Week 29 - Training the Brain

The Numbers (as of 06/21/2014):

		Pushups	Crunches	Kata	Sparring	Journey (Swim)	Journey (Bike)	Journey (Run)	Kindness	Journal	Video
Annual Totals:		27,600	27,600	562	270	0	677	598	566	28	1
						1,275
Annual Targets:		50000	50000	1000	1000	2400			1000	52	12
Percent of Annual Targets Complete		55.20%	55.20%	56.20%	27.00%	53.11%			56.60%	53.85%	8.33%

On the right track with the numbers. It was another good week for mileage as I start ramping up the bike distances. It's that sparring number that I need to focus on. I have the means to get that number up, just have to figure out how to balance the time. I'll get it sorted.


The Training:

Right about now is when I'll start increasing the mileage on my runs and rides for the

events in July and October. Hopefully I can find a rhythm quickly and easily. 

Still working with Naihanchi kata. Focusing on the details. I need to continue to revisit the areas for improvement on Seisan and Seiuchin as well. And I'm visiting the rest of the katas to prevent any yikes-I-forgot-that moments. I really enjoy kata. 

Sparring... Trying to be more conscious about changing pace and moving on the half beat more often. Need some more burst movement.

On a good track with the healthy eating and getting my diet cleaned up a bit. I love that when I have cravings it's for berries and apples. But I don't know if I'll ever decline an offer for some homemade pie. That would just be silly, right?


The Challenges:

The physical training is tiring, sure, but it's not hard. The brain training... that's hard. The hard part of this test is what it takes to keep my brain willing to decide on the work out instead of the nap. And the tired that I feel from the physical aspect is manageable, but when compounded by the tired that I feel on the intellectual level... That's where the challenge comes in. So basically, I don't think I'd be this tired physically, if I wasn't so tired mentally. What I'm finding in the struggle is that this is, among so many other things, a test of endurance. 


Levels:
Motivation: It's there
Next Event: June 28th - Zooma Napa Valley 1/2 Marathon; July 27th - San Francisco Marathon

Endurance:

Week 28 - Are We There Yet?

The Numbers (as of 06/14):

		Pushups	Crunches	Kata	Sparring	Journey (Swim)	Journey (Bike)	Journey (Run)	Kindness	Journal	Video
Annual Totals:		26,550	26,550	541	262	0	639	571	547	27	1
						1,210
Annual Targets:		50000	50000	1000	1000	2400			1000	52	12
Percent of Annual Targets Complete		53.10%	53.10%	54.10%	26.20%	50.44%			54.70%	51.92%	8.33%

The numbers are good. Got the mileage over the 50% mark so that's good. Finally got a value in the video column. It's all about that sparring number. It needs work.

The Training: 

It's time to start gearing up for triathlon training. The schedule that I planned out a couple months ago will be tested come July 1st. Should be interesting :) 

Working on the details of Naihanchi right now. It's funny because this kata looks pretty simple and there's not a lot of... "wow" factor. But there is a lot going on in Naihanchi, tons of details to be aware of. I think I've underestimated the value of this kata because I've never really focused on the principles it teaches. I like the concept of locking in, need to improve on that.

Sparring is sparring. This will, I think, always feel like a weakness. I am taking more angles but am struggling to figure out how to make use of the movement. 

I do think I'm cleaning up my eating more. Loads of fruit, more home-cooked food and even more salad. I admit though, I'm really excited when friends do the cooking :)

The Challenges:

Lately I'm dealing with... I guess when I follow it through, it's discipline. I'm maintaining the discipline, I'm just getting a bit resentful toward it, I think. I feel like I'm always having to choose: Choose between what i need to get done and what I'd really like to do. I keep choosing need. I really want to choose like.  I choose bike ride when I want to work on my deck. I choose run on my lunch break when I want to take a nap or just go for a quiet walk. Makes me wonder if what I need is to allow myself to choose what I want. 

