A source for fitness information in Allen, TX
Posts tagged Training
The Spirit of Military Training in a Fitness Boot Camp
May 28th
Military training camps aim to transform civilians into disciplined and tough soldiers. Recruits are trained to respond to commands unhesitatingly, promptly, and obediently. It is essential for military functions because combat situations demand unquestioning compliance under life threatening situations. A military boot camp injects the sense of absolute discipline in the minds of the recruits besides training them to endure stress. The reason is simple: if a recruit cant follow instruction and obey orders in non-combat settings, it is not likely that he will prove reliable in combat situations where the high stress levels can easily make him disobey or flee.
All the activities of a military training camp are geared towards shaping the recruits physically, mentally, and psychologically so that they are better prepared for the ultra-high stress levels of real combat situations. A recruit who cant function as part of a team or does not perform duties assigned to him can easily jeopardize himself, his unit, and the mission. If a recruit comes out successfully from the boot camp he has learned to be disciplined and can endure considerable stress. Now he is less likely to be self-centered and be more prone to cooperation and team spirit.
The idea and the format of these military camps are now borrowed into a variety of fitness programs. They are normally focused towards certain aim or group; for example, there are camps for weight loss, only for women, elderly, or kids, etc. Similar to a military camp, a fitness boot camp is also led by an instructor or trainer. He designs the workouts and helps (or rather commands) the group to perform them.
Apart from the concept of a trainer who leads the camp, the exercises may or may not have much to do with the typical exercises of a military training camp. Still, there are often fitness camps that try restricting their program to traditional activities such as running and typical body weight exercises like push-ups, sit-ups, and squat thrusts. These workouts dont require special facilities or equipments and can be done anywhere.
Most gyms, personal trainers, and fitness centers offer a variety of boot camps. The trainer of a fitness boot camp performs several roles depending upon his personality, experience, and needs of the individuals and the group as a whole. By nature, the exercises are intense and demanding but he sees to it that none of the participants is left out. He constantly encourages and challenges the group to do better than the last time.
For the participants of any type of fitness boot camp, the biggest benefit they get after completing the camp is that they get significantly more disciplined and continue with their daily workouts. Quite often the friendship and camaraderie that developed with fellow campers persists even after the camp is over. This acts as a positive motivational force that coaxes them to remain serious about regular exercising.
The best part of fitness boot camps is that there is no place for monotony. Exercises are hardly the same from one day to another. Following the spirit of the military boot camp, as a fitness camp advances the challenges posed to the participants also increase progressively. Hence, the participants have to push themselves systematically harder as the camp progresses. The group support helps every individual achieve significantly more than what would have been possible working out individually.
The strong dose of self-discipline and health consciousness injected by the fitness camps is often enough to discourage dietary extravaganzas. And if a person continues practicing what he has learned in the camp, he has discovered a new and healthy lifestyle full of energy and strength.
Dan Clay is a weight loss expert and owner of Dangerously Fit Boot Camp. If you would like to attend a boot camp Malabar or join a boot camp Darlinghurst, visit boot camps in Sydney.
MMA Training Centers Learn Martial Arts
May 19th
MMA Training Centers have a wide variety of different skills and disciplines of martial arts to offer someone interested in attending a training facility. MMA schools do a lot more than teach an individual how to beat up another person. Good Mixed Martial Arts Academies with great instructors will teach students the ART of being a true Mixed Martial Artist. As a student attending a Mixed Martial Arts school you will go through a life changing process of being a regular person then evolving and becoming a martial artist which forces you to focus the mind and train the body. When you transform into a mixed martial artist you will find that the journey is as much mental as it is physical which strengthens your brain and body. The many different disciplines of martial arts have come from all over the world with some of them dating back thousands of years.
The many different types of Mixed Martial Arts specialities include:
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, which involves joint locks, submissions, and chokes. The Gracie family made Jiu Jitsu famous at UFC 1
Muay Thai, which is referred to as The Art of Eight Limbs because the hands, shins, elbows, and knees are all used extensively in the martial arts form. Muay Thai is very popular in Thailand and many Southeast Asian countries.
Kickboxing, which refers to the sport of combining the grace and style of boxing with kicking. Kickboxing is a standing sport and does not allow continuation of the fight once a combatant has reached the ground.
Grappling which refers to techniques, maneuvers, and counters applied to an opponent in order to gain a physical advantage or to escape a dangerous position.
Wrestling is one of the oldest forms of martial arts and it uses grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws, takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds.
Self Defense which is the act of defending oneself, one’s property or the well-being of another from physical harm.
