Advice Please

[PainInThe*ss]

Ok...i've started my training..my target, 100 push-ups and 150 leg squats..now i'm up to about 81 push-ups and 105 leg squats, but that's pretty much my limit..but, will this affect my growth height? cos i'm short..if it doesn't, will it affect my growth if i throw in about one or two hundred sit-ups?

[Phantom]

1. It wont affect your growth
2. You're wasting your time with ineffective training.

[ready_aim_rock]

That's a fair point. It all depends on your motives. Weight loss? Strength training? Any particular area targeted? Push-ups are a decent supplement, and they can never hurt (relative to your workout regiment anyway =P), but you'd do well to add a bar across the shoulders to those squats of yours.

EDIT: Blind old me. Want to get bigger? Sleep more. Being up at 11:30 is not sleeping more.

[PainInThe*ss]

And effective training would be...? This is the first time i'm training by myself..so i'm very inexperienced at this..

[Phantom]

That's a fair point. It all depends on your motives. Weight loss? Strength training? Any particular area targeted? Push-ups are a decent supplement, and they can never hurt (relative to your workout regiment anyway =P), but you'd do well to add a bar across the shoulders to those squats of yours.I'm not saying push ups are useless but doing so many is incredibly useless.
And effective training would be...? This is the first time i'm training by myself..so i'm very inexperienced at this..What do you have access to? What are your goals?

[PainInThe*ss]

That's a fair point. It all depends on your motives. Weight loss? Strength training? Any particular area targeted? Push-ups are a decent supplement, and they can never hurt (relative to your workout regiment anyway =P), but you'd do well to add a bar across the shoulders to those squats of yours.

EDIT: Blind old me. Want to get bigger? Sleep more. Being up at 11:30 is not sleeping more.

Strength and speed training..I'm going for taekwondo competitions next year..and i need to get my strength and speed up if i don't want to get owned..oh, and its 1 in the afternoon over here..i'm in Malaysia..

[ready_aim_rock]

Strength and speed training..I'm going for taekwondo competitions next year..and i need to get my strength and speed up if i don't want to get owned..oh, and its 1 in the afternoon over here..i'm in Malaysia..

Heh my bad dude, I'm an idiot...

I'm not entirely sure about the basic principals of taekwondo, but strength is always straightforward to train. Do you have access to a gym? Any weight training is always good, tell me what you have to work with and I'll be glad to give you some basic exercises. Running is good for both speed and endurance, and it'll keep your bodyfat percentage low, or lower it if you're in need. Speed itself...that's a tough one to work with, as its difficult to gauge progress. Try simpler stuff like jump-roping, and alternate forms of running like grapevines, sidesteps, and heel-kicks (running backwards, heels high).

[Phantom]

Strength and speed training..I'm going for taekwondo competitions next year..and i need to get my strength and speed up if i don't want to get owned..oh, and its 1 in the afternoon over here..i'm in Malaysia..Strength training with weights would be ideal if you have access to a gym. If nothing else just lower the amount of reps to 20-30 and add in pull ups.

[Happytoad]

You really need to work on more muscle groups; if you don't you will end up with poor range of motion in your arms and legs. Yes you will get stronger working out like you are but you will lose flexiblity.

[53V3N]

You really need to work on more muscle groups; if you don't you will end up with poor range of motion in your arms and legs. Yes you will get stronger working out like you are but you will lose flexiblity.

From which decade are you digging up this information?

[Phantom]

From which decade are you digging up this information?He should still work other muscle groups if for no other reason than to not end up looking weird.

[Tostig]

for martial arts, you really want to focus on stamina and flexibility. do lots of aerobic and anaerobic exercises like jogging, then sprinting, then jogging, then sprinting, etc. Flexibility of all joints is also very important for martial artists, especially usefull when someone tries to joint-lock you and you're flexible enough to resist or slip out.

You also want to train more for speed than for muscle mass; in martial arts, speed determines victory. get a speed ball to practice punching and dodging. your best tool would be another MA student to practice with.

[Happytoad]

Look at Arnold the man revalotionized the body building industry by working out all muscle groups. The OP really should work on flexiblity and toning his body to get the results he's looking for.

