Today, one of my clients mentioned to me during our workout that she had received a catalog in the mail “that contained those kettleball things (sic) and other interesting Russian things.”

And I thought, “Why is Dragon Door Publications sending her a catalog?”

Of course, the answer is that her name is probably on a master mailing list of Upper Westsiders who have ordered or purchased a fitness-related product, and that John Du Cane or somebody else from Dragon Door bought that list from Melissa Data or some other similar service and sent her a catalog. That’s how it works.

But I had to admit, the thought of a 65 year old female attorney with serious joint maladies and osteopenia doing Pistols with a 2 pood kettlebell struck me as theater of the absurd of the highest order.

I wonder how Pavel’s doing these days…

I decided to resume my training in Brazilian JiuJitsu after an informal roll with a few enthusiastic co-workers of mine.

Heading down to the academy, I couldn’t help but notice that the classes had been re-arranged since I’d last been there: the students (white belts) are now put through a semi-rigorous conditioning period prior to techniques being taught. I asked Magno why Renzo decided to make these changes and he informed me that they were “modifying the old way to make it better.” You see, apparently in Brazil, BJJ is taught informally: the instructor goes over to the students, shows them a technique, they drill it for a few, then another, then another, and then everyone free-spars (randori) until class is over (This, incidentally, was how classses were taught at Renzo’s during my time there). Magno told me they had students that couldn’t perform 10 pushups in the beginner classes trying to learn guard passes and armbars - it was almost absurd. This way, he continued, is much better because the students get a warm-up, and the instructors can insure that all the students possess a minimum amount of conditioning. Sounded reasonable, even if I didn’t agree with their conditioning methods.

Which brings us to the point of this post: Conditioning is the most important “technique” in martial arts, regardless of the one you study. Yes, it is true that many of the arts were developed with the underdog in mind, so that the weaker and smaller could defend themselves against the larger and stronger - but, the original intent of martial arts (if you believe the legends and historical accounts) was that they were a method of conditioning!

Some back story for those not in the know:

Depending on the account, martial arts are supposed to have originated at the Shaolin Temple. The Buddhist monks of the Shaolin Temple, as a consequence of their deeply spiritual life, had a punishing schedule of prayer, recitation, more prayer, more recitation, and more prayer - as long as 18 hours a day of sutras. Their diet was asetic - one small meal consisting of some tofu, some rice, a few vegetables. Needless to say, they were not flourishing on this regimen.

Bodhidharma is supposed to have come swooping in from India, arriving at the Shaolin Temple for a random visit. Horrified at the condition of the monks, he created for them a system of exercises that could double as self-defense (since they were located on the border of enemy territory). He also made them eat. Voila - the birth of martial arts (and sports nutrition - just kidding about that part). Just so a few monks had the strength to say their prayers.

(Of course, the Greeks would argue with you about that account being the genesis of martial arts, but theirs doesn’t work for my post so let’s ignore pankration for a minute.)

It’s so easy to get caught up in learning techniques that we forget that at the root of martial arts is prayer. No, wait, I mean physicality. The arts are meant to teach one to kick ass, yes, but they are meant to build you as a human being as well - physically, as well as spiritually.

And c’mon, let’s face it - if you can’t perform 10 pushups, you ain’t armbarring nobody.

(Instructions described from Goofy-foot stance. Reverse for Normal)

1.) Begin taking off towards your intended hit/jump. Ride flat-based to pick up some speed.

2.) Initiate a set-up carve: for frontside spins, edge ever so slightly towards your toe-edge so that you begin to carve toe-side. You want to have the smallest deviation from straight possible.

3.) Initiate the pre-spin: begin to wind up opposite the direction you wish to spin, i.e., slightly twist your upper body away from your intended spinning direction.

4.) Spot the end of the jump/hit. It won’t be long now.

5.) Using the momentum from the set-up carve, begin to carve ever so slightly heelside. This should cause your board to begin turning frontside.

6.) Launch off the edge of the jump, unwinding your upper body. You should already be spinning frontside.

7.) Turn your head in the direction you wish to spin (in this case, frontside), looking down slightly.

8.) At about 270 degrees, spot your landing by looking at the point you wish to land.

9.) Finish unwinding your lower body so that your board is pointing straight down the mountain.

10.) Land flat-based, bending your knees slightly to absorb the shock of landing, and “ride away stoked.”

