Issue 066
September 2010
Words: Martin Rooney
I love the martial arts and what they have to offer; the lessons, personal achievement and enlightenment that can accompany the training can shape a person into who they become
In many ways, the martial arts have directed my actions, created lifelong relationships with my closest friends, and led me on the most fantastic adventures. Over the last three years, as a result of my passion for both the martial arts and physical fitness, I traveled to ten different countries on what I like to call a ‘preservation’ attempt. I wanted to study the ‘threatened’ technical, physical and philosophical aspects behind the martial arts that comprise MMA. The result of this journey is my latest book, Ultimate Warrior Workouts: Fitness Secrets of the Martial Arts.
Though the title can be misleading, this book is not solely about exercise or martial arts. I do confess that this project began as a fitness book to chronicle the skills and techniques I would learn fighting and training in the homelands where the martial arts that make up MMA were created. What I wasn’t aware of at the time was that I would be going on an in-depth investigation about the concept of mastery and also learn so much about the philosophy, cultures and attitudes of these countries.
The Ultimate Warrior Workouts World Tour
When I look back on the cities I visited, I am told my tour was more extensive than that of most rock and roll bands. I spent weeks in New York, Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Rio de Janeiro, Bangkok, London, Moscow, St Petersburg, Helsinki and Copenhagen. Highlights included sharing the ring with top Muay Thai fighter Yodsanklai in Thailand, watching the UFC with pound-for-pound star Georges St Pierre in Brazil, sparring with a seven-foot Dutchman in Holland, and getting wrestling tips from UFC champ Frankie Edgar back in the US. I stood in awe of Red Square in Moscow, Christ the Redeemer in Brazil, Big Ben in London and Mount Fuji in Japan. I rode both the ultra-fast bullet trains of Japan and the slow chugging all-night train from Moscow to St Petersburg in Russia. I gripped a Bengal tiger, held a brown bear, was grabbed by an elephant and had a falcon take perch on my neck. I ate the sushi of Tokyo, açai of the Amazon, borsch of Yaroslavl, reindeer of Finland and had the spiciest breakfast of my life in Bang Phil. I sweated alongside the locals in the banyas of Russia and the saunas of Finland. These adventures were enough to fill a lifetime, but one major lesson I received was equally as enlightening.
The Secret of Martial Mastery
As I traveled the world moving from training camp to training camp, although the arts may have been different, I discovered one similarity that helped me to unlock the mystery of mastery. As I watched young children executing hours of bag work in Thailand, guard passes in Brazil, uchikomi in Japan and takedowns in Iowa, the answer of how to achieve greatness revealed itself. This solution was there in the repetitive movements and gradual building of perfect technique over time under the watchful eye of a knowledgeable trainer.
I discovered the magic formula has just four ingredients: ten years of dedication, tens of thousands of hours of consistent practice, a competent coach and a student always hungry to improve. If you want something bad enough, apply this formula to that desire and I promise it will be so.
On my trips, I found that mastery was not a destination, but a lifelong process. I also found that mastery was rarely the sole domain of the rich and talented, but actually available for anyone ready to stay the course long and hard enough. In the end, the masters that I had met still trained daily, and not because they were forced to, but because training was their passion.
Words of Warrior Wisdom
This project has forever changed my approach to life. People constantly ask me what I learned during my travels. Although they expect the answers to revolve around the martial arts or fitness, here are six pieces of philosophical advice that might lead you on your next adventure.
Life is about risk. You must risk going for your dreams, for it can lead to the greatest adventures of your life.
There is never a perfect time to do anything, so don’t wait. Start and maybe the time will just happen to be perfect.
Listen to your gut, find your purpose and do it. When you are living with purpose, nothing is work.
You can never be too organized, accountable, on time or motivated. Always press for more of these in your life and it will only improve.
Help enough people get what they want and you will get what you want. Do good service for people and it will come back to you.
Never let what you want now interfere with what you want most.
'Around the World' in Five Minutes
The following is a circuit composed of eight from over 400 exercises featured in my new book. To perform this total-body circuit, do each exercise for 30 seconds. Complete as many repetitions as possible and then move to the next exercise in order to finish the circuit in five minutes or less. Complete the circuit, rest for two minutes and repeat.
Alternating Grip One-Legged Press-up
Begin in the press-up position with one hand farther out front and one leg in the air. Lower the torso maintaining a level position. Extend at the elbows and return to the start position.
Split Leg Crunch
Begin on the back with the one leg up. While keeping legs stable, reach the hands past the top leg to lift shoulders. Lower back to start position.
Dumbbell Clean
Begin standing with dumbbells held at hips. Drop the hips and then ‘jump’ upward to clean the bells to the shoulders. Lower under control and repeat.
Judo Press-up
Begin in press-up position with feet wider than shoulders. Bring the chest to the ground and then push the hips forward as the head rises. Return the hips back to the start position.
Kimura Sit-up
Begin lying on the back with the hands clasped across the chest. Sit up and bring the clasped hands to one side. Rotate back and lower to start position.
Kettlebell Squats
Rack the kettlebells on each shoulder and forearm. Squat until thighs are parallel. Return to the start position.
Bicycles
Begin lying on the back with hands clasped behind the head. Bring one knee up and try to touch it with the opposite elbow. Return to start and repeat on opposite side.
Single Leg Hop Ups
Begin in the press-up position with only one foot on the ground. Hop the planted foot up in between the hands. Return the foot to the original position and repeat.
Martin Rooney is the author of Training for Warriors: The Ultimate Mixed Martial Arts Workout and Ultimate Warrior Workouts: Fitness Secrets of the Martial Arts. He has trained champion fighters for the UFC, Pride, ADCC and Olympics. You can find information about upcoming TFW seminars and certifications at www.trainingforwarriors.com
...