[UberSkippy]

Rather than take lots of advice from dipshits on the internet, you may want to visit a gym or DoJang.

For Taekwondo, you need to do what your Master says. He will be best able to evaluate your abilities and your deficiencies and will be able to help you prepare. However, you generally don't need a lot of supplemental workouts as it's a fairly strenuous workout by itself. If you work on your forms you'll develop the muscle you need to compete.

Look at all the advanced martial artists. Few if any have huge muscle mass. All are lean and well defined. They're built like runners, not weight lifters. Large muscle mass produces a lot of force but it's slow, it tires easily and it's not terribly flexible.

You don't want to get punched by a guy that can bench 400 pounds. But if you've studied any martial art it won't be hard to avoid the punch and counter punch him.

I studied Taekwondo for years. I never met a huge burly guy that could even keep up with the more toned but slender fighters in the class.

So go talk to your master or instructor (and really, you should be studying in a DoJang with a master, not just instructors) and see what s/he says.

[Tostig]

Rather than take lots of advice from dipshits on the internet, you may want to visit a gym or DoJang.

For Taekwondo, you need to do what your Master says. He will be best able to evaluate your abilities and your deficiencies and will be able to help you prepare. However, you generally don't need a lot of supplemental workouts as it's a fairly strenuous workout by itself. If you work on your forms you'll develop the muscle you need to compete.

Look at all the advanced martial artists. Few if any have huge muscle mass. All are lean and well defined. They're built like runners, not weight lifters. Large muscle mass produces a lot of force but it's slow, it tires easily and it's not terribly flexible.

You don't want to get punched by a guy that can bench 400 pounds. But if you've studied any martial art it won't be hard to avoid the punch and counter punch him.

I studied Taekwondo for years. I never met a huge burly guy that could even keep up with the more toned but slender fighters in the class.

So go talk to your master or instructor (and really, you should be studying in a DoJang with a master, not just instructors) and see what s/he says.

Isn't that what I said? :tongue:

[Phantom]

Rather than take lots of advice from dipshits on the internet, you may want to visit a gym or DoJang.

For Taekwondo, you need to do what your Master says. He will be best able to evaluate your abilities and your deficiencies and will be able to help you prepare. However, you generally don't need a lot of supplemental workouts as it's a fairly strenuous workout by itself. If you work on your forms you'll develop the muscle you need to compete.

Look at all the advanced martial artists. Few if any have huge muscle mass. All are lean and well defined. They're built like runners, not weight lifters. Large muscle mass produces a lot of force but it's slow, it tires easily and it's not terribly flexible.

You don't want to get punched by a guy that can bench 400 pounds. But if you've studied any martial art it won't be hard to avoid the punch and counter punch him.

I studied Taekwondo for years. I never met a huge burly guy that could even keep up with the more toned but slender fighters in the class.

So go talk to your master or instructor (and really, you should be studying in a DoJang with a master, not just instructors) and see what s/he says.You can still be lean and bench 400lbs. Saying people with large muscle mass are slow is a stupid stereotype.

[PainInThe*ss]

Well..i don't have much to work with..all i got are a pair of 1kilogram each dumbells, a pair of 1 kilogram each ankle weights, and a pair of half a kilogram each weighted gloves..and i don't have access to a gym,..i'm too young to be allowed in..(i turned 15 on December the 18th)and yea, i'm not aiming for huge muscle mass, but i need more power and speed in my legs and arms..my flexibility is almost where i need it to be..but i do need more stamina..also, anyone have any tips on speeding up my reflexes? Oh, and i can't ask my Master..All taekwondo activities are off until next week..And i have no idea where my Master lives..

[UberSkippy]

Well..i don't have much to work with..all i got are a pair of 1kilogram each dumbells, a pair of 1 kilogram each ankle weights, and a pair of half a kilogram each weighted gloves..and i don't have access to a gym,..i'm too young to be allowed in..(i turned 15 on December the 18th)and yea, i'm not aiming for huge muscle mass, but i need more power and speed in my legs and arms..my flexibility is almost where i need it to be..but i do need more stamina..also, anyone have any tips on speeding up my reflexes? Oh, and i can't ask my Master..All taekwondo activities are off until next week..And i have no idea where my Master lives..

