Cardio Kickboxing: Healthful Or Harmful?

January 18, 2011 by Dr. Mark Wiley

Seen any TV lately? If so, you would have certainly noticed the plethora of health-related networks, investigations, exposes and infomercials bombarding us with products, advice and promises.
You have undoubtedly seen Billy Blanks’ Tae Bo Workout infomercials that make their way into our homes a half-dozen times a year. Tae Bo has sold millions of units to date, becoming the country’s best-selling workout video in the process. Following on the coattails of Tae Bo, many fitness centers like Holiday and Gold’s Gym have adopted similar martial art aerobic programs to their roster of classes. In addition, martial art schools around the country now offer some form of aerobic martial art class.
Sure, Billy Blanks’ video has sold millions of copies. Sure, aerobic gurus like Kathy Smith have churned out cardio karate videos in the wake of Blanks’ success. Sure, martial art schools are once again booming as a result of this new craze. But are these programs healthy and can you actually learn to defend yourself in the process of jumping around in spandex?
Many think so. But are they sure? After all, we all know smoking and drinking alcohol is bad for us, but they are advertised everywhere and many of us consume them anyway.
I was watching “Fit TV” one afternoon when they offered a “martial arts fitness” segment. Their “expert” guest was certainly in shape and spoke the lingo — a sign that he knew what he was talking about. Then he went on to demonstrate what he called a basic “side kick,” as the male and female co-hosts followed along. In actuality, however, this “expert” performed what is known as a “roundhouse kick,” as he did not pivot his hips enough to allow the leg to shoot out to the “side” in line with its target (as in a side kick), but rather it arced at its imaginary target (as in a roundhouse kick). Clearly, he wasn’t a martial artist.
After doing the movement incorrectly, one of the hosts asked if it was important to know the proper body mechanics of the kick before attempting to do it. The “expert” replied that without a doubt proper mechanics was a must or injury would prevail. I found this especially annoying since the “expert’s” supporting foot was still facing forward when he turned his body sideways, which, if the kick was delivered with force or speed, would certainly have injured his knee.
Recent TV exposés have shown that Billy Blanks’ Tae Bo Workout was in fact causing many people harm. The claims against it stem from not having enough warm-up time to insufficient explanation of proper (and safe) ways to punch and kick. On another TV report, emergency room doctors explained that since the cardio kickboxing phase caught on they have been seeing at least two injured patients per day with specific sprains or torn ligaments that they did not commonly see in the past. When asked how the patients injured themselves in such an awkward way, they invariably answered “during martial art aerobics” class.
Health clubs offering martial art aerobics classes of some kind is not a bad thing. The problems arise when aerobic trainers attempt to cash in on the cardio kickboxing craze and offer classes without proper kicking or punching (i.e., martial art) training, or when participants think that they are also learning techniques that will help them if attacked.
Despite the negative press, unqualified trainers and false advertising, studies indicate that while there are certainly negative effects to practicing martial art aerobics, it is here to stay. So, if you’re interested in joining a class or remaining in the class you are in, I offer some advice:

• Ask if the trainer is a black belt or has martial arts background. Chances are, if he/she doesn’t, they will not know the proper method to throw a punch or kick, which will then cause class participants to sprain or break their joints or tear muscles or ligaments.
• Be sure to warm-up and stretch properly and sufficiently before the start of class. If not, you will increase your chances of pulling a muscle or tearing a ligament.
• Take your time and ease into it. If you try to go to fast to hard to soon, you will undoubtedly injure yourself.
• Don’t mistake a martial art cardio program for a proper martial art or self-defense class. If you think you can learn to defend yourself by punching and kicking the air or a target other than human, you will only build false confidence.
• Check with your local hospitals, rehab centers or doctors’ offices to see if more of their injured patients come from a specific school or class. If so, avoid that one.

–Dr. Mark Wiley

As a note ALL INDIANA PIT instruuctors are martial artist. Terry has over 30 years experience in martial arts (5th degree black belt) and Fitness training and owned/operated a martial arts facility for over 20 years. Carrie has over 20 years experience in karate (2nd degree black belt), certifed Cardio Karate instructor, certifed aerobics instructor and is renewing her personal fitness certification this year. Both are former World, National and State karate champions. Together they have won over 400 awards in competition throughout their career. Together they have trained 17 World, and over 50 National and State karate champions.

