Articles by Oz van Leeuwen

Death, Taxes and… “Sarcopenia”. Now, I’m sure you’re wondering what I’m on about, but before you ask auntie Google, let me quickly explain. Sarcopenia is the age-related loss of muscle mass. And yep, if you do nothing to reverse that process it is a certainty in life. In fact, following a 2014 study by UCLA and published in the American Journal of Medicine and subsequent…

There are some people who question the legitimacy of self-defence training for kids. For these people the prevailing concern appears to be that training in self defense, or for that matter martial arts are an acknowledgement that violence exists and that children will in turn be taught violence. In reality, what happens is that when children learn self-defence, they are less…

The place where a number of systems come together to ensure you the best self defence training available. Train with people who have the right backgrounds and experience to share their expertise. Whether you want to empower yourself, feel safer, grow your skill-base or simply want to try out something new and exciting, you are most welcome to join our community. Classes cater…

That’s a very real experience for many who are dealing with addiction. Now I’m not talking about taking your phone to the bathroom, but food addiction. An issue that stems from chemicals that routinely screw with the functions in the brain. And we can break that down a bit further, because what happens in the case of food addiction, actually only happens in the “animal” or…

A few days ago, I was standing in line at the supermarket check-out with my small(ish) trolley, proudly laden with “clean” wholesome foods when not entirely unexpectedly, a fellow shopper appeared behind me. Now I’m not a particularly approachable supermarket shopper, but this lady had seen the various company fitness logos on my T-shirt and forced me to break my insular habit…

A recent article in the NY Times caught my attention, it described a “troubling surge in Homicides” following Covid-19 Lockdowns.[^1] I was immediately reminded of a similar article in the NZ Herald following our L4 Lockdown that was referred to as “Murderous May”.[^2] Both articles described in detail how violent crime had risen dramatically following the restrictions, and…

As I’m standing in my kitchen looking at the groove worn into the floor from my endless trips to the fridge, I’m suddenly reminded that Spring is only days away. And this is great news, because at the end of a spring day, everyone should smell like sweat … from the effects of a workout. And there’s that feeling of anticipation, a countdown to warm welcoming days with bounties…

I write this sitting in a paddock surrounded by cows. This is of course, entirely irrelevant, but I was assured by someone in the know that a catchy first line would result in greater engagement. And, following advice from someone claiming to be someone in the know seems to be the thing to do, particularly in the fitness industry. For those of us in the fitness industry who,…

So, the other day a colleague said, “wouldn’t it be great if we were able to look at some key measures to determine quality of life. And, what if we could determine how these were affected by exercise”. And this was a very valid general query, but also a very personal one for those who have their quality of life impacted by the effects of stress. As luck would have it, a group…

Many years ago, more than I care to admit, I managed to convince my seniors in the military to allow me to do a non-trade relevant course, as a Unit Physical Training Instructor. I think in hindsight it was probably not that hard a “sell”, after all it was likely to result in me being way too tired and beaten down to be of any bother to them for the duration. One of the first…

I am not a Prepper; although I have, unfortunately, seen firsthand the devastation an epidemic can cause, I have never resorted to prepare for what seemed inconceivable. Duly ignoring the advice from friends and colleagues on the front-line. And it’s this advice I have been thinking about, because to be honest, it seems to me that the most basic and effective thing we can do to…

As the obesity epidemic in New Zealand surges ahead, more people are looking for real solutions. But interestingly, obesity figures are rising despite the fact that overall, the population’s energy intake has dropped. The explanation for this seemingly bizarre coincidence is actually quite obvious. New Zealanders are simply less active. Most experts agree that people will lose…

But its not all doom and gloom, we can empower ourselves and those close to us to minimise the likelihood of being affected by it. In actual fact, there’s no one better equipped than ourselves to take those crucial steps. One year ago, almost to the day, the results of this country’s latest crime and victim survey, conducted by the Justice Ministry, was released. A report…

With all the latest statistics on violence and the impact it has on all those involved, including the rising numbers of offenders in prison you’d be forgiven for thinking that someone somewhere must have a grand plan. Turns out not really. Well, there is the usual political posturing around solutions, from “getting tougher on crime” to the other end of the scale where the focus…

When it comes to New Year’s resolutions, It’s all about understanding There are very good reasons to see the New Year’s fitness and wellness resolution through. I’m fairly confident that when Julius Caesar introduced the modern calendar in 45 BC it caused a stir among the Romans to find new ways to outdo each other with promises on how they would make their transition into the…

Ministry of Health Statistics on the obesity epidemic in NZ make for sobering reading. One third of adult New Zealanders are obese with a further third being overweight, three times what it was in the 1970’s, and the 3rd highest in the OECD. With studies showing a direct correlation between obesity and debilitating diseases, mental health issues and increasingly, shortened life…