Jack

There is no single perfect guy, like there is no single perfect woman. I'm sure every guy here has a different idea of the perfect woman, but I bet every imagined-woman would be different!

http://www.trickstutorials.com/tutorials_trickselect.htm Enjoy.

I would just like to use this oppurtunity to say that most young women despite saying they want their perfect guy to be "sweet, caring, kind, gentle" and the such, when they get such a guy they just get bored with him and go off with the jerk. Despite what women say, a lot seem to be more attracted to those that have confidence bordering on arrogance. Something to do with how the girl may be used to being treated like a princess by all sorts of nice guys, but some guy that doesn't treat her so well will make her suprised, and make her work harder to impress this guy. This is by no means a complete rule, but a large number of teenage and young adult women seem to fall into this rule. I've been lucky to find myself an exception to this rule. =) No means a bash on women, its just something I've noted from both experience and other people's opinions.

Pullups every day may not be wise. They're a very tough movement and lots of time is needed for the muscles to recover and gain in strength for it. Try doing them every other day.

Well, to give an idea of the routine I was on before and what I am going to do in the future... Monday - Endurance, Flexibility Tuesday - Calisthenics, Technique Wednesday - Technique, Flexibility Thursday - Endurance, Technique Friday - Technique, Flexibility Saturday - Calisthenics plus lower body work Calisthenics went as follows.. 2 minutes pushups, 1 minute rest. Repeated for a total of 4 sets. I would sometimes put weights on my back, or shorten the rest to become more proficient at this. I followed this with a variety of abdominal exercises, and then did four sets of pullups to failure. Sometimes finish it off with Hindu pushups and back bridge. Lower Body work iirc, would involve some weighted squats and deadlifts, then standing with leg extended in front, side, and back kick positions for a length of time, and standing in a deep wide horseriding stance until I could bear it no longer. When I get back into the MA properly, I am going to start a new training way.

My my, you sure have been doing your research. Yes, you keep the rep scheme the same, so when you can do a certain number of reps with a set weight, you up the weightage, thus upping the load of the muscles, thus upping the tearing of muscle fibre, thus causing a greater neurological and physical change for the CNS to allow more muscle fibres to be used in lifting, and the muscle itself to allow the fibres to restitch larger. That is the basis behind weight-based strength training. What I see with combat conditioning is that you up and up the reps further, never adding to resistance thus never causing a greater need for adaption in the strength - the body can already handle this certain weight from a Hindu Pushups, so it doesn't need to develope strength to do something harder than a Hindu Pushup, it just gets better and better at doing that specific move, increasing the endurance to do more with that relatively light resistance. I know many weightlifters, bodybuilders, and powerlifters who have all gone into the armed services and after BUDS, have come out a lot weaker but with a lot of endurance. However, it was noted that many beginners who had not seriously lifted weights before with intensity, came out of BUDS being able to lift a lot more. So, it works differently for different people. I guess the thing that I am confused about here is the distinction between strength and strengthendurance. Your body adapt to what you throw at it. If you throw 150 Hindu Pushups at it, it'll adapt to be better at doing a lot of Hindu Pushups. If you Bench Press so your muscle are done for within eight reps, then your body will adapt to be able to be stronger for those eight reps. A general rule I've always known for this sort of thing is that 2-6 reps will build strength, 8-12 is good for hypertrophy(size), and 15+ is good for endurance. How will doing 150 pushups make you able to do one movement more powerfully? Won't it simply allow a decent amount of strength to be used for a long period of time, than a great amount of strength to be used for a short period of time? Please get back to me, I'm interested in case you hadn't noticed. Peace.

Thanks for the reply. Regarding the powerlifter - 250lbs is pretty low for a Bodybuilder, let alone a Powerlifter. And yes, the fact he could do so little Hindu Squats is not because of a lack of strength, it is because of a lack of endurance. There is a distinct difference. I have done those three exercises before, my old routine consisted of 2 minutes pushups, one minute break, repeated four time, the same with situps, and then 4 sets of pullups or chins to failure. I finished it up with something like 20 hindu pushups, 20 hindu squats, and a minute back bridge. They are tough movements, but they lack the progressive resistance of weights that builds strength - After you can do 15 or so, doing more seems to just build endurance and not additional strength, which is where progressive resistance comes into play, and weights can give just that! However, in a few weeks I will drop the weights and do these for a week, since I only did them twice a week before. It is likely however, that a strength increase would occur whatever I chose to do in that week due to how the switching or routines leads to an additional adaptation, increasing strength. But hey, I'm up for it, why not? LOL.

