Lots of magazines these days are touting the "Easy, No will power required, no sweat, no exercise" Health Regimes.
Really?
Add "Eat anything" and flop on the couch too while you're at it.
I don't know about you but reading that kind of crap makes me feel sorry for the man or woman who wants to get in shape and ends up following a stupid plan like the one outlined above.
What's alarming to me is that some people do believe it.
Even if it did work and you got rid of all your unwanted body fat by doing nothing, what would you look like on the inside?
Following what we'll call from now on the "Dumb Plan", you would have the ILLUSION of Health.
Choosing to exercise and lose weight and gain muscle the old fashion way does much more than burn fat and make you look good.
It strengthens your organs.
It fully oxygenates the blood stream.
It lowers blood pressure.
It improves your mood by releasing feel good endorphins.
It makes you focus.
It creates new neural pathways.
It improves memory.
It raises your energy level.
It improves blood flow throughout your body.
It improves body awareness and motor skills.
And the list goes on and on.
Why would you want to get fit and healthy any other way than the traditional way?
Training has always been for me to maximize my potential. To make sure my body and mind, my machine is functioning like it was intended. Being lean and fit is only a by-product of this endeavor. I choose to stay and walk on the path of Self-Mastery.
Will you join me?
Sibok Martin
P.S. Bypass the garbage being touted around these days when it comes to your health and fitness. Do what I do, I follow this system. Check it out here.
Empowering students with the skills and knowledge to increase confidence, fitness, and personal safety.
Showing posts with label Body Awareness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Body Awareness. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Single Focus Part 3
A few weeks ago I started a series on key areas you should focus on as a martial artist.
You read about Speed development and its importance in Single Focus Part 1.
Then you learned how injecting Emotional Intensity into your training guarantees results and drives you to follow through on the goals you've set in Single Focus Part 2.
This next key area of development is one that requires your full attention.
When you've acquired it, it will make everything else you do that much easier and effortless.
It is the root of power.
Have you guessed what it is?
Yes, it is none other than Flexibility.
A loose, pliable and flexible body can generate more power.
It has less chances of getting injured.
You'll learn faster. What? How can flexibility help with that?
One of the challenges most beginners have to face when starting any area of martial arts, be it standing up, on the ground or with weapons is dealing with stiffness.
By learning to relax and avoid being rigid when first learning the techniques, you'll be teaching your nervous system and muscles faster and in a more effective manner so you can integrate the techniques and start using them with more speed and power.
Learning to stretch and acquire joint mobility is also a natural stress reliever.
What you can do mentally when stretching is think of stress as being trapped in a sponge. The sponge being your muscles.
As you stretch, you feel and visualize stress being squeezed out of your body until the last drop. Continue to do this with each body part that you are stretching. I've found this method to be highly invigorating while also feeling like you've had a weight lifted off your shoulders.
When cooling down after a workout and going through some of the exercises covered in our Flexibility Series DVD, the mental clarity and calmness you feel should be something everyone gets to experience.
This key area of development needs to be part of your training routine but not any kind of stretching, learn how to stretch your whole body and double your flexibility over night by following some of the steps outlined in our Flexibility Series.
Make this one of your main focus areas and everything else will suddenly be much easier.
Master Yourself,
Sibok M
P.S. The Flexibility Series is one of our best products and is one area that most people struggle with. Make stiffness, pain and lack of mobility a thing of the past when you order: Flexibility: How to become as flexible as you were as a Child"
You read about Speed development and its importance in Single Focus Part 1.
Then you learned how injecting Emotional Intensity into your training guarantees results and drives you to follow through on the goals you've set in Single Focus Part 2.
This next key area of development is one that requires your full attention.
When you've acquired it, it will make everything else you do that much easier and effortless.
It is the root of power.
Have you guessed what it is?
Yes, it is none other than Flexibility.
A loose, pliable and flexible body can generate more power.
It has less chances of getting injured.
You'll learn faster. What? How can flexibility help with that?
One of the challenges most beginners have to face when starting any area of martial arts, be it standing up, on the ground or with weapons is dealing with stiffness.
By learning to relax and avoid being rigid when first learning the techniques, you'll be teaching your nervous system and muscles faster and in a more effective manner so you can integrate the techniques and start using them with more speed and power.
