Training Log: Entry 3556

AM WORKOUT (0400 wake up via alarm)

*Tactical Barbell Operator* Cycle 2, Week 2, Workout 3

MAIN WORK

SSB squat

3x5x325

ALTERNATE w/

Axle strict press from rack

3x5x166+1 push press rep per set

6 chins between sets

(5) Texas Deadlift Bar mat pulls

13+4+4x425

ASSISTANCE

3 round circuit of

* 10x80 db row

* 20x270 reverse hyper

* 10x53 axle curl

* 6 hanging leg raise

Notes:

* My hips were really sore yesterday, which I attribute to DOMS from the heavy SSB squats.  I’m learning that, when things get heavy, I shift weight to my hips, which explains why they tend to be in agony during my heavier training cycles.  They’re most likely where I hold most of my strength, but I can overload them in turn, so it’s something I need to watch out for.  In addition, my Valkyrie kicked me square in the knee last night during sparring and completely dropped me.  It’s the knee with the torn meniscus, and she got me in the most sensitive part of it.  I applauded her for being able to drop a grown man with combat sports experience with one light kick: a testament to the effectiveness of what we’ve been studying, but it also became a psychological factor during the training session today.  Once I warmed up, I was fine, but I still wanted to baby the knee a little.  Previous lessons learned still apply: the slower I squat, the more my hips hurt, so I did my best to move the reps as quick as I could in spite of the heavy weight.

* I think I forgot to do the push press on the second set of presses, but I’m pleased with my ability to own the weight.

* Did sets of 10 chins during the warm up, getting me 76 chins total for today.

* The mat pulls didn’t move as well as they did last week, but last week as an afternoon training session, with this being my first AM session with these weights.  Biggest x-factor is that the bar kept snagging on my knee sleeve.  I’m wearing the sweats to try to prevent that, but I think next time I’m just going to roll them down like I used to and reduce drag.  Still got in some awesome effort.

* More sparring on the docket tonight.  Last night I went up against a junior student and then the Valkyrie before I was eliminated from the tournament.  Tonight tends to be a smaller class, but it may mean more reps once our tournament is done.