My Life

Work outs 2012

2012-02-03T07:32:00.001+08:00

These are the stuff I get down and dirty when I am at my morning trainings: (Evenings' to be updated soon)

Mandatory:
40mins + slow jog/run (depends on my mood *grin)
Distance = (anywhere from 4.8km - 6.5km)
2 x 100 abdominal crunches
2 x 50 side abdominal crunches
2 x 50 russian rowboats
2 x 50 pelvic thrusts (oh yeah, these are added into my routine for vanity sake. They help shape my buttocks)
5 x 20 sec front planks
3 x 20 sec side planks x both sides
3 x 20 bicep dips
If A: 3 x 100 sec shikodachi, 3 x 100 mae-geri, 3 x 100 soto-geri (L&R)
If B: 5 x 100 zuki (Chudan, Jodan)
If C: 5 x 100 blocks (All 5 basics of defence)

Alternate A:
5 x rounds of circuit training
- speed bag + pushups
- rowboat situps + back arches
- side hurdles + skipping rope
- shadow boxing drills

Alternate B:
3 x 2:30 bag work - 1:30 rest intervals
500 rope skips
Sprint drills
Leg swings (kungfu style)

Alternate C:
Flexibility stretches
Dropfall drills
Handstands

Gym routine: (1:15 rests in-between reps, 3:00 rests in-between sets)

Mandatory:
120 x leg raises
3 x 10 bicep curls to exhaustion
50+ abdominal stop crunch to exhaustion

Alternate day 1:
Jevarok's Complex
Reverse back curls
Atlas lifts
Lat pulls (Front/Back)
Forearm press downs
Reverse Forearm pull downs

Alternate day 2:
Bench presses
Dumbell curls
Arnold's press
Pectoral fly
Plate press
Plate rotations

Alternate day 3:
Leg press
Reverse leg curls
10kg plate inclined situps
Deadlift

It might sound like a lot.. but it takes only about 3 hours to complete the entire routine. Its worth it! :)

CJ

New Year...New Post

2012-01-26T19:23:00.000+08:00

Today will be the 4th day of the Chinese Lunar New Year and the first post after about 3 months...

A lot is happening this year in terms of karate training for me. First of all, the hobby class for the combat karate in RTC will be commencing soon! Wow! I am really excited about that because it is something which will see me passing on my knowledge of karate and sharing knowledge with enthuiasts on my own for the first time! Then in a few months.. April to be exact will be SKA's effort at organising the international tournament headed by Mr Wong. Boy! I bet that will be a busy period of me. And of course there will be the 13th (unlucky maybe?) APSKF Championship at the end of this year! Oh that will be when I will be taking my 4th Dan grading, if there is a grading to be held.

Being 40 don't seem to be affecting me much although I like to play out the fact I am an old man.. but something about my steps seem lighter... maybe its the fact that a new year beckons and there is still so much to do.. to plan.. there is really no time to think about being old, wakakaka...

Just the other day I was commenting to Pam that I was still aiming to outdo, outlast and outfight my student who are in their 20s... lol.. then I paused to think... has it been almost 24 years already since I started my path of training karate? May 3 1988 was the day I started. Then I remembered.. no.

Cary Chan was an old schoolmate of mine who reminded me that while we were still in school.. I would draw a circle of chalk in the middle of the school courtyard and ask all my NPCC squadmates to come at me with sticks, chairs, and everything they can think of and attack me in the circle. I would just stand there and fend them off all at once. LOL. Back then, 1984-1987.. I was quite poor then, I often would have little money for extras.. so I offered anyone who wanted to take a shot at hitting my stomach for free drinks, hee.. there were always takers and I got a lot of free drink mind you!

Anyway, I guess you can say I began my martial arts training even earlier then SKA. I remembered when I was in primary school, I was often bullied by kids much bigger sized than me. I was really round back then. By round I meant fat..but never jolly because of the constant taunting and jeering from people around me... even teachers. They were horrible back then. Even the nicest teachers were capable of moments of cruelty towards kids... and most of us would not say a single word to our parents for fear of getting double punishment. I know what my father would have said.. must be you right? Otherwise why would you be punished? Blaaaa Blaa..

There was this show back when I was in primary 5... some show about Judo. It created quite a following for Judo then and alot of my friends would be challenging each other to throw each other on their backs. I was of course on the wrong end of the challenges, often having people picking on me to practise. Heh heh heh, I was stubborn as hell, I simply refuse to fall.. because I don't like to lose, I don't want to lose. But.. eventually, I will always be the one to fall because they are simply BIG kids! There was once, during recess I vividly remember, this boy called Lyndon Chow. He challenged me to a judo match in the music room one day when the teacher was late to class, and of course gamely I took him on. And gamely I was knocked to the ground but this time, he had other things on his mind... he wanted me to say uncle. (Saying uncle is like crawling between someone's legs..like a dog. LIKE A DOG?! NEVER) And so I refused and was continually pinned to the ground. I tell you.. I can still remember the sounds of the cheering class.. his weight on my body as I struggled to get to my feet.. I was struggling for what seem like an eternity on the floor.. wriggling painfully against the mosiac tiled flooring of the music room. Of course eventually the teacher came in and order was restored... but not before I was sitting quietly at the back of the class, hot and flustered with my uniform all torn and blacken.

Guess my training goes back much further than I cared to remember :) So Lyndon Chow, where are you now? Care for a rematch? :)

The determined one

I miss you my friend

2011-09-30T18:23:00.001+08:00

I stumbled across this youtube video today.

順子-星星(I'm not a star)

For a short while I sat there in the approaching evening light caught in a seemingly endless loop of memories of me and my friend Alan.

He was a firecracker of a friend if I ever knew one. He was a hokkien foul language spewing skinny tattooed gangster with a taste for fast cars and quick women. He is absolutely the last person in the world I would ever associate myself with as a good friend. I find in him everything I am not and everything I do not wish to be.

However, I spent almost 8 years of my life including him in almost every aspect of my life. My wedding, the birth of my daughters, setting up a company together, he was there helping out at my grandparent's funerals, (LOL) he advised me when I was buying all my cars (much to Pam's displeasure).

Pam didn't like him very much, well, I don't blame her for that.. nor those around me who questions my wisdom is associating myself with a person "like" Alan. He wasn't exactly a "nice" guy.

But he was a friend. Most importantly, he was my friend. Ever since I was young, I am not exactly sociable in the friendship department. So I only have a limited number of friends I can call close friends.. people whom willingly associate themselves with me despite my quirks.. I think I can limit those numbers with my fingers and toes combined.

Unfortunately over the years, some went our separate ways, some passed away... some disappeared. As I listen to these songs, I want to remember my friend Alan the way we used to... laughed and grumbled and aspired.

Whereever you are now my friend... don't drive too fast.

順子- 寫一首歌

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;VJ&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

CJ

Modern Warfare and an open mind

2011-09-15T22:40:00.003+08:00

Karate has outlived it's usefulness as a form of modern self-defense. Don't mind me saying that. I love my karate. I will never give it up. I am passionate and obsessed with it until the day I die!

But I say this even as I prepare to celebrate my 23.5 years of karate training. I used to think being a pure stylist but incorporating the gist and best of other arts into my karate, I can somehow work miracles and transform this karate system into something which works for me. Maybe it might, I am not sure.. but one thing I am sure of is that once I opened my mind to the possibilities of training in other forms of martial arts WITHOUT PREJUDICE, I find that I am able to incorporate the best techniques, what works for me, arming myself with weapons of choice for combat.. then using it when opportunities presents themselves. Once the main stay of traditional self-defense syllabus, I find practical combat techniques in other styles of martial arts.

As an education, I believe every person serious in learning martial arts should take up a form of orthodorx style. Sorry by this I mean karate, tae kwon do, judo, silat, muay thai, etc etc. As long as the martial art style has a structured syllabus of training and progression, I believe any dilligent student will get a grounding in basic style of combat arts in due time.

I reckon learning martial arts akin to formal education. Kindergarten, primary school, secondary, tertiary, university and Phd. I suppose you can say these are similar to our belt system.. similar but not restricted to one style of combat arts.

MMA or mixed martial arts, Krav Maga, Systema, etc will be around the level of tertiary or university, you simply need to have a base in some form of martial arts to be able to utilise the techniques which are taught in those sessions. Strikes such as kicks and punches, grappling to submission. If we have not learnt how to strike properly or conditioned or bodies to receive them, or not learnt to breakfall, break grips, grapple, or even get into the half guard position when you are being pinned.. how are you going to be an efficient mma fighter?

Hence my view that a person moving on to mma, krav maga, systema, or any of the practical combat system out there, ought to have enough mastery over his base art that will serve as a fundamental platform where he can analyse and digest his training.

I have no problem where someone picks up muay thai and bjj during his training sessions of mma, but I think the class will be a confusing, boring and indeed a dangerous one for these kind of practioners. It is dangerous for their partners as well. Imagine someone like that doing an armbar on you.. yicks.

My ~~irritation~~ pet peeves for martial arts are pretty numerous.. I enjoy having discussions with people regarding martial arts.. but I simply don't enjoy having arguments with people with obviously less training and even less understanding of certain techniques but they insist that they are executing it in the right situation and right time.. oh well. For times like these..I simply nod my head, smile and walk away.. nothing lost in not continuing that conversation, nothing to be gained either. Humility is simply lost on them.

So anyways, given anytime and place, anyone trying a sports kumite move would probably be on the wrong end of a take down from me. Its not the art.. its the person. My 2 cents.

~CJ~

MOTIVATION

2011-09-15T21:15:00.002+08:00

FOR MY ART...
FOR MY STUDENTS...
FOR MY FAMILY...

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

...FOR ME...

My Inspiration

2011-09-07T10:44:00.002+08:00

I AM AH BUI!!! AND I WILL DESTROY YOU!!! ANY TAKERS? :P

BUTTERBEAN

Breakthrough!!!!

2011-09-06T10:03:00.001+08:00

Day 61

Yes!! Finally, after yo-yoing around 112kg and 114 kg.. finally the scales show me 110kg today!! YESH!

So I finally get to incorporate skipping and sprinting into my exercise regime without the fear of damaging my knees.. well if I over do it.. I will still damage it. But it was my target to hit 110kg and below before incorporating these exercises into my regime.

I am currently nursing a sore left shoulder, right calf muscle stress and left back hip pain. I also think I picked up a sore left wrist from Judo sparring on Sunday.. grrr... but at least as a white belt I got throw a brown belt.. and during ground sparring, I managed to reverse pin 2 black belts wakakaka.., well maybe they were just being nice to me.. but still.. not bad for a white belt eh?

Once I break 100kg, I will be resuming full karate training. Once that happens, there will be no turning back, I will NEVER..

NEVER..

see 100kg again...

NEVER..

EVER..

I don't think I can don this fight back to fitness from flab again.. this time it was from 136kg some more.. buay tahan.. feel like an eternity and my joints, muscles and cardio system feel like it is going to break down anytime like that.. kena sai.. pui..

ok lar.. I am on cloud nine now.. going to take a hot shower and wash off today's workout before deciding with Pam how to celebrate... hee..

CJ

Rest and Repair Day

2011-08-31T06:57:00.000+08:00

Day 55

Here I am sitting at my desk updating this blog for today. Another R&R day for my weary body. Thats the bad news. The good news is that I was looking through my closet for something comfortable to wear and I managed to dig out a whole bunch of shorts and singlets and tees which I have not seen since my regular gym days. I got fitted into the most comfortable pair of black shorts and white singlet I can find and went downstairs.

Well..not only was I pleasantly surprised at how nicely and loose the clothes feel, I got a little ooh and ahh from my kids as well!! :P LOL

Eirian was actually flustered at how much better aka "macho" I looked in my sexy shorts and singlet wakaka... sigh.. kids grow up so fast.. now I am actually starting to worried how they will start looking at boys.. urgh

Came upstairs looked at myself.. guess I need a little more work on my tummy area so my tummy will look more sculpted.

My calves are threatening to cramp up again, both my hamstrings are so tight they are randomly firing little quivers of mini-"cramps" every now and then when I exert too hard, my arms are still feeling sore from the new workout routine I started on Monday....it was supposed to be alternate day workouts, but I guess I can use 2 day breaks for this first week.. heh heh. My core muscles conditioning is good for now... I guess.

So here I sit, typing on a computer when I should be starting my daily 2.5 hour routine at SKA. Oh well, somedays are just not as good as others. Tomorrow will be better because I can get to put in some maintenance work on weights, do a little light run or brisk walk to ease my fatigue muscles back into action, and get my core conditioning back on track.. then I get to go to swim a little on my flexibility (YES.. the pool at RTC is opened again after renovation work) and steam/sauna some to get latic acid outta my system... then I will be a neeeeeew man. :P

Meow!
CJ

Day 54

2011-08-30T22:18:00.000+08:00

Day 54

Bad day for workout.. woke up 6.10am with a cramp in my left calf. Went to SKA and ended up with a cramp on my right calf. Sianz..

Ended up all dressed up with nothing to do.. I decided my body was trying to telling me something today and decided not to push any further unless I also want to end up with a body cramp or wirst tear something massive in my upper body.

I ended up creating the excel format of the championship forms for Mr Wong. Went home..kissed the wife and kids.. played cabalsea for 10 mins.. slept the entire afternoon away. Feeling like crap... probably a mild burnout.. but its important to take note what your body is telling you.

I guess I might be taking the day off exercise tomorrow as well, let the body heal itself and take a break from routine. I will have the morning to myself.. thinking of re-arranging the rooms a little. We'll see. :P

**CJ**

Rest and Repair Day

2011-08-24T17:43:00.006+08:00

Day 48

Don't think my body can take much more of the stress I have been pumping it during this past 47 days.. lol.

Finally I feel its effect hard enough to decide ok.. one day of R&R is in order to recharge.

My neck muscles are screaming in pain...
my left shoulder hurts...
my back is sore...
both my hamstrings are threatening to cramp up on me...
my right calf is currently in such a bad state, I am limping...
my right ankle is under unnecessary stress and swelling after every workout session...

BUT I FEEL GREAT!!!! Wakakaka!!

Took carbs today to fuel my repairs..but the brighter side of the day is that the most integral part of my weightloss plan arrived in the mail today...ahhhh... yessss... :P

Tomorrow will be another day.. another workout to look forward to! :P

In the meantime, please enjoy this youtube video..

~CJ

Brings a tear to my eye

2011-08-22T18:44:00.001+08:00

Day 46

Just heard this on TV featuring the latest Jay Chou's concert...

I found the original version I remember and loved... I have plenty of memories attached to this song. Try listening to this song at night with all the lights turned off. (Well... all love songs are best listed with lights turned off, alone in a cold room or windy place with eyes closed.)

Enjoy this version by Jacky Wu and Landy Wen.

~CJ

Unusually melancholy tonight:)

Shitoryu Karate & Judo

2011-08-21T22:15:00.002+08:00

Day 45

I am now officially a striker and a grappler!! :P

Shitō-ryū (糸東流^?) is a form of karate that was founded in 1931 by Kenwa Mabuni (摩文仁賢和 Mabuni Kenwa^?). Kenwa Mabuni was born in Shuri, a district of Naha, Okinawa in 1889. Mabuni was a 17th generation descendant of the famous warrior Oni Ufugusuku Kenyu.^[1] Perhaps because of his weak constitution, he began his instruction in his home town in the art of Shuri-te (首里手^?) at the age of 13, under the tutelage of the legendary Ankō Itosu (糸州安恒 Itosu Ankō^?) (1813–1915). He trained diligently for several years, learning many kata from this great master. It was Itosu who first developed the Pinan kata, which were most probably derived from the "Kusanku" form.

One of his close friends, Chōjun Miyagi (宮城長順 Miyagi Chōjun^?) (co-founder of Gojū-ryū Karate) introduced Mabuni to another great of that period, Kanryō Higaonna (東恩納寛量 Higaonna Kanryō^?). Mabuni began to learn Naha-te (那覇手^?) under him. While both Itosu and Higaonna taught a "hard-soft" style of Okinawan "Te", their methods and emphases were quite distinct: the Itosu syllabus included straight and powerful techniques as exemplified in the Naifanchi and Bassai kata; the Higaonna syllabus stressed circular motion and shorter fighting methods as seen in the kata Seipai and Kururunfa. Shitō-ryū focuses on both hard and soft techniques to this day.

By 1929, Mabuni had moved to Osaka on the mainland, to become a full-time karate instructor of a style he originally called Goju-ryū, or "half-hard style". The name of the style changed to Shitō-ryū, in honor of its main influences. Mabuni derived the name for his new style from the first kanji character in their names, Itosu and Higaonna.

-Source (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shito-ryu)

Judo or Jūdō (柔道 jūdō^?, meaning "gentle way") is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Kano Jigoro. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an opponent to submit by joint locking or by executing a strangle hold or choke. Strikes and thrusts by hands and feet as well as weapons defences are a part of judo, but only in pre-arranged forms (kata) and are not allowed in judo competition or free practice (randori).

The philosophy and subsequent pedagogy developed for judo became the model for other modern Japanese martial arts that developed from koryū (古流^?, traditional schools). The worldwide spread of judo has led to the development of a number of offshoots such as Sambo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Practitioners of judo are called jūdōka.

