Declan Kidd's 4th Dan

[jaycramer]

Best of luck Declan, know doubt you will nail it.

[louise devane]

Hi ,

Well today is Declans first day of his grade and I just want to say good luck . At this very moment he is just starting his training , Kiefer and Colm are down in the dojo with him . Go on the Declan .

Louise .

[R. Devane]

Declan - let us know what you did today and how you got on? We are all interested in hearing about it everyday this week. So start a mini blog right here.

[Deleted]

It was my honour today to kick things off for Declan Kidd's 4th Dan challenge. At lunch time today I met Declan in the studio, where we had arranged that he do 100 press ups, 100 squats, 500 punches, 500 kicks, and 11 rounds of sparring.

Declan was in great spirits on his way in, as were myself and Keifer (who was teaching while this was going on)- we were all exciited to be a part of Declan's success. After getting changed and stretching, it was time for Declan to get started. I was there to help him count, encourage him, and officially record his progress.

He started with the press ups and squats, doing the press ups in 3 sets and the squats in two. I think the adrenalne and excitement got to him, because he was firing out press ups like nobody's business! He was like speedy gonzales! The squats were the same, and while Declan had mentioned a knee injury as a concern before we started, he was unaffected (or at least he didn't show it!). The 100 press ups and 100 squats were over very fast, and we moved straight into punches and kicks.

We did the Kicks first, I held pads for sets of 10 kicks, alternating legs, then changing kick. We only stopped for a few seconds between each 100, so I could mark them off, and again Declan was firing them out without a bother. The punches went along a similar road, and we were finished the whole 500 kicks and 500 punches again very fast.
We had started at about 10 past one, and now it was only half! Now I'm not saying that Declan wasn't tired, but he wasn't nearly as tired as I'd expect after so much work in such little time.

While we put the mats down for the sparring Declan mentioned to me how he had planned the week so that he wouldn't burn out too quickly. Although he felt like he could've done more today, he didn't, and he knew that the stiffest day to come is Wednesday- two days after starting.

We still had 11 rounds to do, and I was unsure what to expect from this. I hadn't sparred Declan in a while (conflicting schedules being the main reason), and I didn't know if he'd be wrecked tired, or jumped up wired! I really really enjoyed the 11 rounds, and there was some great technical stuff in there. Declan and I both sparred at a high pace, and he showed me why it is that he's been so good for so long! While we weren't out there to knock lumps off each other (only eejits spar that way), there was no taking it easy, and Declan didn't hesitate to throw high kicks, spinning kicks, and rapid fire punching combinations. Again, this is very hard to do while tired. This was some of the best, most enjoyable sparring I've done in a long time.

Once finished I congratulated Declan. He was tired, but happy and confident that he'd done well, as was I. Declan's always been an inspiration to me, and I've always admired how he trains. I have no doubt in my mind that he'll endure this challenge, and complete it with gusto. It's just the way he is.

Again I'd like to state that it was an absolute honour to be a part of this. I'd like to say well done to Sensei Declan for completing the first part of his challenge, and with flying colours. I'd also like to wish him the best of luck with the rest of the week.
(He's not even finished for today, as he has to teach the cardio class then head out for a run!)

[dkidd]

Wow Colm you missed your vocation, you should have been a reporter.
Saved me all the hard stuff though. Not long in now and just got out of a hot bath to soothe my muscles which indeed are cramped after the run.
The hardest part for me was that I actually love the cardio class and had to force myself not to really go for it in the class as I had a run to do.
Glad the first day is over and looking forward to tomorrow.
If I can sum the end of the day up in one word it would be ....PAIN
lol

[robbwilson]

unfortunatly i tore my hip flexor so cant see ya do any off this declan but ya are a inspiration to the rest off us!!your hard training and dedication rubs off on the rest off M.A.I . Best off luck on it! I shall be back in a few weeks to congradulate you!

[sdoyle]

well done Declan, best of luck on reaching your goal.

[Kiefer.c]

after a hard day yesterday with colm and going on a 44minute run last night - declan had another hard day today - check it out

today declan had to complete:

500punches
500kicks
100push ups
100squats

declan started of with 35 push ups/50squats - 35 push ups/50 squats - 30 push ups with no break in between - OUCH!!
and done them all with a smile!!

after the grueling pain and lactic acid burning out his arms and legs declan was keen to get straight into the kicks...(don't no how he does it)

we started off with 10 sets of 10 kicks all performed on the focus mitts body and head height!!!!
after declan completed the first set it was straight into the next each 10 kicks were different..

for example: 10 front kicks both legs/10 roundhouse kicks both legs/10side kicks both legs etc....

all kicks were performed with great tecnique/power/speed!! and not once did sensei kidd drop his hands--hahaha!!

after all that it was on to punches!!

we started with 10 sets of 10 punches all different on the focus mitts - for the first 3 sets - and again with less than a ten second break in between!!!

after the first 3 sets declan insisted we make it harder by doing 50 jab crosses as hard and fast as he could twice !!- crazy!!

believe me my arms were almost hanging off,each punch was powerful and i had to count in 2's because they were so fast!!

i had a great time training with declan today,he is beyond extreme when it comes to training he is superior and one of few people who i know that doesn't complain when it comes to this hardcore training - just grits his teeth and gets stuck in!!!

well done so far declan - and best of luck to you for the rest of the week - you'll fly trough it!

i hope to see everybody coming down to support sensei kidd on sunday at the MAI olympics when all the hard work is done!!

