Fitness & Martial Arts Thread

[Shime Waza]

I have my black belt grading a week on Saturday. It's going to be great fun. I should've got it last December but my knee was bad and I had to focus on Eskrima and stick work.

[Dowbocop]

I have my black belt grading a week on Saturday. It's going to be great fun. I should've got it last December but my knee was bad and I had to focus on Eskrima and stick work.

Good luck Shime! What art is it in?

[Shime Waza]

Cheers Dowbo. It's basically in the Cross training syllabus.

I will have to spar in boxing, Muay Thai, clinch and takedowns (all combined as one too) and on the ground in BJJ no gi with no strikes allowed.

It's going to be an epic session though.

[Dowbocop]

Cheers Dowbo. It's basically in the Cross training syllabus.

I will have to spar in boxing, Muay Thai, clinch and takedowns (all combined as one too) and on the ground in BJJ no gi with no strikes allowed.

It's going to be an epic session though.

Sounds like it! That's part of the achievement, getting an almighty beasting off your instructors and coming through intact.

[jamcc]

Beans, mate! Can't go wrong with beans. 20 grams of protein in one tin!

Remember to get the reduced sugar and salt ones! The standard tins have a surprising amount of sugar and salt.

[Grumpy David]

I achieved a new PB for deadlifting. 115KG! An increase of 5KG in two days!

[TravelJug]

I achieved a new PB for deadlifting. 115KG! An increase of 5KG in two days!

Congrats! More in the tank then? What was it? Your 1 REP MAX?

GG lad. GG.

P-P-P-PUMP IT UP!

[Grumpy David]

I achieved a new PB for deadlifting. 115KG! An increase of 5KG in two days!

Congrats! More in the tank then? What was it? Your 1 REP MAX?

GG lad. GG.

P-P-P-PUMP IT UP!

Yeah 1 Rep Max. After doing 100KGx2, 110KGx2, my technique and grip was actually better then when I went for my previous PB on Monday. I'm hoping to get to 1.5xbodyweight for Friday, or if not, sometime next week when I go with a friend to his gym (100m sprinter, does 140KG sumo deadlifts and weighs less then me) which has much better free weights available.

[Loire]

I'm forcing myself to eat to make my stomach bigger !

[TravelJug]

I'm forcing myself to eat to make my stomach bigger !

Why? It doesn't take too long.

[Loire]

How do you mean? I heard I just need to over eat to increase capacity.

Edit: I originally meant to over eat.

[TravelJug]

How do you mean? I heard I just need to over eat to increase capacity.

Edit: I originally meant to over eat.

Why do you want to make it bigger? That's what I mean. I was jsut saying it doesn't take too long. It grows and shrinks quite quickly actually.

[Loire]

Just because I have a small stomach to be honest. I'd like to make sure it can accomodate a bit more food! I always notice it when I look at myself in the mirror. Would it make my abs more apparant?

[ladybayred]

Joined my local gym just over a week ago, with the intention of losing the beer gut I've developed over 2 years at uni. Currently I'm about 5'8" and weigh about 13.5 stone.
I play football twice a week (1 hour of 5-a-side and 1 full 11-a-side match) and would very much like to be able this season to run up and down all match from fullback position (unlike last season). When i joined up the instructor gave me a routine to be carried out roughly 4 times per week of:
Warm up:
5 mins on a bike
10 mins on interval setting on a x-trainer
Main Session:
12 x 3 :press ups
12 x 3 :assisted pull ups
12 x 3 :lunges (for each leg)
12 x 3 :Calf stretch type things done on a ledge
3 x hold for 1 minute : Forget there name, similar position to a press up except with bent arms, instead of pushing up and down i have to hold my body steady (the aim is to exercise my abs I believe).
12 x 3 : Stretches, basically lying on my front and arching my back upwards, with my arms held at the bottom of my spine.
10 Mins : I don't like running machines (I blame it on being flat footed) so I have been told to use a slightly different form of X- trainer which after I start moving in circles begins to mimic a running motion (also on a much higher resistance then normal).
Warm down:
5 mins : walk on running machine
Stretches.

Been 4 times so far, with the last couple of times adding 5 minutes each onto the 3 cardio workouts. Not really a fan of the routine or at least the 2 press up like exercises (I don't think i do them right + my arms are really very weak).
With Leeds festival this weekend and some Uni re-sits next week i can't see me going for the next 1.5 weeks, but will hopefully get a routine going there-after.
Any advice as to any other ways or machines i can use to improve my abs and arms without doing the press up like things? Am i getting enough cardio in to really lose some weight/ improve my cardio?
Also can anybody recommend me some good (cheap) trainers to use, as I am currently training in some old battered k-swiss tennis shoes?

