The Fighter's Body: An Owner's Manual: Your Guide to Diet, Nutrition, Exercise and Excellence in the Martial Arts [Paperback]

Loren W. Christensen (Author), Wim Demeere (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2003

You have an owner's manual for your car, your stereo and even your blender, so why not your body? "The Fighter's Body" is exactly that, an owner's manual for your body, the most complex piece of equipment you will ever own. As a martial artist, you have special needs. Have you ever wondered how that latest fad diet might affect your performance on the mat? Ever wanted to take off a few extra pounds? How about putting on muscle without slowing down? Make weight for a tournament? Lose 5 pounds fast? Eat better? Change weight classes? Confused about supplements, vitamins and protein shakes? Can't make sense of the food pyramid? Don't know where to start? Start here. Author Loren Christensen and personal trainer Wim Demeere combine their knowledge of martial arts, weight training, nutrition, diet and exercise to answer your questions and put you on the road to becoming the best martial arts athlete you can be. This book will answer your questions about important topics including: why some diets are harmful for martial artists; how to calculate your protein needs for training; when and how to use supplements; how to eat at fast food places and not ruin your diet; why it's okay to splurge on 'Dirt Day'; how to safely make weight for a tournament; why HIIT training is essential to weight loss; what to eat on competition days; and, how to create a plan that works and stick to it.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Wim Demeere began training at the age of 14, studying the grappling arts of judo and jujitsu for several years before turning to the kick/punch arts of traditional kung fu and full-contact fighting. Over the years he has studied muay Thai, kali, pentjak silat and shootfighting. Since the late 1990s, he has been studying tai chi chuan and its martial applications. Wim’s competitive years saw him win four national titles and a bronze medal at the 1995 World Wushu Championships. In 2001, he became the national coach of the Belgian Wushu fighting team. A full-time personal trainer, Wim instructs both business executives and athletes in nutrition, strength and endurance, and a variety of martial arts styles.

Loren W. Christensen has been studying the martial arts since 1965. This is Mr. Christensen's 11th book on the fighting arts. Mr. Christensen's experience in law enforcement began in 1967 when he served in the army as a military policeman in the United States and in Vietnam. He joined the Portland, Oregon Police Bureau in 1972 and while still a rookie on probation, he began teaching defensive tactics to officers. Over the years, he worked the training unit, the gang unit, dignitary body guarding, and all the precincts as a street officer. He is now a full-time writer and a teacher of realistic martial arts to citizens and people in law enforcement.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Turtle Press; Third Printing edition (August 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1880336812
• ISBN-13: 978-1880336816
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #55,128 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #91 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Individual Sports > Martial Arts

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, April 26, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Fighter's Body: An Owner's Manual: Your Guide to Diet, Nutrition, Exercise and Excellence in the Martial Arts (Paperback)

I don't normally write reviews for the books that I buy, but I decided to write one for this book because I liked it so much. I really liked how the information was presented with the martial artist in mind. I train in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and it was an nice change to read a book on diet and nutrition that didn't assume that I was trying to build 22 inch arms or that I was a desk job jockey that could live on 1000 calories. For the first time, I understand what my needs are as far as calories, Proteins, Carbohydrates and Fats. I liked the fact that the book looks at your fitness level and bodyfat % and takes those into account. This is a really good book and I am glad I bought it.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!, October 29, 2004

By 

L. A. Kane (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Fighter's Body: An Owner's Manual: Your Guide to Diet, Nutrition, Exercise and Excellence in the Martial Arts (Paperback)

Ever wish you came with an owner's manual like your car does? Wouldn't it be nice if you knew what, when, and how to keep yourself running at peak performance? Well guess what, the answers to all these questions are right here!

Christensen and Demeere cut through the fads and hype to provide solid, practical, and most importantly factual advice for martial artists and athletes of all kinds. Those of us who train regularly find customized, easy to read and understand support to keep us at the top of our game. This is a great book. Buy it, read it, and take to heart. You will not be disappointed.

Lawrence Kane
Author of Surviving Armed Assaults, The Way of Kata, and Martial Arts Instruction

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eat proper & Drink your Green Tea, February 19, 2005

By 

D. Slayton "replicant9732" (Deep Morgan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Fighter's Body: An Owner's Manual: Your Guide to Diet, Nutrition, Exercise and Excellence in the Martial Arts (Paperback)

In brief... this is a fabulous book on nutrition and probably the best book you'll find with nutrition in the context of martial arts. All those little nutrition rumors are dispelled and in their place, this book gives you the facts on nutrition for martial arts (or just about any fitness training).
Before reading this book, I didn't know a carb from a hole in the ground.
The proof is in the result. All aspects of my martial arts training have improved by watching my diet and I feel even better than I did before!
This book is a MUST HAVE!!!