Learning to stretch and acquire joint mobility is also a natural stress reliever.
What you can do mentally when stretching is think of stress as being trapped in a sponge. The sponge being your muscles.
As you stretch, you feel and visualize stress being squeezed out of your body until the last drop. Continue to do this with each body part that you are stretching. I've found this method to be highly invigorating while also feeling like you've had a weight lifted off your shoulders.
When cooling down after a workout and going through some of the exercises covered in our Flexibility Series DVD, the mental clarity and calmness you feel should be something everyone gets to experience.
This key area of development needs to be part of your training routine but not any kind of stretching, learn how to stretch your whole body and double your flexibility over night by following some of the steps outlined in our Flexibility Series.
Make this one of your main focus areas and everything else will suddenly be much easier.
Master Yourself,
Sibok M
P.S. The Flexibility Series is one of our best products and is one area that most people struggle with. Make stiffness, pain and lack of mobility a thing of the past when you order: Flexibility: How to become as flexible as you were as a Child"
Thursday, May 28, 2009
What to do with all that Power?
For the past couple of days I've been talking about striking power and where most people fail to adequately develop the abdominals and legs for strength.
Once you have power, you have to know what to do with it and know how to use it.
This next step is fairly simple and easy to develop IF you have the right instruction.
When I have a chance to work one on one with a student, simple tweaks to this particular aspect of striking power translates into immediate results, literally doubling their power on the spot.
There's so much power residing inside you, you just need to unlock it.
Sometimes no extra energy is required to strike harder.
Often times less energy is wasted when this piece of the puzzle is finally understood.
You need to get clear and become effective with...
BODY MECHANICS.
We're pretty much all equipped the same way, why then is there such a difference in striking power from one person to another?
AWARENESS.
Specifically, Body Awareness.
Learning to use your body correctly requires what we call in FSD, a bit of kinesthetic training (learning by doing) and modeling (learning by watching).
If you model exactly and you repeat the guidelines we teach in our Striking Series there's no reason why you can't move and generate the same kind of striking power.
It's definitely the best alternative to going at it alone, it will save you time and frustration, as well as give you major confidence knowing the kind of power you can generate if you ever needed to protect yourself.
Start modeling now.
Master Yourself,
Sibok M
P.S. Once Body Mechanics is in place you need to get to work on this next element which I'll cover shortly. Stay Tuned.
Once you have power, you have to know what to do with it and know how to use it.
This next step is fairly simple and easy to develop IF you have the right instruction.
When I have a chance to work one on one with a student, simple tweaks to this particular aspect of striking power translates into immediate results, literally doubling their power on the spot.
There's so much power residing inside you, you just need to unlock it.
Sometimes no extra energy is required to strike harder.
Often times less energy is wasted when this piece of the puzzle is finally understood.
You need to get clear and become effective with...
BODY MECHANICS.
We're pretty much all equipped the same way, why then is there such a difference in striking power from one person to another?
AWARENESS.
Specifically, Body Awareness.
Learning to use your body correctly requires what we call in FSD, a bit of kinesthetic training (learning by doing) and modeling (learning by watching).
If you model exactly and you repeat the guidelines we teach in our Striking Series there's no reason why you can't move and generate the same kind of striking power.
It's definitely the best alternative to going at it alone, it will save you time and frustration, as well as give you major confidence knowing the kind of power you can generate if you ever needed to protect yourself.
Start modeling now.
Master Yourself,
Sibok M
P.S. Once Body Mechanics is in place you need to get to work on this next element which I'll cover shortly. Stay Tuned.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Weapon training benefits
From my own experience, the weapon that helped me acquire the skill to move any other weapon is: the Stick.
Stick training quickly teaches you about body awareness, body positioning and body alignment.
It's true, with enough practice you'll really feel like the stick is an extension of your body.
Stick training gives you a strong foundation you can fall back on when you're learning another weapon.
Fundamentally all weapons move roughly the same way. Using the same angles of attack.
It will also teach you about rhythm.
With time, when you move the stick, you'll be moving to an internal beat. No one else can hear it but you. The weapon will naturally go where it's supposed to go without thinking.
In turn, you can transfer this principle in your hand to hand combat techniques.
If I'm doing a demo or any other practice it is never planned. I rely on the Chi. The Chi will tell me where to go.
