Arnie
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Post by Arnie on Nov 11, 2016 22:30:19 GMT
DONE: -Great meeting with class reps, we all left with a better understanding of our plans I hope. -Kickboxing 7pm, very simple class but classic kickboxing sweat. -Ran through the syllabus for a memory test. Had to look at the sheet for 1st brown (cont and points). Try again tomorrow. thoughts: Very tired Zzz. Tomorrow will be epic.
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Arnie
Junior Member
Posts: 70
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Post by Arnie on Nov 14, 2016 22:33:33 GMT
Okay, things are falling into place!
DONE so far: -Great start on assignments that are due in two weeks (A4 and Maths). -Syllabus for kickboxing is going well. Worked on the bag a lot more on Sunday with Sincead, getting the fundamentals down but only have a month left so need to up my game. -Hoodies are making great progress, should have the final details down by next week. -Researching the transition into college for the education committee (touchy topic - many complaints!).
IDEAS thus far: -I want to play with numbers more. Yes, this grading for December is trying taking a toll on my normal training because it's my priority now - but I miss doing HIIT training. Feel like I should be running more. -My food intake is going well, avoiding artificial sugar as best I can, and have been eating eggs practically every day for the past while. Although I'd admit I had pizza more often that I'd like. Definitely trying to maintain a calorie surplus, especially on days when there's a lot of cardio. -I planned to go wall climbing on Thursday to do my license test but it cancelled (they have an event on) so I'll spend 3 hours at the dojo hopefully being productive (stretching/syllabus, general class, sparring).
WEEKLY AGENDA due Monday (going to tick this as I go along, but will post daily ideas):
-Finish A4 assignment.
-Finish Maths. -Have hoodies finalised (design checked, number count start). -Start PROF project with class mates. -Go through all syllabus x1 x2. -Sparring x2.
Have a few social events to go to so I'll be running around the city!!!!!!
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Arnie
Junior Member
Posts: 70
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Post by Arnie on Nov 15, 2016 22:43:22 GMT
Okay, had a super day today. My class managed to raise €100.05 in less than 48hrs with the raffle, which is unbelievable. Spent all day chasing down groups of people to sell the tickets to - definitely worth it. The money is going towards a student fund which aids students who need financial support (eg grants). Excellent! Syllabus was great fun - Derek was very helpful with the points on the bag and after practising them five techniques for the past few days, I'm happy that he's satisfied with the standard! More practice though. Thursday! I want to rename this thread, but don't know if that option is available on proboards. Want to rename it to "Something greater... [Motivation log]" Going to spar 3 times this week - Thursday, Saturday and then Sunday. Progress made on the A4 and maths assingment. Happy out!
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Arnie
Junior Member
Posts: 70
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Post by Arnie on Nov 16, 2016 22:23:54 GMT
Finished the A4 assignment, very happy and was quite enjoyable (speed of sound experiment). Didn't really do much rather than that, started on the maths but this week is a lot harder than the previous weeks. Planned to go training tomorrow but have a meeting to attend after college, so yeah. Going to go over the syllabus at home instead - from yellow to 2nd brown, but obviously not practice to full capacity because lack of room. Mental test . Guess I'll only be sparring Sunday and Saturday then . Decided to extend the deadline for the hoodie design competition because the current submissions lack originality! Started planning the PROF project - we decided to do a Bull Island overhaul for the 2030 Dublin Olympic Village (not real of course). More details as the days go but we're getting ideas. Happy out!
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Arnie
Junior Member
Posts: 70
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Post by Arnie on Nov 18, 2016 22:09:24 GMT
Was so tired, forgot to log my day before I went to bed yesterday! Today and yesterday have been great - especially today as I got the bulk of my week's objectives done today. Firstly, syllabus with Eddie has been incredible. I've been feeling really motivated to bash this grading for the past few days, so doing the 2nd Brown in grade standard has been intense and fun. I was pumping sweat like crazy, I came home and my family thought I just did sparring! ha, only 40 minutes of hard syllabus with Eddie, he's been tough with what he wants but have to keep pushing. Feeling very fresh. I'm mad on top of assignments at the moment. Finished an assignment in my lab so I don't have to worry about that module for an entire week yay. Maths was a killer and I did manage to finish it - but going to keep reviewing the numbers until deadline this Monday. Very happy with these assignments, so far I've gotten a first in all my college work. Still have a lot of work to do in the Student's Union, but it's great craic because I'm meeting tones of new people everyday and am making a change to student's lives . Very fun to get involved in the behind the scenes, and I'm organising movie nights in lecture theatres for a countdown to Christmas alongside with other EMS courses. A lot of extra work - imagine if I didn't volunteer for all this! Can't wait for tomorrow!
