Most neglected muscle in the martial arts ?

[StrongFighter]

Everybody is talking about upper body strength and footwork but what muscles are really being neglected and how to get that muscle stronger ?

 

[Bill Mattocks]

Gluteus Medius and Minimus. Both are involved in kicks, hip rotations, and punching where power is generated by the motion of the hip.

As to 'best exercise' for that, I don't know.

 

[JadecloudAlchemist]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulbospongiosus_muscle

You can practice with Kegel exercises have fun!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kegel_exercise

 

[Ninjamom]

Gluteus Medius and Minimus. Both are involved in kicks, hip rotations, and punching where power is generated by the motion of the hip.

First, I'll add that I think all core muscle groups that support rotations are generally neglected in favor of muscles that support linear strength.

For instance, most serious athletes of all types do squats and/or deadlifts to strengthen their leg muscles. These exercises target the gluteus maximus (and the hams), but are of lesser effect on the medius and minimus, which are employed more in single-leg balance and in adduction/abduction. Likewise, most athletes do situps and/or crunches, as well as other exercise that strengthen the front abdominal wall (the rectus abdominus, or 'six-pack'), but often do far less to strengthen the abdominal obliques, which support rotational motions of the trunk.

Russian twists are great for torsional power in the abdominal obliques. I don't know about the gluteus medius and minimus, but I suspect that one-legged squats (if you can do them) would be good, because of the support these muscles provide for balance.

Secondly, since different arts focus on different muscle groups, I think they tend to neglect the muscle groups they don't emphasize. For instance, most boxers I've known overdevelop the upper body in relation to their lower body strength. Likewise, I've met very few TKDists who spend anywhere near as much time on exercises to support the straight punch as they do for kicking. (Both groups, however, have no excuse for neglecting the core!)

 

[Steve]

As ninjamom said, core muscles are the most important, particularly for developing functional strength. Everything works better and is stronger if the core is strong.

 

[terryl965]

Is the Brain consider a muscle. just kidding core muscle just like other have said.

 

[Andrew Green]

heart

having good cardio seems to get ignored in a lot of places.

 

[Glycerine0160]

First, I'll add that I think all core muscle groups that support rotations are generally neglected in favor of muscles that support linear strength.

For instance, most serious athletes of all types do squats and/or deadlifts to strengthen their leg muscles. These exercises target the gluteus maximus (and the hams), but are of lesser effect on the medius and minimus, which are employed more in single-leg balance and in adduction/abduction. Likewise, most athletes do situps and/or crunches, as well as other exercise that strengthen the front abdominal wall (the rectus abdominus, or 'six-pack'), but often do far less to strengthen the abdominal obliques, which support rotational motions of the trunk.

Russian twists are great for torsional power in the abdominal obliques. I don't know about the gluteus medius and minimus, but I suspect that one-legged squats (if you can do them) would be good, because of the support these muscles provide for balance.

That was extremely informative. I do squats, I never really thought there was any reason to do single leg squats. Flawlessly argued. I will reconsider my workout. Thank you.

 

[thetruth]

I reckon the heart muscle is neglected by many looking at how many out of shape martial artists there are out there. I don't want this to get back to a debate as this was covered in depth in another thread I was just answering the question

Cheers
Sam:asian:

 

[crushing]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulbospongiosus_muscle

You can practice with Kegel exercises have fun!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kegel_exercise

Marital Arts!

 

[searcher]

Hamstrings, I see more people with hamstring injuries then any other muscle group. Most people in general don't work them or they don't work them enough.

 

[astrobiologist]

It may depend on the martial art as well as the martial artist...

Some people don't crosstrain enough to hit their full-body, and some arts are very specific as to which muscles they work.

I think too many people in general forget to stretch and train their neck muscles. Also, the tibialis, the muscle on the front of the lower leg that makes for tougher shin kicks, seems neglected by many.

One muscle group I particularly like is the serratus. The serratus anterior, known as the "boxer muslce", which comes accross the front side of the upper ribs just under the pecs, are worked by doing pushups and by training punches on a bag or makiwara, but the serratus posterior muscles, which help the diaphragm to control heavy breathing, support the spine and the core, and which aid in torso rotation (e.g. for throwing a punch), are often neglected since they are not very easy to target as a muscle group.

 

[Slihn]

Everybody is talking about upper body strength and footwork but what muscles are really being neglected and how to get that muscle stronger ?

The brain.

 

[Bill Mattocks]

The brain.

I was going to say that the brain is not a muscle, but then again, I've known a few muscle brains.

 

[StrongFighter]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulbospongiosus_muscle

You can practice with Kegel exercises have fun!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kegel_exercise

Not sure what you are talking about ? Please explain ?

 

[StrongFighter]

The brain.

I have seen guys in the best shape of their life, good fighting techniques and they had excellent teachers.

Their minds do not retain the learning process during training.

They don't see and use their mind to the best advantage in fighting.

They do not know how to use their eyes to visualize and anticipate the move and remain flexible responding to unexpected surprises.

I think the mind is one of the most neglected in the martial arts and has nothing to do with the muscles.

He is a fighting machine ready to go but he is, I guess I don't know how to explain it, He is not learning what he sees ahead of time ?

 

[JadecloudAlchemist]

Not sure what you are talking about ? Please explain ?

By strengthening the Bulbspongiosus you are controling erection and ejaculation. In women it does the same thing but also closes and opens the Vagina. When performing the Kegel exercise you are strengthen these areas.Which is better than wearing Depends adult diapers. Some information about strengthening the area:

http://www.upmccancercenters.com/cancer/prostate/incontinence.html

 

[MattofSilat]

I tend to work on my lower body almost as much as my upper.

Since I have the Jolt Jab (I raise my front foot, let my weight drop and push forward off my rear foot to jab), having a strong step in is important in the jab. Since I specialise in combinations, my jab has to be strong enough to stun them so my follow up punch really does the damage. Legs are also essential for step in speed, necessary for being an in-fighter, while strength in the toes and feet overall is good for management of your COG.

However, given weight classes, upper body has many more benefits than lower body in boxing and is therefore obviously prioritized, although I work the lower body more than many.