I suppose I can always blame my male ego for the 450 Monkey Climbs exercise but really it was just dumb.

This was how it happened.

Several years ago I was training with a small group of students in our instructor’s garage. It was a regular Friday event.

We did our self defence drills and then we had to do a few Monkey Climbs exercises to finish off the session.

Now Monkey Climbs is an exercise where, from a standing position you crouch down until your thighs are level with the floor and then you raise your body up, end up on your toes while extending your arms straight above your head.

About 50 of these is a good workout.

So, we all started Monkey Climbs and the male ego kicked in. We all looked at each other and then it was on.  A  challenge to see who could do the most repetitions.

Well, we got to 50, a couple of guys dropped out. 100 another dropped out. 200 and another student collapsed. Not me. I was determined to beat everybody. You see, I wanted to be a ‘winner’.

Anyway, 300 Monkey Climbs, more drop outs. I hung in there.

350 Monkey Climbs and then there were  two of us left.

I pushed myself harder. Like a demented monkey I kept going until the last student dropped out at 400.

I kept going,  up and down, up and down until I reached 450.

The result.

I ‘won.’

My male ego was satisfied.

But there is always price to pay for being the ‘winner’.

I managed to somehow shuffle out of the garage even though my thighs were on fire and felt like dead logs.

We went to our  usual Vietnamese restaurant after training.  I sat down but when it was time to leave I couldn’t get up for a while.

I was sore for a few days, But, hey, I ‘won’ the contest.

Now I couldn’t do more than 50 with my knees, but really why would I want to.

I not as dumb as I used to be and now realise if you push yourself to the extreme you pay a price.

Too much Yang is not healthy.

Oh yeah, thought you’d be pleased to now I’ve overcome my monkey addiction. Whenever I see a monkey I no longer feel like jumping in the enclosure and challenging him to 450 Monkey Climbs!

The therapy worked.

The moral of this story?

Don’t make a monkey out of yourself by damaging your body because of overdoing it.

Remember, always  balance your  Yin and Yang energy when training.