GORUCK Challenge training and building a more well-rounded BJJ Player.

Bricks. Such a versatile, and useful building material. You can use them to build a house, a bridge, a road, or a fortification from behind which you can wage war. In a pinch you could hit an attacker over the head with them- but I'm pretty sure that isn't IBJJF legal. So how do simple bricks build a martial artist- or more specifically a better BJJ Player? We don't break bricks in this art- that's for demo squads. We use strength, endurance, and cunning when we roll. How will bricks help me develope that?
I went out and bought these 6 "training bricks" to use in my preparation for The GORUCK Challenge coming up in May. Last year the Tough Mudder CO was my non-BJJ related challenge. It was ambitious considering I was slightly overweight, and hadn't run a mile in well over a decade. With the help of BJJ, an improved diet, and the support of my friends I finished the 10 mile Tough Mudder in an above average time. I was proud of myself, but like Alexander I was conflicted once my campaign was complete. As I rode home I thought to myself- "what now?" By most measurements TM was the hardest thing I could find to challenge myself. Sure I could do another one (and I am in fact running TM TX Coast on Jan 28th) I could go for a faster time- but in my mind I wouldn't feel like I was pushing any new boundries. Enter GORUCK. It's a team challenge executed in groups of 30 individuals. 18-20 miles over 10 hours. There is "Cadre" on hand, and they are basically Drill Instructors who will lead us through the challenge.

Why am I going to do this to myself? Because CHALLENGE! Thats why. This is the next evolution- this is pushing myself.

Part of the GORUCK is the fact that I will be hauling 6 bricks on my back based on my weight (over 150lbs). GORUCK provides the backpack for the challenge, but I need to BYOB (bring my own bricks) so, since I need to haul these bricks for the challenge I decided to pick them up early in order to train with them. Allow me to introduce- The Octogon, James Westfall, and Dr. Kenneth Noisewater...
These fellas are going to ride on my back during training for the next 5 months. All together they only weigh 25lbs, which means that when I have strapped them on I will still weigh less than I did at this time last year, of course, adding it all as dead weight hung over my shoulders does make it a bit more tricky. I am training using my Camelback hydration pack as my brick carrier. I hope it holds up to the strain.
The training plan for now is to add  sets of pushups in the evenings with the weight strapped on. Right now I am working my way to a hundred doing sets of 20. Next evolution will be 100 in 3 sets of 33, then 2 sets of 50. Once I am comfortably there, then I'll remap my game plan. I don't think I need to be breaking off sets of 100 pushups in sequence just yet. I'm not Hershel Walker.

So how does all this relate to BJJ? Well, if you read my "rag doll" blog post, then you know I am in deep water on the mats at Easton as of late. Its definitely what you call a "tough room" down there when it comes to Black Belt classes. For this reason, in addition to technique I am looking to improve strength and endurance. I can't tell you how many times I've just been flat tuckered out in the middle of a roll. Mostly this happens with bigger guys. I run out of gas, and then I start getting sloppy. I let my arms get loose, and then I get submitted. It's frustrating. So while I practice at "staying safe" on the mats, I will also be working to increase my stamina in my workouts off the mats. Participating in the GORUCK Challenge is as much mental game as it is physical. You have to endure the strain- push through it- just like you do when you roll. So there you have it- Strength of limb, Endurance of the mind and the body.

 This is how I will use bricks to build a more well rounded BJJ Player.