U.S. House Committee Advances National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act

U.S. House Committee Advances National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act

Friday, October 14, 2011

This week, the House Judiciary considered amendments to H.R. 822, the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Bill, and defeated all anti-gun amendments offered in an effort to weaken or gut the legislation. The legislation is an important pro-gun reform that will provide for the recognition of carry permits in all states that issue permits. (For detailed information on the legislation, click here.) The bill, as originally written, was successfully amended at the outset of the markup with a substitute that added a number of important protections.  Foremost, it amended the language so that visitors to states that have laws requiring licenses just for possession of a handgun, do not need a possession license, which is often unavailable to nonresidents. The substitute also made clear that in states with local jurisdictions that restrict carrying or possession, visitors will not need to apply for special permits from those jurisdictions. Opponents of the bill proposed a number of anti-gun amendments that sought to use misdemeanor convictions to disqualify people from the benefits of the bill.  All of these efforts were defeated, rejecting the anti-gun efforts to weaken the bill.  Clearly, the majority of committee members believe that revocation of fundamental constitutional rights is not a legitimate punishment for misdemeanor violations. One pro-gun amendment was defeated as well.  Rep. Louis Gohmert (R-Texas), a steadfast supporter of the Second Amendment, brought an amendment that would have allowed permit holders to carry firearms in the District of Columbia. As written, H. R. 822 does not apply reciprocity to jurisdictions that completely ban Right-to-Carry.  While the amendment was well intentioned, as Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas) pointed out, the bill “does not confer any expansion of the right to bear arms on the residents of the District of Columbia,” and the Gohmert amendment would only have benefited visitors. It was the feeling of the majority, including nearly all those who support the bill, that H. R. 822 is not the proper vehicle for dealing with the serious problems presented by Washington, D.C.’s harshly restrictive gun laws.  As Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) said, “this is a debate best saved for another day and another bill.”  NRA has fought for many years to restore the Second Amendment rights of D.C. residents and will continue to work toward that goal by fighting for passage of H.R. 645, the Second Amendment Enforcement Act. An amendment was also added calling on the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study of the impact of this legislation.  Unsurprisingly, opponents of the bill voted against the amendment, probably fearing that it will show, like previous government and academic studies, that the many objections they make to lawful Right-to-Carry are without basis. The study will have no impact on the reforms included in the legislation and will have no effect on concealed carry laws. This study will not delay the implementation of the bill, because it will not take place until after the legislation has taken effect. The committee will take up the legislation and vote on final passage when Congress returns from its recess.  This legislation will be an important advance in the protection of the fundamental right to self-defense, whether at home or travelling through most of America. Full House consideration of the legislation is expected to happen in the next few weeks.  Please contact your member of Congress today and urge their support for H.R. 822 and opposition to any amendments anti-gun legislators are expected to bring to weaken the legislation.  You can find contact information for your elected officials by using the "Write Your Representatives" tool at www.NRAILA.org, or you can call your U.S. Representative at (202) 225-3121.

Pepper Spray Great Non-Lethal Weapon

Pepper Spray
I can honestly say that pepper spray is often overlooked and under-rated as personal security device. Make no mistake – it is a powerful weapon that has many benefits without the kind of legal baggage that of knives, guns, and stun guns, and kubotans. If your state and county laws allow the purchase and carry of pepper spray do yourself a favor and seriously consider this..
Here are some advantages of Pepper Spray:

• Ease of use- pepper spray requires minimal training and maintenance. Its small size makes it easy to carry and conceal.
• Less risk of liability- It is considered non-lethal and has a low risk of permanent injury.
• Quicker trigger – It encourages less hesitation. Using lethal force such as a gun, knife, or club requires a fairly high bar of provocation, which often causes the defender to hesitate too long. Pepper spray is non-lethal so you are more likely to use it without hesitation. It also gives you more flexibility and keeps more options open for you since it can be used when force is necessary, but lethal force is not.
• Distance- Pepper spray can be used from a distance -- up to 20 feet with some units -- unlike a knife, a stun gun, or a kubaton. This can afford you more time to run or engage.
• Highly effective- The historical data on pepper spray shows an excellent history of success by law enforcement, security personnel, and civilians. This isn’t some kind of experimental weapon anymore – it’s PROVEN to work and many times save injury to both parties as it eliminates the need to “duke it out”.

