Zen Martinoli - Rapid Fitness--Elevate Your Fitness to New Heights in Minutes

T he biggest factor in any successful fitness program is motivation. If you cant get psyched up to tackle the exercises and perform the work, your program wont take you very far. In my experience, motivation is enhanced by the overall effectiveness of the program, the variety and enjoyment of performing the exercises and the results of your labour. You may bring to the table a strong work ethic and desire to achieve your goals but, without the factors just mentioned, you will quickly look to a new program.

In my own personal pursuits as a former competitive boxer who has moved into coaching, entrepreneurship and fatherhood I struggle with time constraints and its effect on my athletic output. After a full day of work, spending time with family and working with fighters, finding the motivation to train is more of a challenge than ever. My main focus regarding performance is how to get the most out of my workouts in less than half the time and still maintain a competitive edge over my peers, earning the respect of my fighters. Not only do I prepare fighters for one of the most difficult tasks of their lives, but I myself step in the ring with them on occasion to develop their skills and show them what it takes to win.

In the past year I have worked with Zen to integrate his methods and workout combinations into my routine. Ive increased my agility and explosiveness in the ring, as well as my overall athletic capabilities. This has offset the decline in my actual boxing skills, since I dont have hours each day to refine my punches and footwork. I can only imagine what Id have been able to achieve had I been working with Zen when I was competing, nine years ago.

From the perspective of a coach, Im always looking for the newest, most effective training methods and have integrated Zens workout routines into the program design for my fighters. Since boxing is such a skill-oriented sport, a lot of time is spent working partner drills, sparring and drilling at specific boxing stations. As a result, any time devoted to conditioning has to be highly effective and intelligently used; there isnt a moment or a burst of energy to waste. It all has to hit the bottom line and optimally prepare fighters for the intensity of a boxing match.

We have seen a revolution in the fitness industry over the past ten years due to the accessibility of online information. Anybody can look up how to perform fundamental strength-training exercises and get a basic understanding of how to approach fitness. Aspiring athletes can get an inside look at how the top performers in their chosen sport are training. This has resulted in both positive and negative effects: on one hand, the bar has been raised; after a number of months in the gym, coupled with online research, the average fitness enthusiast acquires a basic set of knowledge on par with that of trainers around for ten years. Yet on the other hand, there is such an overload of information that they struggle to organise exercises and routines that yield results beyond the basic level.

If you are looking to break through plateaus, or trying to make the most of limited time and equipment, Rapid Fitness is your gateway to cutting-edge, scientific training. In this book, Zen outlines a variety of short, intelligent workouts designed to shock your system, keep you motivated and push you to new levels. Use this book as a way to synthesize your current workout routines, or to address weak areas. If you are seeking to improve your vertical jump, agility, or explosive strength, start with routines that tackle those weaknesses. Read the book through quickly the first time and then start to pick out what will motivate you and give you the best results. From there, you have almost limitless options.

Jason Van Veldhuysen, author of Beginner Boxing: A Roadmap to Your First Fight, Toronto, Canada.
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