What is Fitness?

Fitness is probably one of the most controversial topics bandied about in social media, magazine articles, and by know-it-alls across the planet.  Just about every type of training under the broad heading of fitness has its own staunch supporters and sycophants, as well as its haters and rabid detractors. 

Nothing really has a place of neutrality inside the world of fitness.  Here’s a quick idea what I mean:

Crossfit – Either drink the kool aid and become of them, or hate it with a passion

Running – Either sprint or don’t do it

Mobility – Either the tonic of youth and health or just another time wasting fad

Power Lifting – Either those guys are super strong, or just super fat

Zumba – well, let’s just not even call it fitness…

The list of training modalities and their relevant pros and cons goes on and on.  Chances are, if you are serious about your own brand of fitness, you have a love/hate list yourself.

But, are any of the above truly right or wrong?  Well, maybe the one about Zumba… J

Seriously though.  How do we define fitness?  What the heck is it, really?

Here is my definition:  Fitness is having the requisite physical ability (strength, coordination, endurance, energy, power, balance, agility, etc.) to accomplish all your daily tasks, whether work or personal, and to be able to participate fully in any activity, sport, or recreation of your choice. 

In other words, fitness is specific to what you as an individual are trying to accomplish daily and to the goals you are working towards.  

The real question then is not, are you fit?  The real question is – what are you fit for?  Because the answer determines everything.

So, if all you do is sit on the couch and watch TV all day long and your body has adapted to that state by becoming soft, round, and couch shaped, than you are perfectly FIT for your activity!  Now this may fly in the face of your personal idea of fitness, but if you consider that fitness  is adapting to, and being able to adequately perform the activity of your choice, then you must accept both the marathon runner and the coach potato as being equally fit for their tasks.

By the way, can you be entirely fit and completely UN-healthy?  Yup.  Definitely.  So how do we hone our definition of fitness so that it includes not only looking good, but feeling good as well?

Simple.  Understand that the most important task which you must be fit for is that of being the strongest, healthiest, most productive individual you can be.  This not only insures that you live longer and better for yourself, but for your family and your contribution to society as well.  If this becomes your goal, how then will you change your current routine to make sure your training meets and achieves this objective?  Something to think about.  And, perhaps the topic of another article…

About the Author

Jon Haas is the owner and head trainer at Warrior Fitness Gym in Hainesport, NJ where he coaches men, women, and children in achieving high levels of fitness and mental toughness.  He is a certified Underground Strength Coach and founder of Warrior Fitness Training Systems.  Jon is also a certified coach in VX Sport and is the Worldwide Strength & Conditioning Coach for VX Global. 

He is a lifelong martial artist with over 30 years of experience and is currently ranked as a 9^th dan black belt in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu.  Jon is the author of the book, Warrior Fitness: Conditioning for Martial Arts, as well as several other fitness related e-books.  Jon maintains a very active blog on health, fitness, strength & conditioning, and martial arts over at www.warriorfitness.org

Philosophy Of Rocking Out

           Have you ever been to a concert where your energy became so strong and adrenaline is pumping through your veins and you feel like a million bucks? It’s things like that, that should make you feel when you training. Your body is in a state where nothing can stop you from accomplishing your goal. It’s the rush of picking up a heavy object, doing a bodyweight exercise most people can’t do and you can’t help but wanting more. Most people don’t put any life into their exercise because after all, it’s just an exercise. If you’re in a beginner stage that’s one thing and you’re progressing through stages but even in the beginning, use what you have and believe you will get better.

            Some people like to use certain types of music to get them going. You don’t really need music to jump start your energy but if you choose to use music as an inspiration then do so. Some like pop, mix, metal, classical, hard rock and even worldly types but all have one common agenda and that’s to fire you up. Personally I’d prefer metal and not death metal but like heavy and rhythmic because of the solos and the sound that just hits you like Zeus’ lightning bolt. Music is exciting and it helps you ease the process. However, in order to achieve workout bliss, learn to use your mind as your music because music can also be a distraction and throw off your breathing patterns or your thinking when you’re creating a workout. The more mindful you are, the greater you will achieve.

