> How Much Bodybuilding Is Done In Kung Fu ?

How Much Bodybuilding Is Done In Kung Fu ?

Posted at: 2015-05-07 
Depends on your definition of "bodybuilding". All martial arts requires some level of physical fitness which also means a certain level of strength and therefore musculature of some optimal amount. A skinny unfit out of shape person is not going stand a chance even with kung fu training.

All the kung fu styles that I am aware off requires strong legs because that is your foundation and because the prevalent body shape among Asians is more a pear shape lower body strength is more prominent as oppose to the typical western's ectomorphic body type where there is more upper body strength.

If by "bodybuilding" you meant conditioning your body to look like a weightlifter, then no. Kung fu does not build that kind of body because while it looks impressive it does not help you much in a fight.

Bodybuilding is an entirely separate discipline than Kung Fu or any other martial art. There are a few bodybuilder/kung fu fighters like Bolo Yeung and his son David Yeung, but people like them are extremely few in number. Because of time constraints, most people are "either" martial artists "or" bodybuilders. Scott Adkins and Michael Jai White look ripped until you see them next to real bodybuilders. Adkins and White are basically as buff as a martial artist can be without compromising their flexibility and stamina.

Big muscles use a tremendous amount of oxygen compared to smaller muscles. That's why you never see any powerlifters, bodyguards, bouncers, or offensive linemen running marathons. Those guys would be weazing after completing a 5k marathon.

Martial artists value "conservation of energy" while bodybuilders value "lifting weights to failure" to develop hypertrophy. These are 2 diametrically opposed training methods for 2 entirely different disciplines. I'll give large bodybuilders credit. They "look" scary to the average untrained fighter, but if they had to fight someone who is used to getting punched, kicked, thrown, and escaping from locks and chokes, then the bodybuilder is S.O.L.

I have seen so many really ripped guys get owned by BJJ fighters, wrestlers, and MMA fighters. The bodybuilders usually wear themselves out trying to overpower a skilled fighter, and once they're exhausted, they're easy to tap out. A bodybuilder's large neck is the perfect target for a choke out.

In China, actually quite a bit but differently than it is done in the west. While building muscles, they also work on flexibility and agility just as much and thus end up really nicely toned with functioning muscles instead of looking like a freak with over sized muscles that do not even function well. In China it is all about balance and to just work one thing like just body building and not another is making things out of balance which is inefficient. Body building is really only for show and looks, rendering the body useless in many areas (look into all the things a body builder can't do due to his big muscles) which in China is inconceivable and a waste. China is very poor and a lot of things are done physically where you need a functioning body. Most people still grow at least part of their food and wash their clothes by hand. They walk and bike.

The term "Body Building" actually refers to the sport of muscle physique competition. If you mean strength training, then yes, all martial arts have strength training elements in what's called supplementary training. However, it's all done towards the perfection of technique, not just to look good or "be strong" for strong sake. How much really depends on the teacher and school. Beginner's don't do much supplementary training. That's more reserved for experienced practitioners, which then can consume half of your overall training or more, but at that point, it's really up to you.

Have you ever seen a buff kung fu practitioner who didn't live or train in the west? You see how scrawny those Shaolin monks are? You should be able to make the connection. Kung Fu requires very little athletic or physical abilities whatsoever.

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as mush as the individual wants.

no martial arts require any body building, this is a person preference. there are strengthening exercises in all styles but that is not body building

They don't do bodybuilding, they do strength training side effect of which is muscle mass.