Physical conditioning in FMA

[TheSilentOne]

I would like to get in top physical shape. What body conditioning excersices does FMA use ?

Examples of unique karate body conditioning ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrXjM1HZ7Zs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUMHyjESCkg

[jwinch2]

Don't worry about using conditioning exercises specifically from FMA. Just find a good fitness professional to get you going in the right direction. Make sure that they have the credentials, experience, and educational background to properly guide you. Just like Martial Arts instruction, there are plenty of frauds and self appointed gurus out there. Do your homework and you will be much better off in the long run, not to mention less likely to get injured and you will make better progress. Anyone can put you on a cookie cutter workout program that they got out of last months muscle mag or from a weekend seminar by crossfit. A properly educated fitness professional will be able to design something specific for your needs and properly evaluate your progress over time. In addition, any issues that come up along the way will be more likely to be dealt with in an intelligent fashion.

I strongly recommend looking for someone with either at least a bachelor's degree in a fitness related field and who has certification from the American College of Sports Medicine, the National Strength and Conditioning Association, or USA Weightlifting.

After that, just train hard and consistently and the rest will take care of itself.

[sjansen]

Don't worry about using conditioning exercises specifically from FMA. Just find a good fitness professional to get you going in the right direction. Make sure that they have the credentials, experience, and educational background to properly guide you. Just like Martial Arts instruction, there are plenty of frauds and self appointed gurus out there. Do your homework and you will be much better off in the long run, not to mention less likely to get injured and you will make better progress. Anyone can put you on a cookie cutter workout program that they got out of last months muscle mag or from a weekend seminar by crossfit. A properly educated fitness professional will be able to design something specific for your needs and properly evaluate your progress over time. In addition, any issues that come up along the way will be more likely to be dealt with in an intelligent fashion.

I strongly recommend looking for someone with either at least a bachelor's degree in a fitness related field and who has certification from the American College of Sports Medicine, the National Strength and Conditioning Association, or USA Weightlifting.

After that, just train hard and consistently and the rest will take care of itself.

As far as college degrees, they are over rated. I have four and know that what you are told by a well educated and experienced instructor is far superior to anything that you will get from someone with a bachelor's degree. Just doing the FMA exercises reopeatedly should train your body to meet or exceed what is necessarry for FMA. These exercises are body specific and only doing the exercises you do in class will ingrain the proper muscle memory and strengthen the muscles needed. I work out weekly and am still fatigued in the shoulder region after a good FMA session. Seek guidance from your instructor. They and your body will tell you what you need to work on.

[jwinch2]

Your FMA instructor is unlikely to know jack about how to properly condition your body. They are trained to teach you a set of skills that is FMA they are not trained to understand how the body responds to work and to improve your conditioning, strength, or power. If they were, they would know that there is no such thing as muscle memory.

[arnisador]

I think you're both right--doing FMA prepares you to do FMA, but it won't provide overall conditioning. For that, consult a trainer at a gym!

[tiburon2112]

Invest the time to see what fitness strategy works for you. I view physical fitness as "combative conditioning" and incorporate body weight exercises (a la Steve Cotter, Steve Maxwell), CF workouts w/ dumbells & kettlebells, heavy bag, skip rope, elastic strength bands, running/sprint intervals into a timed 30-40min session.

My recommendation: research....consult with a trained professional....set your personal goals....decide on your combative conditioning strategy....do it....monitor your performance and adjust routine, as req'd. Partially concur with jwinch2. Train hard and train consistently.

After consulting with a fitness professional and trying your plan, you can view some interesting workouts that are posted on CF, DBMA, and WarriorTalk websites/forums.

"Remember, success is a journey, not a destination. Have faith in your abilities" - Bruce Lee

[tiburon2112]

Invest the time to see what fitness strategy works for you. I view physical fitness as "combative conditioning" and incorporate body weight exercises (a la Steve Cotter, Steve Maxwell), CF workouts w/ dumbells & kettlebells, heavy bag, skip rope, elastic strength bands, running/sprint intervals into a timed 30-40min session.

My recommendation: research....consult with a trained professional....set your personal goals....decide on your combative conditioning strategy....do it....monitor your performance and adjust routine, as req'd. Partially concur with jwinch2. Train hard and train consistently.

After consulting with a fitness professional and trying your plan, you can view some interesting workouts that are posted on CF, DBMA, and WarriorTalk websites/forums.

