Great suggestion. I brought my little blackstone, but didn’t need it day one. The conference center had bacon wrapped chicken. I ate probably 20 of them. Then got a 16oz ribeye with no sides at a post conference dinner with folks. We will see what tomorrow has in store.
3 Likes
It’s funny, I still help coach kids class at my old gym where my kids train. I’ve found a love for teaching. Honestly, I’m too selfish to enjoy seeing others learn. Don’t get me wrong, I like seeing them get it, but it’s more enjoyable for me to really understand movements from a teaching standpoint. I never slow down and process why I might put my hand in a certain spot. Now, coaching, I have to think through each step. For example, I never liked J Point passing, now it’s my favorite because I taught it for two weeks and feel I have a new understanding of its purpose.
Also, my old coach told me I could train for free on Tuesday nights as a thank you for coaching and acknowledgement that his scheduled changes and I can’t train there anymore. Very nice gesture.
That all said, I did enjoy helping this individual. He was very insecure and said he was only allowed to train with purple or higher belts. I said, I’d go easy and let him mostly drill. My new professor didn’t seem to mind I was coaching him through it. I acknowledge that my intro to BJJ was hard. I got smashed and destroyed for sport. That worked for me, but this guy, like many others, needed more care and slow instruction to understand basic principles (under hook, pass hip line and pin).
2 Likes
Finished out conference getting home late Saturday. Food wise, didn’t need to cook anything. Breakfast had hard-boiled eggs. So I ate like 12 both mornings. Went with salad and meat options for lunch.
Sunday
Belt Squat Rows: 5x10x180lbs
KB Rows: 8x10x60lb
Straight Arm Rope Pulldown: 3x15
- Back at work today (monday). Pretty short and boring weekend. Needed more time.
- Cold plunge was gross this morning. Damn. Didn’t bother. Wife and 2yo woke up shortly after going down to garage, didn’t get anything in.
- Have too much to get done to train today
- Going to fast all day, except for a few protein shakes. Might do this all week.
- EDIT: Should add, I’ve stopped drinking energy drinks.
5 Likes
Great work on the nutritional improvements there. Those energy drinks in particular are rough. I still have the siren’s call from them.
1 Like
I wish I saw this yesterday. I gave in and had one. I don’t think it’s so much the caffeine (maybe it is), I just love the flavor and carbonation. I bought a 12 pack of Coke Zero to drink at the office, hoping that helps.
Wednesday
BJJ Class
- Good training on side control, transitioning from one side to other
- Had a few good rolls. Ok, great rolls. I submitted everyone I rolled with multiple times, including a brown belt with a wrist lock. I was J Point passing and he had a tight grip on my collar. I locked his elbow into his stomach, hugged his wrist with my neck and moved to N/S. He tapped so fast and struggled for rest of rounds.
- I’m going to get myself in trouble if I submit the upper colored belts too early.
Thursday Morning
Incline Bench Camber Bar
10x145, 10x165, 5x3x185
Alternated working sets with, Cable Flies
5x12
Lateral Raises and DB Pushups
3x12/20
- Wasn’t going to lift this morning, but I woke up at exactly 520. That’s when I Normally set my alarm.. so just went with it and did my workout
- My left bicep has been very very cranky. I have been carrying my 2 yo who has been sick a lot. I don’t feel like keg carry would do it well. Although..
- My motivation has been low lately due to work and personal stressors. So this may be more contributing to not having motivation to do keg carries. Honestly tho, I feel more motivated to train when I’m also training BJJ, as it gives a purpose to lifting. Which brings me to today:
- I trained again today and had some great rounds. I’ve been working a lot of octopus guard, even letting people pass to get there. I did that today against the brown belt coach who taught class. In our six minute round, I beat him up really good. I subbed him twice with a dilemma I’ve been working from technical mount. Taunting arm bars or kimuras, causing them to forget about their collar, then grabbing the collar and pulling them into back control. We had a 1:30 left in our round, but after second sub, he just said thanks and rested. I felt really bad..
