Weight Training for Sports

Archive for October, 2010

The history of wrestling can easily be traced back to its roots in the Mediterranean. The Ancient Greeks and Romans are credited with developing a number of different styles of wrestling that are still in use today. The sport is easily one of the most primitive sports that can be easily dated back to some five thousands years ago. Ancient Greeks formed the sport out of necessity as it was a means of training and developing soldiers into warriors. They used it in hand to hand combat which also doubled as a means of cardiovascular exercise. Ancient drawings and hieroglyphs mark the walls of some of the great Greek Palaces and stadiums with pictures of ancient wrestlers.

Wrestling history became a means of culture and a right of passage for the early Greeks. Students used to study wrestling as a class during school. It was a respected form of physical activity that took the utmost strength and grace but when used with aggression is a deadly form of combat. In the earliest of Olympic Festivals wrestling took place around 704 B.C. It was common to travel to villages throughout the country and see carnivals and festivals featuring wrestling in some form as entertainment.

As the Roman Empire rose to power and defeated the Greeks the form of wrestling that the Greeks had created began to change. The Greeks felt that the Romans weren’t as adept at wrestling and took the grace and skillfulness out of the sport and the Greeks were worried about maintaining the true history of wrestling. The new conversion of the two empires hence formed Greco-Roman wrestling.

As time passed the sport made its way west and suddenly became popular in the US. It made the same circulation that it made throughout Europe as it traveled from festivals and circuses as a spectator sport. The sport in these days allowed competitors of any size or shape to match up against any opponent. As you can imagine there was some drastic mismatches and severe injuries. Not to mention that gambling on the matches brought out the worst in the athletes as a number of fixed contests were uncovered.

It wasn’t until the formation of the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles or FILA that the sport began to standardize and formulate rules and the sport was first featured in the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis in the form of freestyle.

Wrestling began to become mainstream throughout the states in the 1900’s and found its way onto school campuses. High school wrestling and collegiate programs began to spring up everywhere and are standard throughout the US today.

Professional wrestling can basically be categorized today into two main forms international or non folk style and folk style wrestling. International consists mainly of Greco-roman, freestyle and grappling while folk style literally means the wrestling recognized in the area of origin. Examples of folk style are jiu jitsui of Brazil and sumo of Japan not to mention dozens of other less notable styles.

Wrestling has come a long way from its early roots but has kept in tact a number of the same techniques and strategies that made it popular five thousand years ago. The sport has seen a recent explosion in the MMA or mixed martial arts field which features a combination of a number of wrestling fields. The sport is growing rapidly and is sure to be a favorite of many more generations. So goes the history of wrestling.

A basketball player should eat healthy not just for the game but for his overall health. But since the sport burns a lot of energy, players should eat more foods that contain the right nutrients that will give him the energy to sustain his fuel requirement – but still balanced to attain optimum use.

There are 2 basic food groups that a basketball player should eat: protein and carbohydrates.

Proteins – are the building blocks of the body which is responsible for paving the increase of strength and muscle mass through exercise. Protein is found in fish, eggs, dairy products, milk, and meat. There are also kinds of vegetables that are rich in protein. These are leguminous plants or plants which grow on the vine or climbing pea or bean such as peanuts, soya, and asparagus. Protein should supply 10 percent of our energy needs.

Carbohydrates – are essential for the functioning of our brain. Carbohydrates are stored in the liver and muscles as glycogen. They are often found in foods such as rice, bread, potatoes, pasta, fruits, honey, jam, and pulses. Carbohydrates should supply 50 percent of our energy needs however, since a basketball player requires more fuel to keep him in the game, some sports nutritionists require players to have 70 percent carbo diet. 

As always, fat is needed but should be minimized.

Before the game…

Eat at least 1 hour before the game. This gives the body ample time to digest the food before using it during the game. It is suggested that the player should eat lots of carbohydrates to store energy.

During the game…

Players aren’t often seen eating during the game but most people don’t know about this: eating a bananna during the game helps players to replenish lost energy quickly. Regularly drinking fluid during the game helps the player to bring back the water he has lost from the game.

