Your Why and How of Training

About 10 years and 80 pounds ago, I was at an impasse.  My health was waning.  I was unhappy with myself and my apparent lack of will to overcome all my bad habits.  The sedentary life style of an IT professional, programming my life away, had defeated me.  Until one day I decided to be passionate about my life and to endeavor to fill my days with things I was passionate about. 

As a boy I spent many a day making Nunchuks and Kung fu Stars.  My favorite television show was Kung Fu, the series.  My desire to study any type of martial art was enormous but it was not to be.   Fast forward to 10 years ago.  After playing college football at 5’10” 175 pounds, I ballooned to 252 lbs with no end in site.  I began studying Wing Chun Kung Fu and Muay Thai under Francis Fong at the Francis Fong Martial Arts Academy in Duluth, Ga., and I was passionate about it.  I rarely missed a class.    Martial Arts gave me the anaerobic stimulus my body needed and the aggression my mind and heart needed. 

I after two years of training, I began to prepare for my 4^th test in Muay Thai.  I knew if it were any thing like the previous tests, it would be very difficult.   To supplement my training, I began boxing lessons from Xavier Biggs, the brother of Olympic Gold medallist Tyrell Biggs.  It was intense.  I was presented with opportunities to spar with professional fighters and although they took it easy on me, it was still very humbling.  With the likes of Vernon Forrest, Sam Garr and others, you had to have on your game face or suffer the consequences.  Although I ended up having Two-a-Day training sessions, I was having so much fun that I didn’t notice how hard I was working.  I lost 70 pounds in 6 months.   I was ready for my Muay Thai test. 

I completed the test with flying colors and received my Black Shirt level.  I was surprised, but very proud.  I had fulfilled my goals of receiving and advance level in a Martial Arts discipline and getting down to my ideal weight.  I have kept the weight off and I currently weight 172 lbs. 

And I’m sure you’re saying to yourself “Great story, but how does that help me?”  We’ve all heard the saying, “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.”  The title of this article is “Your Why and How of Training.”  What ever you do and whatever your choices you make in life, be passionate.  You must decide that your health is important to you and your loved ones.  That’s your “Why.”  Once you decide that you are important to yourself and your loved ones, find an activity that you are passionate about.  If you are a bird watcher, go on nature walks.  If you love cycling, get a bike and join a cycling club or group.     That’s your “How.”  And you will never “work out” a day in your life.  You’ll just be having fun.

Bruce Stephens

Personal Trainer

Owner

Mixed Martial Arts Tools.com