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TEMPLE OF LIGHT

Training

Warm-up

A warm-up should heat the body, restore available mobility, activate the muscles, and gradually bring movement speed, force, and range toward working levels without causing fatigue before technical practice begins.

The usual duration is 10–20 minutes. More time may be needed in cold weather, early in the morning, after prolonged sitting, or before an intense session.

  1. Activation and mobility Controlled movements safely prepare muscles and joints for the loads that follow.
  2. Dynamic movement and heating Easy running and/or more intensive exercises in place gradually warm the body and bring load and range toward working levels.
  3. Additional stretching Brief, relaxed stretching when a particular movement lacks sufficient range. It mainly serves as a short break before the next stages.
  4. Sword warm-up Circles, figure eights, and transitions between them. This is also a technical section in its own right.

The warm-up is sufficient when: 1) the muscles and connective tissues feel warm; 2) movements are free and pain-free. The entire exercise list is not mandatory: each session can combine different drills for variety.

Important! Range, speed, and complexity must always increase gradually.

01. Activation and mobility

The warm-up proceeds from the outside—the extremities—toward the torso: wrists → forearms → shoulders; legs: from the toes upward toward the larger muscles. The spine then follows from top to bottom: neck, shoulders, torso, and lower back.

Body zone

Arms
Hands and fingers

Fully clench the fists and open the palms with the hands facing each other, outward, upward, and downward. Emphasize either a strong fist or the fullest possible extension of the palm and fingers. Finish by relaxing and shaking out the hands.

Wrist rotations

Clasp the hands and perform smooth circles and figure eights in different directions.

Wrist flexion

Reach the fingers toward the inner forearm, then extend the wrist outward. Likewise, bend the hands toward the little fingers, then toward the thumbs.

Elbow joints

Extend the arms straight out to the sides. Keeping the elbows still, rotate the forearms inward, outward, left, and right. Variation: hold the arms forward.

Shoulder rotations

Rotate at the shoulders forward, backward, and in opposite directions. Advanced variation: perform figure eights with both arms in different combinations, just as with two swords. Beginner variation: perform figure eights with one arm.

Single-arm rotations

Let one straight arm hang freely alongside the body and rotate it in the plane in front of you, gradually increasing to a fast but controlled speed. Repeat forward and backward without allowing pain or pronounced heaviness in the arm.

Shoulder circles

Make circular shoulder movements in one direction, the other direction, and opposite directions.

Shoulder screw-ins

Keep the head upright and the arms alongside the body. Turn the palms outward as if screwing the arms into the floor. The wrists, elbows, and shoulders all participate. Reach the end position, add a couple of contractions and releases, then unwind and repeat in the other direction.

Arm turns from the shoulders only

Hold the arms in front of the chest with bent elbows and fists touching. Keep the chest and head upright and still—the arms move only from the shoulders. Draw one arm behind the back to engage the back muscles while the other presses toward the torso to engage the chest.

Back muscles

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and torso inclined forward. Swing the arms from the lowered position upward behind the back, then forward above the head.

Body zone

Legs
“Stub out a cigarette”

Place the toes on the floor and gently rotate the heel around them without letting the knee collapse inward.

Ankle

Standing, lift one leg with the knee bent and the thigh parallel to the floor. Rotate the foot clockwise and counterclockwise so the toes trace a circle.

Knees

Keep the position from the previous exercise, but rotate the lower leg instead of the foot. The knee remains still while the lower leg traces a cone whose tip is at the knee.

Hip joints

Lift the bent knee and draw a circle inward, then outward, while maintaining balance.

Body zone

Spine
Neck

Slowly turn the head left and then right, pausing and holding tension for 3–5 seconds at the end position. Then move forward and backward and tilt left and right. Stay within a comfortable range; full circles and forced extension are unnecessary.

Thoracic spine — flexion

Open the shoulders and round the upper chest as if trying to fill it with air. Then exhale fully while bringing the arms slightly together in front of you and rounding the back.

Thoracic spine — side bends

Keep the head upright and the straight arms alongside the body. Raise one shoulder and draw the other downward. Hold the end position for several seconds.

Full turns

Hold the arms in front with the fists touching and the elbows slightly bent. Turn the head and thoracic spine, twist through the lower back, and pause at the end position. The aim is to see the partner on the opposite side.

Side bends

Raise the arms and grasp the left wrist with the right hand. Lean right and gently draw the left arm farther with the right. After several seconds, switch hands and sides.

Forward bends

Stand with the feet together and knees straight. Bend as low as possible without bouncing. After each attempt, gently extend the lower back to release tension.