I'll never do the same demo twice. Because each time I demonstrate the art of the stick I'm at a different place in my weapon training.
Kinda like how the seasons change.
YOU are constantly improving, evolving and learning.
My thoughts are different. My breath is different. My emotions are different at that precise moment.
All these things have an influence on the Chi.
Some of these things might sound far fetched but I cannot deny what I feel when I move the weapon.
You won't be able to do this over night. But you can start somewhere.
Get started with the Basic Level Stick Training DVD, it will put you on the path to weapon mastery.
Get it here.
Master Yourself,
Sibok Martin
Stick training quickly teaches you about body awareness, body positioning and body alignment.
It's true, with enough practice you'll really feel like the stick is an extension of your body.
Stick training gives you a strong foundation you can fall back on when you're learning another weapon.
Fundamentally all weapons move roughly the same way. Using the same angles of attack.
It will also teach you about rhythm.
With time, when you move the stick, you'll be moving to an internal beat. No one else can hear it but you. The weapon will naturally go where it's supposed to go without thinking.
In turn, you can transfer this principle in your hand to hand combat techniques.
If I'm doing a demo or any other practice it is never planned. I rely on the Chi. The Chi will tell me where to go.
I'll never do the same demo twice. Because each time I demonstrate the art of the stick I'm at a different place in my weapon training.
Kinda like how the seasons change.
YOU are constantly improving, evolving and learning.
My thoughts are different. My breath is different. My emotions are different at that precise moment.
All these things have an influence on the Chi.
Some of these things might sound far fetched but I cannot deny what I feel when I move the weapon.
You won't be able to do this over night. But you can start somewhere.
Get started with the Basic Level Stick Training DVD, it will put you on the path to weapon mastery.
Get it here.
Master Yourself,
Sibok Martin
Friday, January 11, 2008
How Feeling good leads to results
Here we are getting ready to eat at this steakhouse and as soon as I sit down, the seat sinks about 12 inches.
There was something wrong with my seat. I think it was broken or something, it just didn't feel good being so low. So we asked to change places.
A couple comes in and they sit where we were sitting. The guy sits in my spot, he's all smiles. He doesn't think anything of it. He actually seems to enjoy the feel of the seat. He seems happy as can be.
It's funny how one man's junk is another man's treasure.
Which is exactly why you need variety when training. You're all different, you feel differently, your threshold for pain is different, your goals are different.
When you're strength training and especially stretching, you should be very aware of how something FEELS. You must develop body awareness.
At first, do what feels good. That might not be much when you're starting. Almost everything is gonna feel tough. You're gonna feel more pain than pleasure. But that's ok. It's part of the process.
You must first train your mind. And starting with Stretching is actually a very wise choice. By stretching you're gonna get to know yourself pretty quickly. Pay attention to your thoughts.
If there are other people in the room you might catch yourself comparing yourself to others.
Or you might quit very easily as soon as you feel some pain.
You might even start complaining about how "you can't do this" or "this is too hard for me."
The goal is to stick with it. Everything will get easier gradually. You didn't become good at eating or walking by doing it once a month, did ya? It takes repetition.
Stretching is also a good time to think of goals, to breathe, to visualize and strengthen your mind. Stretching should become something you can't live without. It's your way of naturally re-aligning yourself, to release stiffness and stress, as well as increasing flexibility.
Flexibility isn't just physical it's actually very mental. To have mental flexibility means that you BELIEVE you can touch your forehead to your knees or do a full split to the floor. You have to first visualize, then it'll manifest itself over time.
If the first thing you say to yourself when you see someone do a split is: "I'll never be able to do that" then you're right it'll never happen.
Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe he can achieve.
Do you believe?
Double your flexibility now, you too can reach a level of flexibility that leaves you feeling loose and relaxed, helps avoid injuries, and makes everything you do smoother, faster and more efficient.
Aim Higher (litterally),
Sibok Martin
There was something wrong with my seat. I think it was broken or something, it just didn't feel good being so low. So we asked to change places.
A couple comes in and they sit where we were sitting. The guy sits in my spot, he's all smiles. He doesn't think anything of it. He actually seems to enjoy the feel of the seat. He seems happy as can be.
It's funny how one man's junk is another man's treasure.
