Friday, December 30, 2011

12/30/2011 Early AM Session

OSU!

start time: 6:51

Warm up:


Circuit x 3:
DB Windmills10 x 15LB10 x 15LB10 x 15LB
DB External rotations (forearm parallel)10 x 15LB 10 x 15LB 10 x 15LB
DB External rotations (forearm perpendicular)10 x 15LB 10 x 15LB 10 x 15LB

3 minutes on the exercise bike.
10 dynamic pullups (pullup, change grip at the apex of the pull, descend, pullup, rinse, repeat).
5 Skin the cats

Workout:
Circuit x 3:
5 Single arm DB Row
3 Skin the cats


Circuit x 3
Single arm DB Push Press:10 x 45LB8 x 458x60LB
10 double unders
Nagging shoulder issue caused some issues here...

Bag work: 5 - 1 minute rounds (20sec. rest)
Round 1: jab - cross - jab - cross - jab - cross - jab - cross - jab - cross - reset
Round 2: "Open sparring"
Round 3: jab - cross - knee, step, jab - cross - knee
Round 4: "Open sparring"
Round 5: footwork

Abs
Knee ups10 x 10LB10 x 25LB10 x 25LB
Knee-to-chest10 x 10LB10 x 25LB10 x 25LB

2 sets of 10 x 10LB "Captains Chair" Leg Raises.

Note: the weight for both the knee ups and knee2chest is weight per leg. I attached weight plates using a pair of Husky Hangalls (right).




Finish Time: 8:00

Kaizen, baby!

Referring back to my post on goals, goal setting and my 2012 goals, a friend pointed two things out to me: first, all of my goals are concentrated in the first six months of the year and second, goal #9 implies I'm content with what I accomplish within the first quarter to half of the year. Can't argue with the picture that's painted, however, that not the case. My goals for the year are "front loaded", to allow for future goals or furthering the stated goals. This also allows me to discover and implement new goals and milestones. I guess, it's fair to say, these are my goals as of now; once those goals are accomplished, I have the latitude to evaluate those accomplishments & move forward or assess whether or not it's feasible to push beyond the boundary set. Resting on my laurels is not something that I do; I'm always looking to improve, learn and grow.

Kaizen, or continuous improvement, is the singular word I would use to describe my fitness and martial arts endeavors --I hate moving backwards (unless, it paves the way to steamroll forward). I wanted to ensure that you, the reader, didn't leave with the impression that I am satisfied with accomplishing eight goals in the gym by June and coasting through the rest of the year...well, I am satisfied with that, but only in the moment.

Football fans will appreciate this analogy: Great defensive backs and quarterbacks both have one trait in common that makes them great --a short memory. Same thing applies in karate, fitness and life in general; doesn't matter if the discussion is about accomplishments or failures. It happened, move on. When you fail, forget it, get past it, learn from it and capitalize. When you do something great, good! Celebrate a little, enjoy it and get back to work on the next thing. No one cares what you did last year and neither should you.


Kaizen, baby. Live it, love it, embrace it. As you read through, I hope you pick up on that theme. Always looking to get better. The very embodiment of the phrase "Yoshukai Strong" is based in the notion of kaizen. Continuous improvement, not just through the first six months or even six years; CONTINUOUSLY!


OSU!
CM

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Hitting 2012 in the Mouth!

In a mere 3 days, 3 DAYS, we will be entering a new year. What will your training goals be?

Goals?

Yea, GOALS...as defined by Merriam-Webster: the end toward which effort is directed.

When goal-setting,  your goals should have five characteristics: specific, measurable, attainable,realistic and timely; what those five attribute gives you is a SMART goal. SMART goals are a great way to keep you focused on what you need to accomplish. The SMART component takes a goal and gives it focus in a number of ways.

For example, a goal of mine is shorter workout, less time in the gym. That's a good goal (I have a tendency to run long...), but the goal doesn't address how I will get there, what will I gain by shortening my sessions, will anything "get lost" by focusing the goal....none of that.

So let's reform that goal:

Goal: Keep training focused by dividing the session into strict, time-based segments, by the end of January; for example:
10 min warm up
10 min full body/cardio
20 min skill/power/whatever
10 min core/abs
10 min cool down

The goal is specific...if I were to get any more specific, I'd have to document how long each rep takes me, and while I should know that, is a bit too far. Let's face it, I roll out of bed 20 minutes to five most days, so if my windmills are off by a second or two, I can live with that.