Fitness Boot Camp is a type physical training program that often combines running, interval training, and many other exercises using weights and/or body weight to lose body fat, increase cardiovascular efficiency, increase strength, and help people get into a routine of regular exercise.
The top mixed martial arts fighters in the world train at MMA training centers to learn new skills and touch up the skills they already posses. The majority of these top MMA training centers have coaches that specialize in all areas of mixed martial arts.
The best and most popular MMA Training centers and some of the fighters that train at them include:
Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas and fighters include Randy Couture, Forrest Griffin, and Gina Carano
American Top Team and fighters include Thiago Alves, Mike Brown, Kimbo Slice, Thiago Silva
Greg Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts and fighters include Georges St. Pierre, Rashad Evans, and Keith Jardine
Team Quest and fighters include Dan Henderson, Matt Lindland, Chael Sonnen
It doesn’t matter if you want to fight in a cage or if you want to train in martial arts for the exercise and discipline there is something for the whole family at most MMA Training centers. MMA schools offer classes for all experience levels and all ages so there is no reason or excuse not to find the right school for you. The physical and mental results will speak for themselves so lookup a local school and give it a try and most MMA Training Centers offer first time students a free class so you can see if it is for you.
Josh Rafferty Professional MMA Fighter and Coach http://www.i-supplements.com Josh Rafferty has been absorbing and learning about Mixed Martial Arts and Fitness since childhood. Josh has competed in Mixed Martial Arts for over ten years both in the ring and in the corner of some legendary fighters. His fighting career has made him famous, appearing in the hit television shows The Ultimate Fighter and Adrenalin and even made a cameo appearance in the major motion picture Redbelt. Find more from Josh at http://www.i-supplements.com
Personal Training: A Business Of Leadership
May 18th
I ran my first half-marathon yesterday and trained an amazing group of people for the event. These people were overcoming major challenges (blindness, obesity, ridiculous work schedules, cancer) to run the 2009 NYC Half Marathon and for some of them, it was their first race ever!
The experience was amazing for me, and it challenged me and transformed me just as much as it challenged and transformed them. I wanted to share my experience because I think there are a lot of elite fitness professionals out there who will appreciate my story.
Most personal trainers are in great shape so it is easy to forget how hard it can be for people to change their lives, confront their barriers and transform themselves. In the personal training business, you, your body, your personality and your lifestyle are a walking billboard for your business. For better or for worse, people are going to initially make assumptions about your skills and abilities based on how you look. But more important than how you look is how you act, how you communicate, what you know and how you make people feel. A trainer could be blessed with amazing genetics and only know how to push people past their limits and injure them.
Now let’s be clear, I am not saying you shouldn’t care about how you look. I am saying that you should inspire people not only with your looks, but also with your words and actions. That is leadership by example.
And whether you like it or not, your clients are going to look to you for advice on all things health.
- “What did you eat this morning?”
– “How much sleep do I really need?”
– “What do you think about this supplement?
– “Do you take any supplements? Why or why not?”
They look to you for leadership, and like any good leader, you will have a thoughtful and truthful answer for them.
There are many ways to ensure that you can empathize for your clients while leading by example. Put yourself in the client’s shoes. Of course, you could make yourself really fat and then lose weight like that trainer in England, but I think it is best to push and break through whatever barriers and obstacles you already have. We all have them, even if you already look good and feel good, health is not about an absence of disease, but rather vitality. There is always more potential waiting to be realized. There is no need to go out and create more challenges; use the ones you already have:
1. Enter a race you have never done before with your client, and set a realistic goal for yourself and your client.
2. Have other trainers train you. This can be a great way to learn and help you empathize with your client.
3. Learn a new skill or activity and share your experience with your client, or participate in a physical activity that your client admires.
4. Introduce a social element to your clients program (Start a running group, boot camp, etc).
5. Enter a race or competition on your own and tell everyone you know. (You will be very motivated to train your butt off instead of coasting if people know about your event and your goal, and it will inspire your clients tremendously to see you work hard.)
I think Confucius said “A wise man using a bad situation just as much as a good situation”. Or maybe it was Lao Tzu. Is there a client you are working with that you are having trouble motivating? Any of the above could be a great way to inspire them with your actions.
You may have never done any of the above, but that is great. It is an opportunity to get better, hold yourself to a higher standard, and differentiate yourself from other fitness professionals. Yes it can be uncomfortable or anxiety provoking, but that is the point! That is what your client experiences. Confront your “comfortability zone” gradually, so the range of things you are comfortable doing expands, increasing your “sphere of influence”. Just getting outside, in a new environment, or adding a social element (groups, bootcamps, race, etc) can be a great way of expanding your skills and providing a novel experience for the client that can break them out of non-ideal habits and get them inspired.
