Shotokan's "You're like a trained ape. With the training."

[Shotokan]

The actual quote from Firefly is "You're like a trained ape. Without the training." but I want to be better than that and be like the trained ape that actually has the training.

 

Main quest: Like all of my other challenges, my main quest is to improve my kicks.  To be more specific, my side thrust kicks have always been my main goal but I need to add roundhouse kicks to this goal because they need help too.

 

1 - Mobility: Cheechoe's hip routine is going to be the main focus here but I also want to add the

resets to make my hips work better.  The goal is to do both of these at least 4 days each week.

2 - Back to basics: Do 2 full Karate workouts at home each week in addition to my Karate class.  Before the Karate workout do a strength movement and at the end of the workout do a core/ab movement.  (modified 8/14/14)

3 - Karate specific: Total of 1000 kicks and punches per week.

 

Life quest:  Spend more time with my wife

 

Spending the time walking with the Typhoon and doing something fitness related while doing it really helps put my mind in a better place and it also helps loosen up my hips.  Walk 5 days a week.

[Kishi]

I remember that quote. Good times. Good times.

 

Can't wait to see what you do with this challenge, after everything you learned last time.

[Shotokan]

I remember that quote. Good times. Good times.

 

Can't wait to see what you do with this challenge, after everything you learned last time.

Thanks!  I learned so much last time and I think I finally have a more specific plan in place this time.  

[Taijibum]

Your all making me want to watch Firefly again!

[Shotokan]

Your all making me want to watch Firefly again!

I started watching it a while back and I stopped.  I think I might need to add a side challenge to watch it this time around.

[Teirin]

I started watching it a while back and I stopped.  I think I might need to add a side challenge to watch it this time around.

 

Yes, yes you should. 

[Cheechoe]

OK, seriously.

 

I have to step it up a notch! Your kicks are likely better than mine now!

 

Nice challenge! I like the walks with Typhoon and can't believe you guys are still doing that mini-challenge. *puffs out chest* Feels kinda awesome. Not gonna lie

 

Good Luuuuck!

[RisenPhoenix]

I started watching it a while back and I stopped.  I think I might need to add a side challenge to watch it this time around.

 

Watching Firefly is always a good life choice.

 

Sounds like a nice challenge.  I need to incorporate the Cheechoe-hip-stretch shenanigans into my life more, as well.

[Shotokan]

OK, seriously.

 

I have to step it up a notch! Your kicks are likely better than mine now!

 

Nice challenge! I like the walks with Typhoon and can't believe you guys are still doing that mini-challenge. *puffs out chest* Feels kinda awesome. Not gonna lie

 

Good Luuuuck!

I have a long way to go to have kicks anywhere near yours.  But, because of you, my kicks are better now than they were just a few weeks ago. 

 

The Typhoon is having some slight back issues but hopefully, she can get her back in the groove.  She is going to create her challenge thread tonight.

 

Thanks for the good luck, I'm gonna need it.

[Shotokan]

Workout 1:

 

To start things off, today was mobility work with some other things thrown in for good measure.

 

1 - Original Strength resets both before and after my workout

2 - Cheechoe's hip routine

3 - Side jackknife - 3 sets of 10 reps - I am thinking that I need some more muscle in my obliques. 

4 - 200 punches - 100 in horse stance and 100 standing but with hip twists (Naka Sensei drill)

 

I am still doing katas everyday and some time with the foam roller. 

[Cheechoe]

Ooooooooooo.

 

Heart horse stance punches! I feel it in the sides of my calves of all places . Weeeird.

 

 

Nice first day!

[sarakingdom]

4 - 200 punches - 100 in horse stance and 100 standing but with hip twists (Naka Sensei drill)

 

Straight punches, or something more complex?  Cuz banging out a hundred punches in horse stance sounds kinda fun...

[Teirin]

Nice start :-)

[Shotokan]

Straight punches, or something more complex?  Cuz banging out a hundred punches in horse stance sounds kinda fun...

Yes, the punches from a horse stance are really fun and I get to train my stances too.  

 

Straight punches in the horse stance but twisting while standing.  The reason for the twist when standing is to throw my punches from my hips.  I punch 45 degrees, head height, to the right with my left hand, then 45 degrees, head height, to the left with my right hand and then straight to the solar plexus, then repeat starting with the right hand.  It creates a crazy hip action that really warms things up.

[Shotokan]

Workout 2:

 

1 - Original Strength resets both before and after my workout

2 - Cheechoe's hip routine

3 - Walk with the Typhoon

 

 

I also had a tough Karate class doing kata for almost the entire class.  I also did some pushups, crunches and some other ab work while teaching and training too.  I ended up teaching the entire first class with the help of the Typhoon because my Sensei hurt his knee today. 

