My ramblings, the endless journey

Well, I guess it is time to journal here. my training is taking a bit of a shift, so while I record every lift on paper at home, I think I am going to  need a place to vent publicly.

WARNING: I'm am going to piss and moan, probably quite a bit, if you don't want to read my pissing and moaning, then find yourself another thread.

I am on my off week right now, but I have started my Kung Fu class (they spell it with a K rather than a G, where I go, so that is what I am going to do) . Than Vo Dao, is one of the 3 names this style goes by.

This is supposed to be my new cardio...  in addition to flexibility, speed, balance,  power, and general  whoopass  training.

2 classes in and the previously known factor, is painfully evident, I can't dance.

Todays debate is if I should go again tonight or wait and go tomorrow. I guess if my friend (9 years doing this), manages to make it today, I'll go. It is really helpful having him around, although I take away from his training. If he can not make it, than I guess I will probably go tomorrow night by myself. Then I only have 2 days to forget what I have learned before I go back on Monday.

Damn I am supposed to practice on my own, but if I don't remember the forms, I think I would just be reinforcing incorrect movements, that can not be helpful.

I need to figure out a stratagey for remembering the steps and postures. If I unfocus, I can do quite ok, I can follow who is instructing me, but when I really try to concentrate, my brain starts yammering, I'm flopping all over the place.

I really need to plan my routine for Sunday, back to the weights. NROL hypertrophy 2. I need to pick my substitutions, and plan the weight i am going to start off with. I think I actually get to do three day split this time, it's been awhile, I think I am do for that type of change, I am weary from the last 4 NROL routines, and I think just a bout every other routine I have done from there i was a 2 day split, done 3 times a week. I am hoping that the weight work is going to be a no brainer this time around, with no lingering issues, so I can just concentrate for a little while on getting the Kung Fu down.

well, third Kung Fu class down.

I freekin suck! I swear this is the hardest thing I have ever tried to do. I nearly broke a sweat today so that is progress, I guess.  Buddy John wasn't there so it was my first class without him there. It was a good thing to do, so I don''t feel like I am using him as a crutch. It was also good to have someone else teach me. I had 3 trainers today. Master Phan worked with me for a good long while. I really like that little vietnamese guy.

I looked over H2 and it is really basic and static, so I think that will work out fine for me, while i am trying to absorb the Kung Fu. My big concern is the low rep ranges, heavy weight. And when things get real heavy I have trouble in me home gym. but no squats fro the next 8 weeks, so that is a trickey one I don't hae to think about, bench is going to be a problem though.

So, stomach issues Sat night through Sunday. Puked and everything. Hardley ate Sunday a little light on food today as well.

It's Monday, still don't feel great. Sucks, yesterday was suposed to be first day back to weights. Needless to say I skipped. So I'll just push it all back one day, no biggy. Kung Fu tonight. I won't skip, unless  vomit again, but while I am not up to par today, I don't think my lunch is coming back for a visit.

Weights tomorrow, I tried to get 20 Lb plates on Saturday, but odels was out, I picked up 2 more 10's# but that is really not going to do the trip,I should check out the other more exspensive place. I am going to need them.

Ok 4 th class down, I feel better about the whole thing. I stayed in forms almost til the begining of sparing, and someone who had a class or two on me got pulled out wayyy before i did ! I even finally broke a honest to goodness sweat! I am sore and everything today. A different kind of soreness than with weights, it is deeper.

Tonight, weights, I am better, the stomach thing made the rounds through my office at work. My boss, the adm assistant, and myself  all spent Saturday night  vomiting, so it wasn't just me.

I AM SO EXCITED TO BE, JUST A MEATHEAD TONIGHT!

No dancing, just pick up heavy thing put down heavy thing repeat .

AHHHH! Killed it yesterday. The rest did me right. Went a little to heavy on benck, maybe a little light on the rows, Dip (for sure to light on the dip,) and palm in incline bench but there is room to move, and I didn't want to over do first day back, and at the heaviest (sort of ), weight I have done in a while, actualy the rows at revese grip are a best for me, and I think the bench is close if not a best.