-Source (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judo)

Its been so long since I was a white belt, learning new things all over again. Oooh!! It was so exciting to be back at the learning stage, to be humbled, to look up to a new group of seniors to get the techniques right. I found myself once again, keenly watching with an eagle eye, every move, every step, hanging on every word the senseis and senpais said. Being guided when I did something wrong, feeling all excited when I did the falls and techniques right.

Once more I feel Mr Wong has done the corrrect thing by assigning a senior black belt to guide the training of new white belts in the dojo. As a white belt on my first day, I can't help feeling lost and strange in a new place with everyone being s familiar with the routine but me!.. lol. Now I have a new appreciation when a new white belt steps into SKA for the very first time.. and SKA is at least twice as big as the SJC and the group twice as big. But I reckon the problem is, SKA has less friendlier people. well not less friendlier, but SEEM less approachable. When I was at SJC today, all the trainees did their best to accomodate me and I thank them here for their hospitality which made me feel less clumsy and more inclined to come for my next training..which happens to be Tuesday night.. wahaha!

Karate will always be my first love and nothing will ever come in-between me and her.. except maybe my belly.. :( Judo supplements my training for grappling, break-falling and most importantly.. I can handle myself in standup fights.. now.. I am preparing myself for ground work.. and boy am I looking forward to my training... wish me luck! :P

~CJ

aka The Determined One

Day of reckoning draws near...

2011-08-19T16:02:00.002+08:00

Day 43

Almost there....

Best Workout Music

2011-08-08T13:47:00.001+08:00

Day 33

To each his own. This is the best work out music I have found that suits me just fine.
Drowning Pool - "Bodies" Enjoy.

Can you hear me coming up behind you... I am almost back.. *grin

~CJ

My thoughts on my training so far

2011-08-06T08:21:00.000+08:00

Day 31

This week has been fun! I was able to push through every exercise barrier I erected and did more.. yay! It wasn't easy though.. I had to push myself through the mental barriers.

Physically my body was able to cope. Mentally, it was sooo easy to give up, but I chose not to, and push for just that little bit more. Heh.. I am happy with my progress so far.. but I have to confess, it WAS much easier when I was doing this 4 years back... hope I don't have to go through this again, ageing sucks :(

Right on day 30, I started my gym routine. I have already started focusing on my obliques early this time around, hopefully it will give me a better tummy shape all for vanity sake lol.

Oh oh, got my bones reset on Wednesday. Feeling a lot better in feeling that not all my joints feel "locked" in place at a certain angle now.. good. This is going to help my come back :P

I have never completed my training in karate. I wonder if this time I can make good and finish up my training? I fear I might have veered too much in to mixed martial arts and is hard to turn back, but I believe I can make the change and stay the course.

This would be my legacy. I have so much in my head and heart to pass on what I have learnt and experienced, but I have no one to pass it on to.

Same issue as the previous time, everytime Mr Wong sees me with a junior talking, he would start getting agitated, and especially when I start giving pointers or coaching them, I can feel the disturbance in the force... He would be extremely defensive. Just like the other day, Mindy and Vicky came to training in the middle of my exercise routine... so when I finished my stuff, they were still going at it doing Ura Mashi Geri.

Anyone with a coaching experience and enough skills sitting by the side watching, would be very tempted to butt in and offer a little advice to the training couple. And so especially me.. My limbs was so itchy watching them train, I wish I was fit enough right now to jump in with them at that moment.. but NO. My time will come. It will come soon. However, I thought I can offer them a tip of two to improve their training techniques.

Guess what, Mr Wong saw, and he wasn't happy. Trust me la, he has been my teacher and father for over 23 years.. how can I not know his temperament? Staight away I can feel the disturbance in the force.

Why like that leh??? I have been good enough to fight, teach and win medals in my prime for the club, now I have karate leprosy ah? I can prove it man, I still have the coverted "Instructor" chop on my membership card.. and that was back in the days when me and my gang have to fight every eligible fighter to prove ourselves, every tournament got a few selection tournaments to get to where we want to go HORRRRRRR...

Anyway, I have decided to let fate decide on who I pass on my knowledge to. My 2 kids don't seem too keen on martial arts or karate, so that is out, my juniors all think they can fly, so I can save my breath on them, my batch is equally good if not better, so who can I pass on my knowledge?

I know, I will become better then anyone in SKA or KUS at this point in time. Then I will let nature takes its course and lead me to the person for me to teach, otherwise I will take it to my grave lor.. simple :P Its karate's loss, not mine :P

To those who like to poke fun at me and "motivate" me through tough love, I appreciate all that you guys have taken the trouble to put me through. I am on my way back to fight fitness, and when I am back on top, I won't forget your kindness, make sure you stick for my thank you. Oh.. just remember, don't kiss my fists. :P

The determined one.
~CJ

Almost a month

2011-07-29T11:56:00.000+08:00

Day 23

Weight: 112.5kg
Where: SKA
What did I eat: Atkin's

New set of workouts

2011-07-25T20:59:00.000+08:00

Day 20

Having been stuck on 114kg for the past few days, I am going for an alternate routine to break my stagnent weight drop.

Alternate pushups

Bumpees

Knees on bench pushups

Side Bends Situps

Adominals Alternate Crunch

Hindu Pushups

Dumbbell Row

I want to be...

2011-07-21T19:15:00.010+08:00

I rather spend 2 days as a tiger, than 200 years as a sheep

-Tippu Sultan

My inspirational training clip about Rocky. He always move me when I am on my way back to fitness. I guess I can identify with the struggle from flab to power... again.. and again.. and again.. lmao... Enjoy.

I am because I am. I will be turning 40 soon. This is my last walk down this road. Everytime, it gets harder and harder. I like being called the comeback kid. But when age catches up with me... I don't know what the future will be like for my fitness, but one thing I know for certain, I am not going to be able to bounce back like this again.... not so easily..

~CJ

SKA is shut for the next few days

2011-07-21T18:59:00.000+08:00

Day 15

Uh oh... SKA is closed for the next few days for washing of mats and for some tournament. Looks like I will have to look for an alternate training place.

Weight: 114kg
Where: Somewhere near Kallang Indoor Stadium
What did I eat: Atkin's

Pam has asked me if I wanted to start a small class at American Club, and I have thinking about running a combat research class there. Problem with this class is that I am not sure how many people will be interested in the class and particularly, if there will be people who are interested in unarmed combat, but not trained in any basic style. Oh dear...

I find swimming to be most advantageous to improving my breathing and stamina and stretching without tearing my knee joints apart. Apart from that, being immersed in water, I love the fact my joints are being decompressed.

Next week, if my weight can hit 110kg, I will start PNF stretches and hopefully, that will give me greater mobility and a wider range of exercises I can run through per training session. Usually, my exercise sessions gets longer as I have to put myself through more and more series of stretches, isometrics, PNF, jogs and sprints, straddle jumps, skipping.. etc etc. My full set of exercises usually last me about 2.5 hours at SKA working on stamina, endurance and stretching alone, before I hit the weights. Gosh I miss those times.. but I can sense them coming back very very soon :P

Time for pictorials!!!!!

~CJ

I find my second wind

2011-07-19T19:22:00.000+08:00

Play this as you read this entry to understand the passion I am feeling for life and the second wind that I have found ever since I resumed my training... its like I re-found my meaning for being me.. :P

Man in Motion (St. Elmo's Fire Theme) - John Parr

Day 12

Weight: (to be updated)
Where did I go: SKA
What did I eat: Atkin's

~CJ

Nice and Tender

2011-07-15T12:29:00.001+08:00

Day 10

Another good day at the gym yay!!!

Weight: 116kg
Where I went: SKA
What I ate: Atkin's

This weekend I will probably try to detox with the Epsom salt thingy or probably clean my system out with liquid diet. I want to try for a clean "system" workout next week. Mr Wong says.."Sim ah, you have to train faster."

OMG.

How much faster can I get with 2kg per day.. pant pant.... think I am going to pass out liao. By the way, as the title of this post suggests, my skin is crispy and tender with sun burnt! Nicely tanned with a tinge of chow tarr... wah lao.. couple this colour with 6 pack abs, and lean 86kg body mass. My target!!!!!!!!!!! Wish me luck.

~CJ

Press On Forward!!!

2011-07-14T17:50:00.003+08:00

Day 9

OMG!! Today is a day for a small celebration!!!

Its been a good regime so far other than the fact I am always hungry, low on energy and grouchy. But that is the price I pay if I want to stay on target for losing 2kg per day. So far so good, but I expect this rate to slow down once I start to hit below 110kg. That is probably because most of my lean mass is around there and all these excess weight I have been losing have been piled on recently.. so easy come.. easy go.

Weight: 118kg
Where did I go: SKA + RTC
What did I eat: Atkin's

~~CJ

Over time.. never overnight

2011-07-12T12:31:00.003+08:00

Day 7

Its been a good day for exercise :P I managed to run 2.4km since the first time I started this regime. I also did a full 30mins of burn jogging. There are days like these that I lurrrrve exercising, my body is just able to kick into overdrive and push through the pain andgive me what I need.

I need more of this kind of days kekekekekekeke.

Weight: 124kg
Where I go: SKA
What did I eat: Atkin's

~CJ

Moving on...

2011-07-11T12:34:00.004+08:00

Day 6

I rested Sat and Suns and will do so for this regime. I guess Saturdays I will go for a light swim and consider that a low impact day ba.

Ow Ow says my shoulder. Sng sng.. says my knee, and clicky clack says my ankle...

Sigh.. that is the sound of an old engine trying to tune up to be a race engine... somehow.. lol

Weight: 128kg
Where did I go: SKA
What did I eat: Atkin's
What did I do:
Jogging, calisthenics, isometrics and a lot of stretching.

I will slot in PNF soon after I hit the target of 100kg and below. As you can see, I have set a lot of stuff to be done under 110kg. There is a reason for that. I will explain when we get there.

So now, its just a matter of time for my weight to drop to my target (manageble) level before we take on the good stuff :P

By the looks of things, I am losing 2 kg every day.. which is a good thing.. but it is making me tired constantly. However, I am just glad that my core muscles are still strong and I have yet to suffer from cramps and muscle fatigue which is a sure sign the muscles are unable to cope with the reduction in carb intake while needing to beg the body to convert fats to energy.

From the way my body is tiring out rapidly, my body is still struggling to cope with the energy deprivation and trying hard to keep up the convert rate to my exercise level, which is one reason why I am not going through weights at the moment as well.

~CJ

My cat scratched me

2011-07-10T02:03:00.004+08:00

Day 3(8 July 2011)

Misty.. naughty cat!!!! She scratched me.. sob

Anyway, Got nothing interesting to post really.. except I want to register a post so I can mark my days in training.. :P

Well, I will have stuff to add on later anyways, so, wait for it :P

Weight: 133kg
Where did I go: SKA
What did I eat: Atkin's
What did I do:
Jogging, weights. Today will probably be the last day I will put in my routine for weights until my body weight hit 110 and below. I predict it will take about 3 weeks for that to happen. In the meantime, in my haste to get stronger, I might have done myself a DISFAVOUR by rushing into my weights routine. My left rotator cuffs are screaming in pain.

Told Mr Wong...he said.. "Heya, you... tsk tsk.. forget about karate, forget about weights, run off your weight first.."

See? Thats what happen when you tell your teacher you did something wrong.. get scolded lor lmao.

Anyway, I am glad I still have my teacher around. He was one of the few people who ever saw anything good in me in the first place.

~~CJ

Inertia is everything

2011-07-07T19:57:00.004+08:00

Day 2

I am not going to appear in SKA's main community during "peak" hours until I feel I am ready to face the crowd.

Although I am not one for vanity, I feel being a senior and an instructor, I ought to show some class and image while in front of the students and peers. Is that considered shallow?

Besides, I think appearing in force will leave a better impression AND legacy for the students and peers. Politics being what it is, there will always be some people who will step on you for the sake of doing so just so they look better. Secretly, they will always hope you never return to fitness, because then, they will have no fear, their fake bravado and facade will be discovered by someone better than them... and the worst thing is... THEY KNOW IT.

I used to get challenges, and I will answer them. Nowadays I don't get challenged to fighting or fitness anymore, instead.. I am assasinated lmao.

Character assasination I understand is the preferred choice of bloodless killing. To such techniques, I am a noob. I surrender to such masters of character deception. Well, at least I can smile at myself in the mirror without shame.

Weight: 135kg
Where did I go: SKA + RTC
What did I eat: Atkin's
What did I do:
Slow jogging to get my ankle and knee joints back into working order. Already I can feel my energy start to sap the moment I ran my first 500m. Push.. push on I must! Alas, after less than 2km, I am out of breath and puffing lol!

But at least I put in another 20mins of run. We only start to "burn" fat efficiently after 20mins, but that is according to conventional diet and based on the fact I have carbs to burn.. which I am starving myself of.

Did some basic gym work on my tum tum, obliques, my hercules muscles and triceps. Will repeat them once a week in rotation, but I am not sure if I should list them over and over again in my blog... boring hee.

I went to swim a little and float in the pool at RTC after SKA while Pam does her dancing thingy. Ahh taking some pressure off my joints is such a luxury after morning's hard work! *grin

Push push on some more!!!

CJ outz~

New regime starts

2011-07-06T15:41:00.004+08:00

Day 1

Today I started running and gym training again. Its once of those things where I know I should have resumed training eons ago.. but just cannot bring myself out of the hole I dug myself into.

This time, I will ignore politics, this time I will stay just on the path of training and not take on too much for myself. That should have been the way, and that will be the way this time.

Start weight: 135kg (This for the record is the heaviest weight I ever started out with)
Where did I go:SKA.
What did I eat:Atkin's Diet.
What did I do:
Very light jogging. It has been a while since I last ran, partly due to an ankle injury I sustained in a fall recently. Also due to the fact I have slacked and didn't keep to my morning jogs. I did about 20 mins of slow jogging. I dare not ran fast because if you have been following my past posts, I am going to give my body a test before jumping in with both feet wet.

I'll kick your ass!!!

Went to the gym and did some free weights. Looks like my biceps, triceps, delts and Pecs need to be worked on. Probably will work in some sets that will focus on them and rotate through out the week. Finally!! I did Jeverok's again.. the armball joints actually FELT good! lmao
After this morning's activities, I am glad to report looks like everything is raring to go and feeling good.

I really miss SKA as a training ground because it has been a second home to me ever since I started training there when I was just 17!

Wow.. its been a long time.. a long time coming home.

~CJ

Suddenly I find myself listening to my heart

2011-07-05T17:12:00.011+08:00

Suddenly - A duet by Sir Cliff Richard and Ms Olivia Newton John

Ocean Deep by Sir Cliff Richard

Some People by Sir Cliff Richard

王傑 - 一場遊戲一場夢

My friend Eng Seng asked me this question once, quite out of the blue really, while we were on the MRT back from school one afternoon.

He asked, "Hey Chong Jin, what do you think of when you listen to 王傑's 一場遊戲一場夢 ? To me I will remember our school days and our friendship."

Eng Seng, everytime I listen to this song, I remember you :P

Eason Chan 陳奕迅 - 明年今日

Time moves on relentlessly

2011-06-30T20:05:00.002+08:00

Ahh.. its been a while since I updated my blog.. again LOL.

And no, I was not faithful to my exercise plan due to a lot of reasons. But a recent injury brought me back down to earth.

Not really sure what to blog.. but I just want to put something down so I get started.

Any kind of start is good I guess. :P

Oh oh, I might want to advertise online to see if I can get anyone to come train with me either in the mornings or evenings. Not exercise training, of course.. those (in my opinion) should be done alone. I am talking about combat training, karate, kick, kick, punch, punch, a lil shadow boxing here and there. Well, the more I share the more I remember in my old age LOL.

Lets see what kind of response I get from my advertisements..

Outs.. for now

God given talent

2011-01-06T07:47:00.009+08:00

Ok.

You don't have to believe a fat and clumsy guy like me knows little bit about fighting and martial arts...

HOWEVER... you have to see the following video to believe that everyone.. and I mean EVERYONE and that includes YOU... have a talent and gift that God wants you to share with the world.. even if it means in this lifetime, it might seem insignificant to you... but I am a firm believer in the butterfly effect in the broader sense of the word.

"... refers to the idea that a butterfly's wings might create tiny changes in the atmosphere tornado or delay, accelerate or even prevent the occurrence of a tornado in a certain location. The flapping wing represents a small change in the initial condition of the system, which causes a chain of events leading to large-scale alterations of events (compare: domino effect). Had the butterfly not flapped its wings, the trajectory of the system might have been vastly different. While the butterfly does not "cause" the tornado in the sense of providing the energy for the tornado, it does "cause" it in the sense that the flap of its wings is an essential part of the initial conditions resulting in a tornado, and without that flap that particular tornado would not have existed."
- Wikipedia on Edward Lorenz (Chaos Theory)

Personaly though, I call this the Butterfly Effect of God. One gift, one talent, however insignificant, have the power to affect the people around us and change the world. But don't go holy holy on me hor.. wait I beat you up ah...

no wait.. I call my geng and number to come chop you up ah!!!!

pffft..

Check out this video.

Me and my squeaky voice... meh.. I love to have a voice like that.. :P

CJ~~~~outz

Tearing my hair out

2011-01-06T07:21:00.004+08:00

Recently I found another use for my extra Acer PC. I hooked it up to my surround audio speakers, and my flatscreen TV in my living room. Then as I did not have a license for Windows XP, I decided to pop in my Ubuntu 9.10 Live CD and install Linux as my OS.

