Back in November 2012
Jan approached me for private tuition. I remember him saying "Shifu I
want to compete in Tough Mudder and I want you to train me". Tough
Mudder had been brought to my attention before by my close friend Cem
Sonmez who was preparing for the challenge until he decided to start a
respectable medical career. For those of you who don't know Tough Mudder is
probably one of the toughest events on the planet ......it comprises of a
Military/SAS style training course and includes, ice baths, carrying people
over distance, monkey bars and electrocution .......(www.toughmudder.co.uk). The course is
approximately 13 miles in distance with 21 challenges along the way.
Noticing that Jan had
not trained in the last 20 years, was a heavy HEAVY drinker/smoker
and weighed in at 21 Stone 7 pounds we both agreed this would be no easy
task! Especially given since the event had been booked and we have around 7
months to whip him into shape. Previous wing tsun lessons had damaged his knees
and one of his knuckles has been pushed back, he is also flat footed/been told
by the doctor that he may have arthritis and shouldn't run. But he assured me
it was his new life's goal and that he wanted to do it not only for his health
but for his family and I will never stand in the way of a determined man/woman.
I happily agreed.
Cue Rocky training
montage!!! - This mostly involved 7
months of puking, screaming in his garden, more puking, more screaming,
quivering and i imaging nightmares of me forcing him to run up summer hill 6
times with squats at the bottom.....followed by more screaming and vomiting.
Also dieting, self training and screaming.
Jan today now weighs 18
stone 8 (down from 21.7), he has quit smoking, quit drinking, his waist has
dropped from 46-40. He regularly runs Orpington mini marathons every
Sunday.He completed a Hastings Marathon a couple of months ago and runs almost
every other day. His correct eating has also helped to the dramatic weight
loss. He can lift heavier weights with higher reps and can now complete sets of
push ups.
It has been an absolute
please training Jan and watching the dramatic impact it has had not only on his
health but quality of life. I believe that I only really played a small part as
this man really trained hard independently alongside our private lessons. He
ate well and stuck to the training programme.
Attached is a picture of
Jan when i first met him (clutching those after eights like his life depended
on them) and one we took yesterday of him pumping iron LIKE A REAL MAN
(hehe) We have also attached a copy of the tough mudder course for you all to
see.
SAN SHU UK wishes you
all the luck in the world this weekend, enjoy it, you've worked hard for it. We
are all very proud.
If anyone would like to
talk to Jan about his training he will be at class tonight.
Amituofo
Amituofo
Amituofo
Shifu
