The Indomitable Brad

Brad is my kung fu brother. To be more specific, he is my kung fu older brother. He has been an invaluable resource throughout my training and is currently my ring coach. Hopefully he will be appearing in some videos here on Chokepoint, but definitely check out his youtube channel "bwestiibagua". Here he is performing some really tight baguazhang, an awesome martial art that specializes in grappling, throwing, and getting behind your opponent. Watch and learn people. Watch and learn.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6XBWQrQhEQ

Green Smoothies-The Nectar of the Gods

Well, our first video is still in the making. If all goes well, it should be up next Saturday. In the meantime, let's talk nutrition.

But Jason, you're kind of a fatty fat, you might say. True, but I've lost nearly 50 lbs since beginning martial arts and my new healthy lifestyle (not to mention i've completed both a marathon and a century bicycle ride). SO LISTEN UP! 

One of the cornerstones of my diet are my daily green smoothies. We make them every morning and they have given me more energy than any energy drinks and wake me up better than coffee. The science is this: when your body has an overload on nutrients, it has no real need to store fat as efficiently as when you aren't taking in nutrients. By drinking green smoothies you supercharge your body with nutrients and you start losing weight without even trying.

Another huge benefit is green smoothies act as an appetite suppressant. You get hungry because your body senses a lack of nutrients in your blood. Overload yourself with nutrients, and your body doesn't trigger your hunger response as easily. There are many days when I will have a green smoothie and not even be hungry at lunchtime (but I eat anyway, more on that some other day)

And perhaps the greatest benefit of green smoothies are they allow you to consume valuable vegetables and fruits without actually having to shovel down your craw. I can't stand the taste of a lot of veggies, but with green smoothies, they don't taste too bad (because of the fruit) and I can eat them quickly.

The key to making a green smoothie actually edible all lays in 2 factors. Types of fiber and choice of greens. First, we'll talk fiber. There are two kinds, soluble and insoluble. The key is a lot of soluble fiber, mostly found in fruits. An example of my daily smoothie is this : banana, apple, pear, fresh organic spinach, fresh organic kale, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, cranberries, peaches, celery, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and a cup of pomegranate juice. By adding the pear, apple, banana, and berries, i've added a lot of soluble fiber. A good measure is how it blends. If you make a smoothie that is watery and has foamy stuff on top, add more fruit. It should have a nice milkshake like consistency. The second factor is greens choice. Collard and Mustard Greens are good, but have a nasty flavor. Spinach is by far the best in my opinion with kale being a close second. And speaking of taste, remember that berries are the secret to a great tasting smoothie!

If you do decide to become a smoothie junkie, I would definitely encourage you to pick up a blender bottle so you can nurse your smoothie throughout the morning. Once you start, you notice you have way more energy, a more positive attitude, and your body just works better. And when your body works better, it makes kicking people in the face a whole lot easier. Cheers!

Welcome to Chokepoint

Soft, pink, and squishy. No fangs. No claws. No venom, stealth, or stinger. Human beings are seemingly the most defenseless creatures on the planet. Except for one thing. Our big juicy brains. Martial arts is the manifestation of human creativity and ingenuity applied to defending oneself. It is an expression of your creative mind, and an amazing workout. Plus, its a boatload of fun!

I am a huge martial arts enthusiast and I created this blog to share my passion with other people. Although i'm fairly new to the martial arts arena, I learn quickly and am completely obsessed. I trained in jujitsu earlier in life and I currently train in both kung fu and I train jujitsu independent from any academy. Someday soon I hope to join a jujitsu gym. In the meantime, i will be posting martial arts techniques, philosophy, and my outlook on health and fitness on this fancy little blog. Shoot me a message if there is a specific technique you would like discussed!