I am a chubby 15 yr old. I want to know if i can still be flexible like breakdancers and kung fu masters.?

Question

What kind of training should I do?

Answer 1

I've been taking Tae Kwon Do on and off for the last 8 years (I am 20 now). I was chubby between the ages of 12 and 16. The reason I got thinner was mainly because of puberty: I went from 5'2" to a little under 6". I've lost maybe 20-40 pounds or so over time.
Though society may attribute added weight with not having ability: That is highly inaccurate in many cases, and it's also a bit prejudice too.

I was very fit when I was chubby. My main outlet was Tae Kwon Do, but I also had to take PE in 9th grade, and I took NROTC for four years as well. I was never one to be weak at it. The nature of Tae Kwon Do taught me to work well with what I had, in addition to being very skilled for quick bursts: One reason why I was the chubby kid on the block, and the fastest kid for short bursts as well. That and "Mr. Karate Man" (They didn't understand... we were teenagers :p) of course. :p

I'll give you some idea based on some elements of fitness:
Strength- My strength actually dropped a little as I lost weight actually. Tae Kwon Do gave me some powerful legs, and I used to have a mean barbell squat (Like at least 300 pounds). I can still squat about twice my weight, but I did better than that when I was heavier.

I've always been lacking in the upper-body strength department. It wasn't enough for me to fail in that category, but I wasn't a top-runner there. I was 17 when I got to my greatest point of upper-body strength, and while now I'm starting to weaken again: I'm still not failing in that department. The way I strike isn't about strength though either: Most of my arts are Korean, and the major philosophy around a set of Korean arts is the snapping/whipping motion that you apply at the end of a strike. You don't need to be buff to do that well, but that will help. That's why I'm working on both now. :p

Stamina- I only just recently got over my stamina hump. My stamina has always been on par though: When I was chubby I could run between 1-6 miles, and now that I am not, I still can. I lost a little stamina in that period where I have my best upper-body strength, but I've started running training: It has come back, and it has improved as well. It's not because of weight, but rather my training regiment to reach my goal of running a marathon in some time.

Flexiblity: I was really flexible when I was chubby. I did my first side split when I was 15. I still can, but I lost one thing when I lost that weight: My back flexibility. I can do an ok back bridge if I warm up well, but my back has gotten stiff from running. I could do an f******* back bend when I was 16, and I was chubby, and now what do I get now that I am thin? Societal approval maybe? :P

Speed- I will admit that I can strike quicker, but not only has my running not improved much in speed (Not to say I was slow again...I was chubby when I got my fastest 1.5 mile run: 8:49), but the reason I am striking quicker is because of my training: Not because I got thinner. :p

My advice to you is to simply find a good school that fits your interest: Whether it's Kung Fu, Capoeira, break dancing, Tae Kwon Do, XYZ Martial Art/Activity, or anything else that you like that will make you flexible and/or more acrobatic as you wish. Look to see if you can watch a class or two of what you want to take, and if you're learning breakdancing from some of your friends: Find the humble and skilled b-boy/b-girl to help you work your way up the rank. ^_^
Live your life to the fullest. Good luck.

And one more thing: You may lose weight because of your training but you may not either. Keep training either way. :)

Answer 2

Being chubby does not mean you can not be flexible. I was a chubby kid, when I was about 9 or 10 I think, but I got flexible from doing tang soo do, a Korean martial art similar to tae kwon do. I also lost all the fat--but that was mainly due to a strict diet and running every morning for a year. If you've ever seen Sammo Hung, one of Jackie Chan's friends, you have seen a chubby man do amazing stunts. Flexibility is something that people have to work on. Break dancers, ballerinas, martial arts, etc. all have to practice or else they will lose their flexibility. You are no different. Just try stretching daily--don't hurt yourself though--a little at a time and you will be amazed at how flexible you will become. You're still young--I'm almost 40 now--so your body will be able to become flexible more easily than someone like me.

Answer 3

Well your "chubby" so that doesnt mean your fat.
As one of the people said take taekwondo, most school (there are some fake schools, watch out) they practice on flexiblity. I took taekwondo for about 4 years and I'd say, I'm really flexible. In school you should know the sit and reach. I got a 47. (I'm 14 btw).

If you don't want to take up taekwondo you can always strech by yourself. Just look online on google. Type up stretching?
Like try doing the splits, go far as you can for atleast 30 seconds, do a lot of them. By the end of the month/week you will see a result. MOST LIKELY. I also breakdance, you don't have to be flexible, only for some moves. Only like the pros who breakdance are really flexible, like a bboy-er called Lilou.

Yeah, I just suggest you to strech daily. If you want to be flexible.

Answer 4

Lots of skinny people aren't flexible like breakdancers and kung fu masters and it is possible to be chubby and still be skilled at these things. I think it would help not to carry a lot of fat on you. You may also find that as you train more you lose fat anyway. The human body tends to adapt to the tasks it's put to. It changes in ways that make the task easier. If you strapped a 30lb weight to yourself and ran a while you'ld find it easier to do if you removed the weight.Your body would try to make these things easier to do by losing the fat if you train.

Answer 5

screw taekwondo. that does NOT work at all. Its a bunch of spinning kicks.. thats it!

do WUSHU. its the REAL chinese martial arts. The term "kung fu" is used by westerners who don't know what the heck they are talking about. Wushu trains you for both speed and flexibility- and you will prob lose that weight you have on you as well. Beyond that wushu is what jet li trained in.. and it looks hella cool when you can do a 720 inside kick or a 540 sweep.

Answer 6

I know plenty of chubby people who are quite flexible including a gymnastics coach who can sit in full splits, do balance beams and etc. if you think chubby people cant be as flexible as anyone else go check out the nearest gymnastics center. flexibility is based on muscle stretching not weight loss so don't listen to anyone who tells you otherwise. weight loss comes with burning fat which will come with any exercise program you join.

Answer 7

I'd say change your body shape first, and then work on the sport-specific aspects later. You can change shape by running, bicylcing, swimming and doing circuit training with high reps of light weights. Do a lot of stretches in between the weights. Then, once you actually feel agile, start the specific training you desire.

Answer 8

Get involved in Tae Kwon Do. I am currently taking taekwondo. I am a white belt working on my 1st black stripe
In my school i have to achieve 6 stripes

3 red stripes
3 black stripes

The red stripes are easy to achieve
But the black stripes are harder
Because you have to work hard and remember your form.

I picked TaeKwonDo since I enjoy the sport
And I am more flexable.
And it was the only school that is down the street from where I live

Answer 9

Yes, stretch a lot and jog, jump rope, and excercise.

Answer 10

lol@breakdancers