So this is it. Time to take things seriously an even bit more. I've asked FP to help train me (although he insists it's 'train with', not 'train'). He was looking at getting in the cage in 6 months, and has a ridiculous amount of experience as a fighter. Since he's doing that anyway, I thought I could tag along for the ride. My aim may not be the same, but the methods will help me improve my fighting above others at the club, and be a deadly fighter in general.

Yesterday we stood in the car park and he helped 'condition' my thighs. Which fucking hurt. My arms aren't too weak, my stomach, etc, is actually very strong. But my thighs... yeesh. Wasn't aware how unconditioned they were until they took a few serious hits. In sport taekwondo, hitting below the belt is illegal, so there's not much need to condition the thigh. In kyokushinkai karate, they train almost excessively to deal with this pain as their rules allow leg kicks. Bruised up today.

He gave me a pep talk this morning, which included the usual 'no pain, no gain' kind of talk. But beyond that, he explained how when you're fighting, there's nothing scarier than hitting your opponent as hard as you can, and him not feeling a thing because he's conditioned. That's why we condition. We don't WANT to take hits, but we need to be able to deal with them if he do get caught out. Every morning I need to work on stretching and conditioning. At lunchtimes (or after work if time allows), it'll be gym, focusing on cardio and strength, and obviously after work mainly is training. Buying a medicine ball to help, too.

I am glad FP puts up with my bullshit and then beats me when I'm being a child. Yesterday I sucked in class, and (I'm sure it wasn't meant that way, nor was it wholly seriously) my belt was called into question. Obviously that's a sore point for me, so I kind of... switched off a bit. Still tried, just, felt shit the entire time. Headaches lasting days don't help either. I also accidentally punched my friend in the face. GOOD JOB RED BELT MEANS 'DANGER, NO CONTROL', AHAH.

Anyway. After class, FP helped me get out of my funk by beating the shit out of me and finding my yelps of pain highly amusing. Once I'm trained enough, I'll give him whatfor. I think we'll make a damn fine looking pair of fighters, actually! All stretched this morning, so off to do some conditioning against the corner of a wall. Off we go!