- Someone I’ve been following for years ended up moving to this area and joining this gym, which is why I joined here. I’ve trained with enough black belts, world masters winning black belts and adult black belt champions (Jensen Gomez) as well UFC and ADCC winners (Tim Kennedy and Dean Lister) to know when someone is THAT much better. This guy is that much better. He taught some incredibly technical moves. It stems from his experience as special forces and now a Renzo blackbelt. Good shit. Glad to train with him.. even if it means I make his highlight reel on insta gram
- EDIT: As for a little taste of the personal stress. I sold my cars when before I moved and bought new ones when I arrived at new location. My wife’s new Yukon, fantastic. My new Ram 1500, nothing but problems. Electrical issues, then leaking coolant, then diagnostics showed 3 leaks, so they order parts.. yesterday, after a really hard day, I got a call saying they pulled the EGR off my truck and found a hole in the engine block. So, I’m without a vehicle.. I got a loaner, but I can’t leave the state and can only drive 1,000 miles a month. I drive 2500-4000/month and not leaving state is kinda hard where I’m at. I filed a lemon law claim today to start that process, but even that sucks. Because I have 8100 miles on my truck, the formula governed by state law says I get (Mileage - 10)/120,000 * price paid. Which means, I’ll get what I paid less $4500. Now, I have to go buy a new truck with that money, assuming it gets lemon lawed, for the presumably same price I paid for mine, but have $4500 less for a downpayment. So, I’m worse off.
2 Likes
No way, embrace that I say. Work a few moves for the first few minutes then after a few submissions let them play around so can work on other defence transitions!?
Reads like much learning to be had!
Bah, you’d think with quality control etc that all new vehicles would be set and forget with no issues for many km’s (miles), this reads a royal pain.
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Yeah, for me, it was the ritual of drinking them. The caffeine didn’t even have any impact: I just liked to have that quiet moment of taking that first sip. I’ve allowed myself that same experience with tea and coffee.
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Yes, this 100%. I stopped drinking alcohol too about a year ago, and that moment of calm, when you slow down to indulge in something is gone. I don’t like the feeling of warm drinks, so tea and hot coffee are tough. When I drink coffee, is always cold brew or nitro.
Monday
Reverse Belt Squat Row: 4x12x180lbs
KB Row: 4x15x60lbs
Belt Squat Row: 4x12x180lhs
- Had a moment for a quick workout. The reverse belt squat is a nice addition. Puts me in a bit more upright position, but rowing more to my belly button, vs. facing forward, where the stretch is better.
- Spent Saturday catching up on chores, since I had a conference last weekend. Then had a Friendsgiving on Saturday. Had zero dessert or alcohol.
- Sunday was also a catch up day on work and prep for wife’s birthday
- Planning on going to BJJ tomorrow, but at very least will make two days this week, either Wed/Thur/Fri
- Work is wild right now. We are making huge strides into a new market, then got a random call to take on a $100M+ project in that same market. Will likely be opening another office shortly
3 Likes
Tuesday
BJJ Class
- Pretty good skills session again. This school has a much higher focus on transition movements from common defenses. This is how we warm up. We always start with pummeling. We then went to side control, opponent shoots undertook to start coming up, we insert whizzer and push head down, turn the corner and move to other side to re-establish side control.
- We then drilled some baseball bat chokes with opponents Gi, then a mounted triangle if the react to baseball bat choke. Good stuff.
- I had two rounds with solid shite belts (I mistyped white belt, but gonna leave it). Both of them or UHW, which is kind of nice. My game works really well against 250+ opponents, as I play an off balancing guard game. After subbing both fairly quickly with arm bar and lapel choke from back (could have been a bow and arrow, but I used non choking hand to slice behind other hand similar to loop choke. I’ve been trying to work alternatives).
