bushido_man96

2-27-07 Back, shoulders, and biceps: Back: Wide grip pull-downs: 110x10, 120x8, 130x6 Back Hyperextensions: 3x12 One-arm dumbell row: 45x8, 50x6, 55x4 Shoulders: Shoulder press: 111x6, 117x4, 122x4 Alternating dumbell raises: 30x8, 35x6, 35x4 Biceps: Seated incline curls: 25x10, 30x4, 20x8; for some reason, my left arm was very weak on this exercise. Cross-body hammer curls: 25x10, 30x8, 35x4 Abs: Decline abs: 3x15 Side raises: 3x20x25 lbs. Hanging knee raises: 3x10

2-26-07 Chest and Triceps: Chest: Bench press: 155x10, 205x6, 225x4; the last two of the last set were assisted. Triceps: Skullcrackers: 70x8, 80x6, 85x4 Tricep push-downs: 90x10, 105x6, 105x6 Bench dips: 3x10 Abs: Decline abs: 3x15 Side raises: 3x20x25 lbs. Hanging knee raises: 3x10 Conditioning: Stairs: 3x45 sec, 1:00 min. rest Steppers: 3x30 sec, 1:00 min. rest Sledgehammers: 3x1:30, 1 min. rest Combat Hapkido: 1 hour, 15 minutes. TKD class: 1 hr; but I was teaching this night, so I didn't get much of a workout in.

I have a book on Bruce Lee's training ideas. I think that his body type made it so he could look the way he did, along with his diet. As long as you continue to stretch with your training, you will not lose flexibility.

Here's a nice little drill to try: Get a pair of 2 pound dumbells, a pair of 5 pund dumbells, and a pair of 7 pound dumbells.... To start, punch with no weights in your hands, and do the following: 1 straight left, 1 straight right, 2 str lft, 2 str rt, 3 str lft, 3 str rt, up to 5 punches on each arm. Then go back down again (e.g. 4 lft, 4 rt, 3lft, 3rt back to 0) Then pick up the 2lb dumbells and repeat. Then the 5. Then the 7. Then back down to 5, then 2, and then without weights again. By the end your upper body has a nice burn AND your hands are feeling quicker. Give it a bash! Cheers Dave Oooh, that looks nice! I may give it a try.

This training looks kind of interesting. I like the blocking drills, and the movements involved. Taking an unprotected punch to the gut, however, is not my idea of a learning experience, though. Overall, not bad, though.

I don't think it would be fair to consider Kyokushin sloppy Goju Ryu. I am sure they have their differences, but I don't think they would be considered sloppy. Doesn't Kyokushin use more of the Shotokan forms?

Speed bags are great for developing both timing and speed, in my experience. There are different sized speed bags out there as well, depending on how experienced you are with them.

It sounds like catch and Greco could make quite a good combination.

If it isn't available in your area, then you are kind of stuck. You could look into some books and videos, but I wouldn't recommend trying to learn it like that.

Many founders of various martial art styles picked fights, and if anyone they could be considered 'true' martial artists. Now mind you...I don't think that it is right to use violence to solve problems unless it is necessary, but the fact remains that the strong bond that we associate with self control and martial studies has been something romanticized beyond what was actually true. This is a good point. Many of the romanticizations began when the arts started to evolve from the 'jutsus' and into the 'do' that we study today.

From what I could tell, the University offers other BA degrees as well; not just the MA ones. With that in mind, you could combine it with other degrees, for some interesting combinations.

Well, I saw a lot of body conditioning there, but not much in the way of MA training. I am of the persuasion that there is a right way and a wrong way to do everything. I am not sure if this is the right way or not.... I guess if you want to learn to get hit, it works.

Oh, more news! Manny Ramirez is in camp. Carl Pavano has some bone chips in his elbow, and may be delayed in starting. Bobby Abreu is also injured; he strained his oblique.

Tell me about it. I did 225 4 times today; 2 on my own, last 2 assisted. My brother played football for a small NAIA school here in Kansas. He was pretty strong, and after his senior year, he went to Denver to try out for the Crush, I think it was. He did well on all of tests, and even performed some of them better than one of the guys that was there that had made the team. But, they told him they wanted someone taller, essentially. He was 5'10", 245 lbs. his senior year, and was the center.

Thanks for the note, Baron. I will suggest it to the wife. I was thinking of buying white appliances.

I agree with your statement here. This is an area that I know I lack in seriously, and my instructor doesn't work with it much. We work on the ground some with Combat Hapkido, but not to the extent that we probably should. Eventually, I want to work the Combat Hapkido into some randori style sparring situations.

Ninjas were a class of bujutsu in fuedal Japan that focused a lot on espionage, infiltration, and assassination. There were some specializations of ninjitsu at the time, relating to these fields. I am not so sure if the art that exists today can be accurately linked to what it used to be.

It is also a good reason to just get together and talk MA with a bunch of MA buddies.

Doing some plyometric exercises with the arms can help to build some explosiveness as well.

Gary Sheffield is in Detroit this year. Is this a loss that concerns you, Patrick? I think he will fit well in Detroit, and has played for Leyland before, with success. Maybe the change of scenery is good for both parties. I also read that Mark Prior plans on being in the rotation when opening day comes around. I hope he is. He won't be the ace, but is said to be competing for the 4th or 5th spot. I think Zambrano has earned his way to being the ace of that staff. However, after opening day, does it really matter what the pitching rotation is?

I'd heard that he was taught by the General but I didn't realise he was one of the first blackbelts under him.. Yep, if I remember my history right....

This thread, posted by Shotokan-kez, adds some other thoughts and points that seem to coincide with the views expressed in my article: http://www.karateforums.com/do-we-need-to-ask-permission-vt29499.html

We finished painting the hallways. Now, we get to paint the kitchen. My wife also informed me last night that she doesn't think our Harvest Yellow kitchen appliances aren't going to go well with the new paint! Ay, caramba!

Wait til you watch some of them do the 225 pound bench press. I guess while they are there, they have regular nutrionists set up their meals. The fullback from Rutgers said that he lost about 15 pounds, and wants to try to be a tailback in the NFL. With the extra weight off, he is looking at shedding 40 time as well.

I don't get to watch Truck races, because I don't get Speed Channel. However, I did see the finish, and it was a bad deal for him. Kenseth got to pull the sweep this weekend. Congrats to him. I thought Harvick could have caught him, but that flat tire sealed the deal. Bummer for Kevin; he had a rocket! It's all good, though; Kenseth was one of my fantasy picks this week. The DEI cars seemed to have some engine problems, unfortunately. Truex was looking fast, and had a good qualifying spot. Dale thought he had the problem fixed, but alas, did not. I also noticed that Michael Waltrip, the flagship owner for Toyota, failed to make the race. Still being -27 points, I think he will unfortunately be spending the rest of the seaon digging his way out of the whole. I look for him to make the transition from racer/owner to owner within the next few years.