Author Description

Dr Virgil Troy is a seasoned karate instructor and passionate researcher with a unique understanding of the intersection between martial arts and nutrition. With over half a century immersed in karate, including 23 years coaching, he has watched countless students of various abilities, body types, and backgrounds enter his dojo. Their aspirations ranging from self-defence and confidence building to fitness and weight loss, they are all united in the belief that martial arts can contribute significantly to their personal goals. Through his extensive experience, Dr Troy observed a pattern: many promising students lose interest once the intensity of the training escalates. Curiosity piqued, he probed further, leveraging his expertise in research to understand this phenomenon. The discovery was illuminating: much of the time, students were simply not fuelling their bodies properly to handle the increasing physical demands of martial arts. In response to this finding, Dr Troy developed this guide. It is not merely a book, but a comprehensive resource aimed at empowering martial arts students—and anyone interested in optimising their health through diet—to understand the power of nutrition. Driven by robust scientific research, his insights offer a practical, achievable approach to a balanced diet focused on natural, whole, plant-based foods. Throughout this guide, Dr Troy emphasises the importance of small daily changes in eating habits, underlining how these changes can lead to significant health improvements in the short, medium, and long term. With his guidance, you'll navigate the murky waters of ultra-processed foods and discover the potential benefits of an 85-95% plant-based diet. Dr Troy's approach to nutrition is rooted in the idea that we can harness the power of our evolutionary predispositions to thrive on plant-based diets, supplemented, if desired, with a modest amount of animal-based protein. The intention isn't to enfor