Strength vs. Bulk

In tonight's class Sifu Brinker was talking briefly about strength vs. bulk as it relates to our bodies and our training. We want to train for strength, not bulk. We want to be strong but we don't want to add additional bulk. This is something that I have pondered a lot ever since I started at SRKF. I have trained with weights for many years and my goal has always been size and strength. I am not a big person naturally and I am proud of all the work that I have put in at the gym over the years. But over the last year it has become apparent that I would have to change the way I train if I want to excel in kung fu. 

I have already made changes to my workouts, some of them as a result of my shoulder injury, but others were a result of not wanting to be crippled by muscle soreness for the days following a heavy leg workout. The problem I have now is that I have changed my routines but my DOMS (delaed onset muscle soreness) still affect my kung fu. Tonight was a great example. My legs were sore and tired from yesterday and we had a pretty leg-intensive class; lots of horse stance and jumping. I had a pretty tough time with it. 

I am not ready to give up weight training and I am not sure if I can maintain the muscle mass I have now if I train lighter. I don't feel big and bulky and I am happy with the size I am now; I don;t want to get any bigger or smaller. I will continue to try and alter my workouts to try and minimize the impact they have on my kung fu. I'm really hoping I don't have to choose between the two.

Cory Smid
http://kungfucory.blogspot.ca/