[Dowbocop]

Joined my local gym just over a week ago, with the intention of losing the beer gut I've developed over 2 years at uni. Currently I'm about 5'8" and weigh about 13.5 stone.
I play football twice a week (1 hour of 5-a-side and 1 full 11-a-side match) and would very much like to be able this season to run up and down all match from fullback position (unlike last season). When i joined up the instructor gave me a routine to be carried out roughly 4 times per week of:
Warm up:
5 mins on a bike
10 mins on interval setting on a x-trainer
Main Session:
12 x 3 :press ups
12 x 3 :assisted pull ups
12 x 3 :lunges (for each leg)
12 x 3 :Calf stretch type things done on a ledge
3 x hold for 1 minute : Forget there name, similar position to a press up except with bent arms, instead of pushing up and down i have to hold my body steady (the aim is to exercise my abs I believe).
12 x 3 : Stretches, basically lying on my front and arching my back upwards, with my arms held at the bottom of my spine.
10 Mins : I don't like running machines (I blame it on being flat footed) so I have been told to use a slightly different form of X- trainer which after I start moving in circles begins to mimic a running motion (also on a much higher resistance then normal).
Warm down:
5 mins : walk on running machine
Stretches.

Been 4 times so far, with the last couple of times adding 5 minutes each onto the 3 cardio workouts. Not really a fan of the routine or at least the 2 press up like exercises (I don't think i do them right + my arms are really very weak).
With Leeds festival this weekend and some Uni re-sits next week i can't see me going for the next 1.5 weeks, but will hopefully get a routine going there-after.
Any advice as to any other ways or machines i can use to improve my abs and arms without doing the press up like things? Am i getting enough cardio in to really lose some weight/ improve my cardio?
Also can anybody recommend me some good (cheap) trainers to use, as I am currently training in some old battered k-swiss tennis shoes?

To be honest I don't think you need particularly special trainers for what you're doing, there's not much impact on your joints, so I wouldn't say you particularly needed running shoes. If you want cheap trainers though go to your local Sports Direct, they have them on the cheap, and if you're just wearing them in the gym you don't need the expensive ones anyway.

[TravelJug]

Just because I have a small stomach to be honest. I'd like to make sure it can accomodate a bit more food! I always notice it when I look at myself in the mirror. Would it make my abs more apparant?

I don't think so, but I can't be sure. I doubt it. The only thing that'll make your abs show is less body fat I guess...

Like I said, I dunno for sure. May as well try eh?

[TornadoShaun]

I'm working on my abs the most at the moment - I find the most effective abs exercise is the "Bicycle Crunch"..

lie on your back, hands behind your head, knees bent and in the air lifted off the ground. Then crunch your right elbow to just past where your left knee is held and hold - before releasing and doing the same the other way (left elbow towards right knee).

Anyway for anyone in the know..

I do quite a bit of exercise/workout, various things and I do them every day but I have never changed my diet. I'd just like to know if protein shakes are actually worth taking - I assume they are best used after a workout? Also - do you just mix them with hot water or what...?? i.e. are they quick to rustle up?

[TravelJug]

Anyway for anyone in the know..

I do quite a bit of exercise/workout, various things and I do them every day but I have never changed my diet. I'd just like to know if protein shakes are actually worth taking - I assume they are best used after a workout? Also - do you just mix them with hot water or what...?? i.e. are they quick to rustle up?

Well. Protein shakes are first and foremost suppliments. As in, they suppliment your diet, so if the rest of it is good then theres no harm adding one in post work out PWO. Quick? Put powder in a shake, add cold water, shake. Boom boom. Job done.

[JNR]

Anyway for anyone in the know..

I do quite a bit of exercise/workout, various things and I do them every day but I have never changed my diet. I'd just like to know if protein shakes are actually worth taking - I assume they are best used after a workout? Also - do you just mix them with hot water or what...?? i.e. are they quick to rustle up?

Well. Protein shakes are first and foremost suppliments. As in, they suppliment your diet, so if the rest of it is good then theres no harm adding one in post work out PWO. Quick? Put powder in a shake, add cold water, shake. Boom boom. Job done.

My advice is not to bother. Providing you are young (under 40) don't have any muscle complaints and have a balanced, sensible diet, I just don't think they are needed. Unless you are really hammering the weights at your gym just maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle and you'll be fine. I know it's boring advice, because everyone is after a wonder pill and potion these days, but the simple things really are the most effective. Now for some anecdotal evidence. I don't lead the healthiest of lifestyles, in fact it's horrendous at times, but I eat a good, balanced diet. I eat my greens and my fruit. I eat breakfast. I go to the gym quite a lot, I run, I play football, and I manage without whey protein shakes at £30 a tub. In fact, I manage without any supplements whatsoever and haven't had any illness or injury in years.

Forget the magic pills. Forget the magic potions. Just eat a balanced diet with fruit and vegetables at regular times during each day. Don't skip breakfast.

[jamcc]

Now that Shime seems to be about, I'd like to get your opinion on treadmills, please! Basically my mum has agreed to go halves on one. I'm willing to spend about £300 of my own money, leaving us with about a £600 budget. Can we get a half decent one for that? I really want one as I know if we had on in our house I would use it almost every day. No motivational problems at all.

The guys on here said running on treadmills only is not a good idea, but the roads around me are quite dangerous (just outside of town, so no pavements and high speed vehicles). Also I really don't like running in parks and hate gyms (do all my exercise at home). I guess I could try to find a field nearby or a goos running route outin the country somewhere?