Gross motor skills

The term gross motor skills refers to the abilities usually acquired through infancy to early childhood as part of the child's motor development. By the time they reach 2 years of age, almost all children are able to stand up, walk and run, walk up stairs etc. These skills are built upon, improved and better controlled throughout early childhood. These movements come from large muscle groups and whole body movement.

Gross motor skills - are simple, large-muscle group actions like a squats, pushups and push/pull-type movements. This includes basic fighting skills like a straight punch, a hook punch or a Thai boxer's knee strike for example. Unlike fine and complex motor skills, gross motor skills DO NOT deteriorate under stress. In fact, they are enhanced by the affects of fear and stress. In terms of martial arts training these are those skills which can be best utilized under stress situations and do not require fine motor control.

Martial arts traditions such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Reality Based Self Defense ( RBSD ) utilize gross motor skills as a fundamental aspect of determining effective techniques.