- After initial submission, I tried to hit saddle from Ashi X.. but gave up on it and then just let them pass. Once they passed, I worked on timing to shoot my far arm to their close side for an underhook to enter into Octopus guard. I hit Octopus guard sweeps 4 times in total. One hip bump, one back take and two easy sweeps because I got hips higher. This has been good for me because I typically defend guard passes by rolling over shoulder. Because I’m 6’4”, it’s not the best against faster opponents. Octopus forces me to turn into opponent and if I can nail timing it’s a more dynamic sweep that puts me in dominant position vs. regaurding
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Excellent. vs you advanced guys it’s frustrating working defense against one move then you just pull out another. Great for offense though. I enjoyed the mistype too btw.
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Man.. so true. I used to get wrecked by this former MMA guy that weighed 165. He would just sit on me and move around between either side, side control, N/S, knee on belly, etc. It was so frustrating. I’ve made it my goal to flow as freely as him, but 70ish lbs heavier. haha
Wednesday
- My 2yo didn’t sleep well Tuesday night, so didn’t get any morning session work in. I did cold plunge, despite the sub freezing outside temp.
- My oldest had wrestling, which is 30 minutes away. I just sat in car and worked during practice. Got home around 9 and was drained.
- I did watch a bunch of Adam Ward matches last night. Was a good refresh on lazy butterfly game. Will try and hit some of that today (Thursday). I stopped thinking about gi attacks when I was training only nogi for last 5 months. Honestly, I’m glad I had that experience, it’s made me so much better at gi.
Thursday
- 2yo didn’t sleep well again. Got up at 315, back to bed at 415 and just laid there until alarm went off. I did get into cold plunge tho. Honestly, this is painful at 36F when it’s sub 30F outside. I need it tho for waking up as well as swelling. My legs always feel swollen and in pain in the morning.
- Will be hitting class at lunch today.
2 Likes
Thursday BJJ Class
- Good class. Renzo BB taught foot sweeps. Everyone who walked by probably thought it was odd a bunch of white dudes were doing the waltz, while a big Spanish looking guy yelled at us.
- Then worked side control baseball bat and paper cutter.
- I had two rounds. The first was against Renzo BB. He subbed me two times. First time I was in DLR to my weak side. He back stepped and I tried to reach up for his belt to take his back and crab walk him, but he sat down and sat into saddle. I fought it for awhile, but he got the Texas clover leaf. Then I had some really good scrambles, almost swept him, but he kept the attack and got me with an Americana. Second round was a good wrestling shite (just going with it now) belt. I subbed him with a gogoplata type sub. I’ve been trying to work towards this for a while. Basically from knee shield and sleeve collar grip, I create angle, kick their arm out of way, throw my leg over his head (10p style) and weaved under his far arm, while I still have the collar. Choked the shit out of him before I even thought I had it. He tapped the mat hard and I was almost oblivious to it. It wasn’t negligent, but it was about .5 a second longer than it should have been. I obviously apologized as he was choking.
3 Likes
Friday-Sunday Morning
- Got a cabin in the woods for wife’s birthday. Pretty calm and peaceful. I made the drive back and forth to house a couple times each day to make sure kids were ok with sitter.
- Didn’t get any lifts in
Sunday
High Incline Camber Bench
10x145, 7x155, 7x175, 3x3x195
Standing Arnold Press
4x12x52.5lbs
Pushups
3x15
Lateral Raises
3x15
KB Swings
2x50x60lb
- Had a really good pump today. Hasn’t happened in a bit. Probably from added carbs over weekend
- I love the way I feel from KB Swings. I think that really contributes to pump. Going to keep up these swings each day.
- Driveway was mostly ice. I slide down it take garbage/recycling down this morning. I need to resume keg carries, but that didn’t feel like a great idea. I think it’s time to walk horizontally across driveway and forgo hill.
