Does Having Muscle Help or Hurt Martial Arts?

[@alastairfraser8177]

Functional muscles is what you want

[@Lakeside_WeightLoss]

Thankfully my teacher always guided and encouraged me and my Kung fu brothers to be strong, lift weights, do cardio, etc.

[@bluepup559]

There’s an old video you did where you talk about elbow energy and applying it at the gym. After watching that video I started applying those concepts when doing any variety push-ups, pull ups etc etc. noticed the benefits immediately. Awesome stuff Dom, hope all has been well on your end.

[@truthhurts1884]

Before I moved to the US I did wing chun back home for about 12 years, I was the only guy in the class who lifts. Guess who hits harder than anyone else in that class. They go hand in hand, weight training strengthens your muscles, the wing chun forms teach you to use the correct muscles at the right time to avoid power leaks. Focus on strength when you lift and looseness when you practice, your power will soar

[@devonkristjanson76]

Just discovered your channel today I have been doing kung fu since mid 2020 it’s nice to see you have a full library and passionate takes on this martial art and want to show others your thoughts

[@ricksterdrummer2170]

“The more muscle you have the more slow and stiff you’re gonna be!” *Laughs in Jujimufu*

[@waderogers776]

Dom, so glad to see you posting WC content again!! Were it not for my adopting weights to my fitness routine, I would not have seen the progress that I have in my Wing Chun...and I'm 58 y/o. Great video....and dead on about weights.

[@danielfarrell4339]

I like knuckle push ups personally. The movement is good for elbow energy and it engages your chest more than normal push ups. And to the guys that think that weightlifting is going to be a hindrance to flexibility, it’s hard to get big in the first place. It’s most likely not going to be a problem for a regular guy.

[@ruiseartalcorn]

I agree 100%!!! The vast majority of instructors who claim that weight lifting and muscle mass is bad for martial arts, are small guys that don't lift. They have no idea of the benefits of strength training. I am 64 and have been training in the martial arts since early childhood and lifting since my teens. Big muscles can relax just as easily as small muscles. In my own martial arts practice, I focus on relaxation and technique, however, when needed the strength and power is there.

[@cristioprea3951]

Just in time for my dumbbell curls. Also glad to get new videos from you Izzo. How is carnivore diet going?

[@idontknowname-rl8yb]

Love the info about the Elbow

[@ZenMaster762]

For sure makes sense. Why I always keep an open mind across anything I do. If something is worth knowing, it usually has applications outside of that specific activity and in combination with others. You can use all your experiences as a supplement to understanding your body and how to utilize it better.

[@TheMaverickunleashed]

Bruce Lee once said you needed to have muscular forearms for chi Sao…

[@gw1357]

There are old school baseball, golf, and tennis coaches that think that weight training ruins your swing too, but they're dying off because its a provably ridiculous argument. If you want "fa jin" (explosive power or compact power, as in the one-inch punch), then it starts the same place as it does when you want it for hitting in football ("pop")...squats. I also really like the rattan ring paired with weight training -- a little isometric training to go with the anaerobic weightlifting and the cardio of bag work, rope skipping, etc.

[@guangarmy9246]

Dear Sifu Izzo , please can you do a video on how to deal with a boxer guard while in close range bridge You always talk about going forward but I’m curious when bridge is established what would you do yourself once boxer uses his guard or what if he goes for a right hook once you smother him ? Please do a video on this if you have some free time I would honestly be so grateful tried so hard to find the answer to this Many thanks Dan I’m Emil martirossian student

[@haristopal8664]

Amateur bodybuilder here, competed a few times in Men's Physique category. Gonna try Wing Chun

[@TheLuconic]

Before I finish the video, I say no it won’t hurt. Cuz it’s like having the power to use your moves.

[@lionsden4563]

Most Chunners don't go to the gym and lift weights because of that garbage ideology. So they looked awful and weak in reality but awesomely strong in the comment section. 😂 So please lift weights if you're into martial arts. Not talking about bodybuilding. It helps you get strong, healthy and definitely look great.

[@steve3222]

Not unless you're muscle bound to the point that you aren't flexible or fast

[@borgy7085]

To be honest, if we are talking about internal arts, skilled mass vs skill is not that obvious! Ofcourse, if you guys try the opposite energy, bigger mass wins, but microadjustments happen so much in internal arts. It is really more like a gunslinger fight. Who makes a mistake first, whatever... HOWEVER and this is more important I think, having big muscle wich is not WAY too big, and have some flexibility, so it let's you make mistakes!!! You made a mistake with your technique, you can compensate with strenght!!! Ofcourse there are other advantages, but lets say we are talking about 2 wing chun guys, with internal kinda energy, doing free chi sau. Even in that, you need less perfect technique, to manipulate partners structure forxample. Other thing is, even if your wing uses more systema like, ballistic punches, some says internal, then you are working mostly with your hands weight. There are different energies, but even if you use only speed, whiping to generate force, heavier hands hit harder! So long story short, I think it does not a problem, if you have big muscles, if you can relax them, and they wont keep back your motions as a barrier, talking about wing chun. In a real fight, it let's you make mistakes, you can generate more force with pulling, pushing, turning, and you can punch harder, no matter what method you use, turning, stepping, whiping, etc... Bodybuilder style is too much I think, but a little more strenght, is not a bad thing sure! JUST do not forget, the older you get, the harder to rely on muscle.

