Poor health and fitness habits are major causes of the growing obesity epidemic in America, as well as the rising cost of health care and illnesses such as: diabetes, stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
Americans have been fascinated with martial arts for decades, however no one individual has had as much impact on the popularity of martial art training and movies as the late Bruce Lee. The trailblazing film Enter The Dragon in 1973 exposed millions to the talents of Bruce Lee and today, “thirty seven years after his tragic, untimely passing, he remains not only iconic in the world of cinema, but possibly the most influential person in Kung Fu, having brought more people to the martial arts in modern times than any one else.” – Inside Kung Fu magazine, June 2010.
What is the connection between better health habits and martial art?
Too often overweight or out of shape adults feel martial art is an activity for ‘fit’ people who are active, flexible, have balance, not good at team sports, or 90 lb. weaklings tired of being bullied and want to learn self-defense.
When was the last time you visited a martial art school and saw several overweight people in a class unless it was Sumo Wrestling? Even less likely will you see an overweight woman or man in a martial art classes proudly wearing the dreaded white pj’s!
Martial Fitness is NOW available as a training method that brings the best fitness exercises from a variety of martial art disciplines together for a workout or series of workouts! The material at the core of this training method has been researched, documented and organized by “Coach/Sifu” Sule. The research and training experiences he has learned from his teachers, students and fellow competitors over the last 25+ years is now available for anyone to begin a new health and wellness journey. The Martial Fitness training method is specifically designed to help people reach their fitness goals regardless of fitness level and without the need for prior marital art experience or the desire to become an expert (i.e. ‘black belt’) in any particular discipline or style.
Martial Fitness makes martial art training accessible and available for regular people to become extraordinarily healthy!
Atlanta’s Biggest Loser showed on camera for the first time that Martial Fitness is about health:
- Not about self-defense, fighting, breaking boards or earning a black belt
- Martial Fitness is for adults who want to lose weight
- Martial Fitness is for adults who want to gain self-confidence
- Martial Fitness is for adults who want to gain a lifetime of health-defense
- Martial Fitness is for adults who want to become better role models for their family
The average adult dismisses the thought of starting a martial art program if they have done it before as a child or are not interested in putting in the hours required in the white uniform to earn the coveted black belt! Most martial art schools advertise ‘We are a black belt school’ to drive home the focus and reason students should be doing martial arts…then the question becomes…once I get my Black Belt…now what?
Q: So is Martial Fitness a new martial art program or style?
A: Yes, Martial Fitness is a fitness concept that empowers your life. It is not a martial art style. The Martial Fitness program provides exercises based on a variety of martial art disciplines experienced by Coach Sule over the last 25 years. Over time the exercises and drills became his personal training regimen and continue to keep him in great shape and good health. Martial Fitness is a program for men and women of any age or fitness level. Clients range in age from 30 to 72.
Q: So is it like Fitness kickboxing or a cardio fitness class?
A: Not really. Over my 12+ years in corporate America friends and coworkers always asked how I stayed in such good shape? Why was I always smiling or able to handle stress so well? The truth was I was always practicing multiple forms of martial art before and after my 8a.m.-6p.m. working hours. My martial art teachers, Master John Thomas, Sifu Francis Fong and Guro Dan Inosanto constantly encouraged me to cross train in many forms of martial art versus focusing on one style. Their encouragement and my interpretation of their advice, as well as how they live their life, inspired me to create Martial Fitness. Whether I was traveling for business, working 12 to 18 hour days, pursuing a masters degree in business while working full time or changing careers and moving across state lines for a new career opportunity I was always practicing martial art movements and exercises, often without partners, equipment, or finding a training class or seminar in a city where I was scheduled to visit for a work assignment. Often even in my hotel room or conference room before a big event or presentation!
Q: How much martial art skill is required in a martial fitness workout?
