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Post by Gary Steuer on Jul 2, 2007 4:14:14 GMT -5
When you are working out what do you do, what do you think, how do you feel, are there things you want to improve on.........
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Post by barneyusmc on Jul 4, 2007 18:41:29 GMT -5
Hi, just a question to all y'all. I want to get started on a weight workout to help supplement my kung fu training.. Any suggestions as to what to do and when to do it, before or after. where I workout we have a small gym and it's pretty good as far as what we have to workout with. Is there anyone who has done weights for a while and sees the benefit of using them in their kung fu ? We do a lot of grappling, and forms, The style is CLF and some animals. Mostly Tiger & Crane. what to you guys do ? I think the weights will help in the Chin na grappling. What do you think? Thanks.
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Post by Gary Steuer on Jul 8, 2007 0:24:31 GMT -5
Hi Barney, Sorry I couldn't answer you sooner. As far as lifting weights there are lots of different ideas about them. First of all if you look at any frescos from the Shaolin temple you will see that everyone was doing some sort of physical training including using fulcrums and levers and lifting large stones on poles and lifting buckets filled with all sorts of stuff.... If you are just beginning I'd suggest following a simple routine of one day doing upper body, to include, bench pressing, dumbell presses, butterflies, dips, pushups, tricep work, bicep work and finish off doing your martial art forms. Next work out would include squats or leg presses, such as Pat suggested if there is no equipment available. Various pulling motions for the back and to include daily midsection work and aerobics such as your form training... Can't really go into detail without knowing what is available for you to workout with....Also check the internet for www.davedraper.com a great site geared towards both novice and experienced lifters............ Good luck and keep me posted ! |
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Post by jingwah on Jul 9, 2007 12:06:32 GMT -5
Hi Barney
One good thing about kung fu is that you don't have to spend a lot of money on equipment. Many day-to-day things become weights for weight training if you use them. A lot of movements in the forms are powerful exercises when you contract the muscles briefly at the end. You can easily make sand bags and toss and catch them in a tiger claw to build upper body strength. Rectangular construction bricks can be lifted with one or both hands and even passed between classmates to build upper body strength. Holding a broom straight out from the body by the handle and raising and lowering it with the wrists works the forearms. Holding one single sheet of newspaper away from the body and then crinkling it slowly into a ball and then smoothing it out is great for all the muscles in the hands. Finding a flight of stairs and then doing them two at a time but slowly and with control is great for the legs. Many people have to start with one stair and work up. So much workout! So little Time!
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Post by jingwah on Jul 9, 2007 12:24:07 GMT -5
Hi Barney
If you want my opinion on how to do weights and kung fu this is it: Variety.
Rotate through a number of freeweight, dumbell and machine exercises for each body part frequently. Aim for complete range of motion vs simply lifting a heavy weight. Do lots of body weight workout, too. Neglect yoga at your peril because yoga helps insure quality breathing, functional strength, flexibility (flexibility is actually strength and stretching because muscles work in pairs and the stretching muscle is being pulled by a working muscle) and the smaller, neglected muscles. Either do forms for aerobics or do some cardio workout, preferably one that works both upper and lower body (swimming and nordictrack are good). Use your mind to work your forms even when you are doing other kinds of workout. Or if you can't workout at all
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Post by barneyusmc on Jul 9, 2007 18:20:34 GMT -5
Thank you Jim ! you are so right. The things we have around us can always be used ! There are many different styles of yoga here, from the plain stretching kind to the tantric. I'm kinda lost when it comes to that, is there anything you'd recommend ? It seems to me like you guys are a group of very knowledgable martial artists. I have been to other forums and most of the other people seem really full of themselves and don't really seem to know very much. Thanks !
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Post by youngfool on Jul 10, 2007 12:39:46 GMT -5
I think we ultimately have to make our own yoga.
Legend has it that the first shaolin exercises, 18 lohan introdueced to the temple by Tamo/ Bodhidarma, were actually Buddist yoga exercises for health and vitality.
So I think most traditional forms can be "yoga-ized". Any and every yoga style can give us keys. I don't think it's necessary to fit exactly into extreme postures. Some bodies simply can't do it. But it's the intent and purpose, to explore and press the edges of what your body can do, in strength and flexability.
A key issue with stretching is to NOT strech ligaments, because it will weaken the joints.
However muscles attatch to bone with tendons, and streaching muscle and tendon streangthens both.
Oh, and don't forget to breath!
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Post by jingwah on Jul 14, 2007 13:41:02 GMT -5
I didn't realize for a long time how interconnected yoga and kf are. Youngfool is right, you make your own yoga by the intention you bring to the posture and your breathing. All the moves have multiple functions and one can be yoga (yogic?) If you are mindful of how your body is moving, or the position it is in when it is stopped. Perhaps the key is always be breathing, no grunting. Each movement has several directions and several opposites and you want to be moving in all of them at once...with mind intent choosing the main direction.
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Post by Gary Steuer on Jul 14, 2007 21:02:54 GMT -5
Very good explanation ! This is something that only time will teach you. You've spent your time well !
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jay
Junior Member
Posts: 89
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Post by jay on Jul 19, 2007 20:16:31 GMT -5
When I practice my forms, I focus on visualization, intent and internal aspects. I always making sure that my body is positioned correctly. I take my time, very rarely going fast. Hard to visualize with too much speed. As far as internal, I concentrate on muscle contraction, breathing and try to feel what I'm doing rather than just moving. You can't do the forms without the other side, whether it be with a partner or visualizing. Otherwise it is empty.
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Post by Gary Steuer on Jul 20, 2007 22:18:13 GMT -5
Very good Jay ! The things you wanted to learn when you first started have now been put into another file and the things that are neccessary for learning correctly have taken their rightful place.. Your progress will be slow , and deliberate, but this is what will stay with you now for the rest of your life ( This is for all of you older students.) ! Trying to explain what you have taken years and years to learn is near an impossibility to those just beginning, so have patience with those you are teaching ! The beginners are all consumed with " Whats next . " Only natural .......... You guys are what makes this art so special, especially for me.............
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jay
Junior Member
Posts: 89
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Post by jay on Jul 21, 2007 17:35:35 GMT -5
It is ironic, if that's the right word to explain this, that as we get older we understand better but don't have the same mobility, speed, etc. (for most of us) as we did when we were younger, so we compensate by producing more power internally with better execution of technique. It is hard to absorb everything in the beginning, unless one is exceptionally gifted. Quality of practice makes a big difference.
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Post by jingwah on Jul 23, 2007 10:36:27 GMT -5
Hi Jay
Ibterestig, huh?
I think it is compensation. When you are young you are at your strongest , when older you NEED some "other way." The Chinese Tai Qi saying is something like "when an old man defeats many younger opponents, how can it be due to strength?" Or the other one from somewhere "age and treachery defeat youth and strength every time." You also don't necessarily become weaker until you are after 70, sometimes not even then. You lose speed, flexibility and some endurance so your priorities and intentions change.
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Post by youngfool on Jul 24, 2007 11:54:07 GMT -5
Along these lines af aging ;D I really enjoyed this poetic quote my friend Hector shared in another forum, verbatim in his words... SiFu Balderrama said something to me 15 years ago i still remember: "When young you make big circles, when old you make small circles...and when older, the circle its inside of you".  |
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Post by jingwah on Jul 25, 2007 12:13:54 GMT -5
Question for Gary:
Since the Snake and the Slow Set are both internal forms and build Qi, exactly what is the difference and how should you practice them to maximize the benefit. And why are they both Snake??
Jingwah
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