The Shogun

36 minutes ago, The Most Loathed said:

5 x 5 is a perfectly valid general strength program. Depending on how your knee is doing it may be hard to adapt it in a way that doesn't cause you issues but that's something you have to determine. Working with a strength coach, if it's within your means, may be a good idea given that you are recovering from injury. 

 

Yes! I'm only considering the 5x5 program because it's what worked best for me back when I was doing weight liifting
 

38 minutes ago, The Most Loathed said:

Kyudo recovery - I've never personally done Kyudo but from what I can tell, it primary involves using a long bow to shoot an arrow. As such, you're doing a lot of asymmetric pulling with your upper body and bracing with your lower body. So I would likely want to account for the tons of asymmetrical work of training with lots of symmetrical work where I monitor for one side compensating for the other. The goal being to bring up the strength on the inactive side of my body and realizing that the active side may not feel anything.

Yes, that's pretty much how kyudo works, asymmetric and sometimes symmetric pulling with my upper body and bracing with my lower body. One of my goals is to strengthen and develop muscles to do a specific movement that is very difficult and painful to sustain, Ikasu, In which you have to raise only one knee (and your hips vertically, slightly) of the floor while kneeling on your toes and doing the shooting ceremony and hold it for 5-10, it's a tough move that takes practice, and I want to support that practice outside the dojo. But this is beneficial advice that I'll consider since it adapts to my current practice.
 

57 minutes ago, The Most Loathed said:

My goal would be to spend the first month of training approaching things like squats very gently. I'd want to leave the gym for that first month feeling like I had more in the tank but was 100% safe.

Yes, my goal is mostly to stay active, lose weight, support my kyudo practice, and watch out for that knee. I want to take it very very slowly, not looking for any gains or PRs at the moment. I appreciate that image because that's going to help me set expectations on how to finish a session. 
 

I plan to go to the gym 3 times a week since I do kyudo twice a week, and kyudo it's more low-impact and more isometric? I'm probably butchering that. I do work out the muscles more than I feel during the shooting practice because I remember my shooting being affected if I was too sore from CrossFit. I figured that I got it covered each week between WL, Kyudo, and enough rest. 

I'm still considering all my options, but I wanted to do my research before I commit to anything and start spending money on a membership or a coach

Hello, fellow warriors of the rebellion!
 

I hope you're all doing well. I'm a monk with a background in Kyudo, and over the past few months, I've been on a journey to recover from a meniscus injury.  I've made significant progress in my recovery. Now, I'm looking to get back into weightlifting and strength training, but I want to take it slow.

A little about my current routine: I walk to my dojo regularly, keep myself active, got my meal prep and nutrition down, and incorporated some Kyudo practice in the morning to maintain flexibility. I also use a standing desk, which has been a game-changer for me. All things I've learned from this community, by the way. 

I've been following the RICE method diligently for my recovery, and I feel ready to start training again. However, I want to shift away from the high-intensity cardio aspects of my previous CrossFit routine. Instead, I'm seeking a weightlifting program that's more methodical and slow-paced. I'm familiar with and willing to give the 5x5 program another shot, but I'm open to other recommendations.

So, I turn to you, this forum's experienced weight lifters and warriors, for guidance.

What weightlifting routines or programs would you recommend for someone in my situation?

Any advice on how to ease back into weightlifting while prioritizing knee health would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you all for your support and wisdom!

On 1/9/2023 at 9:54 PM, sarakingdom said:

 

I'm not, though, and I have resistance bands, so tell me of your ways. I've been longing for a nice practical, or at least martial, feeling strength workout lately.

 

I crave visible progress on Stupid Human Tricks and other badassery, but I'm far off that, given current fitness and body shape. So I need way to fake that.

We mostly do stretches, we hold one end of the resistance band near the Hara, and hold the other end with our palm stretched out, like we would hold the string of the bow, and then raise the hand to our eye level and then torque? or turn our arm/hand to our side, keeping the horizontal line... sort of like opening the door, the idea is to focus on the articulation, rather than the force of the muscle.

