Stage one of an Idea I had...

[DLopez]

I get a kick out of this discussion every time it pops up - specifically, that weight training with heavy weights will make you muscle bound, not as quick, slow, inflexible, etc.

 

If that were the case, then pro athletes whose livelihoods depends on lightning quick reactions, speed, flexibility, and endurance would never power lift as part of their training regimen.

 

If it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me.

 

[Radok]

I have a weighted vest. It goes up to 1OO pounds. I am going to make arm an leg weights to go with it, and I got a good idea on how to ghetto rig them with stuff laying around the house rather than buy them. What I am planning to do is get a bunch of knee socks, as used in soccer, and fill them with sand. Then, tie the open end to the closed end, forming a loop. Finally, wrap it in duct tape, so no leaking occurs. This way, and can make 20 or so, for only a few bucks, and they are probably about the same quality as store bought ones.

[Shorin Ryuu]

There have been clinical studies demonstrating that the increase in speed by most people who train in weight resistance exercises (whether it is sprint drills for track runners or whatever) is mainly a psychological increase. Namely, that you feel faster rather than actually become faster.

 

I used to punch with hand weights (5 lbs each) and have observed the same phenomenon (and I would do it a lot, maybe 1000 times a day, back in my young and reckless days...).

 

That being said, there is a lot be gained from weights in low-stress situations. Back in high school, I walked around with 5 lb. ankle weights on both legs all day long. I never ran with them (I did for a brief period of time, until I was told it was bad for the knees...I was dumb at the time). However, in the span of 7 months or so, I was able to increase the diameter of my ankles by 100%, meaning it doubled over that time period. Due to real world impracticalities in my life, I have stopped doing that years ago, but have never had an ankle injury since...

 

Take it for what it is worth.

[Drunken Monkey]

If that were the case, then pro athletes whose livelihoods depends on lightning quick reactions, speed, flexibility, and endurance would never power lift as part of their training regimen

 

um, i'm pretty sure this has been said before

 

but they retain their reactions/reflexes cos they also train those elements....

 

y'know, it's not like all they do is power lift.

 

the arguments in these type of discussions is normally because people take the extreme views in order to argue

 

i.e they miss the big picture as it were

 

and so to them, to power lift means to do no other form of strength, speed, endurance, reflex training...

 

which you and i, as well as a great deal of people know, isn't true.

 

so, by all means train with heavy weights.

 

just don't skimp out on the other aspects of your training.