My ramblings, the endless journey

Got in there late, forgot entirely about pulls and chins ups.

Had a good class, but i still feel extra clumsy, even more than usual. Working on spin kicks, if you didn't know better you would have thought I was in psyhsical therapy for and inner ear problem, my form spar partner was no better, and he has studied akido for many years.. but they don't spin kick either.

My forms were ok. I asked about my constant thigh bruising as maybe related to improper stance.... I was told to not get kicked so much... sigh... Phan's English is not the greatest, so trying to explain and get a good answer can be difficult at times. I need to talk to more senior students about this... although one of them was there and yeah he had no input along the lines of a quick fix or just a basic stance problem.

Straight sets 60 sec rest

 front squats 3 x 12 @ 72 lbs (MUCH better, back straighter, chest up good and low even though my thigh my stupid thigh still is aggravating me)
good mornings 3 x 12 @ 22 lbs (think they are maybe doing what I had hoped help to train me into keeping my chest up and shoulders back, and helping with hamstring flexibility)
 lunges 3 x 12 each leg @ 25 lb dumbbells
Push press 3 x 15 @ 57 lbs
bicycles 3 x 60 (bw)

Got 6 chin ups in as part of my warn up

twas good

Been off line since thursday, no time to fill in the blanks... but alive and lifting and fighting, so there you go.

  Clean 5 x3 @ 92 progress, really felt my traps working FINALLY!!!!! Better
 Deads, 1 x 5 137 x5 157 x5 177 x5 197 x5 222 x 2  f' off! Damn

 Oh press (strict NOT push), 5 x5 .. 62 X 5

awful awful work out, just crap utter crap, I... whatever, motivation totally lacking, strength totally lacking,

60 sec rest straight sets
overhead squat 3 x 12 @ 62
romanian deads 3 x12 @ 117
DB bench press 3 x 12 @ 35

 Bent over rows 3 x 12 @ 62

V sit ups 3 x 15 (16 last set)

don't have time or the memory to fill in the blanks, I took an extra day off in there somewhere.. motivation BAD

my kung fu... well I am getting better obvious because I have gotten way worse in the past couple weeks so something is working itself out in my brain/nervous system... I hope it uploads soon, cause this is just embarrassing.

So Monday was test night at school and so I didn't get a workout in (and I wasn't testing this time around... January for me, so last night I doubled up.

I am sti;; all woobly and not right... my center of gravity does not want to cooperate with my upper body nor my legs... ahh well.

Form sparred with Mitch (older man red sash), man you get slick after 12 years of doing this crap... He was so smooth, there is no other real way to describe it. Funny to see how well the executions work when you know what you are doing.  I made some progress.

Clean 5 x3 @ 97 x 3
Deads, 1 x 5 147 x5 157 x5 177 x5 197 x5 222 x 4 (could not get the 5 th one in, boo, but better than last week).

Oh press (strict NOT push), 5 x5 .. 67 X 5
(upped everything but deads)

ahhh the fu..

really empty there were like 7 of us.

My stances are just a mess! I don't know what is wrong with me. thinking too hard about details I suppose. But I must in order to progress. My kicks have become atrocious, which is annoying because not 4 days ago I finally was throwing them correctly, and now they are a mess, again a stance problem.

Form spar, I think I finally have some understanding of rope technique, that one ahs eluded me for quite some time. We don't practice it often though. Nifty little way to break someones arm and elbow in about 4 different spots.

plus side my flexibility has increased greatly in some areas : ) A freind of mine cracked me I was laughing soo hard I collapsed against the wall, and then my kness gave out a little, I was all twisted up and as I regained my composure, I looked at the position I had collapsed into, and firstly marveled at how the hell I got like that ( I shouldn't have been able tocross myself up in that way), and 2 how am I gonna get myself out of it, not real concern but i did have to think it through and unweave my legs from each other. good stuff!

Straight sets 60 sec rest front squats 3 x 10 @77 lbs
good mornings 3 x 10 @ 27lbs
 lunges 3 x 10 each leg @ 30 lb dumbbells
Push press 3 x 10 @ 62 lbs
bicycles 3 x 70 (bw)

Fu was fruit full, I think the clicking has begun. I felt myself move more like the more advanced students move, I had more time to correct things with my movements if that makes any sense. I find that when I absorb and make an improvement time slows down and I am more aware of smaller details, so haha!My feet began doing the gentle swish shuffle, that is indicuitive of the the way we are supposed to move, in formal movements anyway.  formed sparred with Pablo, we work well together, best person for me to sparr with who is on or near my level.