Well, all went pretty well for the first few run as I have done this before.. but somehow, in the middle of installation, the entire installation process would hang.. grrr..

Must have wasted at least $20 of my electricity bill man.. letting it just hang there in hopes it would somehow miraculously resume installing... HA! ...but then again hor, the harddisk was furiously spinning away during those hang times lor.. I wonder... hmmm

Well, 2 days ago, I decided to redo another install and viola... this time it installed well.. phew. Then as I hooked up to the internet, I realised the new version Ubuntu 10.04 LTS (Lucid) was ready for public release.

Did I learn my lesson? N O lor... *facepalm*

Another update install from 9.10 to 10.04 took another 24 hours!! But then.. this time I know well enough to let it do its own background installing EVEN if.. YES.. even if it appears to have stalled for many many hours... LET IT RUN.. eventually it will POP through and complete the upgrade and install process *smirk*

This time however... no WIRELESS connection.. siiiigggghhh... so troublesome one leeehhhh

I searched online for solution.. searched up, find low.. dig under, peeked over.. boh is boh lor.

The solutions posted online, either did not fit my problem description, too complicated or I am just not getting it.

I think I am just not getting it.

So now my Acer pc sits swee swee under my dvd / karaoke, above my subwoofer box, all packed beautifully inside my TV cabinet... with no wireless internet access. I guess no choice.. got to let it be wired lar. But I not happy leh.. what to do?

And.. oooo the weighing scale machine needle moved downwards again today.. yipee.. heh heh

Later going club to swim and steam, and suana. Damn good for getting rid of those lactic acid build up and burn up "YOU" ah!

*bounce *bounce *bounce away

Kena Plateau

2011-01-05T07:20:00.003+08:00

Day 34:
Weight: 112kg
Fitness intensity: Average

*Beep* *Beep* %&@#% #%^^ #$%%^ tio plateau.. can you believe it???

Usually an average person who is of below average muscle build (just like me a couple of years back) loses about 15kg before hitting the first plateau. But I reckon I am building as much muscles as I am losing weight so the is little progress where my weight loss is concern.

I am there going to plan B to chart my way back to fitness, and that is fat index and overall body measurement. No way am I using BMI.. even at my fittest, I measure an obese BMI.. and then I proceed to beat the PTI(Physical fitness instructor as they are called in the army) at 2.4, pushups, situps... only no pull ups... I think it is a fantasy of mine to even do ONE pull up.. lmao.. this coming from me, who can do about 100 regular pushups and 50 ballistics. eh.. ballastics mean pushup + clap.. like that lar..

argh.. itchy itchy.. my new year wound on my back from scratching that noticeboard is bothering me. need to go washup and dress my wounds..

boo

CJ

*plateau - a stage of weightloss whereby your loss in body weight (fat, bones, muscles, etc) in total is = your gain in muscle mass from gym, workouts, exercises. Solution: Pump up intensity of exercise and cardio workout to increase fat burn. Gym and weights training should remain relatively same. Listen.. if you also increase your weight training, the equation would still be balance = no weightloss... #keblong your head# understand? *grumble*

Daily compulsions...

2011-01-04T19:07:00.002+08:00

I have a confession to make.

I harbor a criminal's mind.

I have violent thoughts almost everyday of my life for the past 22 years...

If you observe me quietly from behind.. most of the time, you will notice I mumble a lot to myself, talk, gesturing my hands and arms, stepping in weird ways and sometimes, even violent movements followed by shaking of my head...

...followed by more mumblings...

Maybe I am partially of unsound mind..

..perhaps..

..perhaps I have a mind ticking and thinking away like a murderer, gangster, ah beng, ah seng, molester, rapist, robber, pick-pocket...

I like to think terrible thoughts of stabbing someone, from under the ribs, behind into the kidneys, to following some poor lady to the lift and when the door closes, I will corner them and rob them or have my way with them... Sometimes, I would think of how to best use the chopper or parang that I would imagine holding in my hands and inflict the maximum amount of damage on my poor victim.

In my mind... I have been the perpetrator of many violent crimes...

Don't think too badly of me yet.. I wasn't born this way.. I wasn't made to think like this..

...it is because I choose to.

When I am out with my family, and we see a man stumbling with a bottle of beer in one hand, I immediately become alert to the potential danger to come... A beer bottle can be a murderer's tool, if you let it. I know, because in my mind, many, many scenarios of the potential threat has played through in my head. I walk through every possible defense from this set piece as thoroughly as I can, no win situation, especially when the family is around.. so we avoid drawing his attention, walk another way, away from danger.

That is but ONE of the thousands of scenarios my mind play out everyday in my head... by being the aggressor, I study the defense, by playing out the movements in my head and aided by my moronic hand and feet gestures, I can prepare as many defense to as many attacks my head can churn out..lol...

Maybe I am just crazy.. bwahahaha...

New Post for the New Year

2011-01-03T21:24:00.001+08:00

Err...

*blink

*blink *blink

...yay.. happy new year 2011..

*blink.... *blink

Merry Christmas!! and a Happy New Year 2011!!

2010-12-26T18:46:00.014+08:00

Need I say more about seasonal greetings? :P

Here is a good one I read about on Yahoo's Fit to post thingies.. someone commented..

"On the first day, God made the heaven and earth and everything in between....
From the second day after, everything.. MADE IN CHINA.."

Lmao.. very funny hiak hiak. But come to think of it.. it would have made sense for God to have outsourced to China as it would have been much cheaper to produce.

The following is all about humour, a ficticious page from my warped fragile lil mind.. and if you cannot take jokes AND if you take religion and nationality too serious to have a funny poke, AND if you don't like what you read.. TOO fricking bad!!!!!!! No one is forcing you to READ, just BUZZ OFF!!!

Otherwise.. heh heh heh have fun reading lol..

Hmmm come to think of it.. I think in the beginning when God made Adam, he wanted the first human prototype.. but you know lar, China's reputation for "quality" goods lor.. I don't think they understand the meaning of that word leh.. lol ok ok back to my observation..

So God ordered the first prototype of human from a factory in China and sent them Davinci's blueprint.. and viola, when it was shipped to Heaven in a box marked "Haven" attentioned to "Got".. I think HE would have the wisdom to forsee what was to follow... well.. HE didn't and so happily tore open the box and was very, very happy indeed to see Adam was every bit his blueprint to China was.. right down to .... oh no...

...wait!!....

Slluurrrrpp.. yummy!!

God counted and O.M.G lor... he found Adam missing a rib.. I mean.. sigh..

HE was disappointed and immediately called the China factory about their mistake.

"Solly!! Solly!! We send you a replacement but you have to TT over a replacement fee, hao ma?"

So to and fro went the argument over who should be paying for the missing rib mistake until God agreed that henceforth, China should have the largest population in the world... sooo the Chinese relented...

Another 3 months went by and a sweet choral by the heavenly angels, "Ahhhhhh.. you have mail!..." signalled the arrival of another non-descript, brown, re-cycled cardboard box attention to "Got" again from China.

God tore it opened eagerly and lo and behold... HE flew into a rage.. (Author's note: This terrible wrath unleashed upon the earth was probably what killed the dinosaurs lor.. YAR LAR.. I said MOST likely lor..)

What God found was this... where Adam had wavy, curly black locks of hair, this new human model had long, just past the shoulder blonde silky hair.. where Adam had an little neck imperfection, "(ahem)manufacturer's fault", the part where future human kind would call it an Adam's apple.. this new model had none (here, it was noticed that someone from the China factory had stuck a yellow post-it note stating the QC department has proudly detected that defect and fixed it by removing it from this model!! :PP)

Ahem.. focus on the said faulty parts....

Further inspection by God was to make him exasperated.. where Adam had pectorals..the new model had similar chest muscles but seems out of proportion, perhaps even a little swollen (Further clarification from the factory was that probably a faulty pump might have pumped a little too much air into the chest area created 2 lumps of protruding mass...sigh

This time, the ribs were in order.. no missing ribs this time! HA! but... O.M.G lor... almost everything else was correct.. but .. but... it was missing an important part further down.

"Ah!!! That is our mistake!! Solly!! Solly!! Our hardworking comrades just found that missing part on the factory floor near the packing area... must have been one of the handlers tried to squeeze in the part but didn't quite cut the packing box to the right size. Can we DPEX over to you and you glue it back? Easy! Just grab and jab it upwards lor? Ok?"

God was furious... and HE leaned down to earth and started to use his finger and flick out pieces of the great wall of China.. flicking off entire sections of the wall here and there randomly.. "You like that? and that? and that? Opps! what about that??" Roared God.

*Most probably why the great wall looked the way it looked today, so half f**k, evidence of China's quality control, built in the middle of nowhere, not fully completed, not fully joined on the left and right, sub-standard building materials... and this was supposed to be the wall that stopped invaders ah?.. O.M.G lor... *facepalm*

The great wall of China is one of the greatest and most magnificient achievement of the human race in my opinion.

"Solly! Solly!! Stop flicking aledy!! We send you new replacements, ho ok? ok lar? ho ok??"

As eons go by, millions of years and 6 billion plus human replacements later, we get all kinds of people, black, white, brown, hairy, furry, baldy, big, small, airports, double Ds, perky, droopy, horse, rabbit,...each replacement to heaven would almost always result in a unique imperfect human, come to think of it.. meh.. according to biology, its normal to have one of the male testes bigger then the other and one to hang lower than the other.. *slap forehead*

Luckily I am capable of self-control and censorship.. there were a lot more to say here, but I have to stop before I get out of hand, well, also because I am out of time lol. Only if you know me and in person will I unleashed the humour of CJ unto you personally and all night long hee hee lmao..hee haa..

Anyway la..

This blog is all about having a fun year-end and new and interesting new year to come.. And of course here's to wishing my diet and fitness plan works and to a new healthier and sexier new me soon!!!!! :P Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone! :P

CJ :)
I'm going for a night jog now.. to-da-looooo..

Inspirations

2010-12-19T08:23:00.007+08:00

Sunday.. did my run, workout-ed.. etc etc..

Def Leppard
I am a very fussy pot when it comes to loves, but in 1987 (I first knew about their album Hysteria, also my one and only cassette tape by a heavy metal band.. YES.. it was still cassette tapes.. lmao) after I got to know what they did for their drummer Rick Allen, I fell in love with them 4ever!!!!! Not to mention Pour Some Sugar on Me is my all time favourite, and regardless of what others say, I think is THE rock anthem of the millenium. They are also the ONLY heavy metal band I listen to. Give it a listen, read about Rick and the band not giving up on him, and make your own judgement. :P

Never give up on dreaming.
(By the way, if you have not figured out, this self-logo is made from an actual picture of me)

Weekend is here!!!!

2010-12-18T09:13:00.008+08:00

*Play Indiana Jones' Theme song*

Picture me in a tight pair of lycra, frollicking in a pool!! (Eeeee.. yuck.. ah haaa haaa haa)
I'm going swimming.. I'm going swimming.. I'm going swimming..
Blog later when I get back.. hee hee

*Back.. so now...
Ran, gym-ed, swam, steamed, suana-ed, ate, napped.. aahhh...

Ho ho ho hooooo.... Ho ho ho hoooooooo....

Hiiiiiiiiyaaaakkkkk!!!!!! KICK!

(Be paitient, it might take a few seconds to load *grin)

Alright lol.. this has been a rather bizarre post hee.. have a nice week end everyone :P

ZZzzzzz

Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games

2010-12-17T21:55:00.004+08:00

MMORPG

I remember when I was younger, when there was no internet, at least not extensively for Singapore, I was serving my NS and was stationed in Bukit Timah area between 1992-1993. There was a shopping centre nearby my camp called "Beauty World" (yeah also the name of THAT musical). They had this brand new game called Virtua Fighter 4.0. Man, this game had everything, stunning graphics (for a early 90s arcade, it was damn good), hidden moves which after a blurring twirl of the control stick and a few slams to the button console produced a unique move that will incapcitate your opponent. Awesome! I used to have a good friend back then called Jason and he would always be comparing those virtual moves to real life applications.. We would spend a lot of money playing those console games (No place else to spend money ma...that time also no girlfriend). Anyway, I couldn't keep up with the new characters and moves.. but got stuck to my old favourite Akira and made him my online persona.

Guess that was how it was back then, an online persona for my virtual games, altered-ego. Over time, there was quite a few alter-egos of mine that made it into the virtual online world. The internet being such a wonderful place..

(Have I ever mentioned, I never met my wife in real person, but only knew her through the [now defunct] Teleview?) After almost a year of chatting on the ultra,-super-slow, super-duper-retarded Teleview, we went on our first blind date.. and the rest.. was history)

Back to my games... Over the years, Dark Ages of Camelot (DAOC), Ultima Online (UO), Cabal Online, Secondlife (SL), Evony, and Dungeons & Dragons Online (DDO).

Of all these mmorpgs, I love DDO the most. Most people of my generation, should remember D&D. I mean, it was so much fun back in the 80s when that was the closest to fantasy we all can have. Wizards, fighters, swords and sorcery, that nasty rogue and the beautiful princess and who can resist all that gold!!! :P Best of all, we are all lords of our world, conqueror of our enemies, best of all, we do it day after day, everyday! A few of my friends (Albert, Shawn and myself) used to gather in the foyer of the old SJI and have hours of D&D sessions... they are perhaps the best time I have in secondary school as enjoyment besides reading all the Choose your own adventure books I can find in the library. Problem was looking for like minded players, timings to get together for even an hour's game became harder and harder to find as we got busy with our real lives.. and to be honest, some of us live in our virtual world much more then others *wink.

Well, DDO has its place in my heart for many reasons, some may like it, some might scoff at it. To each their own I say... *bleah

Anyway.. if you are ever in DDO and in the server of Sarlona, post me a comment here.. It would be nice to say hi!

CJ

Milk and calcium

2010-12-15T16:47:00.003+08:00

Day 14:
Weight: 114kg

Yar I know!! :PP When I went to the scales this morning I did double take.. on my second, third and fourth step up to the scales.. yes, the needle was vibrating firmly over 114kg. hiak hiak hiak!

So that makes about 14 days = 8kg. Not bad.

This means whatever I have been doing, I should keep doing :P.

Ooo I did a stress test on my joints today by hiking about 14km in the morning, well, a leisurely walk along the streets of Fort road, Katong, East Coast then back again. The only thing that was conplaining after the walk was my poor feet (I don't really have good shoes, so they hurt when I jog or walk long distances) and my right knee which was badly injured in the Chronicles of Kar-Tia.

Ah yes, back to my original post... MILK!

Many people overlook the importanec of milk. Unless of course you are lactose in-tolerant! Then my suggestion is you switch to soybean milk, another source of yummy nutrients!! :P

Milk not only gives us calcium, but it has been known to improve muscle gain as well. This is significant in our diet for weight loss as our fitness demands energy conversion which our system is not ready or unwilling to work hard for the conversion.. yet. So when our body is unable to induce enough energy conversion from our fats, they also take from our muscles... OH NOES.... :( But fret not.. milk is the answer to this. As we lose muscle mass as part of the inevitable equation to energy conversion, we are also building them when we take in protein in our diet, so that amino acids are able to build (replace) muscles that have been damaged and build bigger, stronger ones.

Milk however plays a unique and important role, not just that they are also able to replenish muscles as well as our dear friends aminos, but they also help strengthen our bones against calcium loss. For ladies, osteoporosis is a very real danger. You ladies don't want one day having an adventurous kama-sutra position when suddenly... crack.. eeee embaressing to be sent to the A&E in that position lor.... heee

Ok ok, milk milk... Hi-Calcium, Low fat, Hi folate, Skimmed, Cow ones, goat ones..etc etc.. but please lar, don't go fight your puppy or kitten for their morning breakfast hor.. one litre only about 1.30-1.50 nia... cheapskate...

Drink within 1 hour of an intense workout, for best absorption. If you are taking amino acids as well, its the same.

Just don't neglect your regular jogs and adominal workouts, stretches, and pushups. :P I haven't..... Have your scales moved yet? *wink

The determined one.

三国演义

2010-12-11T11:33:00.003+08:00

The Romance of the Three Kingdoms or 三国演义 or 三國誌 was written by Luo GuanZhong.

The storyline takes place back when honor, bravery and compassion meant everything to a man. I especially liked it when I know martial skills rule in a place like that :P

No more... Oei you stare what stare.. "Hiiiaaaaaaa chop chop", the ah beng's head roll on the floor. Bwuahahahah!

I buay song you... so I call my number to come chop and slash you.. mine is 246!.. call your number lar, you @#$%%^.. oh yeah I call my number is 999!!! Ha Ha Ha you #$%^^%$.

Hmmpf.. yeah..... rrrrightttt.....

I mean life nowadays is such that we live and regard everything around us as if life were better, way back then... much.. much better.

No meh?

Ok let me explain in my context.

First you have to know one of my many life's principles - A day as a teacher, a lifetime as a father (一天为师, 终身为父). I guess I am old-fashion that way.

Back in the old days of Okinawan karate masters, when they have to walk from their village to Kyoto, they walked...

