Snow Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 Hello Monks! After taking over a year off from Nerd Fitness, I realized that I need support as I face my greatest challenge yet: the Krav Maga level 2 test. My gym takes belt tests quite seriously. I wasn't ready for the most recent test in February, but that may have been a good thing. It was five hours long and the final drill was to bear-crawl through the snow while being attacked by Disturbers. What are Disturbers you might ask? Hang tight, I'll explain in due time. Back story: You may have heard about Krav Maga. It may have been something like this: Regardless of what you might think, it's an awesome workout and tons of fun. If you want to know more, we made a pretty sweet video (I'm the biker chick in the black jacket) demonstrating the awesomeness of Krav Maga last year. I feel like I can safely say 'awesomeness' since The Awesomer featured it... Over a year and a half ago, I completed my first NF challenge that was geared towards passing the Krav level 1 test. I blew it away, met my goals, and tested up successfully. Then life happened... graduate school got crazy and I started working 10-12 hour days rather than staying sane and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Consequently, NF and I grew apart. Since I tested up in Nov. 2013, I'm ashamed to admit that I haven't made any progress towards leveling up. Instead, I feel like I'm barely keeping my head above water with my health and fitness goals; no where near the badass that I would like to be. Well, I will tread water no more! It's well past time that I leveled up. Join me as I prepare for to test up on May 30th. The Test: 3-5 hours total of good-natured hell with no more than the occasional 30-60 second break. Hour 1-2: Being driven to exhaustion with some combination of constant drills (hammer-fists as fast and hard as you can for 60 seconds, etc.), burpees, pushups, combative sit ups, sprints, holding plank position while being kicked in the abs, etc. Hour 2-4: Technique demonstrations, working through entire level 2 curriculum Hour 5: Final Drill... this always changes and is ALWAYS insane. One year, it was carry your partner while you swim/paddle across the Cape Fear river. As I mentioned for the most recent test, it was bear-crawling through snow while fending off attackers. You can't really prepare for this, you just have to keep moving and survive. I should also mention... at any time during the test, you can be attacked by Disturbers. These are senior students (at least one belt/rank higher than you) wearing masks (I prefer a purple lucha libre mask when I disturb for the level 1 tests) who can make you do situps/pushups/etc. and generally make your life hell at any moment. The bonus for the level 2 test is that they can try to black bag you, attack you, and/or pull you into an extended sparring session which you have to be able to fight off. The Challenge: After much thought, I've decided that to prepare for this boss battle, I really need to target 3 major areas: technique refinement, strength, and endurance. Goal #1: Technique Refinement Attend Krav classes 3x a weekI know the entire level 2 curriculum, I just need to perfect things here and there. Goal #2: Strength 100 pushups, situps, or burpees every dayI have no idea what crazy physical feats of strength will be required, but if I can bang out 100 pushups in a row I would definitely be in good shape for the test. I'll be starting out with 4 sets of 25 and ramp up the size of each set throughout the challenge. Goal #3: Endurance Run 4 miles a weekI hate running. With a passion. Therefore, I should probably work on it a bit. I envision this as being a goal of running 4 miles total, so I could do 2 2 mile runs or a giant 4 mile run. If you'd like to follow along, I made a spreadsheet to track my progress. 2 Quote "Whatever doesn't kill me... had better start running."Challenge: 1, 2 Link to comment
mitch_dee Posted April 14, 2015 Report Share Posted April 14, 2015 I'm still working out the details of my comment, so feel free to check back. :-pBut seriously, welcome back! Looking forward to seeing what your goals turn out to be and watching you rock them! 1 Quote “It’s the sensible, logical thing to do, of course, which is why we don’t do it.” -Tanis, Dragons of Autumn Twilight "Hope is the denial of reality. It is the carrot dangled before the draft horse to keep him plodding along in a vain attempt to reach it." - Raistlin - Dragons of Autumn Twilight Current Challenge Link to comment
Kishi Posted April 14, 2015 Report Share Posted April 14, 2015 Wait. Triangle Krav Maga. Are you in NC? Because I'm in NC, and that would be awesome if we had more Nerds around here. Quote Work like a farmer, train like an athlete, fight like a soldier. 2 Tim. 2:3-6 BATTLE! Link to comment
Snow Posted April 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2015 I'm still working out the details of my comment, so feel free to check back. :-pBut seriously, welcome back! Looking forward to seeing what your goals turn out to be and watching you rock them! Lol, thanks! I had to put something up; I knew that if I didn't commit yesterday, then I would never get around to joining this challenge. Wait. Triangle Krav Maga. Are you in NC? Because I'm in NC, and that would be awesome if we had more Nerds around here. Kishi, I am in NC! In the Raleigh-Durham area to be more specific. Have you heard of TKM? What part of NC are you in? Quote "Whatever doesn't kill me... had better start running."Challenge: 1, 2 Link to comment
Kishi Posted April 15, 2015 Report Share Posted April 15, 2015 Friggin' Raleigh. That's where I am. I've heard of TKM, but I thought that was a Chapel Hill school? Quote Work like a farmer, train like an athlete, fight like a soldier. 2 Tim. 2:3-6 BATTLE! Link to comment
