Fitness Member of the Month April 2013
Define Defense's April Fitness Member of the Month is Brian C! Brian is a hard working athlete who never gives up and never complains. He has made a ton of progress and is STRONG! Keep up the good work.

Your Environment Determines your Success
First of all, I love my clients. I love training with them, talking to them and instructing them. In our studio, we do our best creating a supportive and friendly environment for our clients. This creates a fantastic group atmosphere with people getting along great, supporting each other and having a great time together.
I see people smiling over and over. They have a great time working out together and enjoy coming in. The environment we have in our facility encourages clients to get to know each other and it appears some become great friends once they get to know each other before and after classes.
However, the key part of this paragraph was WORKING OUT. People come to Define Defense, its instructors and myself to get a great workout and learn valid skills. All our instructors are certified and very experienced in their field, whether it’s TRX, kettle bell, personal training or Mixed Martial Arts & Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Group atmosphere is important and we make sure it’s where it needs to be but our absolute priority is offering a superb training experience in a clean and hygienic facility with skilled instructors. That is also what I expect from clients. I want their priority to be working out or learning, not only socializing. I see many studios and instructors focussing so much on socializing and chatting away that they forget to prioritize the workout. Isn’t that what we go to classes for? Some instructors chat too much, talk about unrelated topics or even hang out with clients in inappropriate or unrelated situations. Even though some people enjoy this, I believe it is unprofessional and very unproductive for your workout program.
If you take your training seriously, you will focus on training. If socializing is that important to you, perhaps you should join some other club. Don’t get me wrong, I think the social aspect is important and VERY enjoyable. However, I do not believe that you should go to a gym for the social aspect only.
More and more you see some organizations, instructors and brands that focus on the social aspect so much that people oversee it lacks in quality or safety. When I went to the gym before I opened Define Defense, I put in my earphones, killed my workout and left. Sometimes people were there before I came in until after I left and didn’t drop one drop of sweat because they were chatting away (or trying to pick up someone). Sometimes group classes stop the entire class for extended periods of time to chat away or yell at someone to motivate them. Not my kind of training… As an instructor, you need to have people work and learn as much as they can during that timeframe for maximum productivity. And if you need extra motivation, the trainer should make sure to motivate you and not have the other clients do it.
As an athlete or someone who is serious about any goal in life, always surround yourself with the best best possible people. Leave politics out of it. If you surround yourself with less skilled or lazy people, you might be among the better ones in that group but never reach your full potential as laziness and the act of compromising is contagious. If you surround yourself with better and hard working people however, you will be constantly challenged, motivated and become the best version of yourself. Be serious about your training and decide where you will become the best you can be. If you like an instructor and they leave but are replaced with someone else, give that person a chance. They just might be a whole lot better!
When I go to the gym, I’m there to work out and learn. Other might have different reasons, which is fine. I do believe in having a great relationship with your trainer and I care a tremendous amount for my clients (and always have a fun time training them). Maintaining a professional relationship is key though. As my clients know, I’m always there for them and am very responsive and flexible. I assist clients in many ways and will meet them outside of the gym to help them with their health and fitness goals. Being a trainer and instructor, being sociable, open (to a certain extent) and professional is key. Having an instructor you meet up after training with to get a drink, rarely ends up well. And when you go train, you don’t want to hear your trainer complain about things going on in their life either right?
I invite everyone to be open minded and have a critical eye to exercise programs, supplements and instructors. After all, it’s your time and your money you are investing to become healthier, more skilled and get in better shape. I believe that, if you are critical, you will make a better decision and I think Define Defense will benefit of that.
P.S. One of my favorite parts of my job is seeing people not only work out hard, but enjoying it together and talking with clients about their progress, training and helping them however I can!
By Sander Vanacker (Define Defense)
- Personal Training
- TRX / Cross Training Classes
- Kettle Bell
- Warrior Training
- Self Defense Classes & Workshops
- Mixed Martial Arts & Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
1805 11th Street Suite B
Boulder, CO 80302
Sander@DefineDefense.com
www.DefineDefense.com
Favorite Leg TRX Exercises
By Sander Vanacker (Define Defense)
- Personal Training
- TRX / Cross Training Classes
- Kettle Bell
- Warrior Training
- Self Defense Classes & Workshops
- Mixed Martial Arts & Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
1805 11th Street Suite B
Boulder, CO 80302
Sander@DefineDefense.com
www.DefineDefense.com
Tough Mudder Team Training
Define Defense is again participating in the Tough Mudder in Beaver Creek, Colorado on June 16th, 2013! Tough Mudder CO is a 12 mile obstacle course to complete with a team (not a competition!). It’s a blast and gives you a great goal to work towards while having fun with your team mates. And let’s not forget, it gives you bragging rights for a long time!

