Top 10 Physical Skills to Master

Since you never know what kind of situation you may find yourself in, it is imperative to be physically ready for all possibilities. The best way to do this is to master the following ten physical skills:

1. Swimming. Everyone should know how to swim. Besides its positive impact on strength, flexibility, and cardio, the ability to swim may save your life should you find yourself in a flood, overboard from a boat, or making a hasty, water-borne escape.
2. Climbing. Rock and/or ice. Climbing improves strength, flexibility and balance and teaches you how to plot a course while moving your body from one location to another.
3. Self defense. Judo, boxing, karate, tae kwon do...pick one. All of these forms of self defense increase strength, flexibility, and balance while teaching you how to fall and take a punch.
4. Strength training. Sometimes you just need to power through a situation. Ongoing strength training (lifting, pushing, pulling, etc) is a valuable addition to your physical skill set.
5. Ball sports. Football, baseball, volleyball--any sport that develops speed, quick decision making, and hand eye coordination is a welcome addition to your physical abilities.
6. Balance training. This could range from rollerskating and ice skating to ballet, surfing and log rolling. What all of these sports have in common is the necessity for balance which is an optimal skill to develop and can come in handy in many situation.
7. Dance. Dancing of any kind (salsa, cha cha, tango, et al) will benefit you physically (cardio, balance) as well as socially (an excellent way to integrate yourself into many social situations).
8. Walking and/or running. Obviously these are good cardio and strength skills, however developing the ability to transport yourself over a series of miles under your own power is the real benefit.
9. The scare yourself silly sports skills. OK, some people really enjoy base jumping, sky diving, bull riding, and roller derby, however many people would just as soon avoid these situations if at all possible. It's a good idea to experience as many of these sports, however, since you want to know how your body will react under the influence of fear and adrenaline.
10. Physical team sport skills such as paintball, football, water polo, and basketball. What all of these sports have in common, besides the obvious physical skills development, is the ability to learn how to read others in team situations, know how to rely on others in team situations, and how to lead others in team situations.