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Actor Farhan Akhtar on Throwing Down With Real Boxers for ‘Toofaan’

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Actor Farhan Akhtar as Aziz Ali in 'Toofaan'


Farhan Akhtar is no stranger to portraying athletes onscreen, garnering praise for his portrayal of legendary sprinter Milkha Singh in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. That said, bringing the story of Toofaan to life—in which Akhtar plays a boxer— was a whole new kind of challenge, especially consideringg] his coach was none other than Darrell Foster, trainer to world champion Sugar Ray Leonard.

 

 

Over the course of eight months, Foster had him training like a real contender, drilling next to and sparring with actual boxers. The result is some truly gnarly fight sequences, worth the occasional bruise or two. “The training camp I did for Toofaan is an experience I’ll never forget,” Akhtar says.

Men’s Journal caught up with the tireless Indian star to talk about the prep work for Toofaan, doing his own stunts, and his love of sports.

Actor Farhan Akhtar on Throwing Down With Real Boxers for Toofaan

What sports did you grow up watching and playing?

Growing up in India, cricket is injected into your bloodstream. I played a lot and was around it all the time. I was absolutely consumed by it. Football was also a huge part of my younger days, not just playing it but watching these amazing events like the World Cup, which was one of the few televised events we got to see. As time went on, I was introduced to boxing through a friend who used to fight for a club in Bombay at a state and national level. He spoke  a lot about boxing and these great fighters he knew. My curiosity was taken to a whole new level when Mike Tyson burst onto the scene. I was in awe of how unpredictable he was. I don’t know how to describe the sport’s appeal—something about the combination of brutality and beauty. It’s mesmerizing.

The prep work involved to play a boxer is intensive. Was there anything that took you by surprise?

I knew I needed to be strong, fit, and my endurance needed to be high. No matter how fit you think you are, you’re not prepared for the escalation. Beyond that, I didn’t truly know what it would take to actually be in that ring. And I didn’t realize until I was actually in there doing it. That’s where I came to understand the power of feet, and what it means to have strong footwork. That was a revelation for me, because like most people, when you watch boxers fight you’re predominantly looking at what the upper body is doing. You’re watching the shoulders, arms, and how the neck is moving back or forth. But it really all starts with the feet, and I learned I’d have to build the house from the ground up.

What was the process like in its entirety?

I trained in the discipline for eight or nine months, and I enjoyed the process thoroughly. There wasn’t a single day I didn’t want to show up or thought that I’d taken on too much. I learned a lot about myself during this process. I was lucky to be able to work with Darrell [Foster] and have him there as a resource. I’d say he’s more like a guru than a boxing coach. Once the basics were down, it was staying at a certain cardiovascular level, because you can learn all the punches and how to do them, but are you able to keep doing it even after your body is completely taxed? Each punch has to be as powerful as the one before it, if you plan on winning. I was doing boxing, gym workouts, and cardio on top of it all. I wasn’t just going for three-minute rounds, but an entire eight-hour day of filming, so I had to be prepared for it all.

Foster put together a fight camp for you where you were training beside career boxers. Did you hold your own?

The camp he set up was amazing and intense. He brought in these amazing real fighters, who I was doing all my drills with. I got to spar with them too, which gave me a lot of insight into the way a real fighter moves, and kept me on my toes. Once I was facing off with these guys, I suddenly knew the level in which I needed to be at. I also think Darrell wanted me to flip it around on the fighters as well. Even though I may just be “an actor,” I was gunning for them, and I put in the work.

Actor Farhan Akhtar as Aziz Ali in ‘Toofaan’ Courtesy of Amazon Studios.

Were there any ground rules as far as taking it easy—given that you were there to act and not actually fight?

I have to be honest with you, I never drew that line. I was going into training thinking, I’m going to be a world class fighter. I worked myself into that mentality, into a warrior’s mentality, as Darrell says. I was prepared to do whatever it takes to win. Because of that, when we were filming, it didn’t bother me in the least to get hit. I was there to fight, not to act. I wanted the camera to capture someone who had that undeniable heart of a boxer. There’s no way to fake that.

Any pieces of advice Foster shared that you found helpful?

One of the things he speaks on is that two people can be almost exactly the same physically, but there’s something within that allows one of them to go a bit further. He can key into that better than anyone, being someone who’s seen it many times over. He has these incredible experiences of when he worked with Sugar Ray Leonard or working with Will Smith on Ali.

What was it like filming the boxing scenes for Toofaan, and how did you know when it went right?

We put everything into them. I remember so clearly that when I was doing my boxing takes, even though we had a full crew, the only person I was looking for in the crowd was Darrell. I would look for him in the room, and I could tell from his expression whether or not it was a good take in his eyes. The man knows all about the science and technical aspects of boxing, but he also knows how to have it filmed in an authentic way. Being able to rely on him for honest feedback was an unbelievable asset.

Do you think you’ll keep up with boxing beyond this project?

The training hasn’t stopped for me, and I’ve continued it ever since camp. I still have boxing sessions three times a week. It’s incredibly satisfying and reinforcing. There’s an incredible feeling of exhaustion you hit that I don’t think is obtainable anywhere else. At the end you feel so tired, but also stronger than you’ve ever felt before. I intend to keep boxing for as long as my body allows me to.

Given that you’ve played a few sports heroes at this point, is there any sport you’d like to tackle on the big screen?

