Training Log: Entry 51

Shoulder feels better, but taking today off of grappling just to be sure.  No point in rushing in when I just barely recovered.  Last thing I need is more shoulder problems.

Leg day today.  Calfs are looking huge.  I'm enjoying my results.  One day, I'll hopefully have legs like Cro-Cop.

Gloves should be in on Friday.  On Saturday, I'll have a chance to spar an old ROTC buddy of mine.  He's a karateka of some variety.  I have concerns he might be from a McDojo, but I'll see.  Gives me a chance to test out my new gloves.  I wouldn't wanna hit him with 4oz.

Feb 5th WA throwdown is coming up.  More vids for the collection.

Hopefully will be able to spar more ROTC people.  We got a few guys who do MA, but none are too thrilled about going a few rounds with me.  Kinda sucks to look like I look: no one ever wants to play.

Training Log: Entry 50

Shoulder still hurts.  Might me joint/ligament damage.  Hopefully just a pulled muscle.  Received it weight lifting (bench press).  Need to take today off of training.

Though am not a bodybuilder, I have noticed a change in my physique as of recently.  Seem to have better definition, and my chest is getting larger.  Result of the new musclar endurance program and new focus on cardio, along with cleaning up my diet a little bit.

Ordered 16oz boxing gloves yesterday.  Should be a valuable asset in my trainnig.

Training Log: Entry 49

Went to a second sub grappling class.

Warm-up

Single leg takedown from jab-slip (comes easy to me)

Guard passing/guard defense work

Guard passing rolling: I could hold my own for a little.  I got some advice (have my guard higher when he's attempting to use the elbow pass) during the rolling that helped.  I made decent use of strength against someone bigger than me (gasp!  Finally, people that might pose a challenge in regards to strength)

Free rolling for the rest of the hour.

Peronal notes: Getting positional dominance is actually coming along pretty naturally for me.  My flaw is my lack of submission knowledge.  Still only really know the armbar from mount and kimura.  I somewhat know the armbar from guard, and I know what a triangle looks like (I actually tried for both).  Still, i think once I know what I"m doing, it'll come along nicely.  I held my own against one of the assistant instructors, and Jeff actually gives advice to the guys I'm rolling aginst, rather than to me, which lets me think that I might be posing some sort of opposition.  Still gassing: result of wrestling training.  Still resisting too much: need to relax more.

Need to remember not to clip nails right before grappling.  Tore up cuticles.

Pulled my right deltoid.  Hopefully will heal by tomorrow, otherwise I'll miss my striking training.

Training Log: Entry 48

I have started training in submission grappling.  Essentially Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu with elements of Dumog, Sambo, and other grappling arts.  My wrestling background helps.  Here is a review of my first lesson.

Warm up: Circling the mat, shoulder/back rolls

Work on getting takedown during standup:
  Jab-cross-double bodyhook
  Jab-cross-double bodyhook-double leg takedown-side control
  Jab-cross-double bodyhook-double leg takedown-side control allowing both partners to throw strikes
  Jab-cross-double bodyhook-double leg takedown-side control allowing both partners to throw strikes-top man goes for mount

From mount:
Figure four
Armbar-worked on planting foot against body, stepping over with other leg, sitting my weight down, falling back, and raising hips.  Simple sub.

From mounted:
Oompa: trap both supporting arm and leg, and hip bump on that side
Elbow defense: elbows press against leg to lower mount, then shove the chest while bumping

From there, we did some calistencs, and then some free rolling
I one my first roll with an armbar from mount.  It was against the annoying training partner from my Muay Thai class, so I was happy.

I was then pitted up against one of the more experienced guys.  I put up a decent fight, but lost to an armbar once I lost mount and was put into guard.

Cardio held up well, but I want more.  Also, I'm using muscle when I grapple, but I'd prefer to be technical.  Forearms and fingers were exhausted.  So far, I like what i'm learning.  Hopefully I'll get more from guard and mounted (my weak areas).

Training Log: Entry 47

Went to my boxing/MT class today.  Here is the lesson:

Warm up with shadowboxing

Work standard four with a partner (low left roundhouse-right cross-left hook-right rounhouse)

Work on hook defense (shift body away from hook to take power away from blow)

Double hook defense (one hook from each side, shifting defense)

Double high hook, double low hook, double mid roundhouse, double low roundhouse defense (all involve shifting away barring low roundhouses which were low roundhouses)

Counter work for shifting defense (if shift to the left, left hook-right cross-left hook.  if shift to the right, right cross-left hook-right cross.  for leg check, always the latter)

There was another drill, but I can't remember it...

Thaipad work (3 minute rounds)
  Standard four
  Modified standard four (left roundhouse-right cross-left hook-standing right knee-right roundhouse)
  Modified standard four (left roundhouse-right cross-left hook-right cross elbow-grab+knee-shove-right rounhouse)

Finish

Personal Notes: My training partner was awful.  I've dealt with this guy before.  He has no form, an IQ equal to his shoe size, and no desire whatsoever to get better.  He is completely undynamic, and does the drills statically so that I gain nothing from the exercise, whereas I try to keep things alive.  What's worse, he sweats gallons, and on cement floors, it made things slippery.

Focused on keeping my hands up.  My right cross has become really sharp as a result of shadowboxing.  It used to be a sloppy overhand right, but now it could f-in' drive nails.  I am doing better keeping at keeping my hand on my face when I perform my roundhouse.  The attack itself is kinda sloppy though, although I chalk that up to how my partner was holding the pads.

Training Log: Entry 46

Roads were too icy for any type of roadwork.  Couldn't even walk to the damn gym without risk of injury.  Stayed inside and did my leg/ab day bodyweight routine.  If problem persists tomorrow, I'll jump rope for cardio.

Little update: My knuckles no longer bleed or get cut during bareknuckle training.  Possibly result of both conditioned knuckles and hitting directly rather than dragging.  Either way, I feel accomplished.

Training Log: Entry 45

Completed full week of new routine.  Hopefully the DOMS will not be a consisstant problem.  I also need to schedule my time a bit better, because doing my tricep stuff today ruled out boxing, and Thurs is the day of my boxing class.

On a related note, I'm seriously considering attending the grappling class, mainly beacuse I recognize the holes in my game, and because I want to compete in the SoCal Pankration league (www.socalpankration.com) over the summer.  Due to the rule set (no strikes to the head mainly), striking will not be as big an asset as grappling.