Day 2 - Plyometrics redux and return of an old school sempai, Day 3 - Shoulders & Arms redux

On Monday I had a lesson from the old school of hard knocks! I had the opportunity of learning from one of sensei's old students, and he taught me a lot. We started off with review of defense and counter-attacking using iyumiashi stepping and various blocks. And then the fun began... Kiso Kumite Dai Roku, where sempai went over every technique in great detail and excruciating pain for me! But it was worth it. One thing I realized is that I was not doing the techniques right. I had the motions right, but that's about it. People I was practicing with would just fall when I did my techniques with them. Not with this sempai though! There was a level of pain missing. It's one thing to be nice to our fellow karatekas, but if that means losing the purpose of the move, why bother practicing? These moves are devastating and meant to break limbs, and yesterday I learned that when practicing the moves we must focus and give the intent of the move, without breaking the limb of course. From a level of 1 to 10, where 1 is just motions and 10 is breaking the limb, I think I've been practicing these moves at 2, when I should have been at 6, 7, or 8. So just as in P90x, I need to up the intensity!
Speaking of which, I came back from Karate and went directly to Plyometrics. I didn't bother changing, and my dogi was already heavy with sweat from karate. I think it added at least another ten pounds to me, which intensified the jump training workout.
Day 3 was Shoulders and Arms. I used the bands again, but with a larger loop. I think I did really well. My numbers are up, and I am sore this morning in all the right places.
I need to start focusing on the diet aspect more. I've been slacking at lunch. I need to hit the subway and get the 6" subs instead of going to Wendy's for the chicken sandwich. Has anyone started counting calories???
More to come!

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Day 1 - Chest & Back Redux

So last night I worked on Chest and back. I focused on technique and maximum reps.
I think I did really well, compared to my first round of phase one. All my numbers are up. I still am having trouble with the dive bomber push ups, we have a similar exercise in daruma taiso, and I still don't have it right there either. So it's something to focus on next time.

I need to work harder on the different type of pull ups. I'm still having a hard time getting a half-ton off of the ground. I am going to need to use a chair to increase my reps, or switch to the resistance band, but I want to stick with the pull up instead.

More to come!

Phase 1 Done! Next up, Phase 1!

Well, I've completed Phase 1 of the series.
Do I feel stronger? YES
Did I lose some weight? YES
Am I ready for Phase 2? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!
I don't feel I'm strong enough to do a lot of the things in Phase 2.
I'm not even 70% used to the stuff in Phase 1.

So I'm going to do another round of phase 1.

So Here we go again!
My goals for this go around of Phase 1:
1) Do more pull ups /push ups reps
2) You a stronger resistance
3) Improve stamina
4) Lose more weight.
5) Try not to kill myself doing Goals 1, 2, 3, and 4

Oh boy....

Day 22, 23, 24

So it looks like I missed a day of Yoga X at the beginning of this workout week, so I will be making it up on my rest day.

Day 22 Kempo X
I still enjoy this workout. It's fun, and I tried to bring up the intensity during the routine.

Day 23 Stretch X
Would you believe this was the first time I used this routine? I think I will start using it on the rest days.

Day24 Core Synergistics
The chataranga runs are killer! If you want to know what I'm talking about, here's a link to show what it looks like (not me doing it)

Day 21 - Core Synergistics

WOAH - I tthought this was supposed to be me week of rest! And here I am huffing and puffing and curled up in the fetal position... Another killer routine that's got me so sore and it's only been a couple of hours since I finished... could it be related to the last ab ripper x routine that I did or the ab routine during daruma taiso? not sure... but I am not moving so well at the moment... a good night's sleep should do wonders...

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Day 20: Kenpo X

Last night I had done Kenpo X. I really am starting to like this routine. And I can't believe how sweaty I get doing it. I focused more on intensity, and I also modified techniques to match what I've been working on in Karate. Speaking of which, I went today to Karate, and I am so winded! The dojo was a sauna yet again... But it was a good workout and I worked on Kata Geki Sai Dai Ichi, Kihon Kata Sanchin, and Koryu Kata Seiunchin. I also had an opportunity to practice Kiso Kumite Dai Go again. I am excited about next week. I will get an opportunity to be an assistant teacher during the daruma taiso workout. I've also been told that black belt exams are in the beginning of December. Though I haven't been given the green light, I am going to continue to practice as though I have the opportunity to test...

