Fighting Fitness Week Blog

[R. Devane]

Hey - we've all just successfully survived day 1 of the Fighting Fitness Week! 4 days left!

It's a great crew at this years Fighting Fitness Week because everyone is a lot fitter than I thought they would be.

I'm going to ask a couple of people to write a Blog about our training everyday. If you want to contribute please stick it here.

Looking forward to our run tomorrow.

[louise devane]

hi everyone , todays circuit was really good !!! i enjoyed it , but feeling a bit stiff now after all the mma training its good to get back to the kickboxing sparring , cant wait for the run tomorrow too .

[Deleted]

Well, Day two is over and I'm stiff as a plank. That'sa partly down to the weights circuit today, and partly down to the hard fitness training yesterday. I'll start at the start.

Monday morning at 10 am, we all arrived, bleary eyed and half asleep.not for long! First off we had a really tough ten round circuit, done twice-two minute rounds first then one minute. By half way through I was feeling it and the end result was a total burnout. I think everyone else was feeling the same, by their faces after we were done. We followed that with punching training and sparring at the end. To go ten round of sparring after all that was tough, but we soldiered on. Stretching and abs saw us out, and we were all ready to go to bed again! (I was, anyway.)

Day two: stiff muscles were soon loosened up with a 20-30 minute run (up, then down hill). A pretty hard way to start your morning, but we were allowed to go at our own pace at least. The weather was nice at first, but when you're sweating, the sun isn't necessarily your friend. Then the weights circuit came. every station was a muscle burn out, and after it I could hardly lift my arms to do the combination boxing training we had in store for us next. But, stiff and all, we ended it with some fun in that.

So day three looms ahead, I'm going to have to set the alarm earlier, cos I can see some sparring with the snooze button coming in the morning . Feeling fit though, can't wait to be fitter.

[jennyc]

2 days down, three to go....and feelin it!!! The trainin is great, Monday circuits were a killer but we all lasted the pace, surprisingly enough, no mercy shown, thanks for that!! In fairness you pushed yourself as hard as you could, if you needed to take a breather that was no prob, everyone seemed to really go for it though. Couple of slaps to the head in the sparring for some of us that are new to it, but sure we'll learn the hard way to keep our guard up, it's all part of the fun!! Have to say was fairly wrecked when I got home, but enjoyed every min of it and looked forward to Tuesday, running....my favourite...NOT!!

Little bit stiff this morning, not too bad though, plenty of egar beavers ready to sweat it out on the run up to the gorman, expected it to be worse to be honest, and it was the second time round, uphill was quite tough especially with the sun beatin down on you, lovely on the beach not so good when your puffin & pantin runnin up a hill & lookin like barney on a bad day! It was sooooooo good to see the end of that road!

As I think I might have mentioned before Rob has no mercy for anyone, well not on fighting fitness week anyway, that's why were all goin to look & feel fantastic at the end of this week!.....So it was straight back from the run, bit of a stretch and into the weights circuit, wow, that was tough but felt brilliant, someone mentioned a second circuit, no sooner were the words out, and we were pumpin away again, lucky us, we were told it would be a burnout and believe me it was! The abs & back extensions were a workout in themselves....we'll have abs of steel, well maybe not but you get the picture!

Oh yeah n just something I picked up on, where does Keith keep disappearin to?...Skiver!!



So feedwell, sleepwell, and bring on the 3min circuits 2moro...ouch! Thanks for a great few days

[mickroch]

Its 3.15 pm on day two on the fighting fitness week. After the circuits we did yesterday I thought I was gonna be in bits this morning. I wasnt, but Im in bits now. We did a run today followed by a weights circuit and some combinations. I was not looking forward to the run at all but we struggled through it. The hardest bit so far was the weights. It was not that fact that the weights where heavy but you had to push to your burnout. (ya would laugh if ya seen the weight on the bar). I am enjoying it though, its the most complete workout you will ever do.
I think we have some more circuits tomorrow and some sparring so Im looking forward to that.
Rob suggested that we eat healthily this week so I think Ill have just the one kebab (With a diet coke) and 6 pints of coors light which is low in calories so happy days.
Only jokin of course Ill have low fat mayo on the kebab. (Go on Keith Quinn)

Anyways Ill write in again before end of week if we dont have some burnout finger workouts.

