Warm up vs practice time

[NightOwl]

due to my limited memory and attention span, I often forget if a topic has been addressed before. Therefore, I proudly present the SPECIAL EDITION of the topic (just you know, in case) : How much time should be devoted in class to warming up/exercise? How much is too much? Should it be part of class at all? Your thoughts, please

[bushido_man96]

I think that around 15 to 20 minutes should be put towards a good warm-up session. Now, if you are good, you can make the warm-up class-related, as in a good session of basics/kihon.

[NightOwl]

I'd agree- bag work, speed drills, light sparring, etc can also function as warm up. Or conversely, you can always tell students that the crunches they are doing are for the sole purpose of toughening up their stomachs so that they can 'take a punch' . I've also been to places that did laps/some other warm ups for about 10 min, but offered a separate conditioning course (although a good part of the sparring was warm up as well).

However I've been at the opposite end of the spectrum as well. My TKD class was usually about half exercise, and at my Judo class, I've timed it up to 40 min . At that point I'd rather be learning then warming up.

[NewEnglands_KyoSa]

i'd say 10-15 minutes is appropriate for stretching, i'd say around 10 because the beginning of class(for us atleast) can usually be considered dynamic stretching just because of the basic part of it and its semi-slow to medium speed.

[pegasi]

I'd say that 10 min of a 1 hour class is the most that should be spent on pure warmup/stretching. Spending an additional 10 on basic techniques as additional warm up is simply good review, so I wouldn't complain if doing something actively ma related as part of a warm up, but wasting 20 min or more of a 1 hour class on purely stretching/strengthening type exercises would make me wonder what I'm paying for - ma or aerobics?

[bushido_man96]

I'd say that 10 min of a 1 hour class is the most that should be spent on pure warmup/stretching. Spending an additional 10 on basic techniques as additional warm up is simply good review, so I wouldn't complain if doing something actively ma related as part of a warm up, but wasting 20 min or more of a 1 hour class on purely stretching/strengthening type exercises would make me wonder what I'm paying for - ma or aerobics?

I understand your concerns here, and I think that they are valid. However, when schools don't spend some time on these things, we end up with Martial Artists that are not in good enough shape to hold a fight, which lessens the quality of the student. A happy medium would be if you can keep the warm-up "sport-specific" so that it ends up doubling as an applicable MA workout. That way, it serves a dual purpose.

At my school, we spend between 15 and 20 minutes doing basics. These are very tiring, and I always get a good sweat going. However, we don't spend time stretching as a class, and I have noticed that this has hurt my flexibility to an extent. It could be related to the fact that I am just getting older, as well. I do stretch on my own while others do forms at times, or after class, which helps some, but I could use more.

[Rateh]

I think it also depends on the intensity of the warm-up. I know when I teach I do a fast but high intensity warm-up. Everyone gets good and sweaty, and it doesn't take up time. Then we get on with the training.

One warm-up is pushups 'n' situps laps. Run a lap, do 10 push-ups, run a lap, do 10 sit-ups. Fast as you can, till 10 laps.

I also like count downs. 10 jumping jacks, 10 sit-ups, 10 push-ups. Repeat with 9. Continue till your down to 1. Race the other students, but still do good technique.

I no longer teach classes (aside from a 3-4 year old one) because I'm training at a new school. Our warm-ups are always martial arts specific. Sometimes its just going through the forms up till your rank. Today we did basics as a warm-up. And then basics up and down the floor for the rest of the class.

[yingampyang]

I think that 20-30 mins should be spent on warm up. Excersie is just as improtant for the body, and the rest of martial arts.

[NightOwl]

I'd say that 10 min of a 1 hour class is the most that should be spent on pure warmup/stretching. Spending an additional 10 on basic techniques as additional warm up is simply good review, so I wouldn't complain if doing something actively ma related as part of a warm up, but wasting 20 min or more of a 1 hour class on purely stretching/strengthening type exercises would make me wonder what I'm paying for - ma or aerobics?

This is something that I struggle with. To be honest, the 35-40 min workout takes up sometimes more than half the class. While I realize the need to be in shape, you could easily streamline the process with less time spent on low impact stretching and using randori or something similar for cardio in which you exercise and learn at the same time. Half the class is way too much time for my tastes. In BJJ, you were expected to do your stretching before class, and light sparring was used for a warmup (and trust me, that definitely counts as cardio).

[marie curie]

I've found that my students need different amounts of warm-up time to feel good ab out moving on, so our first 30 mins of a 2-hr session is kind of independent. It's largely a - hey you know cover technique number 6... i need to know that, could we work together- sort of situation, but one girl does a lot of cardio (on the bag or something) and a couple of the boys like to take 15 mins to stretch.