Another of my now infrequent posts.
I am still training, and still finding it really hard to combine training and work/commuting. Mainly commuting.
Last Friday saw my return to the ring. Well return to boxing training after the clubs summer holiday. They train on a friday evening at a time suitable for me to attend after work. This is all kinds of awesome. I am now apparently an intermediate boxer! I am mainly still a curiosity to the entire club and the only girl to attend fridays for now two weeks in a row. This is ok though and training makes me happy. I got to spar last week too, which was good, even if I wasn't very.
I am still turning up to jitsu, and still a better boxer than jitsuka (this does not make me a good boxer!). But I am getting over my fear of being thrown, slowly. I went to a Bo seminar last week - which was interesting, though a little more stylised than the stick work I'm used to. It was nice to be good at something in Jitsu for a change.
I also went for a short run today. Shorter than I wanted, but when running I tend to think of it as a success if I get out and run at all, and not worry about the rest. Training alone is hard, so I give myself props for doing it at all.
Saturday, 23 October 2010
Monday, 4 October 2010
Some thoughts on self defence
Off topic slightly with this one - but thought I'd throw some stuff out there.
Went to jitsu on Saturday, some good, some bad - there was a lot of groundfighting on the menu, most of which I can't train due to my knees. Now the class will be doing lots of groundfighting on the grounds that 'most fights end on the ground'.
This is not a public pop at Sensei - but it got me thinking, about paradigms and such...you know the sort of thing that generally fills young ladies heads these days...
I'm not entirely convinced all fights end on the ground, but that's not so much the question I think I wanted to consider. I think it was more are all self defence situations 'fights'? What is a 'fight' - does it encompass an attempted mugging or assault? I'm not sure. And do these situations count for the above statement?
That's all fairly academic stuff in the end - though it does have a bearing on how one trains.
However, my other thoughts - I cannot train in a way that will allow me to be proficient in groundfighting without most likely crippling myself on the way. Does this therefore mean I am to walk the world defenceless?
I don't believe so. I would like to think that it is possible to train other skills that would give me a better chance than I would otherwise have, bearing in mind the most likely self defence scenarios I might have to face. I also don't see that it is either insulting to me or any of the martial arts I train to accept that there may be situations that I might not be able to get myself out of with my skills and try to avoid these where able.
It'll be back to rambling about fitness soon - but if anyone fancies adding some thoughts feel free...
Went to jitsu on Saturday, some good, some bad - there was a lot of groundfighting on the menu, most of which I can't train due to my knees. Now the class will be doing lots of groundfighting on the grounds that 'most fights end on the ground'.
This is not a public pop at Sensei - but it got me thinking, about paradigms and such...you know the sort of thing that generally fills young ladies heads these days...
I'm not entirely convinced all fights end on the ground, but that's not so much the question I think I wanted to consider. I think it was more are all self defence situations 'fights'? What is a 'fight' - does it encompass an attempted mugging or assault? I'm not sure. And do these situations count for the above statement?
That's all fairly academic stuff in the end - though it does have a bearing on how one trains.
However, my other thoughts - I cannot train in a way that will allow me to be proficient in groundfighting without most likely crippling myself on the way. Does this therefore mean I am to walk the world defenceless?
I don't believe so. I would like to think that it is possible to train other skills that would give me a better chance than I would otherwise have, bearing in mind the most likely self defence scenarios I might have to face. I also don't see that it is either insulting to me or any of the martial arts I train to accept that there may be situations that I might not be able to get myself out of with my skills and try to avoid these where able.
It'll be back to rambling about fitness soon - but if anyone fancies adding some thoughts feel free...
Saturday, 2 October 2010
Back on the mat and other stories
So - not been blogging for a while, though have been meaning to.
So - what am I up to.
Still running, when I get a chance - am up to 2.5 miles now (with a hill!), which takes me 25-30 minutes at present.
Am vaguely attempting the 200 sit up challenge and 200 squat challenge - but I will admit I'm not putting that much focus into it.
Boxing starts back on the 11th - woot!
And, more interestingly - I went back to Jitsu last week. A different club, due to working in Cardiff not Swansea, and enjoyed it lots. It's going to take me a while to get my confidence up (I would say 'back up' but that involves having had confidence in the first place!), but the hardest bit is done with.
I'm considering heading over to Cardiff for training today.
That involves getting out of bed at some point.
Hmmmm...
So - what am I up to.
Still running, when I get a chance - am up to 2.5 miles now (with a hill!), which takes me 25-30 minutes at present.
Am vaguely attempting the 200 sit up challenge and 200 squat challenge - but I will admit I'm not putting that much focus into it.
Boxing starts back on the 11th - woot!
And, more interestingly - I went back to Jitsu last week. A different club, due to working in Cardiff not Swansea, and enjoyed it lots. It's going to take me a while to get my confidence up (I would say 'back up' but that involves having had confidence in the first place!), but the hardest bit is done with.
I'm considering heading over to Cardiff for training today.
That involves getting out of bed at some point.
Hmmmm...
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
Snowdonia...twinned with Mordor
Well, thought I should write up Sunday's adventure up some mountains, for charity.