45 sec rest straight sets
overhead squat 3 x 10 @ 67
romanian deads 3 x10 @ 122
DB bench press 2x 10 1 x 7 @ 40
 Bent over rows 3 x 10 @ 67

V sit ups 3 x 15

I am pretty stunned that I made all the increases. did not evpect that including the bench with its last 3 rep miss, I didn't think I was going to be able to nail the first 2 sets of 10...

Fu night I started really working my two new forms last night. I have learned them, already but now is the time to seriously practice them. I test again in 3 months.

Worked hard on my cat stance, fundamental, and something that I have been failing at. It has something to do with my hip flexor flexibility. getting my legs perpendicular at the distance that they are supposed to be is harder than it should be for me.

But, as I said a few posts ago my flexibility is marching onward twords bendy ; ) and I can sit NICELY in indian style with my back straight for extended periods. Getting closer to lotus position.

changing legs and spin kicks on the other hand.... yikes! Well it is all 5 element kick sequences, so the form I will test on next, so I hope in three months time I will at least be passable. I need to work on being able to move my legs quickly, I have fists of furry and legs of molassas.

It is a late work week, I need to fu tonight, and lift tomorrow, I don't like how my schedule is working if I am full of piss and vinegar when I get home I will try to lift tonight, so I can keep my days set in the way it is most optimal, and score a day off tomorrow, but I am not counting on anything.   

Kung Fu last night, had a medioce time, I tend to do badly when my friend john is here judgeing me.. HAHAHA, nah not like that buit since he is my princepal "student" teacher and my friend of 14 years, I want to make him proud... so I think too hard about it and don't concentrate on what I am doing. we talked aout my problems my foot work, how I am really confidant with my hands, and my feet are left behind in the dust confused.  POOR LEGS, they don't get the inter office memos in time ever.


Clean 5 x3 @ 97
 Deads, 1 x 5 137 x5 157 x5 177 x5 197 x5 222 x 5 the lack of a total heavy routine is taking it's biggest toll on my deads, (not to mention my constant shuffeling of days, which is very annoying) but got them all up this week.  

 Oh press (strict NOT push), 5 x5 .. 67 X 5

no increase but a hard and solid work out

Straight sets 45 sec rest front squats 3 x 10 @77 lbs
good mornings 3 x 10 @ 27lbs
 lunges 3 x 10 each leg @ 30 lb dumbbells
Push press 3 x 10 @ 62 lbs
bicycles 3 x 70 (bw)

No increases, doubled up with the Fu, had a good class, they are getting longer, and will cntinue to dio so since w moved the studio to a neighborhood with out meters (and 2 count them 2 blocks from my house!!!!!!) ,and I helped move the studio on Friday night (I'm telling you weightlifting has it's downsides, like being the one who always helps every body move, the ego boost I used to get from that is loooonnng gone, although in this instance I offered).

I worked on my two forms for up comming test and formed sparred with a BIG guy. He is big, big and fat. Half the things we practiced that night I would never, never , never try on some one his size in a real fight, f'in A never. But, that is one of the things that is so benificial and useful about not only fighting our style, but the way we practice it. I am finding that if the way I approach any one perticular fight is not working i can switch off to another and another and another until I find something successful (if I last that long), like with big guy, my go to tiger ( I like fighting tiger style, and it works for my body type and movement style), well nearly useless, it is too aggressive a form and it is too physical, for me to use against such a large oppunant. Dragon, funny since that gave me such a hard time is another type that I usually gravitate to in a spar scenario, actually less effective, against big guy. Same thing same problem, too aggeressive, and "power" style form. Now what did work on him was bird, I could stick and get away, stick and move, I could get my strikes in there because it wasn't dependant on me muscleing hiom out of the way, it was all aboud sneaking sh*t in there and then getting out. Monkey, same thing, as long as I could keep him from grabbing me, I can come in hoppy monkey style, quickly do some damage and then get out. Foucus more on fast and sneaky, and I could have success.

