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June 1, 2006

June... a new month. I can't believe how fast this year has gone already. I have been reading a good book on nutrition called Awakening Your Metabolism, by Brad King. Very good bathroom read. It has solidified some of my previous views of nutrition while clarifying and outright introducing me to some new ideas. I am finalizing a price schedule for the Power Fit Kid's Club that will hopefully be an incentive to families to participate in. After all if you're not involved with like-minded people, its very hard to do what you set out to do. You need the constant support and encouragement; especially for kids. As a side note, one of the best things that we did as a family is to cut off our cable. We did this about three years ago and then tried having it again from October of last year to February of this year. What difference. I found that it was more enticing to watch something totally brainless than to do anything physical. And I know how I feel after exercising. I am not saying that everyone that has a cable or satellite is an undisciplined person, but the draw is certainly there to lure you in. I know my kids have sure changed. Of course there was the 'withdrawals' that come with cutting off a big part of your life, but after about a week, you know what? Life continued and the kid's started playing more outside and reading. Now we just have to curb the video games playing as this can easily take over where TV left off. But one step at a time right?

I watched the UFC 60 last weekend with Angey and my senior student Tyler and his wife Michelle. It was really good. The main event was a non-title fight between Matt 'the farm boy' Hughes and the Legendary Royce Gracie. I noticed that Helio was there as well. He is looking old... but at least he was there to cheer on his boy. I think that the only fault of Royce that night was a lack of updating his training to the new UFC that has rules and time limits. His vowed to come back and I think that it may be a different fight. He is definitely one of the toughest guys I've ever seen fight, simply because he remains calm no matter what. A professional to say the least. Make sure if you can to catch the next one... UFC 61 Bitter Rivals. This will feature Arlovski/Silvia rematch as well as Ortiz/Shamrock. Should be some big bombs being thrown in these ones.

Yesterday at the end of class, I got Niko (my 11 yr old) to spar Angey (my wife) yesterday. She is now seeing the draw of walking away from a sparring match with a 'stick hicky'. For sparring we use WEKAF headgear and Smak Stiks. Very safe but you leave knowing where you got hit; it helps identify your weak spots of defense.

Well that's it for today folks. Stay tuned for more from the Inner Circle.

- Jason

 

May 29, 2006

Monday morning and boy am I refreshed. I have been doing a major life-style change along with my wife. No, I'm not turning gay. I have simply decided to change the way I eat and the way I exercise. Every morning I take my supplements, do my exercises and afterwards take a protein shake. Angey and I have been doing this for almost two months now and what a difference. I have lost about fifteen pounds, put on muscle mass, lost about three inches off my waist and I feel amazing. This is one of the reasons that prompted me to put together the Power Fit Kid's Club ©.

I find myself always looking at overweight people and wondering what they would look like when they're healthy. I also wonder what I could do to help them achieve that goal if they so desired. Then it hit me... get your own butt in shape first bucko, then you can help other people. The 'do as I say, not as I do' mantra doesn't quite wash in the fitness industry and I need to find my own happy place. That has been and will be my goal. I however know where the 'fat' people are coming from as my family has always been a 'big' family; and I'm not talking a lot of people.

One of things that I have noticed with myself and others that are just starting on the fitness path is a lack of 'stick-to-itiveness'. We start out guns ablazin' and then shortly we find that sitting on our asses is easier. Watching other people do it is easier. And we get caught back in the cycle of  'fatness' and unhealthiness. I feel for those people. I also know that we are not born with that cycle. It is a learned process and it can be unlearned. Not one child that I have ever met says to themselves at an early age, " I'm going to be obese when I grow up and I am going to have a heart-attack by the time I'm 30." Not a one. Now maybe its just because I haven't heard every child, but I think it's a safe bet that no child has said that. But here we are in North America, Canada and the U.S. with the fattest kids ever. Fat kids equals fat adults.

Now I realize that there are many factors ranging from socio-economical reasons to moms being forced out of the homes to work to video games and television, but unless we as parents actively do something to break the cycle we have no-one to blame but ourselves for the increase in obesity, diabetes, heart attacks, strokes etc.... in our children!

Now I'm the first one to admit eating at Mickey D's is an easy supper answer, but not on a regular basis. Proper nutrition has to start at home. One of the things that we have found that helps not only with getting our kids proper, balanced nutrition, but also has improved behaviour in school is Protein Shakes. Now we use this as a supplement and not a replacement of our kids' meals. But when our kids have a protein shake a couple pieces of wholegrain toast in the morning, they're raring to go for school. Their attention is better at school and they don't have the morning spike and then dip in energy. We haven't told our kids' teachers what we have done, but have asked for reports from them. All have improved since doing this.

We have reserved weekends (Saturday and Sundays) as a more free time for nutrition. This also allows the body to receive needed carbohydrates; but the body will utilize this more for direct fuel as apposed to storage. We've all heard the adage, " too much of a good thing...", and so we save up for the weekend. Eat healthy during the week and have a little bit more relaxed weekend. This is not to say that we pig out, but I don't worry if I want a few cookies or a donut either. I relax, not slip into old habits.

All of this I have been able to incorporate into the martial arts program that I teach. I want my students to realize that if you have a healthy body, you'll be able to enjoy your life, your kids, your family, a lot longer.

Well folks, that's it for now. I hope that I have shed some light on what we're doing to get healthy. If you have any questions please get a hold of me. Till next time eat healthy, be healthy!

Jason jason@innercirclecombatives.com

 

May 24, 2006

I added something fun in the Articles and the Gallery is up and running. I added some good pictures. I think we have a couple of prime Arnisadors in the works. Keep up the good work Ethan and Logan! Well, till I add some more, take care and keep on keeping on! Just a quick note about UFC 60 on this weekend.

- Jason jason@innercirclecombatives.com

May 23, 2006

Another long weekend came and went. Rain was aplenty, but we had friends and family staying with us. It was great! I am posting up the full website as it is. I will be adding more to it shortly. The Power Fit Kid's Club© has begun and the kids so far involved really seem to enjoy it. I hope that we can help those that are in need of some exercise and confidence! Good job to those that are trying!

- Jason

May 16, 2006

What an awesome weekend! Tyler Tondevold and myself did quite well at the Bakbakan Invitational competition in Red Deer. We met with many wonderful people and had fun. It was awesome that our wives and babies could come. We look forward to the next one! The Tulisan Knife seminar taught by Master Rey Galang, was simply put one of the best experiences I have had. Master Rey truly is the 'The Teacher's Teacher". We received instruction that was not only easy to follow, but was freely given to take and to share. It was truly a pleasure being there. Pictures will be posted shortly so stay tuned! Salamat!

- Jason Palfrey  jason@innercirclecombatives.com

May 10,2006

New site is up and running and we are very pleased to introduce Inner Circle Combatives and
The Power Fit Kid’s Club © .

We would like to thank Caid Technologies for the web hosting and initial setup of the site. We will be adding more and more in the next few weeks as we transfer all the old material from the original site. Please bookmark this site and return frequently as there will always be new stuff. Also we have available Inner Circle Gear! New items will be added soon.  Let us know if you have suggestions for product. Till the next entry, take care!

Guro Jason Palfrey: jason@innercirclecombatives.com