This made me me laugh so hard. Quality Pwn just Quality.
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I really like this takeaway!
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I scrolled up looking for context about this grappling match, and now I understand why I didnāt see any. These are not typical grappling matches. You donāt often see this sort of match-up, but Iām glad to see unbridled goon prevail. You broke their spirit long before you secured any submission. Great work being a handful.
A little bit of quality coaching and sparring with people who can hand you your ass would turn you into a monster. Sooner rather than later.
Thanks for posting one of the most interesting grappling matches Iāve seen lately!
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Gonna watch through those videos when I get a chance, but for now the write-up sounds awesome. I still contend that youāre the quintessential example of what someone doesnāt want to see on the other side of the bracket lol.
I always found this frustrating in folkstyle wrestling as well - by the time you get to the fourth overtime, the rules can give a huge advantage to whoever was lucky enough to win a literal coin toss earlier in the match. I never lost an overtime match, but I saw a couple teammates lose that way.
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You mentioned it occurring around 5 minutes into the first round and you can actually see it take place in the video. I watched last night so I donāt recall the exact time stamp, but thereās a moment about halfway through when you guys separate on the ground. Itās clear when you both get to your feet the dude youāre facing wants that 2 second recharge but he never gets it, youāre advancing on him faster than the start of the match. I can only imagine what he was thinking at the time, haha. Great stuff!
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@simo74 Thanks so much man! I HAD to take that opportunity, haha. Dude just couldnāt fathom me.
@freshyfresh Hell yeah dude! Appreciate you swinging by. Having some of the real grapplers around has been awesome.
@twojarslave Dude, those are HUGE kudos: thanks so much! I really appreciate all the analysis youāve done as well. This was the most fun Iāve had in a while. I may end up dipping my toes back into the grappling world again if I can work the logistics, but if nothing else, itās nice to have SOME sort of venue here. Full on goonery for sure! Force them to play my game in my world: a world with a terrible plot and lots of spelling errors! Haha.
@creative_name Thanks so much for saying that my dude! I was looking forward to your input. Youāve inspired me so much.
@mr.v3lv3t Hell yeah dude! I saw the exact same thing. I realized what I was trying to describe was ākiller instinctā, which was something I totally lacked 20 years ago when I would give this a go. I was always too much of a ānice guyā, but that day I realized that what I HAD to give was unrelenting intensity and violence. Letting up was what they wanted, and as long as I didnāt, itād force them into my world.
AM WORKOUT (0410 natural wake up, hard time sleeping)
CHAOS IS THE PLAN: THE CIMMERIAN CHRONICLE Week 7, Day 1
30 Minute EMOM of 6 axle Klokov presses
Between rounds, either 20 band pull aparts, 6 Wheels of Pain, 10 band pushdowns or 10 Conan curls
Breathing Squats w/pullovers
17+3x250+chains
7.5 minutes of the following circuit
- 5 prisoner squats
- 5 push ups
- 3 pull ups
BREAKFAST
Walk w/wolf (no vest)
Notes:
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Still feeling a bit beat up from yesterday, so I played around and made today a little lighter/easier. Toward minute 25, I was starting to feel it still. And the squats fell apart, but Iām fairly certain Iāll have them by Wednesday. Just need to recover a bit from a different demand.
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Just plain sore in places I forgot I could get sore in. This is the difference between being prepared for something vs being āpreparedā for anything. I could go out and win, but I donāt have all the small muscles built up. My face is all scratched up and body bruised too. I donāt have the āarmorā that Dan John talks about. He relayed a story about his brother who ran a marathon with zero training, then spent 3 months letting his feet recover. It takes 3 months to prep for a marathon: either before or after. Kinda the same story here.
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That little circuit at the end was starting to gas me pretty decent. Iām hitting fatigue early post comp. Same reason I walked without the vest.
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Trying a dietary experiment today of going ZERO carb on the day after my carb-up. Last night, we did grilled cheese sandwiches on homemade sourdough with grassfed better and Jarlsburg swiss, with a few tater tots (I can still keep it classy). I had two sandwiches, and the Mrs even made me 3 sunny side up eggs (we calculated that I had 18 eggs over the past 2 days, which was pretty awesome). Today, Iām pretty much doing nothing but egg whites, electroyltes and gelatin until dinner, at which point Iāll have venison burgers (pure venison: no filler) and egg whites. This is more just a proof of concept than anything else, as I still appreciate the Velocity Diet and the benefit of Metabolic Drive, but Iām curious about making this a Monday thing. A way to recover and cleanse from the weekend.