Now we have taxi, car, bus, bicycle..etc etc... Ok ok, my point is, for somethings there are no shortcuts. My sensei Mr Wong used to say to me, there are no shortcuts, everything depends on your hardwork and your homework.. and in my own intepretations, overtime... never overnight.

I miss my training.. the act of training under someone who will provide guidance and tutalage to me doing something I am good at. I find myself at the other end of being the teacher now after all these years of studying. I will always be a student, there is always something I am learning from my teacher after all these years. So aware of that, I find that my students will always find lessons in what I teach, or some of my rather non-lesson lessons. I just hope I can live up to their expectations as I try to live up to my teacher's expectations.

That's just how life is, a series of histories and stories or learning and unlearning, just hoping that we will break out of that circle and not let history repeat itself. Achieving that, I think is already one of the great things I would have done with my life.

*Finding myself in a blabbering mood/post.. lmao

Yours sincerely,
Rob

Glossary and link post!!! (Thanks Wikipedia)

2010-12-10T10:10:00.009+08:00

Where do I begin this post?

Ah ok, the solid building blocks of fitness, Amino acid. Lets say, these little suckers are able to pack some muscle grooves and lines when I flex, and some in places most people will never see, but I likkkkkkeeeeeee.... heee heeee heeee heee

And of course my main diet is modified Atkins diet, and of course by modified means different people, different needs. (See here for long term Atkins food list). My particular course of diet will always draw detractors, but my answer for them is always the same..don't care, don't need your permission.. lolol.

Sometimes for a kickstart in the mornings, I prefer food with a high GI count, or Glycemic Index. Or just a pick me up, since this fitness plan of mine is not without loopholes, and there are periods in the day when I feel like my body is just not generating enough energy for my activities..

Somedays, I just feel like no matter how much I eat, I am still hungry... sigh.. yeah, those days I really wish I can eat pizzas!!!! Pfft!! For days like that, I need fillers and food which will starve off hunger, fulfil my energy needs, I will go for low GI count. Oh!!! Here's some food facts for you, do you know the protein content of your food?

Not sure where to start planning your eating, try click this link here! :P

If you read somewhere my diet advocated oils and ahem in some cases liver detoxification? LOL, rather than type out and give credit to the author, I much rather give you the direct weblink to the information. (Essential read on omega oils). For myself, I usually stock up on my oils by taking, sardines, tuna, peanuts, cashew nuts, and macademia nuts. Pistachio is my fav!!! but.. have you noticed the carb content of those suckers? :(

Oh oh, when all else fails, and after all our eating, we still fill hungry, here is a little something I will share that fill us up faster while eating less :P

F word lor! (hee hee)

What is (Dietary) Fiber?

Fiber is an indigestible carbohydrate (GASP!). Although fiber doesn’t provide our bodies with energy, it goes along way to help our bodies (Why? because I know so! HA!). There are also two kinds of fiber, soluble and insoluble. Now for a little explanation...

Insoluble fibers are the indigestible parts of fruits, vegetables, and grains and do not dissolve in water (Ermmm..I do not mean SEEDS hor, please lar.. *slap head*). Soluble fibers are the food components that readily dissolve in water. Erm, not sure what I mean? Those gummy or gel-like characteristics we find in food. Still not sure I also bo bian..lolol... no lar. I so bad meh.. here's a link for further reading. *wink.

So...why is Fiber important?

Fiber improves the body’s handling of glucose and the hormone insulin, (probably by slowing the digestion or absorption of carbohydrate, not too sure here, go check with your doctor.. I am martial artist, not doctor.. lmao), just make sure you eat adequate amounts of fiber, since it may reduce the risk of colon cancer, because..... the insoluble fibers of whole grains, fruits and vegetables speed their way through the colon like a scrub like that.. brush all the bad stuff away lor....

I CAN'T BELIEVE I AM ADVOCATING EATING VEGETABLES....yuck..butt.. eating your veggies can also possibly reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, a build up of plaque on the arteries causing vessel narrowing and heart disease by several mechanisms, namely, stroke and heart attack (I lost a few people in my life due to these 2 killers.. siggghhh). This disease I am scared of... so I will quietly eat my veges.. :(

Soluble fibers may lower blood cholesterol by delaying absorption in the digestive tract. At the same time, fibers are digested by intestinal bacteria to yield small, fat-like products that, when absorbed, may lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol or the “bad” cholesterol.

Fiber also promotes feelings of fullness because of its ability to absorb water and swell. When we eat, it also slows the movement of food through the upper digestive tract allowing you to feel fuller longer, also helps to prevent constipation, hemorrhoids, and other "old-man" problems that I might face soon...*moan.

Oh oh, it also keeps my digestive tract toned and healthy by making the "highways"(or "low-ways" lar, whatever you want to call it, bleah) smooth flowing. Big food intake + smooth and fast poopoo ejection.. I loooooooove it!!!

Wah.. such a long post... getting tired.. going to orh orh now.. lolol.. then maybe repost something related to martial arts.. haven't posted anything on MA for a while liao..

The determined one.

Vampire Blog

2010-12-10T01:58:00.002+08:00

Day 8:
Woot! Blogging at 2am in the morning, a first for me!!!

I blame myself for playing Star Wars: Empire at War... its really an old game, but ever since my dvd drive broke down on my ~~social life~~imac.. I have been resorted to using disk images I found on my hard disks for games, sigh.

Forgot about situps, forgot about running, forgot about stretching... omg, a day of ~~laziness~~amnesia. Not something I am proud about but hey... at least I am human right? Not doing myself any good but was good for relaxtion .. for the most part of the day. I spent it playing games and sleeping..buwahahahaha.

Ok ok nuff said. I want to be able to send the right message across that we don't have to stick to our regimes like glue and not budge... tempered with discipline. Atkins diet will be atkins diet.. not cheating on that. I guess that accounted for my lack of energy to overcome inertia for quite a few of mornings thus far.. :P

Formula for successful diet and fitness

Fitness = Change of lifestyle

Change of lifestyle = Committment tempersd with common sense = Diet + Exercise

Diet = Sustainable and economical food that keeps to reasonable carbohydrate intake, proteins, essential oils, fibre.

Exercise = Something that you are passionate about will be good, and convenient (I cannot stress this point enough, usually this is the make or break part of a person's exercise regime).

It is as easy as that! Oh.. one more thing.. surround yourself with people who sympathise with your goals, and just for the purpose of not adding any stress in our lives, avoid like hell lor, anyone who seeks to derail your efforts like eat Char Kway Teow in front of your face or Chicken rice... *droooooool....

You have been warned. *Yawn.. I wamna sleep now.. so I guess I will blog again soon...lol

Oh, and my detox was wonderful... I guess I can attribute my new found tummy lines to the kaboom effect huh? lmao.... not good, but its a start.. *GRIN

<---Me, signing off :P

Detoxification

2010-12-06T09:57:00.009+08:00

Day 4/5 (Sun/Mon):
Weight: ~~(still off the scales leh)~~ Probably 120kg
Exercise: Stretches and sit ups.

Day 4 started easy enough. Being a Sunday and all, it involves getting up, and stretching all my relevant parts and situps started at an easy count of 40 crunches, 10 side crunches and 50 leg raises. Remember, I want to start off manageble and slowly work my way back to those insane numbers.

However, that wasn't the highlight of the day, the most important thing was, I had began a very very queer detox program by Pam.

(Saturday [Day 3]), I was staying off solid foods as she told me to clear my stomach for the detox, so I did. She was very methodical about this whole process. I was to be her guinea pig.. oink oink.

At 10pm, I drank 3/4 cup of a concoction consisting of Epsom Salt* + Vitamin C drink. (Epsom Salt = Potassium Choride, also know to be found in bananas, also known to be a good fabric softener!!!!???) Taste like crap! Bitter and salty...eeeeeee But Pam says it will clear the "chutes". Yuckkkkk!

About 12+am, I was given another 3/4 cup of Epsom salt+vitamin solution aka fabric softener to drink....brrrrrrrr.....urgh

2am. Time of truth, Pam brought in a mixture of 3/4 cup of grapefruit juice.. yumm!! and 3/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil...not just virgin, but must be EXTRA VIRGIN... first press she says, explaining to me slowly like I am a retard.. (well in many ways I am).. first press olive oil is known as extra virgin and is usually used for drinking.. I much rather use it to cook.. heh heh

ANYWAY... it wasn't THAT horrible to drink but, no person in their right mind would willingly gulp down 1 1/2 cups of juice and oily oil... even if its extra virgin!!

THEN...then I was told to immediately lie on my right side and curl up into a fetus position!? Wha?? ok ok, so I did and was being again slowly explained by a very amused Pam that it would cause the ingested liquid to seep into my liver... eeeeeeee.... gross... not the kinda stories I want to hear after drinking oil and knowingly flood my liver with oil.... gasp!!!

Day 4 morning (Sunday), woke up feeling queasy... was chatting happily when I got upright.. oh no... when suddenly.... it struck... the feeling of bubbling.. that ominious premonition that something was going to explode if I don't make my way to the toilet.. N O W!

I won't exactly want to blog for posterity the chain of sequence that followed in that morning, suffice to say I am a convert to the detox program.

Subsequently I had to ingest another 2 more of the Epsom salt+vitamin c solution to end my detox quest.... eeeesshh

Point to note though, I won't exactly endure just any detox program.. but since Pam says so... bo pain lor.. but but... I will not do that detox program anytime soon.

Day 5:
Recovering from my detox (lol), stretches and situps again today. Going for the same numbers but cranking up the speed for the exercises just a little bit more.. gradually everyday.

I think.. might be my blurred vision.. but I might be seeing a little groove here and there on my body again.. woo hoo!!!!!

~Wave

First Weekend

2010-12-04T07:36:00.002+08:00

Day 3:
Began my day right with alarm going off at 6am. Started my run at about 7.15am. Same distance. Timing for that 1+ klick was something a primary school kid would walk... SIGGGHHH. But then again, I can only improve.. not DE-prove (is there even such a word? hee).

All that weight being pounded when I run, is going to be a big problem in the very forseeable near future on my joints, espcially my knees. It is a nescessary evil for me, because I don't really have access to a swimming pool, don't swim very well (I can pause in the middle of a run and *pant*pant*pant.. when I pause in the middle of a swim *pant*pant*gulg*gulg..). Skipping ropes will come soon enough.. but like my previous postings.. conditioning comes first before you start to abuse your body.

Had some onion soup "wanna be" last night with Pam. Wanna be you said.. yeah, found out we only had a teeny weeny bulb of onion left, so I made, onion. garlic, ginger, cheese and hot spice soup. YUM!! We also had quite a lot of chicken, hotdogs and luncheon meat... hiak hiak hiak.

The best part of this kinda diet is... after all these food, we still find our weight dropping, steadily... but surely. I will post my new weight every week Sunday so to make it easier for my calculations.

Start planning your core exercises. Core exercises are stuff you have easy access to, doesn't require a lot of pre-planning to do daily or almost daily, not expensive, generally, you will really look forward to that activity. My take on fitness and weight loss is as simple as that. You must enjoy what you do. Enjoy what you eat. Don't feel like you are giving anything up (no opportunity costs). But foremost... BE HUMBLE.

Such a big word... such simple meaning. I see people who managed to maintain their fitness and can do wonderful stuff like run 4km without breaking a sweat, eat a whole army's food ration everyday without gaining any weight ~~(BUS-THIRDS!!!!)~~ admirable! :P However, have a heart for people like me. Lazy, slacker, greedy, genetically on the really heavy side. I say all those stuff because I know who I am, what I am, no need to deny, mirrors don't lie. HOWEVER, while I am trying my best to improve myself, I don't really need anyone else's permission to be a better me, or jury of my peers (even worst, sometimes we know it's a jury of inferiors), to pass judgement on our progress.

Hence I say, I have been there, I will return. When I recover from my bout of accidental laziness and overeating, don't run away from me? I see so many people crawling out of the wood works wanting to erm, spar, fight, train, compete etc etc etc. Where were you when I was on top of my game? Oh nevermind, I will be back again real soon, and now that I remember you, I will come looking for you, one thing always gets me going... and keep going to my goal... Pam knows that.. ask her.. Anyway, now that I am pissed, I know how long it takes to get to where I want. See you guys real soon. (~chuckle).

I am trying hard. But I will always remember,

Overtime.. Never overnight.

CJ

I need an Alarm

2010-12-03T09:23:00.002+08:00

Meh...

Forget to set alarm, so wake up late. Anyway, running is not on the cards today, but stretching is! :P

Day 2:
Started targeting that problem area noted yesterday with regards to ankle and lower back. Turns out I may have to focus on toughening up my knee joints as well. Spent 1 hour talking to Pam on mentality about training. Yar lar, training is 80% mental and 20% physical. So better start off on the right foot before we end up with a lot of hard work but nothing to show for it! :)

Fooood.... I need food... ~~(Carb withdrawal)~~ kekekeke.. no worries, the craving phase will pass with each passing day as your body adjust to the energy starvation and get better energy conversion from fats and muscles.

Proteins and fibres is a BIG YES. Fats intake, yes as well, at least for this stage of training. To get the details of how the diet works the way it is supposed to will take a lot of typing, and talking and convincing, most of which, if you don't understand you will blindly follow, and if you have your own theories, you won't bother to listen to me anyway, so why discuss it here? Let the result justify my means :PPPPPPP

Discipline as well, is important. Say sleep at 12 midnight means sleep at 12 midnight, no more late night Iron Chef for me :( oh well. Must set alarm for morning training... means wake up with time to spare, no more lazing in bed for snooze and suppliant position ala praying to the pillow... sigh...

Flexibility training started today with simple yet routine stretches with extra attention paid to the ankles, calves, knees and waist. If you need specific stretch routines, you can find them on the web, or see if I can list out something in my later posts...

Currently, I have one big and tough obstacle in my way of recovery to fitness and the name of my nemesis is.....

INERTIA

Determined One.

New resolution for a new year!!

2010-12-02T09:34:00.003+08:00

For me, no need to wait until a new year for a new resolution one! My birthday just past (1 Dec), so a date as good as any to start something ~~new~~ (Ahem...*grumble.. resume something old rather.. *cough cough...) Yay!!

I have given my workout a slight paused since March because of ~~house moving~~ (EXCUSES).

Those who know me intimately, knows excuses are my downfall where fitness is concerned. Hence, I have made it a point to not make any...(paused for thought here while composing...am I sure I can keep my own promise?....back after 15 mins.)

*after 15 mins*

Ok leopards can never change its spots, so a pig like me cannot change my snout.. :( BUT!!!!!
BUT!!!

I will give it my best shot! That's all I can do at the moment.. Hey, at least I can own up to my ~~flaws~~ ~~defects~~ ~~lack of determination~~ ~~weak will~~ !!?? Back up a bit.. lack of determi... nope, I retract that.

If you wanna follow me on my journey back to fitness, you are welcome to read up on my progress and tag along. Who knows, maybe I can inspire you to a better lifestyle?? Who knows? But hor, if you injure yourself (BECAUSE) you did not heed all my warnings, before, during and after my postings... don't come looking for me hor. Below are the ABCs of my journey:

Day 1:
(A) Weight: (122kg) *faint.. damn weighing scales got stuck at 118kg and refused to move any further...:( I think I approximate my weight at about 122kg this time around...

(B) Workout diary: I started my first jog/walk this morning to assess my fitness and conditioning. Turns out my stamina wasn't as bad as I thought. It seems most martial artists have a residual stamina that is the direct result of long term training (body's way to letting you get through fights without collapsing on the floor and panting while your enemies are laughing too hard to hurt you too badly). Anyway, back to my workout. Ran about 1.2km and felt my ankles and lower back starting to strain. Probably due to the overly excess weight pressing on my joints.

(C) Diet: Atkins Diet. I advocate this diet because it works. If you don't think it works, keep it to yourself, I don't want to hear about it. Hey, then don't even read this portion of my post and get yourself all riled up for nothing. Move along.... hiak hiak hiak

Detractors and non-belivers gone? Good! Anyway, Atkins Diet is never meant for a long term dietatry plan. Any sort of diet that sticks to one kind of style will only cause you to suffer health problems. We adjust our diet according to how our body best reacts to our lifestyle. But we need a baseline to follow. And baseline being somebody else's idea of a healthy lifestyle, we cannot all be Bruce Lee, rrrriiigghhhttttt??

As my journey progresses, my core values go up, I will adjust accordingly. I will try to faithfully update changes to my baseline diet so anyone following me can understand what I am doing and do it for themselves.

Wah.. I blab alot leh.. anyway, I am off carbs for good for the next couple of weeks. Meats, fish, fruits (YUM!) and soft vegetables (YUCK!!!) are my main meals. Like that lor..

I always advocated fitness = strength, stamina, flexibility and conditioning. These seems to be the 4 core values I have isolated that will result in other motor movements such as speed, reaction timing, power (here I am talking in context of martial arts), recovery time, improved metabolism, etc, stuff that a fit person should be doing better than a couch potato.

For this first few days I will be concentrating on conditioning and flexibility. As for diet, More on these topics as my postings go on.

By the way, I am posting this online as part of my discipline. Also, hopefully it will serve to inspire my peers, students, fellow excuse club members to a better lifestyle.

I guess that is that for this post.

Your most determined one.