Then we do the same but with both hands in front of our faces, pulling to both sides,  Then the same but 45 degrees above our heads, and then 90 degrees above our heads. All while in horse stance. I'll see if I can find a Youtube video, it doesn't sound like much, but synced with breathing exercises... it's a great warm up. 

2 hours ago, Kishi said:

Hey, just here hoping that kyudo eventually gives you the ability to do this:

 

UFFFF I Wish... I did ended up destroying my glasses during my first shooting with an actual arrow. I was shooting scared, opened too wide and the string caught my nose and glasses when I released and the glasses flew across the dojo. Now I need new glasses.

But during my second arrow I hit the target! Way off... but it was exciting! My third arrow was so much closer to the center of the target. But you know... I'm not supposed to focus on that but rather keep my ego humble and focus on what the target is teaching me about my state of mind and my posture.

We trained the whole ceremony with 5 archers, and guys... i'm telling you, it's hard. I've trained two martial arts before...but this feels different. this a team exercise of rythm and breathing and synchronicity... it feels more like ballet than martial arts... not that I have done any ballet before, but it's a whole other level of mindfulness.. 

On 1/7/2023 at 7:07 PM, Kishi said:

Wow! Looks like you've come a long way. No wonder you've been gone!

 

 

I'm sure this will be very appreciated. I find that everyone wants to play but nobody wants to do the work that makes the play possible; up here, it's always "last one out has to clean the mats!" That's really good of you to do.

Yes! The sensei already has taken notice of my attendance and how I'm always the first one at the dojo (even before him) and it's been helpful for me, too, because it expands that sense of oasis that the dojo provides, and since I help setting up everything, I've learned how to string bows before other more advanced students. Last class, I was internally smiling seeing senpais with over a year struggling to string the bows while I can do it in one or two tries. My therapist also recommended it, as a way you know, to interact, make friends, and extend that feeling of keeping the world at a distance. 

On 1/7/2023 at 7:33 PM, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Glad you escaped the southland. Can you still get arepas? 

I can still get them and I know how to make them!! There's a big population of Venezuelan people here.

Kyudo:
 
No training today, but I practiced last saturday, it was an interesting class because the sensei wasn't there, only the senpais. I think that many students were discouraged and I was one of two beginners in the dojo, only 5 students total, so I got a lot of practice with the bow. We are like 13-14 students, but only 5 bows. And I usually get the heaviest bow, which affects my technique.

Staying Active
worked out today, I switched the app to focus mostly on core and legs, while I did my kyudo exercises with a resistance band to focus on back, shoulders, and chest. We do them in horse stance so it's a full-body workout? 

Calorie Deficit

Stayed on a calorie deficit and stick to my diet plan today, which was easier than I expected.

Budget

Tracked my expenses and budget up to date. I am really loving YNAB, but I still got a lot of articles to catch up. to learn how to budget properly, it helps that I'm working with a personal finance website in my job so I get to learn a bit from there as well. 

okaaaaay, let's do this!

A quick previously on my life. 

Kyudo:
 
Keep perfect attendance, 2x a week. (wed & sat)
Arrive at least 15 mins earlier to help set up the dojo (unwrap and string bows, etc)

Stay at least 15 mins later to help wrap up everything.

Staying Active
Work out for at least 30 mins 4x a week

tue & thu C25K

mon & fri Down Dog Workout (i've been using the down yoga series of workout apps, I love them, I just hit play and work out)

sun: rest

Calorie Deficit

Stay on a calorie deficit and stick to my diet plan for at least 5 days x week. 

Meal prep on Sun
 

Budget

I started YNAB this year, just in a effort to put my finances in order. I'm not in debt neither struggling financially, (fortunately) but I usually don't have an idea where my money is going and I want to finance a few goals in the future, so I want to get my sh*t together, financially.