Snow Posted April 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2015 Friggin' Raleigh. That's where I am. I've heard of TKM, but I thought that was a Chapel Hill school?Awesome! I didn't realize there were other Nerds around here. :-) They currently have 4 locations. The main gym is in Southpoint and they have satellite gyms in Cary, Chapel Hill, and downtown Durham. Quote "Whatever doesn't kill me... had better start running."Challenge: 1, 2 Link to comment
Kishi Posted April 15, 2015 Report Share Posted April 15, 2015 Awesome! I didn't realize there were other Nerds around here. :-) They currently have 4 locations. The main gym is in Southpoint and they have satellite gyms in Cary, Chapel Hill, and downtown Durham. Well, me neither! This is really the first I've heard of any Nerds being around here at all. Cool! Gotcha. I must've heard of a satellite school, then. A friend of mine was looking into Krav, and then there was some video series where TKM featured pretty prominently. Very nice! 1 Quote Work like a farmer, train like an athlete, fight like a soldier. 2 Tim. 2:3-6 BATTLE! Link to comment
Snow Posted April 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 Update time! (Especially since I finally have my goals up...) Monday: 100 pushups (4 sets of 25)Tuesday: 100 situps (2 sets of 50) and a 4.5 mile runWednesday: 100 pushups (4 sets of 25)Today: 100 situps (2 sets of 50) I have to say, my arms are a bit upset after all of these pushups. Tomorrow, I'll be out of town for a conference so my workout will be limited to a hotel room and sadly include no krav. Saturday is a review of half the orange belt curriculum at my gym and I cannot wait. This will be a great workout (2 hours!) and help pinpoint specifics of what I need to refine for the upcoming test. This half of the curriculum will cover ground fighting and advanced blocks, so the bruises should be fairly epic. Hope everyone else's week is going well! Quote "Whatever doesn't kill me... had better start running."Challenge: 1, 2 Link to comment
Snow Posted April 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 Gotcha. I must've heard of a satellite school, then. A friend of mine was looking into Krav, and then there was some video series where TKM featured pretty prominently. Very nice! TKM's videos are pretty sweet (of course, I'm in no way biased ). If your friend is still interested, they were running a groupon pretty recently for a month of classes for $49. Not sure if it's still on, but might be worth checking out. They've also recently started letting people do single 'drop in' classes, $10 for the first one and $20 for each one after. Quote "Whatever doesn't kill me... had better start running."Challenge: 1, 2 Link to comment
miss america Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 That video is so badass I'm losing my mind!! Excited to follow as you conquer Level 2! 1 Quote level 4 medusa monkSTR 6 | STA 5 | DEX 5 | CON 6 | WIS 6 | CHA 4challenges: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 (current)myfitnesspal | fitbit | habitrpgsic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc Link to comment
NikkiB Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 Way to go! Subbing now. My first formal exposure to martial arts was Krav Maga at USMA, where the women were required to achieve level 1 as an *academic* course during our freshman year (while the men took boxing or wrestling). Our Disturbers were special forces guys who thought teaching this course would be fun, and our test was what they called the Mean Streets -- basically, a haunted-house-style maze in the field house. Good times. The drill sergeants' *favorite* thing to do the next summer was to put a tiny female in the sawdust pit with a boxer or wrestler. Haven't done much of it in a while now, but so glad you're back at it and excited to cheer you on! Quote Link to comment
Kishi Posted April 18, 2015 Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 Push ups can be rather upsetting. But that's why you do them. So do them until they upset you no longer. Good luck with the review! Quote Work like a farmer, train like an athlete, fight like a soldier. 2 Tim. 2:3-6 BATTLE! Link to comment
Mistr Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 Hi Snow, welcome back to the Rebellion! Nice set of badass goals. I know what you mean about grad school messing up your work/life balance. That seems to be the point of grad school. How far are you along in your program? Quote Level 68 Viking paladin My current challenge Battle log Link to comment
Snow Posted April 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2015 That video is so badass I'm losing my mind!! Excited to follow as you conquer Level 2!Thanks miss america! We had a blast making it. I couldn't believe my eyes when it got to over a million views. :-D Way to go! Subbing now. My first formal exposure to martial arts was Krav Maga at USMA, where the women were required to achieve level 1 as an *academic* course during our freshman year (while the men took boxing or wrestling). Our Disturbers were special forces guys who thought teaching this course would be fun, and our test was what they called the Mean Streets -- basically, a haunted-house-style maze in the field house. Good times. The drill sergeants' *favorite* thing to do the next summer was to put a tiny female in the sawdust pit with a boxer or wrestler. Haven't done much of it in a while now, but so glad you're back at it and excited to cheer you on!The Mean Streets sounds awesome and like something right up my instructors' alley. I'm willing to bet that the female kravists could give the boys a run for their money...;-) Hi Snow, welcome back to the Rebellion! Nice set of badass goals. I know what you mean about grad school messing up your work/life balance. That seems to be the point of grad school. How far are you along in your program?Thanks Mistr! I'm finishing up my 4th year and it's looking like I have two more to go. 6 years isn't terrible for a PhD though, so as long as I emerge with my sanity intact, I can't really complain. Quote "Whatever doesn't kill me... had better start running."Challenge: 1, 2 Link to comment
