Should You Add Supplementary Weight Training to your Martial Arts Training?
There are four things you should consider before you add supplementary weight training into your workout schedule:
Speed
Flexibility
Endurance
Strength
Martial arts training will naturally help you improve in all of these areas, but many people wonder if they need to add supplementary weight training to increase these areas. The answer is maybe.
The first determination of whether or not you should do separate weight training is how it will affect your martial arts training. If weight training will take the place of your martial arts training, then I don't recommend it (especially for beginners). Advanced martial arts students can make the determination depending on their personal goals.
When you're making the decision, consider this:
You can add weights if you have your martial arts training regime down cold you don't want your martial arts training to suffer so that you can weight train on the side.
If you do choose to weight train, educate yourself or get a trainer so that you get the most out of your training.
Make a plan before you begin anything.
To make a plan, you need to figure out where you want to improve. You need a balanced body to be a good martial artist, so if you do decide to add supplemental training, it should be to improve this balance. Is there a part of your body that is not up to par with the rest of your body? Do you have plenty of endurance but lack speed?
Here's an example of what I mean. I had a student at my Bellevue Academy of Kempo Martial Arts school that had perfect form. She was worried that her technique wouldn't work in a real situation. She practiced slow and accurate movements, so the answer for her was to start training for power or speed to make her movements more real-world applicable.
In the "old days" martial artists were not purists if they did strength training along with it. The thing is, even in the Shaolin temples, the Kung Fu practitioners had exercises like moving granite balls and doing hundreds of movements with iron rings on their arms it sounds like a form of weight training to me.
If anyone tells you that weight training will harm your kung fu or martial arts training, they are only right if you stop or reduce your martial arts training to weight train. If you break your training down into sections and focus on the parts of your body or goals that you need to balance your body, then you can train accordingly without affecting your martial arts training. If you're still not sure whether or not you're weight training affectively, just make sure you do an hour and a half of martial arts training for every hour of weight training you do.
Related Articles
7 Steps to Becoming a Master Martial Artist
By: Robert Jones | 20/10/2006 | Health
You owe it to yourself to be the very best you can be in everything you do...Why not in the martial arts as well?
Is Stress Making you Fat?
By: Robert Jones | 20/10/2006 | Health
It's true, stress can make you fat. It's because of a hormone called cortisol. This hormone is always present in your body, but your body secretes it at higher levels when it's under stress.
Leading Into Emptiness: Using Tai Chi for Emotional Self-defense
By: Ken Gullette | 14/05/2008 | Self Improvement
The martial arts principles of Tai Chi are also useful against verbal, emotional, and email attacks.
Are you a Master of the Martial Arts? Why Not?
By: Robert Jones | 21/09/2006 | Sports and Fitness
Chances are, you are probably not a martial arts master, but if you think about it, there is no better time than now to start your training. I'm not going to smooth it over and say that it's an easy journey or that if you start now you can be a full-fledged master in a year or two.
Beating Stress and Learning to Relax With Kung Fu Meditation
By: Robert Jones | 17/10/2006 | Sports and Fitness
The mind is the master of the body. If we train and discipline our minds, the body will follow. Once the body and mind become focused and in tune, you will see that your whole life will seem to flow; like you are on the right path. In other words, you will not be fighting with yourself and good things will just seem to happen for you.
Are the Martial Arts still under development?
By: Peter | 18/11/2005 | Sports and Fitness
The changing of the arts, Throughout this history and development of the martial arts and all the combat systems of man our training tools have played a vital part in evolving and perfecting these systems and techniques.
Techniques That A Wing Chun Practitioner Should Learn In His Quest For Mastery Of The Art.
By: Yoshi Kundagawa | 05/05/2007 | Sports and Fitness
Martial arts have been practiced in one form or another for thousands of years and writings about Wing Chun have been found as far back as the period of Warring States and make reference to fighting techniques, with and without arms. They talk about whole armies who use these skills...
What is Wing Chun?
By: Armando Sainz | 09/09/2007 | Hobbies
Wing Chun is one of the most popular martial arts on the planet and yet here in America it is still virtually unknown. There are schools in almost every state and yet they seem to be under the radar. You would think that having Bruce Lee as one of its practitioners it would have gained more popularity here in the United States. Hopefully this article gives a good enough description to help remedy the matter.
