Guelph’s intramural and club programs offer a variety of popular options

Written by Sarah Dunstan

Having a regular workout routine at the gym is a valuable experience. Aside from obvious health benefits, exercising causes natural endorphins to be released in your brain that can combat mental and physical stress.

But it doesn’t always work out. Working out by yourself can be a bit of a drag, and getting into a routine does involve a time commitment – which students who are heavily involved in clubs and organizations may not have.

Intramurals are a great solution for students looking to get in shape, meet new people, and to be part of a team. For those still looking to make friends and get fit, but perhaps wishing to partake in more of an individual route, martial arts classes at Guelph are a great option.

Even though the Ontario government refuses to sanction the octagon display of the Ultimate Fighting Challenge (UFC), these types of related classes tend to be the most popular, with Muay Thai and Jiu-Jitsu having full enrollment in both semesters.

“Martial arts that are directly related to UFC do very well,” said intramural, martial arts and sports clubs supervisor Dave Trudelle.

Jiu-Jitsu, in particular, offers a supplemental class to deal with the additional demand in the winter semester. Albeit, as midterms and end of semester assignments wreak havoc on students’ social lives, actual attendance tends to dwindle near the end of classes; but, the classes are still generally well-attended throughout the duration of the semester.

But not all of the non-UFC martial arts are as fortunate.

Three of the eight classes offered – Self Defence for Women, Capoeria, and Tai Chi – were cancelled this semester. Trudelle said the pricing and class cancellation is primarily at the discretion of the instructor. Classes are almost always cancelled because the number of students participating did not cover the cost of the instructor.

However, this isn’t always the case; Aikido was cancelled due to low enrollment, but after some haggling with the instructor, he agreed to run the course for a reduced price. While class sizes and interests can fluctuate from semester to semester, all the classes offered have a reasonable level of enrollment. Only classes that are cancelled for two consecutive semesters due to lack of interest are in serious jeopardy of being removed altogether.

Martial arts are an affordable option for students looking to either get in shape or try something new. Since student gym memberships are included in your student fees, the majority of martial arts classes offered are around $60, the exceptions being Muay Thai priced at $99 and Capoeria at $75. With each semester containing 20 classes, it equates to approximately three dollars per class – the same price as dropping in to the athletic centre’s cardio or weight room. There are also club martial arts, such as Ninjutsu, which can often be much more independent than the class formats, because they are not run through the athletic centre.

“Facilities are a restraint,” admitted Trudelle, who must find time and places to accommodate the variety of classes desired by students.

Although a lack of facilities does impose limits to martial arts offered at Guelph, Trudelle said that the university will try to offer a new and appealing martial art every year to add to the program’s roster.

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