| Training on your own [message #21] |
Thu, 03 September 2009 10:56  |
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I recently had a student tell me that he's having a tough time training on his own (he's going to be away from the club for three months). He asked me how to train on his own. This was the advice I gave him:
"One way to make a training plan stick is to do micro-workouts. Set aside 10 minutes and just go through the super set that we do at the beginning. It's a much easier time commitment than setting aside an hour. You should even be able to do that every day. Once you have that on a regular basis add your forms afterward. Run through each a few times and that should be another 5 to 10 minutes or so. Then throw in the basic kicks. Start small with routines and it will be easier. All told, you should be able to get through everything we would do in class in about 30-45 minutes. Don't expect to hit 1.5 hours on your own. If you ever find yourself saying that you don't have the time, cut everything back to that first 10 minutes. You should be able to at least do that everyday."
For those of you who have trained on your own, what would you add? What would you change? What worked for you and what did not?
Thanks,
Greg
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| Re: Training on your own [message #46 is a reply to message #21 ] |
Sun, 25 April 2010 18:27  |
 Mel Elmer
Messages: 13
Registered: August 2009
Location: Long Beach |
Junior Member |
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I would agree with this. I think it's important to if you do nothing else hit a few minutes. It's also nice to set up accountability of some sort. In one instance, when I started training on my own, early on, I would have a couple of friends who would go to the gym with me. They wanted to work out too. So I led warm ups, and then they went to lift weights, or do their own thing, while I then went through my forms, 3 step sparring and worked on kicks and punches. So I made a plan and with the help of my friends we more or less stuck to it. And then since we were all leaving together, we had a scheduled time to go to the gym together.
Also, I think perhaps it's ok to acknowledge, that the intensity is likely not to be as strong when you are on your own. It happens, but work to push yourself at least for short spurts at a time... Even if it's just during a certain segment of the class.
Melinda Elmer
melinda.elmer@gmail.com
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| Re: Training on your own [message #55 is a reply to message #21 ] |
Mon, 16 August 2010 15:14 |
amyrettler
Messages: 2
Registered: January 2010 |
Junior Member |
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Here were thoughts I shared:
One of the great benefits of being in Madison for class is that it's scheduled, you don't have to work it into your calendar on your own. If you can work out a schedule where you are and knowing what types of challenges you might encounter (a weekend away, day trips, etc) that might help you keep it going. When I'm traveling for work, I like to work out in the morning, because I don't know what the evening might bring for conflicts.
The other area I try to combat is the idea that I need to devote an hour or more to TKD. You may want to think about what your expectations are for how long you want to work out and what you can actually give to it. If you try to do just 30 minutes 3 times a week - is that manageable for you? or can you do more? less? I've had 10 minute workouts and even though I would have loved to do more, I still was able to do something.
The other idea that Sahbuhnim-cae shared with me is that it may help you to find a take away or lesson learned from the workout. You may consider having this be your contemplation each workout - what did you learn from TKD today? This advice definitely impacted my workouts - it wasn't just about doing it to do it, but it was doing the workout and growing from it. It could be something like I lose my foot position during kicking combinations to differences between your left and right sides. Then you can take that with you for the next workout as a possible focus.
Last, but not least, make it fun. Do the things you like to do! Whether it's forms, kicks, blocks, 3s/1s, etc - if you need a way to get started, start with what you like. You don't need to do the full warm up sequence to do a TKD workout. I've started a workout by doing 2 of every form, but be careful that you don't injure yourself by not getting your body warmed up.
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| Re: Training on your own [message #56 is a reply to message #21 ] |
Mon, 23 August 2010 23:30 |
SarahRob
Messages: 3
Registered: July 2009
Location: Madison |
Junior Member |
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1. Sometimes, getting started is the hardest part. Even if you have a good hour and a half to spend, gearing up to practice for that hour alone is a challenge. When I tell myself that I'm only going to spend 5 or 10 minutes working hand techniques or doing isometrics I find it inevitably leads to 5 or 10 minutes more, and then another 5 or 10, and then before I know it I've gone over my time limit and I still have all these things I want to work on.
2. It's cheesy, but the other thing that works for me is thinking about all of you guys. I know that if any of you were with me at that moment I debate starting, you would be cheering me on and so even when I'm alone, I know I'm not really. It's super cheesy, but the TKD solidarity is occasionally the only thing that will get me moving.
3. I also keep a journal which helps me keep track of different things I would like to work on and insights I have gained from practicing. This helps to keep my focus and goals clear so that when I go to train I'm not bogged down by the 100 different things I might do. I can look back at my notes and pick out one or two things that are most salient for me at any given time.
"The warrior acts, and the fool only reacts."
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