Stands for Enhanced Interval Training and I went into this after doing 3-4 hours of weapons training when our Soke paid a visit from Japan.  3-4hrs of throwing a bo and bokto around made me realise how much conditioning my shoulders needed.  The 70+ yr old Soke was fresh as a daisy throughout but I was tired after the first half hour.

Anyway – to the EIT workout.  Having had a light day yesterday I went headlong into this to do 4 circuits of the following:

  • 12 Burpees.
  • 24 Pushups.
  • 36 Squats.
  • 50 Star Jumps*.

In the book he says do a 400m run instead of the star jumps but considering how much I overestimated my work capcity last time I thought I’d aim a little lower.

The Score

It was a good job I aimed lower!

After just SIX burpees my legs went to lead and I was having to drag them back to the starting position to stand up.  I powered on though and got to the push ups which went a bit better.  Squats were a huge challenge because although I thoguht having the day of core and isometrics had let my legs rest enough – they hadn’t and they were refusing to work at any useful level.

Powering on though!!

I must admit I contemplated giving up and the little voice kept on and on at me.

“Why the hell was I doing this to myself.  I’m clearly not built for this.  I’ve run a half marathon before – what else do I need to prove?”

I got over that though by my other voice saying:

“One more circuit – its not much.  Besides you can take a huge 3 day break after this – you deserve it.”

… I knew full well though that at the end of this – if I accomplished it I wouldn’t be taking a break!  But it shut the voices of doubt up and on the fourth set having been reduced to squats, knee pushups and very slow, painful squats I went for an extra circuit:

“MORE MORE MORE MORE – the pain is good.  One more and you’ve beaten the plan.  Beaten the world!!”

When the end of circuit 5 came I hit the deck like a sack of shit.  I’d done one extra circuit when earlier on I wanted to quit after a few burpees.

I may not have done the workout exactly as planned but I like to dwell on the success and learn from the mistakes:

  • I shut the negative voices up and pushed anyway.
  • I did better than I thoguht I could even when my legs were giving way.
  • A 5 day split may be a bit ambitious and there’s no shame in slowing down a bit just as long as you keep pushing.  Rome wasn’t built in a day and nor is my optimum fitness.