cardio

[dnative]

anyone here tinkered with any endurance training or cardio? i hear sprint intervals are the fastest way to increase distance and speed but i wonder if anyone here has tried other methods and found success?

[Zach Trowbridge]

What are you trying to use your cardio for?  Speed or distance?  You can't really do both at once.

[dnative]

it's for my hapkido training...which uses both endurance and speed...only when sparring...of full contact.
i have mild asthma and somedays it almost kills me lol
i need to be able to at least try to keep up with these young pups.

[Cap]

it's for my hapkido training...which uses both endurance and speed...only when sparring...of full contact.
i have mild asthma and somedays it almost kills me lol
i need to be able to at least try to keep up with these young pups.

You can do both.  I would include one LSD day but the rest should be intervals for what you want it for.  Do short repeats 200m, intermediate (400m) and then longer 800m repeats.  It will help you in the type of workouts you do.  I would include incline intervals, which are great for your heart, lungs and legs.  You work different muscles and make your muscles stronger.  Tabata is a great protocol for short days.  On days where asthma is killer do short or Tabata intervals.  I would suggest the LSD run on days where your lungs are fresh because you will use them in a different capacity.  I believe that you can overcome asthma and complete marital arts workouts with intervals.  A buddy of mine in his 40s does intervals and beats people in regular defensive tactic training because he can last longer than all the stronger guys.

[Zach Trowbridge]

Sparring isn't "technically" an endurance activity compared to what people (at least me) usually think of as endurance sports - marathon/triathlon, cycling, etc.  It's in the same vein as most fight sports where you have some recovery interspersed throughout, but I get what you're saying.  I always like to have any fighters I work with do intervals that are about 20-30 seconds longer than what they need - if they have 2 minute rounds, then have them do intervals at about 2 1/2 minutes per burst so that by the time they get around to a fight it's a cakewalk in terms of endurance.

[dnative]

well yeah sometimes depending on grandmasters' mood they can be 4 min rounds.
i am relatively strong but i have sometimes where i tire or burn out quickly and then bam!
i am in the proccess of losing another 7lbs so that will help but my overall endurance sucks.
 

[Zach Trowbridge]

Another thing you may want to get into a little bit is focusing on pre- and post-training nutrition.  If you're underfed before you go train you'll struggle to keep pace, regardless of how conditioned you might otherwise be.

[SamoanIrishman]

it's for my hapkido training...which uses both endurance and speed...only when sparring...of full contact.
i have mild asthma and somedays it almost kills me lol
i need to be able to at least try to keep up with these young pups.

Sweet another Hapkido student! I had severe asthma (nebulizers, shots ect..) as a kid and found (doc's advice) that swimming (sprints and slow long stretches) REALLY helped my lung capacity to improve thus allowing me to play other sports (rugby). Sure the first couple of weeks you'll cough and wheeze and use your inhaler but you will find it gets less and less. Also supplement that with training to hold your breath as long as you can underwater. I got to almost 2.5 minutes at one point. Also..try and focus on keeping your breathing and heartrate down (keep calm) during your matches...this helps very much when you get it mastered.

Next time you do a blow ball test (ball in tube to measure lung capacity) and have the doctor say you have 20% more lung capacity than your average age group you'll thank me. I no longer have asthma btw.

[dnative]

so what foods would be a added post or pre bonus for this?

[TestDummy]

anyone here tinkered with any endurance training or cardio? i hear sprint intervals are the fastest way to increase distance and speed but i wonder if anyone here has tried other methods and found success?

When I started running I would run for 5 to 10 minuets then walk for a minute, now I can run 5 miles in an hour without a break in just a few months running 2 or 3 times a week. I hope this helps.

[dnative]

intervals yeah im just starting them thx alot guys
i'll  keep ya posted!