Actually worried about finding myself in a fight wioth one homeless guy in my work neighborhood, I hate thast Fk, I always have he started on me on Friday when I was working security and I was shooing him away... "I own this block, what are you going to do lady, call the cops I don't care if I get locked up, I wanna find out how strong you really are, I am not afraid of you I am not afraid of your boys ...." Yack yack yack. I refused to be goaded into the fight, I know I could have made it happen, but I reacted in the best possible way for the situation. no reply, did not back down or go away, kept following him until he left my patrons alone, did not escalate the situation (and I could have).

Kinda half worried about that continuing, but well I just have to be ready, I think, he thinks I am just show muscle (most people I free spar with at school have mentioned that they are surprised at how strong I am, and they all thought I was strong to begin with ; ) ), and he doesn't know that I study a fight skill. He ios probably my weight but taller, and that is good, I have the easiest time fighting with someone my weight but taller. But yeah he is life time homeless man, so he could f me all upI am sure if I am not super careful, if it comes down to it, I have my plan of attack, stay clear headed, don't panic, remeber block my face,  break the arm that tries to first strike me, break the knee, break any body part that invades my personal space, low kick, cross kick, side kick, translation: break the knee break the M f'in knee.

I hope it doesn't come to this.

Seems like the Homeless dude is getting to ya.
Next time he says that he wants to see how strong you are, tell him you are strong enough to have a job and keep it.
Don't forget that if it comes down to you sparing off with this guy....guys have a body part that woman do not and they will drop like a fly if you "command" that area.
Knees are good for putting them on the ground but a bust in the sac will leave em laying!
You are taking the correct path by not getting into it with him. Training will take over if needed, your fine!
 

Team Keine Ausreden = No Excuses
mein scheinehund ist daheim
48 yrs young
6'5" 270 Lbs

Wetdawg


Seems like the Homeless dude is getting to ya.
Next time he says that he wants to see how strong you are, tell him you are strong enough to have a job and keep it.
Don't forget that if it comes down to you sparing off with this guy....guys have a body part that woman do not and they will drop like a fly if you "command" that area.
Knees are good for putting them on the ground but a bust in the sac will leave em laying!
You are taking the correct path by not getting into it with him. Training will take over if needed, your fine!

I have stood this guy down before, he knows better, that is why it annoys me so very much. It was also a very high stress event for me that night. Doom metal drone band, the only band that I let use smoke machines (in the sanctuary no less), coupled with a candle mass I had set up for them (smoke machine = no fire alarm), and a capacity crowed of over 500 people... It was one of those it is my way or the highway nights.So when I tell you to stop pan handling my line line and to sell your very low quality drugs somewhere else, it is not a surprise, it is not a no you don't feel like it, ya move. He has known me for years he knows how things are when I work an event, he may be able to get away with stuff like that if I am not here, but not when I am.  

Yeah, I know a little something about the male anatomy, I do think that is what he would expect from me, and would be somewhat prepared for it...and that has to be a bulls eye, it is in the back of my head should the right opportunity arise, but I can actually throw a very good kick to the knee, quickly,without thought, even while blocking a variety of blows, hell as an extension of blocking a variety of blows, especially at his height (that is about the only thing my kicks are good for right now, HAHA). It shouldn't have to come to anything.

It is just aggravating, some of the homeless in my work neighborhood, are fine people who have either chosen to dip out of society, or were forced to due to circumstances, and prefer to live that way or try to better themselves, some are mentally ill, and then some are just garbage humans... pauper or millionare that guy will always be garbage

But I digress, thanks for the kind words Wetdawg, and JANE!

45 sec rest straight sets
overhead squat 3 x 10 @ 67
romanian deads 3 x10 @ 122
DB bench press 2x 10 1 x 8.5 @ 40 (It was almost nine almost, so I leave it at .5 because I earned that .5 credit, damnit!)
 Bent over rows 3 x 10 @ 67

V sit ups 3 x 15 

I gotta pick up a martial art. I suppose it helps that in 2 weeks I'm not only gonna learn how to box, but I'm gonna learn how to teach people how to box. :p lol

I also have complete confidence that you could've beaten up that hobo.

Wyrms, you should defentley take a martial art, I have a feeling you would get hooked if you found a good school and a style that suited you. I have a feeling you would get very geeked out on it.   : )   If you can find one... in the future look for a spirit martial school if you can find one, or at least one with both an internal and external side. Have fun with the boxing.

