| In a real fight, you probably won't have to use | | | | Eventually, the muscles in the arm feel like jelly. |
| your muscles to the point of exhaustion. Real | | | | I remember (fondly?) the nights where Steve |
| attacks (and defense) don't last that long. | | | | Golden, and original Bruce Lee and Ed Parker |
| It's different in the world of martial arts training. | | | | student, made us roll with a partner for over an |
| Sparring seems to go on and on. Sometimes, | | | | hour straight. Our arms ached. |
| because of muscle fatigue, one may feel it | | | | We built endurance. We learned to last ... to get |
| impossible to continue. Oh ... the muscle burn! Oh, | | | | past the cramping. |
| the pain ... | | | | We also learned the energy of our practice |
| Chi Sao and Push Hands for Muscle Endurance | | | | partner ... every push, every shift, every move. |
| If you practice Chi Sao from Wing Chun, or Push | | | | Imagine practicing night after night. A few times a |
| Hands, from Tai Chi, then you know about arm | | | | week, you push your arm muscles past the point |
| and shoulder exhaustion. | | | | of exhaustion. Then one night, maybe months |
| Have you ever felt the "burn" in the shoulders | | | | down the road, you notice that your arms aren't |
| from repeated rolling in these exercises? | | | | really getting tired any more. |
| Beginners feel their arms become sore in just a | | | | The training hasn't changed. |
| few minutes. As soon as their shoulders tighten, | | | | The beginners look just as tired as ever -- |
| they want to quit. | | | | complaining about their aching arms and shoulders. |
| Note: It`s funny -- they want to take a break | | | | What has changed is "you." You are building up |
| before I even feel the first inklings of a burn in | | | | one particular kind of martial endurance. And even |
| my shoulders. I keep telling them that they`ll `build` | | | | though real fights don't tend to last, I am willing to |
| over time. | | | | bet that you'll more than appreciate knowing that |
| The point of this is that I have them push past | | | | your muscles will hold up. |
| their thresholds. I make them continue rolling. | | | | End note: |
| If their arms cramp, I tell them to shake it out | | | | For those who say, "But I don`t practice Chi Sao |
| and then continue. | | | | or Push Hands, so how does this apply to me?" |
| I work them past their burn, past what they | | | | My answer is -- Yes, exactly. How does this apply |
| initially think is their personal point of muscle | | | | to you? |
| fatigue. | | | | What training could you practice ... past the point |
| Jelly Muscles and Loss of Precision | | | | of exhaustion? Bag punching? Shadow boxing? |
| Yes, eventually they/we lose all precision of | | | | Which muscles are important to you for martial |
| technique when we play past the point of real | | | | endurance? |
| exhaustion. It doesn`t happen for a long time -- | | | | Are you going to become a side-kicking machine? |
| not nearly as soon as the beginners think. | | | | How about your straight blast punches? |