After studying Chow Gar since 2003 (I think) I have decided to take a 4 month break from the martial arts school. Various reasons led me to this decision, but basically a combination of work worries (many redundancies already, and more to come), the fact that I had been struggling to fin the time to balance fatherhood, work, web design and kung-fu, and also my old ankle injury seems to be playing up again.

I hoe to focus on running and weight training for fitness for the next 4 months. The last time I went to the club, last week, I felt that my fitness levels had improved as a result of the running. So, a home fitness plan is in order.

I guess that at the back of my mind, is the question - in the new year, will I want to return? Only time will tell. I feel that my kung-fu learning had stagnated as a result of my less frequent classes, all my fault really.

Oh, gotta go to work, bye.

Tonight I had a good 1 1/2 hour martial arts session, and it felt good. The running home has improved my fitness slightly, I had more energy in class - well, at least for the first 45 minutes - and generally felt good. Still knackered by the end, but that is to be expected.

I walked home from the station yesterday - I thought that it was Monday (a kung-fu night) so did not pack my running clothes. Only on the way into work I realised that it was in fact Tuesday! But I still walked home, saving £1.30 bus fare, and getting a little fitter - so the credit crunch fitness plan is still on track!

My fitness and weight loss has taken a hit in recent weeks. I had two weeks off work, and although I had great plans to up my exercise during this time, the opposite happened. I had a great holiday, actually a staycation, as we cannot afford to go away due to the credit crunch! I missed kung-fu on Monday last week as we went to the beach for the day and I was exhausted in the evening, and my only excuse on Wednesday was that I wanted to relax at home with my wife rather than train. So it was a holiday off work and off exercise.

I did do some more sprints around the park, making it up to 8 sprints, but that was all.

As part of my renewed efforts to get fit, I attended both the kick-boxing and kung-fu class tonight. Now very tired.

The kick-boxing was tough. Started with a set of circuit training exercises for warming up, with plenty of star jumps, press ups, leg raises, then a long session of pad work, with the usual combinations; jab, cross, hook; push kick, jab cross; thigh kick, jab cross etc. etc. Did a bit of ring work with our contender, who has a fight coming up in a month or so. Soon got very knackered. I was expecting my legs to suffer most, but my arms seemed extremely weak tonight. I was feeling very tired before I left the house this evening, and was hoping that hot cross buns and two cups of tea would be enough to get me going.