I have never been so happy to be back to my weights.

H2 NROL
6 X 3 everything (cept, abs) super sets full rest at 90 secs. Dips and abs straight sets

Barbell reverse Grip Bent over row 87#
Dumbbell bench 45's # (90# total )
1 arm row 55#
Dumbbell incline bench 25's # (50# total - probably too light)
Bench Dip 15 # (too light)
swiss ball crunch 3 X 12 @ 60 sec rest, 25#

felt goooood! meatheadded happiness

Kung Fu tonight, I don't have the feeling of confidance I had on Monday, the forms are all mixed up in my head. I think I am going to work extra hard on foot work today, we shall, see. I don't expect such positive out come today.

Class last night  =

Last night legs. First time I have ever had a leg day with out squats. So for 8 weeks and eight weeks only no squats, kinda of exciting. This is as heavy as I can go.

5 x 6 90 sec rest

snatch grip deadlifts 147 # X 6 (mixed grip last 2 sets)

super set
lunges 35's # X 6 first 2 sets 30's # X 6 last 3, grip failed

step-ups 35's# x6 first 2 sets 30's # x 6 last 3 , grip failed

lying leg raises (full extension), 3 X 12 3# lbs each leg 60 sec rest.

I really hope tonights class goes better. I have a better stragey, and I know where some things went wrong. I hope have a better teacher today, and who ever it is can not ditch me half way though again, like last time. I can not have another class like Wednesdays.

Ok, so Friday's class was much better, ok not much but definate improvement to Wednesday's catastrophies. I was warned for the second time about the guy who was helping me on Wednesday.

I need to write down the postures, fists, movements and stances.

That might be helpful.

I  think I will ask John, for the tapes of his tests, at least then I can reveiw and watch the application and forms. 

I swear I need like the old fasioned foot prints on the floor and diagrams so that I can follow like I'm learning a dance.

Saturday weight H2 work 3


3 X 12 all and 60 seconds rest.
super sets

close grip chin ups assisted 2 leg X 12

Barbell shoulder press 52# X 12

_
wide grip pull up assisted 2 leg X 12

Edit
Arnolds 20's # (40# total) X 12 ( 3 rd set to  only 10, mistake!)
_

Towel bicep curl 2 arms together (very weird, and i did not like them, might switch to a ususal curl) 15# (30# total) X 12
_

Upper body russian Twist 15 # X 12

it was an easy lifting day, except the chins and pull, which I truely suck at. And could not have done more weight if I had tried.

Class is better!  The thai Chi lady was my buddy, she moves Slow when she wants to, good teacher!

I remembered much more and remembered a whole pattern, begining to end when I got home last night. I even remember it this morning . One of the tiger forms, I like the kitty style, monkey and bird forms on the other hand much more trickey. But i ma getting there! In about 7 years I might have a clue.

Haha all the talk of kitties and tigers and monkeys sounds odd to someone who doesn't do kung fu.


Oh and what's this grip failed crap. Get some straps woman!

5'6" 125/ Bench: 115 / Front squat: 90 / Deadlift: 205 / Pullups: 10

Do you know what is funnier, me making the animal noises in my head when i am going through the forms,

meow (step to fight stance, 1 arm tiger claw clear), meow (step upper stance, 1 arm tiger claw clear), MEOW ( 2 arm tiger claw  strike), same patter other leg start; meow, meow, MEOW, walk out to fight stance + straight punch, walk to fight stance + straight punch, tripple fist: punch, back fist, punch; step to fight stance triple fist other hand start: punch, back fist, punch; Ohohoh (monkey low pose,)

ROLF, that is the form I remember!

Since I am not a true body builder, and am more concerned about practical strength, I don't strap, I don't want to encourage my strength to be disproportionate, I'm overly patient, they'll catch up. (and in all honesty I don't think my left leg would have made it to the end of the step ups, either,  with the 35 lb dumbbells, my right would have though. So that is another dispoportion that I would have been encouraging.

