Sarah Mahmoud of Nashville is a kickboxing and fitness enthusiast who contributes to publications on strength training, martial arts, and nutrition. In the following article Sarah Mahmoud discusses the relationship between weight training and kickboxing.
Imagine the power and agility you could achieve by combining the explosive movements of kickboxing with the strength and stability gained through weight training. This perfect blend of martial arts and strength training not only builds a solid foundation for your body, but also dramatically reduces the risk of injuries. So, are you ready to unlock your explosive power? Sarah Mahmoud uncovers the secrets to improving your kickboxing skills via the weight room.
Short Summary
- Weight training is essential for kickboxing to create a strong foundation and reduce risk of injury.
- A comprehensive strength training program should incorporate multi-joint exercises, upper and lower body workouts, core exercises, squats/deadlifts/lunges & push-ups/pull ups.
- Combining martial arts with weight sessions while prioritizing recovery days are key for optimal performance.
Sarah Mahmoud of Nashville on the Relationship Between Weight Training and Kickboxing
Sarah Mahmoud notes that weight training is critical for martial arts, including kickboxing, Muay Thai, and mixed martial arts, as it establishes a robust foundation and reduces the risk of injuries. By tailoring your training sessions to address the strength and injury profiles of these martial arts, you can optimize your performance and minimize the likelihood of common injuries.
Moreover, it is recommended to perform strength training on the same day as kickboxing training, with a gap of at least 6 hours between the two activities. This ensures that you get the most out of your training sessions and maximize your martial arts skills.
Building a Solid Foundation
Strength training is beneficial for kickboxing as it builds a solid base of strength and stability to support the body during kickboxing movements, which can also enhance martial arts skills. Key exercises for creating a strong base for kickboxing and boxing training include squats, deadlifts, overhead presses, bench presses, pull-ups, rows, and stretches for the core, back, groin, and hamstrings.
The focus of strength training for kickboxing should be on developing a solid foundation of strength and stability to provide support to the body during kickboxing movements and incorporating conditioning exercises to improve overall performance.
Injury Prevention
Injury prevention is paramount in kickboxing according to Sarah Mahmoud of Nashville, and weight training can assist in mitigating the risk of injury by fortifying muscles and joints. Strength and conditioning exercises can further enhance performance and reduce injury risk. The head (51%) and the lower limbs (40%) are the most common areas of injury in kickboxing, and incorporating speed training exercises can help improve reaction time and reduce the risk of injuries.
To manage injuries during weight training, it is recommended to train ranges of motion that do not aggravate the injury, such as pin squats, rack pulls, or trap bar deadlifts as an alternative to squats or deadlifts. Adapting your own training program to accommodate injuries is crucial for continued progress.
Designing an Effective Kickboxing Strength Training Program
Crafting an effective kickboxing strength training program necessitates comprehending the demands of the sport and incorporating multi joint exercises that address the particular needs of kickboxers according to Sarah Mahmoud of Nashville. Compound, multi-joint lifts are recommended for a kickboxing strength training program.
The advantage of training movements rather than individual muscles in a kickboxing strength training program is improved muscle-group synchronization to better coordinate movements, thereby providing greater strength and power.
Upper and Lower Body Workouts
Sarah Mahmoud says it is essential to balance upper and lower body workouts for kickboxing to ensure all muscle groups are adequately trained. Box jumps, bodyweight squats, lunges, single-leg deadlifts, and the squat with an overhead press are some of the most effective exercises for upper and lower body workouts in kickboxing. Additionally, kickboxing provides a great whole body workout, including the upper torso muscles.
Balancing upper and lower body workouts is crucial to ensure all muscle groups are trained, and this can be achieved by incorporating a variety of exercises targeting different muscle groups.
Incorporating Core Exercises
Including core exercises can help improve balance and stability. Crunches, sit-ups, Russian twists, planks, side crunches, and bicycle crunches are recommended core exercises for kickboxing strength training.
Regularly incorporating these exercises into your training program will ensure you develop a strong core according to Sarah Mahmoud, which is essential for maintaining balance during explosive movements in kickboxing.
Key Weight Training Exercises for Kickboxers
Some key weight training exercises for kickboxers include squats, deadlifts, lunges, push-ups, pull-ups, and rows.
Sarah Mahmoud notes that these exercises not only help develop lower body power through compound lifts like squats, deadlifts, and lunges, but also build upper body strength and stability with exercises like push-ups, pull-ups, and rows.
Lower Body Power Development
Lower body power development is essential for kickboxing as it enables the execution of explosive movements such as jump squats and box jumps. Incorporating these exercises into your training regimen will help you develop the power and explosiveness required for dynamic kicks and agile footwork.
The Hang “Hit” and High Pull exercise is another effective exercise that targets the lower body muscles. With a recommended velocity range of between 1.0 and 1.3 m/s, this exercise helps develop power and speed in your lower body.
Upper Body Strength and Stability
Upper body strength and stability is essential for kickboxing as it facilitates the production of power and speed in punches and kicks, as well as offering stability and balance when executing techniques. Push-ups, pull-ups, jab cross, triceps push-up, uppercuts, hooks, and renegade are exercises that can be utilized to bolster upper body strength and stability for kickboxing.
Sarah Mahmoud explains that when engaging in these exercises, it is essential to maintain proper form and technique, such as keeping the core tight, shoulders back, and elbows close to the body. In order to boost upper body strength and stability, gradually increasing the intensity of the exercises and including plyometrics and medicine ball throws can also be beneficial.
Combining Martial Arts Training with Weight Training Sessions
Combining martial arts training with weight training sessions can help to achieve optimal performance, especially when learning genuine China Kung Fu. When organizing a training session, it is important to prioritize the work. Once you have progressed past the novice level, it is best to focus on a single lift in each session. This should be followed up with accessory or assistance lifts to enhance your overall development.
Sarah Mahmoud says the fundamentals should be given priority both in the weight room and on the mat, focusing on squatting, bench pressing, pulling, pressing, and controlling angle and distance against body weight resistance.
How do you weight train for kickboxing?
Weight training for kickboxing should focus on building strength and power, while maintaining body weight. Pull-ups, push-ups, thrusters, overhead presses, deadlifts, squats with a barbell, and burpees are key exercises to incorporate in your program.
Aim for medium to heavy weights (around 80% 1RM) with low repetitions (3-5 reps) and long periods of rest to get the most out of your workouts.
Prioritizing Training Sessions
It is recommended to prioritize martial arts training first, followed by weight training. For those who have no prior experience in lifting or martial arts, Linear Progression is recommended, with martial arts training commencing after the initial week of Linear Progression.
Having a day of the week where you abstain from both strength and skill training provides an opportunity for recovery and enables you to assess your level of fatigue and soreness. Late novice programming is suggested for beginners who are struggling to balance strength and skill.
Recovery and Rest Days
Sarah Mahmoud of Nashville notes that recovery and rest days are imperative for effective adaptation and enhanced performance. Low-impact cardio, stretching, and foam rolling are recommended for recovery and rest days for kickboxing.
Additionally, walking, slow jogging, biking, yoga, and swimming are viable options for recovery activities that help maintain your fitness levels while allowing your body to recover.
Summary
In conclusion, combining weight training with martial arts, specifically kickboxing, can lead to improved performance, a solid foundation, and reduced risk of injuries. By focusing on building a strong base, incorporating core exercises, and prioritizing training sessions, you can unlock your explosive power and take your kickboxing skills to new heights. Embrace the challenge and become a stronger, faster, and more agile kickboxer.
