The New Fitness & Martial Arts Thread

[Rocsteady]

My approach in boxing was to walk up and hit them as hard as possible on their first lesson. If they’re still breathing by the end you have failed as a man and can never enter the gym again.

[Brerlappin]

My approach in boxing was to walk up and hit them as hard as possible on their first lesson. If they’re still breathing by the end you have failed as a man and can never enter the gym again.

Got it. Bitch is getting strawberry floating murked next time i see her

[Rocsteady]

I do feel you though, can be awkward as to strike that balance.

[Return_of_the_STAR]

One thing that's always puzzled me at the gym is that i never see anyone one stretch before or after a work out. At school everyone stretched. When i have my Officer Safety Training at work we do a short jog around the sports hall and then do various stretches before doing the main physical work. Has the advice changed or do people just genuinely not bother with stretching at the gym?

I've always had issues with shin splints whenever I've not stretched and had to run so for me it's very important.

[Oblomov Boblomov]

One thing that's always puzzled me at the gym is that i never see anyone one stretch before or after a work out. At school everyone stretched. When i have my Officer Safety Training at work we do a short jog around the sports hall and then do various stretches before doing the main physical work. Has the advice changed or do people just genuinely not bother with stretching at the gym?

I've always had issues with shin splints whenever I've not stretched and had to run so for me it's very important.

I'll always stretch before cardio of any sort.

With weightlifting, warm-up sets do the job of getting your muscles prepared and in fact I believe stretching is, if anything, counterproductive.

[Brerlappin]

Hows everyone getting on? Its tough training this time of year i find. Ive been sick almost a full month now. Started with a head cold, that then went on to my chest, and now 3 weeks after that im still coughing and can feel a serious tightness or something in my chest. Its the same chest issues i get annually but seems worse than usual this time as it just wont strawberry float off. Im so glad i started doing stronglifts tho cause my usual gym routine involved a lot of HIIT which i just cant do even a little bit now, but i can do weights more or less okay. Went back to the gym last week after 2 weeks off. I was going mad without the gym. Cant do BJJ tho as its so cardio intensive it would kill me. It sucks cause i had been off BJJ for ages and only jsut gotten back to it, and now ive been out of it for another month.

[Corazon de Leon]

I'm just too busy at the moment, and have been for nearly a year. Up at 7.30 to get ready, out for 8.20, back in at 8.30pm at which point I usually have marking or preparation for a future class, or revision of my thesis, or writing an article or book review or whatever.

It's killing me, I really miss regular gym work and I really really miss the weight room.

Semester ends this week though and my viva is coming up so all going well I'mma have a fuckton of free time starting in December.

[Mini E]

Things are going well for me at the moment. Had some knee problems after my last half-marathon so I've barely been able to run but other training going well. Just finishing week 6 of my current 10 week programme. Been up at 04:10 five times a week for the past six weeks to get the gym in before work. Have started doing some evening sessions too. One of our staff members is a former Commonwealth Games medallist in Judo and he's putting a more resistance-based training programme together for me.

The past couple of weeks I've been doing eight or nine sessions per week which is definitely going to lead to overtraining if I'm not careful . Morning is cardio (stair climb the equivalent of Big Ben at 90 steps per minute and then a 40 minute cycle time-trial or a run), and evening is more resistance. Did a 500 rep challenge last night involving 100 press-ups, 100 leg raises from a pull up position, 100 lunges, 100 curl and press and 100 burpees.

I did not enjoy this. Body mass down to 75kg (still trying to get down slightly more from my original 103.something). When I get closer to 71-72ish, my plan is to maintain that weight or add-on slightly to increase lean muscle mass. Carbohydrate intake has definitely increased since starting two sessions per day for three of my five training days... I feel so much better for it all though. Mood is definitely on the up.

[That's not a growth]

My time line recently had been Cora, brer then mini e - in that I was too busy, then was ill but now it's going well. I wake up early tues and Thurs and go to the gym before work, and go on a Sunday, and run Wednesdays morning's. Looking to start my longer runs on Saturday mornings too this week. I want to end the year running, as it were, ready for the new year and then keep training up until spring when I'll have some races again. Work was really getting in the way but now I go in morning's it feels like I'm more in control of my own life again.

[Brerlappin]

Damn sounds like you guys are killing it. That 500 rep challenge sounds intense mini e
Hopefully you get more time for gymming coon Cora! Ill be doing a bit of weights tonight, and maybe hit the steam room for a bit to see if the hot air will help my chest at all.

