Fitness
4 AIKIDO
Best for Flexibility
Learning aikido is harder than it looks. "The movements are easy to learn but to make it work, it takes time," says aikido sensei Ernesto Talag. "Aikido does not fit with the habitual reaction of people towards aggression. Conquering that habit takes a lot of patience and practice."
It is also tough to measure your development in traditional aikido unlike other martial arts. "We don't measure ourselves by competition against others," he says. The best test in aikido is the student's proficiency in actual situations. This explains why aikido does not have a sport or competition structure. "Our greatest competition is against our own selves, in controlling our mind and body to become one," Talag adds. Don't write off the competence of the moves, though. They may not be flashy but, as he recounts, "Aikido works. Many of my students have had experiences where they have averted peril using aikido."
Aside from its life-saving capabilities, aikido can build a better body as well as a better mind. "Aikido training will fortify your health in many aspects," says Talag. He emphasizes that aikido training improves your flexibility and agility through its exercises. With a mixture of holds and throws involved in training, aikido boosts the body's flexibility. Agility is enhanced by the training on the circular movements built to deal with multiple attackers. Injury prevention is also one major benefit from aikido as it trains you to roll out of the impact of being thrown.
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5 YAW-YAN
Best for Anger Management
Yaw-Yan is billed as the Philippine's most lethal martial art. Created by Master Napoleon Fernandez, this gracefully swift and powerful martial art derives its name from the phrase, 'sayaw ng kamatayan' or the dance of death. Sounds deadly enough for you? If not, try and feel just how hard Yaw-Yan fighters' arms and legs are; you might fear for your life just imagining those solid logs smashing your frame.
A Yaw-Yan fighter's build may not look intimidating but his whole body is rock-solid. It is their main and only weapon as they train in simulating real, actual streetfighting situations. "Our emphasis in training is quickness and power," says Philippine Yaw-Yan Martial Arts president Roman Roger Wanasen. He stresses that with such attributes, Yaw-Yan is more equipped to handle real danger situations. Also, Yaw-Yan keeps on improving its techniques to keep pace with the changes of the times. "It is an ever-evolving art where the student is trained in reality fighting, not point competition," adds executive chef and gym owner Chris Romine. "Master Nap Fernandez devises new methods to adapt to changes in the real world and make Yaw-Yan a more complete self-defense tool for Filipinos. Once you train in Yaw-Yan, it not only gives you self-defense, it becomes part of you."
Training in Yaw-Yan is not for the weak-spirited. Romine and Wanasen both say that heart and desire are the foremost ingredients for the brave and interested soul. "Exercises pa lang lalagnatin ka na, wala pang kicks, punches, and sparring," says Wanasen. When he says training in kicks and punches, he means hitting bags and tires incessantly. This makes for one good outlet for anger now, doesn't it? The physical benefits are tremendous, too. "It's a great whole body workout…it gives you great conditioning, flexibility and sturdiness," Romine proudly claims. "You get loyal brothers along the way, too."
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6 MUAY THAI
Best for Cardiovascular Fitness
Muay Association of the Philippines coach Billy Alumno sums up Muay Thai training in one slogan: gentle like a cat, attack like a cobra, fight like a tiger. Let's dissect this, shall we?
The soft, gentle movements in Muay Thai explains the first part. Training in Muay Thai involves a lot of flexibility exercises. Alumno says that this is done to prevent injuries. Muay Thai is also known as the science of eight limbs. "Ginagamit dito both fists, elbows, knees, and feet. Kaya in training, we make sure na buong katawan ng fighter, flexible and nimble," he explains. That way, injuries are avoided and the moves appear graceful. Muay Thai also teaches respect, especially to your own teachers. This is shown by the execution of the prefight ritual, the Wai Kru. It is a way of paying respect to your teachers and serves as a good stretching exercise as well.
Don't be deceived by the gentle movements, though. Muay Thai attacks are so swift and vicious that, as Alumno describes, "hindi ka makakapaghanda, tatamaan ka na lang ng matindi." Muay Thai fighters need to be quick, agile, and in tiptop shape in order to execute powerful attacks with blinding speed. "The power of Muay Thai comes from speed and timing," he says.
Muay Thai also trains your body to take tremendous punishment. The common Muay Thai fighter physique may look lean, but it's hard as nails. "Muay Thai builds a tough body kasi tatanggap ka ng malalakas na tama pero kailangan lumaban pa rin," says Alumno. The conditioning you get in Muay Thai is topnotch since you are expected to roll with the devastating blows, and to hit back harder. "In the ring, Muay Thai fighters are tigers, they never back down."
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» Fitness archive
Men's Health Philippines - June 2007
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