Page 137 - Pat O'Keeffe Combat Kick Boxing

Chapter Thirteen
The X-Factor

In the introduction I highlighted the fact that kick boxing involves hard
conditioning work-outs that enhance strength, speed and stamina beyond those
of most martial arts. This physical conditioning is the X-factor that gives you the
edge over a street assailant. Always bear in mind that drugs, drink, weapons and
numbers are the street assailant’s X-factors.
With so many factors in the street assailant’s favour you must maximise your
chances by attaining and maintaining a good level of all-round fitness. Only by
keeping the sword sharp will you win.
In the first book in this series, Kick Boxing – A Framework for Success, I outlined
the very strenuous physical requirements for fighting in the ring. The requirements
to survive in the street are no less rigorous, but the emphasis is different.
A ring fight can last up to twelve rounds and therefore your stamina levels
must be high, but a street situation may require an explosive burst of energy over
in as little as twelve seconds. Equally, in extreme cases, it may last for ten to fifteen
minutes of all-out sustained effort with the possibility of death or serious injury
for the under-trained, the slow, the weak and the unfit.
Moreover, it has to be said that a champion in the ring is not always going to be
a champion in the street. Approaching a street situation in the same way as the
ring is potentially very dangerous. You will not be able to ‘warm’ your way into
the fight or study videos of your opponent’s previous fights.
You must switch on and stay switched on. Further, you must be explosive in
your responses. The exercise routines outlined below will give you the means to
stay sharp.
Strength and Power – The Hammer
The relationship between strength and power is frequently misunderstood.
Strength is your potential to achieve a physical task. Power is applied strength:
physical strength applied through technique.
Your ability to hit hard, to throw with force or to apply a grip whilst fighting is
what concerns us here, that and nothing else.
Weight-training and body weight exercises will give you raw strength. Bag work,
focus pads, shield work and throwing repetition (uchi komi) will give you power
in technique. Weights and body-weight exercises are essential to give you the
base that must then be worked through technique to achieve power.
Balance in training is of particular importance. If you overemphasise one aspect
over another, such as too much strength training at the sacrifice of time spent on
technique, you will be undermining your own efforts. Equally, too much time
spent on developing speed at the expense of power will serve you badly when you
need to stop someone quickly.

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