One of the goals as a martial arts instructor is to give our students confidence by making them fit and fearless. Why would you want to be the greatest fighter possible and possibly die of a heart attack if you are obese? Why would you want to be in great shape yet not know how to defend yourself and get beat up by a thug or get killed? I believe that a martial artist should be fit and that martial arts and fitness are one.
The martial arts are not like team sports. A good Martial Arts program is a life changing life style teaching discipline and respect. I teach my students as young as 3 to senior citizens that Martial Arts and fitness are one. If martial arts are about discipline and respect how can someone called themselves a martial artist if they are over weight and out of shape? As a martial arts instructor I must lead by example. How can I teach discipline to my students if I don’t have the discipline to train and eat healthy.
I remember a few months ago when a mom came to me and told me that at her sons elementary school they were teaching karate yet she did not feel that the instructor was a good example to her young son since he was over weight. She then said “Well we have to understand that he is getting close to fifty.” I laugh and told her age is just a number, I’m 54 and I’m in great shape. She then told me that I was different then most people. The truth of the matter is that I’m not different than anyone else.
On the contrary I have numerous injuries and have to train around them. As I write this article I’m working out around a shoulder and lower back injuries. When I was 28 years old I dislocated both shoulders in a karate tournament. It also ended my competitive bodybuilding career. I was told by doctors that I would never be able to do martial arts or lift weights again since as time went by I my shoulder would only get worse. I was depressed and stopped working out and doing martial arts for a while. I believe that were there’s a will there’s a way. If those closed minded out of shape doctors could see me now.
In the 60‘s and 70‘s when most athletes and martial artist would tell you to stay away from weights, Bruce Lee was lifting weights, kettlebells, isometrics and body weight exercises. Bruce Lee developed a muscular and functional body. As martial artist we must strive to look and move like Bruce Lee. As an instructor in Bruce Lee’s art of Jeet Kune Do I live by this quote of Bruce Lee. “An excellent instructor is an excellent athlete. True, I am sure as one advances in age he will be at a disadvantage with a good young man, but he has no excuse not to be a first-rate man among his contemporaries, physically , as well as mentally.” You can become fit and fearless, by defying the odds and believing in yourself at any age.
Julio Anta at 54 years old
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