2010-03-21T22:45:00.002+08:00

Week 3 (21Mar - 3Apr)
Start weight: 108kg
Target weight: 103kg
Diet: Modified Aktins + lots of water.
Exercise routine: Running, stair climbing, isometric weights, A LOT OF STRETCHING.

(The post regarding the original training is found here My Life: Start of training Week 1 )

*Nods... I know.. not much this week. Been really sick. Some kinda virus. Even doctor have no idea what it is. LOL

So I had to eat and load carbs so my body can have enough energy to repair. Mmhmm. I take after my own adivce on this one and it is non-negotiable.

Still on target... lets hope the virus runs its course by midweek so I can put in some training time. Pfft.

*cough*cough*
The sick and determined one.

Training Week 2

2010-03-14T09:06:00.003+08:00

Week 2 (14Mar - 20Mar)
Start weight: 110kg
Target weight: 105kg
Diet: Modified Aktins + lots of water.
Exercise routine: Running, stair climbing, isometric weights, A LOT OF STRETCHING.

(The post regarding the original training is found here My Life: Start of training Week 1 )

I noticed something about my new found fats. I don't carry them well. Which is good. heh. They won't be around long enough for me to get used to them. However, the stress of my joints are very telling and in the course of this few training weeks, I will be putting my body to the test, carrying around such a heavy load.

Nah.. by week 5, most of the heavy load would be gone.. howver, I still need to have conditioned legs and hands to do what I want to. What better time than stairs climbing now *GRIN

If anyone ever wondered how a fat guy like me can move reasonably fast, that because I spend half my lifetime carrying around my body weight. And now that my weight has been greatly reduced, imagine how much faster I can move.. hmm? Or kick even.

But enough of that for an early morning post... I do have one very important caution for those following this plan of mine now....

STOP if you are feeling unwell. EAT carbs or regular food until you get better. You can always reset the training program once you are feeling well again. Nothing is worth losing your health or your life over.

Till my next mundane update,
Stay healthy,
The rapidly losing fats and determined one.

Update on training week 1

2010-03-12T18:58:00.002+08:00

A Recap:

Week 1 (7Mar - 13Mar)
Start weight: 115kg
Target weight: 112kg
Diet: Semi Carb to Aktins + lots of water.
Exercise routine: Running, weights, A LOT OF STRETCHING.

Current status: 110kg.

Heh..yeah you got it right, 12 Mar, the day before my training week 1 ends, thats my current weight.

It has been tough, no doubts about that. Tiredness. Late night food cravings. I don't want to make this seem easy or a fairy tale training program. But I didn't starve, I didn't hate my diet, I didn't hate my exercise. Just did everything as planned, normally. But one difference.

I KNOW I CAN DO IT.

YOU CAN DO IT TOO.

Tell yourself its one day at a time, and its a change of lifestyle that does it. Not just a diet. Not just a program.

Send me an email at swell_head@hotmail.com and update me your progress if you are joining me on this journey to fitness. It is easy doing this as a team :)

Well, I will post at the beginning of my week 2 and lets work towards that. I am generalising everything I post here so I don't mislead anyone. If you need help to fine tune your program, email me. IF you have my number, call me. *wink

Till the next post.

The determined one.

Start of training Week 1

2010-03-11T11:21:00.004+08:00

Very tiring.... thats all I can say.

Every part of my body needs to be reminded to work.. and has to work a part of a team. Basically for the past 4 months, I have been reduced to just running and left hand work. Right wrist having been misaligned... sigh.

I realised how ineffecive we can be after an injury because we depend too much our body being injury free. I also realised after all these months, I have been training with injuries. I ALSO realised I have an OCD.

OCD being Obessive Compulsive Disorder. I love playing online games. CabalSEA, Dungeons & Dragons Online, Secondlife, etc etc. I get totally immersed in these games and I forget to train, I forget to eat, I forget to sleep. I forget about friends. I forget about everything except I need to log in and game.

First step to getting help is recognising you have OCD. It is a scary and real problem. I am saying it now because I admit I have a problem, and I need help. My help is inclusive of reaching out to my family and my friends, and my training.

I guess I am lucky because I still have everything around me. Remember the case where the real life baby died while the Korean couple were too engrossed in their online baby? So sad :( ...........

So now I cancelled my accounts. That stopped me a few times from falling off the wagon because I admit, 1 hour after I decided to quit, I was frantically logging on again just to "make sure" everything was alright... sure. Pfft. OCD!!!!!

Now, I cannot log on. No more accounts, cannot play. I am going back to training, and hopefully things get back on track.

But I digress. Going back to training is easy, getting back to the level of competency I want is tougher, hoping to maintain it at that level and beyond is even tougher.

I am happy Seow and Thong has been asking me back for training. I will, soon enough, but not when I am not ready. There are a couple of things going on in my life right now that has a higher priority than karate training or even personal fitness. As if dealing with my OCD is not bad enough... lol

Those who know me, knows my extreme dislike for politics in martial arts. I just want to train because I enjoy fighting, gym, discussing philosophies, or just argue for the sake of arguing lol.

So now I begin my training afresh... I will be updating my blogs more often. I have lots of observation I made during haitus(spelling??) and am going to discuss them here.

Oh this morning I just went SKA and gave my right wrist a good workout... it is working again... FINALLY... yay!! I also peeked at my weight... *HOLY CR.... too much food, no exercise.. aiyah my body is like that de lar....

Now.. to get rid of my fats. I will post my weekly progress, pictures, diet and training plans. Feel free to follow along if you want and see if you can help me lose weight. :) The more people, the greater the support, the higher likeliness we will succeed together :)

Program Duration (8 weeks, 7Mar - 1May)
Target weight 88kg
Diet type: Modified Aktins
General weight loss method: Induced Ketosis
Disclaimer: Works for me. Might not work for you. Also my training programs are suited generally for my body built (I know myself best). If you need advice, ask me or Pam. BUT don't blame us if it doesn't work for you. *GRIN
WARNING: Always check with your doctor before embarking on any hare-brained idea of weight loss like mine, which I, myself would think is incredibly stupid, impossible and dangerous.

Week 1 (7Mar - 13Mar)
Start weight: 115kg
Target weight: 112kg
Diet: Semi Carb to Aktins + lots of water.
Exercise routine: Running, weights, A LOT OF STRETCHING.

Don't pass bad comments until the 8 weeks is up hor, if you don't believe in my target. Positive always helps, negative hurts.

Your unstoppable force,
The fat and determined one.

Food for thought

2009-10-02T12:11:00.007+08:00

I would like to start my first post of October by paying tribute to one of my friends.

Probably no one I know would know her. But I met her in an online game. Brilliant kid! Sharpest wit I ever met.

Nikole died of brain cancer in March this year after a 2 year fight. I only found out because of an email reply from her aunty who is helping to inform all her friends.

Before she died, she done a lot to help others. Spent a long time trying to help others along until she herself ran out of time.

I spoke with her aunty. Her mum could not deal with the sorrow and left to be with her 3 months after she passed away. Now its only her father trying to deal with the pain of 2 losses in so short a time. Her aunty tells me that he would occasionally log into Niky's account just to see her in-game avatar when his longing for her gets too much...

Her aunty told me, she was so passionate about life and fought to hold on... but that night she died, what got her was (according to her father) because of some posts on a forum. She posts on that forum alot because she plays online games to fulfil a fantasy life she knows she will never have.

After she passed away, her parents read those posts. They jeered her. Laughed at her condition for being "the kid with the cancer disease".

Her aunty in relating those accounts from her parents, those hurtful remarks probably that could have finally did her in... :( Her condition was already in a very fragile state.

Maybe not. But still, no one deserves that kind of jeering. Period.

When I was in primary school, I was fat and overweight. All my life people have been calling me unkind names. I am still fat and overweight... not because I want to.. because thats how my body and lifestyle is... and so I emphatise with her situation a lot when I met her online...

Now she is dead. I hope the people who jeered her are satisfied.

I often wondered... this is directed to you out there who likes to jeer at others...

Do you think the person receiving your jeer will be happy?

If you know the answer, means you are being mean, and no one will ever feel good about it. No other reactions will be expected by somebody who is being jeered or insulted.

So the next time you want to send some unkind remarks to someone, or anyone.

Don't.

Think before you do it. For Nikole, her life ended with people jeering her as she died... not a pleasant way to finally lose her fight to cancer. She would have been 19 years old in a few days.

Pray for her soul. And to those who jeered her... one day you yourself will be judged. Don't expect to be forgiven.

Pray you don't meet me.
CJ

Does God Exist?

2009-09-26T10:41:00.003+08:00

OMG OMG..

Somehow I found this video of some relevance to my last post and so must must must share with you...

However, don't even think to post comments or replies about religion here.. THIS IS NOT THE BLOG TO DO SO and will be deleted. Just read, watch and enjoy... but most importantly.. have a life and have fun living it :) With much ado...here we go....

R

Also, here is a more comical look at established facts of life...

The White, Black and Grey

2009-09-26T10:09:00.003+08:00

If I ask you to choose between one of the colours above.. what will you choose?

If you were born on an island far removed from civilisation and I showed you this:

WHITE

You will learn that pre-conceived colours do matter. So to you right now, "White" is actually Red in our context.

So guys and girls, next time you try to pass some kinda judgement on people or subjects, remember this...

What you think of others are often what is fed to you. Unless you fully know what is going on, chances are your opinions are "coloured".

Do you know that when we accuse others of being fat, we are ignorant of the fact that no one in society in general wants to be "side-lined"?? Or when we accused others of being "not in a class of our own"? Hmm that sounds a lot like Elitism to me, or perhaps its a way of saying I have and you don't... maybe.. I don'tknow..

See? I am making assumptions too.

FAT is not something I want..but hey.. it happened.. so it is an uphill task everytime we do something... like run.. kick, jump and most of all gain self confidence.

So like my friend Seow commented... he said "Get real".. Thanks for the wake up call!! Yep. I am being as real as they come.

I TRY. I fail, I try again... that is what make me interestingly human....

And at the end of the day, look around you and tell others around you and encourange them. If you think you have made it! Like my friend Seow.. then encourage the others to be what you become. You have made it because you didn't get real. You dreamt.. sometimes you succeeded, sometimes you didn't.. but you didn't let real get to you.. so now look at you! :) Congrats!

Alas poor me, still a dreamer. :) Well, I guess that is what made me strive hard towards my goal and look forward to being a better person...

So you out there who is trying to become something you know you are not.. don't let it get to you.. Dream.. then go for it.. as for this blog.. it deals with ME.

So... remember, if you are fat... there is hope. You are not fat because you want to be.. you are fat because you are not walking towards your goal. Take the first step... and when you feel there are detractors in your way.. you are starting to understand what progress is... They mean well. MOST of the time, however, do you know who is the greatest obstacle to your goals?

YOU.

Yes. YOU.

Do your own thing. Its your own life. If you wanna be fat, be fat. If you wanna lose some weight, do it. It is YOU. Never him, her, they, but YOU.

But enough said on this topic. We all know what I just posted is what you already know. Sometimes we all just need to be reminded. :)

Yours in post,
R

Desilo Ya - Lius Fonsi

2009-09-23T13:13:00.001+08:00

A while back I tried to find this song but it was unavailable online but now.. seems Youtube has plenty of this version.. So I managed to get a pretty good quality link here..

*The lyrics are a few posts below :)

Enjoy...

Training and Hydration

2009-09-22T10:20:00.004+08:00

This post we will discuss hydration in weight management and exercise.

Earth is approximately 70% water.
- There is about 71% water on earth and only 29% of land mass. The dry part of the earth is called the lithosphere and the water covered is called the hydrosphere.

Our body is made up of 70% water.
- Water makes up between 45 and 75% of body weight, with the variability due primarily to differences in body fat. In the average lean adult male around 60% of the body weight is water. The remaining body weight consists of 16-18% fat with 22-24% protein, carbohydrate and other solids.

Body water is broken down into the following compartments:

Intracellular fluid (2/3 of body water)
Extracellular fluid (1/3 of body water)
- Plasma (1/5 of extracellular fluid)
- Interstitial fluid (4/5 of extracellular fluid)
- Transcellular fluid (a.k.a. "third space," normally ignored in calculations)
  - Contained inside organs, such as the gastrointestinal, cerebrospinal, peritoneal, and ocular fluids.

The simplest calculation is the 60-40-20 rule.

Total Body Water = 60% of body weight
Intracellular fluid = 40% of body weight
Extracellular fluid = 20% of body weight

*Information from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_water

A word to the wise though... most information gathered here are for general understanding only and a lot of information have been left out here and I encourage you to read up more on body fluids and related fields of study.

This post of mine is about hydration management in my workout plans (..and it works)
I know normal health living advocates 8 glasses of water a day. But how big is the glass, anyone know? Hmm?? If my glass, then you guys and girls better find a toilet handy lor.. mine is those 2 litre fancy mugs you find in weird shops.. (I found mine at Giant) *Giant.. get it.. giant..

I advocate 16 glasses (normal 200ml drinking cups) for an average person (about 60+ kg). That means roughly 1L of plain drinking water for about 20kg of body weight. So I chug down a lot of water a day.. definitely more than 4 litres!!

OK OK... sometimes I forget and I drink only like 2-3 glasses... and then I only realise that when I got toilet and OMG... I think all of you have that experience..so no need to get graphic here... Yep.. Go chug down lots of water.. NOW!!!!!

An average person do not exercise to extremes. A glass of water is too troublesome, not to mention 16!!! So you need to be an above average person in terms of exercise, and make sure you drink half a litre at a time(urban legend says drinking too much water at one go will dillute your blood and give you some kind of horrible health risk) ...and.. please hor, water means PLAIN WATER, Coke lar, Isotonic, 100Plus, Pocari... NO HOR.. Plain Water!!!!!

Back to hydration. Do always drink lots of water during your workout. There is a procedure I follow though but I vary it, so don't blindly follow my blog postings.. if you are not sure, I am here, you know my email.. ASK.

But there are rules of thumb to follow..well, at least for me. Always warm or room-temperature before and during workouts... After workouts, cold water is good. Although Seow would disagree with me that cold water shocks your body constitution (which I agree hor!!), but I also have it on good authority that it increases your body metabolism by as much as 30%...so it means we burn up more calories more efficiently.

Muscles are made up of water and if we do not keep ourselves hydrated during training, we would end up having our muscle cells breaking down. So instead of building up muscles, we are actually depleting it.. :( Not a good deal if you ask me.

Again I am referring to my regular workouts in the gym and karate training unique to myself.. so if you are some intellectual health guru.. these info is not for you.. but then again, what are you reading this for? heh heh heh

I am sharing this info on my blog hoping it might help someone out there who might benefit from my experience.. but like I always said, if you need more help.. email me.

Wah.... very long post.. well..

Ahem...

Dieting means eating. Yes. My regimes means eat and lose weight! But need self discipline and exercise!! :)))))))

Always be sensible. If you cannot lose weight consistently.. don't torture yourself. But once you are on the wagon, don't give up! I can help you. Email me and lets work it out. :)

The committed one.

2009-09-07T09:46:00.002+08:00

Ok Chew-dren. I came across a new Mr. Brown Show spoof about H1N1, a new Korean MV about this bunch of girls and a new workout song all in ONE day..yay!

I am not going to go on about Mr Brown's spoof because you can find it on youtube.. heck you can find it almost anywhere.. simply search for "H1N1 song".... o.O''

HOWEVER... I will embed the Korean girl group "Wonder Girls" and their hit song "Nobody" here.. erm.. because I like leh.. Pfft...

By the way.. only 3 of the girls are damn chio.. the other 2.. so so normal Korean girls.. but well, its a group effort..so.. yes!!! but who the heck is this Chew guy they are always singing about.. :( Sigh Some guys have all the luck lor..

Anyway, while you are listening to this song, you can be certain I will be pumping some heavy weights, doing ungodly amounts of leg raises, crunches, skipping etc.. sweat rolling down my body.. skin deeply flushed with exertion.. of course, since its so hot in the gym, I will be wearing....

Enjoy!

2009-08-28T23:43:00.001+08:00

I was teaching a class today and I noticed something very funny about the way my kids' parents behave.

They are so proud of they children even when they kids are misbehaving and giving their poor karate teachers a HARD time.

I am a paitient man sometimes... especially so during classes.. but.. there are times I wish....

1) I can strangle the kid so I don't have to deal with him anymore...
2) I can deliver a really really strong round house kick in the kids' stomach to stop his nonsense...
3) I can deliver a really really strong round house kick to the kid's head to stop his nonsense...
4) stick 1 finger from my left hand into their right nosetril, stick 1 finger from my right hand into their left nostril... then rip it apart.. grrr

ok I made my point... heh heh heh

But, really. I am nice guy. Sometimes... I even go out of my way to be nice to people...

Ok ok, the point of this posting is this.. Everyone has to try to look at another person from that person's point of view... in other words.. walk a mile in their shoes.. really.. try it.. it is not easy.. and you might yourself more understanding of their predicament.

My team mates left me in the cold because they blame me for leaving them in the cold. Blind people. Bah.. I shan't say any further, they read my blogs... chances are they are capable of ripping me to pieces and feed me to the neighbourhood cats... *GRIN

Well, I am back in training what else can I say. My next posts will be my come back routine and timings for training.. so for those interested to join me in getting back to fitness... follow here K?

Still daaaaaaamn committed!!

