They swear by the arts of the Orient. They teach their fellowmen how to punch, kick and jump, for a living. Self-defence is not just an integral part of their lives but a way of life. We are talking about martial arts exponents, of course.
Be it karate, judo, taekwondo, wushu or kung fu they practice, these men and women are warriors in their own right. Here is a peep into their personal fitness secrets.
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Martial arts instructors unequivocally stress that customizing your exercise routine to age is important.
“You must decide on an exercise schedule taking into consideration your age, sex, current fitness levels, occupation and body condition. There is no universal exercise routine,” says Vasudevan, Wushu expert.
Most of the instructors exercise for more than an hour a day, not merely to up personal fitness levels but to come across as competent instructors, personally able to demonstrate techniques to their students.
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“What martial arts instructors must possess is knowledge of the body and how each exercise benefits the body,” says N.S. Sivakumar, Karate instructor. Interestingly, it is not merely vigorous exercises that he lays emphasis on, but a workout that is comfortable yet satisfying.
Not just a walk
Walking and jogging figure largely in most instructor's routines, though Vasudevan has this to say. “Walking for a certain number of miles is not important rather it is about incorporating various exercises during a morning walk. You need to bend down, swing your arms, stretch your legs and include light exercises.”
The instructors all unanimously stress on warm-up exercises before the start of a workout or a martial arts class. Sivakumar reiterates importance of simple floor exercises particularly those targeting the abdomen. His workout includes walking, jogging, skipping and karate exercises for muscular endurance. Yoga seems a favourite with many. For Madanlal, judo and silambattam instructor, yoga is an ideal form of exercise that can work wonders for both body and mind. He says “I personally believe vigorous exercise is possibly only up to a certain age. But yoga is practicable irrespective of age. Besides, it keeps you fresh and alert all day long. You won't feel the pressing need to take an afternoon nap.” Both Madan and Sivakumar advocate the simple ‘Surya namaskar' as a powerful training with manifold benefits, particulary on days when they are running against the clock. While Vasu recommends tai chi with its slow movements and breathing exercises as the perfect round off to a routine. As physical trainers at schools and colleges, these instructors also manage to catch a quick game of football, hockey or basketball with their students.
For these trainers, there's nothing to beat exercise!
Magic Mantra: Tailor your exercise routine to your body.
Preferred workout: Yoga and Karate
Preferred sport: Football and hockey