Physical Fitness - Is Your Workout Missing Something?
Hiking along a rocky trail, two of the three friends carefully picked their way from rock to rock. But one leaped from rock to rock, bounding by the others like a gazelle running and leaping from rock to rock. Never missing his footing, the others wondered at his almost supernatural grace and skill. "How does he do that?" they thought.
When most people think of physical fitness, they think of strength and cardiovascular fitness. If they are really thinking about it, they'll add flexibility to the list.
But there's something few people think about when working out, a missing component of physical fitness. You can't get it just by lifting weights or running on a treadmill.
The missing component is agility.
Agility is what let my friend run rings around us, leaping from rock to rock along the Pedernales River in Texas. Agility is what you see in top athletes who make great skill look effortless. Agility is what helps a ballet dancer make it look effortless. Agility is how Jackie Chan can still do martial arts even while he is rolling over tables, bouncing off walls, leaping between the rungs of ladders.
I didn't understand that until years after the hike along the Pedernales River. Now, after doing martial arts for almost 30 years, I understand. When you watch someone who moves with grace and skill, you're seeing agility.
Have you ever had an experience where you felt clumsy?
Have you ever fumbled the ball, or tripped over your own two feet?
Or have you ever seen someone who is in great shape, but they just can't coordinate, they can't move?
The missing component of physical fitness is agility.
If you just do weights or cardio, you're not going to develop agility. If you want agility, you have to move, and you have to adapt on the fly to changing (and often intense) situations.
Some sports and fitness activities promote agility more than others. For me, martial arts gave me agility. I've been dong WingTsun Kung Fu(TM) for 25 years, and martial arts in general for almost 30. I have to be able to adapt to what an opponent is doing quickly and perfectly. I have to seize the advantage, gain and maintain dynamic control. I have to stay balanced and graceful even while moving rapidly and adjusting to the changing dynamics of sparring.
Many other sports really develop agility as well. Basketball, tennis, soccer, hockey, skiing, snowboarding... they all develop and require agility.
If you're not doing something to develop agility, today is a good day to start. You'll be amazed at the difference increased agility will make in feeling physically fit. Before long you'll move with the grace of a cat, you'll bound like a gazelle.
Don't just lift weights and do cardio - get out there and do something to increase your agility as well. Get together with some buddies for basketball. Go play some tennis. Take up martial arts. Agility will give you the ability to actually DO something with all of the physical fitness you've been developing. You will feel better and move better, and you will probably have a lot more fun than just running on a treadmill or lifting weights!
Copyright 2005 Mike Adams
Mike Adams owns WingTsun Kung Fu schools in Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa - Dynamic Martial Arts: http://www.dynamicwingtsun.com/ Mike also runs Fitness.com, an online fitness equipment catalog: http://www.fitness-catalog.com/
 Google News Updated : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 06:55:22 GMT Smallest planet shrinks in size - BBC News
BBC News - The smallest planet in the Solar System has become even smaller, studies by the Messenger spacecraft have shown. Data from a flyby of Mercury in January 2008 show the planet has contracted by more than one mile (1.5km) in diameter over its history. First Results From Messenger's Mercury Flyby Mercury is shrinking, NASA craft finds; a cool clue: 'lobate scarps' Publ.Date : Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:45:26 GMT Hippie Arrests Draw ACLU’s Attention - New York Times
New York Times - By AP CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - The American Civil Liberties Union said on Saturday that it would investigate the actions of federal officers who had arrested five members of the Rainbow Family in western Wyoming during the group’s annual gathering. ACLU plans to investigate Rainbow Family treatment ACLU to investigate Rainbow Family treatment Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:40:38 GMT Argentine Lower House Passes Grain Export-Tax Plan (Update3) - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By Eliana Raszewski July 5 (Bloomberg) -- Argentina's lower house of congress approved the government's plan to increase taxes on exports of grains and oilseeds, risking a resumption of three months of strikes by farmers. Export Tax That Angers Farmers Advances in Argentina Argentina lawmakers approve farm export tax hike Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 22:41:30 GMT Obama "puzzled" by Iraq comment frenzy - Reuters
Reuters - By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent ST. LOUIS (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said on Saturday his plan to end the Iraq war was unchanged and he was puzzled by the sharp reaction to his statement this week that he ... Obama struggles to thread needle on Iraq Obama Refines the Blame on Iraq Miscue Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 05:08:23 GMT McCain Battles a Nemesis, the Teleprompter - New York Times