Since I am not a true body builder, and am more concerned about practical strength, I don't strap

You would be surprised how much they help, Not only that but you will feel like you got a better work out. Try them before making up your mind

If I didn't have wrist straps I wouldn't be doing anything more then 100lb dumbells on the dumbell rows.. When you stop worrying about grasping onto the bar so much you may also notice an improvement in form.

Hey who am I to talk you into it though

Your forearms are a tiny muscle group, and are not supposed to be as strong as much larger muscle groups like the muscles of the back or legs. You hold your other muscle groups back by forcing them to wait for a much smaller muscle group to "catch up". Only use the straps on your heaviest sets and your forarms will still grow while allowing your larger groups to perform at heavier weights and continue to progress. Straps have a bad reputation among some bodybuilding groups because of some people using them too often but there's no reason not to use straps on your heaviest sets.

5'6" 125/ Bench: 115 / Front squat: 90 / Deadlift: 205 / Pullups: 10

H2 NROL
2 x 25 everything (cept, abs) super sets full rest at 30 secs. Dips and abs straight sets
Big mistakes last night, I figured out all the weight wrong, I hate 25 rep days , over estimated myself, had to change weights, down.

I might need to edit, I think i droped weight after 1st set somewhere, and I forgot to bring my log.

Barbell reverse Grip Bent over row 72# X 23 (had to stop half way throught, take a breather then could squeeze out another 8 or so before i quit) 67 X 24 didn't stop but that first set wiped me!
Dumbbell bench 30's # (60# total )X 25
1 arm row 35# X 25
Dumbbell incline bench15's # (30# total - probably too light) X 25
Bench Dip BW (man, I can't do 25 bench dips in a straight row I got the two sets in but I had to break them up a little to get all the 50 total reps
swiss ball crunch 3 X 12 @ 60 sec rest, 25#


For as quick as it was that was rough , hoaray again NROL made me puke a little in my mouth!

I hear you guys IBB and ripped I will take that into consideration. Tomorrow I have 3 x6 on legs, so I'll get a good idea how my grip fares on the heaviest weights.

It's just that straps don't translate to my real life. When I am moving, things around my building no one is strapping them to my hands, and I do understand where your both coming form and the theories behind the use of straps on your heaviest lifts.... but, it is just counter intuitive to me. We will see how I feel after tomorrow.

On the kung fu front played around on my own a little with the forms, and talked with john, my friend who got me started there. Feel pretty excited about going tonight, and John will actually be there on Friday I believe, so he claims. That is good, he be able to tell me how I have progressed. I sparred for the first time on monday with Thai Chi lady (she beboped and skatted all over my ass, to show me where I was wrong). So hope to make it to sparring to night, and the forms are becoming much more fun. I was screwing around with the boyfreind last night, and I actually had made some good choices, when it came to blockin gleding and binding my oppponant.

Wednesdays seem to be a bad day for me.

You know, I think I have a grasp on something, and then poof it's gone.

Thia Chi lady (wendy) helped me a bit, but i think she needs to leave me alone a bit, great first I don't want to be ababndoned, and then I don't want help.. Nah, it is not lie that, but I am noticing that when someone else counts for me and re calls the call, I don't internalise, I mimick. I am a good visual learner, and I can copy with out understanding , and I ned to understand, otherwise I am never going to advance.

hopefully John will be there, on Friday, because I can talk back to him and he'll know how to take it, rather than thinking it's me just being  difficult or stubborn. Which I have not been. I am just trying to not talk back, and accept all the advice i am given, and try to use it. But, I thin, maybe, i have a grasp on how I am going to learn this.???!~??!@?

Sparred with a red sash, someone I don't know, even that was painfully difficult, I guess I got somewhere in the end.

I still feel bad that I in efffect ruin other peoples class, because I need help, and hold them back. But this is a traditional Chinese form, and it is taught in the traditional Chinese way, begginer anto expert in the same class. The teacher learns from the student the student learns from the teacher.