The culture of OVERTRAINING in MARTIAL ART

[Serpent]

Originally posted by fa_jing
I've heard that overtraining is overblown, the big no-no's are under resting and under eating.

On a more serious note, this is SO true. The only time I notice any symptoms of over trianing is when I don't get enough sleep. I train really hard, almost every day, sometimes several times a day, and it's only when I miss out on sleep that I feel it (other than the usual aches and bruises, etc.)

[Royal Dragon]

Actually, I'm training again, mostly forms and Qi Gong right now. Before it was all back therapy mostly.

I wouldn't call it resting too much though. It's, more like I was working on stuff not really martial related. I can actually kick over my head again. That was no easy feat to get back, all things considred.

If I had been training Kung Fu as hard as I trained my back, I'd be a frik'n animal right now.

That being said, I think it's pretty hard to "Over train" in Kung Fu. The body physically runs out of steam before you can realy hurt yourself. The problems I see, come from not taking enough recovery time (Day or two off here and there, sleep etc...) I've read that an athlete NEEDS a good hour, to hour and a half more sleep a night than normal people. A day or two off inbetween really hard days, or a series of hard days is essential for good development too. I nevre go more than 3 days straight, without taking 1-2 days rest before the next 3 day run.

As for food, an athlete (And lets face it, that's what we are), needs way more food than a non athlete. We need lots of carbs before training to fuel us, and lots of protien after to build and rebuild. That's good for two extra meals a day right there.

How many of us scedual pre and post meals practice into the training? We really all should be scarfing a bowl of rice before, and a big steak after we train, IN ADDITION to our regular 3 meals a day. I generally make a bigger dinner so it counts for two meals, rather than spliting it up due to time constraints, but it still works well. Diet is a MAJOR contributing factor to rapid and safe development, as well as injury prevention as fars as I'm concerned.

[Shaolin-Do]

I probably need more sleep. 2AM to 7AM doesnt sound like enough. Doesnt feel like enough either.


I been kinda lazy lately, but Im starting a new program next week... kinda plan on being lazy the rest of the week. Next week start balls out for a couple months again tho... then take another week of laziness.

[Water Dragon]

Originally posted by Kung Lek
Only water dragon gets to be my nemesis.

Yay! I'll meet YOU on the Canadian border with a meteor hammer and a ninja suit buddy.

[Machine_Phantom]

some wounds never heal
be careful kids

[Vash]

If you get injured, fuggin' stop! Injuries suck a$$!

[shaolinboxer]

My last instructor (we parted ways about 4 or 5 years ago) really encouraged over training. I never really noticed but I was sick or injured all of the time. Once I calmed down and started training in a more reasonable way my health improved and I suddendly realized how sick I had been. Mentally and physically.

The last time I over trained was about a year ago. Two hot shots from the west coast came to our dojo and wanted to kinda show who's boss, so I tried to burn them out. I was sick and sore for a week. They're pretty tough cats actually.

It's important, I think, to test your limits and train a bit past the point where you may like to stop. But you can only do this in short bursts, with rest and rehydration in between, and a limit on how many of these bursts you do. I usually get in 2 or 3 per class....like sprints between walking or jogging, instead of sprinting all night long. Some nights, if I'm the most senior student present, my workout is very light but my teaching experience becomes the focus.

[mickey]

Greetings all,

I have had this problem myself. There were two reasons why I overtrained:

1- The need to achieve something quickly: more like the need to achieve something YESTERDAY! I am learning that little by little is better nothing at all.

2- I was not strong enough to begin with. My conditioning level should have exceeded the requirements of the task at hand. When you are at that point, training is a fantastic experience.

mickey

[mickey]

With strong enough I mean:

1-cardio/respiratory

2-muscular


John Allen of the Green Dragon had a point when it came to strength. I wish he would write more stuff.

mickey

[Volcano Admim]

ttt
there! on your ma sucka ass faces again!
TO THE TOP

this thread is very good, though i seen some o you ruined it with your ignorance