Snow Posted April 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2015 Week 1 Update! Goal #1: Technique, Attend Krav classes 3x a week0/3 Goal #2: Strength, 100 pushups, situps, or burpees every day5/7 for 300 pushups and 200 situps total Goal #3: Endurance, Run 4 miles a week4.5/4 While I met my running goal and had a pretty solid showing at my strength goal, unfortunately going to Krav wasn't in the cards this past week. I hurt my shoulder being stupid at the conference and had to skip the review this past Saturday. Fortunately, my shoulder seems to be on the mend, so I'm going to give it one more day to rest and be back at Krav on Tuesday. 1 Quote "Whatever doesn't kill me... had better start running."Challenge: 1, 2 Link to comment
Mistr Posted April 20, 2015 Report Share Posted April 20, 2015 Injuries suck. I hope your shoulder is feeling better. Shoulder injuries can be slow to heal - make sure you really are better so you don't strain it again. Quote Level 68 Viking paladin My current challenge Battle log Link to comment
The Shogun Posted April 21, 2015 Report Share Posted April 21, 2015 A word to the wise, sometimes what matters most during a belt test is the attitude. During a black belt test, the black belt only goes to pick what he knows it's his. Fortunately, your progress in this challenge along with the support of the rebellion will get you there. I hope your shoulder is better. Take care of yourself. Quote One shot, one life. Link to comment
miss america Posted May 1, 2015 Report Share Posted May 1, 2015 Hey! How did Week 2 go? Did you make it back to Krav or are you letting the shoulder heal? Quote level 4 medusa monkSTR 6 | STA 5 | DEX 5 | CON 6 | WIS 6 | CHA 4challenges: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 (current)myfitnesspal | fitbit | habitrpgsic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc Link to comment
Snow Posted May 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2015 Hey! How did Week 2 go? Did you make it back to Krav or are you letting the shoulder heal? Thanks for checking in, posting totally slipped my mind! Week 2 Update! Goal #1: Technique, Attend Krav classes 3x a week0/3 ---I had to let the shoulder heal; it had gotten to the point where I couldn't pick up my 9lb cat, so I knew that I had to back off. Goal #2: Strength, 100 pushups, situps, or burpees every day3/7--- Definitely need to kick myself into gear over this one. Goal #3: Endurance, Run 4 miles a week5/4--- Possibly the only goal I will annihilate during this challenge. 2 Quote "Whatever doesn't kill me... had better start running."Challenge: 1, 2 Link to comment
Snow Posted May 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2015 Tuesday First night back at krav since the shoulder injury! Half of the class was slow fighting and I'm happy to say that I haven't totally lost my skills. One particular moment stands out: I was square to my opponent, feinted with a right-round house (so he lifted his left leg to shin check) then I turned it into a rising front kick to the groin. When slow fighting in our gym, if you take a hit that would have been substantial, you are supposed to 'respect' the technique (in this case, he doubled up and I proceeded to finish the fight with a particularly nice advancing elbow #6). My partner was loved the round-feint to rising-front combo and my instructor thought it was awesome! Level 3, I'm coming for you! 2 Quote "Whatever doesn't kill me... had better start running."Challenge: 1, 2 Link to comment
Kishi Posted May 1, 2015 Report Share Posted May 1, 2015 Nice! Sounds like your shoulder's doing better and you're able to work with it some. This is good news. 1 Quote Work like a farmer, train like an athlete, fight like a soldier. 2 Tim. 2:3-6 BATTLE! Link to comment
Snow Posted May 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2015 Friday Finally getting into the swing of things! Krav tonight was a blast; we worked on redirecting kicks while compromised (i.e. what do to if you've taken a hard kick or have an injury). We then combined a few drills for an epic finale drill: escape from a choke with eyes closed, fend off a second attacker, then block a kick coming from a third attacker. Felt like a complete bad-ass. Also, 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, and 100 burpees. Burpee side-quest annihilated. :-) Quote "Whatever doesn't kill me... had better start running."Challenge: 1, 2 Link to comment
Snow Posted May 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2015 Nice! Sounds like your shoulder's doing better and you're able to work with it some. This is good news. Thanks Kishi! Quote "Whatever doesn't kill me... had better start running."Challenge: 1, 2 Link to comment
Kishi Posted May 2, 2015 Report Share Posted May 2, 2015 Wow, sounds hardcore. Good work. I'd totally feel badass if I did something like that too. Quote Work like a farmer, train like an athlete, fight like a soldier. 2 Tim. 2:3-6 BATTLE! Link to comment
miss america Posted May 3, 2015 Report Share Posted May 3, 2015 Awesome! Sounds like you gave yourself the right amount of time to recover—and back to kicking butt in no time 1 Quote level 4 medusa monkSTR 6 | STA 5 | DEX 5 | CON 6 | WIS 6 | CHA 4challenges: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 (current)myfitnesspal | fitbit | habitrpgsic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc Link to comment
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