Archive for February 28th, 2011
So you want to get into great shape so that you can compete in martial arts? To be honest, the ideal way to get into shape is to do martial arts. For instance, if you practice Karate, training with forms and kata is really the ideal way to improve your fitness and stamina whilst improving muscle memory.
Most martial arts have some sort of routine, such as a kata, where several movements are joined together to give a flowing practice that moves from block to strike or a defence without a break.Such forms were in use long before western style exercise was applied to fitness training for martial arts.
Also, most oriental martial arts stem from yoga and practicing martial artists this day might be surprised that some of the warm up and stretching exercises they do prior to a training session are parts of, or derivatives of yoga exercises. It is a good intent to develop this as yoga provides flexibility and a growth in body and limb strength. In addition the breathing used in yoga helps to oxygenate the body and are similar to the breathing required in some martial arts.
Competition martial arts require a tremendous amount of stamina, particularly as the competition and combat scenario also draws upon adrenaline release. However once the adrenaline has burnt out, which generally only lasts for a few minutes then your stamina levels become even more important as one of the results of a release of adrenaline is a feeling of being exhausted or burnt out once it has worn off. By doing lots and lots of sparring or kumite you will learn to control the adrenaline release and also build up your fighting stamina.
One thing you can do, which will give you great benefit is to increase your sweat rate. This can be done by taking a regular sauna, and of course lots of training. Why is this of benefit? Simply because sweating is your body’s cooling system. By increasing your sweat rate and lowering the level that you begin sweating at; means you are making your cooling system better. This will work alongside your increase in stamina as your body runs more efficiently when it is being cooled. In fact carrying out stretching exercises while in the sauna will give you a greater stretch simply because the muscles, ligaments and tendons are nice and warm.
Certainly you can use weights for an increase in strength, jog to increase your stamina and row or swim to do the same. However, the muscles you are developing might well not be the ones you need for your particular martial art. This is why a continued programme that is centred around your martial art, using your martial art is more beneficial in the long run.
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