            Most drag out a workout because the look at it as a punishment and feel miserable and don’t have a sense of happiness towards it. Believe it or not, you can have the time of your life when you train. Think about it, being able to do what you want to do, being happy, pushing through plateaus and living in the moment instead of just feeling like some drill sergeant is walking all over you and telling you you’re no good. Picture as if you’re at that kick ass concert and your favorite band is playing one of your favorites, you’d rock the hell out of that song wouldn't you? It’s the same thing as exercise; make it come alive with power, adrenaline and vitality.

            I recently went to see Black Sabbath while I was vacationing in California, Mountain View to be exact. Went with my best friend and his cousin, I’ll tell you first hand it was the experience of a life-time and most likely will never see that band again and they had the original three members; Ozzy, Geezer Butler & Tony Iommi. I head banged my heart out that night and it was something I’ll never forget. Ozzy was funny as hell but his voice in the lyrics during the songs was just as powerful as if I time traveled back to the 70’s in their heyday revolutionizing Rock Music. Tony’s solos were incredible, even in his mid 60’s he still can dominate that axe better then most of the best today. The point I’m making here is that like a solo riff on a guitar and that feel of Goosebumps hitting your body is a lot like that one moment in your training where everything just feels awesome and you get shivers when something just clicks inside you.

            Make your training as if you’re going to live it and feel more powerful within then ever possible. Build that foundation where you’re going to feel awesome, your body is flowing with strength and vitality and there’s nothing anybody can do to stop it because it’s your time and your moment to shine, just like a concert you’re having a blast and having the best time of your life because you never know when you’ll have that feeling again. Rock out guys and have fun.

Muscle Control Journey

      Well where do I start? First to introduce myself I am Lewis Lindsey Jr. Well from the time I was young I had always admired the strength in others be it physical or mental. Throughout my life me along with my brother Jarell have always seen examples of both from different folks. One of the main ones my father Lewis Sr who was 5’6 and served in Vietnam had always shown signs of strength. 

     Lifting up my  mom who at the time was heavier and on top of that losing her ability to walk due to MS he was holding a dead weight but he made it look easy. In terms of their mental strength my father held on strong throughout the years even after having his Strokes and Heart Attacks he still maintained his sense of humor and will power until the end of his life in 2005. I remember this story my mom use to tell me at the time. She would talk about this story all the time where the ambulance was trying to pick up my mom who at this point is losing her ability to walk so their lifting dead weight.  

     My father wasn't a big guy by looks but while these pretty big guys were struggling to lift my mom up together he was able to do it singlehandedly.  I can believe that as I've seen him on the regular do things like this and that became my motivation to want to be able to gain that strength mentally and physically. So by the age of 10 I was already lifting my mom up who at the time was dead weight and around the high 200 range. My brother in law was also another man of great strength doing many feats of strength himself both in the mental and physical department. So I had those influences early in life. I also without realizing it was introduced to isometrics by my brother in law as he would have me sometimes do wall sits and push up holds then but years later when I would see my younger brother again I would be reintroduced to it like he was.  

    I would look up the likes of Bruce Lee one of my favorite fighters and philosophers and saw how he also incorporated isometrics in his daily routine from reading his books. My Jarell also shared with me 7 Seconds to a Perfect Body by Paul O Brien(now legally Batman O Brien) and got more into isometrics. I was definitely seeing that I was getting stronger but didn't have control of the strength which was pretty scary for people(laughing) so I had to first learn to control it. So then one day with my brother I learned about Maxick and Muscle Control. I learned the need to control my muscle well my body through the mind and I learned to not so much tense the muscles but rather to relax them.  

   I believe I started muscle control since April to now July 28, 2013. My muscles feel less tense and more rubbery and I notice I have a little more control of my muscles and though I haven’t yet gotten complete control I can see I’m on the pathway there and I look forward to continuing this journey and want to share that with others would want to get into Isometrics and Muscle Control. I have great respect for the likes of Benjamin Bergman, Batman O Brien and other modern strongmen who continue to keep this legendary culture alive and being willing to teach others. I can say my journey isn’t over and I only have more to grow and I indeed will.