Alexenko Sensei began the study of Judo in 1965. While serving in the army and stationed in Guam, he was part of a civilian Judo team that was preparing for a tournament against a Naval Judo team. One day while visiting the beach, he saw the other team running up the beach carrying heavy buckets of sand, one in each hand. Running in soft sand can be difficult enough without carrying something heavy. These guys were obviously working hard to prepare for the upcoming event.
Alexenko went to his Judo Sensei and reported what he had seen. He was concerned that the other team was working so hard and asked his Sensei if they too should be doing the same method of training.
His Sensei looked at him and said, "While they have been running up and down the beach carrying buckets of sand, you and your team have been practicing Judo. When the tournament comes, they will be very good at carrying buckets of sand, but you will be good at Judo."
Alexenko's team dominated the tournament with their quality Judo skills.
Over the years, I have heard Alexenko tell the story many times, the point of which is to remind us that there is no substitute for time spent on the mat, learning technique.
I am a huge proponent of strength training. I have blended strength training in my own martial arts practice for over 30 years. In 2008 I became a certified "Specialist in Martial Arts Conditioning" through the International Sports Sciences Association. I am fully aware that cardio capacity, muscular strength, and muscular endurance are important variables in the Budoka development.
However, running, biking, weight lifting and other activities can be much like the buckets of sand. You only become good at Judo/Jiu-jitsu by practicing it on the mats. Muscle memory, timing, and body mechanic efficiency only come from repetition of techniques and sparring.
A scientific approach must be made if we intend to supplement our martial arts training with strength or cardio training. We must be careful not to replace our time on the mat with time under weights or on the treadmill. We must be careful not to become overly dependent on strength or cardio as a false replacement for technical skill.
If you want to be better at Jiu-jitsu, do not take time away from the dojo to spend it under weights at the gym. This in fact can be counterproductive to your Jiu-jitsu performance. You will become dependent on your strength and when you become tired, you will have not have the necessary skills to fall back on. Jiu-jitsu is not explosive and instead makes use of efficient body mechanics to overcome the strength of an opponent. Structure and leverage will defeat strength. If you are using strength, you are not using Jiu-jitsu.
Children students are the best example for this. They have not yet learned to be strength dependent. Instead they depend totally upon the skills they are developing. As they get older and develop athletically, they will incorporate that athleticism into their Jiu-jitsu, but will still call upon their leverage, structure, and timing skills first.
Proper nutrition and exercise are fundamental to a healthy lifestyle. People that make conscious efforts to live a healthy life are commendable. It helps us live a longer, happier, more productive life. Don't give up on strength or cardio training, but don't replace your time on the mat with those things. If you wish to be better at Jiu-jitsu, make the time in the dojo your priority and the outside training as a supplement. You cannot get back the hours not spent on the mat.
L.W. Keith
Alexenko went to his Judo Sensei and reported what he had seen. He was concerned that the other team was working so hard and asked his Sensei if they too should be doing the same method of training.
His Sensei looked at him and said, "While they have been running up and down the beach carrying buckets of sand, you and your team have been practicing Judo. When the tournament comes, they will be very good at carrying buckets of sand, but you will be good at Judo."
Alexenko's team dominated the tournament with their quality Judo skills.
Over the years, I have heard Alexenko tell the story many times, the point of which is to remind us that there is no substitute for time spent on the mat, learning technique.
I am a huge proponent of strength training. I have blended strength training in my own martial arts practice for over 30 years. In 2008 I became a certified "Specialist in Martial Arts Conditioning" through the International Sports Sciences Association. I am fully aware that cardio capacity, muscular strength, and muscular endurance are important variables in the Budoka development.
However, running, biking, weight lifting and other activities can be much like the buckets of sand. You only become good at Judo/Jiu-jitsu by practicing it on the mats. Muscle memory, timing, and body mechanic efficiency only come from repetition of techniques and sparring.
A scientific approach must be made if we intend to supplement our martial arts training with strength or cardio training. We must be careful not to replace our time on the mat with time under weights or on the treadmill. We must be careful not to become overly dependent on strength or cardio as a false replacement for technical skill.
If you want to be better at Jiu-jitsu, do not take time away from the dojo to spend it under weights at the gym. This in fact can be counterproductive to your Jiu-jitsu performance. You will become dependent on your strength and when you become tired, you will have not have the necessary skills to fall back on. Jiu-jitsu is not explosive and instead makes use of efficient body mechanics to overcome the strength of an opponent. Structure and leverage will defeat strength. If you are using strength, you are not using Jiu-jitsu.
Children students are the best example for this. They have not yet learned to be strength dependent. Instead they depend totally upon the skills they are developing. As they get older and develop athletically, they will incorporate that athleticism into their Jiu-jitsu, but will still call upon their leverage, structure, and timing skills first.
Proper nutrition and exercise are fundamental to a healthy lifestyle. People that make conscious efforts to live a healthy life are commendable. It helps us live a longer, happier, more productive life. Don't give up on strength or cardio training, but don't replace your time on the mat with those things. If you wish to be better at Jiu-jitsu, make the time in the dojo your priority and the outside training as a supplement. You cannot get back the hours not spent on the mat.
L.W. Keith
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