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2-Minute Fitness
Why would I want to write about yet another fitness program? There are so many out there. There is no escape from fitness programs whether you watch TV or read a magazine or newspaper.
The reality is that most of us are not happy with...
8 Technical Aspects of the Martial Arts
In the past Japanese samurai, Mongolian horsemen, Manchu
bannermen, and European knights spent a lifetime learning the
highly complex art of fighting. It took many years of discipline
to master the techniques of unarmed fighting and fighting...
Black Belts And Good Wine
A few days ago I was sitting at my terrace with some friends talking about the warrior ways whilst having a glass of wine. I like to have a good glass of wine now and then and especially when it is a Spanish red wine. I was looking at the colour of...
Positive Aikido - Part Two
Positive Aikido - Part Two.. When I was teaching in America, I was asked to visit a large dojo in Texas. Everything they said was in Japanese, so I tried to look as if I understood, but to be honest I didn't have a clue, and I don't suppose a...
What Are Hard Style and Soft Style Martial Arts?
Sometimes one would see references to 'hard' style and 'soft'
style martial arts. To many non-martial artists, these terms may
be puzzling. In North America, these terms are used to classify
martial art styles into two main categories....
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Are You Combat Fit?
If you are looking to compete in Ju Jutsu Kumite or submission grappling then one of the main factors to consider and improve his fitness. This, in and of itself, is a vast subject.
Now, when I first began to compete, my supplementary training was primarily weight training and long slow distance running. In terms of strength development I scoffed at anything else other than weight training.
However when sparring with friends and training partners, while initially strong, I soon found myself running out of steam. Eventually, I had to admit, my physical training (while providing aesthetic benefits) was not functional for the goals I had.
When I fought in competition in the earlier days I relied too much on strength and this led to technically superior fighters often using this against me. Essentially, due to my supplementary training, I was gifting fighter’s victory over me!
I began to look into other training and fitness methods from old time fighters and wrestlers, along with more contemporary training protocols.
The result?
Out went the longer slow distance style training along with the weight training the way I had been doing it and in came bodyweight exercises along with deep breathing exercises. As I began to train using my own bodyweight more, and using it as a unit and not isolating little muscles here and there, I noticed my strength endurance go up noticeably!
This is vital when training to compete in a competition format. I also developed a better awareness of my breathing that allowed me to loose tension when I gained a decent controlling position against my opponent. Instead of wasting energy in these positions I conserved it while letting my opponent use his energy trying to escape.
I found that working my body in this more holistic fashion allowed me to condense my workouts into quick, brutal, sessions that closer reflected the chaos of a real time fight than did my previous training methods.
When I first began I could barely do
fifty body weight squats in a row, but that repetitive use of strength is often what is required in a tournament format. I worked my way up to doing, at one time, five hundred in a row in about fifteen to sixteen minutes (I don’t suggest you do this or that it is necessary, it is just I am an extremist!).
Combining squats, push-ups of different varieties, bridge work, hill sprints (a favourite of collegiate wrestlers in America) and many other exercises done in sequence with little rest in-between all served to really improve my competitive fitness.
Also, due to the nature of the training, using as it does the whole body with a keen focus on the breath, I found that my RHR (resting heart rate) dropped down to the low forties! (A normal adults should be around sixty to eighty).
OK, what lesson can be learnt from my experiences?
Well, first of all, I have to say that such training won’t make you technically better. However, it will often allow you to push your opponent beyond his physical thresholds while you remain within yours.
First, train your Ju Jutsu.
Secondly, add in relevant physical fitness and health training.
Allow this training to reflect the full-bodied activity that fighting actually is.
Don’t make the same mistakes I did!
NOTE: This article is not meant to be a knock on weight training. I teach weight lifting as part of my job. It certainly does have benefits and has helped many people. However, never ignore the power and functional strength you can create using your bodyweight from all angles and positions. The crossover to competing is substantial
About the author:
Tim Webb is a fitness instructor, Ju Jutsu instructor, and competitor. His site www.JuJutsu-Training.comprovides articles, techniques, and recommends products that will supercharge your mental strength and martial technique!
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