What's the best way to build up strength during my kickboxing training?

Question

I am enjoying my kickboxing training but I don't have any upper body strength. I struggle to do pushups and lifting weights. Can anyone help me in finding the best way to build muscle in a steady progressive and sensible way.

Answer 1

"Core Work" I can't say it enough...."Core Work" is the key for all who participate in combat sports, no matter what that sport may be.  You need to know what "Core Work" consists of and it's all done with weights mostly.  With out a hard core high rep "core work" work out you'll never have the focus and power to make a inside or outside cresent kick "power effective".  I'm assuming that you're talking about traditional american kickboxing though and not the MMA thigh kicking with the shin bone c**p that people are calling Kickboxing these days.  If you are talking about "EG" rules then there's no need for core work because you can just throw thigh kicks ( called leg kicks by wanna-be's ) all day to the opponent's thigh with your shin bone and of course he'll never lift that leg and let you kick his calf instead because "EG" fighters are just that way.  I'd say "just lift weights" with light resistance weights if you're an "EG" kickboxer and you'll be just as good as the rest of the so-called "big show".

If you're a "Full Contact" traditional american kickboxer though core work is where it's at coupled with extensive stretching through out your training.  Upper body strength is as simple as high reps and heavy weight ( as much as you can handle ) stay away from supplements and rely on natural foods for fuel and for God's sake keep a solid work out routine with high reps and when I say high reps I mean like 10 sets of 10 on every thing from curls to french curls to shoulder work and bench pressing, etc. etc. etc. Also look into "core Work" work outs and incorporate those into your daily routine as well because they are vital.

Answer 2

well these guys are right...there really isnt a way to avoid it bro. sooner or later ur guna have to do weights and pushups....etc...and it doesnt mean that u have to do alot...a little at a time could help out alot. u dont have to lift alot as well...ur body will get use to lift alot in do time (take ur time). plus dont just focus on strengh...u need to focus on speed and technique (espesually on technique) as well..but good luck and hang in there bro.

Answer 3

Weight Lifting will help with your overall strength, also, your core strenght is very important. If you work on your overall core work, your body will not only become stronger, you will learn how to put your entire body behind every punch or kick you throw.

Answer 4

Focus on explosive lifts. Cleans, snatches, deadlifts. Also try Kettelbells.

Answer 5

http://rosstraining.com/ is the source. Get the manuals. Besides that fro upper body pushing explosiveness, do pushups up onto cinder blocks or something steady you can explode up onto, make it high ebough so that you can get 6-7 and do 5-6. 3-4 sets. ALso pike puhsups or handstand pushups, muscle ups and aweigted pull-ups for pulling strength. Resistance bands form ironwoodyfitness.com or jumpstrech are the best I've heard and they can be used to simulate punches with no deceleration, also dumbell shot putts, and punch isometrics against a wall, in 1-3 seconds reach max contraction on iso's., that no deceleration ting is important, you should get to at least 50 pushups first though and 100 if you can. Also muscle ups are great and probably the most functional pullup variation m a muscle up is like an explosive pullup followed by a dip. Great for jumping fences or geting onto roofs. Also dumbells are great, for lower back ,hips and shoulders, sandbags are great for lower back, and stuff. Get Ross's manuals as this is not even a fraction of the great stuff in there, the only thing I can add to hism manuals is hanging leg raises are great, also puhsing wheel barrows and dragging sleds, which he has on his website though. Also if you have trouble recruiting your lats get ab straps and use your elbows to pull-up, no hands. Punching with light weihgths will help shoulder endurance.