New York Times - Mary Altaffer/AP By MARK LEIBOVICH LAS VEGAS —Senator John McCain was performing relatively smoothly as he unveiled his energy plan. McCain Campaign, in Relaunch, Seeks Tighter Message Focus McCain Campaign on Obama and Iraq Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 23:31:52 GMT Analysis: McCain struggles to regain footing - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - WASHINGTON (AP) - John McCain calls himself an underdog. That may be an understatement. The GOP presidential candidate trails Democrat Barack Obama in polls, organization and money while trying to succeed a deeply unpopular fellow Republican in a year ... Rural voters lean to the GOP Neither Obama nor McCain meets Energy Party standard Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 04:40:55 GMT Ore. man completes flight of fancy _ in lawn chair - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - CAMBRIDGE, Idaho (AP) - Using his trusty BB gun to help him return to Earth, a 48-year-old gas station owner flew a lawn chair rigged with helium-filled balloons more than 200 miles across the Oregon desert Saturday, landing in a field in Idaho. Video: Ore. Man Uses Balloons and a Lawn Chair to Fly Believe it or not, he's lounging on air Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 05:50:31 GMT Increase Search Engine Traffic |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Different Health Problems generally do not allow us to do... Read More Scenario: I really want to get in shape, but I... Read More If you are a seasoned runner you know the importance... Read More I know better than anybody that sitting at a desk... Read More If you have ever read a fitness magazine...If you have... Read More We all know that well-balanced diets include the different nutrients... Read More Do you need some beginner's strength training 'how to' information?... Read More 4. Ideas, goals and dreams have a shelf life. The... Read More In the first article in this series (http://tinyurl.com/8ztbo), we gave... Read More Years ago when I was a professional bodybuilder, I fell... Read More When the trampoline was invented by a young boy intrigued... Read More So, you have decided to hire a personal trainer to... Read More Most people are classically biased toward one of the three... Read More Learning Tai ChiTai Chi combines movement, meditation and breathing, to... Read More The exercise program you choose depends entirely on your fitness... Read More Do you currently suffer or have you ever suffered from... Read More Author, H. Besser, in his book, "Perseverance: How To Develop... Read More Recent studies have shown that if you perform just five... Read More Synergy: the working together of two or more things, people,... Read More Health experts encourage us to include exercise as a necessary... Read More -------------------- Things Around The House --------------------Don't feel that just because... Read More Pilates is named after its creator Joseph Pilates. It is... Read More Do you feel that you can barely do any activity... Read More Getting America's children to exercise has never been more difficult... Read More "When I'm lifting free weights, I tend to go pretty... Read More
Adsense
websites
Different Exercises Schedule to Combat Diabetes, Arthritis, and Obesity!
The Power Workout:
Why Do My Feet Hurt So Much When I Run?
Tone Up While at Work
The Two Greatest Myths About Abdominal Exercises
4 Steps To More Effective Aerobic, Streching, and Weight Training Exercise
Strength Training FAQs
6 Things A Norwegian Fable Teaches Us About Healthy Perseverance Part 2
Exercise & Motivation, Part 2: Overcoming Inertia & Getting Started
Exercise ? More is NOT Better!
See How Trampolines Can Be Part Of Any Exercise Program
Get a Health Screening Before You Start Training
Are You A One-Dimensional Trainer?
Why You Should Learn Tai Chi
Exercise Program
Why Core is Key
6 Things A Norwegian Fable Teaches Us About Healthy Perseverance Part 1
Double Calories Burned With Five Minutes Of Exercise Each Morning!
Exercising for life ? The magic is in the synergy!
The Many Benefits of Exercise
Get Fit From Home!
Pilates: A Challenging and Motivating Exercise Regimen
Exercise For Any Size
Exercise Equals Fun!
10 Workout Mistakes Cheaters Make
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Get Moving...The Benefits Will Last a Lifetime!
The benefits of physical activity are numerous and very well... Read More
Easy and Effective Home Workouts
Many people think that creating a home workout gym is... Read More
Lower Back Extension Exercise
This is an excellent exercise for the lower back that... Read More
Who Else Wants To Get In Shape in 35 Minutes?
Most of the physical fitness trainers, and coaches agree that... Read More
How NOT to Return from an Exercise Break
Several sites, including this one, recommend that you take a... Read More
Bodybuilding Sins That Cause Back Pain and Missed Workouts: Part 4
Welcome to article number 4 in our series "Bodybuilding Sins... Read More
Thirty Minutes of Exercise a Day Keeps the Doctor Away
"Exercise is good for you!" If you had a dollar... Read More
Anywhere and Anytime Exercises
These type of Exercises generally makes your body strong and... Read More
Precision Abdominal Training
It's almost impossible to turn on the television or open... Read More
Exercise Smarter Not Harder ? 10 Ways to Make Consistent Progress in Your Exercise Plan!
My name is Greg Ryan. I am a fitness expert,... Read More
Strength Training After Fifty
Strength training after fifty is no longer for those people... Read More
After WLS: Walking for Wellness
Step for step, mile for mile, walking is the best... Read More
The Fundamentals of Pilates
There are people who are fond of getting an exercise... Read More
VO2 Max- Exposing the Myth
VO2 max is defined as the maximal amount of oxygen... Read More
Your Guide To Exercise
Even light exercise is good for you, so don't get... Read More
Is Exercise Making You Feel Worse?
I'm sure you've heard the following statement over and over... Read More
Finding The Right Exercise Intensity
We've all heard the exercise guidelines that recommend we participate... Read More
A 30-minute, Or Less, Full Body Workout
Most people do not have the time to do biceps... Read More
Stay Mentally Focused When Training
When you decide to exercise, try to really stick to... Read More
7 Ways To Guarantee You Stick To Your Workout Program
1. Begin Looking at Exercise Differently. Think of exercise as... Read More
Great Exercises To Tone & Tighten Your Butt
A question I am frequently asked by females is, "What... Read More
Sets And Reps - The High And Low Weight Workout
Big weights! Wicked pump! I always get caught between two... Read More
The Importance Of An Active Lifestyle
Over the past 15 years or so, we have been... Read More
Pilates: A Challenging and Motivating Exercise Regimen
Pilates is named after its creator Joseph Pilates. It is... Read More
Exercise For Any Size
Do you feel that you can barely do any activity... Read More
Exercise & Fitness |