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Took video but forgot to make it public. Will have to amend that when I can.
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After watching your matches a second time I doubt either of those guys are purple belt level but blue is definitely a possibility. Itās hard to gauge, given the unusual situation and wildly varying standards at different clubs. For sure a lot more training than you, but obviously not enough to just shut you down. You would present problems for legit purple belts for sure, but a good brown should be able to give you the Neo treatment from The Matrix.
āNo.ā And then everything you do turns into disaster. If you can find someone like, that they are the real deal to train under. If you can find a club who says āwe love what you bringā instead of āyouāre using your strengthā while also handing you your ass, thatās the place to train.
Part of the great thing about rolling with untrained but athletic people is how often guys like you throw everyone for a loop because you arenāt doing the expected thing. āWhite belt magicā is the term for this, and when you throw in strength athlete magic it starts to look a lot different than other grappling scenarios.
To paraphrase my coachās coach, fatigue makes cowards of us all.
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@twojarslave Thatās a huge compliment youāve paid me there, and I very much appreciate it. I dig your comment there about finding a club who says āwe love what you bringā. Iāve definitely experienced both sides of that. Iāve had folks that were excited to have someone strong, fit and game to go against, and ones where strength was viewed almost as a negative quality. Love that āwhite belt magicā, I could definitely tell I was outside these guyās comfort zones with some of the stuff I was working. Iāve written a post in the past titled āconditioning is magicā, and strength definitely plays in there too. You can work a lot of wizardy, haha. Really appreciate the detailed deconstruction.
Got the video from todayās training
Wanna celebrate some other Ws while Iām here.
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My kid absolutely LOVED the sirloin I made for them the night before my comp. Iād never seen them eat so much meat in one sitting, outside of our most recent outing at Texas De Brazil, which has also become their favorite restaurant. I could NEVER get this kid to eat protein before, now they want a steak every night! I can live with that, haha. Theyāre also getting onboard the āsteak and eggsā train, after seeing me put away so much of it.
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It was awesome to be able to compete so well off of a carnivore approach. Iām not hurting for endurance of stamina in the absence of carbs. I also didnāt need to eat anything DURING the comp, whereas I saw so many dudes mainlining candy and sugar. So very much āhigh speed/low dragā
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On that note, I also just feel a lot more āgrown upā that my pre-comp meal is steak and eggs vs Taco Bell or Pizza. Funny all the things I used to tell myself I āneededā. You know: āfor the caloriesā, haha.
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My kid was definitely interesting in the grappling going on. It helped that there were kids their age doing it. Right now, theyāre locked in to Tang Soo Do, but Iād love to see them diversify if theyāre interested. Also, it was just plain awesome to be able to show off in front of the wife and kiddo like that. Mrs commented on how she had no idea what was going on, but could just tell that I was relentless and never letting up and always attacking. Still got it.
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Youāre welcome. I love everything about what you just did and how you did it. Very well-done. Congratulations again on taking first!
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AM WORKOUT (0410 wake up via dog)
CHAOS IS THE PLAN: THE CIMMERIAN CHRONICLE Week 7, Day 2
40 minutes of main work
SUPERSET (press-chin)
Log clean and strict press away
3x170
3x180
3x185
Chins w/chains
1x8
1x6
1x7
GIANT SETS (press-chin/abs-pull)
Log clean and strict press away
11x3x170
Chins
2x9
3x8
Standing Wheel of Pain
2x9
3x8
Band pull aparts
10x15
10% Corollary
15 minutes of
- 5 KB throws
- 5 goblet squats
- 5 dips
w/20kg bell
Notes:
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I was convincing myself that I was NOT going to do this particular workout this morning, since I was still feeling a little beat up, but I am glad I reversed course on that decision, because I absolutely crushed it. This is the strongest performance Iāve had on log in quite a while. Itās just awesome seeing the protocol really pay off. My overhead strength is progressing nicely, and my physique is reflecting exactly what I want: a being that picks things up off the floor and puts them over my head. Iād say my legs are about the only thing that could use a little more attention: 3x a week 20 rep breathing squats and all the prisoner squats have definitely maintained size and shape, but I feel some quad weakness when I squat. A simple enough solution would be getting in a tower of babel on the weekends, or a monument to non-existence. Just something with a heavy front squat focus. Or bringing in the belt squats again.
