What's your opinion...

[vfarias]

Hi,

just a simple question:

Do you think it's wrong to lift weights (bodybuilding) while practicing Aikido? That is, on non training days... does anyone practices both sports?

Thkz
VFarias

[DexterTCN]

It would be very difficult to do both imo.

Bodybuilding changes muscle tension and power to weight ratio (even during a single workout).

Aikido (partly) relies on your body acting in a consistent fashion all of the time, as do all other MAs of course but in aiki use of strength is frowned upon to a greater extent.

Most MAs do not like weight training unless it is part of a larger program designed to improve certain aspects of the MA. (Stamina, speed, strength.)

[hwardo]

I disagree. A common misperception about internal martial arts is that you are expected in some way to let your muscles weaken; this is simply not the case. That said, no matter what MA you practice, you should make sure that any strength training you do is focused on balance and total body development, not just building muscle for looks. This does not imply that people with big muscles are not strong-- they just might not be strong in a balanced, holistic way.

In Aikido, you use the attacker's own force to guide them where you want them to go, and it requires sensitivity, coordination, and internal strength. It does not require you to have no muscle mass.

[aikiscotsman]

There is no reason against bodybuilding as long as you stay flexible or you will have very bad awase and no fluidity in your self. Remember O-sensei was bloody huge he built his body up very big and strong but he always said it was no substitute for Awase. By training hard and being gripped hard alot that will build you up big and powerfull. there is a huge difference between strong and powerful. In the old Iwama days O-sensei would make all his students grow big and powerfull with all kind of mad power training including jo work with a steel jo. A very good way to get big and strong is Tanren traing with a proper tanren bokken this will make you very poerful with kokyu and help build strong hanmi. We have a bodybuilder who i s kickboxer and ground fight he is hard as a coffin nail but he cant lift his arm up above his head because he is tight. so there is problems in everything.

[vfarias]

I agree with what you posted; but when i was a kickboxeur (long time ago) i've worked with weights, to gain some extra strenght, altough i realize that there's no need for that in Aikido, and i totally agree with that principle.

Speed, stamina and timing are far beyond more important that strength.

I've just posted this question because even when i did kickboxing i didn't train with weights to increase muscular mass, but to get lean... for instance, instead of doing 3-5 reps of one exercice with full weight, i would do 25 reps with 50%-75% less weight, in order to get more physical endurance.

I believe that if there was any advantage on lifting some weights, you would tell me... :D

Thkz
VFarias

[aikiwolfie]

If you want to lift weights to keep fit and trim there's no problem so long as you do it properly and retain good supple joints.

However that said where i practice we recommend that students do not do any intensive weight training until they are experienced black belts. This is because even light weight training creates tension in the body.

If you're a beginner it might be better to take up something like swimming. That way you will work out your muscles, your heart and lungs and the joints without creating tension.

[vfarias]

Thkz for the good advice aikiwolfie... altough i'm not a rookie on combat sports and MA! I practice sports as far as i can remember, since i was a child.

Nevertheless, once again... thkz!

Domo Arigato,
VFarias

[Picksey]

I haven't been doing aikido for very long, so you can take this or leave it...

I'm quite strong (for a girl) and I've found this can actually hinder how I learn techniques because instead of getting a move technically right, it can be very tempting to 'fix' a poor technique with a little brute force - sometimes I don't even notice I'm doing it. And when you're a beginner you can get away with it - but in the end you're only picking up bad habits and missing out on learning the effective subtleties that (to me) define aikido.

I'd also be very cautious about compromising flexibility - I ache enough after an aikido session as it is!

[vfarias]

You're absolutely right Picksey, i'm a 6' 4 guy with 220 pounds, i know that whenever i can't do a technique correctly there's an inconscient part of my brain that puts strenght on the move... and i'm REALLY trying to overcome this kind of handicap... and i think i'm getting there...

Thkz Picksey!
VFarias

[Budd]

Donn Draeger, one of the foremost Western practitioners of Japanese Martial Arts, was given credit for showing how properly done weight training could greatly enhance a judo player's performance. My feeling is that this can properly apply to aikido as well. One of the things that you can run into in the aikido world is that people emphasis developing ki and proper intention so much that they never break a sweat or pay due attention to maintaining proper condition of the body.

I suspect that there's a nice balance of both that can be found.