PE Update (former weight-lifting update)

Most of 2021 was spent nursing the tendinopathy from downhill pounding in

cushioned shoes. Nothing disabling, the injury nonetheless never healed 100% and 

inevitably set me back in squating. I had to stop Surya Namaskar(Sun Salutation) 

in the morning. It was puzzling that soon the right knee started to hurt at the

back when bending in either the frontal or lateral plane. I don't do a full

lotus sit anymore. Groin and knee pain every time getting up from a chair had

depressed me for quite a while. Thanks to time and persistent physical activities,

however, things have been improving and I have a couple of revelations.

 

First, I might have peaked in the kettlebell swing. According to Mr. Steve

Maxwell, after five years of continued growth, one typically would have achieved

the strength allowed by one's build and further gains would have to come from

bettering skills. Suppose he is right. Hereafter, a more sensible goal for me

would be to maintain the ability to swing 40kg single-arm and 48kg two-arm. For

the past couple of months, I have found I only need to lift weight once or twice

a week for this. I probably won't be able to reach the Sinister goal of single-

arm swinging the 48kg in a short time. I am OK with that. 

 

It is interesting, though, that my bodyweight which averages at 156 lbs, often

jumps up by a pound or two the next day after weight-lifting. Strength training

demands muscle and, unaware, I must have naturally eaten more on those days.

 

Second, Jiu-Jitsu is a form of isometric strength training. At the whitebelt

level, I know not much more than grabbing, holding, pushing and pulling. Those

tug-of-war moments, frowned upon by more experienced guys, build muscles at

specific positions. I even suspect that part of gettting better at Jiu-Jitsu

involves strengthening the muscles for the myriad moves. It has become obvious

that grappling helps my pullups.

 

Since last July, my body has settled to the new weekly physical activities which

include two weight-lifting routines (one light with 32kg and one heavy with

40/48kg kettlebells), four to five grappling sessions, and one running up and

down Mission Peak (in about two hours). Adaptation has led to better recovery

and more energetic days and I have been thinking what's next. 

 

I can pursue other muscle-building drills, e.g., the military press and turkish

getup. Maybe I should add rope-jumping and try to do double-unders. Once I'm

good at that, I might try boxing. Another goal (Vanity Alert!) is to get the

hyped six-pack, just to see if it could be done before I turn 50 and what it

takes. There are so much to look forward to.