I would love to do a movie based in the world of cycling. I absolutely love that sport, and I love being on a bike. If there is a story that comes along, that fits into that world well, that would be amazing.

Toofan is now available on Amazon Prime.  

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10 Best Porters to Drink Right Now

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A bottle of Deschutes Black Butte Porter




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Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength

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Barbell Back Squat


The key to 360-degree muscle: 90-degree eccentric isometrics. It might seem like we’re throwing a lot of geometry at you, but the concept behind time under tension (TUT) is simple, says Joel Seedman, PhD, owner of Advanced Human Performance: “Perform the lowering phase of a movement in a slow, controlled fashion, usually 3 to 5 seconds; pause in the stretched position, typically around 90 degrees; then perform the lifting phase in a powerful yet controlled fashion.” Believe us, a time-under-tension workout can humble even seasoned lifters…Eccentric isometrics are like the pressure cooker of training.

“Rather than mindlessly performing slow-tempo reps, you’re using the increased time under tension as a means to fine-tune your body mechanics and alignment, which requires more mental engagement and focus,” Seedman adds.

If you want to forge functional muscle mass and strength while simultaneously bulletproofing the joints and connective tissue, give this 10-move, full-body eccentric isometrics workout a go.

Directions

Perform the following moves as 90-degree eccentric isometrics following the above protocol. Use heavy weight, but not at the detriment of proper form. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets and 2 minutes between circuits. Perform once every 2 to 4 days for optimal results.

Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength

Circuit 1

Marius Bugge

A. Barbell Back Squat

Set a squat rack up with heavy weight, then grasp bar and step under it. Squeeze shoulder blades together, then stand to unrack bar and step back with feet shoulder-width apart. Inhale, hinge at hips and slowly bend knees to 90 degrees. Pause, keeping natural arch in low back, then extend through hips to powerfully stand. 3 x 4-6 reps

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts renegade row
Marius Bugge

B. Renegade Row

Start in the top position of a pushup with hands shoulder-width apart on moderate-to-heavy dumbbells (shown). Explosively drive right elbow back to row dumbbell toward ribs while balancing on opposite hand and feet. Pause, then slowly lower weight, stopping a few inches above floor. Switch sides after all reps are done. 3 x 5 reps each side

Circuit 2

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts doing renegade row Dumbbell Bentover Row in gym
Marius Bugge

A. Dumbbell Bentover Row

Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding two moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in front of thighs, palms facing you. Push hips back and hinge torso forward so it’s nearly parallel to floor, soft bend in knees. Dumbbells should be near shins. Drive elbows back to row weights toward ribs. Pause, then slowly lower down for 3 to 5 seconds. 3 x 4-5 reps

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts doing Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised 
Marius Bugge

B. Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised 

Set an adjustable bench to a 30- to 45-degree angle and lie back with dumbbells in either hand. Engage core and lift legs off floor, flexing feet. Press weights overhead, palms in. Slowly lower to 90 degrees, staying tight and compact. Pause, then drive weights up directly over chest. 3 x 4-5 reps

Circuit 3

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts doing Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat
Marius Bugge

A. Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat

Stand lunge-length in front of a flat bench, holding heavy dumbbells in each hand by your sides, palms facing in. Rest the ball on top (shoe’s laces) of your right foot behind you on the bench. Slowly lower your body until your front thigh is parallel to the floor. Pause, then drive through your heel to stand. Switch sides after all reps are complete. 2 x 3-4 reps each side

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts doing Single-leg Romanian Deadlift
Marius Bugge

B. Single-leg Romanian Deadlift

Stand with feet hip-width apart holding dumbbells or kettlebells. Drive right leg up, foot flexed, knee aligned with hip, making a 90-degree angle. Hinge at hips as you slowly lever your torso toward floor, lowering weights and driving right leg back for counterbalance. Hold, then squeeze glutes to reverse. 2 x 3-4 reps each side

Circuit 4

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts doing pullup
Marius Bugge

A. Pullup

Hang from a pullup bar using an overhand grip with legs extended and feet flexed. Engage lats and draw shoulders down your back, then pull yourself up until chin is higher than hands. Pause at the top, then slowly lower. Pause at bottom, then reset before your next rep. 2-3 x 4-5 reps

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts doing Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press
Marius Bugge

B. Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press

Hold a bar with moderate-to-heavy load at shoulder level with forearms perpendicular to floor. Kneel at end of bench with feet flexed to grip edge for support. Inhale, engage your core and glutes, then press the bar overhead, pushing your head forward so it passes your face, exhaling at the top.
Slowly lower until elbows are at 90 degrees, then hold to maintain tension. Begin your next rep from here. 2-3 x 4-5 reps

Circuit 5

A. Dumbbell Pushup

Place hands on dumbbells (this provides greater range of motion) at shoulder width and feet wider than shoulder width with just toes touching the ground. Keep head neutral and hips high to increase tension on core, chest and tris and reduce stress on spine. Slowly lower to the floor. Stop
once elbows hit 90 degrees, pause, then push up to start. 1-2 x 6-8 reps

B. Biceps Curl

Stand with feet hip-width apart with moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in each hand hanging by sides. Engage biceps to curl the weights up, keeping upper arms still. Pause at the top, then lower slowly. Don’t let arms drop all the way down to keep greater time under tension on biceps. 1-2 x 6-8 reps


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The Best Jump Ropes for a Killer Cardio Workout

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The Best Jump Ropes for a Killer Cardio Workout




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