Renewed Training - Renewed Focus

[Lee]

My name is Lee. I am 41. 

A brief history...

Shin-Shin Toitsu Aikido @ Kingston, ON -  2yrs (1990-1992) - 3rd kyu (under S. Bill Bickford) "Kingston Ki Society"
Chito-Ryu Karate @ Bancroft Martial Arts, Bancroft, ON - 3.5yr (2013-2016) - 2nd kyu (under S. Dave Daley) "Snow Tigers Assoc."
Jiu-Jitsu (Canadian) @ Bancroft Martial Arts, Bancroft, ON - 3.5yr (2013-2016) - 2nd kyu (under S. Wayne Lord) "Snow Tigers Assoc."

I changed career and moved from Bancroft to Windsor, Ontario in September 2016. After training and growing at Bancroft Martial Arts for over three years, I stopped training for a time. I went out to a BJJ dojo to try it out in October. I was already out of shape and not fully capable of keeping up but had a good workout, but, did not continue for time and financial challenges.

I've finally found a group I can train with as of last week and I'm stoked!

I've joined "Kihon Karate" in Windsor, starting on Wednesday, July 12th.
This is the first time I will train with knockdown rules at the core. In Bancroft it was traditional non-contact. I learned a great deal there but I look forward to testing myself more with contact.
My Jiu-Jitsu is definitely weak, and learning a more applied competitive fighting system is hopefully going to sharpen that training I have had, and help bring it to the next level.
Because I'm not starting from scratch, I expect to pick up quickly and move along in my grading at a good pace to start, but this is not my ultimate goal. I feel good going back to a "white-belt"... after all the color of my belt is only that.

At my age I'm looking for good competition and intensity, but want to avoid any debilitating injury.

I likely will not be able to make it out to every available session, but currently my training schedule looks like this:
    Sunday - bike or run at home
    Monday - weights at home
    Tuesday - Kihon Karate (general techniques, beginner contact training)
    Wednesday - Kihon Karate (conditioning & kata)
    Thursday - Kihon Karate (conditioning & jiu-jitsu)
    Friday - rest (occasional private lessons at Kihon)
    Saturday - beginner knockdown training

I've decided to try and quantify and track specific things here below in each post. If you have suggestions of something I can add to this part of my logs, feel free to let me know. Some aspects of training are difficult to quantify but what makes sense to track I will.

Current Fitness (1-10, 10 being my very best form):
    Cardio - 3
            - 5km run 33mins
    Strength - 4
            - SQ 240lbs
            - BP 205lbs
            - DL 365lbs
    Flexibility - 3

Current Injuries (1-10, 10 being the very worst condition):
    - Right Shoulder strain (3) - physio once a week

Next kyu test: 6th Kyu (Kihon) - unknown

Next competition:
    Kumite - unknown
    Kata - unknown
    Weapons - unknown

Confidence (1-10, 10 being my highest satisfaction in my training):
    KD Competitive - 1
    Fitness - 3

[meguro]

Welcome to the fold! You're certainly no beginner so there's very little to add. If anything, maybe take more time off for recovery. Looking forward to following you on your journey.

[Lee]

Thanks Meguro....

[MMX]

Welcome to KDF. Just hit 40 myself and I am learning better is better and not MORE is better. Cheers.

[Lee]

Quick Update: Friday, August 18th, 2017

I've continued training weekly, most weeks at least three times.

Current Schedule:
Sunday - rest day (bike or run at home ) Hiatus until shoulder heals
Monday - rest day (weights at home) Hiatus until shoulder heals
Tuesday - Kihon Karate (general techniques, beginner contact training followed by KD fight class)
Wednesday - Kihon Karate (conditioning & kata)
Thursday - Kihon Karate (conditioning & jiu-jitsu)
Friday - rest (occasional private lessons at Kihon)
Saturday - beginner knockdown training

I'm getting ready to test for my first kyu belt the end of August.

I'm getting used to the contact as opposed to the "no contact" I've been used to.

Generally my shoulder has been a major issue, slow to heal and is my biggest thing holding me back.

Current Fitness (1-10, 10 being my very best form):
Cardio - 4
- 5km run 33mins
Strength - 4
- SQ 240lbs
- BP 205lbs
- DL 365lbs
Flexibility - 4

Current Injuries (1-10, 10 being the very worst condition):
- Right Shoulder strain (3) - physio once a week

Next kyu test: 6th Kyu (Kihon) - End of August 2017

Next competition:
Kumite - November, 2017
Kata - unknown
Weapons - unknown

Confidence (1-10, 10 being my highest satisfaction in my training):
Knockdown Competitive - 2
Fitness - 4

Read more: knockdownfighters.com/thread/1195/renewed-training-focus#ixzz4q1VuLvMe

[meguro]

I like how you include self - assessed fitness levels! I expect your strength will improve once your shoulder heals. Don't rush it, and ignore the no pain no gain mantra of the young and stupid, it gets in the way getting old and healthy.

[Lee]

It has been a good long while since I updated. Let me do that now.

Current Fitness (1-10, 10 being my very best form):
Cardio - 5
- 5km run 30mins
Strength - 4
- SQ 240lbs (this is old 1RM, currently more like 210lbs)
- BP 205lbs (cannot Bench currently due to shoulder injury)
- DL 365lbs (this is old 1RM, currently working back up and at 320lbs)
Flexibility - 4 - I've had some setbacks, thumb and shoulder injuries that continue to hold me back

Current Injuries (1-10, 10 being the very worst condition):
- Right Shoulder strain (3) - physio once a week
- right and left thumbs (3) - tendon damage due to punching elbows
- right ankle (2) - poor kick choices, hyperextension recurring and flexibility has been lost

Next kyu test: 5th Kyu (Kihon) - Nov 28, 2017

Next competition:
Kumite - Feb 17 (this will be my first contact competition)
Kata - unknown
Weapons - unknown

Confidence (1-10, 10 being my highest satisfaction in my training):
KD Competitive - 4 - it's coming, slowly, combinations are happening but not consistently, movement improving, power is still hampered by shoulder issue (I'm right handed and so I cannot throw full power yet more like 70% at best). I'm working on leg checks/blocks, better fighting stance for blocking punches better. Front kicks are still too far away, roundhouses are improving and more frequent, inside and outside leg kicks more consistent and followed up more often instead of stand-alone.
Fitness - 4 - I'm not gassing out as fast but because my overall training and conditioning at home is not regular due to shoulder and other joint challenges I haven't regained good form yet. I need to run more often, and combine more weights along with my striking/skip-cardio style workouts


Read more: knockdownfighters.com/thread/1195/renewed-training-focus#ixzz4yKb7jjYL

[MMX]

Thanks for the update. Hope your training continues to progress.

[meguro]

Good luck on the upcoming comp!