The plan was to climb four of Snowdonia's peaks in a day. We managed two, the weather turned on us while at the top of Pen yr Ole Wen, and we had to cut the climb short for safety reasons.
For those who are unfamiliar with Snowdonia, Pen Yr Ole Wen is deemed to be the hardest climb in the range and looks like this:
It is the seventh highest peak in Snowdonia, and is 3,209 ft high.
We also managed Carnedd Dafydd, which looks like this:
Except with less snow, and more fog, and by this time a generally worried looking boyfriend.
Ok - so them's the facts.
How was it - it was hard, it was probably the hardest thing I have ever done.
For those who are not aware - I am scared of heights, yes this makes climbing mountains a daft thing to do.
At about 2,500 ft I was probably the most scared I have ever been, as we had got into scrambling territory. I have frozen on heights before, but never managed to get as far as 'flight' response. Somehow I had managed to get head round the idea it would stop feeling so high when I got to the top and just kept going. It is weird now sitting in my room to get my head around how scared I truly was.
The spider in the bathroom this morning never stood a chance...
Then things turned bad, we were up a mountain, in the rain and fog with visibility under 10 ft (yes it had been sunny 15 minutes previously - welcome to Snowdonia, again for the benefit of those unfamiliar with my green and pleasant land, these mountains kill people, not because the conditions get as bad as other places, but they change and change fast). It was windy enough that Steve was walking with me holding onto me so he could act as an anchor and a windbreak.
And it was silent, when the wind dropped on occasions there was no sound just fog, and then some sheep to break the silence. It was incredibly eerie.
Finally we made it back down through the cloud into some good old fashioned drizzle. By this stage we were down back to heather and grass so life was generally easier. After making it about 2/3 of the way down Steve suggested going ahead to get the car, which was about a mile from where we were going to meet the road at this stage. My knees were becoming a problem so I was making slow progress and saving me a mile's walk was a good plan.
I have never spent much time in the wilderness, much less alone in it.
Ok I wasn't in the middle of the Australian outback or anything, there was someone coming for me. But for about an hour it was just me and my gammy legs, getting me off the mountain (Steve heard at the mountain centre while getting the car that while we had been climbing, mountain rescue had been called out for two other parties).
It was scary, and it was miserable, at one point I fell (albeit gently as I had seen it coming) and just sat there for a minute. I think that was the closest I have ever come to a 'Fightclub' type experience, whatever I had achieved or gained up in terms of society was pretty pointless. I could get up and walk, or I could sit with my foot in a stream till I got carried off.
This probably doesn't sound like much to a lot of people, and all I can really say that it was to me. And although large chunks of it weren't fun, I'm glad I did it.. I learned quite a lot about myself, about my boyfriend (he's a good egg) and maybe a bit about the mountains.
Sometime (Crown allowing) in the spring we hope to complete the climb, which will include Snowdon itself (which has a nice tarmac path up it). I hope that those who've sponsored me don't feel too let down, and that maybe the above might encourage others to perhaps spare a little for Asylum Justice.
The plan was to climb four of Snowdonia's peaks in a day. We managed two, the weather turned on us while at the top of Pen yr Ole Wen, and we had to cut the climb short for safety reasons.
For those who are unfamiliar with Snowdonia, Pen Yr Ole Wen is deemed to be the hardest climb in the range and looks like this:
We also managed Carnedd Dafydd, which looks like this:
Except with less snow, and more fog, and by this time a generally worried looking boyfriend.
Ok - so them's the facts.
How was it - it was hard, it was probably the hardest thing I have ever done.
For those who are not aware - I am scared of heights, yes this makes climbing mountains a daft thing to do.
At about 2,500 ft I was probably the most scared I have ever been, as we had got into scrambling territory. I have frozen on heights before, but never managed to get as far as 'flight' response. Somehow I had managed to get head round the idea it would stop feeling so high when I got to the top and just kept going. It is weird now sitting in my room to get my head around how scared I truly was.
The spider in the bathroom this morning never stood a chance...
Then things turned bad, we were up a mountain, in the rain and fog with visibility under 10 ft (yes it had been sunny 15 minutes previously - welcome to Snowdonia, again for the benefit of those unfamiliar with my green and pleasant land, these mountains kill people, not because the conditions get as bad as other places, but they change and change fast). It was windy enough that Steve was walking with me holding onto me so he could act as an anchor and a windbreak.
And it was silent, when the wind dropped on occasions there was no sound just fog, and then some sheep to break the silence. It was incredibly eerie.
Finally we made it back down through the cloud into some good old fashioned drizzle. By this stage we were down back to heather and grass so life was generally easier. After making it about 2/3 of the way down Steve suggested going ahead to get the car, which was about a mile from where we were going to meet the road at this stage. My knees were becoming a problem so I was making slow progress and saving me a mile's walk was a good plan.
I have never spent much time in the wilderness, much less alone in it.
Ok I wasn't in the middle of the Australian outback or anything, there was someone coming for me. But for about an hour it was just me and my gammy legs, getting me off the mountain (Steve heard at the mountain centre while getting the car that while we had been climbing, mountain rescue had been called out for two other parties).
