By TERRY TOMALIN, St. Petersburg Times

Strength doesn't come from the arms, back, chest or even legs. It comes from the core. Every sport, from tennis to tae kwon do, relies on the major muscle rectus abdominis, better known as "the abs."

When Jim Graden traveled the world with the U.S. Karate team in the 1980s, he had no problem staying in shape. But as the former World Heavyweight Kickboxing titleholder got older, he found it harder and harder to maintain his champion physique.

So when he retired from competition in the mid-'90s, he developed the Cardio Karate program to help keep fit.

The first thing you notice is music. Boom! Boom! Boom! The big bass sucks you in and starts your hips shaking. Then, the Latin beat draws you closer until you muster the courage to open the door and peek inside.

"Come on in," Gemma Hughes hollers without missing a step. "We are just getting started."

A good, long stretching session is essential before any vigorous exercise. Or is it?

"The time to stretch is after you work out," said Jacqui Frehling, group exercise director for the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg in Florida. "You want your muscles to be warm, for maximum benefits."

Frehling said most beginners make the same mistakes.

Growing up in California, Zack Gross got to taste his share of fish tacos.
"Out there, everybody has a fish-taco recipe," the owner of Z Grille in St. Petersburg, Fla., said. "But the secret is fresh fish."

It doesn't take much to get started in birding -- just a field guide, some sturdy shoes and a pair of binoculars.
Most people know how to buy books and shoes, but choosing the right binoculars can be confusing.

While we were paddling past the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Pier in the dark on a cold December morning several years ago, a wave broke over the bow of my sea kayak and sent a cupful of cold water into my lap.
In spite of the obvious discomfort, I didn't think much of it at the time and kept paddling. Little did I know that it was the beginning of the end.

Fishing the shoreline of a "no-motor" zone by kayak can be a challenge at times.
All alone, far from the hustle and bustle of downtown St. Petersburg, Fla., I quietly paddled into position to make a cast toward a school of redfish lingering near the mouth of a small pass. It is easy to forget that the slightest sound can send fish running for cover.

Cool fall evenings are made for chili. Why not throw a little wrinkle in the American classic and make it with fish, instead of meat or poultry?Tom Pritchard, the creative force behind the menus at Salt Rock Grill in Indian Shores, Fla., and Island Way Grill in Clearwater, loves to make his fish chili over an open fire on a night when most folks would rather be inside.