Life wants us to accumulate muscle. I'd fear losing my muscle thus having "nothing to lose". But in Karate they say muscle is an asset, we want technique. Also as Muslim i'm worse than Karate, i have no interest in Muscle whatsoever except as for health.
Gaining muscle for strength is an asset for doing things that require strength. However, as you know, the best fighters in boxing, MMA, and other martial arts are strong, do carry muscle, but not to the point of it becoming a limitation to their flexibility, balance, coordination, and endurance. They are as big and strong as they need to be...nothing more. Having been a serious, top-level strength athlete in my younger years (11 national records), I know all too well that it is difficult to carry around all that extra muscle weight. It's hard on the body...and I am paying that price years later.
I never had any training in martial arts. I relied upon my physical size and strength to intimidate...so I never had to deal with bullies, nor get into fights. I know my reaction times are too slow to actually fight anyone with any skill...they could hit me 3 times in the face before I knew I got hit once.

However, I was big and strong enough that if I actually got my hands on you...you were not going to have a good day...I had the type of strength that could literally break your bones and tear your arms from their sockets...I could throw a 100kg man around as if they were a little rag doll. I did have an opportunity at the university when I was young and stupid to get on the mat with some accomplished wrestlers...of course they made me look like a fool, but they were often frustrated they couldn't move my body in ways they were used to as I would simply overpower them.
I've been arguing with
@tree about that dancing wont improve defence and self-defence arts. But we can agree to dis-agree..
It depends upon the
type of dance and the
type of training as to whether or not it will translate into significantly improved balance and fine-motor skills used in martial arts...whether it becomes a distraction or a useful asset. Bruce Lee, for example, incorporated dance into his martial arts training. Evander Holyfield, 4-time heavyweight boxing champion incorporated ballet into his training to improve his balance. Donnie Yen, like Bruce Lee, used dance as part of his training. Martial arts actor Jason Statham trained in gymnastics and was an Olympic diver prior to his roles in the movies...certainly that foundational training helped with martial arts. There may be other examples.
I agree that it is often more the common practice to improve ones skills in martial arts by training specifically in those disciplines...repetition reinforcing those neuro-motor patterns, but for those few who want to expand their fine-motor skills in terms of balance, strength, and physical coordination...to appear graceful while engaged in martial arts...there can be a role for some styles of dance and gymnastics.
Warning: Contains my thoughts as white-belt Karateka and Shia Muslim with some hadith. Kindly: Judge me fairly, i'll start by quoting Ahlul-Bayt.
Imam Sadiq (as) says: One who meets Muslims two-faced and forked-tongued will come on *the Day of Judgment* with two tongues of fire.
The Imam is refering to Allah's Vengance on behalf of The Muslim. Do not fight!
So this Sensei from TikTok said and demonstrated things i recognized as a white-belt Karateka.
This Sensei compared the Karateka with the Judoka. Karate and Judo.
He said Karate entails being punched in the face...
Imam and I said:
Jihad meaning struggel in Arabic is not for fighting itself, as in Chinese and Japanese "fighting" arts. We do not want to strike other people in Sports. Jihad is struggel for and in Knowledge. For good.
In Kyokushin Karate stricking the head with The Hand is not leagal. Sensei Oyama said in Kyokushin Karate ~ "muscle is unwanted". I understand in Karate Spirit is better than technique, technique is better than muscle strength. Muscle is a factor in Karate though.