I was reading this weeks issue of The Sporting News and they had a column written by Greg Oden who is coming back from knee surgery. (Plays for the Trail Blazers). Anyway, he writes that he's "doing Pilates to improve his core strength..."

Have men in this country (US) turned into such effeminate sissies that we "do pilates to strengthen our core..."? What happened to sit ups? I'd like to hear some one say this: I started to turn into a lard *ss so I began jogging 12-15 miles a week and started doing sit ups 2-3 times a week.

Oh wait, that would be me. I started getting a gut this summer so I am jogging 12-15 miles a week and doing sit ups.

Pilates...core...what the???dumb...stupid...eh...

Jon

You will find that it is a lot more strenuous than it looks. I lift moderately heavy weights twice a week, swim twice a week, take a two hour hike in the woods once a week, and do power yoga once a week. I much prefer the yoga over pilates, but both of them are a lot harder than they look. Simple situps don't hit all of the areas that need to be exercised.

Give it a shot.

pilates is a lot harder than it looks and pilate instructors are generally very pleasing on the eyes and makes the workout a lot easier to handle.

quote:

Originally posted by john1520:
pilates is a lot harder than it looks and pilate instructors are generally very pleasing on the eyes and makes the workout a lot easier to handle.

Yes indeed!

It might be time to try pilates!

Pilates is also generally expensive since to do it right you need the real equipment. Some exercises you can do without gear, but the advanced work needs it.

That means a studio and instructor. Situps (which are Ok, but there are better core exercises) are free.

quote:

Originally posted by LKS:
Pilates is also generally expensive since to do it right you need the real equipment. Some exercises you can do without gear, but the advanced work needs it.

That means a studio and instructor. Situps (which are Ok, but there are better core exercises) are free.

Yes they are!

Jon

I think some of the fitness programs have more to do with the individuals personality than how great the benefit of the workout is. Some people are so naturally social, that the only way they would partake in any fitness program is if they have a trainer to work with, or are part of a group.

My personality is pretty solitary, so I have always preferred to do my working out privately, and at home. With the exception of some martial arts training I took years back, and a mens basketball league, I have always liked to do my own thing.

And yes - most of the stuff I do (pushups, situps, walking) are free.

To each his (or her) own I guess.

I always get a smile out of people who use a riding lawnmower, then go to a fitness center and pay to walk on a treadmill..................

I always get a smile out of people who use a riding lawnmower, then go to a fitness center and pay to walk on a treadmill..................[/QUOTE]Dont forget, they have to drive the two blocks to the gym!!!

I agree Chief I'm more of a loner in my work out than my wife. She has to go to a gym to get a feeling of accompolishment from it where I can do pushups, situps,dips,ect. at home and get the same feeling. Socially she's more a group person and I stay back and watch the crowd. The only social activity I partake in is the martial arts twice a week. I think it has alot to do with personality types.

I really miss the martial arts training. I was in the best shape of my life when I participated in that. I loved the concept of self discipline that went along with the physical part of the training.

Unfortunately, this is a small town area and the instructor moved away. So I fell out of training.

There has since opened in town a Tae Kwon Do academy, but now my travel schedule is so intense that I hesitate to commit to anything that has regular meeting times.

quote:

Originally posted by Chief Engineer:
I really miss the martial arts training. I was in the best shape of my life when I participated in that. I loved the concept of self discipline that went along with the physical part of the training.

Unfortunately, this is a small town area and the instructor moved away. So I fell out of training.

There has since opened in town a Tae Kwon Do academy, but now my travel schedule is so intense that I hesitate to commit to anything that has regular meeting times.

I have never done martial arts, but am thinking of doing some MMA stuff. I always found that (no offense meant to you guys) that it was the biggest nerds and social outcasts that went to the local Karate schools. But with the rise of MMA and more people I can identify with going, I am looking into schools around here. I have had a taste of that with Modern Army Combatives, but don't really have anyone to work out with.

The MMA stuff is pretty cool but for me (this is just my opinion) the big picture gets lost. By that I mean multiple attackers, weapons, things like that, not to mention the history and traditions that go along with the arts. Alot of guys joints and ligaments start going the more they do alot of the stuff out there. I've seen the grand master of the art I train in and its unbelieveable how agile and flexible he is at almost 80. I also like the idea that to achieve above a certain rank and above I have to go to Japan to test with him. That will be the trip of a lifetime when I get there.

quote:

Originally posted by devilsplay:
The MMA stuff is pretty cool but for me (this is just my opinion) the big picture gets lost. By that I mean multiple attackers, weapons, things like that, not to mention the history and traditions that go along with the arts. Alot of guys joints and ligaments start going the more they do alot of the stuff out there. I've seen the grand master of the art I train in and its unbelieveable how agile and flexible he is at almost 80. I also like the idea that to achieve above a certain rank and above I have to go to Japan to test with him. That will be the trip of a lifetime when I get there.

With Combatives, you get to the multiple attackers stuff, but it's real world - i.e. it's you against two or more, and you basically get to experience getting the **** kicked out of you. Let's face it, Bruce Lee/Chuck Norris movies aren't real life, and the best thing you can do facing multiple attackers bent on beating your *** is run or shoot them.