Yoga for martial artists

Nothingcompares · 27-05-2008 05:06AM #1

Anyone practice/endorse yoga to compliment martial arts training (or vice-versa). Hickson Gracie, Stephen Kesting and Phil Migliarese are amongst those that advocate yoga for grappling. Certainly looks like it can do a lot for breathing, flexibility and core strength but is it just a gimmick and more oriental mumbo jumbo?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=QiDpBFdqoaw

arybvtcw0eolkf · 27-05-2008 07:53AM

I think Jon has a thread in the fitness forum on this subject.

yomchi · 27-05-2008 10:30AM

Hatha or Ashtanga yoga are both tough and compliment core strength while improving and maintaining flexibility. Apart from the term Oriental being derogatory for some, Yoga comes from India.
I can see why grapplers would advocate it has some of the postures work really deep on hip and pelvic muscles.

Charlie3dan · 27-05-2008 12:25PM

I can certainly see it working for breathing, flexibility and core strength, balance etc, but no more so then something like gymnastics

yomchi · 27-05-2008 01:02PM

Charlie3dan wrote: »

I can certainly see it working for breathing, flexibility and core strength, balance etc, but no more so then something like gymnastics

Gymanastics is gymnastics though. While martial artists want the benifit of what Yoga has to offer, they don't have to get up on the parallel bars as well. Bit like saying it's the same as synchronised swimming!

ryoishin · 27-05-2008 01:08PM

This guy has added some yoga, gymnastics and bjj movements together.

http://www.ginasticanatural.com.br/ingles/

MaeveD · 27-05-2008 01:40PM

I had a nasty car crash a good few years ago and wouldn't be doing any training if it wasn't for ashtanga yoga. As far as BJJ goes my flexibility, core strength and breathing have really improved. Great thing is that after learning the basics at a class, you can get a mat, a decent dvd and just practice at home.

Phil Migliarese has a new 'Yoga for Fighters' dvd coming out soon. We have a copy and it's really good, no nonsense and specific system for BJJ and MMA.

silat liam · 27-05-2008 04:01PM

In our style of Silat we practise exercises call "Tanaga Dalan" which are very close to yoga movements. There are two types of exercises one call "Power Postures" where the students moves from one posture to another in a set pattern, working on breathing, core strength, meditation etc.. and a more free flowing set of techniques (Jurus)that go from strong / tense postures to soft / flowing postures adding in footwork, decoys, blocking and striking techniques. Once the student is comfortable with these movement combat aspects are added to the movement. This is one of the core tools that is use in Silat, to develop the student. We seem to find older students seem to find more benefit from this type of training, or maybe put more time into it, younger students however are more keener on the padwork.

druss666 · 27-05-2008 05:19PM

i done some yoga the lotus position i can sit into it now and it has done wonders for my flexibility and is great for rubber guard

3KINGS · 29-05-2008 08:10AM

There is Yoga in the Thai arts and Indonesian arts,it was also part of PanKratos ( Pankration ) but it was called Pyrrhic and was a form based dance,which advance forms of Yoga are.Along with Pneuma internal breathing exercises even ole skool Pankration had a more holistic approach to training.So just these arts had it all,along with resistance training...these arts where complete...............J

Yoga for martial artists

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