Fitness in the Fight

[Daniel Jamieson]

As a new practioner of WMA I am trying to get a sense of exactly what level of fitness is typical for an ARMA member. I was shocked by the SCA, their level fitness was quite low their videos show that a large percentage of their fighters are quite overweight. As there is a corellation between fitness level and progression in any martial art I was wondering if anyone knows any good WMA specific drills. Amoungst my "study" group there are around ten regular particpants with three more dedicted members. In this group there are several people who have problems with repeated sparing matches, for example they get winded quite quickly. I was wondering if this is a common problem and if anyone knows any good ways to engage a midsize group of people in exercize that could help improve there ability to engage in WMA.

[Jeffrey Hull]

That is an excellent question.

I recall that the prize playing involves at least 7o bouts, if not more (other associates please correct me if I am wrong). Let us say each bout averages 3 strikes/moves until fruition one way or that other. Then to sort of replicate the effort involved at that, you need do a workout of 210 strikes (with speed and strength and footwork). That is sort of simplifying it, but doing that many strikes in a day is better than nothing.

For group effort -- leading them to do standard sit-ups, jumping-jacks, free-standing squats and push-ups is a very good basic regimen. You could include hindu push-ups, lunges and gymnist/wrestler arches too.

Here is one article by the director about physical fitness & fencing:
http://www.thearma.org/essays/fit/RennFit.htm

By the way, here is an article about conditioning for armoured fighting that one of my/our associates wrote:
http://www.arma-ogden.org/content/view/23//

Just some ideas -- I am sure there are plenty of others.

[Derek Gulas]

As a new practioner of WMA I am trying to get a sense of exactly what level of fitness is typical for an ARMA member. I was shocked by the SCA, their level fitness was quite low their videos show that a large percentage of their fighters are quite overweight. As there is a corellation between fitness level and progression in any martial art I was wondering if anyone knows any good WMA specific drills. Amoungst my "study" group there are around ten regular particpants with three more dedicted members. In this group there are several people who have problems with repeated sparing matches, for example they get winded quite quickly. I was wondering if this is a common problem and if anyone knows any good ways to engage a midsize group of people in exercize that could help improve there ability to engage in WMA.

I'm not sure how you guys do things in your study groups, but typically the classes I've gone to have started with a group warm-up led by one person, which generally involves some light cardio like running etc. Have the group do push-ups and jumping jacks, etc, after stretching.

In the actual weapon's practice I would try to work in stamina training as well. Have the group go through vigorous striking exercises, etc. Try not to let yourselves cool off too much between different exercises; you're trying to stretch your endurance. Also, have your study group play competitive "games" with each other that will not only exercise the body but also help build healthy aggression. So, for example, have your entire group do an "all against all" type sparring session at the beginning of class for about 5 minutes to help them warm up. When somebody is struck, make them stand still for 5 seconds before they engage again. That will ensure that all the students are working hard attacking and defending for the entire time.

Also, I'm a big advocate of wrestling, and that will really help your endurance. Have a sort of free-style "ringen" session for, say 5-10 minutes switching partners might be an idea worth considering. These are all ideas for in the class though. I find, however, that it is the time that I put into my art outside of class that really pulls things together. Try jogging, and vigorous floryshing with your weapon, etc.

Hope that helps!

[JeffGentry]

Daniel

Derek:
These are all ideas for in the class though. I find, however, that it is the time that I put into my art outside of class that really pulls things together. Try jogging, and vigorous floryshing with your weapon, etc.

This is something i have noticed in alot of MA.

Most go 1-2 a week to there MA class and think they are getting a workout, and most likely they are, Because the other 5 day's of the week they spend sitting on there hind part's on the couch eating potatoe chip's, Don't get me wrong i am a big fan a potato chip's i eat more of them than I should, It is more difficult to get off the couch and do a push, or situp's or lift something heavy, god for bid they go out in the yard and swing a waster for an hour and have the neighbor's think they are strange and get all sweaty and need to take another shower .

It is simply human nature people are lazy and in our day and age we do not need to be as active as in time's past, So people are simply less fit and there is nothing you can realy do about it is up to the individual, doing thing's such as wrestling and throwing a medicine bal in practice having some footrace's and such will help to a small extent if done at every practice and it may also help to motivate some fol's to get out do other thing to improve there fitness.


In the end it is personal will and self discipline that is going to improve there fitness, wrestling thoough is a good all around work out, strength, endurance, and fighting spirit will be better.


Jeff

[Daniel Jamieson]

Another problem is that there a varying levels of fitness in my group. We have overweight people, stick figure people as well as myself and another who are quite physically capable. This difference in abilities makes planning a workout quite difficult i.e. two members can run a half-marathon while most of the others would be hardpressed to run one kilometer. The difference in ability became quite visible when we started grapples during armed combat. I was able to throw everyone around like a ragdoll, even people that were larger than me. This led to te decision to limit grapples for safety reasons. What is needed for most other members, in my group, is for them to get off the couch and into the pushup position. My question about that would be how would I go about motivating them to do so.

[Will Adamson]

I would have thought that getting thrown around like a ragdoll would have been enough.