[Deleted]

Skiver....HA.. haven't heard that1 ina while... Ok for this once i'll explain myself? On monday when i heard the word sparring i Thought back an hour... see some of those punches on the bags.... i'll skip that!.. Today .. WOW .....some of you guys lift weights with serious heads so its goodbye to that. And after the run it was like attack of the killer tomatoes! Low fat mayo...? Its low fat water for you...... Did i see you getting a LUCOZADE HMMMMMM...? Great week so far, Keep pushin it...! great instruction and motovation from Robert...Good1.

[andyh]

Definitely had a few aches and pains this morning after circuits on Monday, but I'm still in one piece (for the moment). The day started with a bit of a run, followed by weight circuits and punching combos. For people like me who normally only go to group classes, the fighting fitness week gives you an opportunity to try new types of training and train at a more intense pace than normal.

The weights were good craic and were more about reps than overall weight, which was probably just as well as the only weight training I had done recently involved carrying a 6 month old baby about the house.

I think tomorrow will probably be hardest day (especially the circuits) as the training will start to get more intense, but then we should be into the home stretch. I've set myself some extra training in the form of assembling a cot from Mothercare, although I don't think that is likely to become part of the fighting fitness syllabus any time soon!

[R. Devane]

Excellent reports. Thanks a lot for keeping everyone informed. Keep up the good work.

Circuits are calling now!

[andyh]

As expected today involved a lot of sweat, but thankfully no tears. Circuiting training consisted of three minutes at ten different stations followed by a quick breather and one more minute of each exercise. Hard going considering I shuffled down the studio like an old man nursing the effects of the last two days of training. Circuits were followed by kicking power drills and finally some sparring. I predict gravity will do its best to keep me in bed tomorrow and I'll definitely have a few aches and pains, but nothing a wee jog up and down the road, some weights and a few kick boxing drills can't fix.

[jennyc]

Day 3 in the MAI studio, and I think everyone was really startin to feel it, the oul body wasn't very obligin when the alarm clock went off this morning, a bit stiff and my hips felt like that of an 80 year old woman!!

But as always once we hit the studio, we had plenty of encouragement to get us on track, (not to mention the daggers!!) & we were straight into our 3 min cardio circuits, 10 stations, then 1 n a half back around the circuit again! Speaking of stations, Rob were you ever stationed somewhere in the army cause the words Drill Sargent spring to mind! In fairness to you though you gave us a couple of mins to catch our breath back, yippee! It was tough goin, 3 mins of press ups...really can't wait for the 5 mins on Fri.....me nerves!!

The Kicking and punching drills really tired us out after the circuits, my arm an legs were hangin off, Louise what's the story with those kicks, the poor bag was shown no mercy today with you, the lethal lefty was in the house!!!(Note do not p... this girl off!) Luckily enough for us you had work to do so no sparrin with you today!! And yes McGuyver we have it noted that you slipped out at 12 today aswell, not to worry you can make up for it 2moro n Fri!!!

Sparrin was great to finish us off today, and boy did it do that, I think we were all fairly nice to each other today, nothing to do with the warning from Rob of course, just the kind of people we are!! We were all fairly sweatin when we left and by the time I got home I was like a drowned rat, shower, food snooze, happy out, more food now n bed early to get ready for that run in the morning & some killer weight circuits, happy days!

Thanks again for a great day, c ya 2moro!!

[Kiefer.c]

so far it has being great,today was our second run up and down grange gorman hill 3 TIMES!!
straight after it was back to the studio for another weights circuit..OUCH!!..it is really enjoyable learning loads and getting fitter what more could you ask for.everybody is getting better already,its a great crew to work with...the reason i'm writing this today is beacause tommorrow is 5minute round circuits so i don't think any of us will be able to move!!! ;D ;D..best of luck to everyone tommorrow..BURN BABY BURN !!!