When your clients see you pushing your limits, it motivates them tremendously!
My Team, Leadership, & My First Half Marathon
I am so proud of our team. I was honored to be the strength coach and work with Jimmy Lynch, our running coach, in preparing our team for the big day. Our team is truly inspirational, they all overcame major challenges (lack of sight, cancer, overweight, over worked, never ran before) to run the NYC half marathon.
Run The Half W/Heidi Team Photo
They are truly inspirational. Dale ran his first half-marathon without the luxury of sight, with help from Bruce his guide. Dale is so low key and relaxed, he was a pleasure to train with, and Bruce went above and beyond the call of duty in supporting Dale. He was there with him every step of the way, they are both people I admire and look up to.
Dale Layne
Bruce Kaitlin
Allison, a cancer survivor, battled through the heat and humidity. She didn’t break her record, but no one did today, and I am proud of her for giving it her best shot. She also learned how to push herself harder, train smarter, and use strength training to compliment her running, so I am excited to see what she will do in the future.
Allison Bewalder
Heather, who had never been athletic or into sports at all, and had never ran much let alone run a race, was able to finish her first half marathon with a smile on her face. AND SHE LIKES RUNNING NOW! That is the tipping point, the beginning of transformation, when exercise goes from something “I should do” to something “I want to do”. I am so proud of her.
Heather Cowan
Quiana accomplished her goal of finishing under 3 hours. She is very impressive, she had to battle a very tough work schedule, but she persisted and trained hard, and finished her first half marathon with tears in her eyes. This is the most common excuse, “I don’t have time”. Well she made the time. Her father had a heart attack when he weighed the same as her, and she was committed to make sure that the same would not happen to her.
Quiana Burns
Jimmy Lynch was our running coach, he is AN AMAZING TRAINER, a master of his craft, and I was honored to work with him and learn from him. The program he provided me was so on point and comprehensive, it really opened my eyes up. I will be even more confident when training my clients for endurance races.
Jimmy Lynch
The fabulous Miss Heidi Jones is one of those rare individuals who oozes intelligence, passion, and sincerity. She really cares about our team and encouraged us day in and day out. I am especially grateful to her for letting me contribute to this group, it has been an amazing and transforming experience for me as well, to a degree which I was not expecting.
Heidi Jones
Mind Over Matter, Soul Before Flesh
Leading our clients to better health requires being fearless! But not in the western sense of the word (meaning without fear) but rather in the zen Buddhist sense of the word, meaning using our focus and discipline to confront and overcome our fears.
For instance, this was my first half-marathon race, and I got food poisoning 6 hours before the race. This is the meal I ate the night before.
(Organic burger, organic broccoli, cup of pasta, and a highly suspect salad)
I threw up every single piece of food in the picture above. GROSS!
I had a right to be upset; I had sacrificed a lot for this race, but I CHOSE not to go there. Not only did I not get ahead of myself and get anxious, but I even embraced the moment while being sick. I was totally keeled over the sink, and in between barfs, sincerely laughing at myself. Funny and weird, right? Laughing at oneself is a great life skill. I confronted my fears and they lost their power over me. I made it to the race on time with 6 hours sleep. Sure, my stomach didn’t feel great, but I just went with the flow and kept my head, cool, calm, and collected.
The Race
My primary goal was to finish the race, without knee pain, and without having to walk. I don’t have any major knee issues, but I didn’t want to start getting any and I have seen way too many runners whose gait looks painful just to watch. It is amazing to see the people that limp across the finish line. Not cool: your joints are more important than anything, including the heart and a race. Lose the use of a knee or a hip and see how easy it is to stimulate your heart with exercise. Still possible, but NOT EASY AT ALL. I was able to avoid any joint issues by increasing my intensity very gradually over the course of 12 weeks, and by mainly training on the dirt paths in Central Park and not on concrete.
My secondary goal was to finish in 1:30 minutes (6:50 min/mile pace). It was way too hot. I doubt any race records were broken today, the humidity was crazy, and it was my first endurance race. My plan had been to pace 7:10 in the park, and then start shaving down my pace 5 seconds every mile that followed. I came out of the gate HOT, all the adrenalin I suppose, and ran the first mile in 6:35. As soon as I realized, I settled back into a 7:25 pace.
I am proud of my accomplishment, and I felt amazing once I crossed the finish line. I finished in the top 10%, not bad for a first timer. The ‘high’ lasted over an hour. It is empowering to break through barriers, particularly ones that are self-imposed. Everyone creates boundaries and limitations on what we think is possible.
