Did Dragon Ball popularize the weighted clothing trope?

[MarCas92]

I know it's a trope in anime/manga now and it's been a popular form of strength and resistance training for hundreds of years. But was Dragon Ball what brought it into the mainstream pop culture? I can't find any earlier examples of this trope being used. Are there any in manga/anime specifically? The earliest example I could find was Kurt Vonnegut's short story "Harrison Bergeron" from 1961.

[dougo13]

Much earlier but Star of The Giants used springs to do the same thing:

http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2 ... -phone-ads

[Ajay]

I'd probably say so. Even if it took place previously, I'd say it's definitely most associated with the franchise. The author of Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto, spends a heck of a lot of time talking about Toriyama in his author notes. Aside from some very obvious character references, we also get a great example of the weighted-training trope with Rock Lee's fight against Gaara. It wouldn't surprise me if other examples were similarly influenced.

Spoiler:

[Lord Beerus]

Even though Dragon Ball isn't the earliest example of the trope, it definitely the most famous example of the trope. Following the famous use of weighted clothing Dragon Ball many other shonen manga/anime would follow suit. Yu Yu Hakusho, Naruto, Bleach and Prince Of Tennis, just to name a few.

[dougo13]

Was just watching "Master of the Flying Guillotine". The One Armed Boxer's students use weights attached to their legs during jumping exercises. Any martial artists in the crowd? Are weights used in any training exercises? I used to see them on athletes for running exercises back in the 1970s. Dunno if they are still used today though. Builds up leg strength and stamina. Not into sports manga so I don't know if they were used in any series that predates DB. People make reference to current series artists but you have to remember that DB is now 30 years old, so what was the influence or reference at the time the manga was written? For many of the current artists, of course they look up to Toriyama or other artists as its part of their childhood as is watching the show for many of you I would suppose. It's always been interesting to me but its not part of my childhood since I probably predate most people on this board by quite a bit. More like Toriyama and I might have had similar likes in cartoons when we were young. He has said he liked some of Hanna Barbera's stuff. I do too!

[DerekPadula]

Was just watching "Master of the Flying Guillotine". The One Armed Boxer's students use weights attached to their legs during jumping exercises. Any martial artists in the crowd? Are weights used in any training exercises?

Most of Toriyama's ideas for martial arts come from Martial arts films from the 1970s and 80s, and I cite that exact film in Dragon Ball Culture Volume 3, during their training arc. Also the Shaolin Temple films.

For a modern example of a martial artist using this principle in their training, see Marcus Brimage, the MMA fighter. He is a result of direct inspiration from DBZ to fighting, and is influenced by Goku's training mentality and methodology.

To answer the OP's question, I would say that it's difficult to prove that Dragon Ball invented the idea, because it's likely that Toriyama got the idea from a pre-existing film. But given that few people had ever heard of this idea prior to Dragon Ball, and given Dragon Ball's degree of popularity, it likely is the primary reason for its popularity today.

[ZazamPow]

Is wearing weighted clothes every day actually a realistic way to train, or would that just result in injuries?

[DerekPadula]

Is wearing weighted clothes every day actually a realistic way to train, or would that just result in injuries?

That depends on what type of training you're doing, how fast you move, where the weights are located, and your range of motion.

It is effective, but dangerous, and can lead to long-term physical damage. And the degree of effectiveness is arguable.

[Attitudefan]

Is wearing weighted clothes every day actually a realistic way to train, or would that just result in injuries?

You can do it, though too heavy can rip at joints and your back. Running with weighting vests is absolutely a bad idea. You might even cause yourself permanent height loss if you injure your back.

However, doing pull-ups, push-ups, even stair climbing (if you are careful and do it very slowly and methodically) can have benefits to your workouts. I personally don't use it. I train using barbells, dumbbells, and machines under the brand "Hammer Strength" which have the best old-school machines around. My gym is literally a 1970s gym, one that Arnold would have worked out in with all the retro plates, barbells, and dumbbells. New gyms don't provide as many body-building equipment and space, and are more for the new trends of cardio/cross-fit. Even new gyms have better space for Olympic style lifts, but have cut down on all things body-building, which is a shame.

[dougo13]

Is wearing weighted clothes every day actually a realistic way to train, or would that just result in injuries?

My jacket and gear adds another 10 pounds to my slim build. I don't even feel the extra weight. But I see these kids with their overly large backpacks and I wonder if this doesn't contribute to back injuries. Probably...

As an aside, I used to get laughed at for wearing a backpack back in the mid 1980s. The worm has turned now though, no?

[sayian_nation_]

What's funny I remember being in school having to walk home with a backpack full of books. Taking off that backpack I said to myself "man I feel much lighter!"