We will be training all our participants and have a great offer for our team mates. If you join our Define Defense Team for Tough Mudder, you can get a 3 month unlimited fitness membership at our facility for only $200 or a 6 month membership for only $345.*
This membership applies to all our TRX, Cross Training, Warrior Training and Kettle Bell classes. On top of these, we will also do additional specific workouts to prepare ourselves for Tough Mudder.
That’s a stunning 50% off normal membership fees!
However, in order to get this amazing deal at our cutting edge studio, you have to commit to joining our Tough Mudder Team first. There is absolutely no monetary gain from your registration for Define Defense. However, we do this because it’s a lot of fun!
Everyone is welcome! We just ask you to come motivated and bring your team spirit!
REGISTER HERE AND JOIN OUR TEAM!
When you register, you have to click ‘Join an Existing Team’, the next page will require you to type in our team name:
Define Defense Martial Arts & Fitness
When you are all set, please email us at Info@DefineDefense.com to confirm your registration and we will get you set up with your unlimited membership for our TRX, Cross Training and Kettle Bell classes!
Do you have any questions? Just shoot them over!
*For new members only*
TRX Suspension Trainer and Rip Trainer Discount!
Next Self Defense Course Dates
Define Defense now offers 4 week self defense courses on Fridays from 5-6pm. In these 4 classes, we go over:
- Self defense on the floor against a standing attacker
- Self defense against sexual assault
- Self defense against grabs, chokes and other forceful attacks
- Effective striking
- How to avoid dangerous situations
- How to maximize your chances of escape
- How to use pepper sprays (and other defense sprays)
- Vital points, body language and other proven methods to get yourself into safety
The next self defense course will take place on these dates:
October 26th
November 2nd
November 9th
November 16th
Every attendee will receive an information packet. If you cannot attend all 4 consecutive classes, you can use your remaining class(es) during the next course dates.
The price for the full program is only $75.
If you want to reserve a spot, please send us a message or register here. Spots are limited!
This program combines all of the most effective and realistic ways to defend yourself against any dangers that may occur. We focus on prevention as well as protecting yourself and others. In this course, you will learn how to deal with a crisis situation, mentally as well as physically. Everything we teach is relevant to real situations and applies more realistic training methods for improved results.

Performance and Motivation Workshop
Define Defense is partnering up with Coach Meg from Spark Behavior Solutions to offer you a workshop about performance, motivation and learn how to master healthy habits for better results! This great workshop will take place at the Define Defense studio on November 15th from 6-7.30pm.
Before the workshop, we will be offering a free TRX / Cross Training class from 5-6pm for our clients and all workshop attendees.
$35 for DD members
$45 for non DD members
The TRX class will take place before the workshop. MMA class will be cancelled and our 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu class will start at 7.30pm.
Please register by emailing Coach Meg at info@sparkbehavior.com

Dowload the flyer here:
Define Defense Flyer
About Sander
This blog post is… well about myself. I am not writing this because I love talking about myself or out of narcissistic tendencies. I am posting this because I have had many questions about my background in martial arts, fitness, education etc. This is a great visual way to show everyone what I’ve done since I was a child that relates to my profession now.
I have been involved with a lot of different sports (especially in college of which I don’t have any visual materials for) and always continue to learn and try new things.
Buddy Week
Define Defense will be hosting ‘Buddy Days’ during September 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th. During these days, everyone can bring friends, family, spouses and whoever else they want to join them in our classes.
It doesn’t matter if your guests have done any martial arts or fitness classes before, just invite them to show them what you do and to have some fun!
Anyone is welcome! The person who brings the most ‘Buddies’ will get a free Define Defense T shirt.

Grappling Tournament Sponsors
Grappling Tournament Sponsorship Opportunities
Grappling Tournament Sponsorships
Many grappling tournaments are based on points which leads to boring matches and people winning by stalling. We have removed the possibility of that by removing the point structure and allowing you to win only by submitting your opponent. This style tournament is the most exciting to watch as well as to compete in.
Define Defense has a significant presence online through our website (over 1,00 views/month) and social media pages (reach of over 9,000 people/week) and will also invite all other studios and training facilities in the Denver and Boulder Metro areas. Our marketing efforts also include spreading posters and flyers in the area hotspots. A professional photographer will be present to capture the tournament’s highlights and share these with the local media.
We are pleased to offer you different levels of sponsorship, please see the options underneath.
You and any other representative of your company would be most welcome to attend so that we could thank you personally for your support.
We are looking forward to hearing from you. In case you have any queries you can contact us at the number underneath. Thank you for your time and considering sponsoring our event.
Sander Vanacker
Owner/Head Instructor
(720) 340 6254
Sponsorship Options
$100 Bronze (5 available)
- Company flyers and information in the gift bag
- Company recognition on Define Defense blog, tournament web page and social media (weekly for 1 month)
- Our undying love and gratitude
$250 Silver: Co-Sponsor (2 available)
- Mentioning of the company’s name during the opening and closing of the tournament
- Company flyers and information in the gift bag
- Company’s banner exposed in the tournament studio
- Company’s logo on Tournament banner (carried on every podium)
- Company recognition on Define Defense blog, tournament web page (under Main Sponsors with logo)
- Company recognition on Social Media (weekly for 2 months)
$500 Gold: Major Sponsor (1 available)
- Will be included in name of tournament as well put your logo up in multiple places in gym
(first Annual Submission only Tournament brought to you by *Company Name*)
- Your logo on our tournament posters, spread throughout Boulder, CO
- Company flyers and information in the gift bag
- Company’s banner exposed in the tournament studio
- Your logo will be on all certificates given to the top 3 contestants of all divisions.
- Company’s logo on Tournament banner (carried on every podium)
- Company recognition on Define Defense blog, tournament web page (under Main Sponsors with logo)
- Company recognition on Social Media (weekly for 4 months)
We will also accept merchandise to raffle away as this gets your name and products out there.
Submission Only Grappling Tournament

