photo credit: WilsonB
There are many things to consider when choosing a gym. First of all is the gym located nearby? Is it convenient to get to? Do you have to travel through suburbs before your next work out? There are people out there who will make the journey for many reasons. Their gym may have specific training available. It may be the environment and the atmosphere of their gym. The instructors, friendly, experienced and maybe the gym shows genuine care for the well-being of their members. If this is the type of gym that you are attracted to then by all means whatever the journey you will do it, and be rewarded by your efforts.
Price is another aspect to consider when choosing a gym. Is there set up fees as well as membership fees? Do they provide different types of memberships to suit your training needs and lifestyle? Can you buy a 10 pass visits, a casual visit, monthly membership or annual membership? Do they come on an easy payment plan? How much paper work do you need to go through before they even sign you up? Some gyms offer a trial period, some don’t. Again it doesn’t mean that one is better than the other, remember that free is not always best! You just have to do your research. What will keep you returning to training?
How friendly is the staff when you arrival? Do you float around before someone notices you? Do they make you feel welcome? Does staff answer your questions rather than make you a selling pitch? How well do they know their gym? Do you get to look around and are you showed the various training rooms and facilities available to you? Do you get a sense of belonging from other patrons? Don’t be afraid and ask them what they think of the gym.
What does the gym itself look like? Is it clean and is the equipment well kept? I’ve trained in a 300 sq metre tin shed that had no shiny weights and no machines. However, the gym was immaculately clean and always kept tidy. That made the difference training there and I always knew it was clean.
If there is a class running stick around and observe the instructor and the people participating in the class. Does the instructor give their attention to the participants and what they are teaching? Is it personalised? Will the instructor help you? How well presented is the instructor? Do they wear uniform? Do they motivate the participants to work hard? How does the instructor look physically? Do they look like they are living what they teach?
Does the gym offer classes? Does the class timetable work in with your schedule? Are there enough classes available that if you miss one you can make it up on another day? Or do you have to wait another week? Does your membership allow you to do the classes and use the machines? Questions should ask before you sign in.
Last but by no means least what about your first impression. This if often the phone call. How well were you greeted on the phone and did they make any effort to ask for your name? How well did the staff answer your questions? Did they paint a clear picture in your head about the gym and its facilities? Remember, some gyms are people oriented and others number oriented. Before you sign in, be clear about what you want out of your gym and what will keep you returning to training?
photo credit: law_keven
I was asked a very interesting question by one of my friends a couple of months ago. How can you train someone to fight in the ring if you haven’t been there yourself? There is definitely no simple answer to this question therefore I will speak from my own experience and hopefully you can take something from it.
I competed in a stick fighting tournament a few years ago and did quite well for a first timer. Leading up to this tournament I trained early mornings and late nights and because I did not want to be under prepared I trained whenever I had any spare time, even if it was for 20 minutes.
Sparring
My sparring partner was a lot bigger than I was and with that came strength to boast. Every time he hit me on top of my head the blow would be so intense that it went through my head guard and left two tiny eggs on my head. As the sparring continued and the beating followed I would eventually cringe from every hit and mentally it wasn’t doing me any good either. I thought long and hard about how to avoid the hits and it struck (pardon the pun) – avoid! That was what I did! Every time my sparring partner would attack using a head strike I decided to bob and weave, and slip the stick. It worked.
Timing
Eventually my timing got better and I was able to avoid his strike every time and counter his attacks. So the lesson I learned here was to analyse the problem and think outside the square.
Two years ago I attended a Will-Machado Brazilian Jujitsu tournament in Melbourne. I had 5 matches to compete but unfortunately I lost to an arm-bar in the 3rd round. This however did not dampen my spirit, in fact losing taught me some valuable lessons that day. My first round was won after I passed my opponent’s guard just as the time ran out but that round left me exhausted. My second opponent was actually similar skill level to mine but my experience won over in the end. My last opponent however was no push over and he tried to manoeuvre me into a flying arm-bar. Losing to him made me realise that I had not spent enough time on the mat grappling because I was always one step behind him. Every time he made a move it took me a split of a second to counter as I was still trying to understand what he was doing.
The next day I did an awesome seminar with Rigan Machado and he taught different finishes from the guard. What I learned from Rigan was how to Keep It Simple Stupid. I came to the tournament hoping to do some fancy and intricate techniques and I forgot about the basics. So leaving Melbourne the next day I was armed with knowledge to strengthen my grappling and the conditioning I would require for the next tournament.