Hip circles

What needs explaining here? :)

Attention! Warm up the spine with slow, controlled movements and brief static holds in comfortable end positions. Avoid sudden jerks, pain, and forcing the range of motion.

02. Dynamic movement and heating

A warm-up may also begin directly with simple dynamic exercises such as running or jumping, but they should not be strength-intensive, excessively sudden, or uncontrolled. Other body areas can be mobilized while running, with strength and coordination work added during stops. When space is limited, the entire warm-up can be performed in place.

Body zone

Dynamic movement and heating
Easy running

Run at a conversational pace until the body is sufficiently warm.

Running drills

Alternate normal running with backward running, side shuffles, crossover steps, high knees, heel flicks, and hand strikes performed while running.

Obstacle running

Run over varied terrain or around a sports area with specific tasks at each station or obstacles to negotiate.

Important! Select exercise difficulty — for example, during obstacle running — according to the participants’ preparation level and degree of warm-up.

Body zone

Dynamic line drills
Leg swings

From a semi-front stance, swing one leg forward, diagonally to the side, or in a circle; then step and change the lead side. Repeat with the other leg. Variation: perform the swings while stepping backward.

Duck walk

Move with short steps in a deep squat. Variations: forward, backward, and while turning.

Jumps from a full squat

Variations: forward, backward, sideways, and while turning.

Single-leg hops

Hop softly over short distances without using arm swings for assistance; the hands can be fixed on the shoulder and leg. Variations: forward, backward, and sideways.

Side shuffle

Move sideways without crossing the legs while maintaining stance.

Crossover step

Alternate stepping in front of and behind the supporting leg, keeping the torso side-on to the direction of travel.

Jumps over “stepping stones”

One partner crouches sideways in a stone pose. Jump over them, take one step, and assume the same position. The next person makes two jumps before crouching, and so on.

“Stepping stones and hills”

Every second person takes a high-hip plank position. Jump over the first person, crawl under the arch formed by the second, and then become the next “stepping stone.” Continue by alternating the tasks.

Crocodile

Crawl close to the floor while moving the opposite arm and leg together. Variations: forward and backward.

“Grievous”

Move on the hands and feet with the chest facing upward: forward, backward, and sideways.

Rolls and cartwheels

Perform forward, backward, or shoulder rolls. Perform cartwheels on both sides; advanced practitioners may perform a one-handed cartwheel. Use a suitable surface and learn the techniques first.

Lawnmower (wheelbarrow)

One partner walks on their hands while the other supports the lower legs; keep the trunk organized and the speed controlled. Advanced variation: hold the legs higher, at shoulder level.

Log roll

Lie across the direction of travel with the body extended in one line and roll sideways without pushing from the elbows or knees.

Tauntauns

Carry a partner on the back. Perform only when the weight difference, lifting technique, and condition of the back allow it to be done safely.

Body zone

Dynamic drills in place
Jumps in place or skipping rope

Jump low while maintaining an even rhythm and stable foot and knee positions.

Jumping jacks

Variations: move the arms and legs sideways or forward and backward.

Jump and act on a signal

While making light jumps, perform a strike, a high jump, or another assigned exercise on command, then immediately return to jumping.

Knee to elbow

Drive the knee inward between the elbows, then outside the elbow. Perform with a light hop.

Turns and plank

Turn repeatedly around your axis in one direction; on a signal, move into a plank and perform the assigned number of push-ups.

Squats

Perform several repetitions to a comfortable depth while keeping the feet and knees stable. Do not try to squat excessively deep. Choose foot angle and stance width to avoid excessive lateral load on the knees or twisting.

Burpees

Place the hands on the floor, jump into a plank, perform a push-up, then jump the feet back underneath you. Jump high from this position, optionally reaching the arms overhead, and repeat after landing.

Standing leg swings

Stand on one leg and swing the other without setting it down. Touch the foot with the opposite hand to help control the movement and maintain balance.

Strength-based warm-up drills increase fatigue and should be dosed for the group’s preparation level so they do not excessively reduce strength, speed, or attention.

Attention! Monitor your condition: if you experience pain, numbness, or dizziness, tell the instructor and stop the exercise.

Important! If you have injuries or physical limitations, consult a qualified professional before performing the exercises and inform the instructor about those limitations.

03. Additional stretching

Brief, relaxed stretching when a particular movement lacks sufficient range. It mainly serves as a short break before the next stages.

Full information is available on our trainings

04. Sword warm-up

Circles, figure eights, and transitions between them. This is also a technical section in its own right.

Full information is available on our trainings