You can wait a week. 7 days won't make much of a difference in the whole thing. You'd be better to wait and do it right than start doing it wrong now.

As for your reflexes, that too will come with time. You have to just keep studying and practicing and working out. The reflexes, power, stamina, flexibility and even accuracy are all things that will develop as you progress in the training.


You can still be lean and bench 400lbs. Saying people with large muscle mass are slow is a stupid stereotype.

People with large muscles are slow. It's not a stupid stereotype. It's a fact. In a martial arts competition they are at a strong disadvantage because of their speed. They have tons of power but someone with a leaner build and less muscle mass can dance around anything they can throw.

Look at Bruce Lee. He was ripped but he had a lean build, not a huge muscle mass.

Martial arts are about flexibility and stamina. Neither of which are well served by large muscle mass.

Of course ALL of that was fairly well laid out and explained in my initial post on the subject.

[Tostig]

to help develope speed, practice your katas in water. Try to go as fast as you can. Not only will it increase your speed, but the resistance will help to build longer, faster muscles, and it will help develope your balance.

[53V3N]

Look at Arnold the man revalotionized the body building industry by working out all muscle groups. The OP really should work on flexiblity and toning his body to get the results he's looking for.

I'm sorry. I mis-read your previous post. I agree a well-rounded regimine would be more beneficial.

[ready_aim_rock]

Well..i don't have much to work with..all i got are a pair of 1kilogram each dumbells, a pair of 1 kilogram each ankle weights, and a pair of half a kilogram each weighted gloves..and i don't have access to a gym,..i'm too young to be allowed in..(i turned 15 on December the 18th)and yea, i'm not aiming for huge muscle mass, but i need more power and speed in my legs and arms..my flexibility is almost where i need it to be..but i do need more stamina..also, anyone have any tips on speeding up my reflexes? Oh, and i can't ask my Master..All taekwondo activities are off until next week..And i have no idea where my Master lives..

At 15, i wouldn't use the ankle weights if I were you. They can fuck over the development of your knees. If you can, go out and pick up some heavier dumbbells, although running with the 1kg dumbbells would be helpful. Overall Uberskippy's got the right of it, I don't see why you're listening to us =P

[Phantom]

People with large muscles are slow. It's not a stupid stereotype. It's a fact. In a martial arts competition they are at a strong disadvantage because of their speed. They have tons of power but someone with a leaner build and less muscle mass can dance around anything they can throw.

Look at Bruce Lee. He was ripped but he had a lean build, not a huge muscle mass.

Martial arts are about flexibility and stamina. Neither of which are well served by large muscle mass.

Of course ALL of that was fairly well laid out and explained in my initial post on the subject.Now you're just talking out your ass. You realize that what makes you fast is your muscles, right? I dont care what Bruce Lee looked like, I'm just saying you have no idea what you're talking about.

[UberSkippy]

Now you're just talking out your ass. You realize that what makes you fast is your muscles, right? I dont care what Bruce Lee looked like, I'm just saying you have no idea what you're talking about.

You obviously can't read. Lean muscles make you fast. Bulky muscles slow you down. Of course maybe I need to clarify that I'm talking within the context of martial arts. (I'd have thought that was perhaps obvious but maybe that's making too much of an assumption.)

Maybe I do know what I'm talking about. I did study Taekwondo for nearly 4 years. Or you could go to a martial arts competition sometime. Take a look at the top ranked athletes. They're not huge bulky weight lifters. They're built like distance runners with long lean muscles.

[Phantom]

You obviously can't read. Lean muscles make you fast. Bulky muscles slow you down. Of course maybe I need to clarify that I'm talking within the context of martial arts. (I'd have thought that was perhaps obvious but maybe that's making too much of an assumption.)

Maybe I do know what I'm talking about. I did study Taekwondo for nearly 4 years. Or you could go to a martial arts competition sometime. Take a look at the top ranked athletes. They're not huge bulky weight lifters. They're built like distance runners with long lean muscles.Again talking out your ass. Since you like Bruce Lee so much lets talk about how he trained. He did typically reps of 6-12. Which builds the most fast twitch muscles. It's also what bodybuilders do to gain muscle mass. So are you saying that because they have more they're slower? That's stupid and illogical. Just because you studied Taekwondo doesnt mean you know anything about training.