Register here: http://clients.mindbodyonline.com/ws.asp?studioid=14713&stype=-8
RESCHEDULED TO A LATER DATE, WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON!
For more info, contact us at Info@DefineDefense.com
Submission Only
Tournament Rules
Weight Classes:
Men
*155 and under
*155-170
*170-190
*190 and up
*Open Weight
Women
*115 and under
*116 -135
*136-155
*155 and up
*Open Weight
Divisions
Beginner: up to a year
Intermediate: 1 - 3 years (blue belts and wrestlers required to do intermediate)
Advanced 3 years +
Rules
ILLEGAL TECHNIQUES / SERIOUS
Serious violations are marked with an asterisk and are grounds for immediate disqualification without a second warning.
NO striking of any kind
NO pressure points or nerve centers
NO eye gouging, biting, hair-pulling, ear-pulling, pinching, etc. *NO neck cranks(twisting the neck( twisters OK )
NO slams
NO small joint manipulation (fingers or toes)
No Heelhooks(reaping knee OK)
Minor violations are violations nonetheless. Repeated warnings may result in disqualification.
NO covering of the opponent’s nose or mouth with your hands
NO wrestling shoes, no sambo shoes – Bare feet only
Stalling will result in a warning for the first offense. Possible disqualification if continues. The referee will use his judgement to determine if it warrants a standup or a DQ.
General
No time limits, no points. Win by submission only.
Competitors must be clean. Competitors with offensive odors will not be permitted to compete.
If you have Ringworm, Staff infections, Athletes Foot or any other contagious disease, you may not compete.
Fingernails & toenails must be clean & clipped.
Remove all jewelry.
Cover up all open wounds.
Leglocks, including knee bars, are legal at all levels. Heelhooks are illegal at all levels.
Twisters, compressions, muscle locks legal at all levels.
Both competitors must engage at all times. If one person butt scoots and other backs away, the person sitting will be forced to stand.
Father's Day: What to Get?
Sunday is Father's Day! Sometimes it can be tricky to figure out what to get your husband, dad, grandpa, godfather etc. So here are some suggestions of the Define Defense Team:
A TRX Suspension Band: These are some of the best workout tools in the world. It may look like an innocent and easy piece of equipment but it will challenge you, no matter what level you are! Many pro athletes use it and Define Defense uses the TRX Suspension Bands every day for general fitness training, rehabilitation and MMA training! If that's not cool enough, keep in mind it was invented by a Navy Seal!
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & MMA classes: Get him a membership or a punch card for BJJ or MMA classes! Little boys love wrestling and grappling and deep inside somewhere, all men are still sort of boys. So give him a chance to learn BJJ & MMA. He will thoroughly enjoy it and learn great skills. It is a lot more than just rolling around on the ground, it's a highly tactical and intelligent ground game with many skills and techniques, call it a human chess game if you want. Plus, what do you have to lose? You get a husband that's in great shape and he can protect you better!
Self Defense: Perhaps your husband or dad has been bugging you for years since he's worried about you. Well, you know what the answer is: Take some self defense classes and take away his worries!
Cross Training / TRX classes: None of the above? No problem, get him a punch card or membership for Cross Training / TRX classes and let him pick when he comes to work out. Define Defense has 7 classes every week and no need to register beforehand. He will get a great and safe workout that will give him fantastic results. The instructors at Define Defense are very individually oriented and make sure you reach your personal goals!
Gift card: Can't decide between all these awesome choices? Well then you can just get a gift card and let him decide for himself! He can even use towards our retail products, such as boxing / MMA gloves, rash guards, pepper spray etc.
You can simply come into our studio to purchase or order something or contact us at info@DefineDefense.com
4 medals at NAGA!
Congrats to Roger, Robert, Will and Michael for winning gold and silver medals at the NAGA tournament on Saturday April 28th, 2012!
Great job guys, we’re proud of you!