Transformers... More than meets the eye *wink

2009-02-05T12:20:00.000+08:00

ToonLinx.com Transformers 2 RotF Trailer full movie part 1 @ Yahoo! Video

Lunar New Year of the Ox

2009-01-30T18:09:00.002+08:00

To start the year off, my handphone died on me. Sigh, bad enough all my contacts are stored on the phone, and not backed up on the sim card.
My wife remarked "Aiyoh, you should have store on your sim card maaaah..." Yar lor hor, you can predict my new phone will sudddenly have a malfunction hor.. well, hindsight is 20-20.

Theeeeen, on the first day of the Chinese New Year, I woke up and with 2 hours to spare, I told myself, well, why not give myself more grief and promptly went ahead and formated my Mac...arrrrggghhh :( :( :( :(

2.5 years of data stored on my mac... *distance sound of crying and sobbing....

Right after the 3rd day of the Chinese new year, I started my new cycle of training and dieting.

This time is for a few purpose, so I am going for broke. Lets see....

1. Full marathon 42KM in November... eeeeeeek.... what the hell was I thinking.. but it gives me a goal to train for..

2. Pesta Sukan in September... mmmm.... I am trying to lead my peers in a come back to tournament but I have to be in prime roast beef shape... already we have Seow and Thong.. wahahahaha... Now we need Teng Tiak Meng and someone to replace Lee Kwek Ngiap's place.. hmm a few names pop into mind.. see how first ba..

3. My fourth dan. I want it and I want it soon. Train and train harder... work and work harder...

4. Jujitsu and Kubojutsu are on my plate this year.

Anyone wants to join me on my exciting journey this year? :)

The Committed One.

Desilo Ya by Luis Fonsi

2009-01-20T00:18:00.001+08:00

Every once in a while, something nice comes our way... give this song a listen, spanish please :))

Vistete ya, no puedes tardar
Ella te esperara
Te pones nervioso
No es facil confesar
Que la amas de verdad

No dudes mas
Guiala en la oscuridad
Muestrale que te hace soar

Dile que ella es tu amor
La unica estrella a tu alrededor
Besala y dile que iluminara
Todo el camino hasta la eternidad
Diselo ya
Diselo ya

La veo alli sonriendo angelical
Que te hace suspirar
Un paso mas no puedo esperar
Mi corazon hoy va a estallar
No temas ya
No dudes al comenzar
Que de ti se enamorara

Dile que ella es tu amor
La unica estrella a tu alrededor
Besala y dile que iluminara
Todo el camino hasta la eternidad

De luna llena el cielo esta pintado
Y mi amor te alumbrara
La noche es ta perfecta para los dos

Dile que ella es tu amor
La unica estrella a tu alrededor
Besala y dile que iluminara
Todo el camino hasta la eternidad
Diselo ya

Dile que ella es tu amor
La unica estrella a tu alrededor
Besala y dile que iluminara
Todo el camino hasta eternidad
Diselo ya

Dile que ella es tu amor
La unica estrella a tu alrededor
Besala y dile que iluminara
Todo el camino hasta eternidad
Diselo ya

Something new, something old

2009-01-09T20:49:00.001+08:00

I was just watching some videos of this game I used to play.. I grabbed this off youtube.. Enjoy :)

Evening at home with Eirian and Lauren

2009-01-08T20:44:00.006+08:00

Sometimes all it takes is just a little inspiration to recharge us for the long journey ahead...

I am back...I hope

2009-01-05T12:34:00.003+08:00

My first post since a long time..and for the new year.

I was away leading another life, literally :)

But for all thats worth, it made understand my family and life is very important to me. All that is left is to make sure my karate never leave me again.

Back in training as hard as ever. And if you think you would like to join me on my next leg of fitness training... you are welcome to drop me a message on my shoutbox and we can arrange something :)

I am a very sincere person, and I am most willing to share knowledge and help. Train together and we will all go far...

Of course there will be detractors... but remember..

I am tough, fit (fat...who said fat... oh I fat is it? Then you have nothing to worry about loh *wink), mean and very very agressive when it comes to altercations :)

Of course to some I am wussy, fat, someone who is obviously not clear what I just blogged about :) To those... hey, go away, this is my blog, go somewhere else and blog about yourself...:) But of course, there are some who wants a piece of me :) Those who did got a piece of me, never came back for seconds, and they are now my students... wanna know why? Ask me nicely, or ask me the hard way, up to you.. but either way, go away... I am not interested in violence.. ROFL

I am very into well being of the body. karate and of course, ME!

-The Commmited one.

Psssst.... I am back

My kinda girl.

2008-08-07T15:26:00.001+08:00

Karate Bunkai and the Modern World

2008-08-07T12:35:00.003+08:00

Kata

Kata (型 or 形) (literally: "form") is a Japanese word describing detailed patterns of movements practiced either solo or in pairs. Karate katas are executed as a specified series of approximately 4 to 40 moves, with stepping and turning, while attempting to maintain perfect form. The practitioner is counseled to visualize the enemy attacks and their responses. A karateka "read" a kata in order to explain the imagined events. There are perhaps 100 kata across the various forms of karate, each with many minor variations.
-Extracted from (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karate_kata)

Personal intepretations of kata will be one of exercise, much like those practising Taichi, Wushu, Aikido, Silat etc etc

Katas are actual combat responses, albeit trained ones, to simulated attacks. We practise them through bunkai.

Trained responses to an attack is just like asking a short order cook to prepare "Steam Promfet"... repeat the tried and tested method of cooking the dish.. Perfect everytime! YAY!

...but wait..

What if the fish is NOT Pomfret?... er.... cook the same way?.... well maybe in cooking, you might get away with it... but in martial arts... NO WAY.

No one punch in the same way.
No one reacts in the same way.
No one moves with the same speed.
No one strikes with the same power.
...blah blah blah..you get the idea.

Kata gives you a story to recite by heart.
Bunkai gives you a script to perform.
Kumite puts you in the producer/director/lead actor seat.

We learn kata by heart to perfect our kihon (basic/fundamental) techniques, without which nothing will ever come to fruitation because we cannot even punch or block to save our lives.. true or not? Different katas give us a chance to practice different combination of kihon punches, kicks, blocks but most importantly you will notice about kata is the often neglected aspect...tenshin.

Wait..I did not forget about stances. Without good proper and strong stances, you should not even ben practising that level of kata. We have different katas that caters to different levels of training, so make sure you pick your choice of training katas that suits you and not over-expose yourself to too advance kata without proper training and waste time.. YAR. WASTE TIME.

Occasionally I will be asked to sit in for a judge in a kata competition, and the first thing I will notice about a competitor is the eyes when they approach the mat to begin their routine. They say the eyes are the windows to the soul... TRUE. I used to be able to stare down my opponents in the ring.. nowadays I just kinda squint at them.. hee hee *ahem..

Tenshin is the movement of the karate as he/she react to combat situations. Unfortunately, some aspects of karate is lost when different styles of karate emphasize on competition. See my above gripe about not having proper training in stances.

Try thinking like this, a skeet shooter and an air-rifle specialist. Skeet shooters react instinctively to targets being shot into the air, taking into account wind and velocity of the clay targets, they pull their trigger. The air-rifle specialist shoots in a controlled environment, zero wind and no outside distractions. Just the countdown and the number of shots they have to take. Put both together in a controlled competition and guess who is the better shooter? Now throw them in a war situation with just an M-16, guess who is likely to have more kills?

Another analogy, in a boxing match-boxers wear padded gloves and mouth guards, karate tournaments-karatekas wear padded fistguards, shin guards, foot guards, mouth guards. We fight in weight classes, below 65KG, below 75KG, 75KG and above, finally throw in a MMA/Muay Thai trained fighter-no guards . Now throw all 3 types of competitors into a bar brawl, who will come out alive?

Boxers will likely break their fists soon enough after a few punch (OH! You are a boxer and you disagree with me? Have you tried to make full contact with your boxer jabs and hooks WITHOUT GLOVES on HUMAN BONES!? Try first then comment on this article HOR!?)... *ahem...
Karate exponents will fare better due to bone conditioning but will not survive most probably not used to having different weights, types and class of fighters who can TAKE your karate kicks and punches, WHILE DISHING them out to you. Survive longer... but not for long either.
MMA/Muay Thai fighters are most likely to survive due to the fact that they fight and trained with all weight class and multi-type combat styles...beer bottle attacks..er...hmm... but they may not survived because some MMA fighters like ground grappling.. YAY!! Try having a roll in the hay on the ground during a bar fight brawl and you will find boots in your HEAD AND FACE while you trying to submit your single opponent...

Don't think I just type based on textbook analogies, I have been in bar brawls... I know karate, but I just split the scene... guess what, I survived... lol better fate then I can say for those who remained...

Ever seen hornets taking on bees? I have seen National Geographic Channel where a documentary was televised about 10 hornets, 10! taking on a colony of 3000 bees!

C'mon the sheer number of bee stings would have killed the hornets (Yar I know I forgot the species of bees liao, but they have stings one), but the hornets just killed the entire colony. Yar massacred. 300 to 1 odds. hmm...

I don't condone violence. Really I don't. I prefer looking girls and their figures, personally I am a shoulders, butt and legs man. But sometimes a man needs to do what a man needs to do (something like that lar, macho crap)..I will have to stand up for myself if I really need to. And I will.

PS: The reason why my blog is getting updated regularly these few days is because I am down with some crappy virus. So I cannot gym, train, run, ...you get the idea.. so I sit in front of my computer all day long...like as if I don't already.. wahahaha

Rob outz~

The Chronicles of Ka-Tia! The lingering scent of LCL injury

2008-08-06T12:44:00.006+08:00

OMFG. I know knee LCL injuries are hard to heal but.. c'mon! It is taking too d*mn long to heal lor. I tried to sweep a student of mine last night... it was a textbook move, (it was supposed to have knocked his feet from under him and he will fall like NANG KA!), instead it only just destabilised him, and my knee replied with a really sharp pain... well more of a painful twitch but still PAINFUL!

I guess it was only prudent I did not insist to take part in this year's Pesta Sukan Karate Championships, not wise to worsen it at this stage of my life.

I need to fight. I am a fighter. But somehow I find the fire much more difficult to stoke as time moves on.. perhaps I am picking my fights now as opposed to looking for fights when I was younger...

Fighting comes from all aspects of our lives, fighting with our love ones, in your office, at the wet market with the "aunties" and "uncles", in the bus with the "aunties" and "uncles", and the MRT with the "aunties" and "uncles" (..heey..don't they look familiar??...hmm...)...

I think a person's fighting style reflects his life..

I dread the day will come when I am faced with an altercation with another person or a group of people (if they are wise, they WILL come with PEOPLE, if he comes with HIMSELF...., well anyway I digress.. LOL

....I wonder if I am fighting for my life, will my knee injury matter? or does it mean I will avoid fights simply because I have to protect myself... hmm.. (we fight because we feel the need to protect something...)**

**Don't start with your philosophy about fighting is not good, it doesn't prove anything...blah blah blah...**

..ahem.. I think no one in their right mind will ever want to fight, while those who decide to pick a fight or respond to a fight provocation can only have one thing on their mind, ANGER.

So I fight without a sense of anger, this way I can maintain control over my opponent(s), but when I strike...it will be filled all my pentup frustration, anger, emotions, etc etc, anything you can pack into a punch/kick... make sense to you?? hmm...you should pick a fight with me just to find out... wahahahaha

~outz

You say. I say. They say.

2008-07-09T10:34:00.006+08:00

There are five principles of defense in Shitoryu karate, they are:

Rakka

Defense as attack. Using a defensive move as a form of attack. An example will be to use a vigorously applied Yoko uchi to block from the outside of a punch so as to break the momentum of the attacker. Hopefully in the process, you will injured his punching arm and break his rhythm and fighting spirit.

Kushin

Change in level. Good fighters think 360 degree angle from the left to the right, from the front to the back. Thinking fighters think 360 degree angle, left to right, front to back, also up and down. Example will be when an attack is low or aimed to draw the defender attention down, remember this blog's advice...

NEVER REACH FOR AN ATTACK
..if the attack cannot reach you, then cannot reach lor.
Ok, back to Kushin. Instead of reaching down and exposing parts of your body open for an attack, change the level of the defence. Drop into a low but stable stance for the block and if the distance and timing is right, counter. The counter may be made from a higher stance to take advantage of the attacker's lower attack level. (The attacker's level is low right? Otherwise why you bother to drop into a lower level to block eh?... Nothing better to do orh?)
An example of this will be dropping into nekoashi dachi to block + moto dachi to counter.

Ryusui

To flow like water. Ha ha. Personally I like this one. What!!?? You don't know the association of this phrase with regards to this blog and it's author??? What are you doing here??!!! Wahaha!
Ok, back to ryusui. Not much to say here except there will be days when your defence will need a gentle to the side. YAR. Martial arts not everything also Wack here, wack there one. Sometimes hor, use mouth can liao. Talk is also a form of sparring leh.
I have a personal thought about this, a coward talks but no action, a simple-minded person only knows how to punch his arguments across, a bully tries to talk but once he loses verbally he enforces his arguments with force... A gentleman on the other hand, is somebody who thinks they are "civilised" who do not resort to argument or force. Martial artists have the added advantage of "bargaining from a position of power".... meaning?
We can choose to be a gentleman, coward, simple-minded or bully. Wahaha!
No lar, we are very nice people. Fact is, we have more choices when it comes down to confrontations/altercations. We have a choice is better then none. Agreed?

Teni (Tenshin)

Change in direction has always and should always be the first choice when it comes down to reflex training. Why? A simple shift in body balance can deflect even the most powerful and committed of attacks. Adding blocks and yelling just makes it look cooler.. wahahaha~!
Example of Teni is side-stepping using shiko dachi and blocking with nagashi uke or osae uke.

Hangeki

Two flavours for this. 1st delicious flavour is Sen no sen. Attack at the point of attack. Huh!!?? Wait..let me explain. Erm... attack when the attacker attack... er... clear? er...
2nd yummy flavour is Go no sen. Attack after the attack has completed. Huh!!?? Why? I mean if the first attack ended with no contact, well, shouldn't we as nice guys let the matter rest?
NOOOOO.....

Attack me orh? Miss me orh? Too bad!! *All this while, I will most likely be counter attacking. Who ask you to miss me in the first place?... wahahahaha... Once you attack me, I am not nice guy lor, I will be your worst nightmare...

...I will your toilet paper cut!

~outz

The Chronicles of KarTia (Leg-pain) - Return of the knee

2008-07-06T18:56:00.002+08:00

Waha!
Wahaha!!
Wahahaha!!!
Wahahahahahaha!!!!

My knee is back.
During the period when my knee was injured, I had the opportunity to concentrate on developing my reliance on my left leg which was my genetically weaker leg.
Also, I had to readjust my training regiment to rely on hands to compensate for my un-usable leg during this period of time.

Ahhhh... my little blog reading grasshoppers.. you are starting to see my point now...
I have recovered from my injury... A stronger man then ever... buahahahahahahaha!!!

~Still the committed one.

Bad Bacteria!! Baaad Bacteria!!!

2008-07-05T11:03:00.004+08:00

I just came back from SKA because I wasn't feeling well. My stomach was cramping like hell and I was feeling sick. Slowly at first but it gradually got worst until I was practically doubled over in pain.

First thoughts was that I had indigestion but it turns out to be false as I did not have anything to eat throughout the whole day. Then it struck me, Food Poisoning!! 2 things lor, either the bowl of Cheng Tng at Ten-Mile Junction around 3pm or drinking water at SKA's water cooler around 6.30pm...(Yar lar, today quite pathetic, busy busy) I think it is the latter leh.... oh gosh, I tried to call Mr Wong to warn him about it, but he never return my call..

Well, anyways, I was running a 37.8 temp and was curled up in bed because it was sooooo painful lor. I was drinking a lot of fluid so I can flush the crap out from my system. Finally Pam got me THE SOLUTION! 1 x tab - Synflex + 1 x tab - Muscle relaxant = K.O.

Ahhhhhh............ I felt so much better in the morning.

Can you imagine something so small like microscopic bacteria infection can cause so much damage over a short time... What is the use of being a good martial artist?

~sigh, I guess I have to relook at my life motto.

"I would rather fight standing up then lose lying down"
-Robert Sim

~outz

Casting for Commercial!!!

2008-07-02T22:13:00.005+08:00

Oooooo! Oooooo! How exciting!!! I hope I get call up for casting tomorrow morning! Thats the first step. Then If...IF they like me, then I get to be on a commercial leeeeeh.... Wooo hooo!... Cross your fingers and wish me luck!

Oh yar..if you were wondering what kinda of commercial, well, its the TV kind and erm...they wanted me to do a FLYING KICK!... YAR.. I know if Seow is reading this.. He will call me and go.. "Oei! Sim! Your knee like that you still want to FLY ah!??"

Ok lar, I know ..I know.. but If I can heal in 19 days for my grading, I can heal in 10 days for my commercial shoot right... hor?...

I damn (Hokkien) Gien Pung - Desperate for rice... I WANT TO HAVE A TVC UNDER MY PORTFOLIO... I WANT...I WANT....

I WANT!!!!

ok.... tomorrow morning must ask Mr Wong to see if I can go... Wahahahahaha!

**Supplementary Blog: Oh,..so it was not for a TVC.. how disappointing, STILL, a print ad is as good as any.. Bwahahaha

NEW OBSESSION!!

