The Fighter's Body:
 | The Fighter's Body: An Owner's Manual: Your Guide to Diet, Nutrition, Exercise and Excellence in the Martial Arts author: Loren W. Christensen Wim Demeere rating:  asin: 1880336812 binding: Paperback list price: CDN$ 17.87 CAD amazon price: CDN$ 13.04 CAD |
I bought my first Loren Christensen book waaay back in the mid-90s. Though we haven’t met yet, I’ve been buying his stuff ever since. I met Wim at an Animal List BBQ in the early 2000s, and he has become a good friend. Both men are exceptional at what they do and their ability to articulate the topics they teach comes from a complete understanding of the issues.
Though they pointed this to martial artists in particular, everyone can benefit from their study and insight.
For a quick bio on these guys, here is the blurb on the back cover of the book:
You have an owner’s manual for your car, your stereo and even your blender, so why not your body? The Fighter’s Body is exactly that, an owner’s manual for your body, the most complex piece of equipment you will ever own.
As a martial artist, you have special needs. Have you ever wondered how that latest fad diet might affect your performance on the mat? Ever wanted to take off a few extra pounds? How about putting on muscle without slowing down? Make weight for a tournament? Lose 5 pounds fast? Eat better? Change weight classes? Confused about supplements, vitamins and protein shakes? Can’t make sense of the food pyramid? Don’t know where to start?
Start here. Author Loren Christensen and personal trainer Wim Demeere combine their knowledge of martial arts, weight training, nutrition, diet and exercise to answer your questions and put you on the road to becoming the best martial arts athlete you can be.
This book will answer your questions about important topics including:
• Why some diets are harmful to martial artist
• How to calculate your protein needs for training
• When and how to use supplements
• How to eat at fast food places and not ruin your diet
• Why it is ok to splurge on “Dirt Day”
• How to safely make weight for a tournament
• Why HIIT training is essential to weight loss
• What to eat on competition days
• How to create a plan that works and stick to it
Loren W Christensen began studying martial arts in 1965. Over the years, he has used his training as a military policeman in Saigon, Vietnam, a police officer for 25 years in Portland, Oregon, and as a karate tournament competitor, capturing 53 wins. He has authored 25 books including best selling titles such as Solo Training and Fighters Fact Book. He has recently starred in five instructional martial arts videos.
Wim Demeere began training at the age of 14, studying the grappling arts of judo and jujitsu for several years before turning to the kick/punch arts of traditional kung fu and full-contact fighting. He won four national titles and a bronze medal at the 1995 World Wushu Championships. In 2001, he became the national coach of the Belgium Wushu fighting team. Wim instructs both business executives and athletes in nutrition, strength and endurance, and a variety of martial arts styles.
“The fighter’s body analyzes why some diets work and others don’t, how to find one that works for you, and how to use your diet to maximize your martial arts training. This book is essential reading for top competitors and weekend warriors alike.”
~ Martina Sprague, author of Fighting Science.
This 280 page book is absolutely the most in-depth study I’ve ever seen on the topic of diet and nutrition.
Here is the list of chapters:
1. Myths and Lies
2. It’s All About You
3. It’s All About Callories
4. Bad Diets
5. Vitamins
6. Liquids
7. Your Daily Eating Plan
8. Losing Weight
9. Making Weight
10. Dropping Weight Fast
11. More Muscle, More Power
12. Fueling the Machine
13. Your long-term Plan
14. The Mental Game
Conclusion
Training Logs
References
Every chapter ends with a Fast Facts page that sums up the contents of the chapter. The referrences and the index are complete and full, making finding a note that interested you very easy.
If you have any curiosity about these topics or are looking for a realistic approach to diet and fitness, you won’t go wrong with this book.