Discussion on weight lifting
One thing that a lot of my friends(my self included)and other people seem to keep researching and asking questions about is weight lifting to complement your martial arts training.I thought that since this question keeps reappearing that we could start a discussion about it on here,about the pros and cons, and what works v.s. what doesn't work.What are your opinions on wieght lifting and it's effectivness as opposed to bodyweight exercises.I personally like doing bodyweight exercises just as much(if not more)as lifting weights.The main reason I like them is because I know that i'm getting results from them.I just started taking Kung Fu where my instructors like to stress physical fitness more so than my instructors did at my old karate school(actually we did no physically exerting exercises in karate).Because of all the exercises that I have been doing(in the kwoon and at home)that I learned from my kung fu class I have gained some strength and am in the best shape i've ever been in but,one thing that I have thought about is this.Bodyweight exercises will help you to get stronger in the beggining but once you get to a certain point you are just working on muscle endurance and not strength.Therefore,if you want to get any stronger you have to incorporate some sort of weight training into it or you will just be standing still in the strength department.Because of this problem I started to do a little powerlifting which has worked out wonderfully.When I first started lifting weights I could barely bench press 120 one time and was shaky afterwards.After doing the powerlifting for about 2 months I could bench press 150 about 4 times.Based on that experience I think that lifting weights is a good idea and can be very helpful(if done right)to a person in the martial arts of any kind.What are some of your experiences with lifting weights?Do you perfere to lift for strength of endurance or do you do both?Do you even think that weight lifting is beneficial?If you don't lift weights,why not?If you do lift weights,why do you?Do you like bodyweight exercises more than lifting weights and why?
For those who are still reading this:I think that if everyone answers these questions we can get rid of a lot of the questions that pop up on these boards about weight lifting and have more knowledge about it ourselves.
Thanks for hanging on throughout this post!!!
Later
Viper
believe me it does count....
Let's see. If you are a proficient FIGHTER (martial artist and fighter are not necessarily synonymous) with a regular or slight build, then you got it goin' on. You might be apt to have to display those skills if the antagonist isn't intimidated by your physique, though. Then again' you could probably make him wish he picked another mark, once the action starts, so you do have the very integral "element of surprise" on your hands. Still, limiting your chances for confrontation, is the highest level of MAs.
If you are a proficient fighter with good height and respectable bulk (muscles) then you got one up on the previous cat. Plus, the "art of appearance" can often be a deterrent as was previously mentioned. You don't wear your fighting prowess on the outside so sometimes people "generalize or stereotype" fighters as being big, tough and athletic looking. They may pick someone else to squabb' with.
The myth of increasing muscle size=slothness is just ridiculous. Muscles power your body for strength and speed, and done right weightlifting will make you better, faster and stronger. Don't do powerlifting exercise, and stretch while resting between eac set (30 secs. or <).
Right now I would kick my own ass a year ago, and I was no punk then. Working out entails striking the bags, training in 2-man drills (including BJJ groundwork), iron body and most important weightlifting. Others that train with me feel the same way, and have told me so. Weightlifting is not for the lazy who claim that all they need is MAs. Unless you train 8 hrs. a day for years and years like the Gracie's then you need weights. Or don't do it, it ain't no skin off my back....