Advertisement His hip pain had gotten steadily worse to the point where he couldn’t sleep at night, and simple movements were difficult and painful. He knew it was time to have surgery.
Nicklaus, owner of Martial Arts America, struggled with what to do to stay in shape and lead an active lifestyle after his surgery.
He also was restricted in his martial arts, as he had trouble kicking with his new hip.
“I was relieved to not have to deal with the everyday pain,” Nicklaus said. “I was not, however, relieved to find that I would not be able to do some of the things that I had loved so much.”
He didn’t do much during his rehabilitation and gained 20 pounds. And it took a toll on his health, happiness and self-image.
“I decided that I needed to get back on track, and it was time to move,” Nicklaus said. “I wanted some workout to speed up my metabolism and help get me back into shape.”
His original karate instructor, a retired Army special forces major, came to the rescue. The major recommended combat endurance training, which combines strength, muscular endurance, cardio-respiratory and flexibility.
Nicklaus said he lost
17 pounds through the program, and gained muscle and strength as well as improved his cardiovascular fitness.
“Along with all of that, my energy level went through the roof, and I was feeling a whole lot better, and realizing that even a guy with a brand new hip can get into remarkable shape,” he said.
Nicklaus, whose 50th birthday is in October, now wants to share what he has learned with others.
He is conducting a 12-lesson combat endurance training program starting Tuesday at Martial Arts America. Nicklaus also is collecting data on the training and is seeking people ages 35 to 55 to join the program at no cost. The training will be on various days through June 14. Nutrition information also will be provided by a nutritionist, and weight and body-fat measurements will be taken.
“The really exciting thing about this program is that it can help that person who hasn’t exercised for a while and is wanting to get into the swing of things,” Nicklaus said.
The training involves cardiovascular fitness, stretching, core strength and upper body strength.
“It will be tailor-made for people at different levels, and you can work at your own pace,” Nicklaus said. “If you can do 10 minutes, great, and if you can do it for longer, that’s great, too.”
If you’re looking for something new and different, combat endurance training might be worth trying.
For more information, call (608) 792-4006.
Terry Rindfleisch can be reached at trindfleisch@lacrossetribune.com or (608) 791-8227.
