Saturday, November 21st, 2009 | Author:
lea
Well yesterday was a real buzz, I spent my day attending the I-Combat instructor course, and of course, that means I get the rotten end of the stick for a change when it comes to some fitness and combat training! That’s right, me and the other trainees spent the full day punching, kicking, kneeing and elbowing through pads and partners with everything we had and under the watchful eyes of our instructors Jade and James of Impact Training – who of course enjoyed every moment… from a distance.
I-Combat, as the name suggests is a specific type of fitness workout that utilises a combination of techniques taken from boxing, Muay Thai, kick boxing, etc, to get the heart rate up and get every muscle you knew you had – and then some - working out hard hard hard! Training is tailored to individual clients of all levels and is great for basic through advanced fitness clients looking for something different and challenging in a workout.
For those who attend 360 Combat Club training much of this will be familiar already as Kapap training also focuses heavily on combat conditioning using similar techniques. It’s great to get a different perspective though and see how this type of training can and is being applied in the fitness industry where it is less about surviving a deadly assault and more about getting everyone involved and out of their arm chair.
Well as usual a great day out and I think it’s safe to say that we all went home knackered, but with smiley faces – as you do.
Wednesday, November 04th, 2009 | Author:
lea
Well finally I got back out there for some running, it’s been a while and wow did I need it!
It was painful at first and my running partner nearly killed me, but our half-hour run was so good I’ve decided to change the 360cc timetable to add running (or other cardio) into the equation. Yes, the first 30 minutes will be a beach run if for no other reason than to knacker us out for the training session that will follow!
Why do we want to be knackered for training you ask? Basically, training whilst fatigued is probably the closest we can safely come to mimicking the adrenaline dump experienced in a real-life situation. For example, fine motor skills are out-the-window and what you’re left with is the simple ability to throw whatever you’ve got left at your opponent – gross motor skills driven by the pure determination to win.
Hard cardio training also plays an important role in pushing our mind and body to the limit – to the point that we feel like we just can’t go on – and it’s at that point that we as self protection trainee’s can learn to push-through our personal threshold and develop a ‘never give up’ mentality. This mental aspect is core to our training philosophy! Our regulars will recall participating in ’mob’ training at some point, a technique that involves firstly tiring yourself out, e.g. by sprinting a few laps, and then being encircled and pounded by an aggresive surrounding crowed – a no-win exercise that develops this survival attitude.
Cardiovascular fitness is of course vital in the self protection arena. Although our initial goal may be to drop the guy within the first 3 seconds of a conflict, reality is that you will most likely be faced with more than one aggressor and fitness is going to be vital. Or, maybe your game plan is to run away – which would of course be futile if your attacker were to be fitter than you! Cardio should therefore be apart of a self protection training programme. Personally I’ve gotten a bit lazy over the years and 360cc training has been mostly focused on close quarter combative skills and techniques, with the caveat that everyone knows how to exercise and should be doing so in their own time. Of course, some do and some don’t; with work and other commitments it’s understandable and I myself have been guilty of proclaiming that ’I just don’t have time.’ It’s time to pick it up, get out there, and enjoy!
Wednesday, November 04th, 2009 | Author:
lea
The article states it uses hardware that is available “wherever building supplies or landscaping materials are sold,” not ACE Hardware or Speedex here in Dubai then – unfortunately for me. So my quest continues to find 1.5 inch PVC tubing WITH the the same-size elbow and connector joints. Looks like a trip to Satwa then.
When I’m done, I’m expecting great things from my homemade parallettes which were described in the CrossFit Journal, ‘Really Cool Homemade Parallettes’ (issue 13, Sept. 2003). What are parallettes? Basically, they look like a pair of small parallel bars and are used in gymnastics - great for developing coordination, accuracy, agility, and balance – not to mention they look like great fun!
I’ll update this page on my progress once I can find all the parts!
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Update: 6th November
Thanks to Nasser Al Matrooshi Trading, Satwa, I have most of the parts in hand. With the exception of the tube endings (which they gave me the wrong sizes) it’s all glued together and sat outside to dry overnight. Alas I’m not sure it’ll be useable just yet as the frame wobbles without the tube endings; I’ll give it a go tomorrow and let’s see…
Saturday, October 31st, 2009 | Author:
lea
Whoever said trampolining is for girls? Talk about a good workout! I could barely walk after finishing a one hour class; an hour divided between me and three others that is!
At the time of writing this, Sham’s Gymnastics in Umm Suqeim is the only place (I know of) offering any kind of gymnastics classes for adults. I’m one of the lucky few who’s got in on the action 
Saying that, the UAE Parkour team just emailed my saying that parkour classes would be starting soon in Dubai. I like to think of parkour as the grownups version of gymnastics, something that we can all take part in without the hassle of having to religiously point our toes and straighten our arms.
Gymnastics in general is an excellent sport for all ages – if you can find a class – developing muscle strength, endurance, and muscle motor control. Trampolining too is sure to get your heart muscle going if you’re looking to try something different and something that is most definitely fun – and in the case of a beginner such as myself – very entertaining.
