My Journey into Football.

I started playing football in May 2016. As a team we started playing futsal. I really had not been too interested in playing the game as much as I enjoyed watching it and training athletes. My main game had been basketball through school and college and then from college through my early career it had been bodybuilding. I had also been training a football player for Strength and Conditioning for 4 months prior to that.

I really had not been one to play the game but I had a strong and strict mentor and great teammates. After my first game, I took some time to reflect on the game. I knew nothing about practically being in the field. However, in this team I was a part of I realised I wasn't put down but encouraged and built up.

Some of my team mates

My Head Coach and team captain saw my potential and srengths and weaknesses in realation to the game and assigned me a position. It was a position that I instantly 'clicked' into and in further months started to become even better at it.

I started to learn more about the game and follow the instructions and rules. I found myself improving mentally, physically and skilfully. I also took time to study the game. We play 5 a side football so I started learning more about that. I also took an interest in changing my training routine to play better on the field. That tremendously helped my client who played football. I was three weeks into play when I got my first compliment. 'You have really improved and I dont like it. You are causing too much trouble for me to score.' 

 

First pair of football shoes!

My head coach sponsored a pair of football shoes for me. I was using cross trainers to play when he advised to get indoor football shoes and he got them for me.

A month and a half later I scored my first goal! My head coach who was also playing with us set me up for it! As the months progressed I started to focus more on my defense position and also watch other positions play. As a strength and conditioning coach at some point I have to know how to train those positions. In November, we moved more into indoor 5 a side football. I scored my 2nd goal playing a forward position!

My improvements came through an extremely patient and suppportive team. They kept correcting me and encouraging me. There was never one session I came out feeling like a loser. 

 It seems at the age of 36 I have found a sport I can get involved in. I look forward to each session and enjoy every bit of learning I get. My journey continues.....

Team Building with Laser tag - 1

Laser tag is a great team builder. After playing more than 30 sessions I am drawing from my experience in the game. Laser tag can mimic team work of a family, a military unit, a corporate department, sports team, etc. After all, teams are found in nearly every field and department today.

As I write this blog I would like my readers to know that I am a son in a family, a family man, worked for 6+ years in the corporate in analyst to managerial capacities and played club level basketball and done some coaching for basketball teams as well.

1) Different Gameplays

Laser Tag has a variety of gameplays. In each gameplay, since the goal is different the team has to work together to achieve the goal. It brings realistic scenes as at some point in the game you run out of 'ammunition' at crunch situations or the team might be faced with that same scenario, 

2) Different Venues

Each venue brings its own challenges for the teams. We have played out in the woods, in the parks, in apartment blocks, enclaves, inside houses, confined spaces with minimal lights and heavy sounds. The teams have got to decide on communication methods, best course of 'attack' or 'defense' etc.

3) Different Times per session

Ever had those days at work when the team suddenly has to finish something in a short period of time? Or the work assigned has a longer time period and you are pacing yourself without having to drop productivity of yourself or the teams? Well laser tag games can be of different time lengths depending on game play or availability of time to just 'sneak' in a game!!

4) Realising who are the best people within my group for me to work with

In my case even within the team, I usually work even better with just one or two other people. This is not to say I ignore the rest of my team. Its just that when these team members and I come together we can keep our entire team strong and achieve the gameplay goal more efficiently.

5) Realising my strengths and weaknesses.

One thing I learnt really quickly in laser tag, is I am not all I thought I was. In my first few games I thought I would be taking my team to victory and when the results came out I was hit the maximum number of times without landing a single shot!! Delusions of myself broke quickly. However, I also started realising where my strengths were. I was better off listening to a leader and following instructions than giving them. Learning my strengths and weaknesses helped me push my strengths up to help the team and go back and work on my weaknesses. While I had some of my ego busted during some of the games I was also grateful to lend my strengths to benefit the team.

6) Realising others strengths and weaknesses.

Taking up from the last point, I realised strengths and weaknesses of others. So where I was weak I would have to depend on the others who were strong and where I was strong I went forward and covered the others. I did realise there is no place for ego or pride if the team is to win together. 

7) Teaches us where to take risks.

There are some times when the team needs to take risks. It isn't nice but sometimes its the only way to go forward and possibly win.

These are just a few points that I realised are important for team building. In part two I will be talking about a few more points that I had realised progressively as I kept playing the game.

If you find these points useful for team building I strongly suggest that you go ahead and call for a laser tag game whether at home or the office. Contact www.skirmish.in ASAP.

Having fun, Monkeying around, Breaking Barriers and Celebrating Achievements

Training sessions should be fun. That is something I learnt from Matt Marshall or at least got it reinforced in my mind from him. Thats exactly what I did today. I was waiting for a client to show up and I decided to have some fun on the kids playground - just monkey around on the monkey bars!!