[UberSkippy]

Again talking out your ass. Since you like Bruce Lee so much lets talk about how he trained. He did typically reps of 6-12. Which builds the most fast twitch muscles. It's also what bodybuilders do to gain muscle mass. So are you saying that because they have more they're slower? That's stupid and illogical. Just because you studied Taekwondo doesnt mean you know anything about training.

It does mean that I know enough to know that people with lots of muscle mass are much slower in the ring that guys with lean muscle mass.

Again, take a look at how the real world works. Guys with large muscles don't compete in martial arts competitions because they're not only slower, they're less flexible.

And again, because maybe you're missing this point: when I say slower, I am talking about the speeds you see in the fighting rings. They may be fast, but the leaner fighters are faster.

I'm sorry if you aspire to being a muscle bound meat head and the truth upsets you.

[Phantom]

It does mean that I know enough to know that people with lots of muscle mass are much slower in the ring that guys with lean muscle mass.

Again, take a look at how the real world works. Guys with large muscles don't compete in martial arts competitions because they're not only slower, they're less flexible.

And again, because maybe you're missing this point: when I say slower, I am talking about the speeds you see in the fighting rings. They may be fast, but the leaner fighters are faster.

I'm sorry if you aspire to being a muscle bound meat head and the truth upsets you.Whatever. Feel free to ignore the facts and post your ignorant stupid opinion.

[UberSkippy]

Whatever. Feel free to ignore the facts and post your ignorant stupid opinion.

You go ahead and feel free to ignore the facts I provided and pretty much every example I offered. Keep that head up your ass there pal. You look snazzy as an asshat.

But let's see, you, a kid who may or may not know what he's talking about but offers no concrete proof to back up his arguments.

Me, a man who's studied martial arts and still spars frequently and who was able and willing to offer evidence, explain the rational and provide examples.

Yeah, one of us looks real bad there.

[Phantom]

You go ahead and feel free to ignore the facts I provided and pretty much every example I offered. Keep that head up your ass there pal. You look snazzy as an asshat.

But let's see, you, a kid who may or may not know what he's talking about but offers no concrete proof to back up his arguments.

Me, a man who's studied martial arts and still spars frequently and who was able and willing to offer evidence, explain the rational and provide examples.

Yeah, one of us looks real bad there.I gave you an example, you ignored it. But hey if anything doesnt fit your opinion lets just pretend it doesn't exist. While where on the subject of credibility, I'm a master kick boxer on the internet! Anything I say must be true even if the facts dont fit!

[UberSkippy]

I gave you an example, you ignored it. But hey if anything doesnt fit your opinion lets just pretend it doesn't exist. While where on the subject of credibility, I'm a master kick boxer on the internet! Anything I say must be true even if the facts dont fit!

You never asked me to prove whether I studied or not.

Kim's Taekwondo on Fairview next to Flying Pie under Master Knife.

You just don't like not being the master know it all junior. I don't know shit about body building. But I do know about the physical training that is best for Taekwondo.

[Señor Feester]

You never asked me to prove whether I studied or not.

Kim's Taekwondo on Fairview next to Flying Pie under Master Knife.

You just don't like not being the master know it all junior. I don't know shit about body building. But I do know about the physical training that is best for Taekwondo.

Taekwondo is very ineffective. Do Muay Thai or Judo.

[UberSkippy]

Taekwondo is very ineffective. Do Muay Thai or Judo.

Ineffective at what exactly? There is no perfect fighting style. All have their flaws and all have their advantages.

[Tostig]

Bruce Lee did do 9-12 reps, that's true. But they were also very quick reps with light weights; he built fast twitch muscle fiber, not muscle bulk. He also did hundreds of sit ups and push ups (ever see him do a 1-handed, 2-finger, extended push-up? can't do that with bulky muscles)

The only large man I've ever seen that really did martial arts well was Yang Tze, aka Bolo Yeung. Huge dude, muscular as hell, but also fast. Not as fast as Bruce or Brandon Lee, but faster than most. He also practiced Tai Chi which is a very soft style, compared to Tae Kwon Do which is a hard style.

Where Tae Kwon Do emphasizes fast, direct attacks and blocking for defense, Tai Chi emphasizes blow avoidance and energy redirection.

