Summer Challenge 2008

Wai Jia: The Kung Fu Forum Kung Fu Training and Health
21

For what it’s worth, the P90X people I’ve seen look like they put on a bit of muscle. On the other hand, the science of what they do logically runs counter to that, and it could be an illusion brought on by decreased bodyfat.

For example, working out six days a week will not give your body time to build muscle before the next workout as it’s still trying to recuperate from what you did the day before. I know that Horton claims this is bypassed by the variable workouts, but it dosen’t hold up in a lab. It’s well understood that physiologically you can only systemically sustain stressful workouts (dosen’t matter if the source is weights, yoga, cardio etc.) for so long before you start to catabolize muscle.

I know that I can hardly recover between the martial arts and weights that I do now, so I don’t think I could handle P90X on top of it.

Still, I’m curious to see where David goes with it, because he obviously knows what he’s doing…

22

[QUOTE=Samurai Jack;857110]For what it’s worth, the P90X people I’ve seen look like they put on a bit of muscle. On the other hand, the science of what they do logically runs counter to that, and it could be an illusion brought on by decreased bodyfat.

For example, working out six days a week will not give your body time to build muscle before the next workout as it’s still trying to recuperate from what you did the day before. I know that Horton claims this is bypassed by the variable workouts, but it dosen’t hold up in a lab. It’s well understood that physiologically you can only systemically sustain stressful workouts (dosen’t matter if the source is weights, yoga, cardio etc.) for so long before you start to catabolize muscle.

I know that I can hardly recover between the martial arts and weights that I do now, so I don’t think I could handle P90X on top of it.

Still, I’m curious to see where David goes with it, because he obviously knows what he’s doing…[/QUOTE]

You are correct SJ, the only viable way to see if one is gaining muscle mass as one is losing fat is they way I mentioned.
Personally, when you have a full time job and train MA, to add stuff like P90X is a tricky thing, but that goes with anything, not just P90X.
The vast majority of Strength training regimes out there are NOT for people that have full time jobs AND do a demanding physical activity like MA, they are for people that wanna focus on ST and mayeb have “some cardio on the side” or people that wanna focus on cardio and have some ST on the side..

MA is by its very nature both HIIT AND moderate cardio, it is very telling on the body but in terms of strength training it can be rather lacking.
The majority of people doing a sport combat art probably need more ST than more cardio.

23

[QUOTE=Samurai Jack;857098]I’m in late, but I didn’t see the thread until today. I’m training for a super secret challenge… couldn’t care less what I look like, but I need to be putting in a very sizeable amount of Martial Arts training if I’m going anywhere with it.[/QUOTE]

Has more to do with how you feel, not how you look.
Two weeks…Everyone still in? 6 weeks left!

24

[QUOTE=RUFNTUFGIRL;859274]Has more to do with how you feel, not how you look.
Two weeks…Everyone still in? 6 weeks left![/QUOTE]

You bet! Keep training!

25

well, I am still doing my regular kungfu training plus keeping up the p90x 6 days a week.

p90x is about shedding fat and toning muscle and is not really for building muscle so much as shoring it up, toning it and making it stronger. I guess it will build if you do the weight routines with low rep and heavy weight, but, if you are not a previously fit or have knowledge of good lifting mechanics etc, then I would NOT recommend this program for you. p90x is for people who are already fit and want to go to another level in that area of their training. there are other programs that can shed fat better or build strength better, but I haven’t found an all rounder one like this. It’s pretty cool.

the routines are good and I am seeing genuine results in my body shape. especially doing the ab ripper 3x a week on top of the fairly intensive cardio sessions. The weight sessions are easy for me so far. the plyometrics are great, the kempo is goofy and more like taebo, but it’s a good cardio session. so is taebo though lol. really it amounts to kickboxercize but it is constant and demanding and keeps the heart rate high. the yoga sessions in p90x are wicked though.

they basically go through some of the most difficult yoga postures such as eagle, plough, upward dog (not cobra, get the knees off the floor!) and run through a series of dynamic and static postures that would give even the most seasoned yogis a good workout.

