Wednesday, 22 October 2008

Just get it done

as probably the busiest man in the world ;o) I have to fit in quick workouts where I can and because the main focus of my training is not just body conditioning or fat loss or whatever, the main focus is Tae Kwon-Do so my training is gear around that. As it happens my training at the moment is about general conditioning to improve my posture, grow some muscle and fire those dormant ones. So I have to fit all this in with my quest for full splits, TKD 3rd Degree and improve my kicking.

So anyway I didn't have much time so I managed to do a good bodyweight session using FlexStraps hung from my chinup bar:

1) Wide grip horizontal rows x 10
2) Bridge n Curl x 10
3) Narrow grip horiz rows x 10
4) Hammer Press x 10
5) Press ups on the bloomin' straps x 10
6) Dive Bomber Pressups x 10

Squeezed in 1 round of this then it was kids bath time then squeezed in another round after bathtime and before dinner. Well, it's not perfect but it is certainly better than doing nothing at all, yeah yeah - ya feel me?

Ahem, so as far as the splits goes. My front splits progress is hampered by rock solid hip flexors and only slightly moving hams. I don't think there is enough stretching technique advice in Paul's material so I am gonna revert to the breathing methods I used 10 years ago or so where I make real quick progress. I'll still keep the routines the same and follow the conditioning for legs and kicking.

I'll keep you updated, innnit

Cheery bye

James

2 comments:

David said...

I like your challenge, I've set my challenge the same. I'd like to get close before I'm asked to go for my 3rd degree in TKD in the next yr or so.
How much improvement are you getting? I've known about kurtz method for yrs but couldn't make improvement though I never followed it as exactly as maybe I should have.
I think I have core issues that ELC addresses better though.
I'm not sure how deep stretches will improve my stretch fast compared to isometric stretches.
I'm just starting to getting a routine that works will be interesting.

David

James Davis said...

Hi David, thanks for the comment.

Improvement has not been rapid, I was quite flexible anyway but I needed to get better for full splits. I don' think there is enough in Paul Zaichik's material that goes in to actual stretching technique (like stretch, ease off, breath, etc etc etc) but I think the rountines are good and it as resparked my interest in stretching, which is always a good thing.

Improvement is coming now but I can't honestly say that is because of Paul's magic, I think it is just a case of stretching.

ELC for me, I like although I haven't done loads of it as I was concentrating on basic condition like single led deadlifts and basic squats, wide squats. However, the best ELC for me has been leg circles with the bands.

I prefer deep stretches (i.e. holding a stretch and learning to relax the muscle) rather than isometric but I value isometric highly and do it when I am feeling that I can cope.

I am struggling with creating the perfect rountine to fit in with all the other training required and family and work and etc etc etc.

Do you have a blog for your challenge? Are you on the PZ forums?

Cheers,

James.