Results for FireDragon Fitness Test

[Bill Glasheen]

Rich

I promised you some stats on our friend Kevin who had the blowout performance on the standing broad jump (9 ft 4.5 in, or 2.86 meters). As I said, I know Kevin (he's a student of David Lamb in Nebraska) and know he won't mind me sharing his data.

Height - 6 ft
Weight - 175 lbs.
Age - 25

Last year at camp, Joel (a karate student of mine here who used to play football at JMU) was talking with Kevin. He heard that Kevin played football at Nebraska. Joel gave him a double-take; Kevin looks extremely normal. "You must run about a 4.2 or 4.3 40 yard dash." Kevin smiled...

I believe Kevin was a punt return specialist.

We can do things with that explosive leg power, and I'm not just talking about kicking.

As with CJ's performances, I believe Kevin's abilities are part nature and part nurture. He certainly has plenty to teach us all.

And by the way, Kevin did well on most of the other events as well, coming in pretty close to Fedele on many events. So those folks thinking that only little guys can do well on this are wrong. In fact, there's an older, very big guy who did really well on the test.

Marcus

From what I know of your lifting stats, you would do well. Spend a little time on some running and some plyometrics or Olympic lifts, and you may run the table quite nicely.

That's what I like about this test. It doesn't let you concentrate just on one or two fitness attributes.

Flexibility is another story altogether though. A future project...

- Bill

[chef]

A worthy cause and well done, Bill!

I wasn't going to initially try the test because I had been sick with a bad head and chest cold for three days prior and during the camp but got motivated when I saw the crowd getting revved up for the test.

I decided to go ahead and try it for several reasons. My first karate teacher's favorite quote was "Your worst may have to be your best". My first reason was to test those waters so I decided to attempt it. How would I perform when sick, incapacitated, or less than norm fitness?

The second reason was for diagnostic purpose: where do I need to improve in fitness (specific areas) as an MA ? Where am I strong and where am I weak? What could be improved? I am a believer that a martial artist should be in the best shape possible, especially when teaching others. You are a mentor whether you wish to be or not!

The third reason was for personal curiosity? Just how good of shape was I actually in? How do I compare to others?

Now, mind you, I am probably one of the oldest who participated in this event......and have reached what I consider 'old fart' status. Having participated in this event, it was enlightening.

I plan to definitely improve in specific areas, such as my cardio.....and then run it again next year.

Nothing like personal goals to improve oneself.

Thanks for the idea GEM and thank for the opportunity Bill!

Regards,
Vicki

[Kevin Guse]

THOUGTS ON THE FITNESS TEST

Wow! I am impressed with the interest that the fire dragon test is getting. I thought that the test at camp was conducted very well for the first time. Fedele I need your push up and pull up work out! It was great to see people challenge themselves and “get out of the comfort zone”. I only hope more people will try next year. Like bill has mentioned I think there are few worthy excuses for not at least trying. We had people with hip replacements, recent surgeries and as I began the run with Rory he laughed as he told me he had not run since a knee surgery and that it was only pain for 10min! No one that I know of got hurt or made fun of. In addition I feel this test created friendships. It was great to see people giving high fives and encouraging each other. I do hope that the results can be posted in some way to promote the event and not turn people away from trying next year. I agree with Fedele that it is fun to compare yourself with others. Of course it is easy for him to want the results posted because he had the top scores in nearly all events.

Of course there are the fine details to work out but that is common with anything so new. I think it is outstanding that GEM and many others are embracing the idea that being in great shape and working to become a better athlete is an excellent way to improve your Uechi regardless of your ability or rank.

As Bill has mentioned on these posts I have some experience in strength and conditioning training. Although I am by no means an expert. As a youth I was trained by a group of people in Co. that have been working with numerous professional teams and individuals to improve athleticism for decades. By all means this program is the reason that I was able to play football at Nebraska. Genetics can only take you so far and the developers of this program believe that great athletes are made not born. Take this comment with a grain of salt b/c genetics does play a significant role.

I AM BY NO MEANS POSTING THIS REPLY TO TALK ABOUT MYSELF OR BRAG. I am posting this because I have a great passion for helping people improve their athleticism and would be more than happy to do what I can to help anyone who is interested. I know that the program can and will create better Uechi practitioners. The program I am referring to is on DVD and is a great tool for anyone at any level of ability. It is the one that GEM and Bill mentioned earlier on this thread that they were looking at. I would post the name of it and the website where is can be purchased but I am not sure if that is allowed on the forum. Someone let me know.

