[panda_strike2]

I'm starting my first thread here with some skepticism as to the quality of responses--so please only reply if you've had personal experience to share.

I've lifted weights for years and boxed for a couple as well. I was hoping that the boxing would have a slight, but positive, effect on upper-body press lifts (military, incline, etc.) but it seems to have the opposite.

Does anyone know if high-repetition punching decreases fast-twitch muscle needed for heavy lifting? Is it difficult to do both (lift and box) multiple times a week without overtraining shoulder muscles (they don't feel sore, just weak)?

Thanks in advance for any constructive advice

[Barut]

I've done Muay Thai and heavy lifting in the past. I lifted three times a week and trained three. I made good gains in both limit strength and fight conditioning. I'm a mutant though.

You're not going to get any stronger by throwing bazillions of punches, just like you won't get any better at punching by pressing. Get strong in the weight room and work on your technique and conditioning in your boxing gym.

[darkfluid]

Actually I just read in scientific america a large section about Type IIx, Type IIa and Type I tissue and its conversion and growth. Current studies are uncertain weather or not you can actually convert your type II fibers to type I in mass or if marathoners are just born with more type Is than your common guy. In addition type IIa fibers actually increase after you lay off training for a while before converting back to IIx so you get a sort of free burst (they recommended atheletes that are strength based lay off before an event for peak performance to utilize this), I will admit I don't know much about periodization, but it seems it make take advantage of this.

So based on what I've read, theoretically you could be losing some type IIa fibers, but it shouldn't be in mass, i fact you would think you would gain even more as type IIx are converted. But then again if you having been training for strength for quite some time, you will have few type IIx to start with.

If you are interested its in the Sep 2000 issue (I know it is old, but it might point you in the direction of some more updated information).

[panda_strike2]

Thanks for the info darkfluid. I might look up that issue.

I'm not experiencing anything dramatic, so it may just be decreeased "energy". At least theoretically, I should be burning out muscle groups like deltoids further if I do a normal weightlifting routine and then use them again--normally right before or after lifting weights--to do something else.

[AxeGrinder]

nope...not for me...

[deadlyshaolin]

http://hcs.harvard.edu/~hsr/pdfsspri...nberg404-3.pdf

EXCELLENT Harvard Science Review article detailing muscle type conversion and its relevance to athletic performance. Not too difficult a read, either.