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Arnie
Junior Member
Posts: 70
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Post by Arnie on Nov 20, 2016 21:45:06 GMT
Forgot again - but I think we're on week 4 now!
Feel on track!
Another day tomorrow - I'm gonna try squeeze a run in because I've a long day in college with lectures and meetings...
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Arnie
Junior Member
Posts: 70
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Post by Arnie on Nov 21, 2016 21:59:01 GMT
A good week ahead for sure!
Weekly Goals: -Get the bulk of IE8 report done. -Maths assignment as always. -Syllabus x3. -Wall climbing licence.
Interesting week with so many events going on - might get a haircut this weekend. Feeling overwhelmed because there's so much on offer and to do, so used to being spoon fed in school. Going to try to get more involved with the space society for sure.
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Arnie
Junior Member
Posts: 70
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Post by Arnie on Nov 22, 2016 22:20:10 GMT
Half day in college so did a small workout at home. 12 decline diamond press ups x3 12 floating dips x3 5 pull ups x3 2min plank, 20 press ups, x3 Was small but intense! Small breaks in between each set, took around 30min. Productive day at MAI, my flexibility is getting better (or I'm just getting used to the same stretches). Tomorrow will be long because a talk on living in space at 7pm, will be interesting! Happy out
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Arnie
Junior Member
Posts: 70
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Post by Arnie on Dec 10, 2016 22:03:53 GMT
OKAY! I haven't died, but took a break from logging my thoughts and experiences.
I've successfully graded and am now a 2nd Brown Belt at M.A.I (thanks Eddie and to all the other instructors for getting me ready!). The grading went well and flew by, although I have no idea what must of went through the instructors' heads when I paced around the dojo in anxiety. It was good fun and I'm feeling it on my right knee (must of been all the take downs in the end). Very happy to get it out of the way so I can now reinvigorate my old training routine. The grade sparring is always the best experience for me in these gradings (have done it three times now!). This experience however has made me realise how important it is to stay in shape in terms of high standard explosiveness. I've noticed I had gassed out really quickly and sort of panicked in the last round with Eddie and Declan C. Robert made a good point of suggesting doing the ole rage rounds for 2minutes, but just thinking about that makes my stomach clench. It's a good point though - and what says I'm able to go through grade sparring again if I can't last 2 minutes against a bag with all I got.
Will be taking a break from the syllabus, but that doesn't mean I will stop learning. Will be trying out new stretching routines (make a stretching syllabus for myself haha) and going to look for a good book to read about the physiology behind stretching (if you have suggestions, let me know!). Need to further improve my kicks.
In terms of my old training routine - I need to up the intensity. Sparring in nature is very good for the fitness and learning new things about kickboxing movements and such, so I definitely need to to stick with the sparring. Sunday for sure, but I need to do two days at least so hopefully my new college timetable allows me to spar on Thursdays! So lets presume the two day sparring week goes ahead - I want to also squeeze an hour to myself to work on stretching and high level fitness. The best day to do this is probably Tuesday, Friday or Saturday. If these hours go ahead, then I need to start planning and educating myself!
ALSO, I got my wall climbing license so I can use the wall any time. I'd love to squeeze an hour or two a week on the wall, it's so fun and tough on the strength. Although I need a climbing buddy - so the wall will most likely be integrated when college starts in January.
I think I'm giving up on the gym (takes more time cuz little space and equipment) - but will work on basic muscle groups during kickboxing ... maybe I could do 2 Hours sparring a week, 2 hours my own time and an hour or two doing the normal classes. Then do an hour on the wall when I find someone to belay for me.
Ideas ideas... best start committing when College finishes this Friday!
Need to take a bath now zzz.
