Don't settle for Artificial Energy

Don't do it! I know it's tempting but don't settle for artificial energy.

It's a fact Energy Drinks actually rob you of energy.

You see them branded about everywhere nowadays.

Nothing about them interest me. Who wants to ingest 200 to 400 mg of caffeine in one drink?
Do you know which other drink boasts those same numbers? Coffee.

I know it must be hard for some of you to drop that habit. But believe me in the long-term you're in for some serious health issues.

Caffeine is the addictive element that makes coffee or energy drinks so appealing - and provides the jolt to smooth the transition from sleep to facing another day at work or school.

Take the worst energy drink out there: Monster

For every 20 oz. of Monster you drink it takes 6.3 gallons of water to flush it out of your kidneys. The average person drinks 6.3 gallons of water in 23 days. For every 20 oz of Red Bull you drink, with no sugar, it takes .9 gallons of water to flush out your kidneys and the average person drinks .9 gallons of water in about 2 days. (as published in a recent GNC article).

Once caffeine enters your bloodstream, it takes about 15 minutes for you to start feeling its effects. Caffeine stimulates the brain in the same way that cocaine and heroin does:

It blocks adenosine reception so you feel alert.
It injects adrenaline into the system to give you a boost.
It manipulates dopamine production to make you feel good.

Energy Drinks don't replenish the body after physical exertion (like sports drinks such as Gatorade).

In fact, because Energy Drinks have so much caffeine - they can actually dehydrate the drinker. That means if you're physically exerting yourself and drink just a Red Bull, the lack of hydration could strain your heart.

And if you combine energy drinks with alcohol, your risk of dehydration rises. There's another trend among teens and college students.

Students whose motor skills, visual reaction times, and judgment are impaired by alcohol may not perceive they are intoxicated as readily when they're also ingesting a stimulant, only the symptoms of drunkenness are reduced - but not the drunkenness. They can't tell if they're drunk; they can't tell if someone else is drunk. So they get hurt, or they hurt someone else.

You don't need to rely on artificial sources of energy.

The formula is quite simple: Short-dynamic-daily exercise, drink water! (3 glasses a day minimum), fruits and vegetables, protein (from nuts and lean meats), & deep breathing exercises.

You might say: "It can't be that simple!"

"Oh yes it can!", it just takes a little bit of discipline. Remember what I've talked about before:

Do you treat your body like a trash can?

Keep ingesting energy drinks and loads of coffee and you'll NEVER find the energy you were looking for in the first place.

Your health first,

Sibok Martin

More benefits of martial art training

I love how martial arts training reveals one's character.

This quote sums it up pretty well:

"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all." ~ Sam Ewing

Everything from how you meditate to how you hit a focus mitt reveals a part of who you are. Whatever it reveals, it might be a strength you can expand on or a weakness that needs to be addressed.

When training, pay close attention to how you act, what you feel and what you think. If you don't like what you're thinking or feeling at the moment where you're doing a certain drill, make note of it and add it to your Strategic Outline so you can improve upon it.

You might have a hard time closing your eyes in meditation. You should find some time to meditate daily. Learn to center yourself, feel your breath and realize the safest place on earth is inside of you.

You might be very stiff and un-flexible. Stiffness is believed to be associated with "pent-up" emotions. Make sure to always express yourself, speak your mind and give your complete emotional maximum in your circuit training so that any anger, disappointment, or stress is completely squeezed out of you.

Some have a hard time counting in group stretching and conditioning. Counting is a quick way to get emotionnally involved, builds better cardio, makes you less timid and strengthens your diaphragm.

And last, holding back on striking drills. Do you just tap the focus glove? Do you think of your position before striking or do you strike with full commitment, confidence and power?
I like to think the way you HIT mirrors how you tackle everyday goals.

Careful and Analytical or Instinctive, Determined and Focused.

Just something to ponder about when you're training. Your character is always put to the test.
It will bring out the best in you.

That Strategic Outline I was talking about comes free when you order a copy of our FSD training guide.

Great tools to help BETTER yourself.

Sibok Martin

Winter snow storm alert

This is going to be a record year for snow accumulation and with this big storm coming our way, they say about 50 cm, people in record numbers will be tackling the snow with their shovels and clearing out drive ways.

But, it will also be a record year for blown backs and pinched nerves. Unless you get prepared.

I just finished shoveling snow off my parents' deck. The snow is piled high, roughly 7 feet.

It was a great workout. I couldn't help to think how shoveling snow resembles martial arts training.

You need a Strong Foundation. Body Alignment. Grip Strength. Stamina. Balance. Coordination.

You need to be Ambidextrous and Resilient.

I feel great. No pain. No injury.

Training the way we do can help you do any mundane task like shoveling snow better, more efficiently, while significantly dropping your chances of injuring yourself.

When you train correctly you really feel like you're built to last.

One secret to building an injury proof body is through stretching consistently and effectively.

One of the first things you learn from stretching is body alignment and body awareness.

Acquiring just these 2 qualities can rid you of unnecessary pain.

You can learn those and a slew of others with our Flexibility training system.

Train to be "Built to last",

Sibok Martin

How to beat muscle soreness

Have you ever had this experience.