WE ALL DO IT.
My thoughts when I started the program were, “Sure, I will give it a shot, but I am no runner”. Well, I am a runner now!!! I got my 1 mile pace down to 5:41 during my training program, a full minute and 10 seconds faster than my record, which I set in grade school when I was “a runner”. Age is nothing but a number baby, you get out of your body what you put into it, and anyone that tells you different is confused.
As you know, your clients have similar thoughts. They tell themselves what they are capable of, what their limits are, what they should be able to do, and what they think they will never be able to do or be.
But it’s just not true, is it? And by leading the way and breaking through your own barriers, you can pave a path for them to do the same.
Thanks to everyone for their support! I am looking forward to more racing, in particular the Empire State Building Run Up in February.
Until next time, keep your business fit.
Johnny Fitness
Jonathan Angelilli has worked as a full time trainer for over 8 years, has completed 8 certifications, trains several celebrities, and is currently the Training Director of Dynamic Results, a fitness and lifestyle company in NYC. He has directly managed over 100 personal trainers in the last 5 years alone, and owns a successful consulting company for personal trainers. His coaching clients have achieved amazing results, creating more opportunities for their fitness business.
Awareness of Boot Camp Training
May 14th
The initial workout of 3 weeks in a Navy Boot Camp will be strenuous – physically & mentally. After 3 weeks, you can get into graduation mode. A total transformation to a new life is the result of the training.
In the first week of the training, you will get an idea about the basic functions of a sailor in the US Navy. Hours & hours of training in maritime activity will be provided to make you perfect in a platoon march. There will be irregularity in marching in the first two weeks. Recruits will be bumping into each other while marching. Marching propels the thinking in the minds of the recruits that they are one as a whole & there should be uniformity in thought & action. Depending on your position in the ranks, your marching pattern will be decided.
* March – To start marching from the point of standing.
* Ranks – long rows of recruits standing in order.
* Left Face – Turning body facing 90 degrees on the left side.
* Right Face – Turning body facing 90 degrees on the right side.
* About Face – Turning body facing 180 degrees in the opposite direction in sudden flash.
* To the Rear – Sudden marching in the opposite direction.
* Dress – following a dressing order – lining up with others in the ranks & falling in the same line.
* Dress Right – Lining with the person in the right side.
* Dress Left – with the person in the left side.
Marching involves you to some basic terms. There will be trick drills& complex functions to know about. We will learn basics at present. In boot camp, marching is a constant exercise & it is a daily routine.
Swimming with the current & against the current – there are two levels of swimming. You will be taught swimming in the first week itself. Before graduation in the boot camp, you should achieve a standard of swimming. Basic swimming is taught initially. In the beginning, two groups will be formed – one group experts in swimming & the other, totally unfamiliar to swimming. The initial course in swimming will be a little bit cruel. They will throw a small group of recruits into the pool. They will shout at the recruits to doggy-paddle in order to stay afloat. But, no need of panic. Professionals & trainers will be watching to protect the trainees in case of emergency. Long sticks will also be pressed into service to rescue the trainees. There was an occasion when one trainee was trying to drown the guy in the front to keep afloat. It gave a chance to disqualify him.
Classroom session is a continuation of school life. Tedious hours will be spent in the classroom. Sending inputs into the brain about rank/rate recognition, rope awareness, equal opportunities, sexual harassment & fraternization, core values & many more topics related to boot camp will take place. It will be laborious to sit through the entire session with artificially-opened eyes as sleep will be trying to overcome your senses. Recruits have to do small exercises to avoid sleeping.
In boot camp, you have to learn throughout the day barring a couple of hours. The barracks was meant to be the ship. The recruits have to sleep in uncomfortable beds. RDCs will be monitoring the activities of the recruits. The training period involves you in organizing, stenciling, ironing & listening to the instructions. On passing P week, the recruit will receive his first official uniform, the dungarees. This is the sailor’s uniform throughout his career in the Navy. Learning about stenciling uniforms, with names in the right places is also his duty. Inconsistencies will result in punishments. During the first week, uniform perfection will be given priority in training.
The ship has to be maintained spick & span throughout the career of the sailor. This is a work to be attended on daily basis. Psychological tests will also be conducted. In the ultimate analysis, Boot Camp in the Navy is quite an exhilarating experience & highly imperative for creating the best sailors.
Shijina is a successful webmaster for http://www.liveinfitnesscamp.com/. she provides information on Boot Camp, Weight Loss Programs, Fit Camp, Effective Weight Loss on her website. For more details Contact liveinfitnesscamp@gmail.com.