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Arnie
Junior Member
Posts: 70
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Post by Arnie on Dec 28, 2016 20:09:30 GMT
Been sick with a cold lately so haven't got much done (ever tried training with a stuffed nose?!). But this gave me a lot of time to fantasise about training and to collect more ideas. I've decided I'm going to join the Athletics and Track team in college and do runs with them, so the only time I'd be running is with them, which is 6pm Mondays and Fridays. Them times are dedicated to running (5ks). I'm interested how this will go because I've never ran with people who are dedicated to the cause, and I've never ran against a higher pace (it's true!). I already contacted the team via FaceBook and am in the clear, hey, they're looking for more members anyway. Through this, I hope: 1) Increase cardio exponentially (controlling breathing and restricting breaths). 2) Learn more about running and aerobic exercises. I've never measured my 5k times, but I did a 4.3k in like 17:30, that was like a year and a half ago. In more practical news, I feel like my flexibility is a lot better. Not the extent of my stretches, but the time it takes me to reach my maximum. So I guess I'm warming up into the stretches a lot faster - which I don't know what to make of. I've gotten a lot of books for Christmas (thanks <3) but I want to get a book on stretching and research a bit. I'll be back into routine this Monday hopefully - trained here and there but this cold is really annoying. Wish it goes away this weekend!
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Arnie
Junior Member
Posts: 70
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Post by Arnie on Jan 4, 2017 21:40:49 GMT
It's Wednesday and I feel great!
Trained on Monday, and Tuesday both at 7 and 8pm. Monday was a struggle, especially when Declan decided to get the legs involved for the 8pm because I went on a 14km hike on the same day. Was great craic! Might go on a longer hike in a few weeks, we will see.
Just to review training over them two days: -My flexibility feels really good and I don't know why, but my bag work cardio seems great. I don't think I'm holding certain stretches long enough, and due to the nature of the kickboxing classes, I never get the opportunity to hold the stretch for longer periods (I've been talking to my sister who makes me jealous with her flexibility, and she said that I'm tensing too much for my stretches. I think I need to hold the stretches longer.). During syllabus class I can do a few longer stretches, so that's good. On the bright side, I've noticed that I can kick higher (even higher if I lean back more obv). -New syllabus seems interesting, especially the points techniques! -I tried a new method for abs workout on Monday, and it killed me. Instead of aimlessly doing abs (for example, we did a few at the end of 8pm), I've been tensing my stomach for the entire duration and doing them slower (maybe people already do this, but I never tried this!). I couldn't even manage doing that for the entire drill so had to stop for like 5 seconds to regain my sanity. I feel like doing abs like this from now on will help improve my core, and I want to do more hollow holds, so will be doing them more instead of planks (in my own time, don't worry people!).
When college starts, Tuesday will be my kickboxing training day!
Also went on a run today, did one of my old routes, so 8.4k in about 38 minutes. That's a really surprising pace! It probably wasn't smart to go straight into running with that distance and speed, but I was really excited to finally get out there! Feeling amazing now and my legs are absolutely destroyed, but it's all good.
The cold is gone! Feeling healthy!
Tomorrow - training @3pm with instructors, and maybe a run afterwards.
I'm looking forward to sparring on Sunday. Want to break myself down to basics and work my way back up (somehow).
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Arnie
Junior Member
Posts: 70
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Post by Arnie on Jan 8, 2017 22:44:20 GMT
Today deserves an update!
Thursday was really cool, did some Gi grappling! A really interesting session and was really sore for a good while after wards (muscle stiffness!). It was good fun, although I wish I had more submission techniques in my arsenal because in a lot of situations I didn't know how to approach anything and just hoped for the best. The take down aspect was fun, got to practice the take down set, although whether that was successful or not is questionable! Looking forward to the Thursday coming as we're doing something similar.
Friday was a good session - although I did take it easy.
Saturday - went on a 5k run, didn't time it, just gauging my breathing.
Now, Sunday sparring was very fun. Like I planned, I tried to fight from the start. Keep the techniques flowing and keep it natural, don't do anything that would leave myself in a horrible position. Although we were doing one-for-one techniques, I feel like I had good rhythm... especially when it came to defending against the opponent's attack. Was trying to practice more slips and bobs as well.
After them rounds, I can list so many things I really need to fix, but also some things I'm quite happy with. Need to remind myself next time I spar to keep it basic and simple, just land the shots in and then move around and don't get hit. It's so easy to forget, especially when you start the round and you're in the moment.
FOOTNOTE FOR NEXT SPARRING SESSION!
Tomorrow - increasing my college study, so will be spending about 5 hours in the morning. Will also go on that 8.4k again, and try meet a similar pace.
