Rich67

This pretty much says it all.... http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001813.html

The reference to a "McDojo" is a generic, "cookie-cutter" style dojo that caters to people who take karate for exercise purposes or for children's entertainment with no real basis as to style or actual effectiveness as to self-defense properties. Spaceman is simply pointing out that the way some of these dojos advertise lends creedence to the fact that they are simply dime-a-dozen training places that are nothing truly special for the "hard core" martial artist. Is there anything technically wrong with them? No. I think that any exposure to martial arts is a wonderful thing for men, women, and children. I started my training at what might be perceived as a Mc Dojo. I think (and I may be misinterpeting his true direction) that he is simply trying to categorize these places so that more seasoned martial artists may be able to identify these places by simply looking through the yellow pages or watching a TV ad, and possibly steer away from them so they can focus on more of the adult-geared hardcore dojos. I personally would have no interest in going to a McDojo now, knowing what I know and as far in my training as I am. But I would be more than happy to take my kids to them and have them train, or let my wife get exposure to the arts. I have no problem with them. But I do have a problem with offering things such as "camo belts", letting kids wear off-color gi's when they are fresh off the street, etc. Call me old fashioned, but I feel that everyone needs to wear traditional white gi's until they attain black belt or red, and stick to traditional belt colors. This is just MY opinion. This isn't to say that stuff like that doesn't work in some dojos. It all depends on the sensei. The best training I ever got was in a non air-conditioned run-down converted garage with no bells and whistles. I learned more there in a couple years than I ever did in my old "McDojo". But the McDojo gave me a good basis for my later training, and I never regretted going there. He isn't knocking the McDojo. It's just not "for him". If you want to get into shape, get a good workout, get your kids disciplined and teach them self-defense basics, then by all means-sign up.

Well, I would suggest you buy a small bench. You can get one for about 99 US dollars at any sporting goods store. But if that's not possible, try doing the following: Chest: Pushups Back(upper): bent-over rows bent-over back flyes one-arm rows Biceps: bicep curl concentration curl hammer curls Triceps: overhead tricep extensions lying tricep extensions dips using a chair edge Abs: crunches or hanging leg raises (the best) Shoulders: lateral raises shoulder presses Legs: lunges with dumbbells squats with dumbbells If you need descriptions of these exercises, search for them using GOOGLE by name. Otherwise, pick up a good beginner's weightlifting book.

Normal. Whichever side is more dominant will usually show more development. This is most notable in the arms, due to the extra use you give your dominant arm. Now this can be an issue only if you are talking a LARGE discrepancy between size and strength on one side of the body. But a minimal size difference is usually noticed by most people. I am right handed, but I do many things left handed except for writing. I bat with my left, open jars with my left, etc. I am mildly ambidextrous, I guess you could say. Because of this, my left side is slightly stronger than my right-and slightly bigger. But if you look like Leonardo DiCaprio on the right and The Rock on the left, you need to look at your exercise form or seek a physician's advice.

Agreed. Start off slow, and make sure you listen to your body. If you feel unmotivated or are getting sick more often, then you are overtraining. Inability to sleep and headaches also are symptoms of this. Just do your 3 hours of MA training a week, then work in one day of FULL BODY weight training. In other words, do circuit weightlifting: benching, pullups, curls, squats or leg extensions, shoulder and tri work, and abs. One after the other, no rest in betwen. Do the whole thing 3 times. That should give you a good anaerobic workout.

Sure, that I agree with. But the issue here is doing this safely. 300 on the bench is reasonable, but for some people doing a 400/500 squat or deadlift is more than they can handle. I mean, that's a lot of weight for a recreational (read: NOT POWER) lifter. My point is, if you ARE going to use those exercises, be moderate in the weight you use and don't overdo it. Some of those weights may be one rep maxes. You should not train with one rep max's unless you're a powerlifter. It really can injure you.

Ditto. Excellent suggestions.