It's measurable: the schedule laid out above keeps me at 60 minutes, start to finish. This also gives me an added ability to log my workouts based on the segments, and note when I deviate from said segment.
Attainable --"nothing to it, but to do it.". Also, the above schedule leaves some flexibility to combine segments for specialized workouts or to focus on a particular area. Prime example, is my 12/28/2011 session: the extra stretching took longer than 10 minutes, but I was able to utilize what would have been my Ab/Core time for that; I was able to complete everything else in the remaining 40 minutes.
Realistic -Absolutely. In fact, I kept this schedule for several months...somewhere I lost focus.
Timely - The goal included a specified date of committal; I admit, it's a little lame, but I actually started this today and should be on track in fairly short order...a week or so.

So, now that we have a basis for goal setting, we are going to be SMART; get a piece of paper and WRITE down your goals. Get a notebook, track your progress. Remain focused on what you want to accomplish it and make the sacrifices to get there.

That said, here are my goals for 2012:
  1. Keep training focused by dividing the session into strict, time-based segments, by the end of January.
  2. Increase leg press working rate to 800LBS (2 rep minimum) by February 1, 2012
  3. Work toward 3 times bodyweight deadlift 1RM (1 rep max), based on average weight (180LBS) by Feb 4, 2012
  4. Complete sandan test on Feb 10, 2012...preferably in one piece.
  5. 100 consecutive double unders by May, 1 2012
  6. Perform 100LB DB  Bench Press by Feb 1, 2012
  7. Perform 225LB Bench Press 1RM by April 1, 2012
  8. Perform 400LB Squat by June 1, 2012
  9. Maintain ability to perform all achieved goals through end of 2012

Solid goal setting can take you anywhere you want to go;


OSU!
CM

12/28/2011 Early AM Session

Unfortunately, I didn't catch the start time of today's workout, but, because I'm on vacation the start time was later than normal...


Warm up: 
Lots of shoulder mobilization, stretching and some trigger point therapy. I woke up with a gnarly sharp pain in my left shoulder; that in and of itself changed today's plans for gym rings...

2 sets @ 10LBS each x 10:
DB Windmills
DB External Rotations (perpendicular and parallel to the ground)

3 minutes jump roping

Workout:
Leg Press: Ab Wheel Rollouts:
10x270LBS10
8x360LBS8
6x450LBS6
4x540LBS4
2x630LBS2
2x680LBS2
4x590LBS4
6x500LBS6
8x410LBS 8

The ladder sets on leg press helped a good deal with getting my numbers up; my leg press personal best is 1000LBS. Fun to say, not fun to do. I don't care to get back to 1000x1, but working sets in the 700-800LBS range is where I'd like to get back to.

Cable Shoulder throw -- set one side of the cable machine high, using the ropes attachment. From there, step out on one side and, with controlled motion, twist into a karate front stance; the motion is very similar to the judo o goshi technique, but from a front stance.

3 sets of 10 @ 100LBS

8 Skin The Cats --better than I expected given the earlier shoulder pain, however I felt a lot better afterwards. I think I ran into some "mind over matter" issues with this exercise; something about being upside down...

Alternating sets of 3:
10 x 25LBS
BB Shotput: 10x25LBS10x25LBS10x25LBS
Standing Russian Twist:10x25LBS10x25LBS10x25LBS

Seated Russian Twists: , 10 x 45LBS, 10x45LBS

Seated Russian Twists: 15x45LBS10x45LBS10x45LBS

Finish: 7:02

Friday, December 23, 2011

Home workouts

Someone recently asked me for workouts that could be done from home. The original request was two - ten minute workouts and four - twenty minute workouts; let's up the ante to five each, just to keep things interesting over time.

When I think of home workouts, first thing that comes to mind is little to no equipment --shouldn't be a problem. Some of the workouts may require a little space. When I say a little, I mean get your kids and go outside -neighbors be damned. Oh, yea, and feel free to bring a friend!

Be aware:
First, these aren't easy…they are not meant to be.
Second, I wouldn’t expect to blow the doors off of any of these workouts the first time out; they should leave some room for improvement (and the improvement should be obvious).

