Why is this so...

[Razor11]

I got married to a great cook! Also, I can only train 3X per week as opposed to the "6" when I was teaching full-time, and spend much of that time helping teach. I do try to work out with a partner for awhile after each class if possible.

My instructor used to weigh 300 lbs. (he is still about 260 @ 6'1") but he has incredible dexterity and hand speed. His kicks are also fast and "mule-like" so while he is a better martial artist now that he is thinner, he has always had devastating technique, speed and power.

I am now 6'3" 250 lbs. so my goal is to get down to about 230 and replace some fat with some muscle.

I think many martial artists train harder up to and right at Shodan (1st degree) and by that time other facets of life seem to surface. Many students are in their teens or early twenties, so work, marriage, kids, job changes all take a toll on our training thus what kind of shape were in- I decided that I want to be better than I ever was before (which probably was not that good anyway) so I stopped drinking soda, am slowly changing my diet and started doing Yoga and lifting weights also-

Train for life!

[y2_sub]

I got my first dan since about three years now ( my age is 22 ) and i am still in a good shape , maybee because i am still training to compete , i just finished my college education and wish that life , work , getting married and all that stuff won't keep me from training . Best luck for all

[CapitalKarate]

It really takes no more than 20-40 minutes a day 6 days a week to workout to stay in great shape (depending on what you do of course). In fact, studies have shown that if you work out (practicing MA isn't exercise imo) more than 45 minutes a day, the time after 45 minutes isn't doing anything for you. Considering this is true I don't see why someone couldn't spend 20 minutes a day in the morning or evening working out to stay in awesome shape.

[senseipaul]

i feel as though all martial artists do not push themselves as hard as they should. think about what we as martial artists stand for, then try to reach that goal. teachers included. i do not consider myself in excellent condiction, but i do not have the instructor "pot belly"

[ninjanurse]

It is my opinion that an Instructor should set a good example for their students in all aspects of their lives....nutrition being only one of them.

If I am going to require my students to run 1.5 miles under 13 minutes I had better be able to do it too-no excuses.

If I am going to hammer them about nutirition and hydration I had better be minful of everything I put in my mouth too.

If I am going to expect them to practice at home I better do it too.

If I am going to require them to lose 20 lbs before their BB test I had better not be 20 lbs overweight.

If....

You get my point.

[sweetpea0525]

My instructor will never ask us to do something that he would not be able to do himself. He does his own workouts during the week when he has time, he may not look like a body builder but he is still very strong and fit. He does not usually join class for regular workouts, but for sparring he does the rounds with us, especially on promotion weeks, where there are 6 different classes, and each class spars for at least an hour with continuous 2-3 minute rounds. That is alot of rounds, so as you increase in rank you are encouraged to go to as many promotion classes as possible, to support the students but to also increase your endurance.

[June1]

I think that in addition to all the other non-MA factors (e.g., family), one's metabolism changes with age, making it more difficult to lose weight. The owner of my dojo, a 4th Dan, is pretty "round" himself! I can only wonder what the cause is, though.

[CapitalKarate]

June... granted that as you get older your metabolism slows down drastically, but that shouldn't stop someone from consulting with a nutritionist about what he/she can do nutritionally to keep your bf% below 15% (I believe it's 15% thats healthy, between 15 and 4-5%). A lot of people don't know how to properly work out either so thats also an issue..

[AnonymousOne]

From what I've seen, most MA instructors are overweight or have a slight pot belly, why is this so?

There isnt one in our school and would never be allowed to get to that point.

Teachers that are over weight are not practising what they preach at all. They are setting an extremely poor example.

The head of our school is aged 63 and is still at the peak of his physical condition. All the other 40 instructors are all incredibly fit and slim.

Can you imagine the heavy weight boxing champ trying to defend the title and being 40lbs overweight? Just couldnt do it!

To be battle prepared is to be at your peak of physical fitness and this wouldnt allow for one lb of extra weight. If you are training properly you would burn it all off.

Get out of a McFat dojo and get to a school that sets a proper example where they live what they preach and believe.

A warrior is an action taker and not an action faker

[markusan]

I think if you are going to ask students to keep fit and train hard you have to do the same yourself. The first and most effective way to teach is by example. I am knocking on 50 and find it increasingly hard, psychologically not physically, to maintain my fighting weight. And the more I teach the harder it is because I'm not maintaining as high a heart rate consistently during classes. So I run and ride a bike as much as I can outside classes and that works a treat. To lose weight and maintain a fast metabolism you have to get that heart rate up for 20 minutes plus and throw in some strength and anaerobic work. But at the same time I'd rather be reading a good book or hanging out with my kids. Then again I have a good friend who is big and round...but solid: he trains everyday, trains prison warders for a living and nothing I hit him with budges him an inch or looks like it remotely concerns him. He gets(and deserves) great respect from his students