andy100

I get what you're saying Sperki - my research has progressed a lot since I posted this question originally. I have to admit in answer to your point about walking, that when I started it again after a few month's lay-off of walking, my legs did ache quite a bit, but soon adapted. As for now, I'm still doing burpees (about 90-100 per workout) but the amount I can manage had definitely increased as they've got easier. In fact, I'm now doing more burpees/squat thrusts than press ups. I'm also doing pull ups but due to difficulties of where I can do them (a long story) I'm not happy with the ratio of pulling to pushing exercises and the muscle imbalances it could potentially lead to. Currently I'm considering dumping the whole BW conditioning routine at home in favour of picking up Muay Thai. I've tried kickboxing before and enjoyed it on the whole, but didn't continue for various reasons. Money & classes permitting, I'm starting to think that participating in an active MA like Thai boxing will be better for a healthy body & mind than doing plain BW exercises alone. It'll also provide a greater range of variation and stop plateuing I hope! Time will tell!

When I started my hands & wrists were sore too, but after a few weeks you'll really notice how much stronger not only your wrists are, but your forearms, upper arms and shoulders! Btw I'm 29 so don't think age affects the soreness that much, just lack of practice

Very true! Though to be honest I don't think doing a 100 push ups type workout for a relatively short period of time will actually create that much imbalance (unless you've previous shoulder injury of course) - I'm not expert on it all, but I imagine that a year or two of doing push exercise only would cause problems, but 3-6 months....probably not! IMHO

Go for it! Personally I hate waiting around doing nothing too (or jogging on the spot, still seems pretty wasteful of time). Now I know I can do 120 push ups in one go, probably more if I pushed myself. Interspercing the push ups with burpees really knackers me, but feels good!

My advice would be to give it a go! I started it, but it fell by the wayside when I started my own plan for reaching 100 push ups...my routine was using a ladder set: I started at 10 reps, then 9, 8 and so on down to 1 (totalling 55). Each week I added a set with 1 higher rep, until I was doing 15 reps, then 14, 13 and so on down to 1 (120 reps total). In fact, I actually did this in about 4 weeks as I advanced a bit quicker than my proposed routine. If you can't do 10 down to 1, then start with a lower starting set. For me, I found the best way of doing things was to do a set of push ups then a set of sit ups, alternating the two in the ladder sets without a break. After about 6 weeks I integrated a low number of squat thrusts per set (started at 4 per set I think), until I stopped the sit ups completely and replaced them with the squat thrusts. Now I'm doing an ascending then descending lader set of 1-9, 9-1 (of push ups & squat thrusts) which totals 90 reps, all back to back. Not only is it a great way of building endurance, but it also gets the heart pumping and helped me drop a jean's waist size in about 2 months, plus I'm leanber and more toned than I've ever been. I've also integrated pull ups into my routine either within the above routine or seperately, to balance my back and bicep muscles with all the pushing exercise, though I really hate them! Anyway, hope my ramblings helped, good luck with whatever plan you go with! Andy

I've read similar before. I can do 100 in ladders, but think doing descending sets of 20 - 1 would kill me!

Me too, until recently when I discovered they're the same thing in fact!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burpee_%28exercise%29 Though another basic version (that I use) is to start in a standing position, then squat, and after the kick back return to a standing position. They're also known as squat thrusts...

Over the last 10 weeks I've been working on getting fit(ter) and using basic bodyweight exercises combined with a 3 mile walk (including up & down some pretty steep hills) 5 times a week. My routine has varied but is centred around push ups, sit ups (now stopped doing these), basic burpees & more recently pull & chin ups. Already I've dropped a jeans size and my body is showing some muscular definition, plus I feel physically stronger and fitter. Currently I've reached doing 100 push ups & burpees in ladder sets and 30 chin ups in varied set lengths, 3 times a week. However both for quickness and simplicity I've been wondering whether doing basic burpees only would be effective conditioning to maintain my current physique but maybe help to keep building up my core strength? I really enjoy doing push ups (and the burpees mostly, believe it or not!) but have had problems finding somewhere to do pull ups properly - I've found a pretty good solution at home by sling a metal bar across to high parallel cupboards, but I'm not 100% happy with it. Plus I'm worried that if I continue doing push ups without pull ups I'll end up with muscle imbalances and all that it entails. However you read that burpees are an all over body workout (and of convicts using them only) so wondered whether they're my 'ultimate' solution? Thanks for any advice!