2008-06-30T22:14:00.004+08:00

HOLY CRAP! Talk about simple games that can get you hook. Try this out and you will know what I mean....

HTTP://WWW.PUZZLEFARTER.COM

The Chronicles of KarTia (Leg-pain) - The pain! The pain! The pain!

2008-06-30T16:08:00.004+08:00

Erm.. it seems I am hobbling around alot these days. I wonder if I will become a permanent cripple.

Seow asked if I will be interested in competing in the Pesta Sukan. I think I answered, "Maybe.." I guess the reason being I think I am going to leave the kumite to the younger ones and I might want to fight for a place in Kata. There are no senior kata players around anymore and since we have so many up and coming kumite fighters, I might as well have a head start in the area of OLD MAN KARATE.

Traditional karate and competition karate katas are slightly different in the sense that competition karate are more flowery and flowing *(Power and speed is a given constant hor).

Traditional karate katas have a more practical feel to it and involves a lot of bunkai practice. Important note on this is that I think we should always preserve what our masters' legacy. As time goes on, we should pass these katas on in their purest forms to our next generation. As for bunkai we should spend time observing how it corelates to our changing times.

No longer are we dealing with empty hands or samurais with katanas... Modern conflicts involve brutes with plastic chairs, beer bottles, metal rods, stilleto blades, parangs, choppers, oversized ego and common sense of a roll of toilet paper.

We don't deal with opponents who show honour and courage by competing in individual combat but rather we are faced with "Ah Bengs" and " Ah Sengs" who turn up in the truckloads, they poke you in the chest and ask you for your *number (For those not in the know, number means which gang you belong to and so can call everyone in the gang who is not watching the Euro finals at the moment to turn up at an appointed time to "Pia Chiu!"-"Gang fight".

In this type of confrontation, it is no longer a matter of whether I will prove myself the better martial artist, it becomes a matter of survival... by virtue of doing the right things... like the ability to swallow our ego and pride by apologizing to the little bastard who happen to think you are staring at him.... even though you are really just looking at how ugly he is. Therefore, humility training in karate is very important and a very neglected part of our curriculum.

Next, the 10 kilometre run we do regularly is also very important because when you apologised and failed to appease the little bastard, RUN. Let's see that little bugger chase after you for the next 10 kilometre... well, if he manages to chase you that far, stop, turn around and beat the living daylights out of the remaining few who arrives.. wahahaha!!

Another school of thought for those who are reading this blog, BUNKAI WORKS. Whether you believe it or not, it works, so please practise deligently..over and over and over and over... you get the idea...

Well, if I limp so more, I guess there is nothing more I can do except maybe run for the presidency of SKA?

~Outz

The Chronicles of KarTia (Leg-pain) - The pain, the grading and the belt

2008-06-28T23:54:00.004+08:00

SANDAN!

Wahahahaha.... I got it liao..so what's next? I think sleep is immediately on the top of my list.. gonna sleep through this Sunday because I cannot take the stress already and the sleepless nights I had due to my knee treatments, constant training without rest and fitful nights because my knee hurts sooo much.

Next on my list will be make upgrading all my karate skills a priority Nothing more needs to be said about this topic already because my opinion is not important.

My eyes are going to sleep as I type this... Zzzz.....

The Chronicles of KarTia (Leg-pain) - The grading and the examiners

2008-06-27T21:09:00.009+08:00

Sensei T. Arai

Sensei K. Sakamoto

Sensei K. Kawata

Sensei Y. Morooka

Sensei George Tan

Sensei Wong Tuang Seng

Hmm...I have not idea whether I pass of fail for my grading... only time will tell....
But I must definitely thank Mr Seow Kwee Yong for all his expertise and help in getting my knee to heal in time for the grading. Although it must have been quite distracting for him, he still tried his best to help me mend my knee.. :) Thanks!!

The Chronicles of KarTia (Leg-pain) - The knee, the TCM and the grading

2008-06-26T09:33:00.004+08:00

*Sung to the tune of K Sera*

When I was just a white belt,
I ask my Sensei what will I be...?
Will I be champion? Will I be black-belt?
This is what he said to me...

Oeeei! Sim you see....
whatever will be, will be...
the future's not yours to see..
just keeping training and see...

When I just got my black-belt,
I ask my Sensei what will I be...?
Will I do kumite? Will I do kata?
This is what he said to me...

Oeeei! Sim you silly...
compete in every event...
you still have potential you see...
just keep training and see...

When I am going for my grading,
I ask my Sensei what will I be...?
Will I be Sandan? Will I be failed?
This is what he said last night...

Oeeei! Sim your knee...
Seow (The TCM) you can just burn his knee...
Like that I don't think you see...
Most likely you'll fail...*

Sim: "tsk tsk tsk.... my dearest Sensei, after so many years, you should know me better... I would rather fight standing up than lose lying down..."

Wahahahahaha!!!!!! Okay, so now that is settled, I have attached a youtube clip I find so amusing that I think I should share.. ENJOY!

Weight loss ad?

2008-06-23T10:44:00.005+08:00

Weight Loss Ad A - By a very expressly popular and "rich" weight loss company...

Weight Loss Ad B - By own individual effort

Would anyone pay for this? Look at figure A. Then look at figure B.

Let me give those who would give Ad A a try... Who needs to be ultra slim? It makes men look like wimps... YEAH! WIMPS!

...*ahem.. anyway, I digress...

...don't want to end up looking like a wimp, you need to supplement your weight loss with some...EXERCISE!!!

Muscle toning??? what muscles??? Build em first then tone mah.. This is like comforting guys that they have muscles that can be tone WITH EXERCISE... C'mon, we can do that on our own already... LOL

Flabby skin treatment... Hmm..same therapy as a face lift huh? Otherwise how to tighten skin??... hmm?...Orrrh... WITH EXERCISE AGAIN ORH??? ..no?..then? DIETING ORH? ...no?...then SECRET RECIPE ARH??? WAAAAAAH..... yar right... I heard from somewhere rubbing horse sh*t on you face can make you beautiful, wanna try?... what a load of rubbish... *grumble grumble...

BEER BELLY THERAPY...*What a load of cr*p! I know a few of my friends go for beer belly theraphy almost every night after training and you know what happened? While their beer belly got bigger, they don't seem to get any healthier or happier... go figure...

As for rubbing lar..massaging lar... apply "special" super uber herbs and spices.. ala marinating meat... The last time someone did that successfully, they called him Colonel Sanders... nowadays all these people masquerade as weight loss specialist companies.. LOL

PLEASE LAR...don't want beer belly, stay away from Beer lor... cannot stay away orh? Don't have the determination orh? Then too bad lor. Waste money on "BEER BELLY THERAPY", then you think suddenly your beer belly gone for good har??!! Won't come back de meeeeh?

**PLEASE READ THE NEXT LINE**

****Companies like that are depending on your lack of self-determination and self-esteem to earn money. You will gain back what you lost and go back to them for more punishment to your wallet. Look around you, there are people.. no, families who need your financial help more. Go on, just look around.. maybe you might just feel a little guilty enough to start losing weight on your own...****

And if any of you young 'uns (read here... macho little WIMPS!) out there who think you are macho enough to give this old uncle a try at Contender style punch out, just drop me an email and name the time. I have got the perfect fighting arena ready 24 hours.

YEAH. I am proud to declare that I lost weight in under 3 months under my own steam. 26KG to be exact. FREE OF CHARGE. Want to know how? Ask me, I just might tell you, but remember, if you are sincere, I promise to help each other all the way, if you are just asking for the sake of asking, don't waste my time...

~outz

Needing a miracle to happen

2008-06-19T09:15:00.016+08:00

I need a miracle to happen.. like this picture. Who would have ever thought that I will carry my nephew Gareth on my lap one day...He so small, so damn cute lor...sigh~

ANYWAYS....
I have exactly 8 days before my big day - my dan upgrading.

Certain emotions are running high in my life now.... stressed, depressed, anger, disappointment, regret... mostly disappointment.

Anyway, which ever angle you look at it, to recover from a MCL injury to full functionality within 19 days is POSSIBLE. Either that or I MUST believe it is.. so that IT WILL BECOME SO for me in 8 days.

The swelling has gone down a fair bit since the first day, but internally it is still swelling otherwise I will not be feeling these FR**KING pain!!

Since Monday, I have been feeling stray firing of pain shooting through my knee joints... hmm, that means my nerve endings are alive...
THEY ARE ALIVE!!!!!
-sic Dr Frankenstein

I am still hobbling, although I can bend my knee joints at right angles already and apply strength to it, but it still hurts. For those who will take reference from this blog on self treatment of minor knee MCL injury, this is what I am self-administering:

DANZEN (Serratio peptidase) - 10mg, 2 tabs, cute itsy bitsy lil pills

FASTUM (active ingredient ketoprofen) - 5cm, external only, contrary to stupid beliefs ingesting it does not help to work faster although it DOES kill you AND take away the pain

TRADITIONAL CHINESE KOYOK (too many to list)- 2 pieces per day, anymore and it will cause my skin to itch and hair to grow in places where they don't belong...

KNEE GUARDS - 2 to rotate daily, so that I can wash the other one and let it air eeeeeee

Self-administered physio-theraphy:

1) Walking the stairs.. SLOOOOWLY...
2) SQUATING.. SLOOOWLY....
3) DOING MY KATA...SLOOOWLY....
4) *GOING THROUGH MY KARATE DRILLS...SLOWLY..
*(Although this part of the theraphy involves a lot of @#$%$# cursing and swearing because I will be in constant pain...)

~Word of advice: Don't get injured lor... bummer

WANTED!!!

2008-06-18T11:23:00.019+08:00

My ELEMENTAL Self

2008-06-16T22:13:00.014+08:00

To take my mind off my injuries, I have re-channelled them into creating my mental image of who I am and what I am...

This is a series of elemental image I have of myself when I am in training mode.

Train passionately burning like FIRE

Be relentless, unstoppable and move like WATER

Swift, flexible and strike ferociously like WIND

Stand firm, an immovable force like EARTH

*Copyright me hor. I am okay if you use these cool logos... but let me know.. heh

My injury got scientific name one

2008-06-16T15:41:00.007+08:00

It appears that you have partially torn your medial collateral ligament (MCL). Luckily, the vast majority of people who injure their MCL have a complete recovery once they have been properly rehabilitated.

The MCL is actually a complex of ligaments, hamstring muscle attachments, and a thickening of the lining of the joint on the inside part of the knee. The MCL is one of the strongest ligaments in the body. It protects the knee from opening towards the outside. It is most commonly injured when an athlete sustains a direct contact injury to the outside of their knee (such as a clipping injury in hockey or football). Injuries to the MCL are graded I, II, and III. Grade I injuries are mild sprains, Grade II are partial tears of the MCL, and Grade III are complete tears. While the majority of athletes who sustain MCL injuries do not require surgery, occasionally we see athletes with a Grade III MCL tear who have torn their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or medial meniscus. It is important to make sure that you have not injured either of these structures, as you may need treatment for them prior to returning back to hockey.

-text info source from Sports Medicine Institue, University of Minnesota Orthopaedics

The meniscus is a c-shaped cartilage pad between the two joints formed by the femur and tibia. The meniscus acts as a smooth surface for the joint to move on. The knee joint is surrounded by fluid-filled sacs called bursae, which serve as gliding surfaces that reduce friction of the tendons. Below the kneecap, there is a large tendon (patellar tendon) which attaches to the front of the tibia bone. There are large blood vessels passing through the area behind the knee (referred to as the popliteal space).

The large muscles of the thigh move the knee. In the front of the thigh the quadriceps muscles extend the knee joint. In the back of the thigh, the hamstring muscles flex the knee. The knee also rotates slightly under guidance of specific muscles of the thigh.

The knee functions to allow movement of the leg and is critical to normal walking. The knee flexes (bends) normally to a maximum of 135 degrees and extends (straightens) to 0 degrees. The bursae, or fluid-filled sacs, serve as gliding surfaces for the tendons to reduce the force of friction as these tendons move. The knee is a weight-bearing joint. Each meniscus serves to evenly load the surface during weight- bearing and also adds in disbursing joint fluid for joint lubrication.

-text info and diagram source from eMedicineHealth

Dilema

2008-06-15T07:57:00.006+08:00

A knee... a knee...
My kingdom for a knee...
I wonder if I should withdraw from the grading....
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
It should heal in time.... shouldn't it?

But enough of this defeatist talk... I don't like to post this kinda of talk on this blog...

Starting today I am going to start a whole new series of crappy topics starting with ROBERT PREDICTS... LOL Hope you like it...

Robert predicts: The Top Ten likely questions from the grading examiners:
1) Why is your face like that?
2) Why are you so fat?
3) What do you do when someone insults you about your mother?
4) Can you go lower? (Refering to cat stance and shiko dachi)
5) How come you shout so softly?
6) "...your dogi is very dirty..."
7) Wong san, is this your student?..."Er...no..."
8) You! *pointing to a brown belt* Go home!!
9) In this bunkai, you think we can get some yakuza to attack them?... No?
10) Start with your left! Right! No, no, I said your left. Yes that's right. No. Left. Right. Lef....

...so you still think karate begins and ends with respect? I think it begins and ends with the language barrier.. LOL

Remember to bring your fistgaurds and wear a CLEAN DOGI down for your grading.

Good luck and till my next blog.. ~out

Knee problem..so..grading how?

2008-06-12T10:56:00.002+08:00

Er...
Hmm...
lemme see....*glancing longingly at my right knee*

Uh-huh...*gingerly moving it up, down, left and right*

...yep...yep...

It's official then... I cannot manipulate my knee.

...so......

Grading how huh?

15 days to go...

Uh-oh...

&#*@&$^!

Nevermind...nevermind... cool down... cool down...

Phwa! $&(@&$*(! +#&$*! !&*#*$(!

GRRRRR!!!!!

Never back down from a fight

2008-06-09T09:31:00.005+08:00

Most fighters (physical, mental, psychological, whatever the choice of battleground) already lost the fight before they even started.

How far are you willing to go?

Halfway? All the way? Beyond your limits? This is where the fight is won or lost. You decide where your commitment level is and then you go in. I mean let's face it, if you are not already physically ready and fit, and possess a certain level of fighting ability, you will most probably be sidelined during the selection process.

So if physical is not the key to success, then what is?

I am on my way to a doctor's now...I will be back to complete my blog....
~Back from the doctor's... it seems to be a inner knee ligament problem.. Doesn't look good :(

Anyway, like I care.. LOL

...now where was I?... oh yeah... what is the key to success if not physical prowess?

You are what you THINK you are... nothing more.. nothing less... really..really...

If you think you will win, then you will win, if you let yourself think you are going to lose, then most likely, you will lose.

HOWEVER, be true to yourself, never let yourself be deluded into over-confidence. OVER-CONFIDENCE & ARROGANCE have the distinctive smell of failure. Failure to recognise fear in itself is a major contributor to the ultimate fall.

Be afraid... be really afraid. That is a sign you are human. It is okay to be human. Only then you can fail...only then you can die... human is a survivalist in nature, we will fight to survive.

I will be back! This time even stronger and better.. but for now.. *yawn.. I want to go and sleep, have not slept a wink last night because my knee was giving me so much pain, it was a wonder how I was able to move around when I couldn't even put weight on it... ewww...

Maybe it was adrenaline... maybe it was because I was afraid... maybe it was both...

~Outz

Expandable shoes for children!

2008-06-06T23:18:00.008+08:00

Children's feet grows very very quickly! Do they not? Sigh~

Fret not! The solution is here!! Featuring Children's Shoes (Available in School Whites) with an in-built expansion mechanism. It is able to adjust to 3 sizes at the touch of a button.

Eg. Euro size 34 --> 34.5 -- 35

It is made from Polyutherane(PU) upper body and Rubber-soled(Better grip). Easy to wash and clean, more durable and lasting then canvas material shoes. It's main feature is a 3 sizes-in-1 shoe expansion function that a parent is able to adjust according to their child's feet growth. So basically you are buying 3 shoes for the price of 1. Isn't that cool!?

What is even cooler is the price, unlike other shoes, it does not cost you an arm and a leg. It cost only SGD29.90 (excluding gst)**{That means including gst will be SGD32.00, for those who are mathematically challenged}. By pricing it economically, we aim to make it affordable for everyone to get one...or two.... or three.... you get the idea.. :P

Available now only at store located at No.22, Geylang Lorong 21A, Prosper Industrial Building, #01-01B. (It's on the left side of Sims Ave). We are open 9am to 8pm daily.

Visit our website at

Here is a video demo of what our shoes can do.

PLEASE DO HELP SPREAD OUR PRODUCT TO EVERYONE ABOUT US. REWARD OUR EFFORTS FOR TRYING TO BE INNOVATIVE ENTREPRENEURS... just trying to make a living :)

Thank you and GOD bless!

PS: To all my team-mates who will be fighting in this Sunday's tournament, rest assured I will still do my best for you guys even though I am kinda reduce to a storekeeper these couple of days.. wahahahahahahaha!!!

When was the last time you fought?

2008-05-31T00:27:00.006+08:00

When was the last time you had fire burning inside of you?
Burning so hot you actually swagger around like you own the place... own everything in sight.