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After wearing the same pair since 2011, I finally treated myself to some new knee sleeves. Got the Mark Bell Slingshot sleeves and wore them today. At first I felt like I may have ordered too large of a size, but they are actually just comfortable while still providing āenoughā support without being ridiculous. Big thing is how warm they keep the knees: theyāre more rehband type material than cloth/fiber. So far Iām a fan.
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I decided to go a little heavier on the 10% corollary today and get in some more overhead work early in the week, since my rotation is off anyway. This was definitely an effective circuit.
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My abs are torn up pretty good from these 2 days of ab wheels together. Still sore in general from the grappling.
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Tang Soo Do later tonight. āWildcard cardioā. Iām gonna let my instructor know that I gave our school a shoutout at my competition.
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Really enjoyed the new podcast with Lee. Always good to hear you explain the chaos.
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@simo74 Glad you enjoyed it dude! I loved having a chance to discuss the nuances. Itās been enjoyable being able to have 3 sentences to cover it all and yet have SO much to say about them, haha.
AM WORKOUT (0422 wake up via dog)
CHAOS IS THE PLAN: THE CIMMERIAN CHRONICLE Week 7, Day 3
(3) Axle Mat Pulls
5+3+3x405 (12 deep breaths between sets)
20 minutes of single arm kettlebell clean and press away
Pyramid up and down of 1-10-1, 50 pull aparts, then 1-5
Total of 125 reps
Breathing squats w/pull overs
20x250+chains
Poundstone curls
100xAxle
Breakfast
Walk w/wolf (no vest)
Notes:
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I honestly had a few more reps in me on those mat pulls, but this movement really seems to light up my right hip/glute these days, and itās a question of what do I win by sending it vs living to fight another day. Still satisfied with the effort on it. Curious if switching back to the deadlift bar would help.
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The KB clean and press was surprisingly challenging. Got a very solid pump in the shoulders, and that rep total actually matches my efforts when doing a double KB clean and press with the same weight, so that speaks to the density of that approach. I appreciate how itās effectively a one man āI go-You goā style. The single arm focus has been nice to throw in as well. My right shoulder has been buggy since the comp: loose and clicky.
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I genuinely thought I was done at rep 18 of those squats. 17 was the number to beat from the previous. Iām so used to low bar, where taking the time to breathe at the top would typically spell out certain death rather than recovery, but with the higher bar set up I was actually able to recover, regroup and get in a few more reps. Iām definitely āfishing poleā-ing on those final reps, but it comes with the territory of the fatigue Iām bringing in. I was happy to be absent of hip pain during the squats, and with my new knee sleeves my knee pain is also reducd. Will be curious to see how the progression continues from here, as the famine is continuing onward. So glad I got that deer processed, because venison has been an excellent way to get in some stupidly lean protein alongside all my egg whites.
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Forgot to log it yesterday, but I got in a walk with the dog with my weight vest. This morning, I went without. This day is so heavy it seems to help to go vestless.
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Tang Soo Do was a decent enough workout last night. Lots of bodyweight stuff and a little bit of running.
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I scrolled down too fast and briefly thought that the thumbnail of you holding a barbell was you holding some type of spear or something. It didnāt strike me as weird at all, haha.
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@jshaving You should see what I can do with some nunchucks! Haha. But Iām with you: Chaos really has become the plan. I was actually thinking about it this morning. I have a bunch of medals from various races on my dresser, covering distances from 5k-half marathons. And then in my garage is my trophy and medal display from powerlifting, strongman, Tang Soo Do and now a recent addition from submission grappling.
Somewhere, somehow, I became an athlete. Not really sure how it happened. Iām still a flat footed oaf whenever I try to do anything ATHLETIC, but Iāve become diverse enough that thereās a lot of cool stuff I can do.
