SHAOLIN FITNESS SECRETS

I just came across this on CNN's Health Section.

A new study done at Canada's York University found that people underestimate how hard they should be hitting it when they're working out.

"Despite being given the standards of intensity defined by Canada’s Physical Activity Guide, volunteers underestimated how hard they should be exercising to reach the “moderate” and “vigorous” intensities. Conversely, participants were accurately able to estimate “light” intensity exercises."

Why do I not find that surprising?

Earlier this year I was finishing my morning run with sets of sprints.  A variation on that - and one that can be either harder or easier, depending on how you do it - is to set out on a standard jog and then suddenly switch to a sprinting pace for a set distance.  This works great for martial artists because whether you're doing stand up freestyle sparring or grappling, the pace is never perfectly even.  You're going to spar or grapple in bursts, and your roadwork pattern can help you a lot with that.