Awaken Your Inner Warrior!
Yiquan practice has two aspects, health cultivation and martial arts. They are one in the same in that the foundation of martial arts practice is the health cultivation practice and a byproduct of practicing martial arts is a healthy mind and body. The two are inseparable.
Some of the basic principles involved are: [Read more...]
The following is a 2 part interview with my friend, Yiquan teacher, Jaime Morrell. Huge thanks to Jaime for agreeing to the interview and the incredible amount of thought and detail he put into it!
I have been studying meditation for about 20 years and it is from there that my interest led me to martial arts. Naturally, I was interested in the internal arts for their meditative quality, but I also was looking for something physical and challenging. Initially I searched out Taiji but soon my interest turned to Aikido. So my first real exposure to martial arts was with Aikido which I have been practicing for 15 years. After 9 years of consistent Aikido practice I was fortunate to be introduced to my first Yiquan teacher. [Read more...]
The interviews conducted here at Warrior Fitness will highlight people who have significantly influenced my thinking and training on fitness, who are leaders in their particular fields of expertise, and whom I admire. Jack Hoban happens to fit all three. Through his unwavering commitment to martial arts and fitness, Jack has inspired me to keep going over the past 20 years down the dual path of martial arts and fitness.
I have been serious about physical fitness for most of my life, first as an athlete in grammar school, high school and college, and then as a Marine, and martial artist. That hasn’t changed, just become more refined and age-appropriate as the years have gone by. Humans are physical beings and have been so for millions of years; I think we should acknowledge and honor that fact by maintaining a high level of physicality in our lives. That’s my philosophy. Until fairly recently, being physically fit, for most of us, was just a part of being human—and staying alive through hunting and gathering, farming, work, or other physical endeavors. That has changed, and there is a greater risk of falling into a sedentary lifestyle today. But our basic nature as physical animals has not changed. We have to be careful not to stray too far from our nature, or certainly unhappiness and ill health may result.
It really hasn’t changed. It has just become more refined. I have tried some of the new fitness technologies—for example I run barefoot now using the new Vibram footwear. I also think I use cross-training more effectively than in the past. But I pretty much do the kinds of things I have always done. I do have to worry more about “overdoing it,” because injuries take longer to heal.
Yes and no. I have a range of things that I do, but it changes according to my schedule, the season, the weather and how I am feeling.
Again, it is not a daily thing in that I don’t do the same thing every day. But over the course of a week I typically fit in a few runs (45 minutes to an hour), I lift weights, I do a lot of core training, and I do various calisthenics. In the winter I use the gym for the rowing machine, treadmill and elliptical. In the summer I swim in the ocean almost every day. I practice martial arts daily by myself, and have a class between 2 and 5 times a week.
Inseparably, although martial artists might take care to explore a regimen that is complimentary to martial arts—one that increases strength and endurance, but also promotes flexibility and relaxation.
Simple, it helps me to “keep going” longer and more consistently without being tired or sick. And by the way, real fights are very physical—tiring and punishing.
When I first meet a new class of students, the unspoken question is “Is he one of us? Can he do what we do? If he can’t, why should we do what he does?” That’s just the nature of young, competitive men. Because I can pretty much keep up with them “for an old guy,” I gain a certain measure of respect. That way, they are open to the other physical and ethical lessons I am there to share.
Yes, in at least two ways. It has made me more aware of the value of cross training, and two, it has made me more creative in using training aides of opportunity. By that I mean, you can design your own training regimens and make your own training apparatuses just by using your brain and common items and structures. You don’t need fancy equipment; an old tire works just fine as an exercise apparatus.
I enjoy it! Find a method of physical exercise that you enjoy and pursue that. Find other people who like it as well, and do it together. That will help too.
Thanks Jack!
