Ending 2012

We always finish the year with a Christmas party & toy deliver the next day.  We had a great turn-out for both.  Next year we are going to try something a little different for the party.  50 or more kids running around crazy while everyone else tries to have a conversation is little hectic.  It is always great to see everyone come together even if for one brief loud and cramped moment.  The next morning we had about 40 cars loud up and head out to three different places to deliver  gifts from the toy drive.  It is a great experience for all those involved.  One of our Black belts has gone every year for the past 8 years. It really makes you appreciate the blessings in your life.  I hope everyone has enjoyed being apart of World Karate in 2012.  I am looking forward to our 13th year in trying to change lives one class at a time.

Big Bend

The 7hr drive is always more than worth it.  We had great weather and an awesome weekend with family.  There is something special about these mountains that you have to see to appreciate.

2400 ft back down to the car

made it to the top of Emory Peak in 1:27

Haunted House

Fun, Fun, Fun.  We did not do the haunted house last year.  October is always a very busy month for us with Black Belt & all other belts testing in the same month.  I am really glad we took the extra time to have this event again. Most people seem to enjoy it & are very thankful that we put it together.  It would not be possible without all the help from people setting up, participating, and clean up. Thanks to all that helped and enjoyed this years haunted house.

Test night

Part one is over. Hardest test I have ever done for lots of reasons.  We have a great group & I am so proud to have them as students.  Master Payne is still kicking butt & setting a great example how to be an incredible instructor & person. I am so grateful that he is a part of our school. I will give a full report later when my head stops pounding.  Thanks to everyone that made it an epic night I will always treasure.

Weeks 9/17 - 9/30

Mon.  Sparring with some strength & conditioning after

Tues. a.m. 8 hill repeats up school street. 9m
         p.m. Light grappling

Wed. a.m. 45 min. on the bike with strength training after

Thurs. a.m. 1 hr run with 3 sets of squats & pull-ups.    Forms at night.

Fri.  run 9.3m cielo vista loop with Josh.

Sat. run 2.5 hrs on trails

Sun.  Family hike & swim in the river.

Mon. Fun night of sparring.  Those guys are good.  Abs & push- ups after.

Tues. run 8 hill repeats 9m

Wed.  all weapons training. Stick, bow, & knife sparring. Does not get much more fun then a few guys whacking each other with foam & plastic.

Thurs.biked 45 min. Squats & pull-ups after. Light sparring at night with forms after.

Fri. Zip. Knee was hurting.

Sat. AMA kids black belt test training.   Strength training

Sun. 55 min on bike with squats & pull- ups after
 Decided to give up on all running until my foot starts hurting. Taking every step every day in pain is getting old.

Master Payne, 26 years of running a top-notch school.

weeks 9/3 - 9/9 & 9/10 - 9/16

Mon.  a.m. ran 1hr. 3 sets of pull-ups & one legged squats
       p.m. Sparred 6 x 4min , 4 x 5min. finished with strength & conditioning

Tues. a.m  Ran 1 hr - 6 x 1/3 mile hill repeats.
          p.m. 4 x 3min grappling - forms

Wed.  a.m. strength training 
           p.m. 1hr grappling - finished with push- ups & abs

Thurs. a.m. ran 1hr
           p.m  sparred 4 x 5min

Fri.   Ran 2.5hrs out at Government Canyon.  Was planning on doing 3hrs.  The thermometer at the trail head said 97.  I'm not acclimated for that kind of heat.

Sat. Zip. clowned around at a bike race

Sun.  45 min on bike with some strength training

Mon. a.m. ran 1hr. with 3 sets of pull-ups & one legged squats
 p.m. Foot really hurt, so grappled an hour with some push-ups & abs.

Tues. a.m. ran 1hr - 6 x hill repeats
 p.m. Parent orientation for boys.  good excuse to call it a day.

Wed.  Ran 2m with alpine than 10 x 150m full out with 10 sec. break.

Thurs. a.m. biked 45 min. with strength training after.
            p.m.  Sparred with some good forms practice after.

Fri.  ran 1hr 20 min. with almost 1000ft of gain.

Sat.  ran the 9.3m cielo vista loop before classes.  Man I miss that loop.

Sun. ran 1hr hard effort with squats & pull-ups after.

First 2 weeks back with some actual real running effort. 38m & 45m on the two weeks.  I'm not going to load up to much running over the next few weeks. I can feel my fitness improving with the added work-outs.  4 weeks until the test & I am feeling pretty good with my skills & fitness.  My foot however is still giving me a healthy dose of pain.  I'm hoping that a week taper before the test will give it enough  rest to hold up. 

Week 8/27 - 9/2

Mon. Called off the training. Rolled my ankle.

Tues. Biked 50 min, then strength training.

Wed. 4 bow sparring matches, 10 hands only 4 min. Matches. Finished with some conditioning drills.

Thurs. Ran 1 HR. 3 sets of pull - ups & one legged squats. Forms

Fri. Ran 1 HR.

Sat. Ran 95 min on purgatory creek trail in San Marcos with Bruce from New York. He was not used to the humidity. Bruce is a former division one track runner. He knows a lot about how to run short distances fast, but when he got out of the car with no water, I thought this could end bad. I shared my 22oz of water with him and he got through it. Running in Texas summer is like a totally different sport from just running.

Sun. Pool side

Not as much sparring as I would have liked. Maybe it's good to give my face a little rest from taking a beating 3 times a week. Having a ton of fun hitting the pads & pushing myself. It can actually be so peaceful in the middle of a sparring match. You can't think about anything else and have to be totally in the moment. Live to train - train to live.