Frequently asked questions about torqueblade:
Q/ How many calories would I burn?
A/ This depends on your weight, if we take an estimated weight of 170lbs we burn the following cals per hour:
- Torqueblade 750 to 850
- Torquebrave 400 to 600
- Torquetribe 750 to 850
- Tranquilblade 280 to 380
Q/ Swinging stuff around your head? Isn’t that a bit dangerous?
A/ Safety axiom:“Clobber not lest yea be clobbered”. The inherent risks about swinging a lump of aluminum about ones head should be apparent. However for those of us who would like clarification, I would like to use a Latin quote. “Que nocent sape docent” (What hurts often instructs). There is no more danger than training in a weight training gym and not paying attention to your environment. The fact that people have been training over a millenia in this format dictates that it is safe providing a person takes care in what they do.
Q/ Is the Torqueblade sharp?
A/ No it is not, it is purely a training blade to allow a practitioner to train in a safe manner.
Q/ Why use a blade rather than a club?
A/ A blade is basically a club, albeit a refined club with the line of impact clearly defined. This edge or impact line is very useful in realigning a persons body mechanics.
Q/ How does the Torqueblade differ from using various weighted weapons?
A/ The design makes the Torqueblade harder to stop and change direction at speed. When using heavier tools speed is harder to generate and still be in control of the tool. The Torqueblade, when used alone will still challenge enough to be an effective conditioning tool for Martial Training.
Benefits:
Q/ What are the benefits of training like this?
A/
Benefits of Torqueblade Exercise
Torqueblade training
A functional base for general all over body conditioning
Torqueblade training like any other physical activity will increase your performance. The difference with Torqueblade training is that the goal is for a functional base to start from and return too, in your quest for fitness. Train smarter, rather than harder!
This regime will not make you better at running, fighting, swimming (sports etc.) but will help develop a holistic system to help repair and prepare for the mentioned activities.
The exercises are set out in a manner which challenges the cardiovascular system and also develops strength to weight ratio.
The Indian club training motions significantly improve the mobilization of the shoulder girdle as the exercises take the shoulder through all of the ranges of motion, elevation, depression, abduction, adduction and rotation.
The full body exercises (inspired by medicine ball training, yoga and Filipino Martial arts) insure-with the use of the Torqueblade-a synergistic appreciation of body mechanics and lines of force.
The combination of both push your cardio vascular system to a state of being breathless but able to converse (sub maximal of the Anaerobic threshold) every now and then stepping over in to your anaerobic threshold and developing a greater tolerance to work and clear lactic acid from your system. This in turn prehabilitates you for adaptability in your environment.
- Enhanced cardio vascular system
- Adaptability to working in a random environment
The Combination of both challenges your musculoskeletal system in a manner conducive to a functional lifestyle the muscles not only strengthen but do not bulk up as the aim is not for size alone but strength to weight ratio, this creates lean long muscle (depending on your body type).
The benefits are:
- Enhanced equilibrium
- Increased muscle fiber size
- Increased muscle contractile strength
- Increased tendon, bone, and ligament strength
- Increased flexibility & mobilization
- Increased strength to weight ratio
Torqueblade for FMA
As many martial artists agree the use of weapons improves the body’s mechanics as the motions challenge the body’s equilibrium once these motions have been internalized the mechanics become tighter and the ability to adapt quickly has been improved.
When using a baton the understanding of lines of force is often lost for the beginner and many times for the advanced student. A blade (albeit a refined blunt instrument) greatly improves the appreciation of lines of force and wrist alignment.
A balanced tool enhances mechanics and impact, but to challenge the mechanics and adaptability for impromptu weapons suggests that we train with multiple tools. I suggest to you that we do not have the time or money to do this, so the Torqueblade was designed out of this necessity.
The Torqueblade challenges the grip and mechanics due to its shape, it is still light enough to use for many drills but can be adapted by adding the Companionblade in different combinations to offset the balance even more.
The edict follows that if we train with a clumsy tool a balanced tool will be easier to wield.
Key Benefits for FMA:
- Increased grip strength
- Increased body awareness
- Increased body mechanics
- Greater appreciation of lines of force
Tranquilblade
Although the motions may be arguably violent in nature, there is no martial application being taught. Further more the forms being practiced are done so at a physiological state which mimics a slow walk and lack a commonality with a violent situation.
Perception is key to everything, Tranquilblade is practised in a state that promotes relaxation. This allows the practitioner to meditate on the meaning of the forms and draw the practitioner into their physical self by paying close attention to each breath, step and visualization.
The benefits are:
- Relaxation
- Lower stress
- Back pain relief
- Flexibility
- Low impact cardio’
Torquetribe:
Burn up to 850 cals per hour!