Maybe in time mate, but for now I just want to be able to make it to the club with enough energy to get through the hour's training! As my fitness improves, hopefully so too will my ability/desire to jog that far!

Well I've contacted the local boxing club and they only have spaces for one session a week that I can make it to, unfortunately. But the main trainer sounds really nice and said he'll let me know if & when spaces become available on the other night I can make (bloody work, getting in the way of fitness! ). I think I'm going to go this Saturday and see how it goes - at the moment I'm still walking the 3 mile 5-days-a-week walk to & from work, plus have managed to keep to doing 5 x 10 reps of press-ups every other day. If I walk to & from the boxing gym, then that'll add on another 6 miles of walking to my weekly exercise. I think all of that should supplement an hours training a week in boxing, which itself should hopefully improve my fitness & strength! Plus I'mlooking forward to the opportunity to 'toughen up' Andy

Thanks for the advice Sibylla. As I said before, I can't afford to take regular lessons at present, but hopefully I will be able to soon, then I think I'll go for the boxing option - it's a bit farther to travel than the kickboxing or Krav, but I think it'd be the one I most enjoy

That's exactly what I was thinking along the lines of mate. On a side note, I was passing Boots today so popped in to weigh myself and check my body fat ratio (I know it's not the most accurate test, but I've never done it before, so thought I'd give it a go). I've dropped a pound in the last week through resuming my regular walk (of 3 miles) and by fat ratio is 20.1, so I'm not as unhealthy as I thought! Just need to lose the bit of flab around my belly and tone up my arms & chest

Thanks for the reply Sibylla. I've been doing a lot of reading about fitness through MA and by using bodyweight exercises and a lot of it makes real sense (short, sharp bursts of training and energy to build up strength and your metabolism). Through walking my legs are in pretty good shape (if I do say so myself ) even if they're not that flexible for kicking arts, so I am leaning towards the boxing to build up my upper body strength. In fact, when i went to the most recent kickboxing class and we were practicing drills, I've realised looking back that i was actually bobbing and weaving from the attack which makes me think I may be suited to boxing more than the kicking arts. Will the press ups done regularly (every other day) help to increase my upper core strength (providing I up the no. of reps obviously as they get easier)? Basically I can't afford the regular boxing training at present and am just researching my options, but know that doing something now at least will help when it does come to taking classes! Cheers, Andy

I'm tempted to try out training in a 'combat sport' to help get fit mainly and was wondering how often a week I should train for to see results, and how long roughly it'll take. The options I have near to me are kickboxing, boxing, or Krav Maga. I tried out kickboxing several years ago for half a dozen or so lessons, but stopped for various reasons (one of the main ones being the pain it was causing in my knees). Since moving to a new area, I've attended the closest kickboxing class but wasn't too taken with it, as the teaching structure didn't seem very focused on learning proper technique, plus expanded out into some knife defence stuff (again, without any real instruction or cohesion IMO). There's also another local gym which teaches kick and Thai boxing seperately, though I haven't tried them out yet. Duration of the local classes are: Kickboxing (both) - an hour (though the one i went to actually lasted almost 2 hours, though quite a lot of the second hour was spent standing around watching the knife stuff) Boxing - an hour session, though the website gives a good description of the types of training in that hour: "A typical beginners session would include a general warm up with range of movement stretches, a specific warm up of shadow boxing (mirror work), tech sparring learning the moves without getting hit, bag work, one on one coaching on the pads where the emphasis will be on technique rather than work rate, a CV & resistance circuit (a selection of exercises specifically chosen to develop your fitness and strength for boxing), an abs & back circuit and finally a warm down and stretch out." Krav Maga - 2 hours per session. I currently walk for about 3 miles each day to & from work at a brisk pace (5 days/week), plus try to climb up 6 flights of stairs 4-5 times a day during work and have just started a routine of 5 x 10 reps of press-ups every other day, but am thinking that broadening into some proper training will help my fitness goals. Cheers, Andy

Thanks for the kind words safetyal & DWx...I'd really like to follow through and carry on with something but unfortunately my motivation (which isn't great at the best of times!) has taken a serious dent with all this Maybe I'll find it again at some point - there is a soft and hard Tai Chi class in Oxford, but I don't know what sort of thing either does or how good it is... I can still dream anyway!