Track expenses daily

Update budget at least once a week (fri)

Sorry I took the whole first week to figure this all out. I have to get used to sitting down at the end of my day and write my uupdates, usually when I stop working I slam shut my laptop until the next day, but I'll try to give a brief update after I finish working.

Thanks, guys! Really excited to be back in the monastery. 

"Oh, man... I miss the forums. I wonder how my monks are doing. Kishi, Phoenix, the Giant, Snuffles, Glarockly... I forget their names. 

I'll join the new challenge. I guess I'll have time before the year begins to start a new chall-

WTF, they already started?"

I guess I already know what my fist goal will be... setting up this challenge. 

Hi, everyone. It's good to be back! 

Man, I read your challenge and I feel like you're the Thomas Raith of my Harry Dresden. 

I've also been dealing with anxiety (who hasn't this year?) taking meds for the first time, I need PT (which I'm guessing it's Physical Therapist but if it's something kinkier, lemme know) because the stress and anxiety devolved into a intercostal neuralgia which is making extra hard to train without feeling like I'm about to die, and I seriously need therapy (understatement of my life) but I've been postponing it so much, all this to tell you that even if we're experiencing similar situations, you're handling this so much better than I am, man. I hate you. I bet you don't even moisturize. 

That being said, I have been journaling and writing regularly. What's work for me as journaling prompts is the daily stoic book (I can hook you up, if you don't have it, arrr * pirate roar?* ). But I think The Art of Manliness also has a series of Journaling Prompts that could help you out.

Anyways, I hate your stupid, grumpy, face that doesn't even make sense.

It's a brother thing. 

Ok, this is more of a rant than an update on my goals, because I'm failing big time.

These past days have been exasperating, frustrasting, and a reminder of why I struggle so much keeping up with my habits consistently. I'm not saying I quit all together. I still fast, I still train, I still make healthier choices when I can, I reduced my trash meals to once a week, and only because I use that moment to have the entire family sitting together having dinner, sharing, etc, which is something really important to me... But it's not the consisten work that I'd like to. I'm not saying perfect, but regular that I can see results.

I went from chest pains (which have subdue, again, probably should have that checked but I'd really hate if they say something like "meh, it's probably anxiety" which is what most doctors say when I tell them I suffer from it. Like Joker said,  "The worst part about having a mental illness is people expect you to behave as if you don't") to a week-long blackout from Tuesday, in which the monkeys in charge decided to ration power 5 hours on and off, that led to a serious conversation with my boss about my availability online. Unfortunately, all my work is online and I'm at a level in the company that they need me online regularly and we can't afford pushing deadlines in this quarter, since y'all go to holidays next month and is really hard to get something done with other people those months.

It's hard to not get carried away when this sort of things happen, but they usually are a reminder too that the habits I've worked on so hard have helped me deal with those situations and that I shouldn't abandone them. Training, meditation, reading, eating healthy, fasting, writing. Those are my pillars and I should always come back to them. 

Meh, today I felt like talking to someone, but didn't want to bother anyone, and I had this mental note that I needed to update my challenge. Unless something post-apocalyptic 2020-ish happens tomorrow (which would be normal by now) I promise to post something more related to my goals. 

On 10/2/2020 at 1:34 AM, Kishi said:

I don't think I have a good answer on how to fight family to protect family. I'm relatively lucky in that a lot of my kin live really far away, and as an added bonus we don't get along all that great. So isolation is working out pretty well. And enough of us are taking this seriously that our most vulnerable are generally well-protected.

 

Even then, my grandma is still not... like, she's having a hard time getting what's going on, you know? She's in a home, and she's well-cared for, but she's struggling to be compliant with things, and this is hard for her. I really feel for the people who are looking after her because it's not like they want to hurt her or anything but she's not going with the program either.