The competition is within you!
Torquetribe is a concept which embraces the principles of functionality and a stylized interpretation of military fitness training.
The regime has been slightly tempered to fit a broader range of participants.
People of any level of fitness will benefit from the class. Each person completes the regime at their own rate of perceived exertion. You train as part of the tribe, you do your best, the goal is to finish the exercises with good form.
You compete with yourself. Somedays you will struggle. Somedays you will excel. This is the nature of things.
Torquetribe is best described as a boot camp and a rite of passage. Battle your inner demons and embrace success.
Benefits:
· Improvement in – Endurance, flexibility, esteem, strength, adaptability and lean muscle mass
· Reduction in – Body fat and risk of cardiovascular disease
Origins:
Q/ Where did Torqueblade and the Torqueadian regimes come from?
A/ The conception of the Torqueblade came from two routes, like parallel lines on train track, both heading in the same direction. The two routes are “Functional Fitness” and the “Arts of Mars” both originating from the need to improve certain desired attributes, and both heading towards a similar goal. I originally started designing the Torqueblade from the desire to develop an awkward training tool to enhance adaptability to impromptu weapons. This would also challenge the body’s equilibrium when in motion. These requirements would aide in adaptability.
The human body moves in three planes of motion. Everything that we do requires our muscles to work in synergy with each other. Every required task moves through all three planes of motion (multi-planer). Only the intent changes the out come”.
Torqueblade kind of grew and took shape over a few years. I still play a few cards to my chest as I am working on another book to address other exercise concepts. The Torqueblade, like any other item dreamed into being had been inspired by another. My inspiration came from my experiences from various fitness regimes, military, para military, martial, and numerous civilian. The main underlying thread that I came to appreciate was that of “strength to weight ratio and specific endurance for the desired tasks”.
Torqueblade training has been influenced by the need for adaptability of impromptu weapons. It could be said that Indian club training has long incorporated this practice by increasing the size and therefore the load of the training tool. The British military adopted these exercises in the 1800′s.
“The British military, moving with the times decided to upgrade the Royal Navy. The Admiralty at that time replaced sails in favour of steam, to power the new warships. Consequently, labour was not as demanding and the Admiralty perceived a lack of fitness. So the R.N. adopted the training regime of club swinging. To this day the fitness instructors in the R.N. are still referred to as Clubs,” (Information kindly supplied by Warrant Officer Richardson P.T.I. R.N.).
“Club swinging is believed to have originated in India by soldiers as a method of improving strength, agility, balance and physical ability. During the annexation of India, British officers witnessed the graceful motions and essential property of expanding the chest and exercising every muscle of the body. The British brought the Indian Clubs to Europe where the Germans and Czechs adopted club swinging into their physical training systems,” (Information kindly supplied by DR. ED Thomas of www.motionrx.com).
I realized that when training with weapons (swords/clubs), student’s body mechanics improved quicker than when training empty hands alone. The reason for this is, when the equilibrium of the body is challenged by holding an object outside of its natural range of motion, the core of the body has to react more quickly to regain balance. This reaction of muscles turning off and on to regain balance is called proprioception.
If in a fight or flight situation, the ability to adapt by way of proprioception my neuromuscular system for an impromptu weapon (if warranted) can be hindered with out proper training, due to the on coming threat and time constraints. Therefore training in a manner that would prehabilitate my body for such an eventuality would seem to be the ideal way to go. I amalgamated my appreciation of blade training with medicine ball type exercises and Indian club training, as I believed that it would aid in developing adaptability. To refer to a quote of Darwin, “Adaptability ensures a creature’s success.” In other words functional training. Or to put it another way “If you can’t pull yourself out of a hole, what use are you?” (Mind you, avoiding holes would probably be a better lesson to study?)
Training in a modern gym type setting was not conducive to my requirements. The only exercises that would allow me to train in all planes of motion would be those similar to medicine ball training and those exercises of the Indian Gurus or club swinging. These exercises were made all the more challenging, with the unique design of the Torqueblade.
Inspiration for the unique shape of the Torqueblade is due partly to the needs. The tool needed to be tip heavy like the Indian club whilst still maintaining edge awareness. The only reasonable blade that came to my mind was that of the Nepalese kukri. I had to make the handle a bit more off kilter so I chose the concept the pistol grip found on the kriss or gunong blade. As with larger blades a companion blade usually accompanies it and since I needed a way to increase the load via a cross lateral fixing it seemed apparent that I make two for each larger blade.
On another not I just recently I completed a book that helps promote the concept of Torqueblade in a fantasy format. The book is called “The Blades of Torqueadia.”