Wednesday was a planned day off.
Thursday - helped with a missing person in the hills by me. Hiked 12 miles up and down the various hills in area until 1 am.
Friday - off. My body was obliterated by hike and lack of sleep
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Kind of treating the past week as a deload week.
Monday Night
High Incline Bench
10x135
10x155
5x5x175
DB Bench
5x10x52.5
Sauna
25 minutes
Tuesday Morning
Cold Plunge - Was freaking cold this morning. Water was 36, outside was 51
.2 mile 100lb med ball carry down and up hill. I didn’t wear vest today, just trying to move as fast as I could. Short quick steps. Initially it was a quick walk, almost jog. Then as hill steepened, was a fast paces walk. Then finally very intense and deliberate steps up my driveway, which is steepest part.
Med Ball Pick up, Squat, OHP
10
Pullups
10
Leg Ext
50
- Had planned on hitting legs last night (Monday). I did one quick rep of 135 for zercher squats and knew my knees/legs weren’t ready.
- Just did one set of three exercises to get blood flowing to whole body
- I know research has said cold plunge is bad for trying to grow, which is current goal. I’m taking cold plunge upon waking, then working out immediately after. So the workout warms me back up. It’s been really good for waking up, without caffeine, as well as reduce pain in joints. I’ve read it’s fine to do 2 hours after lifting. Figure if I do it before, then my muscles are primed to get after it.
- Sauna at night is best part of my day. From 830/9 - 1030, is my time. Everyone is asleep. Tinkering in garage, going for long walks, hard workouts and ending with a phone less sauna is the best destresser.
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Bad or just sub-optimal? I wouldn’t be concerned given the benefits likely outweigh the negatives.
Looking forward to reading up on the next ten round tuesday too…!
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I saw something that said 60% reduction in new tissue growth by reducing inflammation. Doing it in morning should alleviate that concern.
Tuesday Afternoon
Snuck away for a gym sesh
Pullups
3x12
- Damn, these felt good. First set I paused at rep 8 for 30 seconds, then knocked out 4 more
Chest Supported Row
10x45lb
2x10x90
2x10x135
- This is a plate loaded nautilus machine
DB Rows
2x5x100lbs
- My elbows did not like this
Lat Pull Down
4x12
2x15 - behind neck
- First time in forever doing this properly at a gym
Cable Row
4x12
Machine Row
2x25 - Kept the tension tight, didn’t do full reps. I was primarily focused on squeezing my upper back the whole set
Hammer Curls and Reverse Curls
2x12
My new favorite night of week! Absolutely brutal. It’s interesting. There are no belts and I do not know these people. All subs are on table, heel hooks, toe holds, knee bars, twisters, etc. you just have to feel your way through it.
- Round 1 - Big brown belt from last week. He subbed me 3 times a round last time, IIRC. This time, I played much better. Worked both guard and passing. He tried to get a knee bar, but I twisted knee out of it, tried to take his back, but scrambled and landed in side control. He has really good Craig Jones’esque game. Very nonchalant stupid things work. He tried to press into armpit to push me off. I turned the corner and went North/South. I held him there tight with pressure for 30 seconds, before trying to work back to side control. He’s just too good and we ended up scrambling. He recovered guard and time expired
- Round 2 - Was absolutely drained. Played guard and defense against a guy my size’s. Good very hard round. Didn’t submit me. I spent most of hit trying to work the mount defense we’ve been drilling
- Round 3-10 - I don’t really recall. I went against a super lean/strong kid my size. He was solid. I played a solid guard, he passed my guard, I recovered. Pretty much a stale mate.
- Went against a smaller guy who I had never seen. I could immediately tell by his pressure while I was passing that he wasn’t a white/blue level. Gave me no undercooks when inside camping. I passed his knee shield, flattened him out, but had no undercooks. Started attacking his neck until his arms raised up and I dug an underhook. Then tried to tripod up to pass. He got a butterfly in that I sat on, then we just battled as I tried the Josef Chen type passing. Eventually I got up to a quasi mount, where my shit was on his stomach. He got his small knee in, pushed me to ashi. I fought the straight ankle, and he passed it to other side and took a mid shin lock on my leg. I felt safe, but he started cranking it and tapped. He called it a ‘flesh wound’??
