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IF you cannot sustain your interest on a particular fitness program,
it is bound to fail. An expensive exercise machine gathering cobwebs
in a corner, a pair of running shoes that have yet to hit the
pavement are just a few examples of an aborted exercise regimen.
Most people plunge enthusiastically into a fitness program only to
slacken midway when the monotony of the routine hits. Martial arts
training offers an interesting and holistic alternative to the
myriad of commercial fitness programs offered today.
Conditioning sans the bulk
One good thing about martial arts training is
that a practitioner can condition and tone his muscles without
excessive bulk, a feature that will be of interest to most women.
World kickboxing champion Kathy Long achieved her ripped-to-the-bone
physique solely by martial arts training. Though considered a rare
specimen of cutting-edge fitness, Long maintained her luscious
feminine curves.
Even the elderly and the frail can find a
martial art that will suit their level of fitness. The beauty of tai
chi chuan and other internal martial arts, with their soft flowing
movements is that one can pursue them without being athletic.
Needless to say, an individual’s general health condition should
be assessed by a physician before he pursues any exercise program.
A matter of style
A person opting to take up martial arts as an
alternative method of fitness will be deluged with literally
hundreds of styles to choose from. This problem can be remedied by
following simple principles in choosing what style or system of
martial arts to study. The first thing that must be considered is
the potential student’s physical and emotional attributes. Is the
person’s body built lean, fat or muscular? Is he passive or
aggressive by nature?
A tall individual is better off taking up a
kick-oriented martial art like tae kwon do where the long lines in
his physique can be put to optimum use. On the other hand, you do
not expect a fat or a heavily built individual to excel in the
acrobatic martial art of Brazilian capoeira. In terms of
personality, it is safe to assume that a passive individual will
find it hard to adapt to an offensive style, and vice versa.
Since most oriental martial arts are an offshoot
of eastern religion, a prospective student must question whether any
practices of a particular style will run against his belief system.
Though most martial arts operate on the
principles of physics and body mechanics, some employ supernatural
components. Traditional Indonesian pentjak silat for example, is
heavily laced with mysticism and magic.
Finally, the instructor’s education and
demeanor must be taken into consideration. Does he extend due
respect to his students? Does he have other source of livelihood
aside from teaching martial arts? Is he educated? Trivial as they
may seem, these factors will contribute to the quality of martial
arts training a prospective trainee will receive.
More than fitness
Physical fitness is but the tip of the iceberg
in martial arts training. As its name implies, martial arts will
obviously teach one how to fight. In the post-9/11 world, fighting
skills have become a necessity rather than a luxury for modern man.
It is ironic that one can learn compassion through the study of the
combative arts, but inner peace and gentleness are natural
by-products of strength and confidence gained from martial arts
training.
Popular Filipino cartoonist and Pugad Baboy
creator, Pol Medina, tells how the art of aikido had an impact on
him spiritually. In a hilarious essay entitled “Thoughts of an
Aikidoka” he wrote: “Aikido taught me a lot about patience and
resilience. The noncombative attitude it preaches taught me to be a
peaceful person. My wife says the best virtue I got from aikido
training is humility. “Aba, marunong ka nang mag-sorry pag may
kasalanan ka ha? [Now, you know how to say sorry when you’re at
fault.]”
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