Matt Furey is strong, very strong, and working with Calisthenics he has proved that the correct moves can build a great deal of strength, but if it came down between him and a top powerlifter of a similar weight in a strength contest, I would have my money on the powerlifter. Eye of the tiger - where is some of this supposed evidence on Bodyweight calisthenics producing stronger athletes than Powerlifting? A good study would be great, not just a link to Furey's website, if possible. Thanks.

Could you direct me to some of this "proof" that calisthenics can produce someone stronger than an Olympic-level Powerlifter? And yes, I've read Matt Furey's website. I can see how callasthenics develope all of the attribute you mentioned above, but I doubt Matt Furey could Squat more than an Olympic Powerlifter, even if he can do 500 Hindu Squats.

Also, would you care to share with us this Mokusoko technique?

Sounds good. I'm lifting weights, no callasthenics or pylometrics at the moment. Also no running or Martial Arts training, since I am aiming to put some muscle on, and am also between schools at the moment. Bench Press, Military Presses, Pullups, Chins, Rows, Squats, Deadlifts. When I get back into the martial arts I will switch from a size-orientated routine to a strength-orientated routine (powerlifting style) and supplement with callasthenics, running, stretching, and of course, technique practice.

Lifting weights will only make you slow if you lift slowly. If you do explosive/Powerlifting style they will make you stronger and FASTER. You would have to lift for years and years to become impractically bulky. And I myself lift weights, as do many I know and it does NOT make them lethargic. Just ask Bretty, does he seem to be feeling tired and lethargic from starting weighttraining? And yes - Weights are superior for building mass than bodyweight exercises. But are you saying they do not build functional strength? I'm no expert, but I think if a guy can Bench 300lbs and Barbell Row 200lbs he would probably have plenty of functional strength. Simple pushups and situps do not build strength after a while, but simply work on endurance. Tougher movements can be used to build strength though you are right - Hindu Pushups, one hand pushups/Pullups, these will build some good strength. Bodybuilders are strong. However, they are more concerned about size than strength, but with one comes another to varying degrees. But, I think Powerlifters can be stronger thanpeople working with their own bodyweight. Powerlifters train solely for strength, and nothing but. No endurance, no working whats practical for their sport, but for pure strength - Forcing their muscles and CNS to adapt and grow stronger. I'm not discrediting those who do work with their Bodyweight, but I doubt any of those guys on "World's strongest man" work solely with callasthenics, and I doubt Matt Furey could Bench 650, or Deadlift 1000. In conclusion - Yes callasthenics are useful, but not the most superior way of building speed and strength. Powerlifting, and Pylometrics would be better for speed/strength.

Hehe, trust me from experience Bretty, you can really "kill" a muscle group in less than an hour. You'll probably overtrain if you lifted an hour every day since your CNS needs to recover, you really don't have to spend that much time in the gym for a single bodypart. Less is more, with intensity. On how many of those 15 sets do you achieve failure? Weightlifting alone will not burn fat off. Correct diet, cardio, and martial arts practice will help to burn fat. Unfortunately - You cannot burn fat and put on muscle at the same time. This is where some Bodybuilding terms will have to be used. Bodybuilders use the term "bulking" for eating to gain muscle - they each a caloric surplus since that is what is needed for the fuel to put on muscle. However, with this comes some fat, which is later removed by a "cutting phase", which introduces less eating and more cardio. And on the supplement front - I would recommend some L-Glutamine, since it is an important amino acid that comes in useful when trying to lose fat. It protects muscle from being broken down for fuel, so the body uses fat for energy instead of muscle tissue. I wouldn't worry about buying a fat burner, when proper training and diet can work as effectively.

Hehe, I'm glad to see that you too are reaping the rewards of the weights.