Hi Safetyal, Yep, I still lurk here Thanks for your input. To be honest, I've stopped the kickboxing completely now. I went to see an osteopath after my GP diagnosis, who basically said that doc was talking 'cr*p'! Whilst the osteopath did tell me that other muscles needed to be stretched more and that my right leg is about 1cm shorter than my left, which accounted for the aching in my right knee, they still couldn't explain the regular clicking in my knee. After seeing my regular GP for another opinion last week, I'm completely confused and to be honest, hacked off with medical practitioner's diagnoses, as he just backed up the first doc's diagnosis! The day after that, after being an usher at a wedding and on my feet all day (running around and up & down stairs a lot, followed by being cramped in the back of a car for an hour journey home), my knee had basically given out completely on me. I've just given up with trying to work out was is wrong, and am just putting up with the achiness. Sadly I don't think I'll be going back to kickboxing or MA anytime soon though. Oh well!

No, she just said that it "flairs up & down in a lot of people", so basically 'there'! I've just had a full body massage too, and the masseuse told me that my left hip and pelvis is slightly tilted forwards, which might have something to do with it, because of carrying unbalanced body weight. She recommended seeing a chiropractor to get that sorted. Whilst the massage she did on my whole legs has made them feel a bit better, my knees and in particular 'behind' my kneecaps still feel very stiff & achey. I'm going to give the exercise she recommended a go, coupled with glucosamine tablets for a month, and if it's not improved I'll seek a second opinion from my regular doctor when I next see him. Hopefully the combination of those plus the chiropractor will solve it! Up until now, I guess I thought that achey knees where a regular occurence in most people and that it was normal! As for the kickboxing, I'm not going to rule out going again, but maybe after I've sorted my knees out. Some of it may be down to picking the wrong time of year to start too maybe. I wouldn't rule out other MA's either, but maybe not until I sort out my knees, plus there's a lack of clubs or MA's around Oxford that seem 'proper' as it were, but we'll see! Thanks for the advice and concern guys. Andy

Well I've just got from the doc's and she didn't think that my aches are anything wrong aside from weak inner quadricep muscles on both knees, along with a possible inflammation under my left kneecap. She's given me a basic exercise to do to strengthen these to do every day, and advised that the kickboxing won't do any harm. However I'm not wholly convinced still by her diagnosis. I mean, sure, I don't think I've got arthritis or anything that severe, but I'm not sure that my pains are down to just weak muscles, as I've had them for far too long. Surely these quadricep muscles would've naturally developed (especially with all the walking I do) as they're not exactly in an odd place that wouldn't normally get used? Maybe I'm just trying to find fault to justify my lack of enthusiasm/boredom with the kickboxing, so that I have an excuse not to go. Bearing that in mind, unless I have a major change of heart over the weekend, I think my short foray into the world of MA's has ended. I suppose I'm bored of the lack of equipment and frustrated by slow progress, couple with the fact that I hate[/] the stretching exercises as I'm next to useless at them. Sorry for the long post! Andy

Well I finally bit the bullet and made an appointment to see the doc tomorrow morning. I emailed mu instructor and his opinion is to work through the pain to make the muscles and ligaments harder and stronger. He did say to pull him aside when I went (which was supposed to be last night), and from seeing another guy at class who's got an upper thigh/hip injury, out instructor does ease off the stretches if you're injured. I'm not so sure that I want to be doing any of that though until I've been properly checked out! I agree that training around injuries should be the best way to success, but the thought of doing the exercise and stretching at all doesn't make me feel enthused at all at the moment. I guess I'll just have to see how things pan out...

You've hit the nail essentially on the head, bushido_man. The problem is that my body's physically tired too, and I am worried about my legs and knees, which just gives me the excuse I need not to go. That and the walk there in the cold...