It was scary, and it was miserable, at one point I fell (albeit gently as I had seen it coming) and just sat there for a minute. I think that was the closest I have ever come to a 'Fightclub' type experience, whatever I had achieved or gained up in terms of society was pretty pointless. I could get up and walk, or I could sit with my foot in a stream till I got carried off.
This probably doesn't sound like much to a lot of people, and all I can really say that it was to me. And although large chunks of it weren't fun, I'm glad I did it.. I learned quite a lot about myself, about my boyfriend (he's a good egg) and maybe a bit about the mountains.
Sometime (Crown allowing) in the spring we hope to complete the climb, which will include Snowdon itself (which has a nice tarmac path up it). I hope that those who've sponsored me don't feel too let down, and that maybe the above might encourage others to perhaps spare a little for Asylum Justice.
Tuesday, 17 August 2010
It takes a year to make a fighter
Well that's what Clint Eastwood says in Million Dollar baby.
So a year on from a not brilliant performance at Fightcamp and, well, I'm not quite up to spec yet, but the improvement is there.
I won a beer...for circuit training!!!!
Seriously though, I felt more together, stronger and more agile than last year - there were a number of moments of...yeah, I remember being able to do this sword stuff. Which means more than, well frankly most things. I was punched, kicked, and thrown and faced it with more confidence in my own body than I think I ever have.
So now I'm fired up and ready to train again...still struggling to fit training in with work, but hope to start Jitsu training in Cardiff next month (post-payday!) and am working on ways of fitting fitness into my day.
I don't really know how many people read this blog, but to all who have helped me along over the past year - thank you so much. There are some regular readers who have been a real help when things haven't gone so well.
Onwards chaps!
So a year on from a not brilliant performance at Fightcamp and, well, I'm not quite up to spec yet, but the improvement is there.
I won a beer...for circuit training!!!!
Seriously though, I felt more together, stronger and more agile than last year - there were a number of moments of...yeah, I remember being able to do this sword stuff. Which means more than, well frankly most things. I was punched, kicked, and thrown and faced it with more confidence in my own body than I think I ever have.
So now I'm fired up and ready to train again...still struggling to fit training in with work, but hope to start Jitsu training in Cardiff next month (post-payday!) and am working on ways of fitting fitness into my day.
I don't really know how many people read this blog, but to all who have helped me along over the past year - thank you so much. There are some regular readers who have been a real help when things haven't gone so well.
Onwards chaps!
Monday, 2 August 2010
So how's training going generally?
Well - when I'm not agreeing to do stupid things like four peaks in a day...quite well I'd say.
Have managed to stay injury free (touch wood) for a little while now and am up to running about 1.5 miles in the mornings (yes, this means getting up at 0515, but am getting the hang of that now), before doing my morning sets. Yesterday (sunday) I ran my first 'mile in one go' as I usually go somewhere, then stop and have a stretch and then run back. So having managed one mile without stopping I'm now adding little bits to my there and back again run until it's two miles in the morning - at that point I might have to start running in the evenings as that's as early as I'm getting up!
The sets are going well - I've added in some kicks to boost the cardio aspect and have levelled up on my weights - now curling 5kg on the bicep (no change) and 11kg on the tricep (change). This feels good, and means I don't have to swap the weights around which saves me some time in the mornings too.
Even managed to get some pad work in on Sunday - which was nice :)
Have managed to stay injury free (touch wood) for a little while now and am up to running about 1.5 miles in the mornings (yes, this means getting up at 0515, but am getting the hang of that now), before doing my morning sets. Yesterday (sunday) I ran my first 'mile in one go' as I usually go somewhere, then stop and have a stretch and then run back. So having managed one mile without stopping I'm now adding little bits to my there and back again run until it's two miles in the morning - at that point I might have to start running in the evenings as that's as early as I'm getting up!
The sets are going well - I've added in some kicks to boost the cardio aspect and have levelled up on my weights - now curling 5kg on the bicep (no change) and 11kg on the tricep (change). This feels good, and means I don't have to swap the weights around which saves me some time in the mornings too.
Even managed to get some pad work in on Sunday - which was nice :)
Sunday, 1 August 2010
Something else to train for
The welshgirl is finally walking!
In a month Steve and I will be climbing Snowdon, I will be doing it to raise money for Asylum Justice (he is doing it to make sure I don't get lost and make it back in one piece!)
Asylum Justice is a charity which gives free legal advice to asylum seekers in Swansea, Newport and Cardiff, all of which are dispersal towns and so have a lot of asylum seekers, many of which cannot get legal aid to pay for representation.
Donations can be made here:
http://www.justgiving.com/legallyshortgoesforawalk
In a month Steve and I will be climbing Snowdon, I will be doing it to raise money for Asylum Justice (he is doing it to make sure I don't get lost and make it back in one piece!)
Asylum Justice is a charity which gives free legal advice to asylum seekers in Swansea, Newport and Cardiff, all of which are dispersal towns and so have a lot of asylum seekers, many of which cannot get legal aid to pay for representation.
Donations can be made here:
http://www.justgiving.com/legallyshortgoesforawalk
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