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AM WORKOUT (0425 wake up via alarm, good night of sleep)
CHAOS IS THE PLAN: THE CIMMERIAN CHRONICLE Week 7, Day 4-āCimmerian Training Grounds & The Tabata Warā
For 40 minutes
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Start each round with burpee chin
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Transition to keg one motion w/100lb keg, 135lb log viper, Double Kettlebell Half Snatch w/20kg bells
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Add a burpee chin each round
After 40 minutes, transition to tabata intervals, drop the burpee chin and go for max rounds of the press medley
16 rounds accomplished in 40 minutes, then 5 rounds accomplished in the tabata interval
17 minutes of Dan Johnās ladder (2-3-5-10) for prisoner squats and push ups
BREAKFAST
Walk w/wolf (no vest)
Notes:
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The story: The Cimmerian is trained from birth to be a warrior, because neighboring tribes are always preparing to invade. The Tabata are on the border and it wonāt be long before they strike. The Cimmerian hones his skills on the training grounds, and with each passing brutal winter the training grows more and more grueling. Finally, at the age of 16, he is called upon to defend his land against the Tabata. All the training pays off, as he is able to slaughter 15 of the enemy on his own.
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Each burpee chin represents a year of life. You wanna get your Cimmerian old enough to be able to fight as a man rather than a boy. The set-up of the keg medley is to represent a complex training ground with many different approaches to combat, requiring development of many skills.
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I really like how this worked out. Adding a burpee chin per round has an interesting effect where the pressing muscles get a rest but the whole body accumulates MORE fatigue with each passing round, so Iām recovered enough to go again but under greater fatigue each round. I came up with the tabata interval at the end in the middle of the workout, and itās the perfect cherry on top after 40 minutes of work: I was totally wiped out. This one is definitely a keeper.
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I had nothing left in me for those squats and push ups. Took it leisurely and focused on recovering with that bodyweight work.
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Scrapped the weight vest today because I needed to move quickly this morning with a work obligation.
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Yep, killer instinct is exactly the term. It dawned on me catching up on your posts that weād have been in the same weight class at this competition and that sounds super not fun for me haha.
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@mr.v3lv3t Oh man, Iām sure weād have a blast if we ever made it happen! Invitation is always there. I got a well stocked gym and a freezer full of meat: anytime youāre in town and wanna live like a warrior for a few hours, letās make it happen!
AM WORKOUT (0425 wake up via alarm, another better night of sleep)
CHAOS IS THE PLAN: THE CIMMERIAN CHRONICLE Week 7, Day 5
30 minutes of main work
GIANT SET (press-shrug-pull)
Axle continental and strict press away
5x156
5x166
3x166
Tree of Woe shrugs
3x10
Band pull aparts
3x10
GIANT SET (press-assistance-pull)
Axle clean and strict press away
3x10x128
8x128
9x128
3x128
DB full ROM lateral raise
3x8x20s
Neck harness
2 sets
Wheels of pain
1x9
Band pull aparts
5x20
10% Corollary
Breathing squats w/pull overs
18+2x255+chains
Breakfast
Walk w/wolf while wearing 50lb vest
Notes:
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I was surprisingly fatigued this morning. I hit the famine hard this week, and Iām thinking that is showing. Which meant that finally getting that set of 5 on 166 was fantastic, and the majority of the 50 reps of 128 moved at a good clip, but I eventually just ran out of steam. I didnāt even think Iād manage ONE rep of the squats, so getting as far as I did was fantastic. In truth, I could have kept going, but when I hit rep 18 I felt myself cut it short and knew that I was at a point where my body was making poor decisions in order to survive. I racked it so I could get in quality reps, knowing that I could come back and own this weight next week. 7 weeks of Super Squats is a record for me as it is, and Iām holding up surprisingly well. I had the right hip pain this time, but the knees are feeling solid.
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I am thinking that Zeno squats might be an effective protocol to employ here at some point, but thatās a once a week thing. Iād have to do a little space filling in there.
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Was feeling strong enough to bring the vest back for the walk.
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Tang Soo Do is on the agenda for later tonight.
Posting this photo of Hercules putting Thor in a rear naked choke, because thatās pretty awesome
I was thinking this morning how much I had fun at that tournament. I donāt even care for grappling in particular, but it was just awesome to experience ācombatā again. I really would like to make that a regular thing.
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Likewise dude!
Speaking of living like a warrior, do you have any plans on doing a write up or ātemplateā for the proof of concept for your training plan?
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I have a living document going right here
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Really enjoyed your podcast with @ChongLordUno gave it a spin while on patrol last night. My partner was in awe 
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