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A local judoka has had to get creative to keep training during lockdown - creating an 'opponent' from a bag filled with full water bottles.
Kyle Le Mottee, who represented the island in judo at last year’s Island Games in Gibraltar, has been trying to keep as active as possible while the 'stay at home' measures are in place.
“The training routine I had is impossible to replicate in lock down unfortunately,” he explained.
“I’ve been doing my very best to stay focused and push myself to my limits with different exercises I wouldn’t usually do outside of lockdown, which is really enjoyable and different and is always keeping me on my toes!”
Pictured: Kyle starts his day with a five-mile run.
Every morning, Kyle starts his day with a five-mile run. Making the best of his allocated two hours of exercised outside the home, he also regularly goes cycling.
In addition, Kyle does weights and other core exercises at home.
“I’m sticking to my normal training times, but through the day I do walk past my weights and decide to do a quick workout out of nowhere, this helps with passing time and keeping myself active as possible,” he explained.
“Keeping myself active is keeping myself positive during these troubling times, and it’s really helping me. I’m also making sure I’m getting enough sleep and giving my body enough to rest and recuperate.”
Pictured: Kyle has been trying to keep as active as possible away from the mat.
While he already has some training equipment, including a dumbbell, weights, resistance bands and a roller, Kyle has also been scouring Youtube and Facebook to find new and creative ideas for “homemade kit”.
One of his recent creations involved filling a bag with full water bottles to replicate throwing someone in judo.
“[I'm] trying to get my hands on more kit as the days go on, but finding it very difficult,” Kyle said.
Aside from training, Kyle has been helping his dad around the house with chores and doing some gardening work to keep busy. He has also been watching judo tutorials online and exploring new hobbies.
"Dabbling” with the cooker and trying new foods he has never cooked before is among his new pursuits, though Kyle admits the process has produced mixed results.
“I've even had some extra time to focus on my micro-nutrients too,” Kyle added.
“I've taken the time to learn about the importance of tracking and reaching my body's daily micro needs! I've started including more leafy greens, fruits and vegetables within my diet and this is helping my body feel more energised and ready for my strict training routines.”
Kyle has also been able to count on the support of his coaches through lockdown. Sam Morris from the Jersey Sport Foundation prepared a five-day session plan for him, and stays in touch using social media platforms.
Pictured: Kyle says he would be stuck without his coaches during lockdown.
Mike Bisson, whom Kyle says is not just his judo coach but a very good friend, is also in touch every day, checking up on him and posting training tips and tricks to try at home.
Meanwhile, John Scriven and Jo Cabot, also from the JSF, have also been making sure he stays on track with his nutrition, strength and fitness.
“Without their help I would be stuck!” Kyle said. “We do group video chats keeping up to date with the other judokas. On Friday, we had a group video chat and had a check up on how everyone was doing and what everyone was up to, keeping the moral high! If it wasn’t for Zoom or Facebook video chat I’d be struggling.”
Pictured: Kyle Le Mottee and Mike Canas (third and fourth from the right) represented the island in judo at last year’s Island Games in Gibraltar.
Thanking his coaches for their support, Kyle also issued a special message for the island’s key workers:
“I'd like to thank all of emergency and essential workers as well as the delivery drivers and supermarket staff for the work they have done and continue to do. Thank you so much. We all appreciate you so much!”
Mike Cañas - one of Kyle’s teammates from the Fight4Gold transfer programme, which saw jiujitsu athletes join the Island Games Judo team - has also had to change his routine.
Pictured: Mike Canas's current routine involves weights, yoga and daily walks.
Before lockdown, he was regularly attending training at Carrefour Gym and with the Brazilian Power Team. While he says he is now training more frequently, the nature of the training itself has had to change, as he doesn’t have access to any training partners or the same kind of weights.
“My resistance training now incorporates kettlebells, dumbbells and resistance bands provided to me by Temple Fitness where I coach MMA and yoga,” Mike said.
“I focus more now on volume and more accessory work, rather than the big compound lifts that I would normally do in the gym such as the squat rack, deadlift platform, bench press, etc.”
Pictured: Mike has adapted his training routine as well as his diet.
While he goes for a long walk every day to get his steps up, while also enjoying sunlight and fresh air, Mike says he is far from his usual average of 14,000 a day.
To make up for the fact he is moving less, Mike says he has had to adapt his diet as well as his training.
“I focus primarily on ensuring a good intake of protein and greens,” he explained. “This is because I am moving far less than I normally would and being stuck at home I have to avoid the urge to snack, so structuring my nutrition this way helps hugely and it is something that I am implementing with a lot of my online coaching clients.”
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