of learning a martial art, the practice of skills alone may serve to develop a wide range of attributes including flexibility, strength, coordination, reflexes and endurance. As you become more adept and your physical condition improves, you may have to develop certain attributes independent of skill practice by devoting time each training period specifically to conditioning exercises.
Read More