Most of the documented cases of the use of pepper spray have been overwhelmingly positive. The success in civilian use seems to show a higher reported success rate compared to police use, (although both are high). I suspect there are three possible reasons for this:

• To avoid collateral exposure to bystanders police tend to use pepper spray that has a stream or foam delivery system. Although this does keep overspray to a minimum, the poor atomization of this type of delivery system lowers its effectiveness.
• Police officers are usually required to warn the suspect before using the spray. This takes the element of surprise away, the person resisting arrest now knows what’s coming and can “psyche up” for it. On the other hand, a person who isn’t expecting it, suddenly has his eyes on fire, lips burning and difficultly to breathing. The emotional shock is powerful. Advance warning removes the shock effect.
• As we’ve discussed, the objectives are different for police as compared to civilians. When dealing with hostile situations police must contain, control, and comply (the 3 C’s). A highly motivated person can still resist officers’ attempts to restrain them even while in pain and lack of vision. But your main objective is to simply “end the threat”. Believe me, a shot in the face with pepper spray will end the threat. Now get the heck out of there.

Home Invasion!

Police: Homeowner shoots intruder

Published : Wednesday, 05 Oct 2011, 10:56 AM EDT

ANDERSON, Ind. (AP) -- Police say a central Indiana man shot an intruder who had broken into his home while his family was sleeping.

Anderson police say the 47-year-old man retrieved a handgun after being awoken about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday and confronted the 18-year-old intruder. Police say they scuffled briefly before the younger man was shot once in the back.

Police say the 18-year-old was taken to an Indianapolis hospital but didn't immediately release information about his condition. Investigators were searching for possible accomplices who might have fled the house in a neighborhood south of the city's downtown after the shooting.

One of the reasons I chose to post this is because the Holidays are not far away and due to the current  economy this is a reality that might be on the rise when people become desperate.

Security Tips for the Week

Automobiles:

• Keep It Locked. Always keep doors locked when driving. This not only keeps you from being flung onto hard asphalt during an accident, but stops someone from simply hoping into your car at a stoplight. Whenever you leave your car unattended – even for a minute – lock the doors. This avoids any “surprise” visitors popping up from the back seat.
• Ready Position. The highest risk in car jacking is as you approach or exit your vehicle, so have your keys ready as you approach your car. Look around to make sure all is safe and get into your vehicle quickly. Standing at your car fumbling in your pocket and distracted by keys is unsafe.
• Shed Some Light. Always check the back seat before getting into the car. Keep a small “LED” thumb light on your key ring so that you can check through the window at night.
• Shed More Light. Always park your car in well lit areas.
• Don’t Get In The Car. Do not allow yourself or a loved one to be taken into a car by force – even if you’re threatened with a gun or knife. You’re far better off taking your chances NOT getting into the car as crime statistics clearly show that the survival rate of car abductions is very small.
• When coming to a stop in traffic (signal, stop sign, or traffic back up) always give yourself “wiggle” room between you and the car in front of you (at least ¾ of a car length).
• Do not let a suspicious car follow you home. There is a strong urge to get to safety if you believe your being followed, resist the temptation to head for home instead go to the nearest police station or fire station.
• Consider installing an automatic garage door opener and motion sensor lights in your drive way. As you pull up to your drive way make sure there is no one suspicious near by, and as you pull into your garage check to make no one is hiding in wait, as you close the garage watch your rear view mirror (a common trick is to wait in hiding somewhere close to the garage and then to enter the garage as its being closed).
• Never, ever allow yourself to run out of gas. Consider a ¼ tank to be an empty tank

Pumpkin Contest

PIT Monsters remember our annual pumpkin contest begins Wednesday! Bring in your pumpkins by Thursday evening so they can be judged by Friday afternoon.