Day 19: Legs & Back and Ab Ripper X

I did Legs & Back today, after a very tough workout at the dojo... It was very tough to get quality or quantity out of me... but I managed to work up another good sweat after the grueling karate workout...
I like the leg & back workout because of the focus on balance... my calves are really tight right now. I believe I will be sore tomorrow... :)

Day 18 Yoga X

I took my time with this program today and really got a good workout with it. By the time I was done, my shirt was drenched. I wasn't as pretty or graceful as the crew, but I got a good workout from it...

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Day 17: Shoulders & Arms and Ab Ripper X

Today's workout was Shoulders & Arms followed by Ab Ripper X... I really focused on technique this time and I feel that I had the proper amount of resistance. I started feeling the burn toward the last few reps of each exercise. I'm actually happy that I'm getting the technique down now. Day 15's routine's soreness are started to hit me this morning in my chest and back and not in my triceps. I guess I'll have to wait for day 19 to feel them. ;-)
Ab Ripper X got the better of me as usual... 'I hate it, but I LOVE it' as Tony says... I still can't keep up with the folks in the video, but I am trying my best. I got to remember to breathe more!
Next up Yoga X!

Day 16 - Plyometrics

Today was a very tough day for me physically.
First of all I decided to go to karate in the middle of this heat wave. The dojo was like a sauna. We went through a lite version of our daruma taiso exercises. The one nice thing was that an old face showed up at the dojo today that i haven't seen in a year and a half or so. He's an older gentleman, short in stature but could easily kick my ass - and his personality and features reminds me of my father-in-law, whom I love just like my dad. anyway, it was a pleasure practicing with him. when I was a green belt, he was at the level I am today, and then had gone away for a bit. Well, I'm glad to see him back because now we can both practice together for our black belt exams.
Anyway, after karate, I came home and did plyometrics. I was totally winded. The 'mother of all X workouts' got to me... I think the heat had affected me, but I managed to get through it, though was not very high in intensity. A couple of things I did was to change up some of the moves again to be more like karate techniques and follow the lower impact workout.
On to shoulders & arms!

Day 15 - Chest & Back

Wow it was tough to get back into the swing of things after a holiday weekend! I can't believe it's my 3rd week! Time flies! Well the first workout of the week is Chest & Back. I really focused on technique this week. It actually affected the number of reps I did, but i think this was for the better. This morning I am feeling the soreness my chest and especially my back, and less in my triceps. So I think the pushups and pullups are finally hitting the right spots. :) Stayed tuned to the next update!

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Day 12, 13, 14

Hello there!
I've been slacking on the blog at the end of this week, so I thought I'd give a quick recap:

Day 12 - 7/2: Legs & Back and Ab Ripper X. I can't believe how intense this workout was! My calves are still super sore from Friday's workout. The calf raises really hurt, but I got through it. Now If I could only walk properly... anyway, I am getting better at the pull ups and chin ups.

Day 13 - 7/3: Kempo X. I really enjoyed this workout! My calves were sore from they day before, so my technique could have been more graceful, but it was fun and I stuck with the whole crew.

Day 14 - 7/4: Happy Independence Day! Rest day for me!

Week 3, here I come!

Day 11 - Yoga: not so much

Well, plans thwarted again... I went to karate and did daruma taiso exercises followed by review of all of the kata that I have learned so far, and then kiso kumite dai roku and dai go. Then all hell broke lose. I get visited by wifey at the dojo and she tells me that our dog might have broken its leg! Off to the Animal ER - in my karate uniform... sigh... Anyway, two hours later and 200 bucks poorer, no broken leg, thank goodness - just a sprain. Poor puppy is limping though... Yoga X was not meant to be today and since I did have karate and daruma taiso exercises, I'm going on to Day 12 - legs, back & ab ripper X tomorrow!