All-Rounder Meguru Workout Master Post

1. Meguru's Workout

MMA in Anime and Manga

Unfortunately, mixed martial arts does not always receive the warmest of welcomes in anime or manga. There are plainly some biases against it, even to the point of contradiction. Mixed martial artists are often portrayed as mere sportsmen, just playing at real combat (which I will allow this argument to a degree, but I will qualify it) or that they are strong, but have horrible attitudes and are beaten out of principle it seems.
In History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi, there is a scene that shows Odin, right before he meets Ogata Isshinsai, where he had just won a martial arts match that looks very similar to an MMA competition. He appears to make light of the competition and you do not see him use any common MMA skills in his later fights. Ryouzanpaku itself is set up to be for pure non-sport Masters. While there is nothing inherently wrong with this, the problem lies in the fact that it dismisses the combat effectiveness of MMA or its components just because they are used in sport.

Even Judo and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu are made to seem less than other martial arts. Ukita is a judoka, but always seems to be the weakest fighter in the group. And during the D of D tournament, the BJJ team got slaughtered by the Ancient Pancration team... Which should include wrestling as part of its skill set, but is never showcased. This is challenged slightly by the Command Sambo users, but it is an exception to the rule.
In Karate Shoukoushi Kohinata Minoru, Minoru learns Karate and a little BJJ and does very well and then Mutou just does Karate and is ridiculously more powerful; however, a fighter from the MMA club is taken down by a single front kick (mind you, from a very strong karateka, but all the same). In general, if someone does MMA in manga or anime, expect to see them get slaughtered.

There are exceptions to this in Grappler Baki, Tough, Teppu, All-Rounder Meguru, and some others, but in general, MMA catches a bad rap in anime and manga. There's nothing wrong with just Karate or just a style of kung fu or just boxing or whatever, but the problem is when an author belittles the fact that MMA has fundamentally changed martial arts for the better (another article) and that mixed martial artists defeat traditional martial artists on a regular basis. I've said this before and I'll say it again, if you want to be a pure karateka or boxer or wrestler or whatever you have got to push the limits of your fitness and strength and find ways to deal with your style's shortcomings. Don't blame your art. Pick your path and charge full speed ahead, but prepare for the trials and tribulations and don't expect to win just because you train hard. Scissors always beat paper, no matter how much you don't want it to.

All-Rounder Meguru (Meguru's Workout)

This is a really cool MMA manga. I really recommend it to anyone interested in the martial arts, because it is pretty realistic and informative. I won't give the story away, but there's competition and Yakuza and girl fights to be had. Check it out!

The first workout I'm bringing you is not the first workout that we come across in the manga. The reason behind this is because the first workout is the Pro workout and I figure it's best to start a little simpler than that, so we'll go with the training that Meguru undertakes, himself, in order to get stronger. He is also attending grappling and kickboxing classes during this time, so he's not just doing this training.

Meguru's Workout


(Meguru does the majority of this workout at an outside fitness course, but you could do it at a gym or a playground)

1. Run 3 Miles
2. 3 Sets of MAX Push-ups
3. 3 Sets of 1 Minute "X" Hops
4. 3 Sets of MAX Pull-ups
5. 3 Sets of MAX Decline Sit-ups 

Notes:

• For "X" Hops, all you need to do is draw a plus sign on the ground (with chalk or lay it out with a string or tape) and hop, with your feet together randomly from section to section. They are going to be short hops and you won't bend your knees much.
• If you don't have a decline bench, you can just do the sit-ups on the ground or a mat. 
• Very simple workout, but it is toward the beginning of Meguru's strength and conditioning training. 

This manga has some really nice stuff in it, so expect some more out it! Until next time, good luck and train hard!