Wrestling
I am lucky enough to join a bunch of guys training for the second season of ABS-CBN's Kamao. While the first season featured boxing, the next one's on mixed martial arts (MMA). "There is a rise in the number of people who want to learn mixed martial arts in the past few years," says AJ Alcruz, a practitioner of jiu-jitsu. "I guess all the TV exposure is responsible for that."
On my first day, I am supposed to go jogging with the team. And while initially disappointed that I wasn't able to run, I later find out they ran several laps and sprints around the oval track in Philsports Arena. I then realize that I would not have been able to keep up, as my lungs haven't been subjected to anything strenuous in a while. Talk about dedication. Here's their daily routine: Jog at 6 AM, wrestle at 9 AM, rest a couple of hours, resume boxing at 5 PM, and finally end the day with jiu-jitsu. "There really aren't much requirements in joining any form of martial arts. But you do need dedication and passion," says Miko Reyes, Red Corner's jiu-jitsu instructor. Chris Luna, Ali Khatibi, Mik Ensafian, and Gelo Reyes, the four representatives of the Defense Tactics Center (DEFTAC) in the upcoming season of Kamao, are all in their 20s and wildly enthusiastic. Hey, I can still hack it. I still train regularly. Okay, semi-regularly.
Right. Bring it on.
After running, the DEFTAC group goes straight to the Rizal Stadium for their wrestling training. I've been long wondering if I am as nimble as I always thought I was. So I do a couple of warm-ups. Roll and tumble. Luckily, I remember everything my sensei taught me ages ago. But I also reel from the tumbles. And back off from their flips. I may be adventurous, but I'm no fool. "Strains (injuries to the muscles or tendons) or sprains (injures to ligaments) might occur to an individual if he does not recognize his own physical limitations. Oftentimes, these limitations may have to be pointed out to him by his physician," adds Valdez.
Then comes the actual wrestling. I grapple and learn a few tackling moves. Afterwards, things get really intense. I see a couple of guys bending their partners' ankles and knees. (If I were that poor fellow, I'd be a couple of appendages short by now.) I feel my knees buckle a bit as I attack and bend. What is the main difference between athletes and us average guys? It's this thing called ‘muscle memory.' "Muscle memory is a concept wherein an athlete is able to react in distinct and reproducible physical patterns in response to a given situation in sports. Individuals who are able to achieve this perform well in their given sport and are in general, less prone to injuries as they can anticipate and 'plan out' a physical response in a split second," Valdez clarifies. I ask Richard Lasprilla, Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC) fighter and DEFTAC trainer, if they get injured a lot during practice. "It's all part of fighting. You get twisted ankles, hyperextensions, a couple of bruises…usually you tap your sparring partner if it gets too painful. Sometimes, joints will pop before you get the chance to tap," he shares. "Anyway, you have to hear about three pops before you break anything. If it's just one click, it's all good." I feel so much better. No, thanks; I'm not ready to have any broken bones in me just yet.
Wrestling involves a lot of kneeling and lunges. One basic move is for two fighters to grab the back of each other's head. As you fight each other for the arm's position, you should try and keep your head as low as possible by tucking your head at the side of your opponent. The goal here is for you to grab hold of the leg and take your man down.
A resident coach approaches me and corrects my grapple and takedown. He tells me that I should move a lot faster. Well, at 31, I am trying. It's just that my knees creak and my ankle's twisting a bit awkwardly.
I call it a day. Man, I miss my youth.
» Fitness archive
Men's Health Philippines - September 2005 Issue
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On the offensive, you should always position yourself lower than your opponent. This enables you to grab your opponent’s leg or lower body for a chance to throw him down. Here, RP team wrestler Marcus Valda shows us one of the many variations of a down throw.
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