Tough Mudder Medicine Ball Workout
Define Defense in Boulder, CO
- Modern Martial Arts
- Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & MMA
- Self Defense Classes & Workshops
- Personal Training
- Cross Training / TRX Classes
1805 11th Street Suite B
Boulder, CO 80302
Volunteering trip to Mission: Wolf
Dates: Saturday April 7th (morning) - Sunday April 8th (afternoon) If you are interested, you are welcome to join and we will camp out on the reserve for 1 night and come back on Sunday afternoon. A small fee will be requested, which will directly be donated to the wolf reserve (will be applied to sponsoring a wolf and we will receive a certificate, 8x10 picture and some hair of the wolf). More info to come (including logistics, carpooling etc.) |
About Self Defense Classes & Workshops - Crime, Reports and Bad Decisions
I'm sure you've heard or read about the 20 year old CU student who got ticketed for falsely reporting an attack on University Hill. You can read more about it here.
Her initial story was that she was walking alone when she was grabbed by a 200lbs. knife wielding man. After a struggle, she got away with some minor scratches.
Doesn't add up does it? It may be possible if she was very lucky and the attacker only had the intention to scare her with the knife but did not plan on actually using it. It is definitely possible if she acted and overwhelmed her attacker (you want to take away the attacker's confidence, therefore the Golden Rule of self defense: ACT CRAZY). However, if a 200 lbs. man was wielding with a knife, it would be extremely hard to walk away the way she did. Not just for her but for anyone, including me!
False reports are unfortunate and prevent law enforcement from investigating real crimes. For example:
The armed robbery which turned fatal for Todd Walker (March 2011)
The gunmen who robbed multiple people and sexually assaulted a woman (August, 2011)
A gunman outside the Boulder Community Hospital (April, 2011)
Bank robbery in North Boulder (September, 2011)
CU campus robbery (January, 2012)
Sexual assault attempts (October, 2011)
Does this mean Boulder is an unsafe or bad place to live? Absolutely not! However, as in every big town (and college town), you need to be aware and more importantly, not be naive. Not everyone is trustworthy, you need to be cautious and use common sense.
After all, things happen and you don't control everything or everyone. None of the above victims ever thought this would happen to them but unfortunately it did. We should all try to keep ourselves and others safe. There are many ways to do this but the first step is to realize bad things do happen. Being prepared doesn't hurt. The last thing you want to do is putting yourself in a situation in which bad things can happen.
As a self defense instructor, I spend a lot of attention to all aspects of self defense. It is not simply about the techniques and how to get back to safety but it's also about preventing, scanning, communication (verbal and non verbal), knowing vital points and very important: your mental state.
My wife pointed out an article about self defense a few weeks ago and Linda Fairstein (a former sex crimes prosecutor) addresses a few very bad choices that turned for the worst.
- Kenia Monge from Denver was planning on going to college to become a crime scene investigator so she was an intelligent woman. When she left her friends to go to the restroom when partying, she never came back. Travis Forbes was found guilty for the murder of Kenia. She made one mistake but it cost her and her family dearly. It is very important to use a buddy system when leaving the group, no matter how close or easy your destination is.
- Holly Bobo, a 20 year old student was kidnapped outside her Tennessee home. It seems like Holly did not resist enough, at least not in the initial part of her kidnapping. Traces of resistance were found but it was probably too late. If you feel unsafe, draw attention to yourself. It will lower your attacker's confidence and other people may be able to assist or call 911. Do whatever you can to draw attention and target vital points to maximize damage and pain. Please note that every situation is different and everyone's response is different. When there are weapons involved, it is also a very different scenario so this response may not fit all situations!
- Paula Sladewski had a fight with her boyfriend in a club, it came to a point that her boyfriend was thrown out and she stayed. When she left later, cameras show a man was following her. She didn't make it and up to this day, there is no suspect. Paula made the mistake of making a decision based on her emotions at that time. This affected her safety and it turned for the worst. Always be careful and don't take risks, even if you are upset.
The article focussed on these three situations that were caused by a certain decision. Other people doing the same actions may be fine and many other decisions will also turn out to be the wrong one. Should you lock yourself up and don’t take any risks? No but take calculated risks and please use common sense. It’s better to be safe than sorry. In my mind, every person should take a proper self defense course and know the basics (not because we teach these but I believe things can happen and you should be able to help yourself if needed).
We teach self defense classes 4 times a week and offer punch cards to give our clients the freedom to choose their own times. We focus on every aspect of self defense and make sure you leave with a strong basic knowledge and skill set. All levels and ages are welcome. More info about our self defense classes and workshops here.
By Sander Vanacker, Define Defense’s certified personal trainer and head martial arts instructor, based in Boulder, Colorado. Take a look at www.DefineDefense.com, www.TrainerVanacker.com or check out our videos on YouTube.com/DefineDefense ! Define Defense in Boulder, CO
- Modern Martial Arts
- Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & MMA
- Self Defense Classes & Workshops
- Personal Training
- Cross Training / TRX Classes
1805 11th Street Suite B
Boulder, CO 80302
Our No Gi Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Program - Downtown Boulder
A little more about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at our Define Defense studio:
Our No Gi Jiu Jitsu Classes
My main background in martial arts is stand up fighting and self defense (for almost 19 years now). I have also been training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu since 2008. For the first three years, I only practiced with the gi, based on Gracie Jiu Jitsu.
Before opening Define Defense, I met Drew (our BJJ instructor) and he introduced me to the world of no gi Jiu Jitsu. This was a huge change for me since I had never done Brazilian Jiu Jitsu without the gi before.
Drew doesn’t only teach no gi Jiu Jitsu, he also shows great techniques from catch wrestling, Judo and (my favorite): 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu.
This has made my grappling game improve tremendously and now, I feel much more confident and skilled. Of course, we still go over the basics to have a solid foundation but being able to supplement this with techniques from other forms of submission wrestling has made a huge difference. I am now able to catch Twisters, control people with Rubber Guard, catch calf slicers etc. For me, it has made a huge difference, both skill wise and mentally. I can put things together better and am able to think out of the box and make transitions easier.
Gi Jiu Jitsu is still great and I am very thankful I have learned the basics the way I did. However, I feel much more versatile now that I don’t have to rely on the gi anymore (my opinion, I am aware others may have different experiences).
Also, having so many classes each week makes it convenient for everyone else to fit it in their schedule. It’s also a great workout and combining it with strength & conditioning classes simply makes you stronger and more skilled.
More info on the No Gi Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Program here.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for Self Defense
For self defense purposes, Jiu Jitsu is the ultimate way to protect yourself on the ground. That being said, there is a certain amount of skills you should possess BUT more would be irrelevant for pure self defense situations.
After all, the chances of your attacker knowing a gift wrap choke is extremely small or doing a banana split would be useless. A great self defense course absolutely needs to teach some Brazilian Jiu Jitsu but it should never be the only thing to rely on. After all, if you can avoid going to the ground, you always should (for example: a sexual assault situation), no matter how good your grappling is. There is the issue of ground and pound, plus your attacker’s accomplice may be just around the corner.
Jiu Jitsu is extremely important for self defense since you do not have to rely on strength; instead, technique will help you get back to safety. Knowing how to avoid situations, accurate striking, stand up self defense locks and techniques etcetera play a very important role as well and a self defense course should offer a complete package of all these aspects.


