You've gotta have goals. As this is titled "Getting back in shape", then my first set of goals will be getting back to levels I was at before.
Weight training
I can't remember all of what I could lift before, but here's what I can remember.
Bench press:-
I'm not sure what I can lift at the moment, I've only been weight training again for 3 weeks, the last thing I want to do is push myself too soon and get an injury. In the past I could lift 90Kg. So getting back to this weight is my aim.
Shoulder press:
At my peak I could shoulder press two 20KG dumb bells for 3 sets of 10 reps. At the moment I can manage about 1 set before I have to drop weight.
Motivation
I'm not getting any younger and sorting myself out now will be much easier than doing it later. Also as I mentioned before my girlfriend is in perfect shape. It's only fair that I offer her the same level of fitness that she offers me.
Being in top shape sets a good example to the students at the club, also going from being quite out of shape now to being ripped again, should help motivate those that are training to loose weight. Sticking any new tournament titles in the local papers would also help promote the club and generate interest.
+ all the obvious reasons such as health, etc...
Activities
Kickboxing twice a week
Not a lot of choice here being that I run the club :) Kickboxing is a great all round work out, and also come in very handy when you find yourself in a scrape. Doing more circuits in the class will help to loose fat.
Judo once a week.
Fills in most of the side of martials arts that I don't already know (Kickboxing is striking, Judo is grappling). After all a striking style isn't going to help you much if a fight goes to the ground.
Weights twice a week.
The only real way to improve muscle strength.
Running twice a week.
The two main forms of cardio are running and cycling. I've never like saddle sore myself.
Swimming once a week.
Great for improving lung capacity, all round muscle stamina, and also strength as the water provides resistance.
Let's start at the beginning and figure out what went wrong and why I lost shape in the first place.
Soon after winning my last title I bought my first house of which the
term "fixer upper" is far to much of an understatement.
I also started my
kickboxing club in Bristol. So now I have much less spare time on my
hands than I used to have. Also the time spent at my club is much more
teaching than training, so where as before I spent around 4-5 hours a
week kickboxing training, I was now spending around 6 hours a week
kickboxing teaching, not to mention all the extra time spent doing
admin and promotions for the club.
Welcome to my first blog.
3 years ago today I was in the best shape of my life which cumulated to me winning the World United Martial Arts Federation tournament title of National Full Contact champion.
3 years later and I'm in bad shape. I haven't competed much at all in the last 3 years, and although I won a tournament earlier this year, when I look down at my stomach it feels like quite a hollow victory.
I'm writing this blog to document getting back into shape, how I'm doing it and to keep a log of my progress.
