So I wanted to have a rant about training..specifically about modern methods vs percieved traditional martial arts methods. First of all when I talk about modern methods, Im talking about gym centers, personal trainers and all that jazz. Its not really a accurate name, as things tend to go in cycles in the training and sport performance world, but it will suffice.
So to make a huge generalisation, in a "modern" plan we go to a gym, we lift weights, we get strong, we perform better. In a "traditional" or more specifically a martial arts methodology we do a bunch or kicking, punching, some push ups, sit ups, maybe forms, sparring, wrestling..you get the idea.
Now, common gym training has often followed (well, should follow) what is known as periodisation. Periodisation basically breaks your training into periods. These could be days, weeks, months, and in those periods you can set your training intensity, type of training,etc. Most commonly people use periodisation in quite a linear (or straight) fashion, gradually increasing the load by heavier weights over time.
This can also be seen in kung fu schools - you start with ten push ups, you increase that to 50, then 100 and so forth, with most other variables, like how much rest time you have, staying rather constant.
Now contrary to common belief, traditional martial arts - well specifically kung fu, did have a lot of weight lifting type activities. Not only were traditional weapons heavy as f**k, but they had other tools, such as stone barbells and stone locks (石锁) check out below...
Now where it gets interesting (well for me anyway) is in the sequencing of training modalities in a training plan,.. in plain english - how you put the different types of training together.
Standard gym procedure is to build a big chest and biceps so you can hit on the hot bird at the bar while half pissed, however, for performance improvement there are other things, such as speed, power, muscluar and cardiovascular endurance and strength.
The usual modern way is do one thing at a time: start with an aerobic base, like running, until you build up some cardiovascular endurance, then move to some hypertrophy (doing reps around 10 per set), then work on strength (less reps) and finally work on your power(faster movements) and move sport specific actions. Each phase may be weeks or even months working from one to the nextin a sequence.
As with all things, popular belief ebbs and flows, however our bodies still work the same. Currently there is an increase in support for conjugate training (sometimes called concurrent). In simple, training which mixes the modalities up so rather than working on strength for a few months then moving to power, you might do strength on monday, then power on wednesday, or even some together in same training session.
Conjugate training thought says in sequential training, you lose ability in one mode while working on another... makes sense huh?
Interestingly enough, traditional martial arts training is conjugate in itself - doing a bunch of push ups - muscular endurance, holding a horse stance - isometric strength, punching a bag - power.
So it leaves me to wonder, is the current thinking only now coming round to the performance benefits of a traditional martial arts training plan? Hmmm, Im not the type to claim traditional training is superior to modern advances in training, but dont always believe everything your personal trainer says.