[Corazon de Leon]

Cheers Brer. It's been over a year since I regularly gunned it and I've flatbed up something rotten. Sit in and about the 14.5-15 stone mark(which is well, well underneath the 19.5 stone I topped out at in 2013) but feel unfit and minging, so I'm hoping that once the uni stuff is out of the way and my working hours change away from back shifts and twelve hour shifts that my diet will improve again and I can get into a regular rhythm of exercise.

[Rocsteady]

I haven't been great lately thanks to multiple colds and a new job which is taking up too much of my time, coupled with the only nearby gym closing at 9 on weekdays and 3.30 on sat/sun :l

Still managing to go twice a week and kept my diet on point so not disastrous but it's not been a great few months gym wise.

[abcd]

Exercise is going very well at the moment.

I'm up at 6.45 every day on my bike turbo trainer (I'm doing a 60 minute interval program on Zwift. This is training for when I go to the Alps next August. Having climbed Mont Ventoux in September, it's obvious that I need much more climbing stamina)

Then I'm at the gym at lunch time. I aim for minimum of 3 sessions a week.

I'm currently aiming to do three types of calisthenic skills. These are;

Muscle Ups
Pistol Squats
V-sit

Progress is going well. I hope to do at least 5 unaided muscle ups in the next couple of months. Pistol squats should be nailed in January, and a 30 second V-Sit should be done in the next few weeks.

Having just read about the 500 rep challenge, I think I could probably give that a go.

[Grumpy David]

Been keeping the gym 3x a week routine sessions regularly but have had a few big alcohol nights followed by pigging out that means weight hasn't changed (maybe a kilo lighter than at the start of the year). Pretty content with the weight atm anyway, better at pull ups, benching, cardio than I was at the start of the year, I am more curious about my bodyfat percentage but can't be bothered with the cost of a DEXA scan.

Did an MMA class on Monday for 90 minutes. Lengthy warm up, a MMA style circuit (punching bags, kicking bags, ground and pound bags, skipping rope etc) that had me sweating like that big hairy man in the basketball match in the film Along Came Polly, not a huge amount of training on techniques such as practising punches, kicks etc which was a little disappointing, but I've been fairly sore all week (in a good way). Going to also try a Brazilian Jujitsu class next week too - I did Japanese Jujitsu about 10/11 years ago for about a year and a half and I'm looking forward to it more than I was for the MMA class.

I've been spoiled by EasyGym though, it's £21.99 a month and by far the best equipped gym in my part of London. 12 cages, 16 barbells, great location. By contrast, these MMA and BJJ places are at least £60 a month so just feels pricey by comparison.

[Brerlappin]

Been keeping the gym 3x a week routine sessions regularly but have had a few big alcohol nights followed by pigging out that means weight hasn't changed (maybe a kilo lighter than at the start of the year). Pretty content with the weight atm anyway, better at pull ups, benching, cardio than I was at the start of the year, I am more curious about my bodyfat percentage but can't be bothered with the cost of a DEXA scan.

Did an MMA class on Monday for 90 minutes. Lengthy warm up, a MMA style circuit (punching bags, kicking bags, ground and pound bags, skipping rope etc) that had me sweating like that big hairy man in the basketball match in the film Along Came Polly, not a huge amount of training on techniques such as practising punches, kicks etc which was a little disappointing, but I've been fairly sore all week (in a good way). Going to also try a Brazilian Jujitsu class next week too - I did Japanese Jujitsu about 10/11 years ago for about a year and a half and I'm looking forward to it more than I was for the MMA class.

I've been spoiled by EasyGym though, it's £21.99 a month and by far the best equipped gym in my part of London. 12 cages, 16 barbells, great location. By contrast, these MMA and BJJ places are at least £60 a month so just feels pricey by comparison.

Have fun with BJJ.. Just a word of warning, dont drink the night beforehand or eat anything spicy/heavy beforehand. Nothing worse than feeling like you need a gooseberry fool and then someone gets you in knee-on-belly position..

BJJ & MMA gyms are expensive alright tho. I left my first gym mostly cause i couldnt afford it anymore at 110 euro per month. BJJ is very popular right now so gyms can charge what they like. Im lucky i found a super cheap one that only charged 50 euro per month, and id say that literally the cheapest gym in the entire City, easily.

Made it to the gym last night, did my stronglifts session, and ended with a 2k rowing session. Chest was on fire at the end of it

[BTB]

The change in weather/clocks has made my plan of morning gym sessions before work a struggle... But on the plus side I realised with my work gym pass I can use several gyms in London, not just the one near the office. So I can now go to one nearer my flat so I can go at weekends easily again now.

