Gym Workout using your MA Training

[Nidan Melbourne]

Whilst at the Gym doing your usual workout, who incorporates some form of their Martial Arts Training into their workout? 

Be it your stance, performing certain kihon whilst using certain equipment, Kata with resistance (weighted ankles/hands etc).

So for me I do: 

- Sumo Squats (Close to Shiko Dachi) 

- Cable Machine w/ Rotation (Simulates Mawate) - use different stances and transition into other stances

- Cable Rows (Pulling back like Hikite)

[bushido_man96]

I used to do stuff like that, but don't do it anymore.  I don't know that it helps all that much, and prefer to use my time in the gym to get stronger overall.  It can be fun to try to make strength training look like that athletic endeavor we do, but in the grand scheme of things, I don't think they help that much over a long period of time.

[KarateKen]

Never been much of a factor for me that I can recall, other than falling when I lost my balance on the medical ball. Or whatever that big silver one is called. 

[Nidan Melbourne]

On 10/29/2024 at 8:54 AM, bushido_man96 said:

I used to do stuff like that, but don't do it anymore.  I don't know that it helps all that much, and prefer to use my time in the gym to get stronger overall.  It can be fun to try to make strength training look like that athletic endeavor we do, but in the grand scheme of things, I don't think they help that much over a long period of time.

Its actually quite fascinating when you look at movement patterns and some movements from some martial arts how similar they are to each other. 

When you look at Shiko Dachi; it is similar to a squat movement (regardless of foot positioning) - which in the real world equates to picking things up from the ground, along with sitting down/standing up from a seated position. 

An interesting one is a single legged position (Crane Stance; see Saifa Kata); now some say this is a stretch but climbing stairs, running, walking and climbing in general or being able to clear obstacles. Oh and the obvious great for working balance; which as we get older becomes more and more of an issue. 

Food for thought; Front Kick is a great one for building strength and endurance in the muscle for walking and having to carefully place for movement.

So with that in mind; even if you don't utilise MA in your normal Gym Workout, but when you go to make a particular exercise more difficult or to target muscles slightly differently it comes in handy in knowing where to place them in functional places that will work.