yamesu

3 Aug 2013. -Gave the "Tapout Abs Workout" a go. Not too bad, but I felt I could do it again after about 5 min rest. -Light jog around bush trails here at home (500m). -1min boulder jumps (box jumps, but onto a 70cm high sandstone boulder). -Uphill running on rocky/dirt fire trails (500m). -Partnered focus pad work. Drilled several combinations over a 20min period, such as punches to high then low roundhouse, and, head-sway to mid roundhouse and overhand right. -Body conditioning, punches to torso (chest and ribs focus), 5min. -Legs conditioning, inside outside thigh kicks, 5min. -Drilled knees from clinch (inside, over/under and underhook) with partner, 5min. -Drilled elbows from clinch (inside and outside) with partner, 5min.

I assume you are talking about continuous sparring and not point style sparring? (If its the latter I dont really know as do not have experience and my fighting style does not cater for point sparring rules, sorry). Cardio, plyo and endurance is good, but I would also be focussing on rounds of intense bagwork. Hold a kick shield for him, and get him to go hard for the duration of a tournament round plus and extra 30seconds without a break. To break it down further, do one round of punches only, followed by a round of right leg kicks, and then a round of left leg kicks. This should be designed to exhaust him. If he can go hard for three "tournament" rounds on a bag, then this will prepare his body (in some way, minus the getting hit of course) to keep pushing forward for timeframes needed. Mentally, get him to visualise he is pushing around someone (that the kick shield is his opponent). This has always helped me. Good luck to you and him!

2 Aug 2013. -Warm up in the dojo, 45min, slow kata and kihon. -Active stretching, legs and core, 20min. -2hr BB Kyokushin class.

I agree. Nothing is perfect, but we can strive for perfection. Perhaps it is an unattainable goal, but it gives a lifelong pursuit. I personally, after 20 years on and off training in Kyokushin (as well as training to BB levels in other arts such as Arnis, and on/off training in Judo and Muay Thai), think that Kyokushin is as close to "complete an art as any, and effective. But it is by no means perfect. Similarly, I am by no means perfect. If I was perfect "on the floor" I would not really need to keep learning would I? This to me is the meaning of Oshi shinobu (OSU), a key part of Kyokushin training - to push oneself to the limit of one's ability and yet to continue, to persevere under pressure, and to endure. Osu!

1 Aug 2013. -15min warm up with team. -30min Volleyball match (we won!). -15min light active stretching (legs and torso). -10min side splits PNF stretching. -10min kicking combinations, sole focus on increasing flexibility.

31 July 2013. ROCKY STYLE STAIRCASE WORKOUT!!! Using staircases in the tower (5 staircases in total) for a workout: http://sydney-city.blogspot.com.au/2009/08/bicentennial-park-trelliage-tower.html -Jog stairs to top of tower, walk down (x5). -Sprint set #1, sprint to top of tower, walk down (x5). -Pushups set, inverted down stairs (head down) as far as possible, being 5 steps in my case (ie: feet on a step, and arms on a step 5 stairs down) to exhaustion. Flat ground pushups set to exhaustion. -Squat jumps clearing as many stairs as possible (generally 4 stairs at first then 3 closer to the top) to top of tower. -Plank, inverted down 5 stairs (30 sec x3). -Sprint set #2, sprint to top of tower, walk down (x3). -Squat jumps clearing as many stairs as possible (generally 4 stairs at first then 3 closer to the top). -Quick legs/torso stretch. -Shadow (kick)boxing combinations, 5min. -Jog to top of tower. -100 punches for speed. -50 sidekicks (Mae Yoko Geri). -Jog down tower. KIHON. -Jodan uke (x30) -Soto uke (x30) -Uchi uke (x30) -Gedan barai (x30) -Tsuki, Jodan/Chudan/Gedan (x100) -Shuto yoko ganmen uchi (x20) -Shuto uchi uchi (x20) -Shuto uchi uke (x30) -Kin geri (x50) -Chudan mae geri (x30) -Jodan mae geri (x20) -Kansetsu geri (x20) -Yoko geri (x20) -Ushi and Soto mawashi geri (x40) -Mawashi geri Gedan/Chudan/Jodan (x30). -Active stretching to finish.

29 July 2013. -Taught a portion of the junior grade kids class. -1hr Kyokushin class (punch/kick combinations for pretty much the entire lesson. -20min active and static stretching. -10min kihon.

24 July 2013. -30min renraku kumite and kihon training with partners. -45min kata, inclduing bunkai applications. -2hr Kyokushin class.

22 July 2013. -1hr kyokushin class (Afternoon). -Kata, 15min. -Active stretching, 10min. -2hr kyokushin class (Evening).

21 July 2013. -Interval tunning bush trails, 15 min. -Drilled kihon, focus on kicks, 10min. -Interval running, 10min. -Drilled combinations: focus on uppercut/hook/knees from clinch, switch stance knees. -5min jog home.

19 July 2013. -1hr Kyokushin class (afternoon). -2hr kyokushin class (evening).

17 July 2013. -Took the kids grading, did the techniques along side them, 2hrs. -Circuits: Plyo pushups on medicine ball (10), side-row situps with 7kg medicine ball (20), "hopping' pushups on knuckles 5metres forwards and bakwards, shadow boxing 1min, 30 squats, knees from side mount on heavy bag (mountainclimber variation) 30reps. Repeat twice. -Kyokushin class, 2hrs.

Up there are: Streetfighters Ryu, Ninja Scroll's Jubei and Kenichi Icing on the cake, Kenshiro from Fist of the North Star.