Which is exactly why you need variety when training. You're all different, you feel differently, your threshold for pain is different, your goals are different.
When you're strength training and especially stretching, you should be very aware of how something FEELS. You must develop body awareness.
At first, do what feels good. That might not be much when you're starting. Almost everything is gonna feel tough. You're gonna feel more pain than pleasure. But that's ok. It's part of the process.
You must first train your mind. And starting with Stretching is actually a very wise choice. By stretching you're gonna get to know yourself pretty quickly. Pay attention to your thoughts.
If there are other people in the room you might catch yourself comparing yourself to others.
Or you might quit very easily as soon as you feel some pain.
You might even start complaining about how "you can't do this" or "this is too hard for me."
The goal is to stick with it. Everything will get easier gradually. You didn't become good at eating or walking by doing it once a month, did ya? It takes repetition.
Stretching is also a good time to think of goals, to breathe, to visualize and strengthen your mind. Stretching should become something you can't live without. It's your way of naturally re-aligning yourself, to release stiffness and stress, as well as increasing flexibility.
Flexibility isn't just physical it's actually very mental. To have mental flexibility means that you BELIEVE you can touch your forehead to your knees or do a full split to the floor. You have to first visualize, then it'll manifest itself over time.
If the first thing you say to yourself when you see someone do a split is: "I'll never be able to do that" then you're right it'll never happen.
Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe he can achieve.
Do you believe?
Double your flexibility now, you too can reach a level of flexibility that leaves you feeling loose and relaxed, helps avoid injuries, and makes everything you do smoother, faster and more efficient.
Aim Higher (litterally),
Sibok Martin
Thursday, January 10, 2008
How to make the most out of sitting
Pack your bags. Get your boarding pass. We're off to Toronto.
I'm here in TO with my dad (Sijo to some) on business. Traveling can take it's toll on your body. I'm finding myself doing exactly what I said I wouldn't do: Sit
Sometimes you just don't have a choice. Although I talked about this a few days ago about being a "Sit-aholic", I can't get around it. I have to sit but I can choose "how I sit".
There are 2 types of sitting: Active Sitting and Passive Sitting.
You can get a pretty good workout from a chair anywhere in the world.
What's cool about chair training is like breathing, nobody knows you're doing anything.
You should start with muscle contractions. Get started with your abdomen. Contract at maximum intensity and hold for a count (let's say 30 seconds) for a total of 10 reps. Then do suck-ins. Focus on pulling your stomach in to touch your spine (visualize this, If you can touch your spine, that's freaky).
Proceed to any muscle of your choice, since it's so easy, why not do the whole body. You always start with self-resistance then move to using pressure against the floor, arm rest, back of the seat, and the wall. It'll make your travel, computer work or daily commute more efficient and productive while keeping you feeling strong, fit and relaxed.
When applying pressure with your hands, feet or your body against something, focus on keeping a constant pressure, to "stick" and project through the object. This in turn builds your sticking energy used in many of our Energy Drills but also helps you build more speed.
Think of a race horse, waiting for that gun shot and those gates to open. The horse presses against the gate (pressure) and makes his start that much more explosive when they do open.
You can use the same approach to make your punch faster simply by using a wall. Start by punching out in the air as fast as you can. Then to increase speed put your fist (Knuckles) against the wall with your arm not fully outstretched, press against it for maximum and hold for 30 seconds. Now turn to the side and punch out, did you feel a difference?
You bet you did.
For strategies like this and many others check out our Speed Training Program, where you'll learn drills to increase your visual, auditory and sense of touch reflexes.
Pick it up here,
Aim higher,
Sibok Martin
I'm here in TO with my dad (Sijo to some) on business. Traveling can take it's toll on your body. I'm finding myself doing exactly what I said I wouldn't do: Sit
Sometimes you just don't have a choice. Although I talked about this a few days ago about being a "Sit-aholic", I can't get around it. I have to sit but I can choose "how I sit".
There are 2 types of sitting: Active Sitting and Passive Sitting.
You can get a pretty good workout from a chair anywhere in the world.
What's cool about chair training is like breathing, nobody knows you're doing anything.
