Hey guys, I work long hours sitting on my @ss. (Im an insurance agent)
On the days I work, I take my breaks a couple times a day in the stairwells to practice my wing chun, kicks and whatever. I go home and then hit the gym to run and do whatever cardio I do for that day (Im holding off on the weights till the wrist heals) and then after that I go home and do some light working out with movements in the air. So this is my Mon-Wed-Fri-Sat…
My “martial arts” days (tues, thurs), I actually will attend class, either going to the wing chun kwoon to practice LT style wing chun, or my MT gym to do that. During that time (typically a couple hours or so) we train for endurance, power, drill with each other and spar. This is a higher contact level then the days Im alone obviously
Sundays are my day, I have a couple of private students come to my house and we work on different things, usually wing chun, but also MT, and other techniques like throwing and what not. It’s basically my personal JKD so to speak in the truest sense of the art. For now I’m calling it “Van kuen gung fu”. Long story short, we work on anything we feel like, sometimes light, sometimes harder.
So in today’s modernistic age of sedentary life, what are you all doing to keep your martial arts in check? How are you all scheduling your training? I know we all have lives outside the MA as well…so for people that train hard (rather then the hobby martial artist) how are you all going about your days?
Shoot, I used to train six hours a day, five days a week. I was in my early twenties, had no friends outside the kwoon, was injured alot and very depressed.
Last year I was sad to only be training MA three hours a day, four days a week, and weight-training two or three times a week as well. I practiced zen meditation at 4:30 in the morning seven days a week. I was always sore, very sleepy, and not very happy.
Now I’m a full time student working on a Criminal Justice degree. I have two kids. I work full time as well. I volunteer as a reserve police officer (though I’m putting that on the back-burner ASAP). I only manage to hit the dojo a couple of times a week, though I’ve been struggling to go at least an hour a day. I weight train once or twice a week. Now I’m unhappy with my martial progress!
I haven’t been very skillful with finding the right balance between rest and recovery, social obligations and budo, but I’m trying. I suppose I’m something of a workaholic. The REAL problem is that there aren’t enough hours in a day!
I think I’ve found a pretty good balance. To be honest, I used to train in my early years (ever since I was a kid really) just about all **** day. All the time. My friends were also only ma people.
Obviously didn’t have much life in school, and girls…well they don’t like the asian guys who only do martial arts and don’t socialize.
Late teens and early 20’s, it was about 3-4 hrs a day just about every day. I would train at a MT gym during the week and then a shaolin private teacher on the weekend.
Military came about, and then of course my MA was put on hold for a bit. Then of course, it was work, and then going home and training a few hours a night…then I started getting deployed, and the MA training time went on hold for abit again. Broke my wrist 3 years back, and stopped training altogether until recently. Wrist still broken, but finally healing through the help of a stimulator. And Im bringing my training loads higher as time goes on.
But like I said, I think I’ve found a good balance wherein I’m not as dedicated as I used to be (“obsessive” the way others put it)
I can now retain a social life and work life, and soon college life again, while still training. I like the fact that Im running again, I used to hate it, but once you’re in shape (or close to it..) it’s not sooo bad. But it’s never going to be on my A list.
Lift @ 5:30-7:00am on mondays, 8:30-10:00am on Thursday mornings.
I do an abbreviated karate workout before weights on Thursday, as I rarely have a chance to go to class, with work and studying.
I do karate Tuesday morning (and night if I can attend class) and thursday morning (night if I can attend class). Saturday I do a comprehensive solo karate schedule. Includes my cardio.
I go to school 12 hours a week, study 24 hours a week, work 24-29 hours a week. I sleep 56 hours a week. I drive at least 5.5 hours a week. That’s 126.5 hours I can’t train.
i lift 3 hours a week. I do karate 3.5 hours a week.
Monday 7-9 pm: I teach a Wing Chun forms, chi sao, and wooden dummy class…some stretching also.
Tuesday nights: About 1 hour working on cardio and conditioning (jogging/shadow boxing/chin ups, pullups, Hindu squats, Hindu pushups, situps, back bridges, curls.
Wednesday 7-9 pm: We do quite a bit of stretching, pushups, situps, back bridges, etc…chi kung breathing…and fighting in the standup clinch…takedown offense and defense…Catch-as-catch-can wrestling (both standup and on the ground).
Thursday: The same as Tuesday.
Saturday 12-3pm: Three hour Wing Chun class…starts just like the Wednesday class - stretching, pushups, situps, etc. then forms…footwork…punching…kicking…knees…elbows…chi sao…sparring drills…stand up contact sparring with protective equipment - which often includes takedowns and wrestling.
fortunately, my workplace has a pretty nice gym, so I am in the gym daily, either on my lunch break, or just as I get off of work.
As for MA, I’m in class mon - thurs evenings. for 2 - 3 hours. Three days a week I’m training MT, Two days per week judo and I try to hit the bjj class at least once per week. I used to train bjj daily, putting me at the school 2 - 4 hours nightly, but my kid is school age now, so I have to have him home so that he can get to bed on time. On saturdays, we get together bright and early.
Mon / Wed - thai boxing 6:30 - 8pm. After class, I either spend another hour training alone, or working with anyone who wants to stay and train.
Tues / Thurs - Judo 6:00 - 8:00pm
Thurs - 8:00 - 9:00pm thai boxing - usually this hour is just me and coach.
Sat - 8:00 - 12:00pm - thai boxing. On saturdays, we go to the stadium and run, then head back to the school for conditioning, padwork, etc.