15 July 2013. -20min interval running, bush tracks at twilight (increase the difficulty factor a bit!). -Circuit no1 : 1min punching kickshield (full intensity), 1min squat kicks, 1min rest. Repeat 4 times. -Kata, Tsuki-no, Gekusai Sho, Yantsu. -Kihon (punches and blocks), 20min. -Kicking drills, 30 each of 9 kicks, total 270 kicks. -Circuit no2 : 20pushups, 50squats, 1min rest. Repeat 3 times. -Clinchwork with partner - focus on getting the inside, 5min. -Partnered leg stretching, 5min.

14 July 2013. -Light stretching. -Set 30 pushups. -All kata through once. -5x rounds heavy bag work. -light stretching.

12 June 2013. -Assisted instructing the kids Kyokushin class. -Kata and stretching, 20min. -2hr Kyokushin class, pretty high intensity. -Set 40 pushups. -Set 20 pushups. -Leg stretching (static), 5min.

Yantsu is a beautiful kata, and the applications are great. But it is unique to Kyokushin, so other styles might not have too much insight into it? As far as derivations of Shotokan kata, Pinan Yon is great. The bunkai is just brilliant (including the leg, shoulder and hip throws!) I was taught Nihanchi a while back, and that was quite interesting also, but I just could not get the differences in uke when compared to the standard kyokushin kihon.

I cant tell if this is serious or not, and honestly, I don't have the time or will to watch it again to find out.

Nice one! We have a few of the obstacle style courses here in Australia (Tough Mudder etc et), but the foam run looks like a lot of fun. I hope you enjoy, and let us know how it goes!

9 June 2013. -Pushups, 3 sets to exhaustion. -20min splits stretching. -10min active stretching for high kicks. 10 June 2013. -Caught last 30min of Kyokushin class (afternoon). -45min kata and bunkai applications. -2hr Kyokushin fitness class (Evening). -Set 40 pushups before leaving the dojo.

8 July 2013. -Taught kids Kyokushin class in the afternoon. -Kata: Pinan Ni/San/Yon/Go, bunkai applications with partner. -2hr Kyokushin Class (evening). -2-3 min full contact sparring after class.

Haha, this is great. I wonder how the chess game strategies decline after a few punishing boxing rounds!

I do anywhere from 6-9 hrs dojo time per week spread over three days, Mon/Wed/Fri, all dependent upon work and home commitments. As I travel 1+1/2 to 2 hours each way to my dojo it can be challenging at times! I train Judo, Kyokushin, Arnis and general fitness with my brother (or solo) on Tues/Thurs/Sat. Usually cardio and endurance (running and circuits), weapons drills and training as well as a few break falls and throws/takedowns. If I feel up to it, or have missed a Kyokushin class, Ill try to get to a Muay Thai class on Thurs nights, but at present Kyokushin is my primary training method so thats where my priority lies. Sunday is my day off, and focussed on housework, as well as quality time with my better half.

Strikes aren't always to stop. Not even the groin kick stops attackers every time. There's no more guarantee that a strike to the groin will drop an attacker any more or less than a quad shot while everyone is under the effect of an adrenaline dump. The strike to the quad has more to it than just damage. A well placed quad kick can turn an opponents body and manipulate their body to give you a position of advantage. A groin kick can do the same, but it's important to understand the mechanics of striking and what it does for you. Not just the surface issue of damage. While I agree that thigh kicks (roundhouse in particular) may not "stop" all people, it will definitely have a large effect on those not akin to receiving them! With more and more people training in MA and MMA, perhaps this is becoming more of an issue, but its still a staple kick I believe. As for it being caught - I dont think thats an issue at all. Ive never once had a kick caught, nor do you readily see it in cage fighting or other full contact tournaments often. I would certainly feel comfortable utilising the roundhouse to the thigh in confrontation. As Tallgeese has noted, even if it does not drop someone, it can knock people off centre, and puts me in a better position to follow up with a secondary strike using follow-through momentum - such as a right cross or elbow. One thing I noticed has not been mentioned in this thread is kicking to the hip. I find that a mae geri (front snap), or pushing teep style kick to the hip facing frontwards is a great distance gainer, and can be seriously off-putting to someone not versed in receiving lower body strikes. It also has the benefit of connecting with the sole of the shoe (heel or ball of foot, you choose) minimising damage to me. Best case (for them) on contact, it knocks the attacker off centre. Worst case (for them) it tears flexors or even does damage to ligaments/muscle running down the femur. This in itself is enough to inhibit mobility from then on through the ensuing altercation. Additionally, the hip kick is being directed at a large target close to me, and can be fired off from a front off position, making it great for follow up blocking/striking. It also benefits from creating distance through using a body part longer than the arm, so you can (if it is possible and time is there to react prior to first blood so-to-speak) stay out of punching range and control the distance in the initial moments, allowing greater chances for your own follow up. Just my observations and experiences.

I really only run intervals at present. Usually 1.5minutes at 50-90% intensity (depending upon my week in goals), with 30 seconds rest, then repeat for up to 20 rounds. My aim is to increase this to 40 rounds in the coming months. I find that long distance running, while good for cardio, is not in line with my MA goals. Kyokushin in particular is based on endurance and strength, al-be-it there is a big cardio component, its a fine balance between too much cardio and losing strength, vs, being strong and not being able to run 1 mile (like a focus on powerlifting for example). I do agree with the comments that treadmill running is not like outdoor/road running (meet-meep). I can go for 30-40min straight on a treadmill at 11-14 kph, whereas get tired after 15min on the road at the same/similar pace.