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Saturday, September 30, 2017

Tabata

https://globalmartialarts.university
#GMAU90DayChallenge
jillskrav.blogspot.com

I have a nice collection of exercise videos, including Tapout, Tapout XT, a bunch of the P90x series, Asylum, UFC, and Global Martial Arts University's very own Krav Maga Workout (which is awesome).  When I am seriously training krav maga, I don't usually have time for any other type of workout.  Sometimes when I am working on krav maga alone, I struggle with staying focused and keeping my workouts as high energy as possible.  I have solved this problem by creating tabata workouts for myself using techniques from my krav maga curriculum.  With a tabata, you plan a few exercises to do for a certain amount of time before resting and then repeating them again a bunch of times before moving on to the next exercise. I use an app that I pulled off of the internet for free that lets me program in my own music and has prompts to "start working," "rest," and "tabata complete."   I like to do 6 exercises 6 times each for 60 seconds with a 15 second rest between each set.  If I want more structure to my warm up and cool down, I will set up 8 tabatas instead.  Here is a tabata I used the other day that had me sweating.

8 tabatas, 6 sets each, work 60 seconds each set, rest 15 seconds between each set:

1.  Warm up:  Grapevine alternating with Krav Maga footwork (the contrast makes you think about  your feet and where they should be), jumping jacks, jog in place (high knees), leg stretches, squat jumps, pushups.

2.  Bag fight (quick, logical combatives)

3. Planks

4. Curls and triceps (3 sets each)

5.  Bridge kicks

6. Sprawl, knee kicks, stand in base.

7.  Abdomen and core.

8. Cool down and stretch.

When I was finished, I felt as if I had a great workout and solid krav maga training session.

Monday, September 18, 2017

Global Martial Arts 90 Day Challenge - Krav Maga Orange Belt

https://globalmartialarts.university
#GMAU90DayChallenge
jillskrav.blogspot.com

Hi, I'm Jill and I'm writing to share my martial arts training with you.  I hold a yellow belt in krav maga through Global Martial Arts University and a third degree black belt in taekwondo with American Taekwondo Association. As part of a contest for enrolled students, I have been challenged by Global Martial Arts to earn my next belt in krav maga within the next 90 days.  If my testing video is voted best, I will receive $400 toward a cruise.  The runner up wins training equipment, and everyone who completes the challenge gets a super cool t-shirt.  I love competition, but only when good sportsmanship prevails, and I offer my competitors encouragement and support.  My real reward is intrinsic, but winning at least a t-shirt would be fun, so game on! 

For me, this 90 day challenge will be tough, and I will succeed only through focused training and perseverance.  To be eligible to test for orange belt, I must first complete 72 hours of training as a yellow belt. I still have 47 hours of training left, so it will take me the entire 90 days to complete the challenge and I will need to pass testing on my first attempt. It took me two tries to earn yellow belt.

I am proud of the years of training behind me and what martial arts has done for my confidence and self control.  I love the element of surprise when I tell people I am a black belt in taekwondo and cannot wait until I can say I am a black belt in krav maga too.  If impatience could help me earn orange belt within 90 days, it would certainly be mine.  Instead I will fully experience yellow belt, complete with its good days and bad, self doubt and confidence, awkwardness and mastery.  Within 90 days I will humbly submit a testing video and receive detailed feedback from my instructor.

One of my favorite quotes of all time is by Henry Ford, "Whether you think you can or think you can't you're right."  I can and I will.  I invite you to read my weekly blog as I document my experience.