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On Fitness By Richard Seven
Ask R7Martial your motivation with aerobic stick fighting
I am a sophomore in college and have gained the freshman 15 — twice. I have also heard about intensive nine- or 10-week courses that get you back into shape. I haven't gained any weight for a few months, and with a treadmill I can maintain my weight, but I'm just not losing it. Is there any program in Seattle that can give me a good jump start? Great timing. I had just observed part of a 10-week class fusing martial arts and aerobics. These sorts of offerings are becoming more popular and plentiful because they perform two important functions: They push goals and furnish direction. Each student in the "kali-robics" class in the Greenwood gym grabbed both ends of his or her two baton-length bamboo sticks and shuffled back and forth and diagonally. At times, it looked more like a soft-shoe dance audition than an ancient martial art. Kali is the art of stick fighting, and has long been taught and practiced by both men and women in the Philippines, as well as among neighboring tribes and warlords. Filipinos say their martial art is self-originated and distinct from other nations. But the eight participants never expected to learn how to beat back marauders. The point of the 10-week, 50-class "body sculpt challenge" was to burn calories and change body composition. Running on air This spring, I tried the Nike Air Max 360, a running shoe notable for its bed of air lining the bottom. It's ultra sturdy, like a foot fortress, and exactly the opposite of the Free. The shoes are on the expensive side, retailing for about $160. Most runners spend about half that. "If someone is not doing it right we will correct them," says class co-creator Nicole Marinez. "We just want them to get a workout." The class, called a "body sculpt challenge," is just one of several classes at the Seattle Branch of MKG Martial Arts International (www.mkgseattle.com) that combine martial arts with aerobic training. In some of the kali aerobics classes, participants each use two sticks. I watched a workout where they used one stick, shifting it from hand to hand to jab, throw hooks or sweep at imaginary attackers. They kept their feet moving. In fact, students shuffled and shifted through about three-quarters of the class. They ended by using the batons to smack columns of tires and performing gut-busting sit-ups and other exercises. The kali martial-arts moves not only gave everyone a solid workout — even the instructor, Susan Geluardi, was breathing hard halfway through — but also it distracted participants from how hard they were working. That's the beauty of group exercise that is mentally taxing, too. By swinging and clutching the stick throughout the workout, students were getting a full-body workout. The program also includes exercises that incorporate strength, balance and agility work. Boxing for body balance "We wanted to provide a program that was realistic (losing one to two pounds a week), motivational and retained the commitment of people who signed up for the five days, 10-week deal," says co-creator Laura Wilson. The 10-week kali class runs Monday through Friday and costs $429 plus tax. A nutritionist comes in midway through the session to counsel, and prizes are given periodically to reward weight loss and attendance. The martial arts and aerobics are both good calorie burners, so fusing the two makes a certain amount of sense. The kali class is about 90 percent women — the aerobics part likely scaring off men. Check with your health club or community gymnasium for classes. They may not be fusion and they may not be 10 weeks long, but if it feels good, give it a try. Another bonus of a running class like this is that you're more apt to go if you know you're paying for it, even if you don't show up. Richard Seven is a Pacific Northwest magazine staff writer. He can be reached at rseven@seattletimes.com. Mike Siegel is a Seattle Times staff photographer.
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