Fight the Fat! An Exciting Alternative for Keeping Fit
For those of you who may be tired of the conventional ways of staying in shape, there is hope in finding something that will keep you motivated and challenged so that you’ll continue with it. After all, most any fitness professional will tell you that when keeping fit, consistency is one of the biggest key factors.
Martial Arts have been around for thousands of years and the initial thoughts of many people on this subject are thoughts of people in a match beating each other senseless, or, practicing impossible moves that most of us ‘mere mortals’ couldn’t even consider without flinching in pain.
Actually, it’s become a very popular form of training in recent years and this is because of many reasons. When attending a Martial Arts class, people are constantly pushed and motivated by the teacher or trainer in charge. When learning the different fighting techniques or doing any of the many exercises that each and every class involve, our heart rates and metabolisms are increased, our bodies are burning fat and our muscles are being toned. With the inclusion of stretching in every class, we’re able to keep ourselves nimble and avoid injuries. What’s more, is that all of this is done under the care and supervision of the teacher or trainer so we know we’re doing it right. Wouldn’t this be so much more exciting than trying to achieve the same thing by running endlessly on a treadmill listening to the same songs over and over on our ipods or MP3’s?
To find out more about this alternative to keeping fit, I contacted Kontact! Kontact, a Martial Arts Training Centre located in Central, is run by expert trainers and world champion fighters. Below, you’ll find questions that the average person may have regarding this type of training and the answers to those questions by the professionals!
What kinds of people are attending your martial arts training classes and what are they seeking?
ANSWER: Men and women who want to get fit or keep fit physically and mentally. Some of them have goals to become professional fighters, while others simply want to lose weight, get in great shape and at the same time, work out efficiently in a fun and challenging way.
How often should people attend classes in order to receive the full benefits from martial arts training?
ANSWER: It depends on everyone’s goals but definitely, the more often people attend classes, the more benefits they will receive.
It’s important to have a regular schedule if you want to see results and you should at least attend classes twice a week.
I notice you guys as well as some other training centres in Hong Kong offer quite a few different classes for different kinds of martial arts. Are any of these classes open to all individuals, or is this depending on the level of experience for each person?
ANSWER: Usually, all classes are attended on average from intermediate to advanced level students. For beginners, we suggest attending a few personal training sessions to understand and get familiarized with punching, kicking and some other basic moves, depending on each discipline.
For MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) it’s a bit different. This is a mix between stand up fighting, (Kickboxing, Muay Thai) and grand floor wrestling (Jiu jitsu). It’s a complete sport in which you need more knowledge to use each and every technique such as take down, kick, punch, submission. Therefore, for MMA, we suggest students be more disciplined and experienced in one or more of the techniques it involves.
Should martial artists follow any kind of strict diet plan in order to work with their training?
ANSWER: During their preparation to fight, all martial artists have their own diet plan, but for a normal period, they should just adhere to healthy eating habits. For those who join professional training centres, the trainers will provide special, tailor made diet programmes specifically for each individual, with continued monitoring.
Are there any particular styles or classes that the Hong Kong people enjoy more than others?
ANSWER: Muay Thai and kickboxing are really popular in HK, but MMA, a new discipline in Asia, is really gaining popularity and is one of the busier classes.
Many people in Hong Kong work with tight schedules and are always on the go. Is it feasible for these types of people to attempt learning and attending martial arts training classes and receive the many benefits they offer?
ANSWER: Martial Arts classes can be offered with very flexible class schedules, such as lunch time and after work. Alternatively, for people who can’t access any of those classes, personal training sessions are usually offered from early in the morning up to and including nighttime sessions.
As most people know, martial arts have been around a long time! What could be the causes of the increased ‘mainstream’ popularity in recent years?
ANSWER: As opposed to the usual, boring exercise, such as running on the treadmill or riding that stationary bicycle, martial arts are complete sports! When training in martial arts, the students incorporate all aspects of fitness including cardio, coordination, speed, agility, flexibility, strength and power. It’s kind of like circuit training. Students will do weight/dynamic training, use the bags and pads, just to name a few, all which make this sport very interactive and complete. People will find it more effective by working out in a fun way to release all of the built-up pressure they’ve been holding inside during the day. Not to mention getting rid of the excess fat so they’re the centre of attention the next time they go to the beach!
For more information about incorporating martial arts into your life, you may check out Kontact. Located in the heart of Central, they offer personal training and classes in Kickboxing, Boxing, Muay Thai, Karate Kyodushinkai, Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA. Call 2525 2400 or visit www.kontact.hk.