Latest Fitness Articles
Healthy Regular Exercise
By: prabakar | 19/07/2008
Healthy eating and regular exercise lead to an improved quality of life for adults and kids. The program is in a or individual setting. Lie down on your back on a mat placed on the floor. Place your hands behind your head to support your neck. Roll your shoulders blades up off the floor as far as you can.
Great Attractions of Exercises
By: prabakar | 18/07/2008
One of the great attractions of exercises is that they require little equipment and so are much easier to work out than other areas of the body, such as the legs, back, or chest. Pilates is a low intensity workout that involved light aerobic exercise and stretching, and has become a favorite exercise of women.
I Don't Want Thunder Thighs, or a Big Butt...
By: Troy Anderson | 18/07/2008
Insider Secrets to Getting Lean and Sexy Legs and Butt
I Promise it Won't Make You Fat
By: Troy Anderson | 17/07/2008
Women's Fitness Article Uncovering the Fitness Myth of Protein
Addiction: a Holistic Approach to Recovery
By: Patti Desert | 17/07/2008
Holistic Therapy uniquely teaches clients how to safely experience depression, anxiety, and other painful states while learning ways to manage the negative thoughts and destructive behavior that sabotage recovery from addiction.
How to Get Rid Off Those Facial Parentheses (nasolabial Folds)
By: Dr Barry Eppley | 17/07/2008
One of the most common signs of facial aging is the development of the nasolabial folds. Many people find these deepening facial lines disconcerting and frequently seek treatment. Nasolabial fold prominence can be minimized by injectable fillers, implants, or even actual surgical excision. By far, injectable fillers are most commonly used and the particulated fillers seem to be the best choice for this facial area.
Decrease Chance of Dark Spots
By: John Nolan | 17/07/2008
Dark skin, Blemish, dark spots are the top of women's skin problem because if they begin appear on you face, they will make feel nervous. There're many cause of dark spots such as genetic, cosmetic, women's hormone who be in Pregnancy or nearly go to the elderly and the another one main cause is sunlight.
Simple Steps to Detox Your Body
By: John Khu | 16/07/2008
Real detoxification can take time, and as long as you are moving towards your goal, you have nothing to worry about. You don't have to plunge right in and live a whole new life; slow gradual change is the best way to really make progress.
More from Robert Jones
A Little History On Kung Fu
By: Robert Jones | 25/11/2006 | Sports and Fitness
Kung Fu a generic label used to describe the martial arts that come from China. Chinese kung fu is not only about fighting but about self discipline, self respect, humbleness and patience. What makes the Chinese martial arts unique is the use of meditation as part of their art.
Children On Ritalin is That the Answer?
By: Robert Jones | 21/10/2006 | Health
Do you have a preschool-aged (or older) child who has ADHD or ADD? Many times, parents are encouraged to medicate their children to help alleviate the symptoms that can be causing them to have problems both at school and at home. If this is something you've been dealing with for a while, you may be at your wits end and willing to try just about anything to help your child handle his or her symptoms and to relieve stress from their lives.
Is Stress Making you Fat?
By: Robert Jones | 20/10/2006 | Health
It's true, stress can make you fat. It's because of a hormone called cortisol. This hormone is always present in your body, but your body secretes it at higher levels when it's under stress.
7 Steps to Becoming a Master Martial Artist
By: Robert Jones | 20/10/2006 | Health
You owe it to yourself to be the very best you can be in everything you do...Why not in the martial arts as well?
Beating Stress and Learning to Relax With Kung Fu Meditation
By: Robert Jones | 17/10/2006 | Sports and Fitness
The mind is the master of the body. If we train and discipline our minds, the body will follow. Once the body and mind become focused and in tune, you will see that your whole life will seem to flow; like you are on the right path. In other words, you will not be fighting with yourself and good things will just seem to happen for you.
Are you a Master of the Martial Arts? Why Not?
By: Robert Jones | 21/09/2006 | Sports and Fitness
Chances are, you are probably not a martial arts master, but if you think about it, there is no better time than now to start your training. I'm not going to smooth it over and say that it's an easy journey or that if you start now you can be a full-fledged master in a year or two.
Martial Arts and your Personality Type
By: Robert Jones | 19/09/2006 | Sports and Fitness
There is something that can help you balance your personality to increase your success. Martial arts can give you the skills to balance the negative sides of your personality with the positive sides. Here's how:
Sports and Fitness 
