I train Kung fu, karate and tai chi

[MichaelusesKnowledge]

I am currently Training in 2 schools 1) Teaches Kung Fu Styles (Wing Chun, Crane, Tiger, Snake, Dragon), and Yang Tai Chi. 2) Teaches Gojo Ryu Karate. I Also Attempt to do my own weight training at the gym. My question is how and how much should i b training in this situation? I feel like i could b doing more, my body often disagrees...

[isshinryu5toforever]

What exactly are your fitness goals? That would help us determine if you are overdoing it right now. A lot of people work harder than they should, and they don't gain anything because their body never recovers. In fact, over a long period of time, you are probably doing more harm to your body than good. So let us know what your goals are, and what do you mean by weight training? If you're on a good strength training plan, that's awesome, but if you just go to the gym and do what you feel like, we need a few more details.

[MichaelusesKnowledge]

Currently I want to keep Kung Fu training the same. I go twice a week for a 1 hr and a 1hr1/2 class, with the addition of a 1hr tai chi class.

I would like to implement tai chi in the morning every day...finding laziness a big factor there...

Karate i would like to b training 3 times a week. i usual go for one or two 1 hr classes.

at the gym i am aiming for 200lbs on bench press, 4min km run for 5 km, be able to do 20-30 chinups in a row, and 100 pushups in a row...i can do 165lb once, run 5.5min km run for 5k i do about 10 chinups in a row, and do about 50-60 pushups at best.

I divided my gym days so i get 1 day of cardio abs, 1 of chest/back, 1 of shoulders/arms, 1 of legs. I do abs every day, with stretching and 5min warmup doing running, eliptical or bike. for each major muscle group i do 9 sets aiming for 12

I currently weight 140lb and like to be 145lb

Also for flexibility wise im wanting to b able to do the splits and train to hold kicks in the air for strenghthing, i have a copy of stretching scientifically that i have been using to help

Is what i am doing too much, or would it b that im not doing enough?

[isshinryu5toforever]

That would be over training. You need to find a good strength training program to follow. Most will have you in the gym lifting 2-3 days a week. If you're big on running, you should also be on a running plan to help you hit your goals. Going on an actual plan will help you a lot more than just going to the gym and doing things in mass volume. Both ways will help you reach your goals, one way is just much faster than the other. Be careful with stretching. It's a very slow process, and it will take a year or more to get your desired level of flexibility depending on where you are now. Be patient with that.

What you're trying to do takes a ton of dedication.

Here is some stuff to get your started:

http://www.chicagomarineofficer.com/Downloads/PT/thearmstrongworkout.pdf

http://www.halhigdon.com/5K%20Training/5-Knovice.htm

http://hundredpushups.com/

These take patience and discipline. Start at the beginning, don't take any shortcuts, and in 3 or 4 months you're likely to be a lot closer to your goals. The key here is to not get bored. YOU have to keep yourself motivated. You want functional strength, not to be able to push a lot of weight. So, I don't know how much lifting is going to help you. You can find a strength training program that utilizes weights, there is the BFS program and the 5x5 program.

Note: I would do the Armstrong workout and the running workout first. Then do the pushup workout once you've hit your pullup goal. Keep maintenance on your pullups by doing 20 or so a day.

[bushido_man96]

Pull-ups suck. I've found that I have a terrible time making improvements on them.

[isshinryu5toforever]

Pullups do suck, but they get easier if you're on a running program with a pullup program. The more weight you lose, the easier they get. The guy above at 140 pounds, should be able to move himself quite easily, but he might lack muscle at that weight, which is why he should be on a strength training program, a real one like the strong lifts 5x5.

[MichaelusesKnowledge]

Thank you very much for the help. I really appreciate it.

As for the pullups "sucking" thats a goal that I want personally, and watch this and tell me if it doesnt inspire you on some level to get better at pullups http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfsTKfUT-RQ.

Im going to do the bfs program as well as the pullup program. i think those are going to b enough to implent the first couple weeks, than throw in the running program on an intermediate level after a cycle of bfs.

As for my karate, kung fu and tai chi... should i b going to classes more? at this rate its 1-2 days karate 2 kung and 1 tai class...I also find myself traing a good 1hr a week on the bags at the gym. should i b training more on my own or spend more time in the dojo and studio?...

[isshinryu5toforever]

You're hitting a point where you have to pick one. Unless you have no job and you don't go to school, you're going to have trouble maintaining this routine. It's not good for your body either. Unless you've built up to the point you're at though, and if you have that would mean you're on a plan, you're pushing too hard too fast.

If you're going to martial arts classes that much, do you really need a body improvement plan? If you're training at good places, they should be making you do all the pushups, situpts, etc. that you need to do to get progressively stronger. The only thing they would lack would be the long distance cardio element that a running program would provide. You could use the strength training plan to help yourself along, but you might find the others difficult to maintain.

How much time do you spend in a gym on daily basis?

[MichaelusesKnowledge]

Well you hit the nail on the head. I currently dont go to school or work. i am trying to allow my life to get absorbed into martial arts. im 20 yrs old right now and living wiht parents so its been working out for now...

I find that i dont get enough pushups and situps in 3-4 classes a week. i have found from previous training on my own with pushups that i can do 40-60, and situps 100-200 daily, most classes offer 20-40 pushups, sometimes none, situps sometime 30-50. sometime however itll get overloaded with 600 crunches at the beginning of a class for no reason but that is a rarity, like bi annual rarity.

I have built up to the point where i can continue the training routine i have been doing, although i do feel fatigue i am most of the time able to tackle the whole week of 3-4 days at dojo, 3-4 days at the gym for about 6-8 weeks then i usually try to change something or simply take a look at the ways i can improve the routine itself. this is more outa of boredom or new interests arising as i progress, than it is out of a neccesity for rest. currently im in this post training pre training limbo, so the programs u have advised can b implemented easily at this time i think.

as for the gym. 2-3 day ill do weights. if i go 4 days the majority of time i spend will b on the gyms punching bags. when i go the time is avg 1 1/2hrs, min 1 hr, max 2hrs plus. my wieghts dont take long because i try to keep a consistent minute between sets, so the majority of time ends up being on the bag or some cardio.

Now as for making a choice the long term and overall goal i want to b centered around martial arts, all the time spent in the gym is training to improve myself for martial arts purposes, ie increasing speed , strength, etc.

[Elizabeth]

What's your ultimate goal? Do you want to become an MA instructor, or a trainer?

I ask because from an employment point of view, if you have a long period of time where you're not in school or in work you may find it difficult to get started on an employment path if it doesn't involve professional MA.