Martial Arts: is working on the legs heavy going to slow me down?

[crankytexan]

I try to use my wieght lifting to help in my martial arts but I always stayed away from leg exercises since you get a pretty good workout on your legs from kicking the bag. I am afraid that if I lift heavy weights on my legs it will slow down my kicks. I am pretty fast for my height and weight: 6' 2" 190 pounds. Does any body have any experience with this?

I do train heavy weights on my upper body for Judo. I don't look like one of those guys that have toothpicks for legs and a large upper-body. Any suggestions?

[This message has been edited by crankytexan (edited 04-16-2001).]

 

[mac sloan]

Don't worry, keep training your legs.
Just be sure that you are using some sort of stretching method extensively.

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train smart not hard

 

[Arnold]

Boxers used to think that way as well! They thought that weight lifting/bodybuilding would slow them down.
Evander Holyfield hired Lee Haney as a personal trainer! nuff said!

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got muscle?

[This message has been edited by Prince (edited 04-20-2001).]

 

[Scotty the Body]

If anything, increased leg strength from weight training will help your martial arts skills.
I found it encreased the power in my kicks back when I use to practice martial arts, I'm old now and bruse easily.

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Just another day in the gutter

 

[Steveo]

In a word no just make sure that you maintain your flexibility and you'll be fine

 

[crankytexan]

Thanks for all the info. I will probably not use squats too much but will stick with deadlifts,leg press, and leg extensions.

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Everyday is a good day, when you are not six feet under.

 

[karategirl]

Hi there, I say go for it! I was experiencing knee pain from my intense martial arts training and went through physical therapy which included lifting for my legs. I understand that this isn't your problem but the info I found out may pertain. My therapist explained that martial artists have very strong vastus lateralis(outer quad) from kicking and they are weaker in the vastus medius(creates the tear drop on the inner quad). Lifting the legs is going to make you stronger , faster and strengthen the muscles and tendons around the knee.And I'm sure you do a lot of stretching so you wouldn't lose any flexibility.

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KICK BUTT! TAKE NAMES!

 

[crankytexan]

Thanks karategirl.

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Everyday is a good day, when you are not six feet under.

 

[Danny Sullivan]

I have found that keeping in a slightly higher rep range, resting no longer than 2mins between sets and speciically stretching the area around my pelvic girdle on leg days my speed has increased.

Try adapting a basic routine use 3-4 working sets of 18-20 reps.

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What doesn't kill us
makes us strong

 

[Danny Sullivan]

I have found that keeping in a slightly higher rep range, resting no longer than 2mins between sets and speciically stretching the area around my pelvic girdle on leg days my speed has increased.

Try adapting a basic routine use 3-4 working sets of 18-20 reps.

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What doesn't kill us
makes us strong