By Sander Vanacker, Define Defense’s certified personal trainer and head martial arts instructor, based in Boulder, Colorado. Take a look at www.DefineDefense.com, www.TrainerVanacker.com or check out our videos on YouTube.com/DefineDefense !
Define Defense in Boulder, CO
- Modern Martial Arts
- Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & MMA
- Self Defense Classes & Workshops
- Personal Training
- Cross Training / TRX Classes
1805 11th Street Suite B
Boulder, CO 80302
Training the energy systems
Lactic acid tolerance training
This will improve your tolerance but also your body’s ability to buffer it and increase lactate removal from the muscle.
Intervals of less than 1 minute will require 4-8 repetitions with long recovery periods in between (15-30 minutes)
Longer intervals of 2-3 minutes are desirable but only if you can hold the intensity.
This is a very hard workout so don’t overdo it.
Maximum oxygen consumption training
Intervals of 3-5 minutes, max intensity. Heart rate up to 10 beats under your max.
Improve efficiency of the oxygen transport system.
Anaerobic Threshold Training
Tempo training with speed slightly above comfortable. Intensity should be 60-90% of max and you have to hold it throughout your training. Lactate levels will be above 4 millimol and will build up.
Phosphate system training
Short bursts of maximum intensity up to 10 seconds. Long recovery necessary to prevent lactate production.
Aerobic Threshold Training (Long Slow Distance Training)
More than 1 hour
No lactate production
Comfortable intensity (have to be able to talk)
Will improve endurance and recovery time
By Sander Vanacker, Define Defense’s certified personal trainer and head martial arts instructor, based in Boulder, Colorado. Take a look at www.DefineDefense.com, www.TrainerVanacker.com or check out our videos on YouTube.com/DefineDefense !
Define Defense in Boulder, CO
- Modern Martial Arts
- Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & MMA
- Self Defense Classes & Workshops
- Personal Training
- Cross Training / TRX Classes
1805 11th Street Suite B
Boulder, CO 80302
Energy Systems
Energy required for muscle contraction is released by by the conversion of ATP into ADP+P
Therefore, ATP sources need to constantly replenished by different energy systems:
Phosphagen System
Readily available in the body and can be used instantaneously for efforts up to 8-10 seconds. Very important for weight lifters, sprinters etc. No lactic acid production and no oxygen necessary.
After the effort, in the first 30 seconds, 70% of the creatinephosphate is replenished and in 3 to 5 minutes, a 100% is replenished.
Lactic Acid System
The lactic acid system provides energy for resynthesizing ATP for events up to 40 seconds (first 10 will be Phosphagen system). It breaks down glycogen stored in the muscle cells and liver and produces lactic acid (no oxygen used which creates an oxygen debt).
Restoring glycogen takes 2 hours for 40% and 24 hours for full restoration after a workout with breaks throughout. For a continuous, high intensity workout, it can take 48 hours.
95% of the lactic acid is removed after 1 hour and 15 minutes so the muscle pains you may feel for the next few days are not lactic acid but micro damage in your muscle.
Aerobic System
Fully activated after 60-80 seconds (warmup is important) to produce energy for resynthesizing ATP from AD+P. Energy sources are fats and glycogen (and protein occasionally).
Primary energy system for endurance athletes.
No lactic acid production or buildup.
However, in most cases, the aerobic system and lactic acid system work at the same time! The ratio depends on the intensity of your efforts.
The best indicator of which energy system you are actually using when exercising is measuring the level of lactic acid in the blood. The threshold (point where both energy systems are working but no build up of lactic acid) is 4 millimoles. Over that and you will get a buildup because your body is producing more than it can take away.
You can raise the threshold by training. An athlete with a good aerobic base (endurance) can work with higher intensity before crossing the threshold.
By Sander Vanacker, Define Defense’s certified personal trainer and head martial arts instructor, based in Boulder, Colorado. Take a look at www.DefineDefense.com, www.TrainerVanacker.com or check out our videos on YouTube.com/DefineDefense !
Define Defense in Boulder, CO
- Modern Martial Arts
- Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & MMA
- Self Defense Classes & Workshops
- Personal Training
- Cross Training / TRX Classes
1805 11th Street Suite B
Boulder, CO 80302
Supercompensation
Everything we do in our training and our training planning is affected by supercompensation. It refers to the biological state your body is after working out and rest. When you work out, your body is fatigued in many different ways and this reduces the functional capacities of your body. After resting, your body will recover and replenish and if the training stimuli were big enough, you will achieve a higher homeostatic level. This means your body will be stronger, you will have more endurance, more glycogen stored etc.
If you do not allow your body to rest before working out again, you will land in a negative spiral and exhaust your body more. This will lead to decreased performance and overtraining.
If you rest too much, you will lose the supercompensation results and you will be right back at where you started. The right (smart) training and the right amount of rest is key!
By Sander Vanacker, Define Defense’s certified personal trainer and head martial arts instructor, based in Boulder, Colorado. Take a look at www.DefineDefense.com, www.TrainerVanacker.com or check out our videos on YouTube.com/DefineDefense !
Define Defense in Boulder, CO
- Modern Martial Arts
- Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & MMA
- Self Defense Classes & Workshops
- Personal Training
- Cross Training / TRX Classes
1805 11th Street Suite B
Boulder, CO 80302
Max Muscle Sports Nutrition Workshop