Levels:
Motivation: It's there
Next Event: June 28th - Zooma Napa Valley 1/2 Marathon; July 27th - San Francisco Marathon

Discipline:

Week 27 - 50% Plus a Little

The Numbers (as of 6/7):

		Pushups	Crunches	Kata	Sparring	Journey (Swim)	Journey (Bike)	Journey (Run)	Kindness	Journal	Video
Annual Totals:		25,500	25,500	520	254	0	599	559	526	25	0
						1,158
Annual Targets:		50000	50000	1000	1000	2400			1000	52	12
Percent of Annual Targets Complete		51.00%	51.00%	52.00%	25.40%	48.27%			52.60%	48.08%	0.00%

At last, the 50+ %s that I've been waiting for. There they are, they look good there in those little blue boxes, don't you think? This week was a bit separated compared to the few before. Sort of a rest week (and by rest I mean I worked my butt off on the house instead of on the testing elements). It needed to happen :) At any rate, I really like those numbers. The tracker is a quick and easy way to assess how this is going. It's good to like what I see. It's good to know that there are areas in need of attention.

The Training:

The further into this I get, and the more things I try, the more I see how this is test is benefitting me. My conditioning is improving, my strength is improving. So sure, the physical portion of this test has clear and noticeable measures. But there are parts of this test that can't be seen on the tracker. As I push the limits of my comfort zone, I'm feeling my confidence improve. I'm feeling myself get more calm because I'm half way there. 

This test is a long process. The further I get, the more I realize that this is more a test of patience, will and emotional fortitude than it is a test of conditioning, strength or even skill. And, let me tell you, this is a process that really tests you. My motivation ebbs and flows, with that my confidence ebbs and flows. I know we track the physical stuff (because it can be tracked), and that 50,000 push ups in a year, 2,400 miles, that all seems pretty intense. And it is. But I can say, without a shred of doubt, that the hardest part of this test is the mental stuff: Staying motivated, continuously choosing to train instead of nap, the constant assessment of what I have left to do today... And that's not necessarily measurable by the tracker. Maybe it's measured by the fact that the tracker keeps filling up with numbers and notes. I just think it needs to be mentioned... 150 push ups a day is easy... IF your mind says do it. When your mind says cuddle on the couch with the pooch, 150 push ups gets a whole lot harder.

Basically, it's like this: Take all the physical stuff, imagine how tiring you think it is. Now double that and apply it to brain exhaustion. Am I making sense...? 

The Challenges:
Well, I think I covered some of this already. I'll just continue to reiterate that time management is hard. And I'll say that my dog is very cute and a great cuddler so it really is a challenge sometimes not to curl up on the couch.

Levels:
Injury: Just some leftover aches from backyard renovation (phase 1 of I have no idea how many)
Number of bruises: 12
Motivation: Feel good
Next Event: June 28th - Zooma Napa Valley 1/2 Marathon; July 27th - San Francisco Marathon

Motivation:

Oyama Fighter's Cup 2014

On Sunday, June 1st, five students participated in the Oyama Fighter's Cup. The level of competition at this tournament is higher than most other open tournaments. We went to the tournament with five participants, we came home with five trophies. And I think a few really great lessons were learned.

I participated in both the semi-knockdown and bare knuckle, full knockdown divisions so I got a good five rounds in. I gained a lot from the experience. And I'm not just talking about all the bruises...

Lessons I Learned at Oyama:

1. Cross-training makes a HUGE difference to my martial arts training. HUGE.
   I tell my friends that 2 minutes of sparring is like sprinting up hill while people are punching and kicking you. I'm a distance runner, so I have to be a bit dramatic. Still, I think that's pretty accurate. But the thing I noticed in every single round at Oyama... When the other person started getting tired, I still had wind to keep going. I attribute that to two things: 1 - The way we train at our dojo - hard and continuous sparring. 2 - The amount of running and riding I'm doing for my black belt test.
   
