Oswaldo
Koch featured on TV: - CBC Dragons Den - The Shopping Channel -
Urban Rush - Shaw TV -
Studio 4 - Shaw TV - Master Moves TV Infomercial.
Working
in Canada as a computer professional with a stressful, time-restricted
schedule, Oswaldo Koch, began to seek alternative ways of
exercising. It took him over one decade to develop and refine
the Mastermoves Training System.
As
Seen On TV...Click Here
The
Birth and Evolution of Master Moves
By
Crist
Pollon
After
a life-threatening bike accident in 1998, Oswaldo Koch developed
Mastermoves as a method of healing and gently strengthening
his body. In a conversation with writer Christopher Pollon in
August 2003, Oswaldo described how the Mastermoves system evolved
from personal therapy to an international training phenomenon.
IN 1998, YOU HAD A
SERIOUS ACCIDENT THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE. WHAT HAPPENED?
I
had gone mountain biking one afternoon near Victoria BC. At
one point I was barreling down a steep hill, high on adrenaline
and completely oblivious to danger. I hit a bump and was thrown
from the bike, landing right on my head. When I recovered consciousness
a minute or two later, I felt a blinding pain in my neck, as
if my spine had been pierced by a sharp piece of metal.
HOW CLOSE DID YOU COME TO
BEING PARALYZED?
Very
close. The next day I was put into a very painful
head brace. The doctors decided against surgery
because they weren't sure what was damaged internally,
so it was left for time and nature to heal.
WHAT FORM DID YOUR REHABILITATION
TAKE?
The
brace was removed after about six months, so it
took me about a year before I could really begin
my training. During that time, my body and muscles
had atrophied from inactivity. In addition to physiotherapy,
the doctors suggested I start some gradual weight
training. I decided not to follow their advice,
because they gave me all sorts of precautions and
I really felt like I was limiting myself and my
recovery.
WERE
YOU CONSCIOUS THAT YOU WERE FORMULATING YOUR OWN TRAINING SYSTEM RIGHT FROM THE
BEGINNING?
Not
at first. But I realized how my previous training
regimen had been physically damaging, so I was determined
to come up with a better method to enable my body
to heal and become stronger.
Early
on, I did a lot of reading, focusing on many different types of training -- yoga,
tai chi, chi kung, Latin dancing and Aikido. For example, I was interested in
applying the principles I had learned during my four years studying the Japanese
art Aikido - such as the importance of being gentle with your body, and of the
importance of being in physical, mental and spiritual harmony with nature.
WHAT HAS
MASTERMOVES EVOLVED INTO TODAY?
Mastermoves
is a fitness practice that can develop and strengthen
the body in a completely gentle way. It encompasses
total health - including mental and spiritual well-being
as well as physical fitness.
The
system eliminates the barriers to developing our bodies to their full potential.
It helps us change bad habits involving our body posture, the quality and quantity
of food we eat, our mental well-being, and how we move and walk.
You
train 15 minutes each morning and 15 later in the day, gradually developing improved
muscular symmetry, coordination and speed - all the conditions required for your
body to perform optimally, no matter what kind of physical activity you do. To
get results, you do not have to submit to a regime of tortuous forced reps or
injury-inducing high intensity workouts.
HOW DOES A BEGINNER START
MASTERMOVES?
It
begins with two weeks of general conditioning exercises,
two times a day. This will provide the foundation.
All of these initial exercises are done on the floor,
focusing on improving the posture. The only exception
are the standing exercises needed to develop and
expand the range of motion in the hips. This type
of movement and flexibility is underdeveloped in
most people who are starting Mastermoves.
So, once the two weeks of conditioning are done, you can chose a specific program
based on your fitness goals. There are different Mastermoves workouts for developing
flexibility, strengthening, and endurance. If you just want to have a total workout
and stress general fitness, you can do that without specializing.
I
had gone mountain biking one afternoon near Victoria BC. At
one point I was barreling down a steep hill, high on adrenaline
and completely oblivious to danger. I hit a bump and was thrown
from the bike, landing right on my head. When I recovered consciousness
a minute or two later, I felt a blinding pain in my neck, as
if my spine had been pierced by a sharp piece of metal.
WERE
YOU CONSCIOUS THAT YOU WERE FORMULATING YOUR OWN TRAINING SYSTEM RIGHT FROM THE
BEGINNING?