Monday
Cold Plunge: 4 minutes at 36F, with outside temp 29F
KB Swings: 2x50x60lbs
- I brought my stuff for BJJ today. We’ll see if I can make it.
3 Likes
BJJ Class
- Started with some hip throws. The things I never do, haha
- Then went to another lapel choke. I swear, these guys love their side control lapel chokes.
- Apparently, the last week of the series, we do king of hill from that position. This way, lower belts who can’t pass guard well, can actually practice what they learned. Cool in concept. We did 30 minutes straight. My first time up, randomly got one of the brown belts. I started in side control, moved to north south, he tried to come up and I took his back. That should have ended with me winning, but he was stubborn. I through ti was over when I held for 5 seconds and he got me off his back at that point and said good work. So I walked back to line. Next time up was like 20 seconds later, I submit the guy quickly. I then spent 18 straight minutes on my back defending side control. Finally went up against a small female wearing a competition belt (green and yellow), I went easy cause I have 100lbs. She went knee on belly and technical mount fast. I was like, ok, she’s pretty good then. Then she had me in a bow and arrow that I was fighting through and said fuck it. Tapped so I could take a break. Got 30 second rest and was up again.. this time against a white belt. Easily took the round and was on the hill for like 10 minutes, before another blue belt got me in mount to end round. Finally, I was up again against a good black belt who was dropping in. We ended with me stack passing him. He got his black belt from Tainan at AOJ. Cool dude
- Then.. we had six 6 minute rounds. F me. Did really well, considering I rolled with a sold wrestling shite belt, then AOJ black belt (who I did surprisingly well against) and finally, I was ready to head out my new prof asked me to roll with Renzo BB so he could watch. I assume this was a belt testing type of thing. The blue belt I mentioned earlier went right before me, then me. Both were organized by prof. and nogi. He got me twice, a darce and straight arm armbar. It was a good round, showed my coach good stuff and didnt’ get leg locked. The reason it was specifically good was because when he passed my guard, I rolled away, then in and got underhook, he jumped over and got SC again. I reacted to that by undertook turn in, grab a leg and come up, he then got the darce when I blocked him from jumping over. Then, next time, I did the same and defended the darce, sat through and nearly butterfly swept him, but he fucking hip switched mid air and got into a NS/reverse crucifix and got the straight arm armbar.
- I walked off feeling pretty good, but also like, there are so many reactions I still need to make to even compete with this guy.
3 Likes
Tuesday
Back was a bit fed up from KB swings and BJJ. All good, took it easy and didn’t push too hard.
Cable Row
5x12
Straight Arm Pulldown
5x12
- Didn’t even want to try to do Belt Squat rows. I knew that weight on my lower back would throw it out. I’m traveling for Thanksgiving and the people we are staying with are already excited to do farmers walks, KB swings, etc. with me. So much so, they asked me to pack my weighted vest and keg. Don’t think the keg will fit sadly.
1 Like
Thursday
.6 mile walk with 15lb dumbbell in each hand. I did curls and lateral raises throughout this walk
.6 mile walk with 125lb on trap bar
- Alternated farmers carries with friend.
Saturday
Belt Squat:
30x180lbs - Took about 2 minutes to get through, but never took weight off
25x180lbs - same as above
5x12x180lbs
Leg Ext
5x12
Med Ball Lunges/Carries
3x100lbs
- Walked down driveway, then lunged up it
Keg Carry
- Forget how many scoops I’m at now, but I did it with the weighted vest (40lbs). This sucked for new reasons. Primarily, as I either held it against my thighs as I tried to step or it got stuck on bottom of weigh vest when I tried to pull it higher.
Sunday
Low Incline Bench w/NG Camber Bar
2x10x145
High Incline w/NG Camber Bar
7x165
5x185
2x1x195
1x2x195
Tricep Extensions
6x12
- Did these after each set of pressing
Lateral Raises
3x12
- Sunday workout was pretty light. I lacked motivation to do more, as it was 9pm and 24F outside.