Two comments here:

- Frontside 3s are blind tricks, meaning that you land with your head facing backwards (or away from the direction you’ll be traveling). This must be done in order to prevent over-rotation (your board’s tendency to keep spinning after making contact with the snow. It will happen if you try to keep your head forwards on a frontside 3 - just take my word for it). So it’s a little trickier than backside 3s. So don’t turn your head until you feel solid after the landing.

- When unwinding into the spin, let the board initiate the turn, following through with your shoulders and torso afterwards. It’s only a 360, after all - not like we’re throwing down 1080s or anything.

Have fun. And try to land on your feet. I know I did.

Above: It looks worse than it really is. The bandage is the best part.

Overheard at New York Health and Racquet Club:

“Your skin absorbs 6 glasses of chlorine during a shower.”

…at which point I asked my client, “How many shower fatalities due to chlorine poisoning do you think there were in 2005?”

“Zero.”

I love personal training.

P.S. - Dr. Warden, I was training Larry at the time. LOL

Hailing from an Asian, and more specifically, Chinese heritage means one thing for certain - I eat a lot of rice. In fact, the quantity of rice I can put away in one sitting can be staggering, particularly if that sitting is after a jiujitsu workout. To the Chinese, rice is not just a part of the meal, it is the meal itself. The Chinese word for meal, “fan”, literally means “rice”.

The latest book/diet I’ve come across is the Rice Diet. Developed at Duke University in the 1930s, the Rice Diet has found resurgence as a result of The Rice Diet Solution, a new diet book out by Dr. Robert Rosati and Kitty Rosati. Similar to Pritikin, Ornish, and Furhman’s diets, the Rice Diet consists of a low-fat, low-salt, high carbohydrate calorie controlled diet. The theory is one we’ve all heard before - weight loss occurs due to:

1) Caloric restriction

With this factor, there’s no doubt - dieters are restricted to a striking 800-1000 calories per day (!) during Phase 1. During this phase, dieters are restricted to grains and fruits only. During the more leinient Phase 2, vegetables, beans, and small weekly servings of fish are allowed, but dieters are still limited to 1000-1500 calories per day. Certainly not enough for peak physical performance, or to sustain an athlete. But perhaps for health purposes, could it be ideal for human beings? Certainly there is scientific evidence to support their claims with regards to longevity, and no argument can be made against this diet’s ability to cause severe weight reduction. But is it feasible in the long-term?

2) Sodium restriction

By restricting salt intake, the diet causes rapid weight loss due to fluid loss (i.e., losing retained water). So long as one does not go under the minimum amount required to sustain normal bodily functions, the person should feel better than before, as a result of losing the excess water.

3) Fat restriction

By minimizing fat intake to the bare essentials (Omega 3 fatty acids), the Rice Diet minimizes calories, simple as that.

4) High nutrient and fiber content of foods consumed

The high nutrient density of the foods means your body never feels deprived, as it is getting an abundance of micronutrients, minerals, and phytochemicals. The high fiber content of the diet ensures that one will feel sated after meals, that blood sugar levels will be controlled, and, as New York Magazine’s Amy Spencer correctly notes, you will never be able to stay on the diet (due to lack of enough public toilets).

5) Volume of food

It’s pretty impossible to overeat vegetables and fruit - you would explode first, due to the high fiber and water content of these foods. 1000 calories of vegetables is an impossibly high amount to eat. Throw in the fruit, some fish, a couple of cupfuls of beans, and you’ve got a spartan diet, nothing but the essentials. Even with the other options, one would be hard-pressed to eat too much, unless it was of the wrong stuff (oils, meat, refined and processed sugars).

All in all, another typical low-fat, psuedovegetarian, high carb diet. Hey, it’s not my cup of tea, but you certainly cannot argue with the track record of diets such as this one for turning around severe diseases such as coronary heart disease and cancer. But there are certainly other, perhaps easier ways to lose weight safely and benefically change one’s blood profile (cough* cough* low carb cough* cough*).

The Rice House, the residential clinic where patients are “treated” during Phase 1, is located in Durham, North Carolina, and features lifestyle classes, yoga, support groups, and medical supervision. Hey, kinda reminds me of Pritikin. Just a little bit.

To each his own. Variety is the spice of life (and just about the only spice allowed on the Rice Diet).