The Best Weight Training Exercises for Martial Artists

There are many people who dont agree with weight training for martial arts. They argue that the use of weights, tenses up muscles and flexibility is lost. When looking at bodybuilder Tom Platz stretch his legs into all kinds of seemingly impossible positions, I fail to see how flexibility is lost. In the modern world we live in and the advances of science it has been proved what weights not only develops muscle strength and speed, but tendons and ligaments are also conditioned which is vital for all the impact training received in martial arts. My opinion is that the best weight training exercises are those that work a lot of muscles at the same time, and because of the nature of these exercises it is nearly always the biggest and most used muscles that are worked. Deadlifts are my favorite. They work nearly every muscle in your body and are designed to create a very powerful physique. Also, there is no other exercise in the gym where you can lift as much weight with than the deadlift. For grapplers and strikers, i recommend this exercise as a vital part of there training. Bench Presses are also very important for both types of fighters. Using the exact muscles you would use for punching, you can create powerful and explosive striking with this exercise as it works nearly all the muscles of the upper body to some extent concentrating mainly on the chest, shoulders and triceps and back muscles secondarily. Also bench presses can build the strength required in controlling opponents when clinching and when on the floor. Every martial artist can benefit with leg exercises such as Squats and Leg Presses as powerful thunderous legs will help when moving, bobbing, slipping, throwing, pickups, and of course kicking. Also an experienced groundfighter will know that legs play an important role when grappling on the floor and to have them conditioned is a must. Grapplers will also benefit with exercises that work the back muscles such as Barbell Rows and Chins as the muscles used when throwing and taking down opponents are worked. It is encouraged that whatever martial art practised, exercises that work every part of the body should be incorporated into there training regime, so deadlifts, squats, leg presses, bench presses, bent over rows and chins should be used. There are many more obviously but these four exercises should consume the core of your weight training and after a period of time not only will your muscles become well conditioned but you will develop a certain explosiveness that will transcend into your fighting. I advise that a spotter is used at all times for safety reasons when weight training and correct form is maintained always. Correct breathing is always important also, and you should always breath out on the lift and breath in when returning to the starting position. For descriptions on these exercises just search them on the Internet and more than enough websites will pop up explaining them.

Marks

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