Cross Train, Train, Work out with someone else, whatever you wanna call it

In 2011, it will be the fourth year training with Haganah founder Mike Lee Kanarek.  He is a true leader.  I've done most of the classes that are in the Haganah system and they have been awesome - I understood the importance of knowing these things but they were also FUN.  In Columbia, MD, I did one of the first Combat Fitness classes around.  We had to run about 2/3 of a mile and when it was time to go he said, "Follow me!"  That sounds kinda of insignificant, but it was awesome!

He first taught me when I trained with him in 07 that you must cross train.  Even though he had his favorite martial arts to train in, he said that you can get something out of every style.  So as a martial arts athlete, I'm constantly thinking about self defense, sparring, and a ton of other things martial arts related.  The thing is, doing a kettlebell class, XMA class, or a gymnastics class will help you in some way.  Kettlebell training is something that has become huge and it helps build functional strength in all sports and activities.  Gymnastics athletes are among the most fit and strong in the world (Strength is measured by how strong you are compared to your body weight).  XMA class is all about performance - Bruce Lee was an amazing martial artist but what made him famous was his showmanship.  Also, someone who has mastered a martial arts trick (like one from HYPER Martial Arts) can achieve a goal in ANYTHING.

So in about 2 weeks I'm going up to Mr. Stuart's Martial Arts to train with MLK again and I'm so excited.  Last year I went and I had 2 hours of sleep and was sick - but I wouldn't miss it for the world.  Out of all the typing you may have just read or skimmed through just take this with you - you should take something from everything you do.  Try new things as often as possible even if at first it seems silly or unimportant because it will make you better somehow.  Check out the video below of Ms. Wallace-Holubyckyj and I training with MLK in Columbia, MD in Combat Fitness (We won... if you know what that means!)

ATA Underground!

Lots of crazy things happen at ATA Elkton after all the classes are over. We get exciting visitors like dirty truck drivers looking for the warehouses that they just passed and old friends we haven't seen in forever that drop by and leave mud all over the place, thanks Mario!!

Anyway, one thing that happens almost every night is we work out. It's not just a lackadaisical training session, it's like 10 minutes of madness, then we go home. Pretty fun! Val Wallace-Holubyckyj hasn't worked out since Sunday so I gave her my little complex circuit. She loved it! Here's the picture, followed by our no-rest-til-your-done-drill:

30 seconds of push-ups with dumbbell, 10 "facebusters," 10 bent-over rows, 10 squats, as many curls as you can do (stop at 10), mountain climbers for 30 seconds, hold plank with 1 leg up for 12 seconds, switch legs 12 seconds, 5 push-ups, 15 scap push-ups, as many sub-scap rotations as you can do. Rest for like 2 minutes and do it again... 3rd time is the best one so far!

Record tonight was the whole set in 3 minutes, 29 seconds!

Combat Fitness at Max Muscle

Today was the hardest workout of my life, brought to me by Mike Lee Kanarek. He is the founder of the reality self defense system called Haganah and the other subdivisions. One of them is called F.I.G.H.T. (fierce Israeli guerrilla hand-to-hand tactics) which is hand-to-hand combat, gun threats and disarms, how to deal with a knife attack or threat, and also how to survive a fight when it hits the ground. Others include how to fight with knifes and tactical firearm shooting. While I've only dipped in the shallow end of the FIGHT system, one thing that MLK offers is a workout called Combat Fitness.

Combat Fitness he says is the "ammo" to your arsenal of fighting. Whatever your style of martial arts is, you need to have the stamina and endurance to last in a fight and Combat Fitness is the answer. The goal of the workout is to reach that threshold of endurance right before you actually pass out or faint. Well, I made it there. It was during the last 5 minutes of the workout that I really had to push and make it through. It was extremely challenging and I loved it.

You might be seeing Combat Fitness at ATA Elkton soon but for now, come and try our ATAfit class. I'd like to thank Ms. Holubyckyj for coming with me and lasting the whole workout too! She got to "Roar with the Lions!!"