As a fresh approach to cross-training or a gateway to a new lifelong passion, the martial arts can help you become a better all-around athlete.
By David Ferris, Illustrations by Jason Lee
In sports, there’s always some rule or another that forces you to play nice. Good thing, too, because without foul lines, refs, umpires, and conventions of fair play, more of us would resort to violence. Ask any hockey player. Sometimes you just want to smash your opponent in the face. But although I’m a personal trainer who has tried almost everything — I’ve climbed two of the seven summits, surfed Baja, and raced in the Borneo Eco-Challenge — until recently I had never explored the disciplines that actually require you to punch or kick your opponent upside the head: the martial arts. When I did, spending a few days each on five schools of self-defense, I found them to be not only a great outlet for less-sportsmanlike aggression, but also a terrific way to train for my other favorite sports. Turns out, muay Thai can make you a better tennis player, while Krav Maga can provide you the endurance you need to run a marathon. In fact, no matter your sport of choice, chances are there’s a martial art that will supply the perfect cross-training. So with winter here, I’m taking my workouts inside the dojo. The following are five ways you can too.
—
This article originally appeared in the December 2009/January 2010 issue of Men’s Journal.
Print this article
January 7th, 2010 at 9:38 pm
I wish I had gotten into Martial Arts years ago. I’ve always been big into exercise (gym and biking) but recently I’ve been looking for a change. I joined a Martial Arts/MMA academy several months ago and have nothing but great things to say about it.
I’ve been doing BJJ and Muay Thai as well as Kettlebell classes 4-5 times a week and I’ve noticed significant strength gains vs going to the gym. It’s also improved my flexibility drastically and I have much less back pain than i use to get.
If you’re thinking about doing this but aren’t too sure, look for a gym in your city and ask to do a few trial classes. Most of you won’t regret it! BJJ is probably the most addictive thing I’ve ever done!!
[Reply]
January 13th, 2010 at 6:23 pm
As the author of this story, I’d like to add an important detail. Much as I enjoyed learning so many punches and kicks and grappling moves, what I remember most is the talented instructors and masters I met along the way.
Sadly there wasn’t room in the print story to acknowledge them, so I wrote a post on my website and gave them a proper nod.
http://theferrisfiles.com/2009/12/a-special-thanks-to-the-dojos/
I’d recommend any of these dojos if you happen to live in the cities where I did my research, including Washington, D.C., Boise, Idaho, or the San Francisco Bay Area.
[Reply]
January 15th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
I had the pleasure to teach Dave the self-defense system, Krav Maga, at the Academy of Self Defense. I wanted to take this time to give big kudos to Dave for being a good sport and actually undergo a really tough workout under really demanding conditions — we were training in the middle of a heat wave of 99+ degrees F. With no training whatsoever, Dave easily picked up the skills necessary to defend himself from attackers (sometimes multiple) with bottles and guns! Great piece of immersion journalism and I recommend he should have his own show on TV! Seriously!
[Reply]
January 30th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
I’ve never tried martial arts (aside from karate classes as a kid). Seems to be an underlying theme here of using aggression constructively to help motivate a workout, something I blogged about recently:
http://reconstructingthirty.wordpress.com/2010/01/16/going-to-battle/
[Reply]