Adult Student’s Corner
by Sifu D’arcy Langois
Fu For You Summer 2024
As Martial Artists, we tend to be more physically active than the average person in our community. Within the Adult program, we are encouraged to attend three classes per week, giving us a solid three hours of guaranteed workout (not counting personal training). There is even a solid number of people in the student body who blow that three class average out of the water; training four, five, six or more times per week, and that is incredible! It’s great seeing a group of people so interested in, and dedicated to the art that they are willing to make that much time in their busy schedule to attend so many classes. That amount of training, however, does come with a cost; one usually paid in torn muscles, loose joints, and an overall feeling of fatigue. So here is a friendly reminder: DON’T SKIP RECOVERY DAYS!
For those of you that know me, this may seem a little bit ironic coming from me, but that’s why I felt the need to emphasize this point. Your body and your mind both need time to recover. As always, a recovery day can mean different things to different people, so what I say here isn’t a catch-all. This is meant to get you thinking about the concept of recovery days, and why you should be weaving them into your training regime.
Experts recommend taking at least one day off per week in your daily workout routine, to help build your strength and prevent injuries. What does that look like? That’s completely up to you, but it should be a break from your normal workout pattern (so yes, it may mean not attending a class on a day). Taking a day off of our strenuous, anaerobic style of activity, and instead doing light cardio (e.g. jogging, swimming, or a bike ride), or mobility focused activities (e.g. yoga, or stretching) is a great way to promote healing, while keeping your body moving.
On top of taking that important recovery day to heal, cooldown stretching after every strenuous workout should be a priority. A handful of minutes performing some static stretching (focused on the muscle groups you just abused) can go a long way to making your day after the workout more pleasant. Stretching eases the muscle fibres, helps work some of that lactic acid build up out, and promotes the healing process to keep you feeling fit the next day. Making this a priority can also reduce the number of recovery days you are forced to take.
Finally, sometimes your brain just needs a break. If you find yourself getting frustrated over and over in class, it might be a good idea to miss a class or two to re-center yourself. Take those recovery days to help reset your mind, before coming back focused (hopefully), and ready to continue your Kung Fu journey.
Don’t skip recovery days! And see you in the Kwoon!