If our lower bodies are the source of our strength then we oughtta be training 'em!!!
I'm starting on a new routine of jumping rope, low squats/knee bends and (unlike tonight when I'm stuck at my desk at work) doing more low stance work.
What do you do to work your legs?
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Oh - and a not so subtle warning - each and every sexist comment will be deleted from this thread.
be warned!!!
[This message has been edited by Dana Sheets (edited September 16, 2002).]
Since you asked for opinions from "the ladies," then I will refrain from offering my own. But I was interested in what you meant by "low squats/knee bends." Are you doing those with or without weights? How far down are you going, and how fast?
I have not seen Matt Furey's knee bends. But it sounds like you are doing things in a safe and effective manner.
I'm with you big time on this, Dana. Legs are SO important, and yet MOST (not all) people spend so little time working them. In my book, you get more bang for the buck with your punch by working on the legs, hips, and trunk, and then learning how to use the whole body in unison.
I'd be curious to see what other women are doing - no matter WHAT it is. Just getting in the game is the most important thing. Making improvements are much easier than getting started and staying dedicated.
Why focus the legs only? Shouldn't we as females train for strenghth in our upper bodies,as that is our weak area? After all when we have a weak area in martial arts, isn't that where we focus our atention to bring it up to par/
You may want to check out the archives of the forum to see the range of what has been posted here. When you are on the Women's Forum opening page on the upper right hand side scroll down to View Topics from Last Year. There is all kinds of stuff to read.
Many times people will post exercises and drills that they are training and wish to share. This does not mean this is the only training that should be done. Each person has their very own personal mix of kata, drills, and exercises to match their goals in training. Right now I am spending more time on agility and footwork and on the verbal aspects of self-defense. I find the stronger my legs are (meaning power, speed, and spring from the floor) the easier it is to get in good hand techniques.
I was not saying that legs are not important, but I have discoveered that if i focus too hard on onee portion of my body another portion seems to go lacking. Especially legs because we use such deep stances at our dojo. Which is another good way to work on the legs.
Women have stronger lower bodies than upper bodies - and good power generation must come through the legs. Of course the arms must be fit & coordinated. But the longer I train the more I belive that what the legs are doing is vastly more important than what the hands are doing. The hands can go out and hit things - but the legs must move you to right position with balance and must provide much of the power for women.
So --- besides deep stances (which my style mostly does not train ) what do you do for your legs?
I think we have to work lower and upper equally.
I agree. Women, pound for pound, are stronger in the legs. We have a lower center of gravity too. We also have more fleibility in our back then men... so if we are really employing those hips like we should, that flexible back should come in to play with the windup we initiate. We should work our lower back too. Funny thing though, in my kata I use my hips but not nearly as much in my sparring. I am not sure why but I need to correct that.
Another consideration - given that men have a longer reach than us women, we should take advantage of more leg attacks since our legs are longer than our arms especially when we spar with men.
True, our arms are weaker, so shouldn't we especially condition and strengthen our arms equally with the legs. I am in the gym 3-4 days a week with weights. I work everything, alternating legs and arms and will start conditioning my back (on the advice of my new weight partner).
The thing that annoys me too is the fact that our face is usually right there, comfortably at a man's shoulder level, therefore easy fist level. We have to weave and bob more because of it, plus get in quickly...and out quicker for that reason.
I have a problems doing that because of neck problems preventing that flexibity with my neck. Any suggestions for improving that?
You can try to bob and weave from your waist and sort of let your shoulders and neck come along for the ride. Waist movement combined with bending and unbending your knees should give you some distance and range with which to play. Protect your neck!!! Are you aware of exactly what kind of movements aggravate it? Can you bob one way and not the other? Or is all bobbing painful?
I have difficulty with my neck when as I lean it to either shoulder. I am working on bobbing to avoid head attacks but due to pinched nerves along my lower back, I have difficulty bobbing to the right side of my body without pain.
I want to try out a chiropractor soon and see if it helps the back and neck.