[louise devane]

Today was great. I was so stiff after the circuit yesterday so i wasnt looking forward to the run this morning. We had to go up and down grange gorman 3 times today , thank god there was no sun hahahah , mick rochford , joanne healy and myself were last to finish today but we did it ..... , we got straight into a weights circuit which i missed on tues i really enjoyed that colm kept me motivated , burn outs was right .... , we then had to go around again and i think everyone did well , from what i could see everyone was helping each other which was good , after that we got a little break and straight back into it again with loads of kickboxing techniques which was brill we did a really long combination at the end and then we had to add on our own 10 techniques which was deadly , i had a sneaky look at a few and there was some flashy moves going down ..... then it was abs and more abs and MORE abs , that was our 3 hour training session today roll on day 5 tomorrow , i think everyone is dreading the 5 min rounds .... bring it on . i just want to say also i did this course last year to and it was BRILL , this year is even better everyone is a good bunch and just want to get stuck in , some of you havent done any sparring before and everyone got stuck in and is doing great , so well done everyone keep up the good work only 1 more day left .... see you all bright and early tomorrow for our circuit .... see ya all later

[Deleted]

Day 4 over, one to go!! Today was by far the best day of training for me for three reasons.
1. I woke up in an absolutely inexplicable good mood
2. While still stiff, I was used to the hard training, and that helped me limber up
3. It was the hardest day's training and that means now I feel great!

I'm totally motivated for tomorrow, last day, hardest day, best day. Can't wait.

I weighed myself last night, and I'm down 2kg since Monday evening. (I'm ragin I didn't weigh myself before training on monday, but what can you do.) That's 2 kilograms in 2 days! Serious results. I know a few others I was talking to were down a lot of weight too, can't wait to hear the end results at the weekend when everyone's finished! Watch this space!

[mickroch]

Hi All,
Day four in the big brother house. Day four this year was not bad at all, thanks to Lou Lou and Joanne for the conversation in our twenty K run. The weights circuit later was very tough but I think we where all glad to get through it. To rub salt in the wounds we did another hour of the memory game where we had to do a 16 piece combination set. God bless your memory Rob I was lost after Jab cross.
I am looking forward to the final day tomorrow.
Its good looking back that everyone felt that same wheezy "I cant do anymore of this" look on their faces but we all did.
To anyone contimplating this course next year I would strongly recommend fighting fitness week for the best all round training available in this country.
PS ya really understand that if ya eat badly this during this week your body will soon tell ya to stick the kebab up your swiss)
Thanks,

[jennyc]

Can't believe we've finished Day 4 and 2moro is our last day, it's been some week! 2day was another brilliant 3 hours, wasn't sure if I'd last the 3rd run past the gorman, the yappin definitely took your mind off it, it was tough goin but we all made it, pure mules we wouldn't give in!!
Straight back and into the weights circuits, we all just got stuck in, everyone really pushed themselves as hard as they could and it was tough after the run there were a few stiff muscles but like pure trojans we battled on! First circuit over, just before anyone got the idea into their head that the weights session was over Rob quickly brought us back to reality by letting us know we had to go around again in the same time but fit in 2 sets each station.....the joy, some tired burnt out muscles after that!!
Then came the Kicks n punches, with the little bit of energy I had left I hardly made a dent in the bag, actually the bag did more damage to me, my shins are bruised to bits, nothing to do with the awkward kicks I was throwin at all!!!!
The combination seemed to be goin well until we had to do it on our partner & I went blank but with a few reminders we were kinda sorta back on track, then we added our own few bits on at the end, and that was goin kinda well too, myself & Antoinette my partner were kinda chuffed......that was short lived, Antoinette told me she's not around for the last day.....so the brains behind the operation is gone...needless to say I'm Screwed!!!!!
2moro is goin to be the tough one, body tired, after the last few days, but it will be the most challenging I'm sure, really lookin forward to given it my all, at least we can chill the weekend!!
Super week, would defo sign up for it again & I'll be spreadin the word!!
C yez all 2moro, sleepwell!

[mooney]

use are all red hot

[andyh]

Didn't actually feel as bad this morning as I thought I would. Another good day of training. The run did the job of waking us up before we launched into the weights circuit. I think we all had a better idea of what to do during the weights circuit so we were able to push it a bit more. After dragging Michael Feeney away from the weights we did a few kicking drills and a 16 part combination that test memory as much as muscle. Jab cross is about as far as my memory normally stretches too, but luckily I had Keifer to keep me straight.

I'd say tomorrow will be a hard day, but the finish line is in sight and it will feel great to have finished a full week of hard training.