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Getting in shape with Define Defense and Max Muscle Boulder
A few things our clients can benefit from:
- All Define Defense adult members receive a $75 gift card and a 15% discount for all products at Max Muscle
- Max Muscle customers can enjoy a 10% discount off services and programs at Define Defense
Max Muscle does not only sell supplements and sports nutrition but can also help you with you nutrition planning. This is what the owner of Define Defense did in combination with his martial arts and circuit training. Underneath is what he experienced:
When I went to Max Muscle to start my nutrition plan, my goal was to get leaner without losing any muscle mass. Every year from fall to spring I tend to be less strict with my nutrition and go to a positive calorie diet. The reason I do this has multiple reasons such as wanting to gain mass, having a higher body fat % to prevent getting sick in the winter and giving myself a mental break. Since I naturally have a high metabolism and train many hours per week (12 to 18), I can eat a ton of food while keeping my body fat % in check. When I went into Max Muscle, we went over my daily routines/meals and it was clear that some changes had to happen if I wanted to get leaner. This was about the time of the year I wanted to shed my extra few percentages so I was ready to go for it!
Week 1:
After consulting with Craig (owner of Max Muscle Boulder), I was really motivated to make some changes. He gave me some great advice on how to (and why) keep my blood sugar levels steady and how to fuel my body right. At this point in time, I was training approx.. 18 hours per week so it was important to continue fueling the right way and giving my body enough carbs, unsaturated fats and protein while still cutting away from the total body fat %.
In combination with the nutrition planning, I worked out a training schedule at Define Defense to continue weight lifting and martial arts but also incorporate more interval/circuit training to cut more weight.
My initial measurements indicated that I had 8.4% body fat for a total lean mass of 187.78 lbs. and 17.22 lbs. of fat mass. My total weight was 205 lbs. Not that bad but not where I wanted to be. Please note, normal body fat percentages are 10-20% for men 20-40 years old and 20-30% for women 20-40 years old. This is perfectly normal and healthy! However I have been doing sports all my life and my goals are different than the average person. My number one priority is my health and if I ever would feel it has a negative impact on my body, I would reconsider my goals.
After the first week, in which I ate 5 to 6 times a day and in every meal, consumed carbs, protein and unsaturated fats, I weighed in at 205.75 lbs. Yes I did go up a bit but that didn’t matter to me since my body fat went down to 7.68% and my lean mass actually went up to 189.94 lbs.!
This showed me that even though I was eating a ton before and thought I consumed enough protein, I wasn’t. My body needed more protein and this new diet was giving it to me. I gained muscle while I was losing fat!
Week 2:
Week 2 was great, we made a few slight changes but my body was being very responsive and I felt fantastic! My energy levels were up and I never felt hungry or sluggish. At the end of week 2, my body fat went down to 6.74% while my lean mass stayed at the same level. This means that I lost 2.25 lbs. of fat mass while keeping my lean mass intact. My total weight was 203.5 lbs.
Week 3:
Week 3 was a little harder since I was travelling quite a bit and everyone knows how this can mess up your body. Nonetheless, I still stayed on track but my progress was less. I went down to 6.52% and gained 1.15 lbs. of lean mass.

