Ok, so I know that this topic will probably only apply to Kung Fu Artists and maybe those of other Chinese Martial Arts, but I wanted to see if anyone thought that Bridge Exercises were sufficient as a full workout for arms and breathing or if people disagree.

I personally go to the gym quite a lot, especially for a Martial Artists because I'm aiming to bulk out a bit at the moment but I myself find that Bridging exercises are 1 of those workouts that you can always push harder. I know a lot of people who will push themselves to the limit when it comes to weights but never seem to realise the possibilities of using your own body mass and body dynamics to work out.

There have been plenty of times I have gone to the gym for an hour pumping weights to the point where I will collapse and have even had the mini sick haha and yet after a lesson where we have practised the 12 bridge exercises for even 5 to 10 minutes I can see steam belching off of my shoulders and arms.

Also I wanted to know if anyone else had any other similar suggestions to workouts without weights other than basic pushups etc. :)

Li

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "brige exercises". Do you mean exercises to practice bridging to an opponent, or something else entirely?

If its KF it cant be the bridge we use to get an opponent off in JJ ground grappling..

I don't use weights at all rising Crane, I much prefer exercises that use my own body weight, but I don't know what "bridging" is and would like to know more..? Can you explain please? Ta

Yes Bailu Taiji that's what I'm talking about. Hoping this will answer Paris' question aswell...

Bridging exercises are movements to train your arms into bridging an opponent. It's a little hard to explain when you're not talking in person as I find the best way to to show people and tweak their position to make sure it's right and they can feel the effect themselves, but it's basically movements that train your forearm muscles by both stretching them and tensing the muscles so that you have enough power to create a bridge between you and your opponent that can be used to defend and attack against an opponent from close range.

I'm hoping this makes sense but it would be best to get an example haha, if Bailu Taiji has an explaination I would be grateful as it's one of those things I just find hard to put into words haha.

Like I said it's very hard to explain...I shall try to get some guides to post up after I get back from holiday as I'm meant to be packing now and have gotten about...nothing packed haha . But if you research yourself you should be able to find some examples on the internet that explain how they work.

Li

I'll see what I can do mate :)

The concept of bridging is thus; imaging yourself and your opponent are seperated by a river. You need a bridge to cross to your opponent.
In actual terms, the "river" can be classed as both the physical gap between yourself and your opponent, as well as having to cross your opponents guard to access his gates.
Bridging techniques teach you how to connect with your opponent and to open gates ready for a strike.

We have something similar in Ju Jitsu we call sticky hands and I guess is similar to Wing Chung. The aim is to simulate the point in the fight where you move from striking to the clinch phase, creating the opening to allow you to gain a better position on your oponent. Its nearly as much hard work as ground grappling.. but not quite.. very good excercise though!

Mad Dog wrote:
We have something similar in Ju Jitsu we call sticky hands and I guess is similar to Wing Chung.

Yes, Wing Chun sticky hands is a bridge-training for Wing Chun, as Push-Hands is a method for Taijiquan, BaguaZhang... Traditionally, most Chinese martial art styles would have a hand-crossing method that would teach students how to bridge, and apply the techniques of their style. However, a lot of these exercises have not be introduced into the west, which is why the level of gongfu is gradually declining - and gongfu looks like poor kick-boxing.

I think this is similar to a karate kamae (not sure if I spelt that right) basically its your distance and range between you and the opponent. We try to use the un bendable arm approach with this, soft but strong.

Bailu Taiji wrote:

Yes, Wing Chun sticky hands is the bridge-training for Wing Chun, as Push-Hands is for Taijiquan, BaguaZhang... Traditionally, most Chinese martial art styles would have a hand-crossing method that would teach students how to bridge, and apply the techniques of their style.We use the same concept in drills where partners square off and meet each other in the middle (at the blocking, or receiving phase) with each of the 10 postures.

So for example, posture one is stepping to a shallow (fighting vs. training) horse stance with a knife-hand reaction. The partners begin simultaneously facing each other, and the knife hands 'cross' and lock. It's not really a contest to 'win' so much as an exercise to develop core strength and balance and learn to read others.

Oh, and like Paris, I don't--and don't encourage my guys to--lift weights at all. Working against gravity and other bodies builds all I'd ever hope for.

We use a similar system in our Kumitai we as we start of in a sticky hands type to harmonise and become soft, then we move into a free flowing free fighting system where we incorporate our karate and aikido techniques, it generally keeps moving, relating to our flow like water principle of everlasting flow and power.

We can end up going to the ground and basically one doesn't look for points or to win, but to look for practise and development. I'll have some vids I'm gonna post up soon about it so you can see it as it does have an interesting angle.

But anyways, I was not aware that bridge exercises was basically sticky hands training? Not sure why they call it bridge training...

Bailu Taiji wrote:Yes, Wing Chun sticky hands is the bridge-training for Wing Chun, as Push-Hands is for Taijiquan, BaguaZhang.[/quote]

Push hands is not bridge training in CMA.