Description

Paul Zaichik is the founder of the Elastic Steel method of Athletic conditioning. As a child he always dreamed of practicing martial arts. However, Martial Arts was prohibited in Eastern Europe, at the time. Not wishing to waste time, Paul trained in everything he got his hands on. He practiced anything that even remotely resembled Martial Arts. He trained in fencing, wrestling and boxing, studying their defensive and offensive strategies.  Soon he excelled at those sports.Although strength and even flexibility was being developed, it was not enough. Paul soon realized that the type of strength and flexibility required for splits and kicking had to come from some other source. He took up gymnastic and dance, track and field.Paul quickly realized that although most wrestlers, boxers and fencers were flexible, most could not do full splits or bring their feet well above their heads. He knew that it was ok, since it is not the requirements of their sports. However, ninety nine percent of the gymnasts and dancers can sleep while having their legs in a full straddle.In 1990 Paul formerly took up Martial Arts. As a white belt, he was able to throw 6 o’clock kicks and do full splits on demand. Seeing many advance students who could barely kick to the head level, Paul began to experiment.He transformed many Eastern European Stretching and Gymnastic techniques to meet the needs of the modern martial artists. More and more students were practicing Paul’s techniques, acquiring great strength and flexibility in return.Seeing how huge his innovation is getting, Paul wanted to learn more. He went to college, studying Exercise Science and Nutrition on the Undergraduate and Graduate level. At the same time Paul kept experimenting, combining the modern research with his own experience.Over the years Paul had developed many techniques, to meet individual needs of his students. Collectively those techniques became know as Elastic Steel.