Karate Weight Training: Misconceptions

Athletes from sports such as football, hockey, baseball and boxing have all benefited from weight training, but many martial artists continue to avoid working out with weights. Karate weight training can actually help performance by giving your stronger, more powerful muscles. Although there are misconceptions about strength training and karate performance, such as becoming slower or losing flexibility, these misconceptions are not true and the fact of the matter is that karate practitioners can benefit for lifting weights just as other athletes have.

Some martial artists believe that weight training will make you slower. However, a proper strength training program can make you stronger and faster. This will help you while you’re executing karate moves in the dojo or in competition. Breaking boards will come easier as well with the added power. Also, muscular endurance can be improved through weight training.

Another misconception is the fear that strength training will adversely affect flexibility. With a full range of motion during the exercise, this will not happen, and in reality your flexibility can be improved through weight training.

Martial artists who train in karate can benefit greatly from weight training. Don’t let the myths fool you into not improving your physical attributes through strength training. You’re only limiting your martial arts training that way.