A: None. Many people want the benefits of what a black belt stands for like discipline, focus, and self control but don’t want to fight, get hurt, wear a uniform or spend 5-10 years studying an art form inside out. Ironically the same skills required to earn a black belt are required to maintain your health, so those are the skills we spend time developing in a martial fitness workout – exposure to many disciplines keep the workouts fresh, focusing on daily, weekly and monthly fitness goals provide motivation to reach new intervals and phases and self control begins to influence choices about diet and exercise regimen.
Q: How can women specifically benefit from Martial Fitness the way the Mom’s on Atlanta’s Biggest Loser benefited?
A: The primary benefits the Mom’s from Atlanta’s Biggest Loser gained were a portable fitness method free from the need for equipment or weight training, an average of 21lbs. lost during a 12 week period – maximum losses were 25, 28 and 39 lbs. among the top 3 of 6 mom’s, and lastly an example of how fitness can be fun! Because many women are either not interested or afraid of martial art as an activity they don’t even consider trying. This realization made it obvious to me that there was a need for a fitness method that incorporates martial art benefits without some of the traditions like uniforms, sparring, board breaking and testing for belts. Where traditions turned many women away from martial arts, the Mom’s from Atlanta’s Biggest Loser experienced the benefits first hand Martial Fitness had to offer as a fitness regimen with an endless variety or exercises, low impact movements, and cardiovascular and strength building movements that don’t require weight lifting or heavy machinery.
Q: So martial fitness is a fitness program people follow to get in better shape mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally without a belts or sparring.
A: Yes, absolutely!
Q: Is equipment required for Martial Fitness?
A: No, because the movements and positions that require you to manage your own body weight while simultaneously strengthening and stretching muscles provide all the tools you need. Introducing basic fitness tools like, jump rope, broom stick/dowel rod, medicine ball or heavy bag and protective hand gear can be incorporated to add fun and intensity to the workouts in a class environment. The main equipment required is your brain, every body part and good heart pumping music to keep you smiling…no rhythm or dance skills are required!
Q: How much of the moves focus on self defense?
A: The focus of Martial Fitness is health defense not self defense. Although 90% of self defense is about mental awareness and self confidence. Studies show predators are more likely to attack those who appear vulnerable or lack confidence. Although Martial Fitness exercises come from a variety of martial art styles they are not drilled using self defense scenarios during a workout. However, as a result of the workout people do feel more confident, challenge their brain, improve coordination and use muscles they never knew they had. The aforementioned tools are all important to have in a self defense situation. Participants will get a total body workout with an endless variety of moves, challenges, and exercises that help them tone muscles, loose weight, gain flexibility and stay healthy.
Q: As a Coach for Atlanta’s Biggest Loser you were referred to as a nutritionist, counselor, coach, psychiatrist, and friend. Does someone need you to to get the most from a martial fitness workout?
A: Yes, I wore many hats during the competition. However, my goal is empower my clients to become their own coach. The driving force behind the success of the women from Atlanta’s Biggest Loser who accepted the martial fitness challenge came down to 2 fundamentals: 1) Deciding to, “Become The Change You Seek,” 2) Staying focused on “Your Why”. Keeping these concepts top of mind during training helps the concepts remain clear and relevant in throughout the course of daily life. The goal of The Welch Martial Art Experience – Fitness Concepts Empowering Life is to provide tools like Martial Fitness that help people discover how much FUN choosing to make fitness a part of your life can be…make the choice or have it made for you through illness or limited quality of life…we all have the power to choose.
Q: How is martial fitness structured to provide a variety of benefits in a workout?
A: The training method is broken down into 6 core fitness areas. All the exercises are low impact and do not require contact or prior martial art training. Each core fitness area has an endless variety of exercises based on time intervals or repetitions that challenges the beginner or advanced fitness seeker. Self measured milestones can be set by minutes, reps, days, weeks or even months for measureable improvements.
We all have obstacles to overcome, contact us to find out how TWE can help you today!
The Welch Martial Art Experience – Fitness Concepts Empowering Life
Atlanta, GA 31139
Phone: (678) 427-0296
Email: sule@thewelchexperience.com
