Guess how many mirrors are in an average gym? One, two, a dozen, or a thousand? It’s impossible to say, but what is true is that there are many. This tells you one thing, people like to look at themselves workout. It can also be said that they may only be working out to look better. But why ignore the many benefits that can be achieved when trying to improve your performance in addition to your looks?
Functional fitness has been taking a beating lately in the fitness world, but that’s because so many people have misconstrued its meaning. Functional fitness is a subjective term and to me, functional fitness isn’t juggling medicine balls while balancing on one leg. Functional fitness is the ability to perform better in your chosen sport or martial art and in day to day life. The ability to run faster, jump higher, be stronger, and endure more.
Looking better is another bi-product of functional training. The key to getting started is setting simple goals and trying to break them. It could be as simple as doing the maximum amount of push-ups you can do (even if that maximum is one or less than one), and trying to do more the next time around.
Training for functionality can be started simply with the following list:
1. Rather than your usual cardio, try interval and sprint training
2. Instead of isolation exercises (arm curls, leg extensions), do compound exercises (pull-ups, squats)
3. Try new full-body training techniques, like kettlebell exercises
By training with specific performance goals in mind, accomplishing them will be that much sweeter. In addition, you’ll look better and you’ll really be strong.
Most government entities, like the FBI and CIA, have performance test for their field personnel. For example, there is an assessment called the Secret Service Snatch Test. This involves taking a 53lb kettlebell and performing 200 Snatch reps with it in or under 10 minutes.
A kettlebell snatch, for those who don’t know, is an exercise where you swing the kettlebell through your legs and then in one motion, bring it overhead. I decided I wanted to try this out so I tested myself and hit 160. I had some work ahead of me. For the next few weeks I trained for this test and worked hard on beating my last score. After a solid month of kettlebell work, I tested myself again and after ten minutes I had done 209 snatches. The result of my training was a lower body fat, lower weight, and a feeling of pride that I had accomplished something, not to mention my strength gain was through the roof.
Training to be functionally fit will have far more benefits than just looking fit. Try it out and see how you feel.
Tags: efficient exercise, Exercise, full-body exercises, functional fitness, increase strength, kettlebell, kettlebell training, lower body-fat, performance-based training