Fitness
Fighting Fit
Martial arts teaches you discipline. It teaches you respect. And, yes, it also gives you the workout of your life. So drop those barbells and give yourself the fitness you long for, and then some
By Omar Glenn Belo; Additional Reporting by Ceri Thomas; Photographs by Louie Aguinaldo
1 TAI CHI
Best for Stress Relief
"Parang hindi makapatay [ng] langaw." This is how Tai Chi expert Edwin Ang describes this Chinese martial art. "But once applied, it is very effective, both for health and self-defense purposes," adds Ang. But he cautions the eager beaver who thinks Tai Chi is easy. "The basic forms are easy but it will take you years to grasp what the movements are for and how to effectively use them."
Your body is whipped into shape despite the slow and meditative movements you execute. "It's a core strengthening, balance-enhancing aerobic workout," says Ang. You squat for minutes, even hours, in perfecting the forms and attaining harmony. Thus, your legs and abs get a beating but without the risk of tearing any tendons. "It's a physical exercise in a non-bouncing manner, protecting your knees from wear-and-tear," he explains.
Tai Chi is an aerobic exercise without hyperventilation. "It is meditation in motion," says Ang. Thus, you get to breathe deep and stay relaxed. "Deep breathing calms your body, including your internal organs, [that's how] they get to function more effectively. This explains the longevity of Tai Chi practitioners," he adds. Stress is managed effectively as well because of Tai Chi's meditative practice. Not to forget, it is primarily a martial art and a deadly one at that.
While lethal mastery is a long-term bonus, the health benefits to the body and the mind are quick to come. "Sino ba naman ang hindi matatanggal ang stress kung nasa Luneta ka at the break of dawn?" Ang points out. No arguments there.
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2 WUSHU
Best for Mental Toughness
Wushu is building fame because of our national athletes' success in both international competitions and local fighting tournaments. But wushu champion Lester Pimentel warns those who plan to jump on the bandwagon, "Wushu is a very complicated system of martial art, hindi [ito] para sa taong mababa ang tolerance." He adds, "It's very demanding, physically and mentally."
The success of wushu lies both in its technique and training. "Technique-wise, complete siya kasi lahat natutunan mo," says Pimentel. Aside from the striking techniques, wushu teaches ground skills in wrestling and grappling. Weapons training is also taught in wushu. The emphasis in learning the techniques is perfection in form. "The finest details of your body tinatama mo kaya pati ang mind mo, trained din," he stresses.
The training in wushu separates it from other martial arts, according to Pimentel. "Technique is technique but without hard, rigorous training, wala din," he notes. Wushu exercises include a lot of cardiovascular workout, plyometrics, flexibility exercises, and weight training specializing on strengthening exercises. But Pimentel notes that with the right determination, wushu is easy to learn. "This is not for quitters, mga mababa ang tolerance," he says. The rewards far more outweigh the sacrifices. You get a very agile body with a healthy balance of power and flexibility, and you're tough on the inside. "There is progression in training. Fundamentals first, then advanced. With that system, madaling matuto ng wushu," he says. "With the desire to learn, it can get addictive."
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3 KENDO
Best for Self-Control
Forget your swashbuckling, hack-and-slash dreams, kendo is not for the child in you that dreams of being Battousai or even a Jedi wielding a light saber. Kendo is a very serious art and it can test you to the hilt, both physically and mentally. "It's a very humbling experience," says kendoka Joseph Pagulayan. "The first thing you do in training is wiping the floor, no exceptions, everyone wipes. You basically carry 20 pounds all the time and it gets really hot. Plus, you get hit numerous times within the training session but you have to endure them all."
You can't jump in and move to crossing wooden swords right away. For months, you will be taught to master the posture, the properfootwork, and the proper form in executing strikes. It provides a good full-body aerobic workout with all the weight that you carry and the rigorous exercises you repeat continuously throughout the two-hour session. Beginners basically execute a certain move over and over. Watch out for foot blisters and sore shoulders, though.
But kendo is much more than a physical workout. "Kendo is about sword mastery," adds Pagulayan. "It aims for perfection in form–and you can only achieve that by constant repetition. With such training, you not only attain mastery of the sword but also of your own self." Battle hardiness and mind mastery give a kendoka the advantage in an actual encounter. "Kendo brings you to a higher level of self-control, of anticipation especially in sparring exercises," he explains. Thus, kendo also makes for an effective self-defense despite not brandishing a large stick all the time. Of course, it helps if you have a substitute (a baseball bat, perhaps?) in your car.
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Men's Health Philippines - June 2007
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