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Functional Fitness & Combat Conditioning

Most martial artists are always seeking to find a balance between speed, strength, endurance, and flexibility.  Whether you are a San Da fighter (kung fu), Jiu Jitsu stylist or traditional Karateka, conditioning plays a huge role in the development of your overall skill level.

When it comes to conditioning, there are as many different kinds of exercises as there are martial arts (that’s a lot!)  I’m sure that you have heard it all before.  ”Do strength training one day and endurance training the next, and oh don’t forget to stretch!”  The problems with this isolation approach is that it fails to utilize and train the entire body as one cohesive unit.  Running for example, will build cardiovascular endurance but generally fails to build strength and lean muscle mass in the rest of the body.  Look at the physiques of long distance runners as an example.  Weight training although good for building muscle is notorious for building bad joints and restricting flexibility.

Traditional martial artists have been using body weight exercises for generations to simultaneously build strength, endurance and flexibility.  Take as an example a regular push up.

  1. Builds strength & lean muscle mass
  2. Integrates more muscle fiber than a weight machine or free weights by relying on supporting muscle groups for stability
  3. Builds core body strength
  4. Can give you a cardiovascular workout when performed with high repetitions
  5. Enhances flexibility and makes stronger joints
  6. Does not require expensive equipment or access to a gym
There are different body weight exercises that can build, strengthen and tone every part of your body.  The hindu squat, as another example, will build almost every muscle of the legs and lower body.  The gluteal muscles (butt), quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves get worked in one compound movement.  If you want to get that six pack going, well there are exercises for that too.
Body weight exercises, also called functional fitness movements or combat conditioning (for the more martial set), will make you better at your chosen art.  But body weight exercises have another added benefit.  When performed correctly and with proper form, these exercises will actually reduce your chances of injury!  That’s because these kinds of exercises strengthen connective tissue as well as muscle.
Traditional martial artists have been using body weight exercises to supplement their chosen art for many generations.  So if you are looking to improve that roundhouse kick or just simply wanting a way to improve your fitness level, make sure that you incorporate a wide variety of body weight exercises into your training regimen.
Learn more about martial arts training in San Diego visit: whitedragonmartialarts.com

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This entry was posted on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 7:00 am and is filed under Health & Fitness, Kung Fu Kickboxing MMA. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

3 Responses to “Functional Fitness & Combat Conditioning”

  1. Matt Bryers Says:
    November 11th, 2009 at 9:55 am

    I could agree with this article more… bodyweight strength training and strength training in general, whether it be with bodyweight or with weights can only be beneficial to martial arts training. Too many martial artists think that they will sacrifice form, movement and “grace” by strength training, when in fact, it enhances all of those skills.

    A wise man once said: “Being stronger was never a bad thing”

  2. Angela Bendon Says:
    November 12th, 2009 at 9:41 pm

    I appreciate this article a lot, because I used to go to the gym, but with recent economic developments, I just can’t afford it. This just reminds me that there are a ton of effective exercises I can do in my own living room for free that will enhance my studies..Thanks.

  3. bstanley Says:
    November 15th, 2009 at 2:52 pm

    Thanks for your great comments.

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