Well I know it doesn't sound too modest but I was impressed with my speed and body movement. I just ran, jumped and swung around and hung around and also found out where all I had made improvements. Movements I thought still had a long way to go just flowed nicely and......for lack of a better word happened. It was sad that there was no video and no cameras but I did feel like I made my entry into the world of bar athletes.

Here is what went down:

3 single arm Pull ups:) from a 2 second single arm hold previously.

Front levers  

Reverse pull ups 

Upside down Pull ups 

Isometric holds on parallel bars for 15 seconds

I am thankful to God for this and to all the people who kept encouraging me to push past my limits with bodyweight training I want to thank you as well. I am going to take some time out today and celebrate!!

Laser Tag - My Experience

A few weeks ago we were at the Cubbon Park. I was caught in a crossfire of distinct warning alarms that people around me were being hit and so was I from time to time. My partner and me were trying to flank around a base of our opponents. We were using the trees and foliage as cover. I could see my team mates from the other end creating flanking from the other end. 'Gideon, cover me!' I stepped out with a burst of fire and my partner ran across to the other tree getting closer to the base. Then it was my turn. I glanced around cautiously, stepped behind the big banyan tree, braced myself, took a deep breath, turned up my shield and then..............RAN!!. A couple of shots were fired. I made it behind the next tree. There were others who were doing a search and eliminate...and then we converged in a triangular formation. We charged firing away......we had taken the base!!

No I wasn't in a war zone. I was playing laser tag.

What is laser tag?

It is a non-contact individual or team sport where players use hand held devices (which we call guns or taggers) and score points by tagging other players or opposing team members.

Laser tag is really fun and a great strategy and team game. I have been busting a lot of stress and its one of the things that make me feel like a child again! At the same time it has also been quite a soul searching activity because in the middle of all the fun and games it was showing me that I still do get frustrated and irritated over things and at times I was just short of losing my temper! Talk about an activity that tests a person spirit , soul and body!! Its a great team and relationship builder as well. It is also great to learn strategy.

There are different kinds of taggers. My personal favourite is the Phoenix LTX Blaster

Lazer tag is better than paintball because you dont get that stinging 'THWAP!!!'' when you get hit. Some of the welts caused by the paint can leave a mark for days. The taggers have sensors which tell you when you are in the line of fire so you can move out quickly, or if you are getting hit, the sound, light or both let you know. The game can be played indoors or outdoors. I have found outdoors to be more fun.  It is a good way to stay healthy because I was always sprinting short bursts, having to think on my feet, squatting, crouching, steadying my breathing, climbing things. It is moderately intense and its great to play on a day of active rest.

If you have played laser tag before or have anything to say about laser tag please feel free to leave comments. You can also log on to the site

www.skirmish.in

So you want to be a superhero??

Wanted to know what trainings patterns the superheroes go through? Check this out

 

      Special thanks to: E. Rasquinha for this info

If you need help training to get like your super hero you are free to contact me for training sessions

The Basic Fantastic 4 Steps to turn into a Human Torch

Johnny Storm or the Human Torch! Whichever way you look at him one thing is for sure he's got a great metabolism.Its so good he just isn't a star, he turns into a super nova. He set one example for me:

'Its your body. You have a choice whether you want to be a load of lard or an energetic mobile fat blasting furnace with high metabolism.'

The turnaround starts with these 4 basic steps.

1.       Nutrition: Without nutrition in place there is no way you are going to burn fat. Nutrition is the most important factor to fuel the energy needed for the various processes of the body. Stick to real whole foods and avoid processed and refined foods. Keep yourself well hydrated.

2.       Build muscle: If ever there was one thing that burns fat rapidly, even while you are not doing anything its muscle. The more muscle you put on the more fat you will burn. This is why you spend more time building muscle by lifting weights that are challenging to you as it is essential to fat loss.

3.       Conditioning: Conditioning not only preps and develops your energy systems but taps into fat resources. Just 10 minutes of conditioning is enough. You pretty much wouldn’t want to do anything after those 10 minutes. The intensity of the 10 minutes will boost your recovery, improve your oxygen capacity and torch fat.  Conditioning can be sprinting, bodyweight circuits, sled pulling or pushing, swings etc.

4.       Rest and Recovery: You need time to rest and recover. If the body over trains it will create stress which leads to fat retention. Also do not unnecessarily worry about anything. The biggest contribution for stress is worry which releases unpleasant chemical reactions promoting fat retention and fat increase.

This post is short enough but probably a summary list will keep things even simpler for you:

1)      Nutrition: Eat real foods. Stay away from refined and processed foods

2)      Build Muscle: Lift challenging/ heavy weights

3)      Conditioning: Do 10 minutes of conditioning at least 3 times a week.

4)      Rest and Recovery: Sleep well and stop worrying.

In case you have any doubts please find a personal trainer. You are also free to contact me or leave questions in the comments box.

Strength Street Championships: Latvia

Hey Guys!

Undoubtedly one of my favourite videos on strength, agility and performance. Makes me realise I have got a looooooong way to go!