Are weights really necessary.

[ramus]

Is it possible to build leg and other muscle by running bleachers?

and cant dynamic excersizes build arm and ab muscles.

But do push ups and situps build any muscle??????

[Tom Yum]

Weights aren't necessary, but are probably the quickest way to build raw strength if you're over 15 years of age. Push ups, sit ups and pull ups build natural strength and conditioning with some improvement in muscle size, mostly related to definition.

Weight training as a supplement to your athletic training could be done to improve your functional strength - using the same muscles used in your sports movement, stressing them in a similar manner as they are used for a similar interval they are used. You should do more research about this, asking your coach and other guys on the team.

If you play soccer, doing max lift bench press is functionally useless. Off the field you might focus on weight training leg, hip and lower back excercises for 15 + reps and 3 sets. If you were a a wrestler doing explosive, heavy bench presses or bent over rows could be functionally useful.

Weights can build your raw strength and improve your functional strength for a sport, but cannot replace your core practice time and drills.

[Silent Giant]

It really depends on what is the most comfortable and convenient for you. Bodyweight exercises are great for strengthening your joints and retaining some flexibility. I incorporate them into my training regimen on the weekends and in my warmups.
For some people its hard to workout at home and stay motivated, so the gym or dojo is good alternative to stay motivated. I believe that home is where you go to unwind and relax, so all of my training is done outside the home in a place where I can focus on the workout without any distractions.

[Sean Dempsey]

Training is pretty specific, ala if you train your legs by running bleachers, you probably won't increase your barbell squat much (and the reverse is also true).

If you want high strength, you need to constantly overload and progress your muscles with the weight they push. If you want high endurance, you gotta push them longer and harder each time.

An example. There was me and my friend. Both of us were fit, but in different ways, I trained for strength, he did for endurance.

When we started working out together, it was like this:

I was benching somewhere near 200, he was doing about 135
I was doing about 15 pushups before I had to stop, he could do over 100.

You gotta train for what you want to do. Marathon runners will never be squatting 600, and squatters who push 600 won't be doing marathons.

[BadgerFu57]

Originally posted by Sean Dempsey
Training is pretty specific, ala if you train your legs by running bleachers, you probably won't increase your barbell squat much (and the reverse is also true).

If you want high strength, you need to constantly overload and progress your muscles with the weight they push. If you want high endurance, you gotta push them longer and harder each time.

An example. There was me and my friend. Both of us were fit, but in different ways, I trained for strength, he did for endurance.

When we started working out together, it was like this:

I was benching somewhere near 200, he was doing about 135
I was doing about 15 pushups before I had to stop, he could do over 100.

You gotta train for what you want to do. Marathon runners will never be squatting 600, and squatters who push 600 won't be doing marathons.

Or just train both like us wrestlers, lol. Sprints one day, distance running the next. We do olympic power lifts first, then do circuit training for endurance. Wrestlers are known to be some of the baddest mo' fo's pound for pound.

[allswoledup]

But do push ups and situps build any muscle

They will build muscle endurance and some size if you've never trained before.

But No,you won't look like Jay Cutler, EVER !

[Thai Bri]

Ramus - why not try it for a week, and then let us know you're results......

[platinum_angel]

lol

[allswoledup]

Yes try it !

You might actually see the benefits for yourself.

but if your asking this question,then you might not ?

[lssanjose]

it depends though. if you only aim to tone you might as well be better off doing calisthenics. But for weight training to show it's real effect, training for bulk would be the quickest in gaining resutls.

[Sim]

In my opinion, the best thing is to do bodyweight exercises with added weight in a rucksack. Do weighted Pull-ups, dips, push ups, sit ups and so on. Bodyweight build fonctionnal strength as you are moving your body throught the space. Exercises like curls don't build fonctionnal strenght.

[adacas]

I say do it all. what many people i see doing is lifting weights and building all that muscle but not working on their endurance. So you get a large piece of muscle that starts to loose their breath after several steps. On the other hand ever see olympic marathon runners...their legs look like Bic pens. You see, large muscles make endurance a little more difficult since they require more energy but too much endurance training stunts muscle development as well. You gotta find middle ground and include both into your workout. strength training three times and week and endurance in between is a pretty good schedule and always allow time to heal your sore muscles. You are sore for a reason. Thats your muscles fibers being torn to pieces and put back together again with more reinforcement. I really suggest sprinting as well. It adds a little endurance while at the same time giving you some resistance while getting rid of the monatony of long distance running. Explosive power is a definate must in martial arts training. If you want some more explosive power add strength resistance to your sprinting or add speed to your strength training. Care must be taken though to prevent injuries while adding speed to your strength traingin regime. Good luck.

[Sean Dempsey]

There's "Gym Strong" and "Country Strong"

I would take "Country Strong" over anything else. And anyone who knows what that means would probably agree.