Training environment

[GJEC]

There's a really interesting side story to Bradley Wiggins.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19089596

Following injury he didn't take a break, he strapped himself up and trained in his shed. That made me smile. UK sport - in fact global sport - spends £billions on facilities and he trains up towards a Gold Medal and Tour de France win IN A SHED.

In my training I've always gained more in spartan surroundings. Dojo in posh health clubs and state-of-the-art leisure centres never felt 'right'. I loved the old Leicester dojo (pre 1976) in a tin roofed TA garage and forged the most strength in the basement at the Fire Station.

So without knocking those that train in luxury, I wonder if it's necessary or counter-productive?

I've often thought if I won the lotto I'd get somewhere to train, but it would be 'rough and ready'. If members could find anything comfortable there it would be an oversight on my part. Until then we'll stick to school halls with dirty floors where it hurts if you get taken over ...

'Ave it!



Gary

[alan]

I can understand what you mean Gary but i would prefer something customised to suit which is there all the time seven days a week...doesn`t have to be posh..like Darren Chans fight factory..rough,ready but does the job, rather than renting school halls etc.....but then the word dosh appears!

On the subject of this guy, he really deserves to win sports personality of the year ( if Wullie doesn`t ) after winning the tour de france and communicating with the locals in their own language, he asked to speak to his British fans in English, he said something like, " and now it`s time for the raffle! "

[curlbroscience]

My first Kyokushin instructor was not very technical. Quite frankly what we did probably could not be considered Kyokushin in respect to technical kata and kihon. What we did a lot of was strength training, bag work and kumite. He gave me my first introduction to proper strength training.

We did not have an aesthetically pleasing dojo, but the strength training instruction I got out of it has made a life changing difference.

The quality of the dojo is not an indicator of the type of training good or bad.

I understand now that it's not the style of your martial art but how you train and the people you train with.

[GJEC]

Aug 2, 2012 9:30:30 GMT -5 curlbroscience said:

but how you train and the people you train with

Exalted!

Gary

[GJEC]

Aug 2, 2012 9:07:38 GMT -5 alan said:

then the word dosh appears!

Got a few bob crying out to be used at the moment but the wife wants to move house.

No prizes for guessing who's going to win that one ...



Gary

[MMX]

Reminds me of Rocky IV where Rocky is training in the snow and the barn with odd objects while Ivan has the state of the art facility.

Its the DRIVE that gets you there.

[meguro]

When I joined a Kyokushin dojo in Japan, I expected a Zen garden type atmosphere: polished wooden floors; silence; the works. What I got was a basement dojo: low, water damaged ceilings; cracked/crazed mirror; blue puzzle mats; the smelly tang of sweat and mildew mixed with SalonPas; heavy bags patched with duct tape. Oh, I also trained with guys not trying to be Japanese, but just trying to be better fighters. Good times!

[GJEC]

Aug 2, 2012 13:19:30 GMT -5 meguro said:

What I got was a basement dojo: low, water damaged ceilings; cracked/crazed mirror; blue puzzle mats; the smelly tang of sweat and mildew mixed with SalonPas; heavy bags patched with duct tape.

Perfect!

1: IN

2: TRAIN

3: GO HOME (OR THE PUB)

Gary

[Ros]

He only spent a short time in his shed because of his broken bone, everything else is the best of everything:

It’s no secret Team Sky have a big budget and aren’t afraid to use it to offer every conceivable support to the riders. Wiggins talks about the care and attention to training from support staff.

“Anything I need is planned, it’s a lifestyle for everyone who works around me and it’s all for one cause.

“The way we do things, it’s fair to say we’re one of the most professional sporting teams in the world. That is one of the reasons why we have people who can compete across the board.

“The way we do the training camps through the winter months, the way every rider is looked after by someone within the team – their training is meticulously monitored."

Which included training camp in Tenerife, I believe! Can we do that kind of training? ;D

I know what you're saying really, Gary and I would absolutely rather have a great instructor and training partners than comfortable surroundings but I don't think the two necessarily need to be mutually exclusive - like so many things in life I think it probably depends on one's strength of character.

[GJEC]

Aug 3, 2012 1:54:01 GMT -5 Ros said:

I know what you're saying really, Gary and I would absolutely rather have a great instructor and training partners than comfortable surroundings but I don't think the two necessarily need to be mutually exclusive - like so many things it life I think it probably depends on one's strength of character.

Agree 100% Ros. "The final weapon is the brain, all else is supplementary"

I suppose I'm just implanting the message that desire (as in Wiggins refusing to feel sorry for himself and put his feet up) is more important than facilities.

Mind you, Tenerife sounds great. Come the lotto we'll have a training camp there before tournaments. Obviously, I'll have to go over there to check the facilities ...

[senshido]

Sounds like a plan Gary... but I think you might need my help.. you can send the tickets to me at home or work, I'm not fussy ;D

[Ros]

Aug 3, 2012 3:23:10 GMT -5 GJEC said:

I suppose I'm just implanting the message that desire (as in Wiggins refusing to feel sorry for himself and put his feet up) is more important than facilities.

I agree - once you have the desire, commitment, grit ( )and all the other basics you need to be world class then having those extra bits (like top-of-the-range facilities and support) might just give you the edge you need.

Basically, I think you'll never get anywhere without the right mental attittude - which someone may have despite their poor training conditions rather than because of them. The best facilities in the world couldn't make a world champion out of a slacker!

[GJEC]

Aug 3, 2012 4:49:46 GMT -5 Ros said:

The best facilities in the world couldn't make a world champion out of a slacker!

Exalted!

As Jefferson said (in the days before equality)

"Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude."

Gary

'AVE IT!