 

It's tough. I guess at the end of the day, if your folk aren't going to care for you, then you gotta do what you gotta do. What that is isn't exactly clear, but I suggest you be firm and get done what you have to, whatever that might be.

I'm sorry to hear about your grandma. Mine is struggling, too. She lives alone thanks to... her life decisions. Of 8 children, only 2-3 are looking after her and she's practically alone in her house with only a TV and a dog. She's of course experiencing some depression and anxiety, too. At least she's compliant, but only because she's almost blind. 

It's really tough. They were talking about going out again to some party...  it didn't happen, but if it does, I need to be ready to make some significant changes in my life.

which, funny enough, would mean going back to my life before quarantine, distancing myself from my family and going back to my bachelor apartment, which must be dusty AF after 7 months of quarantine. 

On 10/1/2020 at 4:53 PM, Mistr said:

That's awful that half your family is not willing to protect your parents.

 

I admire you for doing everything you can to protect and provide for your family.

 

I understand that some people don't have an option of staying away from other people because they have to work and can't work from home. They might even be right about COVID not being a serious risk for them individually. I would hope they understand the bigger picture - that they could be contagious for days before getting sick, and spread the virus to at-risk people during that time. Plus it looks likely that COVID is going to behave like other cold and flu viruses in not giving long-term immunity. Just because a person got it once does not make them immune for long.

 

There are a lot of people in the US who listen to Fox News and think COVID is a hoax. These are people who won't wear masks and are going out to parties. I think they are going to have a rude awakening as people in their own circles get seriously ill and die.

Thank you for your kinds words. I wouldn't really care that much about them getting sick, because they're young and healthy, if treatment most likely wouldn't have to come out of my pocket and that some of them are new parents taking care of a newborn, and of course the risk that the spread the disease to other high risk people, like my parents. They claim I should trust them and trust the people they hang out, but that's the thing... It's not about trusting people, because half the people that are sick don't know they're sick for the first days, the other halft don't care.

In this regard, I feel US and my country are very similar, granted, a lot of people are forced to go out here to make a living, but eveveryday I see people playing on the streets, hanging around, gatheting... I get not many people feel confident inside but... hey, read a book or something, right? * sigh *

Guys, sorry I was absent last week (and today).

I've been dealing with a lot. I started feeling bad again, same issue as before, chest pain and inflammation, sticking to same treatmeant as before for a few days to see if it stops before I check with my doctor. I've also been having a hard time with my family, one half of my family (living with me) just decided that quarantine is over for them, they already had COVID, or that being locked in is worse than getting sick. I'm worried not because of them or me, but because my parents are old, and my mom is a diabetic, how do you fight with your family to protect your family? (seriously, any advice? any suggestions?)

This really gets me because I'm doing everything I can to protect my family, I've even come to the point that even in the worst case scenario that I get sick and die from it, I'll be okay knowing that I did everything in my power to protect and provide my family, and THAT is what's helping me get up every morning. But when my own family threatens something that even defines me as a man.... 

I pulled the other half of my family together and discussed it with them, but I'm not sure it'll stop. Last resort, I'll go back to my apartment, see if my parents would agree to go with me.

I'm slowly getting back to my usual routine, but these two things really brought me down this week. 

On 9/21/2020 at 9:56 PM, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

I've never been to Venezuela but when I was in Brazil the mangoes were as good as in that one Seinfeld episode.

I noticed the opposite when I travelled to Europe, peaches were HUGE but they tasted horrible, mangoes too... I was told that they use preservatives to keep them fresh on the trip, but that ruins the flavor. The local tomatoes were good, tho. I got to the point that I could which tomates were harvested there and which ones were bought from somewhere else.

Also, again, don't come to Venezuela. 

On 9/21/2020 at 9:30 PM, sarakingdom said:

 

Those are precisely the two things I would want to eat in head-sized quantities. I will be right over.

How am I able to see this? Did I wake up my sharingan!?

Ugh, a couple of nights ago I woke up with heart pumping and that escalated quickly into a panic attack, didn't have one in a while. 