After the game…

After the game, the player should eat protein, then carbohydrates. This is because protein helps facilitates carbohydrate to replenish the storage chemical of the cell of the body called glycogen. Glycogen stores glucose, an important component in metabolism. Without these two, the body won’t regain the energy that is lost from the previous game and will contribute to mental and physical fatigue.

Take note that protein and carbohydrates aren’t the only requirements of a player. He should also exercise to help keep his body healthy and fit.

There is nothing quite like the thrill and adventure of the great outdoors. The growth in adventure and eco tourism offers new possibilities for hikers and backpackers to experience nature – and with the latest developments in hiking equipment, the experience is even easier.

For the novice hiker, we offer the following 9 tips to be considered before you travel.

1. Invest in equipment

Investing in the right equipment will increase the comfort and enjoyment of your hiking experience.

Backpacks: invest in high quality, internal frame backpacks suitable for your body size and shape. These will last longer, are lighter, offer better ventilation and will distribute the weight of your pack more evenly. A specialist retailer such as Cotswold Outdoor should be able to demonstrate how to pack, strap and adjust your backpack for maximum comfort.

Shoes: hiking shoes will offer greater comfort than your normal sneakers, especially hiking boots with ankle support to prevent your ankle from twisting on uneven surfaces. Your feet expand a little after hours of walking, so we recommend you try on shoes in the afternoon and wear thick hiking socks as you would normally wear. Choose styles made of breathable, waterproof materials.

Gear: Your hiking shop is a treasure trove of useful items. Must-haves includes: quick-dry, ultra light towels; headlamps (much better than torches as you can keep your hands free when hiking at night); ultra light sleeping bags; base layers; a rain cover; compass; sunscreen; First Aid kit; Swiss Army knife; drink bottles; rip-stop nylon tape. You can do your research and shop online through Cotswold Outdoor.

2. Pack carefully

The key word for packing is ‘multi-purpose’. Choose items that serve different functions and remove duplication, for example: your Swiss Army knife and an additional ‘spork’ (combined spoon and fork utensil available from Cotswold Outdoor) make up your cutlery set so no need to pack an additional knife for your evening meal; your quick-dry towel can also serve as a pillow, etc. Pack the items which will be used the least at the bottom of your pack and those used more frequently at the top for easy access.

3. Plan your trip

Making decisions on the hop can add excitement to the adventure for some, but in most cases careful planning will avoid frustrations. Map your route and plot in suitable rest stops. Research where you can buy food and drinks along the way to reduce the amount you pack. Plan your meals and snacks so you purchased what you need to stave off hunger. Make a contingency plan, just in case. If traveling through different countries ensure you have local currency in small denominations. Take photocopies of your passport with you, and be sure to have travel insurance.

4. Get ‘trip fit’

With hiking, white water rafting, abseiling and rock climbing on offer, it’s tempting for the intrepid traveler to be too ambitious. Start increasing your aerobic fitness prior to departure with cycling, jogging and walking to improve your stamina.

5. Look after your nutritional needs

Complex carbohydrates (wholegrains) will provide you with the energy you need. Consider dried fruits which contain the same nutrients as fresh fruit but are lighter and take up less space. Energy is released from Low GI (glycemic index) foods slower than high GI foods, so choose low GI foods to keep you fuelled for longer. These include nuts, certain cereals, most fruits, most vegetables, legumes and yoghurt. Keep hydrated with lots of water.

6. Communicate

Communicate your plans to friends and family and provide them with your itinerary. Touch base regular so they can track your movements. Register with LOCATE, the advisory branch of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Advise LOCATE of your travel plans and they will know how to reach you in emergencies and inform you of travel warnings before you depart.

7. Learn local cultures and laws

The treatment you receive in different countries depends on the respect you show for local customs and laws. Be mindful of appropriate clothing, drinking in public and local law.

8. Be environmentally friendly

The views and scenery when hiking and backpacking can be spectacular – don’t ruin the experience for others by leaving your rubbish behind.

9. Have fun

If you’ve invested in the right equipment, planned appropriately and done your research you have maximized your opportunity to have fun. Capture it all on camera and be the envy of everyone you know.