Palm Springs: Ba Gua Zhang Fighting Theory
Nature is the very foundation of Taoism, and thus the foundation of Ba Gua. From the Book of Changes, Ba Gua founders retained the “eight tri-grams,” and other references to nature. The eight tri-grams are a series of symbols referring to eight specific natural entities: heaven, earth, water, fire, wind, thunder, mountain and lake. These symbols of nature take shape in Ba Gua fighting theory through the eight directions (or angles) of attack. (more…)
Ba Gua Zhang, a Kung Fu style of Taoist origin, is the single most effective style for confronting multiple opponents. A master of this wonderfully complex art can clear out a room faster than a bad joke at a retirement dinner. Read on to discover the rich complexity of Ba Gua Zhang, and its ‘eight direction’ fighting methods. (more…)
How often should you lift in- and off-season?
Resting between training sessions is as important as the actual lifting regimen. In response to the stress of lifting heavy weights, your body builds new muscle tissue, and that muscle build-up occurs during the recovery period. If you lift every day without allowing sufficient rest between sessions, your body lacks adequate time to rebuild muscle and you actually lessen the benefits of your weight training. (more…)
Strength training wisdom from a basketball strength and conditioning expert
There are as many philosophies of strength training as there are iron plates in the weight room. You must realize that, while certain principles remain constant, each program is unique. Just because one particular routine works for one person, doesn’t necessarily mean another individual will experience the same degree of success with the identical program. Research has resulted in important insights into the physiological adaptations associated with strength training. As a result, many myths have been dispelled. Unfortunately, misconceptions still abound. Some of the more frequently asked questions include the following. (more…)
Q.What is a Cardiolyte test, and how soon will I find out if I have blockages in my arteries?
A. A Cardiolyte test is one of several different types of stress tests that doctors use to measure how much blood is getting to your heart muscle through your coronary arteries. Thus, it can show how blocked these arteries might be. (more…)
Ask the Fitness Expert
Dear Expert:
My son, a starting senior on the high school football team, sprained his ankle in a football game two weeks ago. When it swelled up the night after the game, we took him to the doctor, who told him it was a sprain, put him on crutches and prescribed Motrin. The orthopedic surgeon recommended that my son sit out the next game. My son plays defensive tackle and uses his injured foot as a plant, so he decided not to play. The coaches were upset, however. Should my son have taken the chance, or was it better to give his ankle another week to heal? (more…)
Playing baseball demands that specific body parts be well conditioned. A proper exercise program emphasizes increasing the strength and power of the muscles most used while also enhancing the flexibility of the muscles and tendons most stressed by the sport. (more…)
It was 20 degrees below zero when I reached my 12-year-old son’s thin nylon tent huddled deep in the snowy forest. Josh and the four other boys participating in the Boy Scouts winter weekend camp looked tired but went about packing up their gear with a new mature confidence.
Women are often concerned that if they start lifting weights, they’ll look big and bulky. That’s only a myth. Women do not have enough natural testosterone in their bodies to bulk up like Arnold Schwarzenegger. Moderate strength training will simply increase muscle tone and strength, and can create an attractive, “sculpted” look.
The Ultimate Program is based on a treadmill or stationary bike for aerobics used in conjunction with a complete upper-body hand-weight workout.
I’ll go over the program step by step, movement by movement, but let me begin with an overview of the Ultimate Program.
The recommendation for optimum muscle growth is to work each body part only once or at most twice per week. The purpose of the Ultimate Aerobic and Anaerobic Fitness program is not 19″ arms but a healthy, fit and toned body. I recommend exercising each body part during each workout.
