babysteffee

We do those in our class...I personally think they're ok because I do a lot of yoga...but nearly everyone complains about it, and the look on people's faces... I hate press-ups. I hate anything to do with working the biceps...which is a shame really because I pay for it after every lesson with v. sore muscles. Isn't there a way to build up your arms without you consciously knowing that's what you're doing? Hmmm.

One hour-and-a-half lesson of kickboxing a week...and about 30 minutes of practising nearly every day. Running between 3-8 miles a day, 4 or 5 times a week. Sit-ups, tricep dips and press-ups every day (not many because they're boring) Skipping whenever I find a moment. At least 40 minutes of yoga a day. That's about it.

Yeah...also squat while raised onto your toes, at first it will be almost impossible unless you have some degree of balance. Another good balance exercise is focus on a point on the wall or floor...take your right leg and wrap it around your left knee/thigh and place the foot (right) around the back of the left lower leg...doing the same with your arms.

Is there anyway you can prevent sore muscles following training? It's just my shoulders and arms that are sore for a couple of days after a class, my legs aren't. I've tried the usual warm baths and plenty of stretching exercises when warming down but nothing seems to be working.

There's so much contradictory advice regarding diets etc...some say stick to protein through the day and carbs on a night for repair..other say avoid carbs on a night. (Night being after 4pm) One thing I do is drink a lot of coffee...I know there's a lot of contradictory advice on that too but it makes my muscles work. After about 8pm I stick to water so as not to interfere with sleep. I'm also taking iron supplements.

Weights just doesn't appeal to me. I would like to be stronger...without unsightly biceps though, but the idea of weight-training just doesn't hold any interest. I find it difficult...press-ups are much easier. If anyone could give me some advice as to how to get motivated into weight-training, it would be much appreciated.

This is a really interesting topic. Well done to everyone who has contributed... I have to say I can see both points of view but I don't get angry...because I practise yoga quite frequently (like for 1 hr every night) But controlled anger sounds like a good idea to me really..if it can be acheived. I think everyone has been in a situation where they've bitten their tongue in a situation when it wouldn't have been appropriate to retaliate...I'm not sure that it could be classed as controlling anger, but more showing common sense and maturity...I mean, we teach our kids that they can't always have things their own way, isn't that just the same.

Oh, I hate pain... Hmm, fortunately the biggest injury I've ever had is a strained wrist...which I still have now, from not wearing wrist-wraps. I've had this for a couple of months. You sort of forget about it during class, but then the next day... And a few bruises which I have permantently...I think that goes with the name though. Well I do hope any newcomers to martial arts don't start off by reading this board, lol. Actually, now that I think about it, I don't know anybody that has suffered a serious injury from MA.

A friend of mine uses one of those and it hurts apparently. He will be sitting there one moment just laughing at something on TV...(oops, I'm making him sound like some sort of lazy overweight couch potato) then all of a sudden he'll screw up his face in agony. But it does work apparently...IMO though, the whole point of getting fit is for the buzz you get from training, not the muscles you've got.

Well I didn't know that...but it's great news because I sweat straight away, as opposed to before when I didn't sweat until after working-out. I just assumed it was because now I drink a lot of water whereas I didn't before.

Another way of building stamina is skipping...that would probably be better because you could practise for 10 minutes or so whenever you could fit it in instead of finding time to run all at once; and there will be less strain on your ankles and knees. I take my skipping rope everywhere I go, lol. Or bike riding, but again, you need to have the free time.

Obviously, the fitter you are the easier you'll find kickboxing at the start. But anyone can be that fit. You are literally forced in your classes to push yourself so it is impossible to stay unfit. If you can only kick waist-height, stretches and exercises will make your muscles more and more supple until you can kick your height and higher... Running and skipping are good ways of building up your stamina to be able to cope with the continuity of training. Nobody was born an excellent kickboxer.

In my class everyone helps everyone, so theoretically everyone is the teacher...and that way the whole class are very close to one another...when new people join they are helped by everyone of a higher rank and it makes them feel welcomed into the class. Also, you are forced to open up...and it helps combat shyness if you have to give orders.

I have a tattoo of a devil on my back...I have absolutely no idea what made me get it done...I only had it done about 6 months ago, and I regret it already, and yes, it hurts more than childbirth. Well, nearly.

Running will improve your stamina in two weeks. Maybe not 100% but a lot, and more than any other method (IMO). Make sure you start easy though, you don't want to get an injury...run for maybe 5 days a week, increasing the distance slightly for two of them with a rest the day after. Even if you can only manage a mile or two at first, by the end of the second week you should be able to double it. Good luck!

It seems a bit unfair really, leaving a little introductory message because I've already had some welcoming messages... However...my name is Stephanie and I'm 20 yo. I've been practising (the right word?) kickboxing on and off for a few years but this time I'm going to take it seriously..blah blah blah. Oh...defenestration_girl asked where I was from...I'm from Durham. Sorry..and hello to you all, this message board is great.

I recently stopped smoking (just 3 weeks ago) because I took up running again and was finding that I was wheezing(!) after only about 5 minutes running. I'm only 20 and smoked for 6 years so was horrified at the state of my health. In the very short while since stopping smoking I am now 20 times fitter and the cravings have long stopped... Physical cravings for cigarettes only last for 60 hours...the rest is all in your mind.