What can a martial artist do to move up a weight class?

Question

I want to know what a martial artist must do to move up a weight class and more importantly how can he keep the same speed when he does? I am curious about foods, supplements, and training drills for someone that fights in NHB or UFC fights.

Answer 1

If you are talking one weight class, that usually isn't a problem. However most Martial Artists want to move down in weight classes as opposed to up.

Why? Well because then you are at the top of that weight division, you will be stronger and bigger, or as strong and as big as you can be.

The problem with moving up a division is that while you will make the initial weight requirement, you will be at a natural disadvantage, being weaker and at the bottom part of a division.

Let's say for example we are talking MMA. You are thinking of moving from Middleweight 185lbs, to Light Heavyweight 205lbs.

The problem isn't going to be how to get up past 185, I mean you can gain ten or fifteen pounds of muscle mass, hydrate up and be around 200. However, the guy you would be fighting cut weight to get to 205, and is walking around at 215 or 220lbs. Having a distinct 20lbs advantage in lean solid muscle over you.

That being said, the way to move up is easy. Maintaining your speed is a matter of training, however keep in mind with a 10lbs or more gain your body will move and feel different, and you will feel sluggish until you get used to being that weight.

Simple thing is to double your protein intake, triple it even. Consume a gram of protein for every pound you want to be in a given day. If you want to be 200lbs, eat 200lbs worth of protein. However break it up a lot during the day as your body can only break down about 20 or 30 grams of protein at a time.

Work out with heavier weight, lower reps. You can maintain explosive power by doing Olympic lifts, and circuit training, just increase your weight, and lower your reps.

Foods should be high in protien, with a moderate amount of good carbs. The more protein you eat, and the more you work out, the heavier you will be.

If you want an easy and cheap way to pack on the weight quick, keep with the heavy protein, and do a ton of heavy weight on your legs. Your legs are where you keep the majority of your weight, you can gain a good bit of weight by building up your legs, and it won't effect your handspeed at all, plus it helps with grappling and your base.

Like I said, it is really rare for someone to want to move up a division, it puts you at a strength and weight disadvantage, because even if you gorge yourself, hydrate up and everything else and make 205, the guy you are fighting is really going to be 220lbs, he would have just cut 10 to 15lbs in water to make the division.

So my advice is look to go down in weight divisions instead of going up. It puts you at a natural size and strength advantage.

Just my two cents, hope that helps.

Answer 2

For a MMA fighter to move up in weight all he has to do is gain muscle mass. To fight in a higher weight class you actually don't have to weight that much you can challenge anyone in your weight class or higher. However, usually people in higher weight classes are taller and/or stronger so you can be disadvantaged.

He said WEIGHT CLASS. You know weight? The measure of the gravitational force exerted by the earth on your mass. Not some silly belt color dumbass.
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Answer 3

Practicing martial arts is not like a regular gym. We don't worry about taking any special supplements of any kind to boost our level of expertise in the martial arts world. It all comes from hard work of practice and dedication to master the art.

When I took karate I started with a white belt. In order for me to go to yellow I was graded by two senseis (teachers). When you get tested they are looking for your stands, forms, coordination, focus, confidence, flexibility, and strength.

Each level of belts are called kyu. For novice: white (ungraded), yellow, orange. Intermediate: green, blue, brown. Degrees of black belts are called dans (see website for explanation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karate#Belt_Colours).

See also website for explanation of karate (Japanese martial art) and the different styles of karates: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karate

The one I practiced is called Chito Ryu in Toronto(see website below): http://www.chitoryu.ca/
I trained 3 to 4 x week. Again check the above website for their schedules. Classes were about 2 1/2 hours.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=t&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWE,RNWE:2006-33,RNWE:en&q=chito+ryu

We use to have a lot of fun competing in karate tournaments. We did kata: forms (sequence or movements), kumite (sparring), team kata (3 people doing kata in sequence). Katas are judged by 4 judges. They sit in 4 corners as you do your kata in front of them. For kumite two fighters are refereed by 2 refs.

You didn't say what martial arts you're interested in: karate, kung fu, tae kwon do, judo, etc. Not all martial arts are the same so find out which one you like. Check the following websites for: Kung fu: http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=t&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWE,RNWE:2006-33,RNWE:en&q=kung+fu; Tai Kwon Do: http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=t&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWE,RNWE:2006-33,RNWE:en&q=tai+kwon+do; Judo: http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWE,RNWE:2006-33,RNWE:en&q=judo