Lifting weights and karate?

Question

I'm about to start karate classes again. I've been lifting some weights for about a year and a half though. Do I stop if I really want to get into karate? I heard you lose your flexiblity if you do this?

they are getting a bit oversized.

Answer 1

Weight training is part of a general fitness program. I believe that the best martial artists also eat well, live clean, and keep fit.

There is such a thing as overdoing it, and that would be where you see a loss of flexibility. Most likely, if a person is not using any enhancing agents, they are not going to experience any lack of flexibility. The fact is that proper weight training will only increase flexibility. 6-12 reps per set is still building lean muscle mass without sacrificing flexibility. 3-5 reps per set is power-lifting, usually done with a very limited range of motion. This is where someone is going to lose flexibility and risk damage to joints and ligaments.

I think the myth that weight training not pairing well with martial arts comes from teachers who look like Butterbean. That is not a healthy body shape.

A lifetime martial artist can follow the same guidelines for fitness outlined by the American College of Sports Medicine. These include, aerobic exercise, weight resistance training, cross-training, proper diet, and a proper amount of sleep.

Answer 2

No-although weight lifters have two main problems. One is that they sometimes become so big in through the chest, upper arms, and shoulders that they literally don't have the flexibility to perform some of the blocking techniques very easily and can't reach far enough over to the opposite side of their body when performing those techniques. The other problem is that sometimes they don't have adequate time in between their weight lifting workouts and their karate workouts so they come to class sore, stiff, (especially if they did legs that day), and have a higher chance of pulling or tearing something.

I recommend to my students that lift that they not lift for size or heavy and after any weight lifting workout they have several hours of rest and make sure that they eat, hydrate, and get adequate rest or sleep.

Answer 3

You don't really need to stop your weight lifting.

If your muscles are too big, then it does effect a little on flexibility. Even if you stop lifting now, your muscles still won't reduce much.

So, if your muscles are not over-sized, then you don't need to worry about the flexibility issue.

Answer 4

Common misconception that strong/big muscles equal being slow and stiff. In actual fact it is quite different. You need a minimum strength in your muscles in order for them to be flexible. Injuries occur in weak muscles, for martial arts, in particular the ones involving kicking, you require strong hamstrings, abductors/adductors, abs and lower back.
I had issues which I perceived as hamstring injuries, hurt mostly during axe kicks. After a long stretch visits to physios etc. I found out I had an issue with a weak adductor magnus, four weeks of dedicated training for that muscle group and I was sorted.
Try to train close to the techniques in use, this will make you faster actually.
Try out the method of Thomas Kurz, his book "Stretching Scientifically" is worth reading.
Good luck

Answer 5

Try looking up photos of Tom Platz. He was the bodybuilding's original owner of the nickname "Quadzilla". He was also able to perform a full split both forward and sideways. Also remember, there is a reason it's called martial arts. Each expression of even the same styles is different among the masters. You must learn to utilize your individual strengths.

Answer 6

Weight lifting is a traditional part of many karate styles, including Goju-ryu, Uechi-ryu and Isshinryu. http://www.shuriway.co.uk/images/hojo1.jpg

Answer 7

order the smallest portion of everything

Answer 8

make your cosmo 100 calories skinnier by mixing a raspberry infused vodka with club soda

Answer 9

odds are you re eating too fast try holding a conversation while having a meal so you re not gulping down more than you need to feel full

Answer 10

if food was your only source of pleasure make sure to reconnect with other things you enjoy music sports volunteer work or movies for example