Squatted 80kg for (I think) the first time (3x5), felt like I could do more which was good as well. Bench/deadlift hasn't progressed much. But I usually find if one out of 'the big 3' is progressing the others don't.

Ideally I need to get back into the routine of a bit of cardio/core at the end of my sessions as well.

[Knoyleo]

I've had to knock the Muay Thai on the head. I seem to be getting back from work later and later at the moment, and it's too expensive to justify if I'm only going on Saturdays.

Might get back to my pay as you go bouldering gym in the mean time.

[Corazon de Leon]

Things are going well for me at the moment. Had some knee problems after my last half-marathon so I've barely been able to run but other training going well. Just finishing week 6 of my current 10 week programme. Been up at 04:10 five times a week for the past six weeks to get the gym in before work. Have started doing some evening sessions too. One of our staff members is a former Commonwealth Games medallist in Judo and he's putting a more resistance-based training programme together for me.

The past couple of weeks I've been doing eight or nine sessions per week which is definitely going to lead to overtraining if I'm not careful . Morning is cardio (stair climb the equivalent of Big Ben at 90 steps per minute and then a 40 minute cycle time-trial or a run), and evening is more resistance. Did a 500 rep challenge last night involving 100 press-ups, 100 leg raises from a pull up position, 100 lunges, 100 curl and press and 100 burpees.

I did not enjoy this. Body mass down to 75kg (still trying to get down slightly more from my original 103.something). When I get closer to 71-72ish, my plan is to maintain that weight or add-on slightly to increase lean muscle mass. Carbohydrate intake has definitely increased since starting two sessions per day for three of my five training days... I feel so much better for it all though. Mood is definitely on the up.

I read that as stair climbing the equivalent of Ben Nevis there and was seriously impressed. The fact you're only doing Big Ben though...disappointed mate. It's just not good enough.

[Grumpy David]

Been keeping the gym 3x a week routine sessions regularly but have had a few big alcohol nights followed by pigging out that means weight hasn't changed (maybe a kilo lighter than at the start of the year). Pretty content with the weight atm anyway, better at pull ups, benching, cardio than I was at the start of the year, I am more curious about my bodyfat percentage but can't be bothered with the cost of a DEXA scan.

Did an MMA class on Monday for 90 minutes. Lengthy warm up, a MMA style circuit (punching bags, kicking bags, ground and pound bags, skipping rope etc) that had me sweating like that big hairy man in the basketball match in the film Along Came Polly, not a huge amount of training on techniques such as practising punches, kicks etc which was a little disappointing, but I've been fairly sore all week (in a good way). Going to also try a Brazilian Jujitsu class next week too - I did Japanese Jujitsu about 10/11 years ago for about a year and a half and I'm looking forward to it more than I was for the MMA class.

I've been spoiled by EasyGym though, it's £21.99 a month and by far the best equipped gym in my part of London. 12 cages, 16 barbells, great location. By contrast, these MMA and BJJ places are at least £60 a month so just feels pricey by comparison.

Have fun with BJJ.. Just a word of warning, dont drink the night beforehand or eat anything spicy/heavy beforehand. Nothing worse than feeling like you need a gooseberry fool and then someone gets you in knee-on-belly position..

BJJ & MMA gyms are expensive alright tho. I left my first gym mostly cause i couldnt afford it anymore at 110 euro per month. BJJ is very popular right now so gyms can charge what they like. Im lucky i found a super cheap one that only charged 50 euro per month, and id say that literally the cheapest gym in the entire City, easily.

Made it to the gym last night, did my stronglifts session, and ended with a 2k rowing session. Chest was on fire at the end of it

Hah, there's a reason why I insist on a PWP before exercise (pre workout poop) and its to avoid situations like that!

€110 a month is mental money! Do you get Mcgregor's coaches instructing you for that kind of money?

BJJ booked for Friday night. Looking forward to it!

[Mini E]

Good to see everyone seems to be on it at the moment! Cora - it’ll come back - I can massively empathise with PhD being a dick to lifestyle.

Did the 500 rep challenge for the second time a couple of nights ago and our time went down from 34 mins to 26. Amazing how much your body improves just through knowing what to expect

Can’t wait for the weekend. My body is sore - just another 30 mins this morning and one full workout tomorrow morning to survive. Posting during cardio like a distracted person