The fu was fine, it is weird in the new school, I don't have my usual spots that I like, so finding a place i was comfortable was well wasn't gonna happen, but everyone was having the same problem, and everybody was a little more awkward then usual. The walls are all cement, and I am used to punching and kicking them if I get really close as we go through our warm ups and forms, that is going to take some getting used to, dry wall is a little softer, on the hands and feet. I almost fell backward the first time I kicked it. Worked on 5 elements some more by myself. form spar nothing interesting happened. 

Clean 5 x3 @ 97  didn't want to move them up, maybe I should have
 Deads, 1 x 5 147 x5 157 x5 177 x5 197 x5 227 x3 ( I missed the last two,

 Oh press (strict NOT push), 5 x5 .. 72 X 5first 4 sets x 3 last

I took martial arts for a little while..Just the whole spiritualness with it bugged me. I couldn't get into it, you know? Like the breathing routines and the humming.. Eh.

Did you ever think about MMA? I have always wanted to find a club or a place where they do that kid of stuff, but I really don't know where to look..

Perrynaytor


I took martial arts for a little while..Just the whole spiritualness with it bugged me. I couldn't get into it, you know? Like the breathing routines and the humming.. Eh.

Did you ever think about MMA? I have always wanted to find a club or a place where they do that kid of stuff, but I really don't know where to look..

I get where you are coming from...

My form is a true Taoist spirit form, the type that is no longer allowed in China, because it is a religious form... However, that part of it is a separate class you have to be invited into, and you have to be there a year minimum.

Really in my school as far as breathing we only do a few types of Chi, and those are all fighting moves as well, with one exception, and that is really only a deep cleansing breath (catching ones breath), after a series of movements. We don't humm. We do have a crertain way we are supposed to breath to maximize power (kinda simalar to the Valaslava Manuever), and to make sure we breeth during our fights.

The spirit form as I have watched that class (it will kill me if i don't get asked in actually, which is weird since I am an atheist), consists of meditation into a deep deep, .... yeah I am gonna loose you here, trance. Supposedly, you channel one of 26 kung fu masters and they take control of your body (I don't really believe that part mind you). But I have watched a class and I have watched people i know, do things that they are physically not capable of doing, iat any other time. I believe you can meditate yourself in ato a trance, it is the possesion aspect I take issue with. They don't remember what they have done while in their trance. In my schools defense, 19 out of 20 of our students would NOT, I repeate NOT be intersted in a drum circle....

I am much more interested in a pure form of Martial Arts, over MMA. MMA is certainly a quicker fight skill to aquire. It is not as complicated. It is mostly a pick and choose of lots of different styles, but with out mastering any of them. From my point of view, a very effective form of self defense, a quick to gratifiaction, type of fighting skill to learn. But, it is an ugly fight form, it is all hard forms (well mostly all hard forms), and all linear. That has it's place, and is very effective in a street fight for sure.

My style is cursive and linear, hard and soft. It is a precurrser and or very closely related to Shoalin and Wu Shu Kung Fu, it is the precurrser to Karate, JuJitzu and Thai Chi. It is very well rounded, but difficult, very difficult to master... because it is so very complicated.

If I were to enroll in my kung fu school and my evil twin were to enrol in a good MMA school (there are so many bad martial art schools in every diciplin, but with MMA's popularity, they aer a sh*t ton of bad ones out there). in 2 years evil twin would win our fights, 5 years we should be drawing a lot, in 10 years she couldn't win to save her life.

You didn't want to know all that I am sure...



Well last night was my first free spar in a long time. I fought with Pablo for about 35 minutes, MY breathing got better!!! I didn't find myself winded once! He beat me up a couple times, I beat him up a couple times. A good time, and I did not end up hurt... well not hurt in a way that effected me today, so horray! Heheh, he had to call it because he couldn't hiold his arms up any more, I was close to calling it myself, but I wasn't going to be the one to bow out this time.

Our class is getting gharder since we moved, they are going longer too, Phan is just all fired up. Forms after free spar was brutal.

Well now I am informed. Lol. I guess I will figure it out. At least you're beating up guys.

Forgot to put this in here.
Sat

75 sec rest straight sets
front squats 3 x 15 @72 lbs
good mornings 3 x 10 @ 22lbs
 lunges 3 x 15 each leg @ 25 lb dumbbells
Push press 3 x 15 @57 lbs
bicycles 3 x 45 each side (bw) (I have been recording these incorrectly

Mon
75 sec rest straight sets
overhead squat 3 x 15 @ 62
romanian deads 3 x15 @ 117
DB bench press 3x 15 @ 35 (well who would have thunk it, my crappy benching is finally heading towards mediocre...)
 Bent over rows 3 x 15 @ 57  kept it light to double check whether or not i am cheating my rows, with the wrist curl... survey said, 85% arms not wide enough apart, 15% cheating, so yet again the rows go down.

V sit ups 2 x 15 1x17

Good class, I worked hard on my foot work issue, I went slow. I made an extra effort to focus entirely on me yesterday. I did not look at anybody else's form, just concentrated on what I was doing. worked well, I know that is one of my meny problems, watching how everyone is doing the forms, and everybody has different style. I know the movements, (at least on what we are doing in warm ups and forms), so I really don't need to watch, I need to work on my way..

Form sparred with Pablo, I don't knwo how much learning we accomplished. Al;though I made him fight back on shoulder blade take down, as it is frequently habbit for the "offender" to just bend down with minimal resistance to the move, and that does not translate in to a real scenario. So I had him fight back to see if I had the leverage and the twist on the hold correct. I did, although that is another formal move that would translate quite differentaly in a steet fight scenario. Yeah wouldn't drop to a knee to do a sweep. Using the affoementioned top part (of that move) to seperate a shoulder or break the upper arm, on the other hand, that would be quite practical in the right situation.

BAhh, my work week got all swisghed around again, tonight is a lift night, but I can not fu on Fri, I work 12-12 (more like 2 am). The past few weeks I have been only getting in a few kung Fu nghts, I really need 3 a week, to get better (I am such a slow learner when it comes to this). But If I try to lift Friday morning, (and Thursday is free sparr, and I can not miss that, missed to many of those in the past month), then that screws up my pattern for next week. Tonght is the long class, so lifting after is really probably not going to happen...... grumble grumble grumble.

lol, I have no doubt I'd get pretty passionate about a martial art.

Where I live, it's just a 25 minute drive to a main street where the majority of martial arts facilities are. I've been meaning to look into it moreso when:
A. I'm a fair bit more financially secure...
B. My cousin turns 18 and gets his license (January) so we can start up together and take turns driving there every week. Share the load. lol

Clean 5 x3 @ 102  (1 st set by 5, I forgot what I was doing)
 Deads, 1 x 5 152 x5 157 x5 177 x5 197 x5 227 x3 ( again  missed the last two, GRRRRR

 Oh press (strict NOT push), 5 x5 .. 72 X 5first 4 sets x 4 last

Had a terrible lift last night, went with that instead of fu... timing issue.

I didn't eat enough yesterday either

ohh boy. John was their last night and he was feeling frisky... ouchie! He and I went through long Bird to double check as I have been working on that for a while unsupervised, and I had a question or two...

Then I had my free spar lesson with John.... OMFG!!! He just wouldn't stop kicking me... He let me play offence for a good long while... then we worked on breathing and Chi ... then defense... the kicking. My legs are torn up, I haven't been this buised in a while. we were discussing my performance afteward, he even admitted that he should have been punching me more, but it was just soooo much fun for him to kick me = ( ... = )


Then I sparred with Alan, he has been there a 2 plus years... not 9 like my buddy John... I came at him way to hard...I forgot who I was fighting he and I tend to spar slowly and in a controlled mannar so we can work on using our forms... I took me a few to gear down after being royally trumped. he and I went as usual and then sort of played King of the mountain. He took a square on the matt and was determind to not get knocked off, I got him off three times, and tha last one I fully took over the square and claimed it as mine, and then we reversed, he got me off twice, by then we were all done.

forms and form spar afterward was hard...............My partner was Chris also a good friend yeah he took over where john left off and destroyed my fore arms. I finally figured a thing or two about about an application I was having issue with. 

John texted me this morning asking me about my legs... he had said last night after you have been there a long time you know when you bruise someone else... he had counted at least three on me... wanted to see if he was right... I good naturedly grumbled... his reply... welcome to kung fu kicking is love. ROLF

Well, unexpected off week.

