Hey all,
I originally posted this as a blog, but I was wondering what people thought so I decided to put it here as well.
Let's consider a situation where we wouldn't know when we would be able to train next. I am very much in this situation as a graduating student who has random meetings and projects and thesis and tests and assignments each week. Thus, we can't schedule some sort of organized daily/weekly/monthly/yearly routine. So free time pops up, and we can train. How do we choose what to work on? I create a rule-set. Do rule 1 first, then if more time comes up or Rule 1 fails, go to Rule 2 (and so on). Here's my "Random Training Schedule":
Rule 1: Given the option of general training vs. technique, always pick technique. We learn what we practice. I used to think that working out and becoming stronger would allow stronger punches. It’s not so at all. Proper technique and practice of punching develops faster and stronger punches; the act of punching trains the proper muscles, and that would not occur in a weight room. (Same for kicks you wise guys out there.) Another thing is that having Rule 1 be technique always makes technique come first. Never train technique when you are tired. You are teaching yourself bad habits in that case. Might as well go to Rule 2 in that case.
Rule 2: If technique is infeasible (you are tired, you just did technique, or something else), work on aerobic. This means running, jump-roping, biking, etc. Aerobic endurance disappears faster than any other type of fitness. Better aerobic leads to bigger gains when you work on other stuff like technique, speed, or strength (your muscles fatigue slower because there’s more oxygen, quicker recovery time, etc).
Rule 3: Work on strength. Use free weights if possible in motions similar to techniques because then you employ the proper muscles and stabilizer muscles. Next best is free weights on other stuff possibly unrelated to TKD training since you shouldn’t develop an imbalance in muscles (although that’s doubtful if you only have time for “Random Training”). If you don’t have free weights, do general strength building activities such as squats, squat-kicks, (or my favorite squat-jump-kicks), horse stance, static strength (like holding your leg out in side kick, front kick, roundhouse kick, etc), pushups, and oh I’m sure you’ll come up with something else that can stress your muscles.
And there you have it. My Random Training schedule. Good for quick choices when you don’t have time to create a schedule.
