yamatodamashii
25th May 2001, 10:36
In a couple of threads recently, I have been re-introduced to the idea that free weight training as a cross-training modality for martial arts is "bad" ("Why would you want to do that?", "Try swimming instead", etc.). This seems to me to be based on three factors:
1) The belief that lifting weights and/or having larger than average muscles somehow diminishes your speed, flexibility, and/or intelligence.
(In the 1920's, when people did slow bench presses OFF THE FLOOR (half-range of motion), this was true (for speed and flexibility, anyway). With modern training methods, this idea is patently, completely false.)
2) The belief that martial arts were really invented to help small, weak people defend themselves from large, strong people (when combined with #1, this implies that martial artists should endeavor NOT to become big and strong).
(Fairly silly, considering the amount of resistance training used every historical warrior group--shaolin, ninja... everybody. The other day, someone told me that karateka should NEVER lift weights because it hurt their technique. I laughed and pulled out my old Morio Higaonna books).
3) The fact that most people no longer rely on martial arts to save their lives--thus, giving no motivation to gain the advantages of greater size and strength, and allowing them to justify beliefs #1 and 2.
I am interested in other people's thoughts?
1) The belief that lifting weights and/or having larger than average muscles somehow diminishes your speed, flexibility, and/or intelligence.
(In the 1920's, when people did slow bench presses OFF THE FLOOR (half-range of motion), this was true (for speed and flexibility, anyway). With modern training methods, this idea is patently, completely false.)
2) The belief that martial arts were really invented to help small, weak people defend themselves from large, strong people (when combined with #1, this implies that martial artists should endeavor NOT to become big and strong).
(Fairly silly, considering the amount of resistance training used every historical warrior group--shaolin, ninja... everybody. The other day, someone told me that karateka should NEVER lift weights because it hurt their technique. I laughed and pulled out my old Morio Higaonna books).
3) The fact that most people no longer rely on martial arts to save their lives--thus, giving no motivation to gain the advantages of greater size and strength, and allowing them to justify beliefs #1 and 2.
I am interested in other people's thoughts?