I hadn't had one scheduled in my mind.. I figured I would take one when the winds decided I should have one. This weekend was the right time. I could have held opout a little longer, I am old I do need my rest, but it wasn't so urgent.

But i don't know, I woke up saturday with a bug up my butt, I have been cleaning my house since Saturday at 10 am, I only stopped to come into work today. Seriously up by 9 : 30 cleaning by 10:30 in bed at 2 am woke repeated x 2, although last night 3:30 was bed time, I had just one more laundry load to do 12 total.

Now I don' t feel well, not surprised, my diet over the weekend was horrendous, to add to the equasion.

Back to lifting Saturday/ Sunday, I don't even think I will FU tonight, I wanna get a few more things done.  Wed, Thurs, Fri however I will play pucdhy kicky with the boys.

1st night back at fight land... it amazes me how 5 days away can have a negative  impact on my skills, but as quickly as they go they come back.

I called my first form in class. the students usually call, I never have, I guess I am not new anymore.

The break did me good, I still can't explain why I have so much energy 11:30 last night and i am moving my dressers around in the bed room... I only went to bed because i had to be at work at 8 am.

I hope this energy continues to my lifting starting back up on Sunday.

Funny I have no idea what I am doing for a routine, repeat another cycle of what I have been doing, go back to my heavy routine... something new??

I have got to figure that out.

Fight night! There was almost nobody there for open spar... I was taught/faught with Ray.

He is the nicest most genuine well meaning guy.... he is also extremely dangerous. He is 9 years in almost up for red sash, our red sashes can beat him... but not always, he is our best fighter, and also has very good control.

Ray hurt me, I mean he could take a nap and still beat me up... he was way toned down and teaching me, it is not like when I fight someone closer to my skill level...

I don't know what happened, I warned him before we started... I said I am still bruised from last week, go a little easy on my shins. His reply ... oh I won't lump and bump, you all up, don't worry... I somehow knew I was getting hurt. Well he kicked my slightly tender spot, and rendered it actively painful, I went to front kick him later on and he blocked it by kicking it down (easiest way to block that kind of kick), I yelped loudly, he destroyed my shin, it is obliterated.

I stayed all the way through forms, although my performance was attrocious, I had to roll me pant leg up past it, 'cause honestly it hurt too much to let the fabric brush against it.

You know, I am not the biggest wuss in the world, I am not the toughest chick either... I have always thought I had a middle of the road tolarance to pain, but that just was unbelievabe, my whole entire ankle to middle of my calf swelled up about three four times it's normal size, I have a sauasge leg and a CANKLE! I could not believe that it swelled up behind where he blocked it, it was as if he kicked through my leg.

I still form sparred but could not have that spot touched, kicked swept anything, I could barely throw a kick with that leg.

I am much better today, I couldn't wear my boots, but other than that I am Ok, hurts to walk hurts to move the leg around. t is just soft tissue damage, it is not the bone that is bothering me.

I will go to class tonight and I should be able to fully participate as well as executing my own moves well, However I can not get kicked in my left shin, no way no how!

I am F***IN SICK!!! I have been ever since Sunday, nasty head cold nasty joint ache.,.. pile of snot, I actually get winded riding my bike home...

Tomorrow I will be back to lifting,


I went of Friday to kung Fu. I learned. John told me about a problem with my snake stance, he is making me go two steps back... so I can go 5 steps forward. Sigh> I poped him in the jaw something good though.

I think my balance readjusted itself... I have noticed I haven't been thinking about it over the past week or two.. I was concentrating on a few other things instead. If It was still all f'ed up I would have noticed.

kung fu last night I was misserable snot ball, but i did make it through. All forms, no form sparr, we haven't done that in a while. The adjustment for my snake stance i swell uncomfortable to say the least... It will certainly help my over all flexibility.

Tonight it's on! well, I am lifting, hahaha, I am still not great btu certainly functional enough, to pick up heavy things...


I still don't know what routine I am doing...

Anybody got an idea.....

 i think i will go back to my coldfire rotuine, with an adjustment or two. Maybe I will jump on th etexas method band wagon, as I really believ I am a true intermediate, at this stage of the game, and I am old the recovery day is appealing to me.