About the deadlift issue: deadlifts, squats, benching, etc. can all POSSIBLY cause long term injury. This can occur in several ways: 1) excess weight used can cause undue stress on joints and ligaments and cause arthritis in those joints prematurely. 2) improper form can cause serious muscular injury and chronic back problems. 3) Using the wrong exercise for your body style can also cause injury. What does this mean? Of course, any exercise done with improper form can cause injury. But even if you use good form, lifting a serious amount of weight can mess you up too. Is there a happy medium? Sure! Do the squats and deadlifts using proper form, but use LIGHTER WEIGHT! It's that easy. Powerlifters operate in one rep max to 5 rep ranges. As a recreational/ health lifter, you need to operate in the 15-20 rep range with all those exercises (except maybe the bench, unless you have shoulder problems). If you are small boned or relatively lean, you are not built to be a powerlifter nor should you try to be by squatting 400 plus or deadlifting 800 plus. Simply loading a bar with 225 for 12 reps of squats or 275 for 10 deadlifts is sufficient and a awesome workout. Even powerlifters get injured, and have long term joint issues. Don't overdo it or push your body somewhere it's not meant to be. Some guys who are stocky can pull it off, since their musculature and bone structure makes deadlifting and explosive movements easier for them. But look at guys like basketball players. They do all the compound lifts like the powerlifters, but they use a large amount of reps with lighter weight. Their programs are tailored for their body type. Do the same, and you can do those exercises without detrimental effects. If you wanna gain mass fast, there is nothing better than a squat or deadlift. Go for it, stay within 12-15 reps for 3 sets, and USE LIGHT WEIGHT. Use PROPER FORM.

Cracking your back in the sense of what? Like a chiropractor would or just moving around and cracking it? To be honest, I am not a believer in chiropractic medicine. I find it along the same lines of homeopathic remedies. Cracking your back can have some detrimental effects on your muscles surrounding the back in the long run. Best to leave it alone and seek out a doctor if you have issues with your back. Otherwise, just cracking it because it looks and sounds cool or because it relieves tension is kind of a waste of time and serves no real purpose, in my opinion. Others may disagree, but before you all jump down my throat, note this is my OPINION.

To lose those love handles, nothing will do better than good old fashioned EXERCISE. Meaning you have to do aerobic work. 30-40 minutes of medium to high intensity work 4-5 times a week. Sure, work the diet as well. Stay away from anything that comes in a bag and crunches. That's a good rule of thumb. I try to stick to the "straight from nature" philosophy. Meats (lean ones), dairy, veggies, fish, and some sweets should be the main staple of your diet. Eat six SMALL meals a day- a portion of protein (lean meat, tuna, fish) a portion of carbs ( veggies, red potatoes) and a small portion of fats (olive oil in salad dressing). All these items should be in a serving size no larger than the size of your fist. Dring 8-10 glasses of water a day. Follow this eating and exercise regimen, and in about 2 months you'll notice a leaner and healthier you.

You're probably right on that, but you can never be too careful especially in today's climate of sue happy losers. In all honesty, I probably wouldn't bother calling an ambulance, but I was just trying to be a responsible guy...

Nose: causes watering of the eyes and is a good distraction. Breaking it can cause a large flow of blood which gives a good negative psychological reaction. It hurts and it's effective. Groin: I need not say any more. Eyes (around eyes and sockets): Typical area that is struck, can cause vision disruption. Throat: Deadly force. If it comes done to life and death, this is the spot. Crushing someone's larynx can really ruin their day. I have doubts about the "forcing the nose into the brain" thinking. As others have said, the only way you could possibly kill someone like that would be if their head was immobilized and not able to move back with the blow, and the blow would have to be VERY hard. I wonder if this is an "old wives tale", but I sure wouldn't want to test it out. Knocking someone in the nose or heel palming someone in the nose is pretty nasty in and of itself. That's my favorite target.

How 'bout a midget with a missing leg kicking you in the jimmy and then the rest of his friends laughing uncontrollably at you? Man, that really kills the ego....