At this point, following this plan seemed natural to me and extremely easy to do. Once you know your routine and the important basics behind it, you start doing things automatically, for example what to get in the grocery store or what to pack for your snack etc.
At the end of week 4, we reached my goal. I went down to 5.92% body fat and was a whole lot leaner than when we started. 2.48% to be exact and my starting point wasn’t all that high to start with. My final weight was 203.25 lbs. The lean mass was at 191.22 lbs., which went up 3.44 lbs. My fat mass was now only 12 lbs., which went down 5.22 lbs. This means I lost over 5 lbs. of fat mass while gaining 3.44 lbs. of muscle mass! This is exactly what I wanted to accomplish and the combination of paying attention to my dietary needs and responsible, well thought out training paid off!
I had a great experience with Max Muscle Boulder and think it would be beneficial for anyone to do. No matter if you want to lose weight, gain muscle or just be and feel healthier. Please remember you do not have to train 10 hours per week to make progress. Getting some nutrition advice and working out 4-5 times per week will go a long way and give you results! It is not always how much you train, it’s about how smart you train. That is why getting professional advice always gives you an advantage. We at Define Defense and Max Muscle Boulder are looking forward to assist you in your physical training and nutrition needs!
Workout of the Week - Daily Camera
http://www.dailycamera.com/health-fitness/ci_18546311
Camp Bow Wow weigh ins
What is the Furry Fitness Challenge about? Here it is:
Grab your dog or cat and come in for your official weigh-in and sign up to participate in our 7-week weight loss challenge! Your workout team is either you and your dog or you and your cat. We combine your weight and the team with the greatest percentage of weight lost, wins! The Grand Prize is a FREE YEAR of services at the Camp or Home Buddies of choice (that’s a $3,000 value!), plus $150 to FetchDog.com and a free year of dog or cat food from Nulo (a $600 value)! We even have prizes for the top 25 runner up contestants! Only the first and last weigh-ins are official and all weigh-ins in between are for fun and at the discretion of the entrant to create a competitive environment.
Define Defense will be at the weigh ins from 3-5pm to promote Boulder Canicross. Canicross is a form of cross country running or hiking with your dog. The dog is in a harness with a bungee style line attached to the person at the waist. It is a great and inexpensive way to spend time with your dog in the outdoors any time you want.
This will be a fun challenge (with a big prize) so tell your friends, family and co-workers about it and start a friendly competition!
For more information, please see Camp Bow Wow's newsletter HERE

New class schedule + events
Second day of opening weekend + pics
Take a look here for the latest pics of our finished studio:



Our Daily Camera Article
March 2011 Newsletter
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Studio location

MMA & BJJ Instructor Conor "Hurricane" Heun
Define Defense is proud to announce that Conor “Hurricane” Heun is our new Mixed Martial Arts & Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instructor. Conor is teaching the following Friday nights and will be teaching 2-4 times every week starting the end of February. The other MMA classes will be taught by instructor Sander Vanacker. NOTE: All MMA & BJJ classes will be 1.5 hour long!
Conor is a highly skilled and experienced professional MMA fighter who fought under the Strikeforce banner and who also has a brown belt in 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu under Eddie Bravo. He is known for his will power and mental strength as well as his work ethic and technique.
Our 1.5 hour classes will be a blend of MMA and MMA specific Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. As for now, Conor is teaching MMA skills step by step, therefore since a fight starts standing, we cover the standing skills first. In March, we will go over grappling from the bottom, followed by dominant top position etc.
Come train at Define Defense with our instructors Conor Heun and Sander Vanacker now! This month, we give FREE strength & conditioning classes along with our MMA memberships (12mo: $125, 6mo: $140, 3mo: $160), which gives you unlimited access to our 15 classes/week in TRX, Kettle Bell and Warrior Training.
Here is more info on Conor Heun:
PROFESSIONAL RECORD
9 - 5 - 0 (Win - Loss - Draw)
WINS
1 (T)KOs ( 12.5 %)
5 Submissions ( 62.5 %)
2 Decisions ( 25 %)
Follow on:
www.ConorHeun.com
www.Facebook.com/Conor.Heun
Twitter.com/ConorHeun

Unsatisfied and unwilling to give up on his goal of becoming champion, Conor enrolled at Div. III wrestling powerhouse, Ithaca College. Following a redshirt year on the sidelines, Heun notched 20 wins and qualified for the NCAA tournament. He failed to place. Faced with injuries and rising academic pressure, Heun would never again see the NCAA tournament.