Since then, I've been feling sick again, chest hurts and inhaling hurts, feels like an echo of my inflammation issues. Maybe it was triggered because my neighbor started smoking cigars or something and the smell gets ALL OVER my room. 

Gave myself the weekend to relax and rest, and today I started again.

Grunt 1: Stay Hydrated

Felt short today. Water shortages here, Main problem is again work, I focus so much on work that I constantly ignore the reminders. 

Grunt 2: Increase duration of training

Started 20 minutes today, taking it slow because my chest hurt still.

Grunt 3:  Eat Fruit

Fruit is almost over but spend the weekend and today drinking some passion fruit juice.

Grunt 4: No Work After 9PM

Really hard I had to leave a couple things left to do and I'll worry about them all day, but I promised myself that I'll stay off work to spend more time with my family. Really missing being part-time. 

On 9/16/2020 at 9:51 PM, sarakingdom said:

 

Do you crave pickles? If so, yes.

 

I like your challenge, and want to steal your fruit.

Ugh, no, I hate pickles

You should the size of some fruit here, avocados and mangoes the size of your head! 

On 9/17/2020 at 12:32 AM, Shotokan said:

Day four:

 

I am seeing a pattern, which I really don't mind at this point.  The day starts with some kata and then night time comes some band work and some more kata.  Today was kata in the morning, some light band work, kata and stretching at night. 

 

682 active calories

30 minutes of training

15 stand hours

I'd pay attention to those patterns, I usually see them as opportunities to play on my strenghts. Way to be consistent this week! 

6 hours ago, RisenPhoenix said:

I got to zen out from all the things that happened the prior days, and I managed to conquer not only the mountain but also my thoughts on how capable I was on doing a solo trip like this

I love days like these. I'm glad you got to experience such a moments. I got to see the pics on Facebook, they looked amazing. 

On 9/18/2020 at 12:12 PM, sarakingdom said:

Everything I planted has sprouted, though only one measly cilantro came up. That will have to be seen to, since cilantro is life and the price just doubled at the store. I have two more packets of seed, though, and they're newer than that one.

 

My mint and onions went into a reused daikon greens pot, and I've suddenly got a fresh crop of daikon shoots after planting in it. Those will have to go into a salad, it's not their pot any more.

 

My lettuces and brassica are getting their first non-seed leaves. They're still too tiny to eat, but it's adorably precocious of them.

 

Apparently, when I couldn't sleep a couple of nights ago, I bought seeds for a family member, mostly lettuce and chard. This is what happens when you're trying hard not to buy yourself more seeds. (Maybe I will get more lettuce seeds. One of my seed places is $1 per packet, it's hard not to.)

Cilantro is one of those things that are absurd cheap here.You know what's a truly epic quest? telling cilantro apart from parsley. can't never seem to get it right. 

Did you enjoy cleaning the fridge or am I the only one crazy? 

On 9/11/2020 at 9:27 PM, sarakingdom said:

Washed in cold water this evening

See? You're already failing at the don't be Kishi part.

Update

9.15Tue & 9.16Wed

2 hours ago, Mistr said:

3) Zen most days.

This should be every day, but feeling pressure to do that makes me contrary. The NF App has a 5 Minutes of Meditation challenge. I'm doing that to give myself permission to sit just 5 minutes on days when I don't want to sit 30 minutes as usual.

This is one of the best ways I've found to fight against that pressure. Tell myself that I'll do it for at least 5-10 minutes, and I usually end up doing more. 

Also, I think everyone's been eating too many treats on quarantine, last time I tried my jeans they were significantly tigther than usual. Everyone says "give yourself a break". For me was more like "time to go back to the dojo ASAP". Fortunately, we know better.

Didn't know you made candles! that sounds awesome

5 hours ago, Kishi said:

 

Damn, never figured this one out.

Really hard to have something to say against you, man.