Ummm, I'm going to have to disagree with you there.... eating a heavy meal right before bedtime is not a good idea if you want to lose weight. Look at it this way: Yes, your body does use energy while you sleep, but it is very minimal. A meal consisting of say 400-500 calories will sit in your stomach all night and convert into stored fat. The calories you burn while you sleep should be from fat stores already in your system. You can't do this if you have food in your system that your body is breaking down. The process of burning fat for energy (stored fat) is a state of ketosis. This is what Atkins dieters strive for...a steady state of ketosis. If you habitually eat before sleep (within 3 or 4 hours) you will gain fat from the excess calories going unused, and the carbs that don't get burned. You should not eat within that 3-4 hour window. Also, waking up and exercising before you eat will further enhance fat loss, since your body is in a fasting state and will used fat stroes for energy. That will really melt off the pounds. So yes, it DOES matter when you eat, not as much as WHAT you eat, but it still matters.

Listen, I am just trying to help. The info you are requesting is stuff that people pay big bucks to get from a nutritionist or a personal trainer. I suggest you seek one of them and get that info. If you're just looking for a free online personal trainer, you're in the wrong place. Sorry, but I'm done.

At 501 and over 200 pounds, you need to primarily be concerned with reducing your overall caloric intake. You need to eat small meals 6 times a day. Breakfast: A bowl of fiber rich ceral with a cup of skim milk Whole wheat toast with margarine Orange juice Mid Morning snack: Protein bar or cup of nonfat yogurt Lunch: Lean meat like chicken, tuna, or a small lean steak veggies small salad with light dressing (vinagarette) Mid PM snack: a cup of trail mix or another protein bar Dinner: Protein powder shake with banana and milk (skim) You can drink diet soda or water all day. NO SWEETS, NO REGULAR SODA, and NO FRIED FOODS. In addition, start doing cardio work: 20 minutes of the stationary bike, stair climber, walking briskly or light jogging. Work up to 40 minute sessions. Work up a good sweat, and do it 4-5 times a week. Choose one day a week to eat whatever you want. Pizza, tacos, etc. Once you can do cardio 40 minutes a session, drop down to 3-4 days of cardio, then add weight training once a week. A full body workout once a week is a good start. I can't give you all the info here, this post would take up a whole site. Start slow, control your eating, and sweat it off. You'll lose it slow at first, but after a month the pounds should start coming off quicker.

If by "blood choke" you mean a naked rear choke or carotid restraint, you're talking about 15-20 seconds (or even less) is enough time to render someone unconscious. I don't think 4-5 minutes is correct, but I could be thinking of a different technique.You better let go WAY before then! I know, I have been choked out and choked out others in a class. If you hold on for too long, you can invariably cause brain damage or even death. You are starving the brain of oxygenated blood, in essence killing it if held too long. Once the person loses consciousness, you must take care to make sure he doesn't flop to the ground, which can cause neck or head injury. Release the choke the second you fell the person go limp, control his head and neck, and ease him to the ground on his side. Have someone call 911 and monitor him. If all the events leading up to the fight were done according to law, in self defense and no opportunity for retreat, then you have no need to fear. If you really want to test it, find someone you trust to apply the restraint. Let him cinch down fully and you tell me how long it takes before you get woozy. Not very long, for sure. Check out this link: http://www.shouyuliang.com/newsletter/v4n3/v4n3a6.shtml

Hmmm....a nice gluteal massage from a girlfriend would do the trick, eh? Hubba hubba!

More "homeopathic" nonsense. For years, the bodybuilding supplement industry has told half-truths to consumers hoping people will buy their product and look like a ripped bodybuilder. Sasparilla, ox horn, ginseng, guarna, yohimbine, etc. etc. Never have there been any scientific studies that show this stuff helps pack on muscle. What does? High quality protein such as whey. If you're going to spend your $$, buy some EAS whey protein, a bunch of bananas, and some fat free milk and drink up. That will work 100 times better than any of that other "herbal" nonsense.