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Arnie
Junior Member
Posts: 70
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Post by Arnie on Apr 24, 2017 19:44:34 GMT
It's been almost a quarter of a year and I haven't reflected on what I have achieved - it's time to put action and results onto paper. Looking back at my fitness objectives and mental health priorities, a lot has happened. It's hard to formulate a simplistic picture of what I have gone through. I'm gonna have to throw out everything and just hope it makes sense (of course though, I'll be re-reading this before posting ). I have no idea where the time has gone, January felt like last Friday. College has really spiralled my orientation of time out of control. I've been very naive and to be honest, quite hard on myself. Yes, fail 100 times and succeed once, but with all these hollow attempts to design some sort of structure for the weeks ahead, is very time consuming. I feel like I've been living inside my head and fantasising. Yeah, plan all this and imagine doing that here and there, and then fantasising over the emotions to be felt. Making all these time schedules was a tool for this fantasising. I was simply laying down the blueprints but refusing to build the temple. It does sound stupid but this was a real problem here - and yes, maybe I got a bit done here and there and reflected, but it's important to progress and to build on. I needed to be more spontaneous... and think a little less (I think too much). Even then, I was a little lost where my goals should be. What should I be striving for? I'm almost finished college (in 3 weeks), and have the entire summer ahead of me. It's a little scary. With so much free time, what is one meant to be do? Plenty of people talk about the summer as a time of change (in college), but do all these people actually do anything of change? I need to set a point B, and just go from point A to B. Yes, that's what I need to do. And yes, what's what I decided to do. Progress is important. With five months of freedom from the shackles of college responsibilities, there is a lot to do. I don't feel ready to fully commit to a journey at the moment, but I'm hopeful that after my exams I will be ready to pick a direction and to stick with it for almost half a year. The last time I've sparred was like 4 weeks ago. Yes, I'm guilty! There's no real good reason here, but I would really prefer if sparring was at 6am because training outta bed is so much more energising (someone needs to get on that!). When exams finish, I'll be sparring for 2-3 times a week for the entire summer. I will implement a system where I can name-and-shame myself on the internet for not training as promised (happy days!). Is there a way to do like a live calendar update thingy? Would be very cool! Hey! Maybe that's a potential business idea... live interactive calendars... huh. Although, doing the team training on Saturday was quite fun, with full sparring gear on. I couldn't help but feel embarrassed when my mouth started hurting with the gum shield. On that front, I've been still kickboxing with Eddie but not as often as January. My training has been very random, but I try to get in at least once or twice a week so I don't forget how to kick. Actually.. my boxing feels a lot more firm and faster lately, maybe because I'm more determined to get more training done. A note on my stretching, it is still improving! As with running, I've set myself an objective to run 12k under 45 minutes. Last last Thursday I managed to run 12k in 57 minutes. Considering the last time I ran 12k, it took me ~70 minutes, I am really happy. This is without being under a strict running programme (which normal people do when aiming for goals). This is more of a mental challenge than physical. Kickboxing training has conditioned me well with 'putting myself under physical stress' for long periods of time. It's amazing, you wouldn't realise the fruits of training until you step out of that world. Running for that long under discomfort is a really interesting and eye-opening experience. I don't want to do long distance running, but it seems like an amusing challenge to try turn long distance into short time. 45 minutes would be a very average time for 10k, or 8k, but imagine doing a 12k, you will literally need a week to recover. Just thinking about it makes my heart rush. The world record for 12k is 33 minutes. Almost double my pace... that's really really fast. When the serious kickboxing training starts, I will work running into the scheme of things, but much much shorter distances. This 12k challenge is for fun... and mental health. Away from the cardio side of things - irregular visits to the gym back in January have paid off. I've taught myself to view the gym as a place of opportunity. For the past 12 weeks, I've gone to the gym a minimum 2 times. Never missed a week and now I'm on a 3 day 'programme', although I still don't know what I'm doing. Having spent so much time in college, it is a no brainer why this has happened. The ease of access and long breaks between lectures, really made it obvious that I should do something that I wouldn't regret. I also find it quite fun and very different to the usual running and kickboxing I do. The results I've experienced are really crazy (to me!). Feeling a lot stronger and following a slight calorie surplus (moderate carbs, high protein, high fats, no sugars). I'm still experimenting whilst following a programme (stronglifts). This is definitely a small victory for me since I was consistent. There are no definite plans for the next two weeks as I need to study a lot (engineering ain't easy) . But I'm happy to have made small victories here and there, and am extremely confident that this summer will be the best summer yet. I'm very excited to start doing some real things! Expect another update when exams finish.
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