Did you sweat enough today?

By Michael Parrella

Hey everyone! In last nights Kickboxing class, I talked about the importance of drinking water. I mentioned this because there were many people working out that did NOT bring water with them! Are you crazy? You’re sweating like mad – you have to replenish your water supply!

That being said, I decided to break out a sheet from my archives that we used to pass out to our members. Here’s the info;

Importance of water, are you drinking enough?
We all know that water is important but you’ve never seen it written down like this before.

• 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.

• In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is
often mistaken for hunger.

• Even MILD dehydration will slow down one’s metabolism as much as 3%.

• One glass of water shuts down midnight hunger pangs for almost
100% of the dieters studied in a U-Washington study.

• Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

• Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day
could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of
sufferers.

• A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing.

• Drinking 5-6 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon
cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%,
and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.

So now, let me ask you this…

Are you drinking the amount of water you should every day?

An average adult male should be drinking around 12 glasses of water per day and a female should be drinking 10. That means, everyone should be drinking between 5-6, 16oz. bottles of water. My general rule of thumb is that I drink at least one bottle of water with each meal (I eat 6 of ‘em per day).

This way, I don’t have to remember how much to drink. Another alternative is to buy one of the those mini-jugs (the ones that look like a small version of a water cooler bottle) fill it up each morning and finish it by days end.

Hope this helps. Stay hydrated!!!

Master Michael Parrella is a 6th Degree Black Belt in Kung-Fu and has been training for almost 30 years. He and his staff teach Kung-Fu, Kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to students of all ages in the Long Island, New York area. The school is called Master Parrella’s Martial Arts Center

The last fight of the night at Michael Corleone’s Kayo Productions, this fight was a 5 minute, 1 round match to submission. Trevor (Blue Belt) beats a Purple belt on points, but the match ends without a submission.

Excellent technique and full control of his opponent by Trevor. Trevor is coached by our BJJ instructor, Mr. Jamie Alexandrino. Although the match did not end the way he wanted it to, Jamie was extremely satisfied with Trevor’s ability to gain top position and dominate his opponent. We are all looking forward to Trevor’s next match!

'Courage' is facing a challenge even when you know you may not succeed!

Learning martial arts and learning courage are synonymous. Students who stand before the class leading in a form show courage, and so do students who answer in class. Martial artists are called to be courageous in some way every day.

Another type of courage is taking risks. Learning to take conscious, calculated risks is part of our school curriculum. We believe taking risks is the path to true learning and success. Successful athletes know that
risk-taking and learning from losses, setbacks, and mistakes are the only way to significantly improve sports performance. Babe Ruth was the champion home run hitter, but he struck out 1,333 times during his best season. Nothing is gained without risk, and even a risk with less than successful results can be a powerful learning activity.

Some of the things we tell students are:

* Sensible risks are a natural way of life for martial artists.

* We are willing to risk temporary loss for the chance for permanent improvement.

*The most accomplished martial artists are courageous and risk-taking.
You might want to think about a time you took a risk in business or life that worked out positively. Hearing successful people tell about their risk-taking can be very encouraging experiences for people who are lea rning to take calculated risks. Discussing your initial fear prior to taking the risk will be a fascinating and affirming admission for newly emerging risk-takers. So often students tell us they have difficulty getting beyond their fears. When you tell them that your biggest fears never came to pass, you will be teaching them that most fears are irrational fantasies that do not materialize.

And finally when you tell them how you felt after taking the risk, and how taking this risk affected your life then and now, they will see themselves as emerging risk-takers who are following in well trodden footsteps.

As Franklin Delano Roosevelt said, more than 50 years ago, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.”

• Kung-Fu for Self Defense, Stress Relief, Fitness and/or Competition. (Shaolin Choy Lay Fut & Tibetan Lama Pai Styles taught)
• Fitness Kickboxing for Cardio & Aerobic Fitness, Muscle Toning and Weight / Fat Loss
• Muay Thai & San Da / San Shou Kickboxing for Self Defense or Competition.
• Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for Self Defense and/or Competition.
• XMA (Xtreme Martial Arts) for Kids Only – a performance and acrobatic Martial Art combining Kung-Fu, Wu Shu, Karate and Tae Kwon Do.
• Self Defense Course – call to find out when our next session begins!

We teach classes for Men, Women & Children (Unlike some Gyms / Clubs – Kids classes are always separate from Adults). Our programs are non-intimidating, professional and always fun. My staff is super-courteous, highly-skilled, mega-patient and extremely-friendly – so you’ll know that you are in good hands when you train at my academy.

No matter which class of our you train in, all of our programs benefit your;

• Mind – Develop greater Discipline, Concentration, and Self-Respect
• Body – Burn Fat, Increase your Muscle Tone, Endurance, and Flexibility
• Spirit – Lean Self-Confidence though Self Defense Skills

We recommend that you enroll in one of our ONLINE WEB SPECIALS (enter your name and email and click the program you are interested in) and find out first hand just how my academy can help you reach all your goals. We have classes mornings, afternoon and evenings, 6-days a week, so scheduling is never a problem.

Call us at 516 739-8888 once you register for our web special online.
Or just give us a call if you have a question or would like to arrange a free tour!

Kids who practice Kung-Fu are healthier, happier and get better grades!

In the “good old days”, parents worried more about their children being home by the time the street lights came on than whether they got the recommended amount of daily activity. Today, however, the world has changed and we are faced with a myriad of challenges that were unheard of only a generation ago. For instance, today’s parents are advised to monitor their children’s body mass index (height-to-weight ratio) as the obesity epidemic among children ages 6 to 19 has reached nearly quadrupled from what it was in the 1960s.

Physical activity such as Kung-Fu & Martial Arts will not only help today’s children by preventing them from becoming obese or helping them to lose weight if necessary, it will also teach them healthy habits that can last a lifetime. Here are my “Top 10 Reasons Why Kids Should Take Kung-Fu Classes”:

1. A HEALTHY, LIFETIME HABIT
Kids who exercise are more likely to keep exercising as adults. Because of our emphasis on personal responsibility, respect, discipline, and control; and our acceptance of individuals of all levels of physical skill, Kids Kung-Fu classes provide a great alternative to o ther sports, which may tend to exclude certain children.

2. MAINTAIN A HEALTHY BODY
The exercises in a Kung-Fu class help Kids improve cardiovascular function, build muscle, and achieve and maintain a healthy body weight. These are the habits that will serve kids well into the adult years.

3. MAINTAIN A STRONG BODY
Regular physical activity such as Kung-Fu helps build and maintain strong, healthy muscles, bones and joints. Since Kids are generally more flexible than adults, a comprehensive stretching curriculum goes hand in hand with any good Kids Kung-Fu class.

4. MARTIAL ARTS DEVELOP OTHER SKILLS
Because Kids Kung-Fu curriculum emphasizes Courtesy, Modesty, Respect, and Integrity, Kung-Fu aids in the development of important interpersonal skills. In addition, Kids Kung-Fu at our school promotes the self-discipline necessary to set and achieve life goals. Of course, it also offers some of the best in self-defense training.

5. FEEL BETTER AND SLEEP BETTER
In conjunction with a healthy diet that is low in fat, artificial flavors and colors, and preservatives, vigorous physical activity such as Kids Kung-Fu classes improve the quantity and quality of children’s sleep. Brain function improves when a child is well rested as compared to a child that has an poor sleeping pattern.

Master Michael Parrella is a 6th Degree Black Belt in Kung-Fu and has been training for almost 30 years. He and his staff teach Kung-Fu to Children of all ages in the Long Island, New York area. The school is called Master Parrella’s Martial Arts Centers