I will post 30/60 and 90 day photos seeing as I am keeping them. so on july 17th, I’ll roll out my new stuff and you guys can decide for yourself if you want to do a systematized regimen.

Like kungfu, or anything, I truly believe commitment is key and your only barrier is YOU. There is no blame! :slight_smile:

Commit!

26

How is everyone hanging in? 5 weeks left until summer. Mother’s Day was hard but I did make the time to workout. Food was not so healthy though! Hopefully everyone is still pushing through. Next week will be one month and then you’ll truly feel summer in the air. I’m in NY and Spring is having a hard time showing its face this year. I am sure as the weather gets nicer and the days get longer it will be an added push. Good Luck to all!

27

I’m training almost everyday. I have to admit that sometimes I am weak. However, training is like gravity. You can get away from it only for a little while, then it draws you right back.

28

ONE MONTH UNTIL SUMMER!

How is everyone doing? Still in?

29

[QUOTE=Samurai Jack;857110]For what it’s worth, the P90X people I’ve seen look like they put on a bit of muscle. On the other hand, the science of what they do logically runs counter to that, and it could be an illusion brought on by decreased bodyfat.

For example, working out six days a week will not give your body time to build muscle before the next workout as it’s still trying to recuperate from what you did the day before. I know that Horton claims this is bypassed by the variable workouts, but it dosen’t hold up in a lab. It’s well understood that physiologically you can only systemically sustain stressful workouts (dosen’t matter if the source is weights, yoga, cardio etc.) for so long before you start to catabolize muscle.

I know that I can hardly recover between the martial arts and weights that I do now, so I don’t think I could handle P90X on top of it.

Still, I’m curious to see where David goes with it, because he obviously knows what he’s doing…[/QUOTE]

Well, this is not actually the way it is.

you do have extreme variation between cardio light and heavy, to yoga to weight lifting.

you do have recovery weeks at the end of each cycle and combined with the portional recovery of the variation, this does work. I am just finished week five and yes, you gain muscle and lose fat at the same time, like any other rigourous routine will do.

so, you basically have a recovery day every week and a recovery week every month.

Horton does understand that exercise is the architect and rest is the builder. I think he actually puts it in those terms.

Seriously, my only issues with p90x is that Horton talks too much during the sessions, but luckily, you can Mute him! hooray! hahaha.

There is a lot of things in these routines that I will be taking with me into the future.

Best 100 bucks i spent, it’s a cool system and if you commit, it will deliver.

I do not recommend the program for anyone who isn’t already in decent shape, so if you are slightly obese and not really much of an exerciser, this would be a terrible buy for you. It would kill you on day one and then gather dust. lol :slight_smile:

so, keep that in mind if yer gonna give it a go.

I’ve lost 8 lbs in and gained same in muscle. cool eh. 5 weeks girls, 5 weeks! 7 to go and then i’ll cycle into a more rigourous MA cycle that will really tick off my training partners. hahaha.

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How do you guys find that time for all that?

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[QUOTE=sanjuro_ronin;863099]How do you guys find that time for all that?[/QUOTE]

It’s an hour a day. Maybe 2. How can you not find the time for it?

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[QUOTE=David Jamieson;863144]It’s an hour a day. Maybe 2. How can you not find the time for it?[/QUOTE]

LOL !
Own business, married, 2 kids…time ??? what is that ?

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[QUOTE=sanjuro_ronin;863146]LOL !
Own business, married, 2 kids…time ??? what is that ?[/QUOTE]

make the trade somewhere.

get rid of a couple of tv watching slots. or, have your kids join you for a session of their own? I dunno, I do know that if there is time to be found, you can make the time.

I always found that about stuff like kungfu or exercise in general that I always had to find and make the time to do it and that I always gave up something else.

most of the time is was surf time or tv time or other stuff that didn’t amount to much in the way of developing Dave as a person. :slight_smile:

getting your kids active would only be a good thing as you know. Mommy may have to help out here if Daddy wants an effective work out though.

kids are in need of so much attention after all.