[R. Devane]

Go on the Declan!

Pictures will continue to be added to this page everyday:

martialartsinc.com/testdir/dk4th.php

[dkidd]

Ok here goes again.
I was hoping day two would be easier as I had to teach a class in a school today but man they pissed me off with their lazy ass attitude. So I set up a circuit and did it with them. Oops! so much for pacing myself . Colm and Kiefer I couldn't have got off to such a good start without you guys and can't wait for the opportunity to return the favour.
I want this soooo bad I can see it, I can feel it, I can taste it and I can smell it. Just like a gold medal (Is there any other colour )

[R. Devane]

Today I was Declan's partner and I thought I would join him in his training and give it a go too. We pre-exhausted with 100 pressups, 100 squats, 500 kicks and 500 punches before doing 11 rounds of Kickboxing sparring.
This was day three for Declan so the stiffness must be starting to build up but he didn't show it when sparring. Another thing is that Declan came off his bike a short while before starting the grade and his knee is very swollen - he told me not to tell anyone because he is certainly not using it as an excuse! - So, he is battling through everything with a dodgy knee! and to think about all the many little excuses I hear on a weekly basis for people skipping training!

I really enjoyed sparring with Declan. We have contrasting styles. He likes up close and brawling and I like the distance game. I have only gotten the chance to spar with him a few times over the past few years. Years ago we would do many rounds of sparring together every week. I have to say, he still has the style of fighting as then, only with more experience now. Competitors are very lucky that Declan has retired from competition.

Tonight Declan has a 44 minute run to do and I've persuaded the Black Belt Program members to join me in giving it a go with him - should be interesting! I have some great pictures from the training earlier today so I'll get them up as soon as I can.
Well done Declan - Half way there - see you for a run in a short while.

[Daire:D]

Well done decline !

[dkidd]

Ok here goes. Rob you are the Terminator reborn haha awesome experience sparring and training with you. Day three is usually when the cramps start to hit and there were no surprises there as I was very stiff but still got through it. The run with the members was shall we say a ....stimulating experience the details of which I will allow to spread through the grapevine lol let us just say that Dublin is and intersting place to jog around after dark. Well looking forward to tomorrow as haven't trained with Keith in ages. now the predominant word on my mind is sllllllleeeeeeeppp .
Kawabunga

[R. Devane]

The run all around town last night was hard enough and then a couple of drunken eejits tried to have a row with us! What kind of dopes attempt to challenge a group of kickboxers out for a run? They were very lucky. It was funny though.

The latest pictures are now up:
martialartsinc.com/testdir/dk4th.php

[dkidd]

Day four over and kinda get used to the cramps...NOT
Keith put me through my paces today and again I am really very grateful for all the help I've been getting. No run today thank god so will get a chance to ice up and relax tonight.

[sdoyle]

Hey,

I have to say the reporting on Declan's progress so far
has been great reading. Well done to everyone involved
with helping him reach his goal.

Not far now Declan

[dkidd]

As the Lenny Kravitz song goes 'baby it ain't over 'til it's over'. Thanks for the support everyone.

[MAI Forum Moderator]

More great pictures just added. Very well done Declan. Only 2 days left.

martialartsinc.com/testdir/dk4th.php

[Deleted]

Day 4 at the D7 dojo - are you guys sure Declan was training like this all week, you can't tell - he feels no pain ! ;D we started off with 100 pushups and 100 squats and Declan whipped through them, then we had 500 punches and 500 kicks to do, which Declan made look easy - smiling all the way ... Both of us geared up for 11 rounds of sparring - its a long time since i had the chance to spar with Declan and i have to say i had a ball. (Really enjoyed it Declan) It brought back a few memories! Declan is very tricky, very technical and very fast both on his feet and with combinations. He would close down and catch a mouse in a football feild. ;D. Best wishes for the rest of the week and enjoy... Thanks dude.

[louise devane]

Today I arrived in to do some training with Declan and as soon as we were going to start Declan told me we only had to do 44 squats and 44 push ups as he had done 100 of each all week and reached his target . So well done Declan on doing all those . We got stuck in and did 500 kicks and 500 punches . I really enjoyed it .

Straight away we both geared up for our 11 rounds of sparring . I have only ever really sparred Declan on my black belt grade ( which I will never forget ) hahaha , and maybe only once or twice after that . It was tough , Declan is very tricky and likes to fight in close range . After about 3 rounds I was wrecked he kept the pace up all the way through 11 rounds . Well done again Declan .

This week we have all had a chance to help Declan through this , Robert , Kiefer , Keith , Colm and myself . It has been great experience . I loved every minute of it . So after all that today , Declan has his 44 minute run to do . Then tomorrow is the finale of it all .

Keep up the good work Declan , your doing brilliant and I had a great day today . Well done .