Coaching
So what qualifies me to train someone to fight in the ring? There is one more ingredient that we need to look at before I wrap this up. It is probably the most important lesson I learned from my power-lifting coach – the mental side of training or better known as sport psychology.
As I was approaching the date for my power-lifting meet, I started lifting quite a significant amount of weight. Squatting over 180kg and dead-lifting over 200kg all back breaking exercises which taught me a great deal about discipline of form where slight imperfection could seriously damage my spine.
One month prior to the power-lifting meet my coach taught me to visualise the events that I was competing in. How many steps do I take before I end up on the lifting platform? How many breaths do I take before grasping the bar? How many times do I adjust my feet before I know that I am ready to lift? What kind of music to listen to in between lifts to keep me motivated and engaged? I followed this visualisation technique to the letter and before long I could see myself at the power-lifting meet doing perfect lifts every time with good form.
So once again what qualifies me to train someone to fight in the ring? I understand what an individual needs in preparation for such an event. I know about conditioning, discipline, determination, visualisation, working the basics, winning and losing, and how to think outside the square.
photo credit: Loozrboy
We all want the best in life whether it is for ourselves or for our family. The best can be described as so many things from wealth to good health, having someone to love and make love to, trustworthy friendships, success at work – employee of the year, as well as success in our social circle – to feel wanted, intellectual and mental agility and that thing some people call spiritual awakening. It all sounds good but few of us live such a life bountiful in energy and excitement in all of these areas. The rat race has made us work longer than before -especially now we have a mobile office thanks to the advances of technology. Hooray!!
Unfortunately for those of us trying to make ends meet, whether by not having enough or by having too much that we live in excess, we tend to exhaust one area more than others and as each of these areas are integrated within one another, and make up our complete life, when one area suffers – they all suffer.
Work-Life Balance
So, how do we work-life balance? Do we do it out of guilt because we think you need to? Do we do it because we have exhausted one area and any further excess will permanently cause changes irreversible to our life? Do we do it because it is the in thing at the moment and we want to be up with it? Whatever it is that makes us decide to introduce work-life balance it is there for a reason. And that reason is very real to all of us. When did you last slow down and decided the hell with everything, this is my life and my time! When you are asleep you say? Wonderful! As long as the number of hours sleeping counteracts the number of hours working. Yeah right! (It is now 3am as I am writing this article!)
So what is this article about I hear you say to yourself?
Is it a reality-check? Perhaps it’s a kick in the butt? This article is about slowing down and looking around and really looking around. For example, if you have 100 projects to finish by the end of the year, delegate to other people – they are capable. Give clear and concise guidelines that will stop you stressing about it. Schedule and stick to your schedule. Do a little bit at a time. Schedule in time for yourself, time for your kids or partner. Make it an appointment. We have some members who have scheduled their 45 minute lunchtime session in to their diary and are Unavailable at that time. Work-life balance is hard and like anything else it needs to be worked on, practiced and trained.
Put too much focus on your destination and the best you’ll have will not be worth much in the end. All the areas of our life need equal attention and fulfilment. Slow down a little so that you can enjoy the journey along the way and you might surprise yourself by finding a work-life balance that brings you the best in life and success!
photo credit: andi.vs.zf
I have been grappling for quite some time now but by no means do I stand out in a league of my own. I enjoy the journey that grappling takes me on because every grapple gets me a little closer to understanding control and positioning before I can even think about submission. Years ago when I was first introduced to grappling the only thing that I wanted to do was choke or arm-bar my opponent. Because I had no concept of control and definitely no concept of positioning it was difficult to get a submission unless I could over power my opponent with brute strength. Fortunately, brute strength was rarely on my side, as I am quite a small bodied person and most of my grappling partners out-weigh me – sometimes by 15-20 kg. I had to find another way…
Control & Positioning
In the last few months the concepts of control and positioning and have been the driving force behind my improvement in grappling. It all started when I grappled a 120kg student, who would later become a continuous sparring and grappling partner for me. At that stage I was very fond of the half-guard and wanted to make it my thing, so that whenever I grappled someone they would, at some stage, find themselves in my half-guard from any position.
However, being underneath a heavier guy was not where I wanted to be. My 120kg sparring and grappling partner would teach me a valuable lesson. His size would force me to work out ways to control his body and position myself with better opportunity to counter his attacks and set him up for submissions.
