Training Log: Entry 3283

Kinda an early morning because of the dog today, but got up, got in my squats and push ups, delicious breakfast made by the Valkyrie, then got in my mat pulls

(4) 9+3+2x426

Was dealing with some friction issues, based on how much skin I tore off my right quad.  It made it difficult to maintain my grip, which is why I set it down early on the final pull.  I know that about pulling with the axle, and in a comp I wear better gear to help, but today was pulling in pajamas before taking the dog for a walk.

I also finally made my throwbag.  It's 30lbs, which is the middle weight I'll need for my comp (25-30-35), so good to train on.  I got in 5 practice throws, and may make it a policy to just get in some training daily to develop that explosiveness.  

Got to Tang Soo Do for our make up class today.  The sparring bracket was brutal: first I had to face off against the Valkryie, and we both got called on fouls to the point that we went into sudden death and I "won" because my wife threw a kick while I did a jump-spin kick and she ended up kicking my back, which is foulable.  Prior to that, it was a very close match.

I limited myself to hands only against the kiddo, and let them work on some technique.  I'm proud of how my kid is a total swarm fighter: pure aggression and forward pressure.  Made it really hard for me to find an opening.  I eventually got in 3 body punches to secure a victory.

At this point, this was like a Saw movie: I had to cut through my family to get to the top, so I figured I had to make it count.  I was matched up with the black belt senior student in the final match.  I actually got called on 2 fouls right at the start: excessive contact for a head kick, and then a punch to the back.  So I was at -1 points, and the next foul would mean I lost the match.  At that point, I had to keep control and aggressive at the same time, because the black belt was far more of a defensive counter fighter than an aggressor.  I knew if I could get AHEAD, I'd be able to walk them down for the rest of the match.  I managed to score on a body kick and a head kick by making creative use of some axe kicks and roundhouses while working angles.  They liked to pick up a leg and leave it out there as a means of passive defense, so I had to learn how to move off their center and strike the unprotected side.

Thus secured me a second night of "Dojang Sparring Tournament Champion" this week.  Good workout.  Day's not over, but it's been great.