Customer Reviews

Weight Training for Martial Artists

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I'm currently a student of Kinesiology at a University, and I'm trying to increase my knowledge of weight training specifically for martial artists. I bought this book thinking that I would be able to use some of the information in a new way.

After just skimming the book Weight training for Martial Artists by J. Lawler, Ph. D., I was faced with just horrible information, from the terminology to the exercise, and the classifications of the exercises. One such example is on page 12 on the table of "Strength Training Methods," Lawler states that isometric exercises include crunches and push-ups. According to J. L. Hesson's book Weight Training for Life (2000), iso- refers to same, and -metric refers to length, so isometric is referring to a contraction that stays at the same length. Crunches and push-ups both involves motion, therefore, cannot be isometric.
Exercises do not present the correct information, such as the "Lateral Pull Down" (pg 74). First, the name is the "Lat" Pulldown. Lat referring to the Latissimus dorsi muscle. Another example is the "Lateral Raises" on the next page. This exercise does not work the "laterals" (Lawler, 1999), they work the deltoids and the trapezius. Also the exercise is explained in an incorrect manner. Swinging is not a term that should be used, instead raising could be used.
Other problems with the book are that many exercises are classified in the wrong way. Leg lifts, "Bicycle Stretch", and "Hamstring Lift" "Groin Lift" (as described in the text) are not flexibility exercises.

These are just some of the problems with the text. I would recommend a complete overhaul on the book, go back and use some sources such as the American Council on Sports Medicine (ACSM) or some other reference materials.

I was very diapointed, the author displays her lack of knowledge in both weight training and fighting arts through out the book. Most of the information in the book could be learned from taking ten minutes with a fitness instructor on any gym floor. I was also disapointed that the author was neither an experineced martial artist or a certified personal trainer. I believe that one would better spend your money on a subscription to MA Training magazine, where you will get both experience and certification. I feel I can say these things after 20 years of training, Black belt holder in several styles, and I am also a certified personal trainer.

The previous reviewer is correct in stating your money is better spent in a gym or on MA Training magazine. The author's lack of credibilty on this subject should be apparent to anyone with knowledge of martial arts. There are absolutely no exercises that focus on body balance, an essential for martial arts training. Even worse, anyone knowledgeable about weight training should be able to see that most of the exercises are minimal and incomplete, and will most likely lead to underdevelopment in martial arts conditioning. A far better manual for martial arts students looking to develop strength would be Harry Wong's Dynamic Strength, or Loren Christensen's The Way Alone.

For one thing, Lawler has a ph.d in ENGLISH, not on Physical education, health, etc. She has about 1-3 exercises per muscle! NO VARIETY HERE! Her programs do not balance the body. They train only one muscle per body part(for instance, in the judo program for arms, it states that you only need to build up the biceps for pulling! THIS CAN EASILY LEAD TO MUSCLE PULL OR TEAR ON THE TRICEPS!!!). I wouldn't even recommend this book to even beginners!

This book describes different weight training exercises for every muscle and muscle group. The instructions are clear so that even beginners can understand what they're supposed to be doing and why. There are sections on warm-ups and how to maintain flexibility so that you don't hurt yourself lifting weights. The book lists different approaches so that you don't get burned out. It also tells you how to adapt weight training to the martial art you practice so that you can become better at it. I've been practicing martial arts for about ten years and I've been weight training for about the same amount of time. I thought I knew everything about weight training, but I still learned something from this book.

I just gote this book to find out what stuff I should do for tkd.The info may not be that great but any one that's done weight lifting before should be able to make the right program out of what she saids.over all this is a great book for info but not so great on detail,right forms etc.

This is a great all around book that covers more than just weight lifting. I especially like the wide variety of stretching exercises shown because martial artists should not sacrifice flexibility for strength. I also like the way it breaks down the exercises into workout plans so you don't have to figure out which exercises you need to be doing. I have been doing the karate workout for a couple of weeks and I already see the results in my karate classes. Although many of the exercises use weight machines, I have been doing the free weight variartions at home which seem to be getting results that are just as good as joining a gym and using the weight machines. It's about time somebody wrote a detailed introductory book about weights just for martial artists.

Wow - I wish had found this book a lot earlier in my martial arts career. I'm sure I would be a better black belt now if I had started supplementing my karate with weight training earlier. Great guide!