Kettlebells has made it a lot easier

Physical fitness plays such an important part in martial arts (or any physical sport for that matter). I often find it amazing to still see overweight, unfit and physically challenged martial arts instructors peddling their wares online or in person. Granted that I shouldn't generalize nor judge the book by its cover but isn't the purpose of learning self defense via the martial arts start with the "self"? We learn to control ourselves inside and out. I recall many sessions, listening to my old karate sensei extolling the virtues of a calm demeanor, peaceful interior, emotionally controlled and balanced at all times, stone faced exterior with an awesome arsenal of tools in hand to overcome any adversity; the mark of an accomplished martial artist.

While this may sound romantic and somewhat utopian, physical fitness, functional skills performed with coordination and superior timing are what separates the trained from the untrained. Familiarity with the tools of the trade, their applications, variables and permutations are the defining factors which identify someone who is a "martial artist" from one who is not.

When one (or many of those are lacking) then its time to reassess what you do as someone who trains from someone who doesn't.

I recall many stories of untrained street thugs, gangs and generally unsavory characters beating up so-called black belts in X-art, and often wondered if these stories were urban legends or if true, why they were so.

Street gangs and thugs, not necessarily in Malaysia (as most Malaysian criminals I've seen are scrawny but usually armed with a parang~ a great equaliser), but more so in the US I suppose, are a tougher bunch. In the US prisons they often are shown on TV doing lots of weight training. Out of prison they presumably weight train also in addition to criminal activity. Augmented with low tolerance, low education levels, high aggression and need to survive the outcome and outlet for their aggression and needs are best served up violently to get the things they want.

On the other hand, most martial arts black belts, fall within the middle-income segment of society, educated and have a stable family life and job, by nature a comfortable lifestyle, will sport a beer gut harvested over many moons of happy hours and weekend buffets do not have that physical strength and stamina nor that psychological edge of being lean and mean. They are pudgy and soft and not the prime qualities required for martial arts.

When I looked at individuals who compete (in any event) they tend to be strong, fast, fit and have all the necessary components to excel in their field of sports. In comparison with those (martial arts included) who do not compete, spar or test their skills (with or without rules), you often find people who conform to the latter category.

Once upon a time, during one of my karate teaching assignments around 1995, I recall hosting a Japanese instructor whose warm up routine was probably about half the intensity of the Beginners' Core Strength program today and I had to sit out as I felt queesier than a cocktail of char kuey teow and sardine chocolate marmite souffle. I was helpless in spite of any perceived skills because my body just gave up and had not more gas to continue ~ and that was just the warm up!

Fast fowards to 2007 and the introduction of kettlebell training at KDT Academy.
Over the past few months of training with the kettlebells, and I don't mean this to sound like some infomercial, my overall strength, especially in my legs, back, shoulders and grip has increased considerably. I don't know the exact increases as I did not take any specific measurements. What I can do are 40 repetitions of 16kg Snatch on each side, in addition to warm up routines of squats, swings, etc.

Sparring in the boxing or BJJ feels a lot more effortless, affording me better control over my own movements and, therefore, over my opponent's movements. The good thing is with the kettlebell training you can go as easy or as intense as you like. You can stick with one routine and master that movement, extracting every gram of benefit from it or play a wide spectrum of different movements to develop overall conditioning. Thankfully, its a lot of fun and interesting to boot, combining the need for mental engagement as well as physical attention to each exercise. Somewhat like juggling but with the respect required when you play with something dangerous, like firearms or live blades, so you have to concentrate, keep to form and presto! you get stronger, fitter and better than you just were!

Those who have been training with the bells have also reported strength gains as well as correcting old injuries, an unexpected side benefit of kettlebell training. If you have been feeling that your martial arts training is not up to expectations, perhaps you can try the kettlebell training methods available at KDT?