decreased speed ?

[bushido_man96]

Even with builiding muscle, you should not slow down speed of movements unless you are muscling through the strike. Blocks, punches, kicks should be done with a relaxed technique and then a snap at the end. Doesn't matter how muscular you are if you are doing technique correctly.

I agree with jaymac on this one. Building muscle will not slow you down, however, you need to work on speed if you want to build speed.

The fact that being big and muscle-bound would make you slow and inflexible was a huge misconception back in the '60s and early '70s.

Then along came Joe Lewis.

[Chris05]

i usally fell slower right seconds after i finish bench pressing. i wonder why?

[username8517]

Could simply be muscle fatigue

[bushido_man96]

Could simply be muscle fatigue

This would be my guess as well. Rest a while, and then go to do your punch routine.

[Chris05]

are you sure it is musle fatigue? for instance after i rigourously benchpress . i fell if i had to fight right after my blocks would be slower and also my punches.

[bushido_man96]

are you sure it is musle fatigue? for instance after i rigourously benchpress . i fell if i had to fight right after my blocks would be slower and also my punches.

If I lift with my arms before class, it makes practicing basics a killer for me. My arms get fatigued much faster. Better to lift after class, I think.

[username8517]

are you sure it is musle fatigue? for instance after i rigourously benchpress . i fell if i had to fight right after my blocks would be slower and also my punches.

Could be something other than muscle fatigue, but if I had to guess I would say most likely it is. Basically what happens when you do any kind of workout in which you exert yourself, whether it be strength training, cardio, etc., your body is breaking down sugars and fats inside your body for energy. And the muscles that are more active will break down more sugars and fats in their localized areas as muscle tries to grow.

But this same fatigue can be applied to other work outs as well. For example, if someone tried to mug you after doing rigorous squats, you might find that your running speed and kicks are slower as well.

[DoNkEySlAyEr]

Wow, no one has mentioned this yet, so let me. It all depends in how you train when it comes to weights. Example: training for absolute strength and nothing else (that is, training just for size and max bench press weight or something) will slow you down. Training for fast explosive power (moving the weights quickly throughout the movement) can actually help you speed up. But if you never train for endurance, don't expect to have it, either. Also, almost any time you get significant hypertrophy (addition of muscle fiber) in a short amount of time, athletic performance is hindered.

everyone ought to read this: http://www.rosstraining.com/articles/variety.html

[bushido_man96]

Example: training for absolute strength and nothing else (that is, training just for size and max bench press weight or something) will slow you down. Training for fast explosive power (moving the weights quickly throughout the movement) can actually help you speed up.

I am not so sure that this is the case. Power lifters train for absolute strenght, and are very explosive. Lifting the heavier weight forces the muscles that are working to recruit as many fibers as possible. By recruiting more muscle fibers, they are able to develop more power and explosiveness.