We at Martial Arts Hall are not just martial arts enthusiasts but also Game enthusiasts and when it comes to Mass-Multiplayer-Online-Role-Playing-Game, a character is defined by the stats allocated to it. This includes the strength stat which for most games significantly boosts damage output. In Martial arts, it is no different. Many martial artists tend to focus or overly focus on one thing than another and while it may be beneficial for the “game” within their training, it often does not bode well when it comes to dealing with other disciplines.
For example, despite the fact that superior technique is the corner stone of Gracie Jujitsu’s success, it has always been the opinion of Martial Arts Hall that strength training has greatly enhanced the art’s overall potency. Though brothers Rickson and Royce displays different body builds (the former was meomorphic while the latter is ectomorphic), their performance on the mat is certain proof that the Gracie’s are among the most conditioned fighters on the planet.
Strength can be built with or without equipment. The more popular ways include
- Bodyweight calisthenics (pushups are the best examples of this category)
- Isometric training or dynamic tension which requires muscles to be motionless while it flexes against an object or another muscle
- Isotonic conditioning which provides varying degrees of resistance to muscles using barbells and dumbbells
- Isokinetic training which uses weights attached to a system of cam and chains (e.g. Nautilus equipment) but offers constant resistance unlike free weights
Within this array of methodologies available, it is the individual martial artist who must decide in the end which method one will choose to suit one’s needs. Bruce Lee knows what his goals were and it looks like the combination of calisthenics, isotonic and isometric exercises has met them. Paul Vunak sheds valuable insights on Bruce’s venture into isometric training.
Instead of bulky muscles, dynamic tension develops tendon strength is more important to the explosive nature of martial arts movement. Bruce Lee himself, purposefully trimmed down to test his theory that body mechanics and tendon strength were more important for power than muscularity.
The key word in the earlier paragraph is “goal”. Merely stating “I want to become stronger,” is not enough. One should clearly and graphically define what one wants. Though a very simple process, writing your goals has tremendous effect on the psyche. Once you have identified what you really want and decide to get it, all the resources of your being will bee-line towards accomplishing that objective.
The science of now in martial arts
Prior to the science of human kinetics explosion, martial artists are divided on the issue of incorporating weight lifting programs into their training. Though a lot of myth has been dispelled about the positive and negative effects of weight training in the martial arts community, there are still practitioners who do not believe that free-weights is the ultimate way to becoming strong. Body weight calisthenics on the other hand, develops a more functional (applicable in combat) kind of strength than traditional weight training methods
