There is heaps of research and mounting evidence that not enough of us are doing the minimum amount of required weekly exercise. The link between exercise and improved quality of life is undeniable and we don’t think our own members need convincing of that. We’ve all experienced it ourselves.
- Exercise boosts and stabilises our mood.
- A good workout stimulates multiple pathways improving our brain chemistry with increased norepinephrine and serotonin.
- It naturally increases our energy levels.
- It creates strong bones guarding against osteoporosis.
- Exercise helps cognitive ability and memory retention.
- Sleep quality and quantity is improved.
- It delays the natural aging process.
- Exercise creates improved tolerance to pain.
What is High Intensity Interval Training?
HIIT is performing your exercise at maximum effort for a short sprint when you go all out then have a recovery period. Elevating your heart rate for a brief period, followed by a rest period, then repeating the process, should make you feel you’ve got nothing left in the tank.
During the sprint periods you should feel you’ve nothing more to give, not even a second more. Does this sound like an intense bout of jyu kumite? If you feel you’ve got a bit more in you, you probably didn’t go hard enough.
Going all out!
Most of us aren’t used to pushing ourselves as hard as is required for HIIT but that’s the point. It’s uncomfortable and we don’t like to push ourselves to exhaustion. Most of us wouldn’t like to be pushed into an all-out defensive situation but that burst of energy and maximum output blitzing your techniques to save yourself is exactly what we encourage.
Benefits of HIIT
The type of short burst interval training we do happens to have some very positive benefits like burning fat, improving metabolism and reducing inflammation. Ultimately regular HIIT allows you to burn fat at a faster rate, utilise energy better during workouts and burn calories even after your workout. It’s great for your heart health.
How often should you use HIIT?
Muscle tissue needs tome to heal and repair between workouts. It’s similar to weight-lifting where you don’t want to wear out joints. The risk of injury increases with over-training. Our typical training at the dojo is twice a week so it’s perfect to give you the optimal benefits.
Multiple benefits
Our normal training tries to achieve speed, stability, flexibility, coordination, balance, mobility, core improvement, explosiveness, endurance, stamina, improving posture and all of this doesn’t start to count the multiple mental benefits of better concentration, mood, sleep and how we approach our lives with better attitude and confidence.
It’s said that gym memberships are often not used and gym equipment lies around homes in abundance gathering dust. Lots of good intentions and little action because working out by yourself can be a drag. The group effort of the dojo and committing yourself to a higher goal will often mean you turn up and get it done!
Doing more than you think you can
Your instructors know what you’re capable of. We’ve been there and know what it feels like when you’re legs are shaking in your lower stances, when it’s hard to balance on one leg, when you’re challenged to find that last bit or reserve and breath. It’s mind over matter and as you may have heard us say, “We don’t mind so it doesn’t matter.”
The dojo is a marvellous metaphor for life. We ask you to do more than you think you can and bust out of those self-imposed limits. You’ll do it with your fitness and discover it moves to other areas of your life as well.