Now, for the main event:

10 minute sessions:
Workout #1: T-handle, dumbell or kettlebell swings. 10 per minute (rest for the remaining time)
Workout #2: 100 burpee challenge
Workout #3: Find an open field, mark of roughly 20 -30 yards & run as fast as you can; rinse, repeat as many times as you can for 10 miuntes
Workout #4: Find an open field, mark of roughly 20 -30 yards: high knee skips, carioca, side shuffle, broad jumps and sprint. Alternate each as many times as possible for 10 minutes. If you have a medicine ball, perform 10 ball slams after each set.
Are you worried about how to get the medicine ball to where you are after each set? Easy! Carry it with you!
Workout #5: Tabata high knee DB Press

20 minute sessions:

Workout #6: 10-1-10 Ladders -Start with 10, do each exercise, reduce by one, and start over. Once you get to one, add one back to 10
3-count mountain climbers or jump lunges or tuck jumps
Pushups
Pistols (single leg squats; despite the video example, progress to butt-to-calf!)
Glute-Ham Situps (an exercise ball, chair, bench or ottoman can be used in place of GHD machine)
Step up lunges

Workout #7: Using some sort of weight -dumbbells, frozen water jugs, kettlebells...kids, anything.
Perform as many as possible of each for one minute, then move onto the next one (4 minutes total) -rest a minute, then do it again. Rinse, repeat 4 times.

Hands overhead + lunge
Shoulder shrugs
Side bends
Curls
*Rest*

Workout #8: As many sets of 10 as possible
Full situp (weighted, if possible)
Feet up pushups
Thruster
Sumo deadlift high pulls


Workout #9: Crossfit Angie
100 Pushups
100 Situps
100 Body Weight Squats
100 Pullups

**Realizing that not everyone can do a pullup or has the means to do a pullup, another pulling exercise can be performed.

Workout 10: Ross' ICT Workout 10:
100 Burpees
(2 minute rest)
Tabata Squat (body weight)
Tabata pushups

Now, the hard part has been done; they layout has been established...the easy parts are what most tend to neglect. Remember this phrase... in fact, write it down and tape it to your mirror, your fridge and your toothbrush (and if you can manage, somewhere inside your shower):

"That which is measured, improves"
What does that mean, exactly? It means write it down. Go into detail --write down numbers, write down dates, write down goals and most importantly, write down RESULTS. If you stick with it, you will want to look back and compare performance now to performance then. Get a note pad and WRITE IT DOWN!

Tabata - I will likely cover this in depth in another post, but a Tabata is alternating rounds of 20 seconds of work, followed by 10 seconds of rest, 8 times for a total of 4 minutes. That doesn't sound like a lot, BUT that 20 seconds of work should be executed as if your life depends on it --all out effort!

Feel free to leave any comments or questions and certainly will address them as they come up. :-)

OSU!
-CM

Thursday, December 22, 2011

12/22/2011 Early AM Session

5:20

Warmup:
2 sets each
10lb DB x 10 Romanian deadlift
10lb DB x 10 Windmills
Shoulder stretches/mobilization

Workout:

Crossfit Angie @ 32:15
100 each: pullups, pushups, squats, situps
Abysmal; no other way to phrase it. The pullups drew this workout on; that's certainly an area I plan to address.

~5 minute rest

Cool down/finisher: Kata -
Shiohai, Seisan, Neseishi, Ro hai sho, Ro hai dai, Mugen, Tenshin, Chinto, Bassai, Sochin.

6:25

Currently in a long (and much needed) stretch session.

Legs: wobbly; shoulders: tight; arms: pooped. Feeling: GREAT!

OSU

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

12/21/2011 Early AM Session

5:15

Quick warm up:
2 sets @ 10 x 10LBS: DB windmills & DB shoulder rotations

Just hanging out...get it...(you will):
Using the homemade gymnastic rings:
5 L-sit pullups
10 pullups
5 Dips
2 sets to failure (which wasn't many): Hang "support position" to "Position one": Example
3 sets of 3: hang --> inverted hang --> pullup --> front lever into L-sit. Excruciatingly similar to this.

Squats:
10 x 185LBS
8x225LBS
6x275LB
4x305LBS

Building back up...slowly, but surely.

Freestyle bag work: 5x60s/20s
Hanging leg raises (weight listed is per leg): 10x10LBS, 10x20LBS, 10x20LBS; last two sets were knees tucked, first set legs straight
DB Rows: 8x85LBS, 8x90LBS, 6x115LBS. Again, building up, slowly, but surely...

Cooldown: Seisan, Bassai, Sochin

Deep stretch
6:20