4 Likes
Monday
BJJ Class
- Moving into butterfly guard series. The new school starts with white belt level basics for the first two weeks, then week three is for purple and last few for brown/black belts. I like this approach. Let’s you get up to speed if it’s a gap in your skills.
- Just basic hand fighting, arm drag, butterfly. Then butterfly with elbow and head grip
- I got three rounds in. First was a very large blue belt with a few stripes. I mentioned him awhile back, but as a white belt. I guess he had just forgotten his belt. I got him with a straight ankle.
- Second round was a 4 stripe shite belt. I toyed with him for a long time. Messed with new positions, octopus, etc. a bunch of times I grabbed his ankle and then let it go. He joked afterwards that he felt like if his belt was bluer he would have been subbed a few times. Pretty accurate.
- Third round was with the solid blue belt who I faced when I popped my rib out. I think he’s been avoiding me, so I called him out. After about 30 seconds of guard play, I went for a spider and missed his biceps kicking the side of his head pretty good. I apologized and said, find take side control for that. He then tried a kimura, arm bar, triangle for like 5 minutes. As time was expiring, I asked if he wanted to roll through, we did. We went back and forth, where I had side control, he turned away, so I got kimura grip and took his back. We rolled off mat, and decided we were exhausted. We went 12 minutes.
2 Likes
Wednesday
Belt Squat row with fat grips on rope:
2x15x89lbs, 5x12x140lbs
Rope Straight Arm Pulldown
4x12
KB Row
3x20
- Cold weather has motivation low. It’s been sub 25F when I make it out at night.
- The rope attachment on belt squat row was great. Really got a stretch as ROM was much higher
- Couldn’t make BJJ today, had an effing meeting scheduled during class time!!!
- Was going to try and go today, Thursday, but had a deadline at noon and couldn’t get it done soon enough. Headed out of town for next two days for company party.
5 Likes
Wild few days. Had a company party on Friday. Travelled to HQ Thursday and stayed through Sunday. Got back to house, unpacked and then had to drive 45 minutes to dealership. They sold the loaner vehicle they gave me and had to get me in a new one. I’m not going to into too much detail on this, but I will say that I told them it was horse shit. I likely hit the limit on fucks you can say before getting removed. I’m 26 days without my vehicle, waiting on a backordered long block. The dealership and corporate receive daily emails and phone calls from me on this. After dropping vehicle off, I drove back home, unpacked got family settled and then worked until about 1130pm.
Mostly taking today off from work, have school conferences, BJJ class and dentist for kids.
Good news is I didn’t have a single alcoholic drink, despite open bar. I did eat some shitty dessert choices… however, I fasted all day Friday/Saturday/Sunday.
4 Likes
Tuesday
Was able to finally get up early and do a normal routine. Alarm went off at 515.
High Incline Camber Bench
2x10x145
5x165
5x185
3x195
2x215
Cable Flies
4x12
Tricep Pulldowns
3x12
- Felt pretty good to get a good lift in. Might do some light conditioning and shoulder work tonight, since I ran out of time earlier.
- Should be able to hit BJJ Tomorrow
- I went class yesterday. Was good butterfly work, specifically shoulder crunch suma geishi stuff
- I got two rounds in. It’s weird right now, a week from Friday is promo day. So coach is putting people up against others to get a good baseline. Therefore, people are going full bore. Me, not so much. I went against a blue belt former wrestler who was max effort. I was like 60%. I swept him a couple times, then conceded back to guard. He finally passed guard at end as time expired. Longest six minutes ever. Coach watched the whole thing.
- Next round coach had me go against the 4 stripe white belt I’ve mentioned before. He’s solid. I just arm dragged the shit out of him and took his back. Probably did that 4 times from close guard or half guard. It normally doesn’t work, but I could tell he was performing pretty hard.
1 Like