The "assumption" is based on the knowledge of the people who created and developed Chow Gar and its not so common methodologies. Since various types of weight training had been used in kung fu training for centuries I am sure that the creators of styles such as Chow Gar would have absorbed these methodologies if they had seen fit. Yet, they didn't1
You would know why if you had touched hands with a high level, none weight training exponent/sifu. the power is there and it is very potent. The body is hard yet relaxded and flexible. The shock power is there and so is the speed.
No weights, no press ups and no sit ups!!! It seems you forget to read Shifu Paul Whitrods book where he talks about the Hedgehog Pressups they do to develop the body, the hands, and the spirit. Also he trains his claws using large heavy pieces of wood to grip. Old School grip training using apparatus.
If your Chow Gar master tells you that weight training will contradict some of the qualities you are aiming to achieve and once you know some of the lesser known principles involved, while you practice certain exercises that are giving you good results, then it makes sense.
Perhaps you will need to direct a post to Sanjuro, Frost, Dragonzbane and others who participated in that particular thread? Of course, you won't as that will show you as taking sides with HW108. No, no we can't have that....
Because the principles have been explained to me to my satisfaction by a genuine sifu.
I have also seen his power and his Iron shield skills. Also, it is not just my sifu. The current head of the style, David Ip is no weight trainer either. And again, I have made references and provided links to an interview with actual Baguazhang grand master who also does not use weight training type exercises.
In his book, "The Art of Shaolin Kung Fu", author Wong Kiew Kit, mentions the extremely powerful punches that a Xingyi practitioner might deliver without having used any weight training in his training. There are vague references to this kind of power all over the place but no one will go into too much detail. For that one will need the right school.
I have always talked about my experience in the particular school in which I have trained. That experience is VALID.
My "rational" would be training a methodology that is valid, powerful, but not well known, under the instructions of a genuine sifu. That is good enough for me and it makes sense. I could see the results of his training on him and I could see the vicious power of the advanced students. And as time went by I could see the results on and for myself as well.
Then i get some guys telling me about the benefits of Olympic weight training or asking me about the lineage of a style that they have no clue about and the name and address of the sifu, as if that would have enlightened them to a methodology that is not really in the public domain.
Others, calling what I do "mythical" or "fantasy". Then theorizing wether I belonged to a cult!!!
Too many fragile egos and too many closed minded clueless Jack of All Trades........