 

It was a pretty active day overall.

 

I forgot to add my walk above.

[Teirin]

Excellent, hope you both had a good time teaching today too!

[Shotokan]

Excellent, hope you both had a good time teaching today too!

Thanks.  It was a good teaching day.  It's been a while since I ran a class from start to end.  Luckily, I have had some good teachers who showed me how to do it.

[Shotokan]

Workout 3:

 

Today, lots of working out was to be had. And it was.  The not so trained ape trained like an ape today.

 

It started off with my walk with the Typhoon.

 

I did parts of the Original Strength before lifting because I didn't want to roll around on a dirty garage floor.

 

1 - Straight arm pull downs - 3 sets of 12 reps with 28 pounds

2 - Low pulley row - 1 warm up set of 6 reps with 94 pounds / 3 sets of 5 reps with 114 pounds

3 - Front pull down - 2 sets of 5 reps with 94 pounds or 114 pounds - I cannot remember the weight

4 - Reverse grip front pull down - 2 sets of 5 reps with 94 pounds or 114 pounds - I cannot remember the weight

5 - Bench press - 4 sets of 5 reps with 145 pounds

6 - Trap bar deadlift - 4 sets of 5 reps with 165 pounds

7 - Barbell curls - 3 sets of 6 5 reps with 77 pounds

8 - Rope tricep pushdown - 3 sets of 5 reps with 50 pounds

9 - Thumbless reverse bb curl - 4 sets of 5 reps with 55 pounds

 

Original Strength reset after the lifting when I came home

 

Night time workout

 

Original Strength reset before and after the following.

 

Punches and kicks came later with a combined total of 200.  I started in a horse stance, did a front snap kick and then stepped back down with a punch, then kick with the other leg and step down with punch with the other hand for 100.  Next was the standing triple punch like I have been doing, using the hips, for another 100 punches.

 

I finished the workout with some Shotokan and Iaido katas.

[Shotokan]

Workout 4:

 

Yesterdays workout took a toll on my left hamstring.  The trap bar dead lifts didn't feel very heavy but I guess not doing them for a while was enough to make my hamstring take notice.

 

I did the Original Strength resets first.

 

1 - Cheechoe's hip routine - I added a downward dog to the stretches 

2 - 200 kicks and punches - I did some kicking and punching moves from my katas

 

3 Iaido katas and a Shotokan kata

 

Foam roller on my really sore hamstring and other parts.

 

I also did a walk with the Typhoon early today.

[RisenPhoenix]

Mmmm... foam rolling.

 

With my roommate moved out and having taken the coffee table that was in our living room, I've been using that wide open space as a place to roll.  I like it so much I almost don't want a coffee table back in the room so I can always use it.

 

>.>

 

<.<

[Shotokan]

Mmmm... foam rolling.

 

With my roommate moved out and having taken the coffee table that was in our living room, I've been using that wide open space as a place to roll.  I like it so much I almost don't want a coffee table back in the room so I can always use it.

 

>.>

 

<.<

That foam roller is a blessing and a curse. 

 

I ended up taking all the furniture out of my living room so that I have space to workout and foam roll so I know exactly what you are talking about.

[Shotokan]

Workout 5:

 

Yesterdays workout wasn't much because I had to leave early to teach Karate and the time got away from me.

 

I did the Original Strength resets then came Cheechoe's hip routine

 

I was able to get in 100 punches while teaching along with some ab work and pushups.  I also did some really good katas before classes started and I even had one of the parents as if I could do her sons kata while she video taped it on her phone.  

 

Iaido class wasn't as hard as usual but we a did a lot of basic work before we split up to work one some details.

 

The day ended with some time on the foam roller.

[Shotokan]

Workout 6:

 

Today was a lazy day for me.  I was really sore when I was teaching today for some reason.  The only cool part is that I can still breakfall even though I haven't done one in years.  The main reason that I took Karate was to try and stay off the ground but I had to demonstrate with one of my instructors and he took me down twice without any pain.  

 

I went for a walk with the Typhoon.  I did he stretching part of Cheechoe's routine, the Original Strength resets, a couple kata and the foam roller.  I just want feeling like much else today so I guess I needed the rest.

[Teirin]

I'm going to point out (again) that you still do a fair bit even on your rest days.  Glad you've still got the breakfalls!  They're good to have in general, not just in the martial arts.

[Kishi]

Breakfalling is something I picked up in Kung Fu, back in the day, and it really surprised my Sensei how well I could do them even after having not practiced them in a while. It's one of those things that, I reckon, you pick up and sticks with you for a while.