IMHO the solution is going to cause some to call you everything but a child of God. Explain that this is a martial art...we are endeavouring to learn from long dead warriors who fought grusome battles with no indoor plumbing and rampant syphillis. It is only fair to them for us to spend a little time during the week doing some hard physical labor in studying their fighting arts.

If after such comments (don't make a whole big speech) they decide to abandon you...well...unfortunately, they would have been holding you back. I hate this fact as much as you must. There is no definitive standard, but effort and dedication to the process is all any martial art really asks for.

[Brent Lambell]

I think this is a good time to share my ARMA experience. I joined just about a year ago and in the past twelve months I have lost about 60 pounds and increased my fitness level by leaps and bounds. One thing that seems to set ARMA apart from so many others in the HEMA community is that we take this is a serious martial art designed to kill men, kill 'em dead. This requires a certain level of physical fitness and discipline. The motivation for this really comes from the individual (with some outside support of course) and I think some people have the gene to stick with it and some dont.

I was that couch potato for a long time, but after a few weeks of training it became clear something had to change and quickly. My joining ARMA was well timed as my family and I had just adopted a dog, an awesome border collie-black lab mix with plenty of energy. I started running her and the rest is history. I used to hate running...a lot. I used to hate waking up early in the morning...a lot. Now, I get up at 5:30 every morning and walk or run the mutt. Its been hard, but well worth it.

Now for my thoughts on stamina training. I was just doing runs of three to four miles a few times a week but what I realized is my short duration-high intensity stamina was lacking so in addition to jogging, I do speed work. At the moment, I run around a soccer field and sprint the long side, jog the short side, sprint again, jog, and walk when I need to. I have seen an increase in my endurance in flourishing and my recovery time has strengthened as well. I mix in sit-ups and push-ups when I can. Jeffrey, you mentioned hindu push-ups, do you use them yourself? I had not heard of them until you wrote about them and it seems like a nice large range of motion exercise.

I still have some more weight to lose, I still want to build a stronger body to run longer, fight harder and live better. But everyone is going to get out of ARMA what they put into it. Bottom line.

[JeffGentry]

I would have thought that getting thrown around like a ragdoll would have been enough.

IMHO the solution is going to cause some to call you everything but a child of God. Explain that this is a martial art...we are endeavouring to learn from long dead warriors who fought grusome battles with no indoor plumbing and rampant syphillis. It is only fair to them for us to spend a little time during the week doing some hard physical labor in studying their fighting arts.

If after such comments (don't make a whole big speech) they decide to abandon you...well...unfortunately, they would have been holding you back. I hate this fact as much as you must. There is no definitive standard, but effort and dedication to the process is all any martial art really asks for.

Hey Will

I think you hit the nail on the head I do not like to lose people, it is simple fact of life, I do make it clear that i will do what i can to help them and in the end it is up them.



Jeff

[Jeffrey Hull]

Yes, I do hindu push-ups to warm up for swording.

My brother who is a freestyle wrestling coach got me to doing them.

Certain calisthentics like that can serve to strengthen and actually to stretch, due to the range of motion involved.

[Daniel Jamieson]

I have a few exercize circuits which are excellent ways of building strength. My coach from rowing has given me some excellent workouts, he trains our highschool team with the national team rowing circuit . I agree with what you guys have said about the values of fitness but if I tried to "enforce" some sort of standard or typical workout I would be met with staunch resistance . I suspect I could lose about a third of my group if I tried to train them . Even if they don't want to put in the work to become better fighters they should at least put in the work for their health.

[JeffGentry]

I have a few exercize circuits which are excellent ways of building strength. My coach from rowing has given me some excellent workouts, he trains our highschool team with the national team rowing circuit . I agree with what you guys have said about the values of fitness but if I tried to "enforce" some sort of standard or typical workout I would be met with staunch resistance . I suspect I could lose about a third of my group if I tried to train them . Even if they don't want to put in the work to become better fighters they should at least put in the work for their health.

Dan

Well you cannot "enforce" much of a workout routine, I think one of three thing's will happen though 1) they will get tired of getting beat up because of there conditioning and do something to change it 2) get tired of gettign beat up and leave the group 3) just keep at it until they can at least get by.

In 3yrs i have had one guy leave the group because he couldn't keep up and didn't want to change his lifestyle, he still come's around once year or so.

Jeff

[Jon Wolfe]

Honestly, I think your better without those people who would not commit to a PT regiment. The group I'm in doesn't do any kind of workouts at are sessions, it's all technique but, those that I can account for already get PT through outside means. Physical fitness is a very important aspect of what we do, and if your not up to par, you need to get there, or reconsider you choice of interests.

[Will Adamson]

Somebody please explain to me what a hindu push-up is! It's not some tantric thing is it?

[JeffGentry]

Somebody please explain to me what a hindu push-up is! It's not some tantric thing is it?

It is a combo movement from yoga hence the name it is a compound movement that will help flexibility strength and endurance.

get into a push up position and put your butt in the air then do the push up and raise you head up kepping you butt down, then raise your butt back up and drop your head.

check this out for a photo description.

http://www.cbass.com/Furey.htm

Jeff

[Will Adamson]

Oh! I've done those before. They are a killer!