Home training.

This week has been a real step up in my training commitments, thanx to the 'Tick Tock' posting and probably the most impactful motivational speech Master Brinker has ever made to the Sihing Class. I think it was video taped, which is good because I think alot of other students besides sihings could get alot out of it. I will be thinking of this speech when I consider my assignment on intensity. In the meantime, my most immediate response to the speech was to readjust my priorities, make some sacrifices, and sign up for the Tiger Challenge on May 2. The second thing I did was step up my home training plans for next week and enlist my family as helpers; Janet to time a number of things, and Bert to hold the board each evening for one board break (he already has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, so he knows how to hold the board properly)

Master Brinker has repeatedly calculated the number of hours we have left of home training, based on the assumption that we do 2.5 hours per week. After reviewing my training last week, I found that I am actually doing almost 1 hour a day. This is encouraging.

To review:

Last week's totals :

Pushups = 1050
Sit ups = 700
Spinning flying inside outside cyclone kick = 170
Cross stepping kicks = 280
Round house kicks = 700
Spinning back kicks = 350
Lao Gar = 19

My highests scores on fitness requirements this week :

Timed situps = 51 (Power rating = 9)
Push ups = 35 (Power rating = 10)
Flexed Arm Hang = 60 sec (Power rating = 10)
Pull ups = 3 (Power rating = 4)
Perpendicular Splits = 160 decgrees (Power rating = 6)
Timed round house with Sifu Laurie judging = 38 right and 41 left (Power rating = 5)
Timed spinning kick in Shaolin class = 18 right and 21 left (Power rating = 6)
Horse stance = 2.5 mins (Power rating = 5)
2 k run did not do because of injury to right heel.
Timed thrust punch =237 (Power rating = 10)
Time lateral jump = 41 (Power rating = 1)

Of note
My spinning flying inside outside cyclone kick is getting really good!

I asked Sifu Freitag to critique my Lao Gar at open training this week again: last week she said 'pretty good' and this week she said 'pretty darn good'. So I figure that I'm progressing here too.

My lateral agility jump is alarmingly dismal. I did this 5 times this week with my lowest score being 36 and my highest score being 41. I asked sifu laurie to help me on this one, and she will be including it in the Shaolin fitness program over the next few months. In the meantime, tips from my fellow students and the sifu's need to be solicited.

Next week's home training is a little more intense given 'Tick Tock', The Speech, progress made from last week's training, feedback at open training and the Power Rating Results.

I will continue with the kicks I worked on last week and add the flying front kick while reducing the number of flying cyclones.

I had a discussion with Sifu Prince about 'Functional Training' and he mentioned the benefits of doing the front thrust kick from horse stance. I thought I'd add that in along with the hidden leg technique.

I've GOT to work on the lateral agility jump and the horse stance; and I have added in the power of the instep turning 360 degrees as I know that needs work too.

Surprisingly, the perpendicular splits needs work; the kwoon stretching challenge continues to the end of the month and my goal is to get to at least a 7.

Having signed up for the Tiger Challenge, Lao gar needs one more week of work, and I will start on the board break each night for my right leg this week (Bert is only prepared to hold the board for one break each night as he would like to get to bed at a decent hour)

To summarize, I find that I am alternating rapidly betweens feelings of panic, and a fragile sense of confidence.