KETTLEBELL TRAINING
There are generally two schools of thought on the subject. One school states that weight training is detrimental to martial skill because the excessive tension held in the muscles will reduce the fluidity of movement, thus robbing one's technique of speed and power.
The other school says that strength training done correctly and as a compliment to the martial skill training will increase the contractile strength of the body without sacrificing flexibility, the end result being improved speed and power.
Any weight training will also diminish martial skill if it becomes the primary focus rather than a supplement to the martial arts skill training. Strength training when the appropriate method is selected will compliment and contribute to enhanced martial art skill, in the form of greater speed, power, flexibility and endurance.
Of all the physical variables that the well-rounded martial artist must address when designing the right strength training program, there are 4 in particular that kettlebells address better than other
training modes:
- Strength/endurance
- Mental toughness/body hardening
- Martial specificity
- Efficiency (economy of motion)
Many students from the school of Chinese martial arts make use of kettlebell training alongside their traditional martial arts strength training programs.The combination of kettlebell training and traditional martial arts strength and conditioning exercise’s truly develop the physical attributes a fighter needs. kettlebells are used mainly to help supplement their martial arts training in Strength, explosive power and increased cardiovascular fitness.sifu mark is one of the co-founders and head coaches of the Kilkenny kettlebell club (KKC) which is the largest kettlebell club in Ireland, the KKC also has the largest kettlebell sports team in Ireland and they hosted the first every Irish kettlebell sport championships in Kilkenny in 2010.The school of Chinese martial arts was the only martial arts club in Ireland to have students compete in this competition. However kettlebell training is done in their personal time and our class training time is used to train our martial arts.Due to our club being in the "Training rooms", Kilkenny. students have the oppurntunity to also be trained by kilkenny kettlebell club coaches and ireland's strongest man 2010 james fennelly (kilkenny strongman club).It must be remembered that while kettlebell athletes are among some of the fittest and most conditioned athletes in the world, this does not make them fighters!! A martial artist must train many aspects to become a well rounded fighter. Physical fitness and muscular power is but one small, all be it very important aspect of a fighters program.It should be noted that this type of training was and is not unique to Russian strongmen (called gireviks) or kettlebell men. Similar types of training have been used by martial artists from Mongolia, China, Okinawa and Japan for centuries.
Above chinese martial artists using similar devises to develope power
Below is a picture of an stone lock called ishisashi which is used in okinawa, orginally used to help keep doors closed.
see
or follow us on facebook
more pictures to be up loaded
