4 simple reaction training exercises

4 simple reaction training exercises

At first glance, it may seem that only athletes need good reactions, but this is not true.

Everyone wants to be agile and have good reactions. This is not only about sports. The ability to react quickly is also needed in everyday life to switch between tasks at work, household chores and training.

Dmitry Vashchenko and I found out what reaction is, why ordinary people need it and how it can be improved.

Why do you need quick reaction?

For centuries this skill was necessary for a man to survive in the world around him: not to get into the clutches of a predator and to avoid trouble.

Now a good reaction to sudden stimuli is needed less, because life has become safer. But this does not mean that now the skill is not needed at all. Unforeseen situations happen. Sometimes we have to bounce away from a speeding car or slow down on a bicycle to avoid hitting a child who suddenly ran out onto the road.

For both tennis and cybersports

If you are a fan of big tennis or volleyball, you can’t do without this skill.

In any sport, reaction speed is one of the main criteria of an athlete’s training. This includes cyber sports. The main sign of a strong player is reaction speed. It is the first thing they look at when casting a team. Sometimes a split second decides the outcome of a match. In squash or car racing, high results are also achieved only thanks to good reaction. The owner of this skill can quickly command his body where to move, at what pace or rhythm.

Simple exercises to improve reaction time

• Throwing a ball into a wall while standing on one leg. From the starting position, standing on one leg and keeping your balance, throw the ball into the wall with one hand. Do 10 throws for each arm. Close one eye to make it more difficult.

• Juggling. An effective exercise not only for reaction, but also for coordination. You can start with two balls, and then move to three or even four.

• Chasing (preferably with different kinds of balls). This exercise is loved by soccer players. Try to stuff the ball with your foot as much as possible without letting it touch the ground.

• Knocking objects down with your feet from an elevated position. Place any object, such as an empty bottle, at waist height or slightly higher. Then start knocking it down with your feet. This exercise helps to develop not only reaction but also coordination.