With the addition of this cage to our club we have unparralled training facilities (full-size competition boxing ring, new MMA cage, matted floors, tons of training equipment and CrossFit training centre), and some of the most knowledgebable and experienced coaches in the industry. Point Blank is hands down the best functional martial arts and Combat Sport training centre in York Region and one of the top in Ontario.

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Point Blank will be hosting a SmartGuard custom mouthguard workshop on Sept 16th at 7 PM to 9PM.  Smartguards.ca is the best mouthguard, hands down.  If you value your teeth and want to minimize concussions and jaw injuries, I highly recommend them.  They are a thick custom-to-your-teeth laminate.  Any color and any design.  The price?  Anywhere from $75+; a steal and a half.

Contact Paul at 905-727-7300 to book yourself an appointment.

Learn more about SmarGuard here…

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Our Fit Kid is an 8-week general fitness and sport conditioning program for kids starts again Wednesday September 15th. It was created for both athletic and non-athletic children alike. This program is intented to increase a childs overall fitness, and help them start on a path of lifelong health and fitness.

Registration is now on but spaces are limited.

Cost: $185.00 + HST

For more information or to register check online here…
or call 905-727-7300

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The ETR On-Ramp program condenses the On-Ramp program down into 5 core 1-on-1 sessions which will focus on skill development, exposure to our basic movements, give you one hell of a workout, prepare you to move unto the regular CrossFit safely and help you maximize your success.

Cost: $200.00 + HST

For more information click here…
or call 905-727-7300

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We at Point Blank are very excited about sanctioned MMA coming to Ontario. MMA is a great sport, great for fitness and a lot of fun. In fact, we are so excited about it that we want to see more people have the chance to try it out…

So during the months of September, October, and November all current and new members with monthly and annual membership will have MMA added to their memberships for free; while they are members during those three months. This means that anyone who has or purchases a monthly or annual Boxing, Muay Thai or CrossFit membership in September, October and November can also participate in our MMA classes.

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Registration is now on for our next On-Ramp Sessions. Sessions starts Monday Sept. 13th and run Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8pm-9pm, until the Friday October 8th.

Cost: $200.00 + HST

For more information click here…
or call 905-727-7300

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We also congratulate Rick Mayoh who competed in the 75kg Senior division loosing in the semi-finals in a 3 rounds decisions to Julien Lewis, also of Chris Johnson’s Fighting Alliance.

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From time to time some of my students find themselves looking around at websites from other clubs and send me a link to information posted on these websites. One such link was to a local karate club and a lovely video presentation containing with a series of videos which out the different benefits of martial arts for children.

Clubs posting videos highlighting their programs are nothing new, but what drew my attention was that each of these videos was pre-empted with a testimonial  by a gentlemen named ‘Dave Kovar’ who as he states is a ‘Professional Martial Arts instructor’ who wants to introduce us to that club ‘…one of the top martial arts academies in Canada.’.  That’s quite an endorsement.

Of course I have personally never heard of Mr. Kovar, and being the curious person that I am decided to learn a little more about him by looking him up online.  I found that Mr. Kovar is a martial arts instructor who owns a chain of clubs in California and New Jersey. But it seems that Mr. Kovacs appears to have also have a second career as a ‘Professional Spokesman’ as he can be found in dozens of similar video presentations at schools across America.

Here are a few:

http://www.selectmartialarts.com/alpha/selectmovie.aspx

http://www.selectmartialarts.com/atlantic/selectmovie.aspx

http://www.selectmartialarts.com/karatefit/selectmovie.aspx

http://www.selectmartialarts.com/Ridgewood/selectmovie.aspx

or view dozens more:
http://www.google.ca/search?q=http://www.selectmartialarts.com/+site:selectmartialarts.com&hl=en&filter=0

This kind of online video advertising is known by names such as Spokesperson Video, Virtual Spokesperson, Web Commercials, Video Salesperson, Internet Spokesperson and Web Spokesperson, with the idea being that you capture your visitor’s attention, and deliver a professional message. No different than any other commercial.

If you’re going to deliver a message about your products, services or in this case your club, shouldn’t it be an authentic one, and not some ‘canned’ or ‘cookie-cutter’ message that is used over and over again by dozens of clubs? How much is such an endorsement really worth?

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Because I train a lot of people; some of whom include competitive athletes I often get asked my opinion concerning supplements. The people who I train are often surprised to hear that I am against taken them. This is based on having done what most people do not… research.

Most people take the word of Bob down at the local supplement store, who tells you the stuff they have is 100% pure, pharmaceutical grade, will bulk you up, trim you down, make you stronger, give you more energy, and perfectly safe. They know it works because they train, use to compete, are trainers, it worked for their customers, etc..

With a little research you’ll be quite surprised about supplements and the claims they make, and how little peer reviewed scientific evidence is involved, or safety standards are involved.