You put in a great workout.

You're feeling great.

You go to bed.

Next morning you wake up, stretch out your arms and when you get out of bed to make breakfast you feel like someone just stabbed you in the legs.

You have a hard time going down the stairs. Just sitting down on a chair is a challenge.

You're in PAIN.

Yeah that's right, you over-trained.

You might be stuck in that same pattern. Why?

Watch not to be a Weekend Warrior. The kind of person that gets all motivated and does too much too soon. The WW is in pain for most of the week. Then when the next weekend comes around they usually repeat the same thing. Some are Month Warriors, some are even Year Warriors.

Avoid this trap.

Remember, progression through slow, incremental, CONSISTENT improvements.

We all have different thresholds for pain. Feel too much of it too soon and it will destroy your motivation.

To minimize muscle soreness here are some of the things I recommend.

The day after your workout, engage in some light activity. You might feel sore at first but once you get the blood flowing you'll feel the soreness and stiffness disappearing.

Another strategy is to soak in cold water. It's proven that exposure to cold helps the body process and eliminate lactic acid, the major culprit in muscle soreness. It could mean taking a cold shower after a workout or for the more daring, going outside in a bathing suit rolling around in the snow. My favorite.

Last step to avoid muscle soreness: Be Smart.

If you're starting out, go slowly, just do the minimum and in time you will build your strength, endurance and flexibility. That's why our basic strength training kit comes with a 30 second interval CD. It gives you a chance to work up to the 1, 2, 3, and 5 minute intervals.

Our strength training system is in place, you just need to start and we'll take care of the rest.

Master Yourself,

Sibok Martin

Modeling leads to Strength, Flexibility and Endurance

We brought our 4 year old daughter skiing for the first time yesterday.

Like any kid trying something new, they have a bit of fear, they're uncertain but once they get it right once, their confidence grows and they start having fun.

Still she wasn't 100% confident to go down the bunny hill.

Until...

Another little girl came along, younger and smaller than her went sliding by her. Hopped on the kid size escalator, alone, and got off it and back down the hill again.

We didn't even have to SAY nothing.

Our daughter pushed our hands away, got on the escalator and copied exactly what the little girl had just done.

Suddenly there was competition. She was modeling. She wanted to show off her skill as well.

Are we Adults any different?

Hell no.

We all need to model someone better than us. It pushes us to do better. It opens our mind to new possibilities.

If you allow us, let us be your physical fitness model. You too can have strength, flexibility and endurance. You too can be fit without having to watch everything you eat and spend countless hours in a gym.

There is a better way.

You'll find our efficient, proven, strength training system right here.

Challenge Yourself,

Sibok Martin

Action without vision is a nightmare

Any exercise is not worth doing if you don't have a clear vision of what you want to accomplish, what you want to become, or how you want to feel.

Why does a prize fighter wake up at 5 am to run? There's a reason why they call them prize fighters. They fight for the prize. The Money.

Are they REALLY?

You have to look at the big picture. What they want to do with the money. That's what drives them.

Just like your fitness training program, the mere act of DOING the exercises isn't enough to keep you motivated. It won't keep you committed to the program.

What is your VISION?

What really gets your engine running?

Is it saying that you want to lose 10 pounds? Does that really get you all fired up?

Hardly.
There has to be a bigger reason than that.
You have to figure that out for yourself. What is YOUR reason for strength training.

When you're strength training remember:

Strength Training without vision is a waste.

Strength Training without counting reps is a waste.

Strength Training without keeping stats is a waste.

Strength Training without emotion is a waste.

Yeah that's right. Training without emotion is a waste.

The only way to include emotion in your workout is to attach a goal to it.

When you feel like quitting, that vision, that goal should appear in your mind. And you associate giving up on that exercise to failing at that goal.

The more emotional the goal the more intensity you will have in your workout. Thus, greater results.

Mine includes being a great role model for my kids, building my business, helping as many people as possible get health conscious and to reach for self-mastery through the martial arts, being in top shape well into my 80's, being a symbol of excellence in everything I undertake.

When you have a strong vision finding the motivation to train and stay committed to your fitness program is a piece of cake.

Take your goals and our strength training circuits, pit them against each other and see if you end up giving up on them (goals) or you'll find a new found motivation to keep fighting to reach them.

Master Yourself,

Sibok Martin

Fight for Fun Tournament a Success

These are just some of the pictures from the Fight for Fun Weekend. We'll make sure to post more as they become available.

Ages varied between 5 years old to 40+ years old.

Over 100 participants and close to 400 spectators.

Participants from all over Eastern Canada.

3 rings.

Cage Fights for Charity.

Why would someone do this?

For Confidence & Fun. To engage in an activity that gets you moving.

Kids and Adults need to stay physically fit and active.

Participating in an event like this breaks the monotony of Sundays.

Kids worked on Grappling/Wrestling Skills.

They also worked on Sword techniques doing a drill called Samurai Drill.

Thank You to our Sponsors. We couldn't of done this without you.

Thank You to the Parents for taking the time to commute and bring your kids to this event.

Thank You to the students for being a part of this event.

We hope you enjoyed yourselves and stay tuned for the next one, coming soon!