Don't get into the "more is better" thought process when it comes to working out....it's not true. Especially if it's your JOINTS that are sore after a workout. You should be getting MUSCLE soreness. Make sure that the soreness isn't the muscles of the calf, deltoids, etc. before making that decision. If your joints hurt, you are putting too much stress on the to fast. Ease into it. To lose weight, start by doing LOW IMPACT cardio. This is walking on the treadmill, or riding the stationary bike. You should do a 20 minute cardio program to start with, working up to 40 minutes total. You should never have to stay in the gym for more than 1 hour. Anything after the hour is really a good way to overtrain. Do the cardio 3-4 times a week and listen to the pains in your body. If you still hurt, cut back (but don't stop) and maintain until the pain subsides. Be patient above all. Don't expect to be ripped in 30 days. Add in some weight training to boost the fat loss. Eat small portions high in protein. Light weightlifting at first; dumbbells only. Then go onto the heavy compund exercises once you have eliminated or reduced your joint pains. Start with light weight and work up SLOWLY. After a solid 2-3 months of working out, take a week off, and start the whole deal over again. Good luck!

Chew gawt it magn! As long as you are exercising, doing cardio and sweating well for 30-40 minutes a session, you don't have to watch the 'ol diet as much as the guy who sits behind a desk all day then goes to bed after dinner. However, while on the program, make sure you are taking in enough protein in the form of lean meat and fat free dairy. I eat pretty much what I want within reason, and I don't count calories. I am 5'11" and 185 to 190 pounds. With regular exercise I have been able to maintain that weight for years. Watch the fried foods, excess simple carbs (white bread and sweets), and eat the complex carbs (wheat breads, cereals and veggies) and a small amount of fats from healthy oils (flaxseed or olive oil) .

3rd shift will kill you quick. The human body was not meant to be nocturnal. You can't force it into a habit it was not designed or accustomed to. Oh, furthermore... 8-10 hours of sleep is optimal for adults. More for infants or children isn't bad, either. A rule of thumb is you should sleep as long as you need without having to wake up to an alarm. People who wake up to an alarm are inherently more tired than those who don't. It isn't "dangerous" to get more sleep than 10 hours a night. Give me a break. Bottom line; try going to a normal shift. If you still feel lethargic, then check with your doctor and have him run some tests. Chances are, the long hours, crummy shift, and lack of sleep are getting to you and causing you to get sick. I worked 6pm-6am for 12 months. I think I aged more that year than I did in 10 years. That's the main culprit of your lethargy.

Posture is a combination of muscular conditioning and a learned "ability". You have to consciously start to carry your head up, pull your shoulders back and turck in your stomach. To help you carry yourself better, work out and do many ab/lower back/chest/upper back workouts. Don't concentrate solely on bench pressing (big chest, shoulders roll in then). Do pullups and barbell rows to build the upper back, leg raises for the abs and back hyperextensions for the lower back. You'll be on your way to a better posture soon.

Pushups are highly underrated. You MUST do pushups to establish a good base for other weightlifting activities you may partake in. Pushups strengthen the smaller muscles of the chest, shoulders and upper back, which are generally not hit as hard during bench pressing, for example. Just doing pushups alone can provide you with a very good upper body routine, providing you vary the form from time to time ( wide arm pushups, close arm, incline pushups, weighted pushups, etc.). You will develop functional strength and flexibility, but won't put on too much mass. In order to get mass, you have to hit the weights and work on flat/incline/decline bench presses. But don't ever stop doing the pushups. They will help keep the injuries away and will keep you on track with lifting heavier weights.

Sports drinks are excellent to help keep your muscles functioning at their peak during prolonged and sustained physical activity. Football players, hockey players, etc., make use of it to replace potassium and electrolytes lost during exertion. Gatorade is OK, but like others say, it is real high in fructose and is a little sweet for many tastes. Propel is excellent. All sports drinks will help you function at your peak, and will help keep the lactic acid buildup at a minimum. But don't drink the stuff day in and out, since the high sugar content will make you a tub of lard. Just keep a bottle of it handy during heavy workouts or during sparring matches. Straight water is excellent too; don't get me wrong... but the sports drinks give you a slight edge in the muscular output/ endurance area.