"Remember, success is a journey, not a destination. Have faith in your abilities" - Bruce Lee

[Brock]

Footwork drills are a great way to improve cardio while working on FMA as well as sparring. I've used heavier sticks for drilling techniques as well.

[arnisador]

A good cardio workout is just going crazy with your stickwork on a dummy or tree, working in your footwork as suggested--continue until exhausted, or your sticks wear out!

[TheSilentOne]

I strongly recommend looking for someone with either at least a bachelor's degree in a fitness related field and who has certification from the American College of Sports Medicine, the National Strength and Conditioning Association, or USA Weightlifting. After that, just train hard and consistently and the rest will take care of itself.

That made me wonder What are the European and Asian organizations dedicated to physical fitness in speed, power and strength like the U.S. organizations ACSM and the NSCA ? and thanks to the guys for the replies.

[jwinch2]

The UK Strength and Conditioning Association and the European College of Sports Science are both quite reputable. The NSCA has chapters in Japan and China as well which are very active.

[Brock]

A good cardio workout is just going crazy with your stickwork on a dummy or tree
I forgot to mention that. I really need to get around to making those tire dummies....

[TheSilentOne]

This guy is hardcore old school.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH8xH_CrwvY

[arnisador]

Tak Kubota--he's great!Eh, some extreme training there though...

[Brian R. VanCise]

I forgot to mention that. I really need to get around to making those tire dummies....

Yes a tire dummy, tree or even a good heavy bag makes for an excellent work out! http://www.fmatalk.com/images/icons/icon14.gif I make sure that bag work is an integral part of my every day work out routine. I will say though that I do vary it up with what I am doing. (stick, empty hand, etc)

[Brock]

Tak Kubota--he's great!Eh, some extreme training there though...
You wanna' see some extreme karate training I'd say look at Goju-Ryu's Morio Higaonna Sensei.

[PG Michael B]

Kettlebells, Kettlebells, Kettlebells

[TheSilentOne]

You wanna' see some extreme karate training I'd say look at Goju-Ryu's Morio Higaonna Sensei.

You mean like this ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU3SX2ZfTUA

How to make your own ...

http://www.otgka.co.uk/supplementary.htm

[Brock]

Kettlebells, Kettlebells, Kettlebells
Got one sitting in my living room so it's the 1st thing I see in the morning when the coffee makes my brain function!:kaioken:

[Brian R. VanCise]

Kettle bells rule! http://www.fmatalk.com/images/icons/icon14.gif

[TheSilentOne]

Pavel Tsatsouline's kettlebells cost a fortune. Are there any high quality kettlebells for a reasonable price ?

[arnisador]

http://www.dragon-tsunami.org/Tsunami/Graphics/Covers/Pangai_5_3D.jpg (http://www.dragon-tsunami.org/Tsunami/Pages/pn5rev.htm)

(Uechi-ryu karate, from her (http://www.dragon-tsunami.org/Tsunami/Pages/section5.htm#pangai5)e.)

[punisher73]

Your FMA instructor is unlikely to know jack about how to properly condition your body. They are trained to teach you a set of skills that is FMA they are not trained to understand how the body responds to work and to improve your conditioning, strength, or power. If they were, they would know that there is no such thing as muscle memory.


Muscle memory does exist. It just an easier way to say "myelination" and people will understand what you are saying easier. Myelination is the process of that happnes when new information is learned. Myelin is a fatty protein that the brain releases to coat the connection between two dendrites. It is done the first time a connection is made. The more reps done the "thicker" the connection. To put it another way. When you first learn a physical skill, your body has no specific way to do it. It will try and find the closest "program" to help you out. This is why your movements take lots more energy and muscle to do. As you properly learn the skill your body starts to get rid of the unnecessary things until it becomes fluid and efficient. It is at this point when it becomes an almost unconscious process that people call it "muscle memory".

[punisher73]

Pavel Tsatsouline's kettlebells cost a fortune. Are there any high quality kettlebells for a reasonable price ?

I think they sell them on ebay. I'm not sure of the comparable price though. I have also seen them at MC Sporting goods (up to 25 lbs) because they are becoming the "in thing" now.

For those that use them, are they really that much better than just doing the exercises with a DB?

[Brock]

For those that use them, are they really that much better than just doing the exercises with a DB?

Yes, the weight has an awkward balance to it so, there are more stablizing muscle groups used when using them.

Heath- Century carries kettlebells as well, and you really don't need a very heavy one to start out with. I have a 20# I'll try to remember to bring to class for you to try. That'll be a good guage as to what weight you'd need.