Well, I hate to admit it, but I've missed the first class that I was able to make in the last two and a half weeks (I've missed the last 4 lessons due to family commitments). Admittedly I've had a long & tiring day mentally at work, but my legs and knees are still aching a lot. Over the last few days they've felt a bit better (possibly due to being off work sick for the last two and a half days of last week, so I was just sitting around the house relaxing), so I was holding out high hopes for attending class tonight. Despite this, and with trying to motivate myself all day, when it came to the time to leave to walk to class, I just really couldn't bring myself to get ready. I feel a bit down about it, hence I'm posting my thoughts here, but I'm not sure whether to try and build up the motivation to start again next week. I mean, I've ordered some glucosamine which should be with me soon, but after missing 5 classes now, I'm dreading the physical exercise and stretching that going back would entail. I suppose if I'm honest with myself, I do lose interest in things pretty quickly, and have never been sporty or particularly active, so do wonder whether this again was just a passing 'fad'. Have any other members here faced the same dilemma, and have any suggestions as to how I could re-motivate myself? Cheers guys, Andy

Definitely don't do this! If you have to tailor your workout to your body, then make sure to do so, that way, you can keep up your training. Boxing may be the route you want to take, if your knees are suffering that much. Also, losing weight may help your knees, as well, if this is a preceived problem. Thanks for the reply bushido_man. I'm not overweight at all really (I'm still well within my BMI, and in fact have toned up the 'flabbiness' around my waist already) so don't think that's the problem with my knees. I just need to watch them, and keep up motivation!

Thanks for the reply BMW. I guess I do underestimate my 'lifestyle' of walking a bit! That helped to keep me relatively slim & fit for a long time, but a combination of trying to quit smoking (failed ) and a 'health' appetite all my life (and an increased alcohol intake over about a year - thankfully now more controlled) caused the classic beer gut to start developing, which started me wanting to take more of an increased interest in my fitness. As I've never really been one for going to the gym or participating in sports, kickboxing seemed ideal as it's always seemed like a great sport, workout and MA (which would help to increase my fitness, stamina, coordination & flexibility). As I think I said before, I do get bored of things pretty easily, and with winter now almost here (along with the associated dark nights, cold and viruses doing the rounds) I guess it's a lot harder to stay motivated. Our classes are taught in a squash court, so there's no gym or bags to train with. Classes consist of bodyweight exercises (push-ups, crunches, twisting sit-ups, leg raises, squat-thrusts & jogging on the spot) followed by varied stretching, and then the last half an hour or so of practicing with focus mitts or training pads. We do incorporate some Thai boxing styles into training (or will as we advance beyond the basics) and our teacher is a really nice guy who's experienced in a few different MA's. There are two light-contact sparring sessions a week in addition for more advanced students, but these happen in work hours so I can't make them ever. Sadly there is a real lack of kickboxing classes or 'proper' MA gyms in Oxford. The leg joint pains are a big worry, and I do wonder whether the impact of walking badly (and being slightly flat-footed) don't help, but I am going to get checked out, as well as speak to my kickboxing teacher. Plus I'm going to get some glucosamine to try to help. I'll keep you posted anyway! I guess I just need to decide whether I want to put in the extra effort to continue, and maybe over time (and when finances improve a bit more) try to start going to the gym in addition to classes, or just embrace the Homer Simpson lifestyle in totality... Thanks, Andy >

Hi, I've started attending kickboxing classes for about 5 weeks now, and after I got over the initial aches from exercising muscles I didn't even realise I had, I've been really enjoying it. However, due to personal reasons I've only been able to attend an average of one lesson per week out of the two that are taught, and none this week. Over the last few weeks, I've been made a lot more aware of pains in my knees and hips (which to be fair I've experienced for years, but just put down to general wear & tear/walking a lot/weather/etc). I think that these pains are ligament associated, along with clicking in my knees and hips when I perform kicks in practice. See my post here: http://www.karateforums.com/aching-muscles-and-training-vt32628.html Other members have kindly suggested glucosamine to help my joints, and next time I go to see my doctor I'm going to get properly checked out, but I'm finding these pains are really affecting my motivation now. I generally get bored of things quite easily, but have been enjoying the classes, though the warm-up exercises and stretching have been hard work! Can other members offer any advice as to whether I'll be doing more damage to, or strengthening, my leg joints by continuing with the kickboxing? If it is more damaging in the long-term, should I consider a different MA, or less strenuous exercise to keep in shape (although I'm only 27, apart from a daily walk to & from work of about 5 miles, my fitness before kickboxing was close to zero, so I'm keen to try to pre-empt 'middle-age spread')? I find the punching and upper body work a lot easier in class, so would boxing be a good alternative maybe? Sorry for the long post, and thanks for any advice! Andy