34

[QUOTE=David Jamieson;863152]make the trade somewhere.

get rid of a couple of tv watching slots. or, have your kids join you for a session of their own? I dunno, I do know that if there is time to be found, you can make the time.

I always found that about stuff like kungfu or exercise in general that I always had to find and make the time to do it and that I always gave up something else.

most of the time is was surf time or tv time or other stuff that didn’t amount to much in the way of developing Dave as a person. :slight_smile:

getting your kids active would only be a good thing as you know. Mommy may have to help out here if Daddy wants an effective work out though.

kids are in need of so much attention after all.[/QUOTE]

TV ???
BBWWAAAHHH !!!
What’s that ?
LOL !

Seriously, I wake up every morning at 5 to do an hour workout ( ok, more like 45 min) and When I get home or go to the gym, I put in another 60-90 everyday, you think I have time to ADD another hour???

Dude !!!
:eek:

35

[QUOTE=sanjuro_ronin;863153]TV ???
BBWWAAAHHH !!!
What’s that ?
LOL !

Seriously, I wake up every morning at 5 to do an hour workout ( ok, more like 45 min) and When I get home or go to the gym, I put in another 60-90 everyday, you think I have time to ADD another hour???

Dude !!!
:eek:[/QUOTE]

didn’t say that.

If in context you are thinking of doing p90x, it is only 90 days and you can replace one of the current routines you are doing with it. That’s what I did. Just put the kungfu on the passenger side for a bit, use it now and then, but focus on the 90 day trip to a better physique overall. :slight_smile:

36

[QUOTE=David Jamieson;863155]didn’t say that.

If in context you are thinking of doing p90x, it is only 90 days and you can replace one of the current routines you are doing with it. That’s what I did. Just put the kungfu on the passenger side for a bit, use it now and then, but focus on the 90 day trip to a better physique overall. :)[/QUOTE]

Blasphemy !!!

Ninjas have been sent to shrink your underwear 3 sizes !!

37

I’ve been doing sil lum kungfu almost every day for almost 15 years years now both in formal training/learning and in my own space. Prior to that it was tkd, boxing, wrestling, fencing and isshin karate.

I think I can shelve it for 90 days and try out some new stuff. :slight_smile:

i’ve looked at tons of other material and tried quite a few things over the years.

most stuff was no where near as comprehensive in the method, system or materials offered.
I gotta stop talking about this, I feel like a freakin shoe salesman now. lol

anyway, try it! It’s good! and that’s all i am goin to say about it from now on. :slight_smile:

38

switched to body building style regimin and started doing 30 second sprints with satan this week.

my first taste of higher reps in about 8 months … just a few weeks after squatting 350, i loaded up 235 on the bar and figured id bust out 3 sets of 8 with some effort, but no real problem. i barely made 3 sets of 5 and couldnt walk for days. i dont get it as sheiko had me doing tons of tripples with 275 and up, but im getting the hang of the higher reps. last workout i squatted 210 for 3 sets of 8 with about 60 seconds in between sets and it wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t failure. the sprints are killing my legs, but ill get used to it.

diet has been cleaned up … even cheat meals are fairly clean and homemade. no beer for 4 weeks :frowning:

was only able to train once while on vacation last week, but i learned that machines can be brutal if you check your ego at the door and really focus on the contraction.

finally started logging workouts and food … will try to eventually get the training log up on the site.

39

It is June…3 weeks left for the challenge! How is everyone doing? I have to admit I thought it would get easier as summer got closer, but there are so many more challenges with bbq’s, friends, and time. Hang in.

40

lol. still going great, although drinking water while everybody gets soused is a bit of a drag. lol

it is now a hobby of mine to watch people go from sober to drunk and to time them as they do so. Most take about 3-4 hours to get a bit glazed.

there’s probably some value in that data. even though i am the sole member of the control “group” :slight_smile: