Building up to 6 days/12 hrs a week training...

[AsAManThinketh]

Hi all,

This is my first post on the forum here and I just wanted to say that this is a great resource for a beginning martial artist. Thanks for all the great conversations and web-links etc...

My first two questions are:
1.) How quickly should I build up to training 6 days a week (8-12 hours a week)?
2.) Does anyone have a good recomendation of a good, solid way to go about building up to that level in a "sooner rather than later" time frame?

And here's the relevant details that I can think of off hand:
I'm 6'5'' 240-250lbs. (either my weight or my scale fluctuates between this range almost overnight, and constantly), 26.5 years old, and I live in the northern VA area.

I currently am building my self-discipline to stretch daily, track my diet and plan my meals. I love going to class on Tue & Thu and I am getting used to the feeling of sore muscles everyday (the good kind of sore).

I have done weight training in the past, but not too much in the last 6 years (kind of off and on at best).
Never played any sports (except for street style).
Last year I did a lot of running and was able to get up to 3 miles in 27 min before my knees finally started complaining too much.
I have a sedentary type of job (very boring to say the least; so much for ambition. ~"be careful what you wish for"~)
In May I started a cardio-kickboxing class complete with one-year contract. Class is on Tuesday and Thursday for an hour, I will put in Saturdays too when I'm in town for the weekends.

I know the basics about nutrition, but nothing too scientific (though that does interest me).
Stretching is #1 on my priority list right now but so is cardio and core muscle work... (I think that lack of stretching was what caused my knees to be sore from running last year.)

My goals are:
-To complete the one year contract that I currently am committed to and find a quality Muay Thai training facility to begin training in Muay Thai. (and I have seen a few training outfits around my area that have the real life fight for survival type of training, which I would love to get involved with.)

-To get into "fight shape" (MMA fighter condition) by this time next year. (I humbly ask that you not flame me on this because it is the mindset that is driving me to train efficiently and intelligently, and I am devoted to those results. I am not saying that I will actually be able to compete in a MMA event within the next year.)

-Weigh 225-235 lbs in fight shape. (depending on how much muscle I decide to pack on over the course of time.)

-to compete in at least one cometition within the next 5 years (the more the better). (this could also be replaced by just sparring a lot with other martial artists who strive to push their limits.)

- I would love nothing more than to make some quality, life-long friends who are devoted to the study and practice of martial arts and a life of peace and wellness.

Well I know that's kind of a long post, but that's my introduction. It's nice to meet you all (I've been reading a lot here, but not nearly all that there is).

All I really want to do is work up to training at a level that will eventually enable me to accomplish something in the field of martial arts. Not necessarily greatness or infamy, but something to live for.

I'd say that I have pretty much done everything else that I wanted to in my life up to this point. This is the only thing that's left. Save the best for last right

As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.

[darkrelevance]

those sound like some good goals you have there. keep working at them, and you'll eventually get there.

as for your questions,

training 6 days a week may or may not benifit you. how hard are you training each of those days, and what exactly are you doing during those 6 days you plan on training? for example, if you lifted hard the same muscle groups everyday for 6 days a week, i can tell you that not only will you burn out really fast, but it would be counter-productive. but if you were to let says do skill/technique practice everyday, there would be nothing wrong with that.
the intensity of your workout per day and the actual regimen that you follow will ultimatley determine how fast you can work up to it, and how fast you make gains. and once again, every person is different, and will progress at different rates.

tailor your training to your specific goals. since you want to train to fight competitivly, i would recommend you work on some heavy cardio. cardio is the most important thing next to technique imo. you could start running again. not so much for distance but for speed. long distance sprints that approximate round time. i would reccomend sets of 400 or 800 m . sprint uphill if its too easy. this hopefully will be easier for your knees. you can try swimming and rowing also. try to gradually speed up your times.

and next is weight lifting. i dont know what your lifting regimen is like, but i would reccommend compound lifts since you dont have a lot of time to lift on top of technique training. good lifts would be squat, deadlift, bench, rows, military press, cleans. there are some good articles about lifting that people have linked to on the forum and i would suggest you read them

http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do?id=1034530

http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do?id=1083869

http://www.geocities.com/elitemadcow1/5x5_Program/Periodized_5x5.htm

these regimens should be to supplement your technique/skill training which you will be doing everyday? you obviously will not be doing all of this everyday. you can switch off 1 day cardio 1 day lifting in addition to your class.
and remmeber to get plenty of rest. 6 days might put you in danger of burning out if you really train hard everyday.

and as far as mma goes, i would suggest some kind of grappling in addition to muay thai.

it will be hard work, but keep at it and it will pay off. and don't forget to have fun.
good luck.