Late Night Practice

[cgtomash]

Just got back not too long ago from a nice 1 hour practice outside starting just after 11:00 pm. Did two yang long forms, saber and sword two times each. I enjoy practising outside late at night, midnight, 1:00 am. I find it very peaceful late at night, much of the city home in bed. Definitely a different sense of energy or spirit when practising late at night to early morning. Anybody else like to practice outside late at night? Do you think there are benefits that you can get practising your forms late at night vs during the day?

[yusuf]

I find it the best time to practice. .. especially in the park...

[Ben]

I like to practice outside around 10:30 to 11. Theres less bugs out.

[everything]

yes the weather seems better, things are quieter.

[bruce]

late night in parking lots and parks around the world is where i get most of my practice.
i find my body and mind are more relaxed at night and have probably made most of my progress at night.

[Interloper]

I sometimes practice late at night to challenge my limitations (the biggest of which is that I start getting sleepy at 9pm, regardless of how much sleep I got the night before). It definitely helps to increase my awareness and is about as helpful in increasing my skills as is daytime training, but does nothing to change my internal clock. As soon as I'm done and take a shower, I'm out cold!

[Ian]

most altercations happen in the dark. it's good to train in low light conditions.

we train out in the dark most of the time, mostly because we're too cheap to rent a hall. working on wet surfaces and around obstacles makes things more interesting.

IMO if you want peaceful you should drink some tea and read a book

[Peacedog]

xxxxxxxx

[neijia_boxer]

there are a few reasons why i dont train late at night. mainly because I train early before work at the MMA school 7am either taiji/pakua, boxing or Muay thai and after work either BJJ, circuits, and more boxing or muay thai..... by 11 o'clock i am winding down to sleep.

other reasons: air isn't as fresh at night than it is in the morning, training late at night makes the body to 'Yang' and can make it harder to fall asleep, (the body's natural energy rhythm begins to start closing and settling towards a 'yin' state after sunset) people who are insomniacs have fu*ked with their natural rhythm into a yang state at night.

but all in all- to each his own.

[Dr.Rob]

hahahha We use to say " you practise midnight kung fu" meant having sex...hhaaha Yes sad to say I practise midnight kung fu...its when the kids are asleep, my wife is zzzzing and the phone never rings.

My Sifu's having always encouraged late night practise aswell. They feel its the best time to only focus on your forms cause its unlikely anybody will be watching to steal your forms....hear that Mr.John Wang you will have to stay up late to get my Cha Chuan....hahaha. For some reason I really don't think he cares.

[everything]

training late at night makes the body to 'Yang' and can make it harder to fall asleep, (the body's natural energy rhythm begins to start closing and settling towards a 'yin' state after sunset) people who are insomniacs have fu*ked with their natural rhythm into a yang state at night.

definitely true for me, but it's a chicken and egg situation. i think i screwed up my natural biorhythm to be a night owl long ago already. so i have good energy for training at night, but then that reinforces the problem. d'oh! the thought of training at 5 a.m. boggles my mind. don't know how you early birds can stand that.

Traditionally speaking, 11pm to 1 am, 4am to 6 am (pre-dawn to dawn), and 6-8pm (pre-dusk to nightfall) were all considered the best times to train.

when the heck did people sleep?

[JessOBrien]

After wife and kid went to bed I got to train from 10-11 last night. I only train at night because there is no other time, no other options! I wish I had the luxury of making choices about this. Night time is ok though, I like the cool and the quiet and the occasional gunblast/ screaming argument. But it's not a good time for a great workout, just a mellow practice session.

J

[Ralteria]

After wife and kid went to bed I got to train from 10-11 last night. I only train at night because there is no other time, no other options! I wish I had the luxury of making choices about this. Night time is ok though, I like the cool and the quiet and the occasional gunblast/ screaming argument. But it's not a good time for a great workout, just a mellow practice session.

J

Man, you stole my life!!!!

Sometimes, if I'm feeling froggy, I'll get up at 5 and train before work. Early mornings work out well for the same reason. But after everyone is asleep is usually the only chance I get.

[RickMatz]

At night, basically after 10 pm, has been the most convenient time for me to practice consistently. It's not a problem to stay up a little later if need be.

[cgtomash]

On a related note, I find that when I'm training consistently, that I need less sleep and that I sleep better. So when practicing late night formwork, falling asleep later is not a problem as even if I don't get to sleep right after, I still fell rested the next day.