Anime Fights AMV - Swords, Spears and Skillfulness - 5. Marz

We got a request for some weapons training, so use this to tide yourselves over while I do some research!

Kai Greene: A Day in the Life of a Bodybuilder (playlist)

Really great inspirational documentary. It's about bodybuilding, but it speaks to some universal truths concerning any dreams that you may have, especially in your training.

The Prodigal Son; Training sequence

I love old kung fu training sequences.

Sailor Moon- "The Beauty Workout"

In Episode 3 of Sailor Moon, Usagi and her friends go to a local gym, because Usagi has gained a little weight and is unhappy with her body. However, at the gym, they are met with Jadeite, who is using the gym's equipment to collect energy for Queen Beryl. However, while at the gym, the girls actually do some useful exercises, so I thought I would turn it into a workout, because first, it's a little bit of a change-up in terms of style of training and, second, because it's a Sailor Moon workout.

Sailor Moon- "The Beauty Workout"

1. Pull-ups (or assisted Pull-ups)- 3 x 10 Reps
2. Alternating Dumbbell Overhead Press- 3 x 15 Reps
3. Chest Fly Machine- 3 x 15 Reps
4. Rowing Machine- 10 Minutes*
5. Treadmill- 10 Minutes*
6. Exercise Bike- 10 Minutes*

Notes:

• If you are unable to do pull-ups, you may use an assisted pull-up machine, use a jumping pull-up or even a half-pull up in order to get to the appropriate rep count. 
• You should be selecting a weight or mode of resistance that you are unable to get more than 15 reps with. The 15th rep should be your final rep. If you can get 16 or 17 reps, you probably need to increase the weight. As with all weight-lifting, control the weight through the entire movement. 
• On the Alternating Dumbbell Overhead Press, you will start from the bottom position, with the weight at your shoulders, ready to press. Next, you will press either the left or the right arm to full extension and bring it back to the starting position. Repeat with the opposite side. That is one rep. 
• The instructions for the particular chest fly machine you are using should be on the machine. If not, make sure that you can position the arms of the machine in such a fashion that you are not having to reach behind you to lift the weight off the stack and make sure that when you squeeze your arms together that you are not banging the machine arms against themselves. 
• For the Rowing Machine, Treadmill, and Exercise Bike, you will be using the equipment non-stop for the allotted time-frame. Therefore, select a pace at which you can sustain for the entire time period, even if it is just a walk for the treadmill. 
• The * portion on the cardio equipment means that you will select one of the exercises, if your fitness allows, and do that particular machine for 30 minutes, instead of 10. It can be whichever machine you like, but you should ONLY do it if your fitness allows. 

Thought you guys (and gals) might like a change of pace and I'm always happy to find inspiration for training in new places. Hope you enjoyed this one! Until next time, good luck and train hard.

P.S.- In the name of the Moon, I will train you!!

Somehow this doesn't feel quite right.

Yujiro Hanma - Indestructible

If this doesn't make you want to get strong and smash things, I'm not sure anything will.

Yakitate Japan Fandub

So, yeah, I was in this. It's a parody of Yakitate! Japan.  I'm Kawachi.

Be warned. There is strong language and copious amounts of bread ahead.

Yakitate! Japan- Kawachi's Solar Gauntlet Training

"Yakitate! Japan" is an anime about making bread. An anime. About making. Bread.

But, seriously, this thing is freakin' hilarious. It has literally had me rolling on the floor. The cool part about it is that there are actually some training sequences, so I thought, "What the hell? Why not?!"

One of the main characters, Kawachi Kyousuke, is attempting to obtain "Solar Gauntlets," (which is just a fancy way of saying you have warm hands) in order to compete with the main character's natural-born "Solar Hands." He goes through a hellish training regime in order to put on the requisite muscle mass for the Gauntlets. It's pretty rough, so I've broken it down into levels, so you can build up to Kawachi's volume of training.


Kawachi's Solar Gauntlet Training

LEVEL ONE

1. Swim 1000 Meters
2. Stretch 10 Minutes

LEVEL TWO

1. Swim 5k
2. Stretch 10 Minutes
3. Wear 5lb Ankle and Wrist Weights During Normal Daily Activities

LEVEL THREE

1. Swim 10k
2. Stretch 10 Minutes
3. Wear 10lb Ankle and Wrist Weights During Normal Daily Activities

LEVEL FOUR

1. Swim 10k in the morning w/10lb weighted swimming vest or belt 
2. Stretch 10 Minutes
3. Swim 10k in the evening w/10lb weighted swimming vest or belt 
4. Wear 10lb Ankle and Wrist Weights During Normal Daily Activities

Notes:

• You may not advance to the next level until you are capable of swimming the allotted distance without stopping, as well as wearing the weights for all of your daily activities. 
• If you are unable to swim the entire distance, you are more than welcome to break it into sets of swimming, but you cannot advance until you swim it all at once. 
• Always swim with someone else present, be it a lifeguard or another friend who knows how to swim. 
• Kawachi trained nearly every day for a month, leading up to the New Hire Tournament, but that's obviously going to be counter-productive, because you won't get any rest. If you are doing this on a regular basis, I would recommend starting at two days a week, then moving to three days a week, and, at most, no more than five days a week. However, it will take a long time to build to being able to do the training five days a week, because it such a great distance for the swimming.
• I originally forgot that Kawachi did this training in the morning and the evening... that makes the last level completely ridiculous, so please take your time and progress as slowly as you need to. The sheer distance in the last two workouts is phenomenal. 

That's all for today! Until next time, good luck and train hard!