Ginjaninge

Turned out MMA last night was moved to an earlier time so the team could go watch Northumbria Boxing Team after traininng - So by the time I finished work it was to late to go. So instead, i tried to be pro active and headed to FSI to do an hour Strength and conditioning. I also agreed to go see a film with my Girlfriend and was therefore on a tight scheduel...and there was traffic making the trip and extra 20 minutes!

So I got there and only had 30mins really to train. Stayed positive, was all set to go. Got going...and quickly realised how bad I had gotten! 

First exercise set I always do is Pull-ups then Dips. When I first started at FSI a year ago, I could not do 1 proper pull up (full extension to chin above bar) but had gotten up to 3 sets of 10 - well 2 sets of 10 and one 6, then negatives. But last night, could barely do 2! TWO!!!....this is going to be hard.

Then with the lower body, Glute-Ham raises, when I started I was unable to do one properly. Kinda felt like I could not activated the muscle required when needed. After a month or so, I was bossing these, doing 3 sets of 8 no problem. Last night however, 3...then 2...then 2 again. RUBBISH. What have I done?

I have taken steps backwards, but I have the previous knowledge to make the needed forward steps quickly this time.

SO. I have been injured. Ankle Ligaments injury - picked up at a grappling comp in Scotland this summer - had my 5th MMA Match with it, won, thought I could train around it, entered a BJJ competition at Newcastle - found that not to be the case...tried training light and actually really hurt it just pulling guard! SO...I have been out of actions since October.

I had my first session back yesterday morning with a personal session before work in the early hours. It was a great day to start back, the first signs of snow this winter, -5 degrees on the Car's thermometer - totally great (not).

It was hard, very hard infact, which is good, its what I want - I couldnt help being out, I needed it. If I had been off the booze, eating really well and doing everything I could to stay as fit as possible, I would undoubtably been in better shape, but...I didn't.

Not going to stop and dwell on that though, as what I did do was enjoy myself, put on a successful 3rd show for EIkö (My MMA Event in Newcastle) and used the time off to push plans for Eikö4 ahead as much as possible (BIG things for us in 2013). But back to training. So...I guess I really want to make the most of the "new start". Emphasis on improving the things I know I needed to anyway, correcting my bad habits from day one and doing everything I can to train 'properly'. It's worth noting, I am still not 100% where the injury is concerned. No kicking, no heavy twisting or sideways movember/change in direction. But I HAD to start training  couldn't take it anymore. Tonight, Im going to give MMA class a go, not train to hard, be aware of my injury, but also take some time once warm to do my Physio exercises to strengthen my ankle.

So to help me get through this properly, moniter my progress and maximise my potential, you may have guessed, I am back blogging. I will try and make an update every other day. We will see, but I tend to loose interest in this every now and then, so I have set some personal goals to attack with this. 

Does this make this a Fitness Blog? Perhaps, but my training is a big part of me so Im not excluding it to my training, but it will get training heavy soon. However I plan to use it to continue my drive on my creative side, post designs and artwork made by myself, but I can't say it will be 50/50 - or any other ration as I just don't know.

I will look to get some weigh ins, but Im not weighing in now, it will be done on a Saturday morning so I have a regular day and time. Pics...yeah, but not so sure what kind, probs just ones I get of me training, every now and again, more the stuff im doing, than progress shots...Im probably not talking to anyone here so Im not too bothered it's my blog for me about me and what I am doing. Back to work, specifically working on jobs for a new brand I designed at work (surreal creative) which you may have seen on my portfolio blog (not very up to date either) but they just launched their new site which is pretty cool and carries the branding and beer designs I did really well. You can check it out here: www.sonnet43.com

And thats it for now. Treading this as DAY1(again)