As a little background on what I’m doing here I thought I’d make a page dedicated to some of the details. For several different reasons, most of them very frustrating experiences, I was compelled to jump-start my physical activity level this spring. In need of a major slap in the face I decided, in April, that I would run a 10k in June. Well, kids, I’m here to tell you I hate running. HATE. RUNNING. Part of it was masochism. But part of it was the challenge of setting a very undesirable goal and working at it. So I ran. And I hated it. But I ran. Then, at the beginning of June, there I was finishing my 6.2 miles of suckitude…and feeling pretty good about it. Not good enough to keep running 6.2 miles everyday, but good enough to keep running as a part of my workout regiment (oh yeah, I now had one of those).

I recently turned 30 so keeping myself in good physical shape is a high priority. So I decided to do a variation on my theme and find another physical goal. This time, however, I’m choosing something I really want to do and something that I could possibly do for a very, very long time. So I’m going to study martial arts.

I’m pretty sure BJJ is the path of choice at this time, but I have given heavy thought to Judo, as well. There’s an outside chance I might do some straight up ‘MMA’ training at a local gym but I’m kind of partial to learning one skill as opposed to scattering my limited attention span. In that sense, martial art*s* is kind of misleading. I think one discipline is the way to go. But I haven’t joined a school yet. So when will I? And how am I preparing? Fantastic questions.

I am currently working out in a regular gym, doing the normal routine: couple days of cardio (my aforementioned friend ‘running’) and a couple of days of weights. As bad as I was at running, I’m just as bad at weights. The difference is I actually enjoy weight training. Unfortunately I’m very, very weak. My base is pretty embarrassing. That’s why I’m taking some time to build up the ol’ muscles before I go get tossed around in a gi (most likely). HOWEVER - as bad as I am at running, and as worse as I am at weights (grammar aside) I am one of THE most inflexible human beings in the history of human beings. So my real focus is on that.

So for the next few months I’ll be running, lifting and stretching to see if I can make myself into a normal human being before joining a school. I’ll be keeping track of all the progress here. Then when it’s time to visit schools and narrow the choices, I’ll do that here, too. And, of course, once I start really training you’ll be privy to that brand of humor as well.

As always - hit me up if you want. I’d love to hear from you.

-dh