If you've watched the news in the past couple of days then you'd be aware that its exactly 2 years until the London 2012 Olympics. More , precisely 2 years until my division (66kg) is contested.
There is a lot of work to do in the meantime but the realisation that in 2 years I could be realising a dream i have had for 18 years send tingles down my spine.
Not that I needed any, but I am more motivated then ever to work my butt off, sacrifice everything and fight above and beyond my own abilities and get to London.
2 years..................
Ivo Dos Santos is a judo player with a willpower and determination that is immeasurable. This blog follows him on the journey towards him becoming what he has forever longed for, being an Olympian.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
REST
Having enjoyed a wonderful rest day yesterday and dealing with the reality of going back to training, school, come monday morning i thought I would explain my thoughts on resting.
Until a few months ago when I began working closely with a exercise physiologist I didn't believe in rest days.
My (own) theory was that as long as i was working my body in different ways each day it wouldn't need rest. For example if friday was a hard gym and technical judo day then I would work my cardio and randori more on saturday. It seemed logical to me but it did mean that i was constantly jaded and operating at about 80%. I thought that was no problem because given a little taper I would be firing 100% come competition.
Unfortunately as time dragged on I started feeling the effects of over-training more and more. I would have chronic muscle soreness, feel lethargic most of the time, struggle to concentrate, have real issues getting to sleep and many other things which are really not fun to be dealing with when you are trying to peak physically and mentally come competition.
Eventually I had the benefits of complete rest explained to me and it was something I started to work on. If I was able to train 12 sessions a week at 90% of my maximum and have a day off. Then that would lead to much more improvement in my abilities then 13-14 sessions at 75-80%.
When that is mapped out over an 8-16 week training cycle it makes for a considerable difference in the end result.
I have now been operating with 1 day off a week for about 5 months now and I can say it has really been of benefit to me. I have been able to improve my performances in training, my concentration has been better and aspects off the mat have been helped too. I get to have long lunches with the family at home, get to spend couple of hours completing uni work and even get to veg out on the couch and watch tv for a change.
I do sometimes feel restless and revert back to meat-head mode that I could be doing more training (haven't broken a sweat in 24 hours!) but it just means I put that much more effort into my sessions on my work days.
I assure you that come sunday morning there is absolutely no petrol left in my tank.
Monday mornings still suck cos there is a hell of a lot of huffing and puffing to be done before my next day off!
Ivo
Until a few months ago when I began working closely with a exercise physiologist I didn't believe in rest days.
My (own) theory was that as long as i was working my body in different ways each day it wouldn't need rest. For example if friday was a hard gym and technical judo day then I would work my cardio and randori more on saturday. It seemed logical to me but it did mean that i was constantly jaded and operating at about 80%. I thought that was no problem because given a little taper I would be firing 100% come competition.
Unfortunately as time dragged on I started feeling the effects of over-training more and more. I would have chronic muscle soreness, feel lethargic most of the time, struggle to concentrate, have real issues getting to sleep and many other things which are really not fun to be dealing with when you are trying to peak physically and mentally come competition.
Eventually I had the benefits of complete rest explained to me and it was something I started to work on. If I was able to train 12 sessions a week at 90% of my maximum and have a day off. Then that would lead to much more improvement in my abilities then 13-14 sessions at 75-80%.
When that is mapped out over an 8-16 week training cycle it makes for a considerable difference in the end result.
I have now been operating with 1 day off a week for about 5 months now and I can say it has really been of benefit to me. I have been able to improve my performances in training, my concentration has been better and aspects off the mat have been helped too. I get to have long lunches with the family at home, get to spend couple of hours completing uni work and even get to veg out on the couch and watch tv for a change.
I do sometimes feel restless and revert back to meat-head mode that I could be doing more training (haven't broken a sweat in 24 hours!) but it just means I put that much more effort into my sessions on my work days.
I assure you that come sunday morning there is absolutely no petrol left in my tank.
Monday mornings still suck cos there is a hell of a lot of huffing and puffing to be done before my next day off!
Ivo
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
hard work
Victories that come cheap are cheap. Those only are worth having which come as the result of hard fighting. Henry Ward Beecher
Saturday, July 17, 2010
I like this quote:
Watch your thoughts, they become your words. Watch your words, they become your actions Watch your actions, they become your habits. Watch your habits, they become your character. Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.
Unknown Author
Watch your thoughts, they become your words. Watch your words, they become your actions Watch your actions, they become your habits. Watch your habits, they become your character. Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.
Unknown Author
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
MARGOSHVILI's incredible osotogari counter in Judo copetitio
SO AWESOME, I swear i have seen this one thousand times but i could watch it again another thousand times
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Australian National Judo Championships 66 kg Final
This is my final from nationals, you decide whether it was in or out.......................
Thursday, July 1, 2010
UPDATE
haven't posted anything for a bit so i thought i'd throw some info in about my next few months.
Well, after winning nationals with a tear in on of my shoulder's ligaments i took a couple of weeks to rest up, re-introduce myself to my family and slowly ease back into training.
it's now 5 weeks since i dislocated my shoulder in brasil and the doc says it's a 6-8 week recovery. i can't afford that sort of time off with the stuff i've got coming up so 5 will do.
have been back training 100% for a week now and it's amazing how quickly your body adapts to not getting beaten up and pretends each breakfall is the first you've ever done! having my arms blow out after 30 seconds of gripping hasn't been too much fun either but oh well, such is life (judo)
Next few months..........
I have 5 weeks until the AIS training camp which serves as preparation for the Oceania Championships august 15. a week later is the NSW Open.
This next part is depending on whether i am confirmed for the World Championships team or not, I should be but there's always a reason here or there why people are left out of these teams.
So assuming I am on for worlds............... Miami World Cup on Aug 28 and US Open at same venue on August 30. From there it's off to Japan for short training camp in preparation for Worlds and of course the World Championships which my division is contested on September 12.
Once that period of events is over I will see how i stand with national rankings, world ranking, uni marks and finances to then hopefully have a big crack at the IJF events in nov-dec.
That's all for now, i better get my gear together and head to training!
Ivo
Well, after winning nationals with a tear in on of my shoulder's ligaments i took a couple of weeks to rest up, re-introduce myself to my family and slowly ease back into training.
it's now 5 weeks since i dislocated my shoulder in brasil and the doc says it's a 6-8 week recovery. i can't afford that sort of time off with the stuff i've got coming up so 5 will do.
have been back training 100% for a week now and it's amazing how quickly your body adapts to not getting beaten up and pretends each breakfall is the first you've ever done! having my arms blow out after 30 seconds of gripping hasn't been too much fun either but oh well, such is life (judo)
Next few months..........
I have 5 weeks until the AIS training camp which serves as preparation for the Oceania Championships august 15. a week later is the NSW Open.
This next part is depending on whether i am confirmed for the World Championships team or not, I should be but there's always a reason here or there why people are left out of these teams.
So assuming I am on for worlds............... Miami World Cup on Aug 28 and US Open at same venue on August 30. From there it's off to Japan for short training camp in preparation for Worlds and of course the World Championships which my division is contested on September 12.
Once that period of events is over I will see how i stand with national rankings, world ranking, uni marks and finances to then hopefully have a big crack at the IJF events in nov-dec.
That's all for now, i better get my gear together and head to training!
Ivo
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