Martial Arts Creates A Positive Competitive Spirit
by Joseph Galea
Competition is a force that motivates people to give 100% effort. In martial arts class, students deal with two forms of competition: Self-Driven and Peer- Driven. Unlike many other activities where the main focus of competition is to defeat another person, the competition in martial arts classes emphasizes learning, developing a positive competitive spirit among all students in the class.
Self-Driven
competition relies on the students’ desire to progress in rank and thus
learn advanced skills. This is a goaloriented, motivational force that keeps
students progressing. From the first day of class, students begin to develop
this self-driven competitive spirit as a character trait. This character trait
will have a significant impact on all aspects of their lives. Students will
face many challenges in the years ahead and their opportunities for success
may be stifled by self-imposed limitations, rather than by competition from
others.When students are self-driven, opportunities that arise in life are
met with confidence and motivation.
Peer-Driven competition is even more natural. Students motivate each other by advancing through the ranks as a group. Just as great sports players can inspire better efforts from their teammates, highly skilled martial arts students help others to perform to their own potential.
As adults, we know the importance of working well as a group, or as a team, in performing any task.Martial arts training helps develop these group skills to the fullest.
The martial arts offers students unlimited opportunities for success by using the competitive spirit in positive ways. Students learn that they can be winners every day, because when you are learning, you can never lose!
HealthKick Vitamin/Mineral Supplement Facts
by Jennifer G. Galea, MS RD
Being a martial artist, you are probably looking for ways to become healthier, feelgreat and improve your performance. Because our diets aren’t always perfect (some of ours more so than others), a simple vitamin/mineral supplement is probably in order.A “simple” supplement does not exceed 100% of the RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) or AI (Adequate Intake, used when an RDA can’t be determined by the government).There are no proven benefits for consuming levels above the RDA or AI, and there may very well be health hazards associated with consuming amounts in excess of those recommended.
In
addition to reporting the amount of nutrients that a supplement contains,
the label also provides information for USP (United States Pharmacopeia).
Having this on the label means that the supplement company is responsible
to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for meeting the USP dissolution
standards (the standard for how well supplements dissolve and are therefore
available for the body to use).The USP also means that the supplement has
gone through a number of other FDA tests as well, for strength (potency),
and purity.This doesn’t guarantee that a supplement is great, but it
certainly heads you in the right direction.At the very least you’ll be
confident that the supplement won’t pass through your system undissolved,
giving you none of its benefits.
Another trait to look for in a vitamin/mineral supplement is “national branding.”This does not mean a “name brand” advertised on television, but rather a widely distributed brand. A supermarket chain’s vitamins are very likely as good as a Centrum or One-a-Day. The idea is that a nation-wide food and drug manufacturer has their own manufacturing controls that help to assure product standards.
Of course, it is crucial to eat a variety of foods and focus your attention on making your diet the best it can be on any given day.There is no magic pill.The same way that a pill can’t substitute for training, a pill can’t be a substitute for a healthy diet. Healthy foods contain a large number of other nutrients, in addition to vitamins and minerals (such as dietary fiber and phytochemicals, not to mention compounds yet to be identified), that you just can’t get in a pill.
So train well; eat a balanced diet focused on whole grains, fruits and vegetables; and take a simple vitamin/mineral supplement just to be sure. Give yourself every opportunity and advantage to be at your best each and every day.
This material is used by permission
© 2002 American Self-Defense and Fitness Center All rights reserved