The point is you don't want to do a lot of bulking up exercises like lifting heavy weights. You want to do core strengthening like sit ups, squats, etc, along with endurance and flexibility training. Speed training can be accomplished by practicing in a pool, against a speed bag or speed balls, and most effectively, against human opponents.

Something else you really want to do is explore many different styles and choose the one that feels best. You may be more acrobatic by nature and enjoy capoeria; or built like me and jiujitsu/aikido would be better, or you could have great leg strength and flexibility and not as well developed in the torso; in that case savate or muay thai. Or better yet, study several disciplines and meld them together.

[Señor Feester]

Ineffective at what exactly? There is no perfect fighting style. All have their flaws and all have their advantages.

Ineffective in fighting people with no form or such. Muay Thai and Judo are better for defending yourself. IMO

[UberSkippy]

Ineffective in fighting people with no form or such. Muay Thai and Judo are better for defending yourself. IMO

I guess that depends on the situation. Anyone trained in any martial art has the upper hand against an untrained opponent. And in the demo's I've seen where you have one master of one art fight the master of another art it's always a toss up.

Again, no one fighting style is better than any other. They're all different and all have their different strengths and weaknesses.

[Señor Feester]

I guess that depends on the situation. Anyone trained in any martial art has the upper hand against an untrained opponent. And in the demo's I've seen where you have one master of one art fight the master of another art it's always a toss up.

Again, no one fighting style is better than any other. They're all different and all have their different strengths and weaknesses.

I only say that b/c I have in fact beat up two kids that had being Tae Kwon Do for years. I have no training, unless you call countless hours of Kung-Fu movies training.

[UberSkippy]

I only say that b/c I have in fact beat up two kids that had being Tae Kwon Do for years. I have no training, unless you call countless hours of Kung-Fu movies training.

I can't speak to other styles but Taekwondo suffers from a split style. There is the traditional style (street fighting) and the Olympic style. For some reason the Olympic style is the most common but it's also fairly limited because it focuses on scoring points whereas the traditional style actually focuses on landing severe blows and incapacitating your opponent.

That or they just sucked. The guys that brag about how good they are tend to be the guys that mop the floors.

[ready_aim_rock]

I can't speak to other styles but Taekwondo suffers from a split style. There is the traditional style (street fighting) and the Olympic style. For some reason the Olympic style is the most common but it's also fairly limited because it focuses on scoring points whereas the traditional style actually focuses on landing severe blows and incapacitating your opponent.

That or they just sucked. The guys that brag about how good they are tend to be the guys that mop the floors.

True, but the OP spoke of competitions, so I'd assume he's in it for the Olympic style. Has anybody here ever done Kenpo?

[Tostig]

I practiced jiujitsu and jude for several years, but have studied martial arts most of my life. Kenpo, Tae Kwon Do, Tang Soo Do, and Wing Chun are all hard styles; direct brutal attacks and blow absorbtion (blocking). They mostly just focus on different body parts for their main attack; Tae Kwon Do (the way of the foot), Tang Soo Do (the way of the fist), etc etc.

I've also practiced Kendo, but that's not unarmed combat, even if it's a lot of fun. I want to get back into either Aikido or Jiujitsu, I enjoyed it immensely, but classes are expensive as fuck.

[ready_aim_rock]

I've been meaning to get into Judo, but I haven't found anywhere around here. Kenpo I'd studied for 3 years. It's sad, I left several years ago and I came back to the studio last month...all gone, just an empty warehouse...

[PainInThe*ss]

Ok, thanks for all the advice guys..oh, i'm lucky to have a Master that teaches both traditional and Olympic styles..i guess i can get my dad to buy me a punching bag to train on, but training in a pool will be hard..there's no pool anywhere near my place..I've trained mostly in TKD, but i've also trained in a bit of Judo and Wushu..in fact, i just got back from a month long training trip in china..i know a month isn't that long, but my visa was only valid for 30 days..i only had enough time to finish learning the most basic kata for nunchaku..Oh, and any advice for competitions?

[UberSkippy]

Oh, and any advice for competitions?

Yeah, treat them like sparring sessions. That way you don't get all worked up about them.