Today, I was fortunate enough to train striking at two separate martial arts schools....and loved every minute of it. As a long-time practitioner of "stand up fighting," it amazes me how much the repetition of the basics makes me feel better about my chances in a fight.
While I never want to go out looking for trouble, the more I practice basic punches and kicks, the stronger they get, and the more comfortable I get at my ability to use them.
I can remember, as a kid starting martial arts 20+ years ago, thinking I would some day be Bruce Lee. I'd be able to walk into a dojo and take on the best fighters they had, all at the same time. Well, at age 35 and a father of 3 small kids, I'll be happy if I can just protect them at all costs. (It doesn't hurt that my wife is also a 4th Degree Black Belt).
That being said, the repetitive motion of hammer fists, palm strikes, punches, front kicks, roundhouse kicks, side kicks, knees, etc. at 100% power, can be an amazing workout. Throwing a palm strike at full force into a bag with someone holding it, is to me, a much more fun way to do a bench press. Think about it, by the time you've push your opponent (with both arms) over and over again, using maximum force, you've pretty much done a similar motion.
The same thing for front kicks (a.k.a. push kicks). Very similar to a leg press. Once that leg hits the bag, you are using the force in your leg to push that person's weight back.
This is another reason I love martial arts. It's not all about fighting. The workout from it can be very effective, and build up instinctive skills that may some day save you and/or a family member.
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