Asian Fitness Convention

Over the weekend, top fitness experts converged in Bangkok, Thailand for the 6th Asian Fitness Convention. The theme this year was ‘Fulfilling Promises’ – ensuring that visitors get what they are seeking, reach their goals and become healthier, fitter and better performers.

In previous years, AFC talked about raising the bar in the fitness industry in Asia, creating ripples and influencing and transforming lives, building results on lasting foundations.

This year's AFC offers more variety than ever before. It had 160 sessions with 50+ world class presenters to learn from. Some are here for the very first time and some returning with more and new materials. Mix up workouts, workshops, lectures and demos; dance, sports conditioning, mind-body, science lectures, business seminars and more. Ms. Suzzane Hosley is the woman behind the success of the Asian Fitness Convention. Suzanne is also the managing director of Fitness Innovation (Thailand) Ltd.

It was my second time to attend this convention and indeed promises were fulfilled. I can say I am more armed with new methods, new workouts, conditioning techniques and new equipment to help our fellow Filipinos to be fitter, stronger and healthier.

One of the most notable speaker and presenter was Sergeant Ken, also known as Ken Weichert in real life. Sergeant Ken is a six-time US Army Soldier of the Year, Master Fitness Trainer,  Master Resilience Trainer, and veteran of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Desert Storm. In 1993, Sergeant Ken became a certified Master fitness trainer in the US Army. He has led more than thousands of soldiers to better health through Operation Fit to Fight.

During the convention, when you see participants cueing a long, long line, you would know that it's Sergeant Ken’s class. He has different approach in handling his boot camp session in way that most of us will never experience, ‘the US Army style.’  The Chant, the motivation and most of all the buckets of sweat you bleed after each session. I tried my best to attend and meet all of the speakers and presenters  especially for lectures and workout that involves sports conditioning, kids fitness, strength training, stability, agility and mobility workouts such as the ones handled by Peter Twist, Tim Church, Mindy Mylrea, Peter Mccall, Douglas Brooks and Jonathan Ross to name a few.

And if we talk about the science behind fitness, then Fabio Comana's name is first in line. He is the Director of Continuing Education for the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and is a faculty instructor at San Diego State University and University of California. His extensive research on High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) has set new standards in the fitness industry. He also has done a vast research for Nutrition from Paleo, Intermittent fasting, Gluten and inflammation, which is unraveling popular nutritional trends.

When I got to attend the lecture regarding ‘Crack the Movement, Code for Key Function Exercise’ by Dr. Lee Burton, I realize then that most of our athletes have been training the wrong way. The basic foundation such as proper form, balance, stability are often neglected and our athletes train really hard not knowing of the consequences of their training mistakes. One great example of training mistake is basic functional movement. Poor form, posture, balance, stability, and coordination. Here in Cebu or in Philippines, we focus too much on speed and endurance. Yes, athletes can still perform or compete, but they are not in their top performing level. Dr. Burton is currently the director of Athletic Training at Averett University in Danville Virginia and the president and co-owner of Functional Movement Systems a Consulting and Education Organization.

I will surely go back next year for The Asian Fitness Convention 2015, which will be at the same venue at BITEC in Bangkok, Thailand. Suzanne mentioned that 2015 will be very exciting with the theme of 'Balance and Integration' and we will be doing more innovative activities, classes and attract people from allied healthcare, general public  and cooking classes, etcetera. This is the perfect place for all fitness enthusiast, coach, gym owners  and athletes to join.

For more information check out their website www.asia-fitness.com or email them at [email protected].