Well ... I'm tired of training like an ignorant TKD student. I am one of those students that puts their game face on every single time I step into the Dojo and I give it my all - everytime. I can't even tell you how many times I've cried all of the way home, because I desire to be so much better than I am, and I am frustrated by how much I completely fall short of the martial artist that I aspire to be. I take this all VERY seriously.
When I'm not in the Dojo taking classes and bugging my instructors to death with my never ending questions, I'm at home practicing and constantly doing extra workouts to improve my flexibility, agility, strength, power, balance, focus, anaerobic conditioning and cardio capacity. I read books and google for nuggets on what to do better or what I should be doing, etc, etc, etc.
I admit that I'm the TKD geek that has a training and goals journal that I write in between classes as I watch the black belts or others as they train.
HOWEVER, I have fallen into the "paralysis by analysis" rut and need to pick ONE thing to focus on. I believe that I am so scattered running in a million TKD and fitness directions that I am completely training ineffectively. Because of this, I have decided to become truly knowledgeable about the physiology behind our sport and how to focus my training by selecting fitness routines with precision. I purchased a classic, "Complete Conditioning for Martial Arts" by Sean Cochran. Within the first 5 pages, I realized that I have SO much to learn. I have been training myself like I'm prepping for winning a football game, not for excelling in martial arts! I also realized that I am super ignorant about all things anatomy and physiology, especially as it relates to training and performing with intelligence.
I am very excited about taking this new journey that will stretch my cognition about training in a purposeful way, instead of doing rudamentary things that are appropriate for other sports. Today I'm learning about the different martial arts training activities and the energy systems used. For the martial arts practitioner that wants to excel in his/her sport, it's imperative to know which energy systems is used in the various exercises. For example, in TKD when one performs roundhouse kicks, it's a high intensity activity that uses the phosphagen system (anaerobic exercise). Both inside and outside of the Dojo, that martial artist will need to perform exercises that train his/her body to be more efficient anaerobically both in the production and replenishment of ATP (rest).
Is there anyone else out there who is on this quest or has already mastered this level of thinking and has translated it into training? I would love to hear from you.
If I think too long about how much I need to learn and apply to my training, it's so overwhelming that I get an ice cream headache!!!
