[Italian Monk]

Hello,

I currently just started training 'seriously' again. I have always trained, it is a lifestyle for me, but I have currently set a new goal to see how I adapt in the full contact competitions. I have many years of RL/martial arts training, to include some instructing of the military to bouncing and limited bodyguard work. I stopped training diligently for about the last 14-16 mos. My goal now is to adjust my endurance for the sport, while of course maintaining my RL effectiveness.

My first event is scheduled to be in December. I am logging here to perhaps gain insight and tips to the vast minds of the martial artists and fighters here.

Im currently looking into different schools to cross-train in, as well as continue to train out of my garage Dojo.

So lets begin . . .


Ht: 5'10"
Wt: 262 lbs.



** Week 1 **

Sun: MA (stand up striking to fatigue, ground from the bottom until fatigued, rolls)

Mon: Strength (Chest, arms, abs, 45 minutes cardio)

Tues: Cardio (Heavybag work, some dummy work, abs, 45 minutes cardio)

Wed : Strength (Legs, footwork,abs, 45 min cardio )

Thur: Cardio (abs, 45 min cardio)(Active rest day, cardio at low pace)

Fri: Strength (Shoulders, Back, abs, 45 cardio)

Sat: MA (rolls, partner pad work on all strikes, fatique strikes on bags/dummy, clinch and ground flow and work, 45 min slow cardio)

** Week 2 **

Sun: MA (timed sessions (1-2 minutes) of multiple striking, power strikes, abs, 45 min cardio)

Mon: Cardio (shadowboxing, abs, 45 min cardio)(Active rest day, low pace cardio)

Tues: Strength (Chest, arms, abs, 45 min cardio)

Wed: Cardio (Round supersets- 3 minute round striking combos, 1 minute rest, 3 minute solo ground work. (x3 for 6 total sets), abs, 35 min cardio)

Thur: Strength (Legs, some footwork, shin/forearm hardening, abs, 45 min cardio ... hard to get into the cardio today after all the leg stuff, but I managed once I got into the rhythm)

Fri: Strength (Shoulders, back, abs, 45 min cardio)

Sat: MA/Cardio (Drills, drills, drills. Kicks, knees, multiple elbow. Power and speed focus. Round supersets-3 min x1 each, 2 min x1 each, 1min continuous up to ground. (6 total sets, was feeling it from all the drills I did, ground included rolls), abs, 45 min low pace cardio)



***From here on, each post will cover one week of training.







**Note: My partners and training is sometimes limited due to my work hours, but I have a garage Dojo ... so I make the most.

I have increased my protein intake as well as creatine and water. I am eating low fat and keeping my carb intake medium to low.

Any input is welcome, many thanks fellow practitioners . . .

Humbly,

[Gong||Jau]

Out of curiosity, what art(s) do you practice? I'm just wondering since you mentoined a dummy

[Italian Monk]

To answer your question pertaining to what art(s) I study. . .

Ive cross-trained with many individuals/groups/styles. I started young getting into 'streetsmart' from Dad, then Hapkido from Uncle. Got into 'streetboxing', and did one year of wrestling ... but moved so much (another story) that I was unable to keep going into wrestling .... going to 7 highschools. Anyways ... got into Kickboxing for myself ... joined the military for guidance and to get away.

While in the military, I trained on my own self drive CONSISTANTLY, and met many individuals whom had skill, and I trained with many ... and we shared knowledge and trained together. I continued this type of training throughout my military service ... overseas mainly. Its all I had to focus on ...

Wow... too much info. I guess to answer your question in 'short form'... I train in 'Life~Style'

I honestly dont believe in 'a' single style anymore, although I truly do respect all ... each one has tools to offer. I believe in ones own art .... yes ... I believe in JKD as a philosophy and my own thought process added.

Hope that sorta answers your question.

In reference to the dummy ... My partne....errr ...... I mean .... hehe j/k

Seriously, I respect anyone who puts time in to train, whether there good or not ... as long as there getting something out of it. I like helping people ... and like learning whenever I can as well.

