Muscle or Stamina

[gh0st]

Overall which is best for Karate and similar arts?

Overall build and strength, or massive stamina?

[thingy]

Is the potato in the fire?

Are you asking this because you are thinking about doing some extra training - for instance going to the gym and you are asking where you'd be best concentrating your training, or is it nothing to do with that?

[AngelaG]

I've asked similar questions myself Chris, but more along the lines of strength/power/speed/stamina. Not that I want to bulk up musclewise, as a female I would prefer to have a more athletic, toned look.

Unfortunately I think it comes down to finding a happy medium. Force=Mass x Acceleration. Too much muscle and you run the risk of your mass slowing you down; speed but no mass will also mean no force. Stamina may seem important important but if you can hit hard the first time how much stamina do you need? After all if you are doing it for self defence you are not going to be dancing around like in a dojo free sparring style sitution. I guess flow is important so that you don't hit once and then freeze! Specific exercises to build up these aspects would be interesting and I would welcome hints and tips!

Personally I'd also like something to build up my reaction time.

[Aefibird]

Personally, I'd always go for the stamina, as (being female) I don't want to look like those freaky women that you seen in bodybuilding magazines.

Actually, I agree with Angela in that it all comes down to getting a balance between the two. Stamina and strength are both important in martial arts.

[thingy]

Yep - the balance thing. It's like a good gin and tonic.
I suppose if I was going to go to the gym and the nasty lady behind the counter said I was only allowed to train in strength or in stamina then I'd probably go for stamina.
Forsooth, more stamina means you means you can spend more of your training concentrating on the things you want to be concentrating on rather than concentrating on puffing a lot.