- Had a few more rounds against people I’ve never met. Hit my inside camping pass, fight for undertook, tripod up and pass. Felt good
- Went against that tall lean guy again. This time around he darce’d me 3 times. Ruotolo style. From knee shield he got it somehow, when I was working to close distance and get under him. Then he baited me with a loose side control. The second I took the bait I knew I was F’d. haha
- The highlight of the night for me was the above guy started attacking my legs. He crossed it over and was attacking my heel. I pulled his arm off, built height and turned and walked out of it. I’ve honestly always panicked when they touch my heel. This was first time I did the textbook defense.
Overall Thoughts
- Overall was a blast. It’s tough, I haven’t really made friends with these guys. It’s a type of person who trains here vs. where I used to. This feels more like a fight club. Show up, don’t talk much, hard ass rounds and leave. The mats were a pool, like what you see form 10P after open mats. I don’t think I’ve ever had a rash guard so wet.
- I didn’t think I’d be able to make it to class last night, so I gambled and got the gym workout in. It definitely impacted me last night. Felt slow. For example, if someone had single X and was reaping, I would strip the hook but didn’t have strength to also backstep
- When I stood up after 10th round, I was so dizzy and could barely stand. Can honestly say I gave it all
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Wednesday
Made morning class. We worked mount and arm triangles. Good details for me. I don’t think I’ve ever officially learned the choke during a class. I got two rounds in:
- First was against a small guy. I shot a double and he did a jumping guillotine. I stood up, he wrapped his legs around me and I just tapped. My only options are slam him (not cool for class) or slowly drop him and let him get me closed guard. After that I worked the sweep, pass and moved to a technical mount. This was my favorite position in gi, so trying to work options in nogi. I was messing with arms for kimura, arm bar and tariplata, but ended up getting the kimura.
- Second was against a guy my size. We ended up in a leg entanglement and he took my back while I was working a heel hook. I tapped to RNC. Then I was passing with knee shield, locked his shield toes under my butt, threw my leg over and tried the calf slicer. I didn’t lock the figure four with my legs and gave him an easy heel hook.
General thoughts:
- My game feels really bad and dysfunctional right now. It’s primarily driven by trying to incorporate too many things that aren’ blending well. Trying to figure out how to change my open guard game from attacking outside (DLR, Spider) to moving inside (X, Ashi X, Butterfly). As well as working towards submissions. I haven’t had really good nogi subs due to not training it. So, need to work my way to those positions. Finally, passing. I’m pretty good at body lock passing, inside camping to tripod.. but, not great at loose passing and high steps. I can’t be one dimensional with my passes.
- I really wanted to train shoulders last night, but my body was way too sore. Took the night off, just hit the sauna instead
Last night (Wednesday night) sleep was terrible. My 2 year old was up from like 1-3. I couldn’t bring myself to wake up at 545, so slept to 645.
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Keep these writeups going mate, enjoying reading them all.
Nothing to be ashamed about here, especially going from gi to nogi (not that I can talk on gi at all), nothing wrong with going back to basics (1 step back for 2 steps forward?) - does the coach allow for suggestions at class?
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Appreciate that. Was wondering if I rambled too much.
Yes. He follows a pretty good flow for his curriculum. He’ll stay on positions for a month and cover defense, offense and subs for the month + then move to the next thing. However, MW noon class is pretty sparse. When it’s just me, we work things specific to me.
Friday
Mid day gym sesh
Pullups
2z10 - 30 second hang - +2 reps (12 total reps)
Standing OHP
5x10
- Planned on pushing weight, but decided volume would be better
BB Upright Rows
10x65
10x85
10x105
Arnold Press
2x15x50lb DB
Tricep Pulldowns
3x12
- Baby was up from 1-5 last night. Alarm went off at 545, laid in bed until 645. It’s just not enough sleep to recover.
- I’m going to rewatch Adam Ward butterfly 3.0 and Lachlan Giles half guard anthology this weekend. Need inspiration again for my game.
- I do feel good about my wrestling. I’ve been way more aggressive. I have a really good plan during rounds. I grab their right wrist with my left hand, collar tie on with right hand and pull them toward me. I want their right foot forward to attempt the single leg with my right arm (cross body), when they pull it back their right arm is mine for the arm drag. If the drag doesn’t work, I keep it with a tricep grip with right arm and wrist grip with left arm. I can then work towards back, pull them down for a guillotine, pull guard and butterfly sweep or turn for hip toss/outside trip/uchi mata
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Was feeling lazy tonight, but didn’t want to sit.. so I went for a trail run about 2.5 miles to a viewpoint. Very steep hills both up and down. My cardio is doing really well.
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Sunday
Zearcher squat
10x175
2x3x 225
- didn’t like the way it felt
Belt Squats w/narrow stance
10x90
10x90
20x90
2x12x180
3x10x220
- I was basically focusing on quads with slow eccentrics down and quick jump up
3x100 med ball carry down driveway and back x 2
1x100lb med ball over head carry
- driveway is 30yds each way, with steep incline
Med ball squeeze
3x30sec
- saw a BJJ athlete do these. Putting med ball between knees and squeezing as tight as possible
1.2 mile hike up to viewpoint and back
30 minute sauna
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Monday
Went to midday BJJ class.
- Just me. Another solid private lesson
- We worked a truck entry from mount, when your opponent gets to their side and starts to work recovery.
- Afterwards we got a few good rounds in.
- I mentioned afterwards that I spent the weekend a bit frustrated and watched hours of videos trying to figure out what I’m doing. Realized I’m not making good hand connections to opponents when passing. Coming from Gi and using collar sleeve, I need to work more collar tie and wrist control. We worked that concept quite a bit as well as near/far leg when playing guard.
- During one of our rounds, I began exploring using a knee on belly when passing from half guard. If passing to the left, I put my hand posted against right side of opponents head, then put my left (lead leg) foot against their hip and put that knee on their belly. I then use my right arm to fight the legs while I backstep. My posts keep them from shifting their hips and the knee on their gut make their legs less effective locking down my right leg.
Overall good class. I’m learning to enjoy actual classes. It is helpful knowing I have 10 round Tuesday to get my rounds in.
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Forgot to add, my coach was pretty affirming of my technical abilities, positioning and just stated it’s an adjustment to basically change sports. Talked about the game of two people I roll with often, both white belts. One of them rips straight ankles on me and the other is about my size, but a flailing bull in china shop. My coach won’t roll with him, because you’re bound to get kneed to face. We are 50/50 on who wins, but it’s stupid… if we had a gi, I’d sub him easy. He just moves aggressively in all directions to get free. Since I don’t feel confident in no-gi grips, he gets free and ends up leg locking me, when he subs me.
My coach suggested I let them grab my legs, but be ready for it and work on hiding the heel/straightening my foot and putting it on mat, building height, collar tying and pressing my way free. Good advice and first step, before we reevaluate the next defense concept in a few weeks.
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10 Round Tuesday!
- Small group last night. It’s getting towards prime summer time and it’s absolutely gorgeous here, so not surprised people are skipping BJJ to be outside
- I don’t remember a whole lot of the rounds, but I will say my wrestling continues to be way more confident than in the past
- I had an epiphany moment. I’ve been turning away from opponent when they pass my guard or letting them control my far leg and turning into them. Out of muscle memory, I kicked my far leg free and inverted into a backside 50/50 heel hook and shocked myself and opponent. It was a deadly entry into immediate sub position. I then played with it quite a bit after rounds.
- I have been taking in new concepts and just forgot about a key element of the game, likely because the grips that initiate that muscle connection don’t exist.
- Everyone at my gym is a loose passer. I’ve been trying to make up distance to close distance and enter my sweeps/leg entries. While I’ve gotten better at that, It’s not a 50% success rate. Instead, I talked to coach about wrestling up and taking advantage of the space they give me. I think this will tremendously improve my game too, so studying Nicky Rod/Craig Jones wrestle up entries that can mix into existing distance closing/sit up guard game
- One area that has been fun and after yesterday I can say I successfully hit 80% of time is octopus guard sweeps. Both from bottom side control and bottom 1/2 or 1/4 guard. I clear their arm, hook their back and roll over my shoulder.
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Wed - Off
Thur - Chest - worked up to 5x5x175 on high incline
Fri - Chest again - worked up to 5x10x175 on low incline
Saturday
Pullups
20
OHP
2x10x135
Lateral Raises
2x15
Med Ball Carry
Down street w/100lb ball
Up street, walking backwards w/100lb ball
2 Mile Hike behind house with 40lb vest
Sunday - off
- I was at a conference last week W-F, so lifting and overall schedule was rough. I just went into garage and hit the weight that was on bar, without warm up sets. I was supposed to do back on Saturday, but hosted a party and someone came by early to workout. Just kept it more pump related and quick. They wanted to try and keep up with me going down the hill in front of my house. Then took a group up the trails behind my house. I threw the weight vest on just to exert my dominance.
- Normal week this week. Should be able to hit BJJ M and W morning and Tuesday night.
Monday
Mid Day BJJ
- Worked technical mount defense.
- Was a super beneficial class for me. I end up in bottom side technical mount often. Getting pretty good at hip heisting/bridging into folks, then power hip escaping out
- Got two rounds in, one with a 180ish white belt and another with coach
- I pretty much dominated the round with white belt. Swept and passed his guard, eventually got a solid choi bar, but I’m too nice and didn’t hip in. He didn’t tap when I had his arm extended and, I suppose, escaped. If I hipped in, it would have been over.
- Round with coach went great. 2 minutes of wrestling before I just sat to guard to get it moving. I passed his guard into side control and round ended with me in a N/S Kimura that I threw an arm bar attempt at with final seconds. Maybe could have gotten it with another minute.
- Climbed up behind house and went for a 2 mile hike after lunch.
There is a tournament in September that I’m debating. Weight limits are 220 for heavy and 235 for super heavy and 236+ for ultra. I can easily make super heavy, but might be able to cut down to heavy. Not sure If I’m ready to compete yet.. I have until mid month to decide at lower cost..I have been bulking up very intentionally for the last 2 months, so I suppose cutting back would make sense. I had planned on bulking through Origin camp in 3 weeks. Then maintaining through November, before another 2 months growth phase, then starting cut again in January. I could just end bulk now and shorten my maintaining phase by 3-4 weeks.
Cons for competing:
- Not great at nogi yet
- Changes my plans..
- I need to seriously try not to get disqualified for reaping. I reap a lot in nogi (outside leg crossing opponents knee line to the inside)
- Mental drain of competing
Pros:
- My coach wants to see be compete
- I can compete in gi and nogi, which would be fun
- It’s super close. I’m not traveling more than 10 minutes
- It’s coming right after Origin, so will have a solid week long prep camp
What do you all think?
- Compete in September
- Stick to plan and compete next year
0
voters
@raven78, @twojarslave, @burien_top_team, @T3hPwnisher @anyone else
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What’s the worst that could happen besides embarrassment and injuries?
It’s summertime so you can always pick some fights at the beach to prepare.
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I’d say compete but just work with your current BW rather than compounding stress of cutting. Half the judges may not even notice reaping to be honest… based on what I’ve seen locally here anyway!
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I’m with the consensus. As a general rule, the earlier you are in your competition career, the more you should compete, I think. I never enjoyed competing (I’m not a naturally competitive person), but I don’t regret competing at all of the little local tournaments in the area during my first 5-6 years of training (not a ton back then, maybe 3x or 4x/year, but still every chance I got).
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This. This is the worst that can happen! haha
I’m going to talk to coach about it today again, but if I do compete, I think I’ll try at least to drop below 235lbs. Over that is a box of chocolate.
That’s exactly what this is. A very small local tournament out of a MS gym. I think the mindset shift of doesn’t mean anything is key for me. I just like to win and am too competitive. If I don’t feel like I’m at my best, then I don’t want to compete.
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Tuesday
10 Round Tuesday!
- Small group again
- One guy is about my size, he’s my height, but a softer 220lbs. We got 4-10 rounds together and mostly flow rolled things we are working. Was good
- Athletics is so funny to me. Our body finds similar movement paths and adapts them to whatever you are doing. Like playing baseball my whole life, my body is like ‘oh I can swing a golf club’. While the swing is different and refinements are needed (hands inside ball for baseball vs. more in line with golf), it will look athletics.. in bjj.. that athletic crossover feels weaker to me. When my guard was being passed in gi, I would reach for lapel and use it to flair and retain guard, often landing in a good spot for triangles or collar sleeve. In nogi, I don’t have anything to grab onto, so I never naturally flared and instead just had my guard passed. Last night, I was working connection points and held the collar tie, then flared. I paused and was like holy shit, yes! The guy I mentioned earlier thought that was the coolest thing. I then went on to do this a dozen or so times.
- Did pretty good with leg lock defense. Only gave up one leg lock sub. I was on the wrong side of double outside ashi, when opponent crossed my leg over for the exit wound (I wrongly called it the flesh wound), I defended against that and he immediately heel hooked the other leg.
- I caught a few subs, a straight ankle (maybe first in forever), darce (I didn’t even get to point of locking arms, was just tight) and a sweet calf slicer from HQs.
- I rolled with one of the women I mentioned 3-4 weeks ago that is ~6’.. NGL, I really have no idea how to roll with a woman. I play guard, hit a sweep, then usually let them try to pass again. I just feel way too big to try to play my ‘top game’ of inside camping/smash passing/tripod to mount. I passed a few times, got in side control and went to knee on belly, then saw her wince, so immediately sat back for a calf slicer.
Wednesday Morning
- power went out and cold plunge reset to 52F.. sad day. I needed the cold today. I didn’t sleep well last night, my legs were so sore.
- Went for the .2 mile farmer carry with a 60lbkb in each hand. I moved fast down the hill. Getting much stronger here.
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Wednesday
Midday class
- Went back over final day of mount defense. We move into back control/defense starting next week
- Mostly review for me, as it covered what we did on Monday, minus one defense
- First round was against the guy about my size. He always passes the same way, so I worked counters to that and controlled the whole round. I smash passed my way to side control and mount, after hitting the octopus sweep I’ve been hitting.
- Rounds 2 and 3 were with a smaller guy. The guy is intentionally homeless and smelled horrendous. He also just rips subs, without having position. I tapped to him twice, he had a shitty guillotine, but honestly, I don’t want neck issues because he just grabs the neck and rips it with all his strength. Other sub was same thing. Ok, don’t let him touch my neck moving forward, check. I pass his guard, used 80% of my strength, got him in a gift wrap, rolled him to side, then gave him my leg and ripped a nogi bow and arrow using his arm. I couldn’t get all the slack out, so I put both my knees on his side, with toes behind is back barely on mat and pulled his leg and arm has hard as I could. Dude tapped so fast. My coach yelled ‘What the fuck was that!?’ Was pretty awesome. I then did it to both my coach and the other guy so they could feel it.
Wednesday Night
Pull-ups
25
KB Rows
2x10x85lb
3x10/each arm x2 w/60lb
Cable Straight Arm Pulldown
3x12
- Hit the cold plunge, the lifted, then sauna. Felt awesome after
Thursday Morning
Cold Plung
Pullups
15
KB Rows
3x15x85lb
Cable Straight Arm Pulldown
2x12
- I did a few more sets of back work this morning. Felt like I had more in me and wanted to do something this morning before driving 4 hours today for work.
- Will hit chest tonight, then I really want to grab my 150lb med ball see how far I can walk with it. Inspired by @T3hPwnisher’s strongman event. I can’t really avoid decline/incline tho. Going to try for .2 miles, which is a steep hill down my driveway and street and back up.
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