After graduating with a BA in English Literature, Conor moved back to Boulder where he opened a silk screening business and became an assistant wrestling coach. Feeling like he was destined for bigger things, Conor moved to southern California where he took a job selling dental equipment. Looking for a way to stay fit, Conor began training at Eddie Bravo's 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Academy. Encouraged by training partners Jason Chambers and Amir Rahnavardi, Conor stepped into the cage for the first time on May 12, 2006 winning his pro debut by rear naked choke.
Conor soon began training full time under the tutelage of Chris Reilly and Eddie Bravo at Legends MMA. His exciting and aggressive style soon caught the eye of Bas Rutten who recruited Conor to fight for the Los Angeles Anacondas in the International Fight League. After fighting in the IFL for one season, he moved on to fight for Elite XC and now is under contract with Strikeforce. Always one to bring the fight to his opponents, his never boring style continues to make him a star to watch as he battles for the belt.
Discount on TRX gear
Holiday Deals
Holidays are coming and Define Defense is in the holiday spirit! We are offering our new clients our best deals to date! We offer high quality training in:
- Mixed Martial Arts
- Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
- Self Defense Classes & Workshops
- TRX & Cross Training Classes
- Kettle Bell Classes
- Personal Training
From now until January 1st 2013, we offer the following deals:
Mixed Martial Arts:
20% off memberships and punch cards
+ a free T shirt or tank top
Self Defense:
Four self defense classes, a Mace 10% Pepper Gel and a Define Defense T shirt or tank top for only $99
TRX / Cross Training:
20% off memberships and punch cards
+ a free T shirt or tank top
Kettle Bell Program:
20% off memberships and punch cards
+ a free T shirt or tank top
Personal Training:
First session is free!
Youth Martial Arts:
20% off memberships and punch cards
+ a free Gi

Self Defense Holiday Promo
Take advantage of our Holiday Self Defense Promo! Four self defense classes, a Mace 10% Pepper Gel and a Define Defense T shirt or tank top for only $99!
You can either buy it for yourself or for someone as a gift!
Our next course will start on January 11th until February 1st (every Friday 5-6pm).
The one after that will be from March 1st until March 22nd (every Friday 5-6pm).
*You choose which course you want to attend. If you cannot attend 4 consecutive classes, you may use your remaining classes during the next course!*
To purchase this deal, CLICK HERE.
To purchase a gift card instead, CLICK HERE.
You can sign up for yourself or give the course as a gift to a loved family member or friend!

Yoga Position
We are looking for an individual or company who wants to run Yoga or Pilates classes independently in our premium facility in Downtown Boulder!
Our studio has 1,040 square feet of mats, has a speaker system and has a wall of mirrors. It is a great spot for Yoga or Pilates classes so we are looking for someone who wants to run their own program in our facility. This person will be solely responsible for their program and will be able to run their own classes during their own times.
Many class times are available during the week days and weekends. The yoga instructor or company would be paying a flat fee ($1,000) per month to operate in our premium facility in the heart of Boulder, CO.
A transition period with a lower fee is possible with a lower fee to start off with. You can choose your own class times out of the available times. A great way to have your own yoga business without much risk or overhead expenses / head aches!
If you are interested or know of someone who might be, let us know at Info@DefineDefense.com !

Next Self Defense Course in January 2013
Define Defense offers 4 week self defense courses on Fridays from 5-6pm. In these 4 classes, we go over:
- Self defense on the floor against a standing attacker
- Self defense against sexual assault
- Self defense against grabs, chokes and other forceful attacks
- Effective striking
- How to avoid dangerous situations
- How to maximize your chances of escape
- How to use pepper sprays (and other defense sprays)
- Vital points, body language and other proven methods to get yourself into safety
The next self defense course will take place on these dates:
January 11th
January 18th
January 25th
February 1st
Every attendee will receive an information packet. If you cannot attend all 4 consecutive classes, you can use your remaining class(es) during the next course dates.
You can also gift this course to a loved friend or family member!
The price for the full program is only $75.
If you want to reserve a spot, please send us a message at info@definedefense.com or register here (under Self Defense Class):
http://clients.mindbodyonline.com/ws.asp?studioid=14713&stype=41
Spots are limited!
This program combines all of the most effective and realistic ways to defend yourself against any dangers that may occur. We focus on prevention as well as protecting yourself and others. In this course, you will learn how to deal with a crisis situation, mentally as well as physically. Everything we teach is relevant to real situations and applies more realistic training methods for improved results.
Our central Boulder address:
1805 11th Street Suite B
Boulder, CO 80302
(720) 340 6254
Info@DefineDefense.com

Columbus Day
On Columbus Day this upcoming Monday, there will not be any Define Defense classes. There will be 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu at 8pm though!
New T Shirts and Rash Guards
Define Defense has received their new custom rash guards! They are extremely high quality and look amazing. Make sure to check them out in the studio. They are on sale for $40 only.
We are also expecting new T shirts. They are Next Level T shirts and tank tops which have a great fit and feel. Let us know if you want one and we’ll put them aside for you!

Saturday Classes
We will not have classes on Saturday September 8th since our instructors and some of our members are going to the Eddie Bravo seminar in Denver.
See you Friday or Monday!
Saturday Classes
We will not have classes on Saturday September 8th since our instructors and some of our members are going to the Eddie Bravo seminar in Denver.
See you Friday or Monday!
Only BJJ on Labor Day
Have a great Labor Day! Also, remember that the new schedule is in effect!










