Weight Training?

[Kicks4Fun]

I was wondering if weight training would be good to help your Tae Kwon Do. If not what else is good to do outside class to help improve your Tae Kwon Do performance inside class?

[Another Muay Thai Guy]

Yes, yes it is. Have a look around the H&F section here, it will answer all your questions, as well as clearing up such myths as "lifting weights makes you slow". :bang:

[Mitch]

I was wondering if weight training would be good to help your Tae Kwon Do. If not what else is good to do outside class to help improve your Tae Kwon Do performance inside class?

You'd be better posting this over at health and fitness, they'll give you much more information, but I think a summary of their advice would be:

1. High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). For example, 400m sprint, followed by a short rest, then another sprint, etc etc. Designed to give the explosive bursts of energy you need for TKD, also gives good results on weight loss.

2. Full range of motion exercises using lots of major muscle groups. Squats, deadlifts, other Olympic lifts, pull-ups/chin-ups, bench presses.

3. Bagwork. Get a heavy bag and hit it a lot. Really hard. :D Actually you can use bagwork in all sorts of ways, HIIT included.

Hope that helps, but like I say, post over in H&F.

Mitch

[tkdkyle]

A good book to help with this is Weight Training for Martial Artists. It has different plans for different martial arts (including Taekwondo). It also has a lot of stretches and drills for increasing speed.

[neryo_tkd]

i moved this to health because you'll get more replies here. make sure to check out the stickies and the resources here.

[Kicks4Fun]

Thanks i got a good idea what to do now!

[TheMachine]

Have you read the stickies?

[Dragon Brush]

I think there should be a test involved in the registration process to evaluate the applicant's understanding of the search function. Perhaps I should go to the suggestions forum...


In addition to the fitness program outlined by TKDMitch, it'd be a good idea to stretch outside of class as well.

Also, if you have not done any weight training in the past, I suggest you find someone who knows what they're doing to help you out, as some of the lifts we recommend around here require a certain degree of technique to avoid injury.

[Incredible Bulk]

i'm a bodybuilder/martial artist and the two complement each other ok, depends how far you go...

my size is intimidating to spar against and the power from the extra muscle is a sure benefit.

just make sure you work with the core lifts and dont substitute them with machine movements

squats
deadlifts
barbell press (aka military press)
barbell curl
bent rows
bench press

[narcsarge]

You'd be better posting this over at health and fitness, they'll give you much more information, but I think a summary of their advice would be:

1. High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). For example, 400m sprint, followed by a short rest, then another sprint, etc etc. Designed to give the explosive bursts of energy you need for TKD, also gives good results on weight loss.

Not so sure I'd add this unless you have a weight issue! But if you (TKDMitch) are suggesting HIIT for intense cardio and endurance ok.


2. Full range of motion exercises using lots of major muscle groups. Squats, deadlifts, other Olympic lifts, pull-ups/chin-ups, bench presses.

3. Bagwork. Get a heavy bag and hit it a lot. Really hard. :D Actually you can use bagwork in all sorts of ways, HIIT included.

Hope that helps, but like I say, post over in H&F.

Mitch


I agree with everything else posted as I too am a bodybuilder and new to TKD. Size can be an intimidating thing! Power will always gain someone's attention! Stick with your basic compound lifts and make sure your diet is set up to feed your muscles and aid you through your work outs.