Relative strength ratio quads to hams.

I know for runners it's 3quads/2hamstrings. What about martial artists when almost everything relies on the quads?

[koltz]

Martial artists shoudln't care for this kind of stuff you got direct use for both.
but calves are the most usefull leg muscle for MA i think

[plancheismine]

Martial artists shoudln't care for this kind of stuff you got direct use for both.
but calves are the most usefull leg muscle for MA i think
I don't think so.....You need hips and quads for kicking and kneeing...

[koltz]

but you need calves just to move around the fight and you have to do this in every sport that ivolves kicking

I know runners need to have proportion in order to avoid injury.
For fighter I think it's more important not to over strech or understrech.
For example hamstrings are often streched and rarely strengthened. Quads are often strengthened and rarely stretched. This can cause problems. So strengthen the hams and strech quads and that should help.
Spefic answer is probably specific to each case.

[Dave.cyco]

You can really go die hard on you hams because for most people they lag behind the rest of the body in development. I don't know what this exercise is called, but I have put size and tone on to the back of my upper leg doing this (maybe someone can tell me what the exercise is called?)

Lie down on your back and place both feet on the arm of a chair or some other elevated surface. You are basically in a kind of crunch position. Lift one leg and resting the weight of your body on your upper back and the heel of your foot.

One rep is where you straighten your leg and lift your pelvis so that it is straight with your back, then lower so that your leg is bent once again. You can choose to do this with both heels touching, if you wish.

I started with one set of 10 each leg, and now I can do about 2-3 sets of about 20-25 reps, depending on the day. It is very strenous on the hams, but very worth it.

[Moonduck]

Strong calves put spring in your step, but hips/thighs are where its' at.

[Dave.cyco]

Strong calves put spring in your step, but hips/thighs are where its' at.

Booya!

I had a Russian boss once, who when he tried to say burgers, all that came out was "booyas". He was cool though. Don't ask where that came from! :?

[Dave.cyco]

but you need calves just to move around the fight and you have to do this in every sport that ivolves kicking

I would agree with this big time. I would like to add that I feel that calf strength and hamstring flexibility, durability and stability are also very important for the leg you are standing on when you kick.

[amorelli]

It is important to keep your hams in proportion to the rest of your legs, otherwise the difference in strength can screw up your knees pretty bad. I almost did that last year in track because my quads got too big, so I had to lay off the leg exercises and run a lot to bring my legs back into balance.

[Dave.cyco]

my quads got too big, so I had to lay off the leg exercises and run a lot to bring my legs back into balance.

That must have sucked. What exercises were you doing for your hams and what if I may ask, were you training for at the time?

[amorelli]

i'm a sprinter/hurdler in track, so I was training to get my legs strong. I neglected to use my hams, though.

Exercises - lie on your back and place one foot on a chair. using your hamstring, raise yourself off the ground so only your upperback and head are touching the ground. Or, this (it's hard, but make sure you do it with good form, keeping your back straight) http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/hamstring-exercise.html

[Moonduck]

l prefer the same exercise done with your feet on a swiss ball. You work your balance at the same time.

[Celcius]

That is Dragon Curl or as some call it Glute/Ham raise.

[koltz]

That is Dragon Curl or as some call it Glute/Ham raise.
or the switch :twisted: that adds your calves abs and quads in

[Heathen warrior]

You are correct, sir! ;)

Also, try putting your foot on a chair and lifting even higher.

Yeah, I don't remember the name either. :) But this works the hams as a hip abductor, rather than a knee flexor, which is an important distinction.

You can really go die hard on you hams because for most people they lag behind the rest of the body in development. I don't know what this exercise is called, but I have put size and tone on to the back of my upper leg doing this (maybe someone can tell me what the exercise is called?)

Lie down on your back and place both feet on the arm of a chair or some other elevated surface. You are basically in a kind of crunch position. Lift one leg and resting the weight of your body on your upper back and the heel of your foot.

One rep is where you straighten your leg and lift your pelvis so that it is straight with your back, then lower so that your leg is bent once again. You can choose to do this with both heels touching, if you wish.

I started with one set of 10 each leg, and now I can do about 2-3 sets of about 20-25 reps, depending on the day. It is very strenous on the hams, but very worth it.