"Martial Arts Can Benefit Runners"

Posted 2005-10-26 08:46:12 by Jun Akiyama
News URL: http://www.recordonline.com/archive/...6/losport0.htm

Here's an article I found entitled, "Martial Arts Can Benefit Runners" which talks about the body awareness developed in aikido being used for runners.

___________________
~~~ To submit a news item to AikiWeb's front page, click here. ~~~

As a long time runner, 38 years, and a short time martial artist of 11 years, and a 54 and a 1/2 year old fart, I agree wholeheartedly with this article. Runner's would benefit from martial arts.

Since reading a book many years ago by an Australian coach of runners ( Percey Cerutty whom coached world class runners from Australia ) who first had the audacity to talk about the mind body connection way back in the sixties, I have experimented with many forms of imagery and breath control while running.

I find on some days I am simply pounding holes in the ground but when I focus on my center, and visualize my center flowing as I run my running becomes more of a fluid movement.( Sometimes this even works on the mat!!!)

Now my contention.

Martial artists should run

I don't want to go into all the cross training and specificity of activity arguments because I've been through those many times as a runner, and martial artist, and coach, but I have a concern about many practitioners of our art.

I know someone will come back with the old you only need good technique argument and that with proper technique it should be effortless and therefore requires less aerobic or anaerobic fitness,
( I do agree to a certain extent at a certain point in one's development as a MA person)......but when training, as an example randori, it certainly helps to have a good conditioning base. It also is useful to recover quickly to perform repeatedly and reduce the breakdown in skills that come with fatigue.

In that vein we, and I use the royal we, need to get in better shape.

Now I'm waiting, and expecting, all you aerobic and non aerobic animals to tell me how hard your practices are etc, etc. but have you ever been frustrated with a Uke who can only do five or six repeats before they need to pause to catch their breath!

So people get out there and run.

This will allow us to play longer, recover faster and learn more.

Here endeth the sermon.

I await you response.

I agree 100% that running helps any martial art. I'm currently going through a non-running period of time, and I can really tell the difference in my class stamina.

....except when it is medically counter-indicated, YES, I AGREE!

If nothing else, it would tire us out so that we would be less likely to muscle our way through teechniques, and might learn to blend more effectively....

Hurts my knees, can't practice the next day or two. I jump rope, do heavy bag etc.

Matt Rice wrote: Hurts my knees, can't practice the next day or two. I jump rope, do heavy bag etc.

If it hurts your knees it just means that, like any other exercise, you need to gradually condition your body. Try walking at first and then short jogs. It can take from 6 months to a year to condition your body and legs for running, depending upon your age and physical condition. Most problems arise because people don't put in enough time on the front end.

For straight up endurance and leg strength it's pretty hard to find anything that beats running.

Best,

Chris

Matt Rice wrote: Hurts my knees, can't practice the next day or two. I jump rope, do heavy bag etc.

It may be the shoes. Good shoes make a real difference for me.

I had a bad knee which took me out of boxing (and skipping) for almost 6 months. I figured it probably came from too much skipping and possibly too much of it in too short a period. I have to say that period was hell for me since i had to basically take a break from the most of the arts.

and like they say, "take care of ur knees and they'll take care of you."