The most common question I get asked by strangers...

The most common question I get asked by strangers (seriously, this happens at least 2 or 3 times a week!) is this:

"Martial Arts?"

Sounds weird I know, but because I train differently to everyone else in the gym (i.e. not going from machine to machine), people automatically assume I must be training for something specific. 

Well...

I am.

I'm training for LIFE.

Better movement and movement-based training is NOT reserved solely for athletes training for a specific sport.

YOU ARE AN ATHLETE.

You need to be able to move your body well, with balance and strength, all day every day, for the rest of your life.

And if you're not training for that, then you're only going to get worse at those things as you age.

You don't "get old" because of your time on this planet, you get old because you stop moving like a young person.

Your chronological age doesn't have to dictate your ability to do stuff.

But if you're not doing those things, you will lose the ability to over time.

Use it or lose it.

Training on machines will build strength in those specific exercises - you'll get strong "on that machine", but that doesn't translate to being able to move and function well.

If you train movements, human movements, then you're strengthening the movement patterns that you use in every day life.

Think about it - what use is your 100kg bench press if you can't climb the stairs?

What use is a 200kg Deadlift if you can't kneel on the floor to play with the kids?

How are your tricep push-downs going to help you carry the shopping in one arm and a child (your own child, I hope) in the other?

Stop training "exercises" and start training movements.

That's my aim. I'm not training for martial arts (although many years ago that was my main hobby), I'm training for better movement and resilience.

That's also my aim with my coaching business. I help people improve their health and Move Better

If you want to get started with training like a human, get in touch and we'll get you started.

It's also the primary focus of MoveBetter.Club, so if you're not ready to invest in coaching just yet, I'd definitely recommend you check it out to get started.

To better health and movement!

Mark

Tying it all together

If you train in the gym, chances are you use an array of expensive machines that target specific muscle groups and small movements. Even if you use freeweights you’re likely doing specific, targeted exercises such as chest press or bicep curls.

This is all great (as long as you know why you’re doing that particular exercise of course).

All of these isolated movements though don’t necessarily tie together to make you move better.

Picture the big guys in the gym who train hard, get big, and move like a rusty robot.

For your body to move well, function well, and perform better both in sports and day to day life, your body needs to move as one complete unit. Smooth, fluid movements that cover all planes of motion (front to back, side to side, rotation). The more you can combine these planes of movement into one larger, full body movement, the more efficient and “functional” your body will become.

If you’re working around, rehabbing, or recovering from an injury, these isolated movements and machines are fantastic; or if you have muscle imbalances or weaknesses that need addressing, definitely target those muscle groups until they’re up to speed with the rest of your body.

These are also great for bodybuilding as you can really target specific muscle groups to make them grow.

If your goal is to feel better, move more freely, perform better at sports or daily tasks though, you need to train slightly differently. Either train solely in this manner if your goal is simply better movement, or if you’re a bodybuilder or targeting specific muscles for any other reason, you also need to include some training that integrates all of the strength you’ve gained from training muscles in isolation.

Isolate, then integrate.

Build strength in your chest, then integrate that strength into a full body pushing movement…

Build your quads (thighs) with a leg extension machine, then integrate that new strength into jumps, sprints, step-ups etc…

To do this, you need to use large, full body exercises/movements that use all of your muscles and joints together. Think about the difference between a bench press (lying down and pushing a weight up from your chest) and a push up (holding your entire bodyweight up, staying tight and straight through your legs, arms, neck,  core and back muscles… and then pushing your weight up whilst maintaining that tension through your body).

Bodyweight training is a great way to go. Move your entire body in as many different ways as possible. Think gymnastics… dance… martial arts… yoga etc.

If you’re not quite sure where to start or are looking for an exercise class that will get your whole body moving, build strength and endurance, power and stability, co-ordination and fitness, then may I introduce you to Animal Flow.

Animal Flow classes are all bodyweight, ground based “movements”. The aim is to master your bodyweight and move it in as many different ways as possible with strength, control, stability and fluidity.

You’ll learn various movements that strengthen your entire body and get it moving as one unit, then combine those movements into continuous “flows”. The key being control and fluid movement.

When you can move your body under control and have the strength to do so, everything you do will become easier whether it’s a sport or just getting in and out of the car.

For anyone from elite athletes to people who just want to get a bit fitter. Whether you run, gym, swim, fight, cycle, bodybuild or do yoga. You can benefit from Animal Flow.

Check out the Animal Flow page on my website www.DartfordBootcamps.com/animalflow for more information. Classes are Tuesdays, 7-8pm at The Brent School.

If you feel like your training needs something extra or like the more you exercise, the tighter and stiffer you get, come and try the class to start tying it all together. Build that new strength into powerful movements and create a strong body, not just strong muscles.

Whatever you do, start integrating your “exercises” into “movements”.

Are you Fuzzy?! ...And do you want the Antidote?

Everyone knows that we're supposed to move more. But what happens if we don't?

Do we just get fat and lazy? Or does something more happen that makes it harder for us when we DO eventually decide to move?

I think "The Fuzz Speech" explains this pretty well, and shows why I advocate DAILY movement/exercise, yoga, and manual therapies like massage.

The same holds true for injuries - it may be a good idea to rest for the initial day or two after the injury, but the sooner you can get moving again (doesn't have to be hard exercise, just move), the better.

Here's the Fuzz speech:




And here, as promised, is (I won't say THE, but AN) antidote. Frank Forencich is a movement coach and works along the same principals that I believe in. He's written a number of books that are well worth a read, particularly "Play as if your life depends on it".

He may look like a loony in this video, and you might look like a bit of a nutcase doing it, but who cares?! It's good for you, feels great, and if you're really bothered, you can do it in the privacy of your own home each morning to start your day!

The/An Antidote:




Do this daily and you'll soon start to feel the difference!


Mark