The thugs challange!!
Thug is not usualy, in polite society, considered to be a positive term. Usualy refers to crooks, hoods and people of low moral charictor. Well, in SOME places it is a mark of respect and HONER!! The wellspring of this challange concept is sutch a place.
I will be attending A SCA fighting event in Manchester NH on the 31st of January.(Those of you who have NO idea what SCA fighting is check out some of my vids..the guys hitting eachother with sticks in armor..full force!) The set up of the turnament is 1 on1 fights, winner stays in and emediatly fights another person. If you are hit in the arm than you lose the use of the limb, same with legs. If you win a match after loosing a limb you start the next fight at a disadvantage. Thare are usualy more than 200 people at this thing with one line feeding about 8 rings (Talk about LORD of the Rings..Ha, Ha!!) with no brakedowns by weight class, skill,age etc. Just you fighting any and all comers. You get one point for fighting each bout and 2 for each win . Sounds cool, no?
One little thing to mention………..IT LASTS 3 HOURS…….The only rest you get is standing in line!!
Obviousely this is sprint and time based cardio!!Not to mention sheer determination!! I have been in the top 3rd ranking for the last 5+ years. So here is the challange!!
If you are a martial artist who can attend classes on a saterday attend as many classes(If you are teaching it does not count!) as you can on saterday..at least one sparring class if you can..at your DOJO and than run/jog/walk/crawl 3 miles.
If you can not attend a class work a bag for 1hr with kicks, 1hr with hands, and 1 hr yith both.
If you can not get a hold of a bag or something else to hit than eather work each hand and foot and knee and elbo strike 200 times(Both right and left) or cycle through the cardio equipment at your gym for 30 minuets twice on EVERY TYPE of machene they have.
Your last option is run 6 miles and do 10 sets of 10 to 20 pushups and 20 sets of 25 bodyweight squats.
Those of you out thare who hold rank of 1st Dan or higher KNOW that all of these are simple walks in the park compared to a Dan rank test!!!
I am interested to see how folks do on this..I will be in NH personifying the sperit and soal of a NORTHERN ARMY THUG!!!
YOU BETTER SMILE WHEN YOU SAY THAT!!!!!! GO 3rd Devision!
Hope that you all buck up to your highest potential!!
January 22, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Well Sensi John…this sounds very intrigueing & interesting, & I am up 4 the challenge! Due 2 my circumstances, & limited access of the variety of yer options, I will have 2 follow through with the Heavy bag challenge! I will make the arrangements 2 accomplish your Thug Challenge!!! I will have fun mentally & physically challenging myself 2 this honorable challenge! I will let U know how it goes…
January 22, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Hey John, this one is a "killa"!
January 22, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Hey Sensei John, I’ll do the circuit of 2 sessions of 30 minutes each on every type of cardio machine at my gym. Treadmill, elliptical, recumbent bike, stepmill, regular bike, and stairclimber. Wow, 6 hours of cardio in the gym, my spirit and determination will definitely be tested! Thanks for the awesome test! I will post my results when finished! The martial arts challenges make me want to train in that even more. Wish me luck. SHUGYO!
January 23, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Hey Sensei - I will be doing the Bag challenge tomo - will get up a 7AM to complete.
Then I will be sparring, running 3 miles, then i will do the push ups and quats as a bonus! I dont aim on letting you, myself, or the team down - I will be totally honest and will post my results on Sunday!! Thanks for the Challenge!
January 27, 2009 at 7:54 pm
im gaining muscle from this challenge and its kicking my ass lol i cant do 6miles but im doing 2-3…i hope to get up to 6miles by the end of february..i do barbell squats and 10 sets of 10-15 pushups on my knuckles…whoo!! i havent trained in soo long i forgot how hectic it is for us martial artists. i also do 200 punches in horse stance to strengthen my quads…its great!
January 28, 2009 at 11:14 am
Have a great time, sensiD. Me? I’d pick all the daaaamn LOOOOONG lines (more rest)! LOL