I have a freestanding 'hard wood' dummy, and a 'BoB' dummy in my garage Dojo, among other tools.

Humbly,

[craz1]

Im curious to what exercises you do for your abs, do you perform multiple sets? Or do as many reps as possible on what ever exercise you do?

[Italian Monk]

I switch it up. I usually almost always start with lower ab work (leg raises, flutter kicks and such) and sometimes do where I cant do anymore ... or sometimes I will do sets of 50 ... or sometimes I will do like a large super set ... doing all the ab exercises in like a circuit ... only doing like 25-30 each ... but continuously going from one excercise to the next ... a couple to three times.

I like keeping my muscles guessing, and keeping motivated

Some of the excerices I put into the mix are leg raises, flutter kicks, bicycles, v-ups, crunches, rocky crunches ( I call them ... lol), leg up crunches, side v's, pelvic/ab thrusts ... hmmm.... all I can think of right now.

Sometimes I will use a large rubber excercise ball in these, sometimes I wont.

Hope that answers your question.

Humbly,

[craz1]

That fully answers my question, thanks alot.

[Italian Monk]

** Week 3 ** (July 18-July 24, 2004)

Wt: 260 lbs. (Note: dont want to lose too much body weight, mostly just fat, so trying to keep as much muscle mass as possible.)

Sun: MA (Focus on various applied chokes, worked some different lines in application of bridging the gap from striking into the clinch) Took today 'off' for abs and cardio

Mon: Strength (Chest, Arms, abs, 45 min cardio)

Tue: Cardio (abs, 45 min cardio, abs, kicks and knees, wooden dummy work, headache bag weaving and timing) (Switching up the abs/cardio to add a bit of variety to the training and to work my techniques 'through' fatique. I dont always do this because form could get bad, but sometimes do it ... to build stamina in form, hope that makes sense.)

Wed: Strength/Mix (Legs, abs, 45 minutes cardio- incorporating alot of footwork with resistance bands for speed/stamina)

Thur: Stamina/Cardio (6 x 3 minute rounds alternating from stand up to ground, working combos. 1 x 6 minute round stand/ground mix, low line kicks, abs, 45 min cardio)

Fri: Strength/Cardio (Shoulders, Back, light arms, abs, neck, 45 min cardio)

Sat: MA/Cardio (Trained in some heat today. Drills, drills, drills. Alot of multiple striking for speed, power, accuracy and body hardening. 2 x 3 minute rounds of high intense mixing it up (strikes, ground, rolls), abs, 45 min low pace cardio).

*Sat night: went dancing and 'actively' danced for at least two hours ... great cardio*






*** Will update appropriately.

Humbly,

[Italian Monk]

**Week 4** (July 25-31, 2004)

Wt: 259 lbs

Sun: MA (varied lines of attack off of stick, staff and empty hands, going into varied chokes, sweeps, and controlled takedowns/finishes.)

Mon: DAY OFF !! (First true day off from doing nothing since I started. Just listening to my body and will start with strength tomorrow).

Tue: Strength (Chest, arms, abs, 45 min cardio)

Wed: MA/Cardio (abs, multiple dummy work on all strikes for accuracy, speed and changing rhythms with different lines of attack and joint articulation flow, high intensity 45 min cardio).

Thur: Strength (Legs, abs, 45 min cardio incorporating footwork with some resistance bands).

Fri: Shoulders, back, light arms, abs, shadowboxing/45 min cardio.

Sat: MA/Cardio (Covered alot today ... over 2 hours of intense drills/sparring to include application in empty hands, stick, knife and staff. Then hit the abs and 45 min cardio.)

[vingtzun]

Five foot ten and 18 stone What's your body fat percentage?

[Italian Monk]

Havent had it checked in a while. Last time was about 10. I use to be a personal trainer .... and have worked out most my life. Its not that high, but not extremely low either. Im guessing around the 11 to 12 mark. Im pretty solid ... but not chiseled like a bodybuilder ready for a show. I dont like being that low in bodyfat ... your more prone for injury.

Humbly,