Agree? Disagree?
I agree, on first blush. It’s important to note that generalizations are what they are: fuzzy truths – they are right, but not always.
The traditional arts which in which I have trained and taught (Judo, Aikido, TKD, TangSoo, etc.) attract a certain type of person, and that type is usually not into supplementary training like roadwork, weights, kettlebells, you name it. Those who enter sport-based styles like boxing, MMA, wrestling, and BJJ understand that a champion is not made via technique alone. It’s a different demographic.
In fact, one of the primary reasons that sport-based styles breed great fighters is that they fight (applying what they’ve learned) and train like athletes. And that’s where “traditional” martial artists fall down the most, and don’t realize that by supplementing their training, they enhance it in a synergistic manner.
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9 comments:
I AGREE WITH YOU
I think that whether supplemental training is important in martial arts depends entirely on what you want to get out of martial arts. I don't do much of it--I hate running (I have pronated feet, hyperextended knees and misaligned hips, plus mild leftover childhood asthma so it isn't a fun thing to do at all) and weight lifting makes me feel nauseous if I do it for more than about 10 or 15 minutes. I do try to run kata while holding weights every now and then, though.
Elias- have I told you, recently, how wise and intelligent you are?
Noah- Darn it! You are absolutely right. And my bias is showing again, isn't it?
Thank you both for the comments!
I have LONG though the same thing Nathan.
Bring up fitness/conditioning enough within Martial Arts circles and see how long it takes till you get the..."You will over-depend on your strength and ignore good technique"...."Bigger/Stronger muscles will result in you not being able to execute your techniques as intended"..."The fight will be over in a few seconds so there is really no connection between cardio and being able to defend yourself".
Bah!
The excuses/rationalizations for not doing any training past the 2-3 MA classes a week will fly fast and thick.
I also think that many people confuse (maybe intentionally)the issue of "conditioning" with images of professional athletes training. It's easy to dismiss the idea if you convince yourself that it's beyond your capacity.
Nobody is saying that you have to go out and run triathlons or become a bodybuilder. Go for a walk, do a 5 min kettlebell workout (beginner WO are not that difficult) and build up from there. Do something. I personally tend to fluxuate between some heavy conditioning to simply just doing a few sets in the weight room or some light double end bag work in the garage. You just need to start the habit of doing SOMETHING.
Late to the game, as usual...but I agree supplemental fitness work is important, and I also agree with much of what's been said in the comments.
In particular, I agree with tgace that the old "most fights are over in seconds" argument is more of an excuse than anything.
I do think, however, for the serious martial artist - high level competitors, or those who use their skills to stay alive, for example - supplemental conditioning should be more than just hopping on the treadmill on days you're not training. It should be structured to work with martial arts training and not against it.
I really want to go in more detail, but if I do so this comment will get a little too long, so I think with Nathan's permission I'll reblog this tonight or tomorrow and expand on my thoughts then.
Cheers!
Craig
Martial Arts Spectrum
I don't think you need to be an elite athlete to train this way. I am 51 and have cross-trained for years, mostly body weight exercises, lifecycle and yoga. It is not for fighting in the ring as those days are over.
It is for being able to inspire and motivate my students, living a healthy lifestyle, and preservation of my career. We as instructors owe it to ourselves and our students.
Wow! Great comments on this post, thanks to the thought-provoking post by KaratebyJesse!
Couple of thoughts- I STILL think Noah hit it on the head. It depends "entirely on what you want to get out of martial arts." Nailed it.
And the rest of you are right, too, since that covers all of us - we seem to have reasons for wanting to supplement our "technique and tactic" AKA martial arts, with additional goals to increase our attributes.
I'm with Craig (and BTW, please post, please!), this subject deserves a lot more than we've given it, but kudos to KaratebyJesse for raising the question and provoking the discussion.
Follow up post, What do you want to get out of your martial arts training?
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