Once avoided for fear it would lead to unwanted weight gain, dietary fat is now embraced by health-conscious martial artists. Scientific research confirms the benefits of eating this macronutrient: It helps your body break down fat-soluble vitamins, increases satiety, provides and stores energy, and even improves heart health. Not all fats are good for you, however, and even the beneficial ones can have their drawbacks.

Q:  You talked about lifting conventional weights for enhanced martial arts performance. What about other forms of weightlifting? A:  There is another type of weight training that deserves discussion. It entails attaching extra weight to your body — specifically, your ankles, wrists, or torso — and then engaging in functional martial arts training. Before I begin, let me say this about “functional training.” All too often, people use the term to refer to a hodgepodge of movem

Every martial artist dreams of training for life—not just hitting a peak in their twenties and fading out, but staying strong, sharp, and motivated well into their fifties, sixties, and beyond. The secret? It’s not about training harder. It’s about training smarter and building habits that keep your body—and your passion—going for the long haul. Here are the habits that can keep you kicking, punching, and rolling for decades: 1. Treat Recovery Like Training You don’t “earn” t

I recently read an article that was critical of randomized training as it relates to the CrossFit Games. My immediate response was: A)  I agree that the randomized CrossFit protocol does not “tunnel in” — that is, adhere to specificity to create skill mastery in a given sport. Such mastery comes only from sport- and skill-specific training. B)  It’s not surprising that the majority of CrossFit Games winners, as well as those who excel there, don’t adhere to the randomized pro

I started taking formal martial art lessons in 1971 at age 11. By the time I tested for my first degree black belt in 1979, I was already starting to feel the effects of hip joint degeneration — I just didn't know it.

Athletes are always seeking results. They’re looking for a leading edge that might make the difference between a razor-thin victory and...