How to stop being so Stiff?

[Staring At Fate]

Probably my biggest problem right now don't know if its from following a body building routine for so long but I feel extremely one dimensional right now. When it comes to throwing combos my coach says I'm a little robotic and I need to loosen up. I was thinking about lifting fast and heavy a long with doing some more shadow boxing but I was wondering what else would be recommended to help me out.

 

[Deathmonkey]

I did Tai Chi.

 

[DivineComedy]

Your body building could have easily affected you. I don't know why you are body building when you are a striker. ????? Big Muscles =| great striking skills. Body building relies on flexion of your muscles to move a weight, totally opposite of a punch where it is relaxed then tense at the end. Studying an internal art like tai chi works, but if you want to avoid that I'd take yoga which will benefit you in more ways than just teaching you how to relax. Stop bodybuilding. Start Strength training. Lifting more weights aren't going to make you more relaxed by the way.

 

[Staring At Fate]

Your body building could have easily affected you. I don't know why you are body building when you are a striker. ????? Big Muscles =| great striking skills. Body building relies on flexion of your muscles to move a weight, totally opposite of a punch where it is relaxed then tense at the end. Studying an internal art like tai chi works, but if you want to avoid that I'd take yoga which will benefit you in more ways than just teaching you how to relax. Stop bodybuilding. Start Strength training. Lifting more weights aren't going to make you more relaxed by the way.

This was before I started training obviously now I don't do the same thing but right now I'm trying to lose weight and hopefully lose some muscle.

 

[DrBdan]

This was before I started training obviously now I don't do the same thing but right now I'm trying to lose weight and hopefully lose some muscle.

Are you some huge, massively strong dude? Why would you actively try to lose muscle?

I've had the same issue and the advice I got was to shadow box and about relaxing. Shadow boxing like this can help because you won't be tempted to try to smash the bag/pads.

 

[Human Bass]

Skipping rope, dancing classes.

 

[Staring At Fate]

Are you some huge, massively strong dude? Why would you actively try to lose muscle?

I've had the same issue and the advice I got was to shadow box and about relaxing. Shadow boxing like this can help because you won't be tempted to try to smash the bag/pads.

For my size I am but I also heard Shadow Boxing helps so its something I want to start doing on a daily basis. Last year I weighed about 140 and then went up to 170 and now I'm at about 160 so I'm getting better but still not were I would like to be. I've noticed that since I've lost weight my performance has improved a little.

 

[bowlie]

i stopped lifting for a week and became alot faster. turns out it was just DOMS. if you lift now thats why. hit the gym focusing on 3 rep maxes on main lifts i guess. if not just have a recovery week. ive heard about recovery work too. im thinking of doing that every morning. (i.e. realy light lifting to get the blood flowing again).

 

[Migomon]

i cant believe no one has said this yet...

but if you are REALLY stiff, try watching some fun movies

 

[KidKrav]

Probably my biggest problem right now don't know if its from following a body building routine for so long but I feel extremely one dimensional right now. When it comes to throwing combos my coach says I'm a little robotic and I need to loosen up. I was thinking about lifting fast and heavy a long with doing some more shadow boxing but I was wondering what else would be recommended to help me out.

Allow yourself to be overcome by the forces of interpretive dance.

And listen to this...



:icon_chee

 

[LEGS MAHONEY]

Your body building could have easily affected you. I don't know why you are body building when you are a striker. ????? Big Muscles =| great striking skills.

That's an old wives tale .For example Mas Oyama, Andy hug, Dolph lundgren, pat barry are/were very bulky guys and it did not hinder their movement at all.I'm an avid body builder myself and i have no issue with stiffness or mobility in my martial arts training.

Since you brought up tai chi the founder of Yang style was known for his avid bodybuilding.To this day his 300 pound lifting stone is still present in his hometown. :icon_chee

Look at this video of this pro body builder doing martial arts granted what he's doing is real showy and not very realistic but that's besides the point.His movement is quick and fast and he isn't lacking in flexbility at all.

YouTube - ‪Martial Arts and Bodybuilding Action by Pierre Vinet‬‏

There's a number of reasons why ts may be stiff. Genetics, lack of stretching at an early age thus resulting in stiffness later, or he may be green to Ma and has not learned to relax yet.

Stretching along with yoga or tai chi is a good idea but someone people are just stiff as board no matter what they do.

 

[DivineComedy]

Valid points, however I should have been more clear and not overgeneralizing. I know plenty of people who begin to muscle their punches because they become used to moving a heavy weight with a pressing movement. As for your examples, also valid point, I was implying to TS that he may be bodybuilding to increase power rather than strength training. Mas Oyama, Andy Hug, Dolph Lundgren, Pat Barry are bulky guys, not saying that bulky guys are stiff; however with those examples they all have superior skills to back up their bulkiness. They didn't get their striking skills by bodybuilding is what I had meant. Didn't know about the yang style was known for bodybuilding. Thanks for the info.

 

[svslider]

that video is dancing.

 

[LEGS MAHONEY]

Understood though while on the matter resistance training with weights can make you stiff IF the full range of the muscle isn't worked.So if Ts isn't lifting correctly that could be a possible explanation.


Flexibility and weight-training: you can increase flexibility with weight-training, strength training and resistance training | Sports Injury Bulletin

 

[Inquisitus]

Probably my biggest problem right now don't know if its from following a body building routine for so long but I feel extremely one dimensional right now. When it comes to throwing combos my coach says I'm a little robotic and I need to loosen up. I was thinking about lifting fast and heavy a long with doing some more shadow boxing but I was wondering what else would be recommended to help me out.

Shadow boxing is your best bet.. but focused on getting technique down and maintaining a relaxed state. You might want to keep it all slow for a bit and then speed up as you go along.

How long have you been training?

 

[unearth187]

Probably my biggest problem right now don't know if its from following a body building routine for so long but I feel extremely one dimensional right now. When it comes to throwing combos my coach says I'm a little robotic and I need to loosen up. I was thinking about lifting fast and heavy a long with doing some more shadow boxing but I was wondering what else would be recommended to help me out.

What does your training consist of? Do you spar? Do you isolate different things when you spar? What about padwork, speed bag, double end bag? Are you sure its not a technical problem like being off balance, or arm punching instead of using shoulders and core? Personally I'd be more inclined to believe its a technique issue that can be overcome.

 

[CrazyMonkeyNMex]

Shadowboxing and focusing on balance and technical flow. Another thing to consider is how you are throwing your punches? Combinations should have a varying rhythym, and a common mistake is to throw each punch as equally powerful as the last. A jab-cross, for instance, should be Ba-BOOM, not BOOM-BOOM. Throwing every punch with equal force has the tendency to achieve a slightly stiff, robotic look to one's movement, among other things.

 

[CharmingCritic]

Relax your shoulders...don't keep them shrugged up or tense.

Keep your hands slightly open while you shadow box

Deadpan your face

 

[Gregster]

Time, experience, and paying heed to what your coaches tell you...that's how you go about resolving problems in technique, regardless of what technique it is, standup or grappling, etc.

I think most guys initially tend to stiffen up out of a natural tendency to try and knock the ever-loving crap out of the bag or focus mitts every time, and try to do so by girding up their muscles to throw everything they have into it. Even if you get it coached out of you when doing bag or focus mitt drills, it's likely to show up again when you spar; that is, assuming you harbor the same natural, innate disinclination most humans have to getting hit repeatedly. Experience and confidence will fix that as well.

 

[DoubleRainbow]

Usually when I get too stiff, I take a magazine into the bathroom.. Oh, wait.. nevermind.