Sensei Doug's Blog

Incorporating yoga with Jiu Jitsu (Video)

admin — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:19:04 +0000

Before I left Miami, I had the opportunity to interview Carmen Amara, one of the owners of Carlson Gracie Jiu Jitsu. In this video, she shares her thoughts on incorporating yoga and jiu jitsu.

Teachers should always be students (Video)

admin — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 04:19:49 +0000

Here’s my wrap-up video post from my final day in Miami.

Quick tips for overcoming performance anxiety (Video)

admin — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 00:11:42 +0000

If you have ever gotten nervous during a karate tournament or any other type of performance situation, watch this video for some tips on alleviating your anxiety.

David Swenson talks yoga and martial arts (Video)

admin — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 04:15:12 +0000

Today, I had the wonderful opportunity to talk to one of my greatest influences in the practice of Ashtanga yoga. In this video, he talks about his approach to yoga and how it can be very useful for martial artists.

Increase your stamina with controlled breathing (Video)

admin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 03:33:56 +0000

Here’s a tip from today’s yoga workshop that can be applied to any type of fitness activity that requires cardiovascular endurance, such as sparring or kickboxing.

Save your joints with soft landings (Video)

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 04:22:17 +0000

In today’s yoga workshop, I learned a very important tidbit that can translate to any discipline such as karate or kickboxing—soft landings.

Day 2 in Miami (Video)

admin — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:55:14 +0000

Here is a brief summary of my first day of teacher training with David Swenson in Miami.

First Day in Miami (Video)

admin — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:52:56 +0000

This week, I’ll be chronicling my experiences during my trip to Miami for a yoga instructor training seminar at the Miami Life Center in Miami Beach, Florida. Here’s a short video introduction of where I’ll be spending my week and what I hope to learn while I’m here.

Product Review: UFC® Weighted Gloves

admin — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:45:10 +0000

The following is a post from guest blogger Heather Shaffer. Heather is a fitness kickboxing instructor at AmeriKick Lansdale. You can find her at www.heathershaffer.com.

If you’re already somewhat fit and looking to amp up your fitness kickboxing workout, weighted gloves are one great way to do it. I tested a pair of UFC^® Weighted Gloves (affiliate link) during a recent fitness kickboxing class at AmeriKick Lansdale. These two-pound, gel-filled, neoprene MMA gloves add enough resistance to your punches and other arm movements to make your muscles work harder without being so heavy that you run the risk of damaging your shoulders or back. Of course, if you are a bodybuilder and used to lifting hundreds of pounds at a time, these will probably be of no benefit to you. Then again, if you are a serious bodybuilder, you probably wouldn’t be caught dead in a fitness kickboxing class, right? I digress.

These gloves feature a removable 1.5-pound weight on the outside of each glove, in case you need to reduce the weight to a half pound and work your way up to the full two pounds. The non-removable remaining half pound is sewn into the strap that crosses the palm of the hand, which adds bulk and makes it somewhat difficult to do alternate exercises such as pushups or chair dips. The portion of the glove covering the knuckle area is padded with gel so you can use the gloves on a heavy bag. However, I am loathe to recommend using these gloves on a heavy bag due to the lack of wrist support offered by the velcro strap. If you plan to use these gloves on a bag or focus mitt, I suggest that you either tape your wrists or wear a hand wrap beneath the gloves in order to protect your wrists. If the style of your fitness kickboxing workouts is to kick and punch the air only, you should probably opt to save your money and buy some small dumbbells or wrist weights instead.

Overall grade: B-

Did I miss anything in this product review? Leave your questions or comments below.

How acupuncture improved my knee mobility

senseidoug — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 22:18:26 +0000

The improvements in my body due to acupuncture have become greatly noticeable to me. Most recently, my knees have been the focus of my treatments. The first two sessions that I attended involved a very elaborate needle setup, unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Scott told me that he was going to press different places on my thighs to see if any points were more sensitive than others. If I said yes, he would place a needle in that specific point. Almost 32 points later, heat lamps were placed around the outside edges of the table and I was left to rest while the treatment took effect. Much like the sessions for my back, the first treatment left me with some relief, but I did not notice a major difference until two or three sessions in. The result is that the freedom of mobility and the grinding in my knees is all but gone.

In my most recent session, Scott once again burned the herb moxa around my knees in order to create warmth and stimulation without the use of so many needles. Let me tell you, this stuff is GREAT. I was able to feel the heat (which is gentle, not scalding) and the relief deeply and quickly.

Looking back on my choice to incorporate acupuncture into my health and healing routine, I can safely say that it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. As I said in my first post, this is not a one-time fix. This is a course of treatment that takes time and patience. You must listen to your body and make sure that you are doing the other proper things during your daily life to make sure that the treatments last. Just like any type of lifestyle change, diet and exercise are key to a full transformation. I am still interested to know how many of you have recently added something to your daily routine that is really improving your quality of life. Please feel free to share your stories or ask any questions about my experience with acupuncture below.