Interview with Taku
by Jamie Hale
Hybrid Fitness website looks great. Tell readers what they can expect to find on the site.
Taku: Hybrid Fitness is a cutting edge Fitness information Portal loaded with articles, audio Pod-casts and videos covering all aspects of total fitness including strength, endurance and flexibility, nutrition, proper biomechanics and recuperation. All of this content is designed to help our members and clients achieve their health, aesthetic and athletic goals in the safest most efficient manner possible.
At Hybrid Fitness we have several unique features such as our video-based exercise program builder which currently holds close to 500 exercisess in the data-base. This program allows members to create custom workouts and then e-mail them, export them or even download them to a video i-pod or similar device for easy access on the go. Add to this other features such as video product reviews, a fully loaded personal safety department and even “how to” cooking videos and you can see we have an extremely diverse and rich level of content.
How long did it take to design and have the site go live?
Taku: The web-site went live officially on October 31 2008. The pre-launch creation and development process took approximately two years from initial concept to final product. Along the way we have gone through many changes and constantly updated our features and content as we approached the launch. Of course we will continue to expand our content as we refine and improve our products and services.
Almost every MMA forum mentions Taku's Intervals. Describe Taku's Intervals.
Taku: Taku's Intervals is a High Intensity Interval Training program that has been used by individuals and teams all over the world. It is a three Phase program designed to be followed sequentially. Each phase is broken into two, two-week blocks, for a total of twelve weeks of training. Each two-week block builds on the one before it. In combat sports one must acquire the ability to work at maximal and near maximal levels for short bursts, actively recover and then do it again. Taku’s Intervals was specifically designed to mimic these burst recover demands. I get positive feedback from athletes all over the world who consistently report noticeable improvements in their stamina in as little as two weeks after implementing my interval plan. Along with the initial three phase plan I have developed a forth phase specifically targeted at peaking for competition. All of these programs can be found FREE at: www.hybridfitness.tv
What does your current training regimen look like?
Taku: My current training regimen consists of High Intensity weight training sessions done three times a week. These sessions last on average 25-30 minutes and are made up of 12-20 total exercises covering all the major muscle groups. I perform each specific exercise with smooth controll and work each muscle to momentary failure. I use a heart rate monitor and strive to keep my heart rate elevated to about 160 BPM for the duration of the workout. By keeping the rest between sets to a minimum I find that this style of workout not only improves my strength but my lactate threshold and over all metabolic conditoning as well. My goal has always been to find the safest, most effcient and effective form of erxercise available. I have found that High Intensity Training workouts done in the manner I have described, combine all the elements of a total conditioning program in the most time efficient and effective manner possible. I do cycle my intensity and make other variations from time to time but this is the basic model that I use most often.
Do you have a favorite type of athlete that you like to work with?
Taku: Over the years I have been fortunate enough to work with quite a number of talented athletes from a diverse variety of sports. If I were to pick a favorite type of athlete to work with it would be those who are truly dedicated and focused in their quest to improve. The actual sport or event that they are preparing for is secondary to the athletes’ attitude and mindset. The mind navigates the body, and I appreciate the efforts of those athletes who are willing to work hard and demonstrate a genuine passion for what they are doing.
What differences exist between programs designed for Men and Women?
Taku: Obviously men and women have some differences between them. However in the over all scheme of things I would say that my training approach does not vary much whether I am training a woman or a man. No matter whom I am working with I always take in to account individual genetic limitations and abilities, needs, goals, and preferences as well as environmental influences, when creating a custom workout plan. With this approach I am always designing programs with the individual in mind be it a man or a woman.
Your favorite exercise.
Taku: If I had to pick one strength training exercise, it would have to be the Clean Deadlift + shrug. I was introduced to this DL variation when I first met and trained with *Jim Schmitz. Since then it has become a staple in my weight training diet. It is a great total body pulling movement that really works those important posterior chain muscles. It hits just about everything from the neck on down. Of course there is no reason to pick just one exercise but if you are looking for a great one to experiment with I am sure that once you try the Clean Deadlift + Shrug it will quickly make it’s way to your top ten list. To learn more about this exercise check out the article and Video at my blog:
http://hybridfitness.wordpress.com/2008/03/06/if-i-had-to-pick-just-onew-video/
Your favorite MMA Fighter.
Taku: I would have to say it is a close call between Anderson Silva and GSP. Silva because he is a truly well rounded, skilled and accomplished athlete, and GSP because of his great work ethic and his drive and determination to continually evolve and improve his game.
Your favorite Strength and Conditioning book.
Taku: I don’t have one favorite book but a collection of books called the Fitness Science Library produced by the International Association of Resistance Trainers. It is a Hard Bound Set with work from over 50 authors in 9 volumes, with 5000 pages, and over 2.5 million words, including over 700 referenced studies, 140 charts, 95 graphs, 175 tables, 700 diagrams and photos, 24 critiques, 3 detailed case studies, and over70 worksheets and templates. The library is an astonishing compilation of work. The depth and breadth of information there is staggering. It is the most complete and comprehensive compilation of fitness related information I have ever encountered in my twenty-year career.
Your favorite Nutrition book.
Taku: Just as with the above question, I am afraid I cannot answer with a single title in mind. I rarely find just one book on any subject that I feel has all the right answers. Nutrition is definitely a category, which falls under this shortcoming. I make nutrition recommendations in the same manner as I make exercise recommendations. I take in to account individual genetic limitations and abilities, needs, goals, and preferences as well as environmental influences when helping people create their optimal Personal Eating Plan. Two books I have enjoyed and found interesting are “The World's Healthiest Foods, Essential Guide for the Healthiest Way of Eating” by George Mateljan and “Food Is Your Best Medicine” by Henry G. Bieler MD. Both of these books have very interesting information to offer to those who have a genuine interest in taking great care of their bodies from the inside out.
Any advice to new trainers coming into the field?
Taku: I get approached quite a bit by people asking me questions about working in the fitness industry. Common questions are what certification(s) should they get should they work for themselves or for someone else, is the money really good, etc? Here is what I have to say. If you are thinking about getting a certification because you want to learn about fitness, don’t bother. Anything and everything that you need or want to know can be found on the internet or at your public library for free.
Once you have mastered some of the basics then you should think long and hard about what kind of work you want to do. Do you wish to work with athletes and sports teams or with regular folks? In-home training or working for a gym. If you work for someone else make sure that if they offer you things or make any promises, that you get it in writing! If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you work for yourself, you will need to find ways to advertise as well as have insurance etc. The most important thing I can say is that you should have a genuine passion for working with others. If you are just doing all this because you like spending time in the gym, I would say, just stick to going to the gym on your own.
Final thoughts.
Taku: There is so much myth, misconception and misunderstanding with regards to all aspects of health fitness and wellness, it is a wonder anyone ever reaches their goals. It is my hope to help clear up some of the confusion and set people on the path towards more efficient and effective training. I created Hybrid Fitness with this goal in mind. It is my hope that we can become a one-stop destination for those in search of current, reliable knowledge in the field of exercise science and related disciplines. If people need clarification on things or more detail on a certain subject, feel free to contact me at: -email-
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