P.S. Bill and everyone thank you very much for the generosity of your comments. Rich I never met you but sounds like you are involved with the USMC. I would love to take their fitness test if you could ever slip me in.

Kevin

[Valkenar]

So those folks thinking that only little guys can do well on this are wrong.

Just to clarify, I never said only little guys can do well, I just said that it's helpful to be small for certain events. And it's more than just height anyway, bodytype matters also. However, I agree that individual fitness is still the most significant factor by a large margin. The people being mentioned are in great shape, and if their body types helped with certain events it just added somewhat to scores that would've been excellent anyway.

[Fedele Cacia]

Hi Kevin,
The last time that I did a pull up or push up was about twenty years ago. I lift weights three times a week without fail; I find that being just shy of 160lb and slightly vertically challenged it helps me to deal with the larger and stronger Uechica in the Do-Jo.
I attribute the pull-ups to my Lat pull down exercise and the Pushups to my Bench press, next year I may practice for a couple of months prier to the camp on the specific exercises, Oh, and I’ll be doing a little jogging also!

Fedele

[Bill Glasheen]

Justin

I don't mind your comments because: 1) you're a smart guy and make interesting observations, and 2) we haven't proven to the contrary.

It is because of the many issues you raise that I am taking as much peripheral data as possible over time to give me ideas about out to benchmakr, tweak, and modify the test.

No problemo!

Kevin

Let's start a new thread on your DVD. I'll start it after I get a chance to look at it. I usually discourage advertisements or outright spaming. But in your case you are "family" and your material is relevant to what we are doing. It would be no different than giving Rory or Raffi a plug.

By the way, do you have any "Heisman trophy" poses we can post on you? Might be cool for some who've never met you to see you in action in your previous life.

- Bill

[RACastanet]

"Rich I never met you but sounds like you are involved with the USMC. I would love to take their fitness test if you could ever slip me in."

Hello. Nice to meet you on the Forums.

I'm an appointed civilian Marine and am on the part time staff of the Marine Corps Martial Center of Excellence as a Subject Matter Expert (SME). Very interesting to be involved in their program. I get to see and try out many things they are thinking about implementing as well as all they have implemented. Occasionally some of my ideas get worked in.

Bill asked me for input on a simple but effective PFT and I shared one of the efforts made in 2002 while seeking alternative testing methods. It formed the basis of what you did. It was not adopted by the Corps though.

The current USMC PFT is quite simple. Max pull-ups with no time limit, max crunches in two minutes and a three mile run. All done in succession with little or no rest time in between.

20 pull-ups = 100 points
100 crunches = 100 points
Three miles in 18 minutes = 100 points.

The full point charts are in an earlier thread discussing the creation of the IUKF event you participated in.

Give it a try and see how you do. If you are not too far over 30 there is still time for you to sign up.

Regards, Rich

[Bill Glasheen]

If you are not too far over 30 there is still time for you to sign up.

I believe those punt return skills would come in handy against the IEDs and snipers. Moving targets - particularly those at "roadrunner" speed - are harder to hit.

BTW, I found this on SI.com. Check out number 26, sophmore year.

Nebraska Cornhuskers
2001 Football Roster

Also NCAA stats from his junior year.

NCAA Football Roster
Academic year 2002

And here's a team picture of the reserve right cornerback.



Here's the senior year roster.

We still need that Heisman pose though, Kevin.

- Bill

[CJG]

I guess it makes sense to write a little about what I've found maintains fitness. Of course everything outside the dojo pales in comparison to lessons from Van & Vinny But...

It's easy to get lured into modern day trends - diets, condensed cardio classes, circuits, toys, blah, blah, blah... I've found nothing works as well as old fashioned toning/cardio/stretching/good food-and enough of it!

Just because a class is packed - yoga - doesn't mean it's the best option to meet your fitness goals. 40min minimum cardio 3 or more days/wk and toning on alternate days works well. I've tried just cardio, then just toning, also tried not eating enough calories - those didn't work. My theory is that Yoga offers great supplementary organ-stretching benefits but not a lot of cardio or strength building. Freestyle toning seems to be more challenging than using machines. Non-step aerobics classes are rumored better for your knees but hard to find and at that, only one riser is really needed for equally good cardio of you're executing the moves fully.

Life is movement.

CJ