[@rickd1201]

Weight training is a must. For many reasons having functional quick twitch from brain muscles and reactions. With correct moves. To the best of one's knowledge at time.and peiord In growth .it's just a supplement for other skills. All about skills and fluidity. Heart mind body soul. Spiritual development as you grow and understanding has a hole in the world and beyond

[@hyorinmaruthug9172]

Hey, Izzo! Can you do a reaction to martial arts journey self-defense championship?

[@GeekWingChun]

The whole "don't weightlift" argument is ridiculous. A Sifu actually told me this is because it would make you tense "all the time." Think about how long your muscle is under tension when you lift, and the ONLY reason it is tense is because you have a heavy weight in your hand. When you do a bicep curl, there is a moment during that move when your arm is in a position that is similar to Tan Sao, so this Sifu's "logic" was that your bicep would automatically tense up when it is in that position, almost like muscle memory or something. It's stupid. The better physical shape you are in, the better you can do your martial art. End of story. Thank you for making a video about this.

[@Jujitard69420]

“But Mikey musumeci 😢” every bjj nerd who’s like 2 months in and 100lbs soaking wet

[@nemesis9022]

Hey Dom, I wanted to pick your brain on something.. would love to see a video on it at some point. I do both wing chun and boxing, and I know you boxed back in the day. I was wondering what your thoughts were on the different striking methods; being that in wing chun, we strike with square shoulders to keep from snapping the imaginary rubber band of the triangle. However, in boxing, you are encouraged to pivot your shoulders to chamber each strike, and to also protect your chin. I've always felt like both are acceptable, but I wonder how we can successfully combine these concepts in fighting to be more well rounded. Thanks for your content sir, and take her easy. Who knows, maybe I'll jump back in the you tube game one of these days.

[@hotlanta35]

Bolo Yeung was a body builder

[@ZhongXina515]

Lifting heavy weights and being jacked is bad for boxing but I don’t know if that applies to wing chun.

[@willtherealrustyschacklefo3812]

Anyone 6'3+ will have to basically use wing Chun more like jkd if they want it to work right but other than that, training can fix most issues you may run into.

[@Simon2k17]

William Cheung shirtless video had more muscle than Bruce Lee. Adam Chan talked about getting away with bad habits in Hong Kong because the Wing Chun people there are smaller. He would not get away with that kind of stuff against westerners.

[@JackShen]

doesn't bulking up a lot in the chest / pec area make it harder to dig you elbow into your center for Fuks, tans...etc?

[@borgy7085]

you don't need to force that elbow in too much, as some people think, and it depends more on relaxation than how big is the muscle, however, WAY too big chest, or anything is not optimal for any fighting arts... Or at least striking arts... Just look at even top MMa guys who prefer striking

[@simonwilsher8308]

I agree.

[@SifuSmoFlatEarth]

Hey genuinely curious why you don’t like Bruce Lee ? No hate just wondering he was a huge pioneer in wing Chun when he came to America …thanks

[@greenwizard5205]

Don't need to think too much on a real fight, less you think better for you. You can train dozens of martial arts styles, learn how to kick be black belt in Jiu Jitsu, Karate , Kung Fu or whatever, a real fight is violence pure and simple. If you have a strong body and become more violent than your enemy that's it, game over, muscles win fights. If you are not naturally a big guy is better for you to avoid brawl, but in the end the best fight is that one which never happens.

[@idontknowname-rl8yb]

Is economy a food brother . They eat frog. It's called knowing your audience. If there's skinny people you gotta make a fighting style for skinny people .

[@Neinei022]

you can analyze the wing chun of the fighter qi la la

[@willtherealrustyschacklefo3812]

That's entirely dependent on you, and how the muscle is built. The less work put in the less useful period. Although at a certain point muscle mass does become counterproductive to your performance, but there all kinds of adaptations which can be done to get over alot of that as well. It is height and reach which can cause the most complications with wing Chun not weight.

[@daneck100]

Too late....

[@whispermystic4269]

Muscle make strong. Its not a hard concept tbh. LT is just old and senile.

[@benmoi3390]

just go work in construction and you gonna be paid to do stuff you pay to do in gym!!!

[@SCAMDEMIC2023]

Wing Chun in mma = fail.

[@IzzoWingChun]

This being an original comment = fail.

[@SCAMDEMIC2023]

@@IzzoWingChun correct you copied my comment.

[@correctionalofficer4lockdo763]

Strength training which improves the ability to push and shove is a no brainer! An individual with muscles and strength coupled with flexibility will allow for muscle use to enhance Wing Chun techniques with ease! A 120 lb Wing Chun wafer thin practitioner is no match for a 245 lb prison inmate that is a booty bandit and has taken it upon himself to enter his cell and close the door!

[@correctionalofficer4lockdo763]

Wing Chun used in jails/prisons = tragic loss for victim and major win for booty bandit!😮

[@SCAMDEMIC2023]

@@correctionalofficer4lockdo763 sorry to hear that. Did you go on paid leave?