[louise devane]

Ah, today was our last day of pure hard training. Just before i go into detail about the training i just want to say EVERYONE did really really well and got stuck in. I think lots of people were very stiff and sore but its all part of good training, at least you all have the weekend to recover and enjoy yourselves. Fair play to everybody it was an excellent week and thanks rob for pushing us all to our max .... excellent course !!!! So back to the beginning; we all arrived bright and early for our 5 min circuit which was "tough" but no moans out of anybody we all got straight into it .... there were only 2 changes made today from the previous circuit days because 5 mins of push ups would be a nightmare hahahaha .... and we did squats with kicks instead of just squats on there own but think they were harder. I can feel them burning know just writing about them .... We all got around the 1st round then we had a few mins rest and it was straight back into the circuit again for 1 min each round but faster pace ... it was deadly. There were a few cheaters, not saying any names eh.... jenny clarke, ha only messing. We all finished strong. Well done !!! We then got 5 min break and it was straight back into strikes on the bag we did some elbows and knees. Also i think a few people might have had a few bruises from the elbows .... Then i think we all seized up because we got the sparring gear on and was straight into 3 five min rounds of sparring with leg kicks. I had jenny as a partner and fair play she did really well because with no breaks really between each round its hard to keep going but well done you kept on me on my toes ....
We finished early and finished out with some light stretching and i think we were all glad and of course we got our fighting fitness cert at the end .... so thats it for another year guys and girls it was great to train with you all and again good course Rob !!! Catch you all during the week , see you soon , enjoy the weekend its well deserved !!!!!!!!!!

[louise devane]

oh yeah and mooney answer to your "use are red hot " we definetly were red hot today some very red hot faces ....

[jennyc]

Well, our week of sloggin it out is finally at an end, what a week it's been, really tough 3 hour sessions each day, but wouldn't have wanted it any other way, have to say congrats to everyone, everyone really put their heart into it, except for those couple of slackers today, the one that was cheatin & the one that was watchin her, not mention any names of course, isn't that right Louise!!! He He

The 5 mins circuits this mornin were a really tough one after 4 hard days of trainin, but in fairness I don't think I would have been able to do that on Monday so it just goes to show you how we've all improved in our fitness levels over the week, lots of sweaty trainin gear after that! The 1 min rounds seemed a doddle after doin the 5 mins, but I reckon cause we all knew it was our last day we all felt a lot more energetic today and flew around, well ok then maybe I did take it a bit easier with jumpin over the mits.....but it's a killer!!

Quick breather and it straight into the dirty fightin on the bags of course, Rob would never encourage us to inflict this on anyone.......yeah rite!! Hard on the hands & knees, I'm sure there'll be a few grazed knees & elbows on show in T-shirts n shorts around Dublin over the weekend, thank you lord for handwraps n mits, they saved the laimhs today!!

Then it was sparrin gear on for 3 x 5 min rounds and we were all paired up by Rob very fairly.......what was it you said, similar ability, ehhh Louise was my partner, remember the lethal leftie I mentioned the other day!!!! In fairness to you Louise you took it easy on me, thanks for that, you could see I was startin to fade, but really enjoyed it, great to get someone with your experience to spar with, even picked up a couple of things!!!

So we all finished up in high spirits today, feelin great and chuffed with ourselves, happy campers headin off with our Certs, nice touch!!

Thanks again to everyone, great bunch to train with, hope to see you all around over the next couple of months before I head off!

Thanks to all the instructors that took part aswell, got a bit more of a workout then I had hoped for while tryin to stretch you out, Kiefer & Colm, they are some limber limbs!! Keith we missed your happy little head around the last couple of days, but worked beckoned!! Louise again thanks for the sparrin today & the help with the techniques the other day. And last but not least, thanks a mil Rob for the course, it was a fantastic week, even when you were pushin yourself trainin you still managed to keep those beady eyes on us all & managed to keep us all goin at a great pace, great encouragement & enthusiasm from you and all your crew, would love to do it again next year if I'm home on holidays, I'll check the dates out on the website!

Have a great weekend, sooooooo well deserved, see you next week, I'm off to have a glass of wine & be a couch potato for the nite...Happy out!!

See ya all soon