Does running about 2 times per week, in between your martial arts and weight training...?

Question

Help much as far as increasing your endurance and strengthening your legs?

Answer 1

No.

If your doing weight training and martial arts your point is to get bigger and stronger. Running increases your cardio and helps you burn off extra fat. However, for weight training you want to have some fat to change it into lean muscle.

I recommend doing weight training, getting to the size you want, then working on martial arts (Running is fine for martial arts)

Answer 2

Running will help your overall conditioning and help to build endurance in your legs, and it's a good complement for martial arts training. It won't help explosive strength like you need in martial arts, just endurance.  Running only 2 days/weeks will build endurance slowly, but it will certainly help your martial arts, particularly sparring.  I actual spar best when I'm in good cardio shape.  I can wear people down by keeping the pressure on, and late in a sparring session I can score repeatedly on people whose skill level is higher than mine.

Why do you think boxers always do road work (running) when they are training for a big fight?  It's good for your cardiovascular endurance and stamina.

There's a good summary in the link below.