Well, today I ACTUALLY did that... and it FELT goooooood... HEH HEH HEH

"Karate for life" - Sensei K. Tomiyama

Hmm.. These words were repeated quite a few times when he was in town last Saturday to give us a short lesson on what it means to be training karate wholeheartedly. Unfortunately, it was rather short. I had so much to digest over that short seminar but it generated so many questions, many questions that came a little too late (after he left to be exact). Nevermind, I guess there will always be next time.

Grading is around the corner and I see a lot happening in our dojo. There are some (like myself) kanchiong spiders, practising katas, kumite, bunkai and upping our fitness level so we won't make an ass of ourselves during the grading.

There will be 6! SIX! Examiners... GULP! Sensei Morooka, Sensei Arai, Sensei Sakamoto, Sensei Kawata, Sensei George Tan and Sensei Wong. They are good solid teachers, but this is an exam, so they will be wanting to see what we know so far....

Ahh....

Liao liao liao liao

The way I see it. there can be no shortcut through this grading. They will be brutal, strict and serious. I mean, hey c'mon guys, if you don't do your homework before the big exam, don't expect miracles to happen on that day hor...

3+ weeks left, plenty of time to catch up on training... 27 days = 648 hours. Go go go!!

Oh by the way, good luck to those having grading this Sunday. Don't be late!

Next week we will be going to Woodlands Civic Centre for a tournament. Monday, Mr Wong will be choosing who will be in what team... Hmm, I don't know if I will be in or not...anyway.. K'Serra Serra... Wish us luck!

~Outz

9th Malaysia Schools Open Karate Championship 2008

2008-05-23T16:21:00.013+08:00

Cheras Badminton Stadium, Kuala Lumpur.

The title and picture says it all... Hmmm..But where do I really begin to start telling about this?

My kiddies did such a good job lor.. well... not exactly excellent lar.. all of them were a little deaf to what I say to them at one time or the other... BUT BUTT... overall they did their best and I think they deserve better.

The Boys and Girls and Uncles and Aunties that were there...

Yvonne, Paolo, Christian, Xavier and Edwina. Well done! Although I wish I could be there fighting by your sides, I guess there is always next time. :)

~...(grumble... grumble...)...~

**additional comments (made 27 May)**

~~...(grumble grumble grumble).....

I AM UNSTOPPABLE!

2008-05-14T17:06:00.002+08:00

Hey world! I am here to tell you I am unstoppable! Starting in 3 weeks time, I will be unstoppable for a while... Stop me if you can...

Don't believe, click here--->I AM MIGHTY!!

~The Committed One

Matsumura no Rohai

2008-05-14T12:44:00.002+08:00

The other kata I am training up for my sandan grading is Matsumura no Rohai. This will come under Matsumura Sokon kata. (Video footage will be posted once I get some decent ones)

Problem is there are so many versions I was confused uptil a couple of weeks ago. I guess I am going to stick to my guns and go with my chief's version. He is my chief after all, haa haa.

Anyway, I really think that knowing a kata is one thing, getting to know and apply what we have learnt from the kata is another. I got this from "Kuro Obi". I finally laid my hands on the movie! I will be doing a short review of that show here in my next post.

I will be leaving for KL in a couple more days, gonna accompany my kids up for a short tournament and hopefully we can warm up for our Goju Invitational (8th June) when we get back.

FINALLY! A decent tournament for me to warm up and pick up where I left off so many years ago. 8th June will be the start of my resurrection. I guess if there is anytime to finish my competition career, this last few tournaments will be a good place to end. Hopefully by the end of it all, I have some good memories.. new ones to replace all the old ones.. I am kinda sick talking about the old times... Lets get new ones baby!!!

~~Out

My kata Jiin

2008-05-11T09:57:00.003+08:00

Jiin looks more similar to Jion as to Jitte and is also longer than Jitte. But Jiin includes footwork with difficult turns, requiring good balance ala Chinto. In this area it is the most difficult of the three Kata.

Jiin, the name is to translate to "ground of the temple" or "temple ground". It is classified under Itosu-Te family of katas, however, there are some (including myself) who thinks the 3 katas may have their roots in both Tomari-Te and Matsumura.

Common traits of Jion, Jitte and Jiin are movements out to the side and in the case of Jiin, there are some backward turns which sets it apart from the former two.

I would love to show you what Jiin is all about but due to copyright issues, I will only have to show you what I can do. (...not very good, but at least it is better than some I have seen posted online.. *wink!!)

Kata: Jiin. Time: 1min 18secs

By the way, I think it needs more work (I need more practise lor), my grading is in 6 weeks time)

~Outz

DANG!!

2008-05-08T10:13:00.005+08:00

DANG! As the title of my post suggests, DANG!! DANG!!

Sometimes the most well meaning gestures can be detrimental to our health.

My mother has been trying to stuff me with rice, noodles, bread... almost everything CARBS you can think of. I think I may have gained a bit of weight back since.

This goes to show that if you are lazy even for a few days and ill-discipline about maintaining your fitness and weight... it will come back. Like I said previously, this is all about a life-style change. If we go back to our old life-style, your old habits and weight comes back... Like a boomerang.. whoosh whoosh..TWACK! DANG! SH*T! Weight gain lor, figure go out of shape lor... go bang wall lor...

OR... OR!!!!

Just make sure we resume our active efforts at life-style change. No use going around blaming others for our weakness... Like my chief told me yesterday..

Mr Wong: "Oei! Sim! You getting fat again ah! Look at that stomach! Hoi Yoh! Weak lar you!"

SIGH!!!.... I tell you ah... sad lor..

**Note: I don't usually blog from SKA but I am doing it now because I just finished my morning training (Today is kata training, later at 2pm I am going to Cali Fitness for gym and STEAM & SAUNA.. ahhh.....).

Anyway, the reason why I must blog now is because my kata SUUUUUCCCKKKSSS!!!!

YES!~ Really sucki man! I have never had such bad kata in my life! I am thinking what the heck am I doing, trying to go for grading!! Argh!

My kicks sux big time as well!

My punches are generally slow!

I have SUPER high neko-ashi (for those not in karate, that means cat stance.. one of the few advance stances in karate.. and it has to be low to be considered good. I have super high one lor..so equates super bad lor...).

Wah l*n! Anyone might as well give up man. Like this carry on, I think 3-4 years, anyone also cannot cannot make it lar!

Hmm... but then again.. oh I see, I am not just anyone. Haa haa haa.. So it does not apply to me.

I will be making daily trips to the gym (strength), dojo(karate) and running(cardio) my ass off. I am also making sure I stick to my regime of non-carb (weight loss) and healthy foods (nutrition). I am also trying to throw in a healthy dose of stretches (flexibility) and swimming (joint & muscle mobility). Sundays are off-limits to training. It is couch potato and family day (Recovery)!

Be defeated or do something about your obstacles. The choice is up to you.

I choose the path of the water.. it is my representation of the unstoppable force.

Hmmm..? Hmmm..? What is that you say? Did you not read my blog title? I suggest you go read it again. Be the unstoppable force...

"Be like water my friend"

- Bruce Lee

The Commited One

Changes are in the air

2008-05-07T00:48:00.012+08:00

I am not sure if changes are good for life, but generally they are good... especially so for maintaining a diet that leads to a better quality of life.. :)

I know losing weight to many means to abstain from food, some does extreme exercises humanly impossible, some do both... and the end DESIRED result will be to look good, perhaps, or maybe feel good? PLEASE understand that losing weight is a process, not a destination (CORNY lar I know, stop going "eh eh eh, he got that from somewhere.. but I digress), By pegging it as a destination, once you reach there, there will be nowhere else to go but back...see what I mean?.. hmm? hmm?... But if you see it as a process or journey, then it will become a lifestyle change. I cannot stress enough, the road to losing weight, getting fit and looking AND FEELING good, is a sustainable change in lifestyle habit. That means, food in-take, exercise, work and hobbies must be tweaked to suit our new lifestyle.

*For those who winced at the word CHANGE, you may not be ready... If you must, take it easy and slowly.. SLOWLY change (heh? winced again eh?)... the Key word is SUSTAINABLE hor...

Anyway, let me just share a little today, since I seem to be in the mood to blog... (more to come in the next blog)

Modified Atkins Diet consist of non-existent carb intake + cardio-vascular exercises leading to ketosis induced fat burn.

My version of the Modified Atkins Diet is divided into 2 parts for the sports person aka martial artist like myself;

1. To reach your target weight:

Intake: Non-carb. Always go for high protein, high calcium, fibre-rich and low fat content food.

Workout (Week 1 & 2): 30 mins to 1 hour of low level intensity (2-3 times a week)

Workout (Week 3 onwards): 1 hour of low - mid level intensity (2-3 times a week)

Caution: Always start SLOW. The weight WILL DROP as long as you are patient and willing to persist.

2. To maintain:

Intake: Carb intake is permitted. Again, always go for high protein, high calcium, fibre-rich and low fat.

Workout: 1 - 2 hours of mid - high level intensity (3 times a week)

Caution: Remember to let our bodies rest once in a while so it can recover.

Part of my lifestyle change was also NOT to eat at night, I made it easier for myself by getting involved in computer games or going online when I feel hungry (roughly translated, that is me being greedy and being a glutton). Draw your own road map, make detours away from your obstacles, maybe you might just make that all important step FORWARD.

Remember, there is only FORWARD and BACKWARD, never STILL in time. So go go go!!!

Finally I managed to settle down

2008-04-30T08:26:00.005+08:00

Been a few days since I last blogged, yar lar blame it on the weather. It was and still is SOOOO hot lor... I have moved my office back home for a while because my landlord sold their building and we had to move out. So my place looks damn cluttered with all the boxes and movie posters and boards and...bla bla bla.. aiyah! Alot of things lar..

Training update:
I have moved on from 12.5KG DBs to 20KG DBs last week. Already after 1 session I am getting muscle tear! But...muscle tears are goooood... it means they (muscles) are growing.... bwahahahaha.. *wink ..provided I drink plenty of milk.

By the way, I am having an average intake of 2 litres of milk (low fat, of course) everyday, especially so after a good workout. It contributes to an additional 15% muscle growth!

Betcha did not know that.. well neither did I until recently.

Some friends call me a big baby. Hmpf! Well I am a mighty big baby then... I can crush coke can with my bare hands.. rip namecards (unlaminated ones hor!) in a single shred... BUT the most impressive feat recently was witnessed by my good friend Seow Kwee Yong... hee hee

Some things are not mentionable one..

I find the pulley weights at SKA not up to my requirements already because they can only go up to 105lbs. I need more resistance than that, I guess I will be popping into the gym pretty soon... I miss my pec fly machine and the pulleys.

DBs and leg curl machines are still good to go at SKA because I don't think I can go up in weight anytime soon too.. I have to keep reminding myself I cannot get too bulky. As a martial artist, three things cannot never go hand in hand (without prior training), that is Strength, Speed and Flexibility.

Just think of the 3 elements as points of a triangle, we can only get a good balance, very difficult (not impossible) to achieve all three elements. Looking back, I almost had it all... sigh

Oh well, back to the grind of training.. I know it is possible... I will give you the number of that guy that will do it...

Or better yet, call me. *GRIN

What is KUMITE?

2008-04-11T01:23:00.005+08:00

K - Karate lar.. what else?

U - Don't have you... how to spar? LOL

M - Got you also must have me also...

I - Stands for "I" kick your ass!

T - "T" stands for I kick your ass... TWICE!

E - E is for me to kick your butt..EXTRA HARD!

For more information refer to this link for what is actual kumite defined as in karate.

"Look under Committed One in the dictionary and you will find my picture there..."

6 Packs update

2008-04-08T10:36:00.015+08:00

With reference to the challenge posted here -> "6 PACK CHALLENGE"

Here is my latest progress... been working hard to get the fats off!

Here are some homemade videos of some of the exercises I do for my back, chest, abs and arms... I have more if you email me and ask for them...

JAVOREK COMPLEX (Works the shoulders and chest)

3KG Dumbbells 2 SETS
6 Reps: Vertical raise to shoulder level (Note the position of the dumbbells)
6 Reps: Side vertical raise to shoulder level
6 Reps: Front lift to chin level
6 Reps: Vertical raise to shoulder level (2 and 10 o'clock position)
6 Reps: Side vertical raise to shoulder level (Body parallel to floor)
6 Reps: Vertical raise to above ear (Full extension of arms)

PLATE PRESS (Works the shoulders, chest, abs and arms)

5KG Plate weight 2 SETS
10 Reps: Horizontal extension (Full extension of the arms, palms must be pressed together to keep plate from dropping). Lower fully extended arms and raise back to shoulder level. Bring back front of chest.

DROP PULL (Works the shoulders, arms and abs)

105LBS roughly 47KG Resistance 3 SETS
10 Reps: Start position - Kneel with fully extended arms. Pull behind head using only arms to pull. Additional work on abs - When pulling with arms, sit down on your thighs (Using your abs to help pull down as well)

I will be posting some of my karate workouts in my coming post because I need to take good pictures and videos first.. and I am a lousy video and photographer.

McDull

2008-04-05T22:26:00.001+08:00

Have a listen to this... damn funny stuff.... LOL LOL Beware, it is in Cantonese but it has English subtitles... LOL LOL

What the hell happened to this guy!!??

2008-04-05T10:01:00.007+08:00

??????????????????????????????????
What the hell happened to this guy?? You have heard of shrinking after washing, then I must have been in the wash for a mighty long time lo..

Add in the terrible effects of spin dry, tumble dry and wring dry...

It so happened that I chose to wear the same shirt, and thought what the hell, take the pix lar!! I might not be able to wear this shirt much longer.. LOL I look like covered by with a robe or sumthing... actually, thats about all I am covered with... hee hee...

Before 112kg... after 86kg (it might be 85kg now I have not weighed myself properly for a week now)... Go figure.. LOL

Anyway, anyone who needs additional (ADDITIONAL HOR, becuz I am not a pro weight loss consultant or physical trainer) advice on weight maintainence and weights, guys and girls, can drop me an email at swell_head@hotmail.com or add me MSN, and we can move on from there. Don't SPAM me hor.

Training Schedules

2008-04-02T08:12:00.004+08:00

This post is to keep me on the straight and true path of achieving what I want in my karate training.... with whatever remaining time I have left on my "ahem"..youth.

Monday:
Session 1: 9am - 10.30am (SKA)
Flexibility and dumbbell training
Session 2: 3pm-4pm (SKA)
Strength and conditioning
Session 3: 7pm-9pm (SKA)
Kumite techniques training

Tuesday:
Session 1: 3pm-4pm (SKA)
Strength and conditioning
Session 2: 7.30pm - 9pm (Class at SKA)
Conducting basic training

Wednesday:
Session 1: 9.30am - 11am (SKA / Gym)
Strength and conditioning
Session 2: 3pm - 4pm (SKA)
Flexibility and dumbbell training
Session 3: 7.30pm-9pm (Class at SKA)
Kata and bunkai training

Thursday:
Session 1: 3pm-4pm (SKA)
Strength and conditioning
Session 2: 7.30pm - 9pm (Class at SKA)
Conducting basic training

Friday:
Session 1: 9am - 12pm (Gym)
Strength and conditioning

Saturday:
Session 1: 3pm - 4.30pm (SKA)
Strength and conditioning
Session 2: 4.30pm - 6pm (Class at SKA)
Conducting basic training

Sunday:
Compulsory rest day

Yar lar yar lar... no life lar.... TSK! Say whatever you want... but I will reap the benefits of my hard work... Buwahahahaha...

I hate myself

2008-03-30T23:10:00.001+08:00

Its official... I now hate myself.. no explaination needed... sigh

My 90 days challenge has started!

2008-03-21T10:14:00.005+08:00

My second day into my journey... I am making small tiny steps in the right directions, hopefully in the right directions...
This is what I will be doing for the duration of the 90 days... Sanchin kata for breathing and strengthening exercise. When done correctly, it engages your entire body and activates almost all your muscle group....

Hmm..... I feel lighter already... Bwahahahahahaha.....

Quest for 6 Packs!

2008-03-18T12:19:00.007+08:00

Someone asked me why I have a round tummy even though I train everyday.

Grrrrr.. TU LAN!

Ravindha (A friend at SKA) challenged me to get 6 packs within 3 months. The one with the better 6 pack showing at the end of 3 months will have to buy the other party a Nokia N95.

The challenge has been issued. I have accepted!

I have 90 days to transform from this...

to this...

You say its impossible? Well, one of my senior sensei said the same thing of me when I was weighing in at 112KG in Sept last year, my waistline was 44inches. She told me it was impossible to lose at least 6 inches off my waist in 6 months. She said she will give me a reward if I did it. Well, 4 months later, I was 6 inches off my waist. (My waistline now is 36 inches). Lets just say I am still waiting for my reward... (She acting blur leh, how?)

As for this goal that I am going for, I have made some measurements here for the record, so 3 months down the road, I will link back back to this post and lets see the results (with pictorial proof of course, LOL).

Waist: 36 inches
Chest: 42 inches
Hips (including butt): 41 inches
Thigh: 25 inches
Calf: 16.5 inches
Biceps: 15 inches
(Quite pathetic by any standards but I am training as a martial artist not a body builder so give and take lo)... LOL

These people keep giving me challenges that they deem is impossible...

TSK TSK TSK.. you guys keep forgetting I am the Committed One.