Hey Bretty. Yes, when you're going heavy on the weights your energy is going to get sapped, your muscles are going to get fatigued and you're going to feel tired. This is all a part of heavy weightlifting - you have to focus your mind beyond it and just lift that weight. However, incase it is problems with energy levels then I suggest a good meal two hours beforehand, consisting on a starchy complex carb source such as pasta or rice, as well as a source of fat for prolonged energy. How intense are your workouts? 15 sets is unnecessary if you are working intensely, I would recommend 12 for larger body parts such as legs, chest, and back, and 9 for smaller parts such as Biceps, Triceps, Shoulders. Working out 5 days a week may tax your CNS (Central Nervous System) so you may want to consider splitting your lifting into three days, such as Monday Chest/Tri, Wednesday Back/Bi, Friday Legs/Shoulder, to allow for more rest for your CNS to recover. As a note - the weightlifting portion of your workout should last no longer than about 50 minutes, after this Cortisol levels rise which are responsible for breaking down muscle tissue for fuel - you do NOT want this! You can also do CV after a workout even if you feel low on energy. The weightlifting will have used the glycogen stores from your muscle, so doing Cardio afterwards would use the next fuel sources - muscle and fat. With the correct length and tempo of cardio, fat usage can be maximised, and muscle usage minimised. If you wish to lose fat however, the best time for cardio would be before breakfast, since you have just fasted for 8 or more hours and have no glycogen in your muscles. Whew, I hope that helped.

Well if you're following a standard weightraining routine you move the weight slowly, so the type of muscle fibre that is used for absolute strength, and not for speed strength is being torn and grown. If you want to pack on some weight whilst not slowing down your punches, try explosive lifting, pylometrics, and powerlifting - these are all about strength and not size, but have you ever seen a powerlifter who can squat 600lbs but has small legs? So, lift a lighter weight with the concentric motion being as fast as possible, and then lower it at a normal speed.

Welcome to KarateForums.com

Hehe, welcome back buddy. How was the move? Did all go well?

I always eat something before bed, usually some peanut butter, cottage cheese, and milk - why? The Casein protein in these products digests slowly overnight to be used in repairing muscle tissue. Since when you sleep, most growing and growth hormone is released, I capitalise on this by eating some slow-digesting proteins. However, not that this is beneficial for bodybuilders but perhaps may not make a significant difference to a martial artist that doesnt partake in weight training.

Cool, I hope all is well settling back in. Maybe you should create a new thread to announce your return (General chat;)) Welcome back!

So sweet and thoughtful.

Exactly - our genes determine pretty much all of the basic things about us, but our own habits can either squander or maximise our possible height, weight, muscle tone etc. For exameple, some people are built tall and skinny by nature (an ectomorph) but with proper nutrition and exercise, they can grow to be buff. Although again, your genetics limit how much you can grow, and so this is why people take steroids in bodybuilding and powerlifting - to pass the genetic limit and become even bigger and stronger. Same applies to height to a degree. You have a certain set height which you cannot pass. However we squander this by not eating right, not sleepin enough, not exercising to release growth hormones, etc. so by again - proper nutrition and exercise, we can grow to this genetic limit. I just hope there aren't any drugs with dangerous side affects to make you taller. And monkeygirl - some of the smilies look quite happy without noses.

Oh, and yes - everyone in my Dojang pretty much progresses at the same speed, it is hard for a student to fail at a grading although if you try hard and practice a lot you generally get a far higher mark.

Thanks for the wellwishing, three60. That's very generous of your BJJ instructor to allow you to train for free, how often do you get to go for a lesson there? And yes, I may be getting some Muay Thai videos off of a friend to do a bit of unofficial "dabbling" too. And it does appear to be a trend from all of the teens on this site that parents tend to not understand our needs in the Martial Arts, no matter how well they are put to them. I wonder whats the deal with that? It's not that they are so completely against it in cases, a lot of it is to do with money - my dad was completely against me leaving Taekwondo but said I could do Taekwondo at another school... but if I was taking a new martial art he would be very dissapointed in me and make me pay for myself (sort of a blackmail, since he knew I couldn't afford lessons) So, now that just means I'll go and get a job.

Mike - I have been training in Taekwondo for the past 16 months, and achieved Blue Belt (4th Kyu) I think that is too little time for a belt so high. Kensai - this is what appeals to me about Tai Chi. I feel it is a complete internal art that will concentrate on the coordination of energy, body, and mind - which is vital to a martial artist. How do you think the internal part of your Aikido compares to your friend's Tai Chi study?