Jack

Do you think you can do 3 sets of 25, with one minute break between them? If so, do so. Then lower the break time 5-10 seconds every time until you've gotten to, say, a 10 second break. Then the twenty second break will be easy. Do them four times a week, for example Monday and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Doing them every single day intensely may lead to overtraining.

Something that fits on the hand, think Wolverine from X-men.

Then again Bon, theres no need to do weights for periods longer than an hour at a time anyway. With 90 minutes, you could have an hour's weight training with 15 minute warmup, and 15 minute cooldown.

Thanks Kickchick! Now that you mention it, axe and crescent kicks are the most uncomfortable for me because unless I am very thoroughly warmed up, I get the same sensation doing them. I do kick air with softness and without fully extending, but maybe I lose track sometimes. I'll be more careful in the future! And I'll start a lower body legs routine. However,, doing leg curls with weights actually upset my legs a bit before when I did them, but that was a while ago so I'll give them another try alongside squats. Thanks.

per mile.

Thank you very much Deby. Somebody on another forum has recommended a product called shark cartlage, have you heardof this and if so what do you think of it? So along with a good stretching routine and massage, some light squats should be helpful in strengthening the affected area? That makes a lot of sense with me, thanks again.

I've had a problem for a while now that I think may boil down to some ligament or tendon damage. I cannot remember how it occured, but I will describe my symptoms and maybe some of you will be knowledgable of my problem. When I have a hot shower and afterwards stand up with my legs straight, it feels as if my hamstring is aching dully with an ache encompassing the back of the knee, and the tendon on the inside back of my knee will also ache. Today I noticed in addition to this that my calf muscle was also aching in a similar fashion. I am visiting a physiotherapist in July but until then I'd like to get an idea on what it could be, and how I could possibly do anything for it? And don't say just rest, I've taken a fortnight off before and it didn't help. Thanks a lot.

Hey Searcher, any ideas where I could find the Stage 3 and 4 routines? And thanks for the wish of luck.

Hehe well, report time. I just had my 2 mile run so I'm a bit tired, forgive me. In our category there were several Taekwondo practitioners and two Kickboxers. In the first round I went against another TKD person and beat him, and both of the kickboxers (they looked relatively new, couldn't have been training more than a year -but I'm relatively new also, so hey;)) Anyway, there were not a whole lot of people in our category so the second round was the final, against a larger TKD opponent who knocked out one of the kickboxers. I somehow beat her, I think it was due to some of the kicks I managed to get in, although I wasn't as pleased with this fight. I was dissapointed - I didn't get to spar with any Kickboxers, because they'd already been knocked out. The final in the adult's group though had a pretty mean kickboxer verses a Karateka, both black belts. Such a close fight but the Karateka just got it! Great day overall.

Yeah, I bought a pair of those from argos, they're great! They also allow a greater range of motion than pushups on the floor, which is great.

Hehe. I have to head off to school in just a few minutes but when I get home I'll tell you all about it. Thanks again.

Thanks for all of the advice guys. I came first in my catagory, got a big gold trophy.

Punch bag for birthday, buy paddle, Weights for christmas.

Thank you, it would be very much appreciated!

Welcome to the boards Ryan. You sure seem to have a lot of experience and that is always good. By the way, is there any chance you could explain what your training was like for the Marines? If you could I would be most grateful. Welcome again!

Well said Phantasmatic.

Thanks very much for the replies, guys. I think I understand the rules better myself now. Its a semi-contact point spar, but if you step off of the mat three times you're disqualified. The kickboxers are going to be taking advantage of this by charing at opponents and forcing them off of the mat. We are allowed to sweep and throw yes. Problem with this, they're kickboxers, we're Taekwondo stylists, neither of us are very good with sweeps or throws, although we have learnt a few and we've been encouraged to use them - I'm not confident in my ability at sweeping in sparring, its never payed off before. No elbows or knees. With that in mind, can any other pieces of advice be given? I'm going to copy them all down and remember them to use, so nothing will be wasted here!

What to do against the competitor who's technique is superior and tends to get in very close and force you to move backwards? On Sunday I will be having my first tournament which our club is organizing. There will be our Taekwondo dojang, Karateka, and Kickboxers. We are fighting on a small mat and to win you have to make the other step off of the mat three times. The Kickboxers are going to get in close and rush forwards, we know that already. I know I can circle around, but this is allowing them to basically control the range. What advice can you give me to possibly take the dominant role against a more aggressive opponent?

Exactly Taezee! I was thinking applying this training to martial arts training could really achieve something spectacular. LOL Bon I know how you feel there, petty tough, and the reason I'm sticking with category one is because I need to improve my pullups, getting the full ROM is something I need work on.

I made a post about this not so long ago. Use the search feature and look for "Controlling the fighting range". Some interesting information there for you.

Good for you Bon. Difficulty is a relative term, true I find the strength parts a bit easy but I really do them slow and make sure it hurts as much as possible so I cant perform a cheated rep if I tried with all my heart. I do negatives afterwards, partial reps, drop reps, everything until I am knackered. It just happens that I wanna start at the beginning so that everything goes hand in hand and is balanced. Yep, what a wuss I am.

I look forward to it. Welcome.

Welcome.

Welcome.

Thats exactly what I was going to say.