You should start with muscle contractions. Get started with your abdomen. Contract at maximum intensity and hold for a count (let's say 30 seconds) for a total of 10 reps. Then do suck-ins. Focus on pulling your stomach in to touch your spine (visualize this, If you can touch your spine, that's freaky).
Proceed to any muscle of your choice, since it's so easy, why not do the whole body. You always start with self-resistance then move to using pressure against the floor, arm rest, back of the seat, and the wall. It'll make your travel, computer work or daily commute more efficient and productive while keeping you feeling strong, fit and relaxed.
When applying pressure with your hands, feet or your body against something, focus on keeping a constant pressure, to "stick" and project through the object. This in turn builds your sticking energy used in many of our Energy Drills but also helps you build more speed.
Think of a race horse, waiting for that gun shot and those gates to open. The horse presses against the gate (pressure) and makes his start that much more explosive when they do open.
You can use the same approach to make your punch faster simply by using a wall. Start by punching out in the air as fast as you can. Then to increase speed put your fist (Knuckles) against the wall with your arm not fully outstretched, press against it for maximum and hold for 30 seconds. Now turn to the side and punch out, did you feel a difference?
You bet you did.
For strategies like this and many others check out our Speed Training Program, where you'll learn drills to increase your visual, auditory and sense of touch reflexes.
Pick it up here,
Aim higher,
Sibok Martin
Monday, January 7, 2008
Are you a Sit -aholic?
Think about it.
How long and how many times a day do you sit?
You sit at your desk at work. You sit in your car or bus for your daily commute. You sit at the cafeteria or restaurant on your lunch break. If you're a parent and bring your kids to the park you'll probably do like most and sit on the bench instead of playing with your kids. Then it's off to the house to sit some more on the couch to watch the Zombie Box.
Don't get me wrong, some times you have to sit but no wonder people are out of shape.
This filthy habit is plaguing many of you. They say the first thing to "go" with old age are your legs.
Loss of strength and circulation.
And I can tell you sitting isn't the solution to solving the problem.
You know the old saying : I'd rather die on my feet than live on my knees". Let's change "knees" for "butt".
Another statistic being passed around is we sleep 1/3 of our life. That means most people spend the other 1/3 on their butt. That leaves just another 1/3. That doesn't leave much time to do all the other things we enjoy doing and training should be a big part of that.
What's more important than your health? Nothing.
The first thing to beating the addiction, get out of what we call "the Trance" and when you catch yourself sitting when you could be standing, stand.
Once you're aware of your habit slowly start implementing exercise when you catch yourself doing the "thing".
Sit should mean: you owe me 10 push ups!
You'll feel better, you'll have more energy and you'll beat the 2 o'clock fatigue.
When you're stronger at push-ups then grab one of our Strength Training Kits. You'll kiss the addiction goodbye and proudly say: "I've been sit-sober for the past 6 mths! Lol"
Master Yourself,
Sibok Martin
How long and how many times a day do you sit?You sit at your desk at work. You sit in your car or bus for your daily commute. You sit at the cafeteria or restaurant on your lunch break. If you're a parent and bring your kids to the park you'll probably do like most and sit on the bench instead of playing with your kids. Then it's off to the house to sit some more on the couch to watch the Zombie Box.
Don't get me wrong, some times you have to sit but no wonder people are out of shape.
This filthy habit is plaguing many of you. They say the first thing to "go" with old age are your legs.
Loss of strength and circulation.
And I can tell you sitting isn't the solution to solving the problem.
You know the old saying : I'd rather die on my feet than live on my knees". Let's change "knees" for "butt".
Another statistic being passed around is we sleep 1/3 of our life. That means most people spend the other 1/3 on their butt. That leaves just another 1/3. That doesn't leave much time to do all the other things we enjoy doing and training should be a big part of that.
What's more important than your health? Nothing.
The first thing to beating the addiction, get out of what we call "the Trance" and when you catch yourself sitting when you could be standing, stand.
Once you're aware of your habit slowly start implementing exercise when you catch yourself doing the "thing".
Sit should mean: you owe me 10 push ups!
You'll feel better, you'll have more energy and you'll beat the 2 o'clock fatigue.
When you're stronger at push-ups then grab one of our Strength Training Kits. You'll kiss the addiction goodbye and proudly say: "I've been sit-sober for the past 6 mths! Lol"
Master Yourself,
Sibok Martin
Sunday, December 9, 2007
How strong is your Mind and Body connection?
