How to Get Fit (Bonus: It’s Fun!)

Note: This is, of course, just a fun article on the internet based on personal experience and opinion. If you want professional advice, seek professional help from a personal trainer.

So, you want to get fit. You want to exercise. You look on movies and TV shows and you think you want to get fit. Let's face it, you also feel a little embarrassed because you don't know how you want to accomplish it. Don't worry! That's totally normal and totally okay. In fact, it's actually quite common in the US. Here are some steps to help you on your journey.

The first (and in my opinion most important) step:

Self-acceptance. Yes, seriously. I know it can sometimes feel shameful to admit that you are not fit. I struggled with the same thing. What helped me was realizing that I was not where I wanted to be. I was not who I wanted to be. I wanted to fix that.

The next step:

Goal setting. This is important. In teaching and learning there are two main types of learning and motivation. Extrinsic and instrinsic. Extrensic reward is when someone gets something in response to completing a certain task. For example, finishing your homework and passing your classes ultimately results in your degree. Instrinsic reward, on the other hand, is where one completes a task and is rewarded simply for doing/completing the task.

Exercise, particularly in martial arts, is the same way. People start doing martial arts often to become black belts or to learn self-defense. I have found that those who stick around start here, but end up continuing beyond that because they find reward simply in doing it. People set a goal, such as becoming black belts, and then on the way start to do it simply for the sake of doing it. I started that way. That's the key to successful exercise. Setting a goal (or goals) and reaching them. So what is your goal?

Now, to begin:

So, you've set your goal. Now where to start? Well, the beauty of martial arts is that there is only one starting point. The bottom. You have your first class. You throw your first punch. You kick your first target. You begin your training. The first step is always a step forward.

The next step is learning:

There is a reason a taekwondo school is called a school. It is, first and foremost, a place of learning. One of the things that some schools teach is how to set up an exercise regimen for yourself. I learned this by focusing on becoming a black belt. My instructor's criteria required that I be able to do a certain number of push ups and sit ups. To accomplish this I practiced every single day. I woke up in the morning did 100 sit ups (or push ups) and then started my day. I do not necessarily recommend this, that's just what I did. At first it was grueling. Then it became routine. Ultimately, it helped me pass my test.

Over time I read multiple books, took classes, and eventually learned enough about exercise and human anatomy that I set up my own regular work out routine.

The key to all of this, of course, is diligence. Any competent person knows that you cannot do some magical exercise and suddenly get a six-pack (sorry, it's just not going to happen). Instead, you have to start and keep going. Yes, even when you don't feel like it. I did this by finding my passion: taekwondo.

Good luck on your adventure!

Disclaimer: This site is for informational and entertainment purposes only. All martial arts techniques and exercises should be supervised by a trained martial arts instructor in order to prevent injuries and to ensure the proper technique is utilized. The information on these pages and videos is meant only to reinforce and supplement the instruction given at your martial arts classes. To properly understand these techniques, you need to learn them from a martial arts instructor who can provide you with an in-depth explanation of the technique, help correct your mistakes, answer your questions and detail how the technique should be utilized. In addition, all martial arts techniques and training should be used safely and responsibly.