8-12-16 HY: Combat 45 Power Kata + P90X2 - X2 Ab Ripper + Splits + TCF.

8-12-16 HY: Combat 45 Power Kata + P90X2 - X2 Ab Ripper + Splits + TCF.

I don't know if I could have handled another day in the sun playing tennis today, so luckily no tennis today.  So I was glad to get back to good ol' Combat.  I am a day behind on the schedule, but I'll get caught up in due time.  But I will be taking a break from Combat when I go back to the USA at the end of the month for a few weeks.  I'll be doing some supplemental routines while in the USA.  But I digress.  Back to the regularly schedule report.

Today was HOT, and today was the first time I used my AC in my car for almost my whole commute.  I would usually open my windows, but today, it was just blowing hot air, even at the top of the mountain I drive over, which is usually cool at the top.  The only time I would turn off the AC is when I would be going up a steep hill so I wouldn't loose power.  Other than that, it was all AC.  It was nice because I didn't get that "Sweat Stripe" across my chest from my seat belt.  But I was able to get home early and start my workout early so I could finish the whole workout in one sitting, no split.

Since I played Tennis yesterday, I went with yesterday's routine just to keep up.  I wanted to do this routine because of the Flying Knee move in the second or third to last interval.  But I was a little afraid, because when I woke up today, my legs were really tired and tight.  Not really sore, though, so I was a little confused.  At the beginning of the routine, movement was tough. I almost stopped and got out Cold Start.  Probably my biggest issue with Combat, as I've said before, is the lack of a good warm up stretch.  Today, there was only a forward bend and a left and right pull at the beginning of the second interval to stretch the legs in preparation for the kicks.  Not enough for sure.  But had I done that, I wouldn't have had the time to finish my workout, so I just stuck with it. The routine itself is probably my favorite of the bunch so far.  There are still a few routines I haven't done, but they are hard pressed to beat this one.  I really like the combinations presented in this one.  They are not complicated and they are realistic in nature.  Direction changes, variation of punches within the combination, which isn't unique to this routine, but their combination just works really well in this context of Power Kata.  I sweat up a storm, but today, I had the AC on so I didn't spray as much as I did when there was no AC.  I tried to focus on flexing my core during the combinations to keep myself stable to try and get an ab burn.  I could feel my core working hard, but I didn't get a burn.  As a result, I decided to up the ante with my core workout.

Went right to X2 Ab Ripper, the next Tony ab routine up. Less reps, but a lot more intense.  I was dying with the slower reps and the burn was on, I mean, really ON!  I had to tap out a couple times mid set because of the burn.  Moves like "Abernom" sp? I had to tap out at rep 6. Abs were just on FIRE!  Then during the "Legs in the air circle" move, oh man, that little raise just ripped me open.  And also on the "Open Gate" move.  Had to tap out because of the hip raise. Just brutal, "But I Love it!"

The Splits and Flow were right on point, and I was able to get really low pushing through and past the comfort zone into the pain zone.

In the end, I torched a solid 850+kcals!  Great way to end the week and flow into the weekend and off day.  Happy Weekend, everyone!