Build Muscle & Get Faster in Martial Arts (Here's how)

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares their journey of combining bodybuilding with martial arts training to build muscle without sacrificing speed or fluidity. They discuss how they avoided traditional hypertrophy training in the past but have now embraced it, inspired by the concept of hybrid athletes. They explain how their new training regimen, including increased calorie intake and weight training alongside martial arts, has improved their performance. The speaker also addresses common concerns about bulking up and losing agility, emphasizing that with proper training and mobility work, muscle building can complement martial arts abilities.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker is integrating martial arts training with hypertrophy (bodybuilding) to build muscle while maintaining martial arts abilities.
• 😀 Initially, the speaker focused on bodyweight training and circuits, which promoted muscle growth, speed, and explosiveness.
• 😀 The speaker was inspired to start weightlifting after seeing a 'hybrid athlete' who excelled in both weight training and martial arts.
• 😀 They now combine martial arts, cardio, and weightlifting to maintain fitness and progress in all areas.
• 😀 The speaker trains in the morning with martial arts or bodyweight circuits and does weightlifting in the evening.
• 😀 They don't follow a strict rest day schedule but listen to their body and rest when needed to avoid burnout.
• 😀 A balanced diet with 3,500 to 4,000 calories per day helps fuel both martial arts training and weightlifting.
• 😀 The speaker finds that combining cardio with weight training allows them to eat more food without gaining excess fat.
• 😀 The speaker has noticed improvements in their martial arts, especially in terms of power, force, and composure, due to weight training.
• 😀 They emphasize that strength training won't slow down martial arts performance if techniques are well-practiced and mobility work is maintained.
• 😀 The speaker advises to train intelligently and make adjustments based on how the body responds to weight training, avoiding stiffness in martial arts techniques.

Q & A

What motivated the speaker to start incorporating bodybuilding into their training regimen?

The speaker was motivated by seeing a hybrid athlete online who excelled in both bodybuilding and martial arts. This athlete had an impressive physique while maintaining mobility, speed, and explosiveness, which resonated with the speaker's goals.

How does the speaker describe their previous training focus before adding bodybuilding?

Before incorporating bodybuilding, the speaker focused on bodyweight training and circuits that promoted muscle development, explosiveness, and speed, which they considered more cardio-focused and used in place of martial arts training.

What is the speaker's view on cardio and its impact on muscle building?

The speaker believes that cardio can complement bodybuilding by helping to manage body fat and improve overall health, speed, and mobility. They also enjoy cardio as it allows them to eat more food without gaining excessive fat.

How has the speaker adjusted their diet in response to their increased training volume?

The speaker has increased their caloric intake to around 3,500 to 4,000 calories per day to support both martial arts and bodybuilding training. This helps them maintain energy levels and muscle growth while staying lean.

What is the speaker's training schedule like?

The speaker typically does martial arts or bodyweight circuit training in the morning to stay lean and explosive, followed by weight training in the evening. They do not follow a strict rest day schedule but take rest when they feel their body needs it.

How does the speaker handle burnout from training?

When feeling burnt out, the speaker adjusts their training by taking a rest day or doing light exercises to keep the blood flowing. They use their long experience to listen to their body and make adjustments as needed.

What is the speaker's perspective on muscle growth and mobility in martial arts?

The speaker believes that muscle growth doesn’t have to hinder martial arts performance if training is done intelligently. They suggest that maintaining solid technique and focusing on mobility work can help avoid stiffness or loss of fluidity.

Has the speaker noticed any improvements in their martial arts performance since adding bodybuilding?

Yes, the speaker has noticed improvements in their martial arts performance, particularly in terms of force application, composure, and dominance. However, they note that these improvements are not necessarily in technique but in physical strength and presence.

What is the speaker's opinion on bulking up and its effect on agility?

The speaker acknowledges that bulking up can sometimes reduce fluidity and mobility in martial arts. However, they believe it is possible to avoid these issues by training smartly, maintaining flexibility, and ensuring proper technique.

What is the speaker’s general approach to training?

The speaker's approach is flexible and dynamic. They prefer to train based on how their body feels, rather than strictly following a set routine. This allows them to adapt their workouts as necessary to prevent overtraining and maintain overall balance.