WHEN learning a new sport, sometimes jumping right into it could do more harm than good. But with the right guidance from a more experienced athlete, one could enjoy the process.
“As a former competitive athlete and a current certified personal trainer,” Jerry Diaz said, “I focus on safety and the basics when learning a new sport such as golf, tennis, frisbee throwing or kayaking.”
A certified National Academy of Sports Medicine personal trainer, Diaz noted that even professional trainers themselves need mentors to understand and learn a new sport.
Diaz said when he took up golf, “I followed Mr. Freddy ‘Gagu’ Salavaria to the LaoLao golf range. He’s an an avid, year-round golfer, and he showed me how to hold the golf club, the proper stance and flow of the swing — the basics.”
Diaz said Salavaria “also told me that it would be difficult at first, but if I could overcome the frustration and stay persistent then I could begin to ‘have fun’ and understand that the golf swing requires flow and fluidity instead of trying to overpower it.”
According to Salavaria, new golfers should have an “open-mindset” and realize that “perfection comes after patience.”
When it comes to clients who approach him for assistance in a specific sport, Diaz said they will first “brainstorm” and factor in variables such as the client’s fitness and health background.
Diaz said they will then review the steps that the client must take so he or she can reach his or her goals.
He said an individual must be prepared mentally before performing his or her workout.
Trainers, for their part, must continue guiding their clients as they begin to learn new exercises, Diaz added.
In any case, you must begin at your current fitness level, he said.
“Practice. Repetition is key. But each individual learns and applies skills differently so it is also important to prevent comparing your growth to another individual.”
Diaz likewise reiterated the importance of seeking expert advice.
He said one must seek mentors and individuals with years of experience. These are individuals who have gone through “challenging trials and can provide an abundance of tips that will assist individuals grow and enjoy the sport a little more while avoiding frustration that may lead them to just drop their goals.”
Freddy “Gagu” Salavaria attempts a teeshot at hole #7 of LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort, East Course.
Contributed photo