Watching my own students grapple in class takes me back to the early days when I was so eager to submit my opponents without understanding control or position. However, as an instructor I am able to process and impart this information on my students so that they too can improve their control and positioning. I show them enough so that they can put the pieces of the puzzle together and deepen their understanding of grappling.
My grappling journey is constantly evolving whether I am on the mat or off the mat and I owe it to my teachers, students and my 120kg sparring and grappling partner. Thanks Scotty!
photo credit: seba vu
I often get asked “What is the difference between Kickboxing and Thai Boxing?”
While there are many points of difference, culturally, intentionally, and indeed physically I think what most people want to know is in reference to what they will be physically training in our classes. (That said, I am not discussing the difference in the ring sports or point systems. Though some discussions do cross over.)
Kickboxing incorporates a blend of various martial arts, specifically drawing from American boxing and Japanese karate forms. Combined together there are a significant number of different kicks and punches, and punch combinations that are used in Kickboxing. On the other hand, Thai Boxing (Muay Thai) is a little less combined. While Thai Boxers do use punches and kicks, they use very few kicks.
In a Kickboxing class you may learn
> Front Kick
> Side Kick
> Axe Kick
> Hook Kick
> Round Kick and
> Spin Kick
In Thai Boxing you will predominantly learn
> Round Kick (Thai Kick and Switch Kick)
> Front Kick (Teep)
While in Kickboxing you will learn more kicks, in Thai Boxing you will also learn how to use elbows and knees. These are renowned as one of the lethal elements of Thai Boxing. Indeed, elbows and knees are close range combat and therefore when delivered well are lethal. You do not learn elbows and knees in Kickboxing. Also, both styles use back fists and spinning back fists.
Both styles use punches and punch combinations. These will be practiced differently depending on your instructor, club and association.
At Momentum Technique our instructors are trained in both Kickboxing and Thai Boxing with experience in delivering classes that caters to all levels of fitness. Both classes and styles are a great physical work out and both will make you sweat it out! Remember, you don’t have to be fit to come along – you just have to come along and you’ll get fit!
photo credit: bradleygee
Boxing is now one of the most popular fitness regimes out there – and if you are looking to lose weight, and build a stronger, leaner, toned body then boxing might be the sport for you.
Boxing classes are a seriously hard work out requiring a surprising amount of exertion, coordination and concentration. You should learn the proper execution of the different punches: jab, cross, hook and uppercuts, and punch combinations for a more intensive workout that can help you grow stronger, and that require a little brain power.
Many people think that boxing is all about the arms but it is actually an excellent cardio work-out for the whole body. It’s also good for toning your bottom and quadricep muscles, which is great for those who want to lose weight around their bottom and thighs as part of an overall reduction program.
The mental benefits of boxing are just as great as the physical benefits, and for some people this is the motivator. You will develop a sense of inner strength, confidence and emotional balance as you work off any stress inside of you. It is a great release to punch and kick stuff!
Don’t worry if your fitness is not quite up to par – thats what your coming for – to build it up! Work at your own pace and try to push yourself a little more each time. Before long you will find that your speed, agility, endurance and strength will improve.
Classes usually concentrate on padwork, bagwork and conditioning. A typical boxing class will involve skipping, abdominal exercises, hand weight exercises, punching bags and working with a partner using focus mitts and gloves. Make sure that you check with your gym on what is provided. Some places provide gloves and others expect you to bring your own. Boxing is a sweaty sport and gloves don’t always smell that great! Also, bring a small towel and a bottle of water – you’ll need it! Wear what you feel comfortable in – and remember that you’re going to get hot!
Positive results await you with boxing training. You will enjoy a fit body and will keep yourself in good shape – mentally and physically.
Have you made the commitment to get active this month?
Promised yourself to get fit, lose weight, or improve your health?
Then stick at it!
Even if you’ve already stopped or if you’ve already fallen off schedule – get back on. Don’t kick yourself about it – do something about it. Get back on!
Today – power walk at lunch. Or tonight when you get home, no matter how tired you are, get out and go for a power walk. Dinner can wait, kids can wait. Power walk for 20 minutes. Make sure you keep a good pace, and use your arms to keep the pace up. You’ll sleep better tonight for doing it!
If your kids want to come or need to come with you, walk to a park where they can play in the playground while you power walk around the outskirts. Take a towel and do 10 sit ups at each corner.
Remember, you have your whole life ahead of you – it might as well be a healthy one!