Here are some things that most people might be shocked to learn about supplements:

“Products classified as dietary supplements are not required to meet any Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards. There are no regulations that guarantee the safety or purity of something sold as a supplement. Therefore, supplements are not:

• Required to meet the same safety requirements as over-the-counter or prescription drugs or food ingredients
• Held to specific manufacturing standards
• Guaranteed to meet product potency or purity ratings
• Required to prove the effectiveness of any health claim they make
• Required to meet safety or efficacy testing prior to going to the market

The FDA is prohibited from removing a product from the market unless it can prove that the product will cause a medical problem. Most health risks of supplements are discovered after the product is on the market. Supplements that are pulled from the market are usually linked to a reported serious health risk or death that is tied to the use of the product.

What are Ergogenic Aids and Performance Enhancing Substances?
Erogenic aids consist of substance, drugs, procedures and even devices that are intended to improve athletic performance. Some of these substances are naturally occurring, easily available and completely legal while others are manufactured, illegal, or banned by many sporting organizations.

Common Sports Supplements Used by Athletics

• B-Vitamins
  Vitamins are essential for the body to function properly, but there may be a link between the B-vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin B-6, B-12 and folate) and performance in high-level athletes.
• Caffeine
  Caffeine has been used by endurance athletes for years as a way to stay alert and improve endurance.
• Creatine
  For some athletes, creatine supplementation improves repeated bouts of high-intensity exercise, such as sprinting, weight lifting or power sports.
• Ephedrine
  Research hasn’t found any improvement in strength, endurance, reaction time, anaerobic capacity, or recovery time with ephedrine supplements.
• Glucosamine
  Glucosamine has been used to treat osteoarthritis and helps stimulates cartilage. But does it help athletic performance?
• Glutamine
  Glutamine (L- Glutamine) is a classified as a nutritional supplement and is not regulated or banned by most sports organization.
• Hydration and Sports Drinks
  Adequate fluid intake for athletes is essential to comfort, performance and safety. The longer and more intensely you exercise, the more important it is to drink the right kind of fluids.
• Protein Supplements
  Protein is a necessary nutrient that everyone needs to function properly. Both athletes and sedentary individuals need to get adequate protein.
• Ribose
  There is clear evidence that shows an athletic performance benefit of ribose supplements.
• How to Evaluate Supplement Health Claims
  It’s difficult to wade through the research regarding health or performance benefits of many nutritional supplements. These tips will help you make an informed decision about what actually works.”

Taken From: http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/nutrition/a/aa030901a.htm

You might want to think twice before you start taking advice from Bob down at the local supplement store concerning taking supplements.

- Paul Oddi
Head Coach Point Blank CrossFit

Additional reading concerning supplements:

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Let’s be honest, for the most part human beings are extremely lazy. We enjoy being lazy so much that despite warnings by doctors over the last 50 years we have let our laziness take us to today’s wonderful lifestyle that has produced history’s highest rates of cardio vascular disease, high blood pressure, and skyrocketing obesity. To put it bluntly we are turning into ‘Fat Lazy Pigs’.

So what can we do to stop from evolving into Sus Scrofa Scrofa (latin: domestic pigs). Despite what the local GLOBO gyms, weight lose centres, and whatever the fad exercise class (remember jazzercise?) tell you about being able to get results without effort, the only true way to get fit and healthy is with HARD WORK.

Hard Work = Results

That’s right! It really is that simple. If you work really really hard you will greatly improve your fitness and health. This fact is nothing new, it’s been around for years and years. It’s just that our lazy tendencies lead us to look for an easy way or shortcut to fitness, and companies spend millions of dollars reinforcing that belief in order to sell us their brand of product or service (shortcut).

We are not about shortcuts. We are about very very hard work, and getting results with that hard work. It’s not easy. In fact, it’s really hard to get started and push yourself. We understand. That’s why we offer our CrossFit ‘On-Ramp’ program to help people get started and transition into regular CrossFit classes.

The ‘On-Ramp’ program is a 12 session (2-3 times per week for 4-6 weeks) program designed to systematically introduce you to CrossFit. CrossFit is not just about a daily workout (Workout of the Day – aka WOD) posted on a website. It is a community of like minded, hard working people who believe in a system of short, intense, constantly varied exercises and its supporting nutritional principles. The exercises are full body, functional, and demand attention to form. The ‘On-Ramp’ Program emphasis is on skill development and exposure to our basic movements. We will be hammering technique for your safety and your success.

But if you’re LAZY and DON’T WANT TO WORK HARD… WE ARE NOT THE PLACE FOR YOU!

If you need another excuse not to come in then we are happy to help with 10 Reasons NOT to train at Point Blank CrossFit

Cost: $129.00 + GST

Another option for those who are looking for more personal attention we also offer personal training session to help get you on your way.

Personal Training Rates
Single Session	$75/Hour
10 Sessions	$650.00 ($65/Hour)
20 Sessions	$1100.00 ($55/Hour)
Additinal Person (maximum of 3 per session)	$15/Session

For information on the next session or to register check online here…
or call 905-727-7300

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