First of all, most people have a total "Mind-Body" disconnection.
All body functions and messages (like breathing, your heart beat, digestion, etc...) are relayed through the nervous system. Make damn sure it's functioning properly. And why not op
timize it while you're at it. Enter Martial Art Training.
Let's do an experiment. Are you willing to play along with me? If yes, great!
Stand up, move your feet as wide as possible, keep your back straight, bend your knees and make absolutely sure to keep your feet pointing straight ahead, double check.
Did you look down at your feet?
Why?
I was teaching class as I do on a weekly basis, as I'm leading the warm-ups we get into holding a basic leg position, like the one you just did, to strengthen them, I say: "Make sure to keep your toes pointing straight ahead" , half the class looks down at their feet to make sure their toes are pointing straight ahead?".
Do you really need to look at your feet? You don't feel if your feet are pointing straight ahead or not?
I just get funny stuff like that happen sometimes. This is why I especially enjoy blindfolded drills, it forces you to feel everything you do and make corrections according to what you FEEL not what you SEE.
It boils down to Body Awareness. In a world where most people want to disconnect from their mind & body (Ex: Alcohol, drugs, etc...) we try to encourage students to make a stronger connection with both and strive to become more aware of them.
Things like being aware of your Breath.
Or focusing on specific body parts like your little toe on your right foot. Go ahead, do the drill, as you're sitting at your desk reading this, bring all of your attention to your little toe.
Can you really feel it?
Now inhale deeply, and feel the oxygen reach your toe. Now try any other body part. Your left ear, your right hand, your belly button or your left heel. This is the first step to Body Awareness. Our founder would also include this as a progressive relaxation exercise.
Do you think this level of awareness could help an injury? It sure could.
Could it also make you appreciate things more? I hope this makes sense to you.
By being more aware you can learn to enjoy the good things you possess in your life (like your health, the food you eat, or a relationship).
And it can also motivate you to make changes in your lifestyle that you're not happy with (where you live, missing a workout, or your work environment)
This is only one of the 10 secrets covered in the FSD Training Guide. Secure your copy today.
Master yourself,
Sibok Martin
All body functions and messages (like breathing, your heart beat, digestion, etc...) are relayed through the nervous system. Make damn sure it's functioning properly. And why not op
timize it while you're at it. Enter Martial Art Training.Let's do an experiment. Are you willing to play along with me? If yes, great!
Stand up, move your feet as wide as possible, keep your back straight, bend your knees and make absolutely sure to keep your feet pointing straight ahead, double check.
Did you look down at your feet?
Why?
I was teaching class as I do on a weekly basis, as I'm leading the warm-ups we get into holding a basic leg position, like the one you just did, to strengthen them, I say: "Make sure to keep your toes pointing straight ahead" , half the class looks down at their feet to make sure their toes are pointing straight ahead?".
Do you really need to look at your feet? You don't feel if your feet are pointing straight ahead or not?
I just get funny stuff like that happen sometimes. This is why I especially enjoy blindfolded drills, it forces you to feel everything you do and make corrections according to what you FEEL not what you SEE.
It boils down to Body Awareness. In a world where most people want to disconnect from their mind & body (Ex: Alcohol, drugs, etc...) we try to encourage students to make a stronger connection with both and strive to become more aware of them.
Things like being aware of your Breath.
Or focusing on specific body parts like your little toe on your right foot. Go ahead, do the drill, as you're sitting at your desk reading this, bring all of your attention to your little toe.
Can you really feel it?
Now inhale deeply, and feel the oxygen reach your toe. Now try any other body part. Your left ear, your right hand, your belly button or your left heel. This is the first step to Body Awareness. Our founder would also include this as a progressive relaxation exercise.
Do you think this level of awareness could help an injury? It sure could.
Could it also make you appreciate things more? I hope this makes sense to you.
By being more aware you can learn to enjoy the good things you possess in your life (like your health, the food you eat, or a relationship).
And it can also motivate you to make changes in your lifestyle that you're not happy with (where you live, missing a workout, or your work environment)
This is only one of the 10 secrets covered in the FSD Training Guide. Secure your copy today.
Master yourself,
Sibok Martin
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)