Atom and Eve

I must confess, I've neve beeen a huge fan of the Atom, but whoever is writing this comic has dialed it in recently. Giganta has always been a favorite baddie since her appearances in the Suprefriends, but her character was never very developed, and the animators never really took advantage of her potential. Atom 17 is a great, fun comic with a lot more added depth. Whatever you're doing over there DC, keep it up.

Elite Rings

As a gymnast, rings were always my favorite and best event, but now as a fitness nut they're also the best tool for mxing up workouts. I confess I spent a too many years following a classic bodybuilding regemin and diet with limited results. I still love the weight room and egg whites, but the last 2 years I've really been focusing more on functional fitness, in part because my role as karate instructor requires applying power in more ways than a decent squat. Hence the rings.

The to advantage training with rings is twofold: (1) it forces all the muscle to recruit all the other fibers missed in ordinary weight training because your body needs more to balance a constantly moving load; and (2) it mixes up the workout.

I suppose the third advantage is a weird conversation piece. I met more curious bodybuilders in the gym when I'd bring in chains for powerlifting and the rings are no different. It's a good way to meet large people that can help the next time you need to move a piano.


Check out Elite Rings.

An Oldie but a Goodie

And you thought the French didn't contribute anything. Here's a fine example of economy of motion. If you're intersted in urban runing, which is more fun than trudging along in some lycra like most of the dolts in my neighborhood, start small. If you miss your grab on a stairwell, you'd better have your tuck and roll down. It's a skill that even saved my can in a 60 mph motorcycle crash over the front tire. It will serve you well, young Jedi.

Not Just Another Hot Girl With a Sword

There has been a lot of interest in llaria Montaganani, who has created a way to use traditional martial arts to build a great physique. Check out Forza for more details.

There has been a movement recently for martial arts schools to incorporate better fitness programs to stay financially viable. For myself and the students where I train, it has always been a big part of what we do, but mostly becaus we're already fitness heads and want to up our martial arts training. Mostly it is too many T-cells and too little sense. I can't tell you how many guys I know, including myself, continue training too hard all the time with or without injury.

Many students don't want to get smacked around (who does really?) and are reluctant to join karate schools thinking it is going to lead to a beatin. Well, the lovely Montaganni has bridged the gap. Her success is well earned. Check it out.

Read this book.

There is a lot more to this than fighting. Sam is a Harvard man afterall. Great stuff.

Miyagi have hope for you

Although I can't recommend you train for only 2 months before entering the All Valley tournament to take on the spoiled, bad kids of Cobra Kai and their displaced Sensei who has flashbacks of hot LZs in the 'Nam while training kids to have no mercy, I can highly recommend you re-visit this fine, fine movie.

I hadn't seen this since it was released, but it had a huge impact on me as a tike. Today I watched it and saw it tell a story about what martial arts is really all about: character. There is this likable kid who keeps getting wailed on by the bad guys until this swell guy named Miyagi shows him both to fend off bullies and balance life. This is a great story about grit and integrity, the core of martial arts, and if that doesn't work, wax on the crane kick. "No can defend."

Ouch

Mixed up the workout last night with 350 yards of lunges. That did not make canyon cariving easy this morning. My dear ol' dad was out lasting me on the peak to peak.