Sports have been one of the most acknowledged American pastimes. Whether you actually play the sport or happy to be on the sidelines, watching your favorite team [...]

2. Sports have been one of the most acknowledged American pastimes. Whether you
actually play the sport or happy to be on the side lines, watching your favorite team and
players go at it makes your heart stomp, your adrenaline rushing, and your passion
sometimes getting the best out of you. It brings the competitive spirit within you, and
promotes discipline that you can apply in real life. Combat sports and martial arts
included.
For years, there have been numerous disciplines that we invest in for self-defence.
Karate, Tae Kwon Do, or even Boxing, are some of the sports we want our kids, or even
ourselves to engage in just to survive in the concrete jungle. 18 years ago, a sport
showcased the effectiveness of each martial art, pitting one discipline against another to
see who the ultimate fighter is.
Fast forward to present day, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is the youngest mainstream
sport today. And its flagship organization, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
hasn’t even turned 20 yet. But its meteoric rise from holding 2,000 seats in Denver,
Colorado back in 1993, to hosting an audience of 55,000 across the border, with
millions of paying viewers worldwide.
What makes people get hooked on MMA? Is it the gore? Maybe a more dynamic
combat approach compared to boxing? Is it the next best thing to a street fight? Or
other interesting stuff we can learn in the cage? While other sports like basketball and
football require lots of running, MMA has the best athletes in the world, with all muscles
and aspects of fitness utilized during the match. 5 minutes of constant moving is more
tiring than 10 minutes of running and stopping for a breather. You punch, kick, grapple,
carry, slam, backpedal, sprint, twist, move laterally, jump, take a hit, and what not; MMA
fighters can do it all!
Just like what UFC President Dana White would always say, “So you want to be a
F*@#$&! Fighter?” Back then, people were too afraid to train MMA due to its no holds
barred nature and a bloody nature. With athletic commissions implementing sanctioning
bodies and more rules applied to make it mainstream, we now consider MMA to be fun,
safe, a perfect fitness outlet, and can be used for self-defence outdoors.
While we spend tons of cash enrolling in MMA classes, it’s hard to deny that, with a
busy schedule (unless you actually train MMA as a profession), it might be a difficult
long-term investment to commit weekly sessions in local MMA gyms. Sometimes, we
wish to improve our strength at home. However, do you really think you can improve
punching power with a heavy pair of dumbbells, or even kick with dumbbells? Or how
you can strengthen your chokes?

3. Actually, you don’t need
dumbbells and barbells to improve
your striking and grappling power.
Thanks to the design of the
Powertec Functional Trainer, you
can now train various disciplines
through Adaptive Resistance
Training (ART), a form of
Functional Training. ART
represents what really happens
when you modify strength training
for real-life functional application.
For ART training, you need to
work against resistance. Although
free weights and other options are
available, many are limited in what
you can do with them, relying on
gravity alone.
The Powertec Functional Trainer
has adjustable cable attachments,
depending on what type of strikes
you need to develop. If you need
to improve your punching power,
make sure you adjust the pulleys near shoulder level. To increase your kicking power,
position the pulley on ankle level, since you generate your kicks from the ground up.
Whether you want to pick-up and slam from the floor, or throw that haymaker from
above your head, the Powertec Functional Trainer presents multiple angles and ranges
of motion, depending on the situation that you want to apply in Mixed Martial Arts.
With the Powertec Functional Trainer, you can now take your MMA game to a whole
new level. Your power, technique and ease of movement in the cage will improve in no
time, as your conditioning and confidence soaring big time. Now get that kick-ass
equipment, train hard at home, and kick ass out there!
Ian Lauer, CSCS
www.ianlauer.com

4. About the Author
Ian Lauer is an Actor, Fitness Model and a Certified Strength and
ConditioningSpecialist via the NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association)
as well as Certified Spencer Pilates Instructor through NESTA (National Exercise &
Sports Trainers Association).
Ian graduated from The College of Wooster with a degree in Chemistry with a minor in
Theatre. After graduating, he acted professionally and performed in a number of stage
productions. He went to graduate school and earned a Master’s degree in Acting at
Wayne State University.
Ian is now the Asst. Fitness Director of Cooking Me Skinny, a new national weight loss
program launched fall of 2010, Team Powertec member, and a sponsored athlete of
Team Sci-Fit.
Powertec is a trusted brand in Weight Training and Fitness Home Gym Equipment
based out of Los Angeles. Powertec manufactures an entire list of strength equipment
for both domestic and commercial use, from basic weight lifting to look good and live
healthier, to functional training development being used in improving athletic
performance.
www.powertecfitness.com
mag.powertecfitness.com
forum.powertecfitness.com