How to Condition Train for Martial Arts

One of the great advantages to taking a martial arts class is that it boosts your discipline and gives you an excuse to stay in shape. After all, you can't spar at your highest level unless you're breathing easily and your weight isn't dragging you down. But for the more advanced sparring enthusiasts out there, you can train for your sparring matches in a way that gives you an advantage over your opponent. It's about proper conditioning - and when it comes to martial arts, there's a specific way to do it.

First, you can't be a zealot for one type of work out when you're conditioning for martial arts. Running in on the treadmill will definitely build leg endurance, but if that's all you're doing, you'll be in for a rude awakening. Conditioning for sparring means making sure that all of your body parts and limbs have enough muscle and enough power to last throughout the match, and ultimately wear down your opponent. This means you can't train with just one exercise. You have to mix it up.

If you watched many of today's mixed martial artists train, you'll notice they incorporate a wide range of gut-wrenching exercises aimed at improving every possible muscle on their body. You don't have time to train for five hours a day, however, so let's ask a specific question: what parts of your body can use the most attention?

Start with your legs and make your way up. Training the legs can include everything from swimming and running to squats and leg presses. Moving up the body, you can exercise your core through a rigorous swimming program, and improve your pectoral muscles through bench presses. Your arms can also respond very favorably to weight and resistance training.

It isn't only about the stamina you build up, but the explosiveness. You should be able to exert yourself for furious spurts of intensity and then come back down without making yourself dizzy or light-headed. In order to train for this, you'll often have to do it so that your body becomes used to the demands you place on it. For more help, be sure to consult a fitness expert or personal trainer, and let them know what kind of goals you have. Many trainers offer free consultations, so make sure to take full use of their advice of you're short on money.

Conditioning yourself for martial arts sparring is different than training for a race or a marathon. Be sure your exercises reflect that difference.

Photo credits: thivierr

Originally posted 2009-08-13 03:07:56.

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bench presses, body parts, endurance, enthusiasts, excuse, exercises, intensity, leg presses, legs, martial artists, martial arts class, opponent, pectoral muscles, resistance training, rude awakening, spurts, squats, stamina, treadmill, zealot

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Posted by Martial Arts Karate Kung Fu on February 8, 2012 in Martial Arts. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.