2. I sometimes set my bar too low.
   
   For my second match I fought an experienced black belt from the Oyama school. I did what most people probably do, but shouldn't. I sized her up, made assumptions. Black belt. Bigger than me. Oyama trained. I decided that I would call this match a success if I stood up every time she knocked me down. I told myself that
   
   
   if I just keep standing up for the 2-minute round, no matter what, I'd be happy with myself.
   
   I won that match. I need to set my standards based on me, not others.
   
3. The mutual respect among martial artists is almost tangible, to the point where non-martial artists notice it and wonder.
   
   A friend of mine came out to watch the tournament. At one point she looked at me and said, "You know the amazing thing... You guys are all clearly competitive athletes and you're going at each other but there's so much respect happening everywhere." That's exactly that thing I talk about when I say martial arts is different. It was a gym full of martial artists and people notice the energy and the edge, but they also notice the respect. That's a really awesome thing.

Oyama Fighter's Cup Highlight Video

So, all-in-all it was a great experience. I brought home two trophies, lots of bruises, some good lessons and some new confidence. Not just in myself, also in my training, in my dojo, and in my instructor. 

Week 26 - Hello You Beautiful Half Way Mark!

WOOOOOO! HOOOOOOOO! 

The Numbers (as of 05/31):

		Pushups	Crunches	Kata	Sparring	Journey (Swim)	Journey (Bike)	Journey (Run)	Kindness	Journal	Video
Annual Totals:		24,600	24,600	502	239	0	575	535	507	24	0
						1,110
Annual Targets:		50000	50000	1000	1000	2400			1000	52	12
Percent of Annual Targets Complete		49.20%	49.20%	50.20%	23.90%	46.24%			50.70%	46.15%	0.00%

Okay, so it might be a bit anticlimactic because those numbers don't all say 50%. I admit, I stared at them in denial for a while. And then I got over it because for six months I have been working my butt off and it feels really good to know that I'm still here, still going. I'm half way through this thing. I'm averaging 6.1 miles a day and 135 pushups and crunches a day and that feels pretty good, too.

For the next six months I'll be needing to get some videos put together and get some of those other requirements completed. I'm looking forward to it.

The Training:

Is paying off. It's nice to be able to see and feel the results of it all. I can push harder for longer and what used to be tough is getting comfortable. I'm also seeing how cross-training really compliments my martial arts training (will talk more about that in a separate blog post). I need to stay focused on sparring techniques and keep spending time on the details of kata and understanding their applications.

Also, need to continue to polish up my eating habits a bit. I have been eating more home-cooked food but still let convenience food in maybe more than I should. And I realize that I REALLY need to give more attention to hydrating properly. My habits there need some SERIOUS renovation. 

Proud to report that I have conquered one of my three personal fears. I gave a snake a little pat on the head. I'm terrified of snakes. So terrified of snakes that I will run away from a large worm. It's true, I own it. This snake, whose name I've now forgotten/blocked out... is a wild-caught emerald tree boa named Princess. Apparently she has some pretty amazing fangs. I'm glad to report that I did not have to witness them first-hand. At any rate, thanks to my friend Heather for the experience. Sort of... :)

The Challenges:

The time management challenge will always be here, I've accepted that. But, getting some time in with friends while we happen to be going for a run or a ride is proving helpful. I'm cramming in some quality time with my welder or my mitre saw and I know that it's improving my overall mood. 

The latest challenge is around trying to decide if to set my triathlon aside in favor of a martial arts tournament. It's a new challenge, just came up. I haven't put much thought into yet but it feels pretty symbolic of how I'm always having to make a choice between something I want to do and something I should do. More to come on that, I'm sure.

Levels:
Injury: Hahahahaha! Oyama Tournament...
Number of bruises: 17
Motivation: Pretty high
Next Event: June 28th - Zooma Napa Valley 1/2 Marathon; July 27th - San Francisco Marathon

Determination: