Down With The Sickness

Hey! It's been a while. Time to start this again I guess. With the world in lockdown due to COVID 19 there aren't many training opportunities. I've set up mats and a TV in the basement and started working on solo drills. When the schools reopen, I'll be ready. 

I'm back! (again)

So I rolled the Black Belt class last night at the ETC. Felt great to be back on the mats.

My rib is still a little sore, but I managed all the twisting and contortion required for De La Riva drills. It is amazing to me just how rusty and clumsy I felt, but I worked hard, and in the end i felt like I was picking up the motions and movements well. I was definitely worn out. I could barely stand through the end of class speech, and thought for a minute I was going to pass out while Prof. Eliot Marshall was wrapping up the class. I've got to rebuild my stamina for BJJ.

BJJ is a whole different sort of cardio than is required for my GORUCK , Tough Mudder, and Spartan Race events. It's a grapplers cardio, and it is being physically able to produce "bursts" of power over extended periods. It's hard as hell, and i think the best way to train it is Cross-Fit. I've got to start hitting my Murph workouts again.

Speaking of Spartan Race- I made it into their inspirational video for 2012

Check it out- I show up at 1:27 on the left of the screen

I hope all of you are well. I'm back, let's train!

F@#%!!! Injured again...

As posted previously, I was back into the swing of things- I hit class on Friday, Saturday, and then again Monday which was an excellent kick-off to my planned Mon /Wed/ Fri/ Sat schedule.

Monday night it happened. I was doing an up-down-out drill from the closed guard with a 2-stripe white belt and he compressed my rib cage hard enough that it popped my lowest rib on the left side.

Here I come to a quandary- I don't want to blame the kid that hurt me. He was just trying to learn Jiu Jitsu. Really, this injury was the result of flawed logic on my part. I figured I'd send myself down to the Intermediate classes for a while to shake off any mat rust from my prolonged summer hiatus. This turned out to be bad logic because what I had forgotten was that drilling with low level guys generally has a major negative side effect: They try really HARD. The belt around my waist is a target to them, and by "beating" me (by any and all means possible) they prove to themselves that they are tough guys. This means they clamp down on me with all their might, really force positions using muscle and limited technique, and generally try to hurt me. It's not as intentional as it sounds, but rolling with newer students tends to be pretty rough. What I need to be doing is practicing technique- and that only happens with the higher level dudes. Lesson learned, remember for when I return...

Let me tell you- a popped rib sucks BIG TIME as a BJJ injury. I can't do shit. I can't even drill since it hurts to sit up, and I risk perpetuating the injury if I just try to tough my way through it. It hurt to sit in my chair at work, it hurt to sleep at night- the only time it didn't seem to hurt was when I was running or swimming.

To treat the problem I have been using DoTerra Deep Blue rub along with a portable ultrasound. this along with a healthy dosage of ibuprofen has been getting me along for the past 2 weeks, and now it seems i may be ready to come back to the mat again for some drill work, and light rolling. I plan to head back to Easton on Monday to begin (again)

In the mean time- I'm rucking the Denver Rock-N-Roll Half Marathon on Saturday with some of my GORUCK Challenge peeps. I bought a nice new Isreali civilian model gas mask just for the occasion... should be fun.

I'm BACK- Tournament Training: A New Beginning

Putting some Jiu Jitsu back into my Jiu Jitsu blog...

I've been pretty caught up in my endurance sports training lately, but I have still been training 3 times a week with Easton. I'll get back to blogging about it shortly.

I also have another Gi review in the works as I have received, and have been rolling in my new Prana Flow Gi.

More soon!

P

The quest for fitness, new challenges and swimming the ocean of doubt

My life of the past 4 years consists of challenging myself in one way or another. First was overcoming the fear of committing to parenthood. When Shannon became pregnant I recall a sense of elation, which was offset only slightly by a fear of the unknown. I have found that in many instances that when I embrace the challenge of the unknown that the best things happen. Being Lila’s Dad is certainly one of the greatest things that I have ever, or will ever do. It rewards me every day.

I feel much the same way about Jiu Jitsu. When I first stepped onto the mat I felt like a first time swimmer stepping into the pool. It was an environment I was unfamiliar, and a little uncomfortable with. After a little time, I found I could survive, and enjoy it. Now it is hard to imagine my life before BJJ, and even more difficult to imagine what it would be like without it. Jiu Jitsu is a sort of fellowship for me, and it’s study is something I look forward to, and think about every day.

I’ve often said that Jiu Jitsu gave me confidence. That confidence extends off the mat into my life. It drives me to put myself to the trial an everything I do. It has expanded my belief in my own abilities as an individual. Jiu Jitsu re-lit the athletic fire in my life. A fire that was long extinguished by the instant gratification of alcohol fueled adventure. Throughout my 20’s it seemed like the most interesting things happened with cold beverages, and drunken debauch. This takes a toll on the body, and it also takes a toll on the mind. When I hit my 30’s the adventures in drinking lost their luster. Recovery became rougher, and the same ole-same-ole became a bit depressing.

At my worst I was up to approx 220lbs, and looked old. I mean more than just grey hair- I felt old too. Fat in my face gave my eyes a sunken look. All my “best stories” took place in the past. The future was a boring subject to contemplate. That changed the first day I stepped onto the mat. I’ll be glad for that for the rest of my life.

After a year of training with Easton I began to look around for additional challenges. At that time I discovered Cyclocross. I also discovered Warrior Dash- which seemed a lot like Cyclocross on foot. I didn’t have money for a bike, but I could run so I decided to focus on Warrior Dash. About a week or so later my friend Kristi told me about Tough Mudder- which was like Warrior Dash, but triple the distance, with more difficult and more plentiful obstacles.

Last year when I committed to that first TM at Beaver Creek it was like I was standing on the shore of my island, looking across a vast ocean of doubt. It took all of my fiber to wade in and swim for what was then an unknown. This challenge intrigued me, and forced me to look within myself for strength- it challenged me more than just physically- it taunted my soul, and stirred me to action.

I’ve now run 2 Tough Mudder races in the past year, with a 3^rd on the horizon in June. I finished in the top 5% of the field at my second race and qualified for the World Championships. Tough Mudder doesn’t scare me anymore. Worse, it doesn’t challenge me. What was once an abyss now seems like a walk in the park. I need something new, and it needs to be something that I can build upon.

Even after that first Tough Mudder I remember feeling empty when I thought I should feel rewarded. There was so much build up to it that when it was over I felt like there should be some sort of spiritual reward- something, but instead it was more of a “done, dusted” sort of reaction. I signed up for the second one on a whim. It was reasonably close to my parent’s house so it seemed convenient, and I thought at that time I would have a team to run with. Why not sign up? I trained pretty hard for the second one. I had it in my mind to qualify for the World’s Toughest Mudder, and I figured with the flatter TX landscape I would be faster, and I was. I accomplished the goal of qualification. Still empty.

I now think I understand the emptiness I feel.  Milton said of Alexander the Great- "When Alexander saw the breadth of his domain, he wept for there were no more worlds to conquer."  Perhaps this is true. TM is supposed to be the most challenging adventure race series out there. They poke fun at the 5k races along the route (there is a sign 5k into the Tough Mudder that says “if this were Warrior Dash you’d be finished now”) Beaver Creek is arguably the hardest standard TM race in the country due to the elevation changes, but I beat it on my first time out. Worse was that I saw a lot of non-athletes beat it. Nothing says you really accomplished something by earning the finishers headband like seeing a woman wearing a finishers headband while smoking a cigarette at the bar… It kinda takes the wind out of your sails to see something like that. Of course, it’s not a “race” so really she could have very walked the damn thing and gone around obstacles and still “finished” I guess, but this is beside the point.  The point is I need something new to challenge me. Phil vs. What? Phil vs. Tough Mudder is done. I did that shit. I’m going to do it again too, but that isn’t an aspiration anymore. It’s the standard now. Right now I’m standing on the shore of this new island, looking across a vast ocean again- and this time I’m really (actually) going to swim for it. I’ve started training for an as yet to be determined triathlon, and after spending time in the pool I’ve just come to realize- I suck at swimming.

Challenge Accepted.

From Fitness to Athlete a year in review

I started Jiu Jitsu on Feb 1st 2010. I can't say for certain what my weight was on that day, but it was somewhere between 200-210 lbs. After the first year I was fluctuating between 200, and 195lbs. It was right about then that I learned about Tough Mudder, and decided to run the race in Colorado in June. I also decided I needed to really start taking better care of myself. I wanted to be more active, and enjoy my life more than i was going from the bed to work, to the couch then back to bed. Even training as I was, this was still pretty much my life. 

My first step was to see a doctor for a Physical- my first one in many years. He took bloodwork, and the results weren't too bad. he pronounced me to be in pretty decent shape for my age.

On Feb 23rd 2011 I went to visit the trainer at the gym located at my workplace. She did a wellness assessment where she measured my body fat%, my heart rate, did a measurement on my VO2 Max, and flexibility. I was justdged to be healthy enough for activity, but my VO2 Max was really low, and would need addressed as I prepared for that first Tough Mudder in June 2011.

After this I started jogging, building up to greater distances. I also started some crossfit, and continued to train Jiu Jitsu 3 times a week. For the first time in my life I started watching what I ate- reading labels on the foods I ate, placing weighted values on protein, carbs and fats. If the food didn't have a label where I could get the nutritional facts, then I didn't eat it anymore. Things like fast food from McDonalds- they offer nutritional info, but you have to go on the web to get it. I say that is "no label" they are hiding the facts from me, so now I never go there.
I tried to maintain a 1700 calorie a day intake (thats actually a lot when it's healthy, lean food), with a 2700 calorie per day burn (I often over shot)

I finished that first Tough Mudder in June, and went on to participate in Warrior Dash, and Rugged Maniac 5ks that same summer.

As you can tell by the date, I kicked this off exactly one year ago.

Wednesday (2/22) morning I went back and did a one year follow up wellness assessment with the trainer at work. I was fortunate in that the same trainer who did my original assessment conducted my one year benchmark.

Here are the changes in my fitness laid out in a chart I made for comparison 

 

Blood pressure is down 8pts
Weight is down 23lbs
body fat is nearly half- with the largest loss in the abdomen where weight loss is difficult for men over 30yrs old (I'm 36). I am now classed "Athlete" with 9% body fat.
VO2 Max is up 15 pts (still needs work)

The best part is that this is my life now. Going out and doing things that require a lot of physical effort, and eating well are part of my lifestyle.

As you know I ran a second Tough Mudder on Jan 28th in Edna TX. I finished in the top 5% of the field and was invited to participate in the Worlds Toughest Mudder championship event this December.

So my advice? If you want to be healthy, change the way you're living. Quit eating things you can't identify. Get out and move for at least 60 min every day. A year from today you will wish you had started now- so go do this for yourself!

Here is a before/after pic 

Black Belt Training February 2012

It's been awhile! Please forgive me, I've been distracted with training. I've taken on quite a bit this past month. My regular training schedule has been Monday nights from 7pm to 8:30pm with the black belt Gi group, the same hours on Wednesday nights. Saturdays I've been training the intermediate Gi class then sticking around for the Saturday no gi open mat. That is 5 hrs a week on the mats. Include with that the running- I'm running 5k 3 times a week on the track at the Rec, plus some light duty lifting (still figuring that out). All told I've been pretty busy keeping up with my schedule. I've learned a lot this past month. I'm surviving more during rolls with the higher belts (although still getting sub'd often) and I have adapted my game to include a lot of open guard, spider guard and yes even inverted guard. I am still favoring the bottom game, and I need to develop some top game to round things out.

Am I one of the World's Toughest Mudders? We shall see...

Something amazing has happened. On Monday I received the above email from Tough Mudder advising my finish time @ TX Coast was in the top 5% of the field. This means I have qualified for the Worlds Toughest Mudder race in December. This is the "Championship" event for Tough Mudder, and 2012 will be only the second year it will be held. The location has not yet been named, but as of this moment I am planning to compete. You can watch the video below to get an idea what I am in for. It will be extremely unpleasant.



So now it's time to figure out a training game. I'm going to up my mileage to 10k for my training runs, and I'm going to start P90X. WTM is about endurance, so I need to build muscles that can strain and recover.
Gear will be another question that needs answered. As you can see from the video, the winners were wearing wetsuits. UA Coldgear isn't going to get it done this time. I'm looking at some options- possibly a 2/3mm Wetsuit under a drysuit to keep mobility, and maybe keep the water out for a while. For footgear I'm thinking Salomon Speedcross 3CS (winter shoe). Sounds like a good plan, except that in this paragraph alone I just spent $600.00! We haven't even discussed the entry fee, or airfare yet, not to mention a rental car, hotel room, getting all this gear, and the additional camping gear to the site... It may not be realistic for me to do this, but I'm going to try!

2 Years Training

Going from being THIS guy

To being THIS guy

They say time flies when you're having fun, and I've been having some fun. 2 years ago today I stepped onto the mat @ Easton Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for the first time. It's been an interesting journey thus far. I've learned a lot about myself, and the benefits of learning and practicing a martial art.
Some things that have changed noticably, for instance my weight- I was 210lbs on my first day on the mat. This morning I weighed in at 175lbs. It is interesting to walk around sans the weight of 2 bowling balls. I'm pretty happy to have gotten much leaner while getting stronger. This has also contributed to my activities. After 2 years in BJJ my "life" is hardly recognizable. I used to go out to the bar at least once a week and drink beer and eat chicken wings. Now I'm vegetarian, and drink about a 6 pack a month. I couldn't run a single lap around a highschool track back then. Last weekend I ran 14 miles, and tackled 29 obstacles at a Tough Mudder (my 2nd TM event). I didn't just jog it either- I kept pace with a couple Marines and kicked some ass.  Had I never made that decision to step onto the mat, none of this would have happened. I had to believe I could do it, and that confidence is one of the many things that BJJ has given to me.


Practicing BJJ may be training to fight, but it is also training to think. How to solve problems, and how to train your instincts. There are a lot of metaphors for life that can be drawn from BJJ- understanding the problem, applying the solution, being flexible and adaptable to the challenges you are confronted with, thinking through the problem before reacting. Understanding risk and consequence. This is all part of the "mental game" that is the Gentle Art.

BJJ has lead to a lot of friendships as well. I recall when I lived in Chicago and I felt lost in the crowd. I couldn't figure out a way to make new friends outside of work because my interests were so narrow. BJJ has enriched my life with a common interest that has allowed me to meet a wide variety of great people. It's a friendship built on mutual respect and I'm very grateful for that.

So where do I go from here?  I've decided not to set a final destination. I think the best plan is to just keep going, wherever this journey takes me will be the best place with the best result. In the mean time I'll continue to focus on my training, expand my skill set, and I'll keep looking for opportunities to enrich my life even further. Thanks for reading.

Tradesman Opportunity. Can a Mud Runner Get Some Wheels?

If you have been reading you may already know that Jiu Jitsu isn't my only hobby. I'm also a pretty avid runner, with a focus on Adventure Racing. Having competed in several events in 2011, I have double that number scheduled in 2012. I'll be starting with the January (Brrr) TX Coast Tough Mudder next week. You may not know that the world of cycling has an equivalent to these runs, and that is a sport called Cyclocross. Cyclocross or "Cross" as it is known is run on a mixed media style course, made up of combinations of paved of road, grass, snow and mud with obstacles that require rider skill to negotiate. The courses include climbs, and descents on loose and most times muddy surfaces. There are also hurdles that require dismount, and remount of the bicycle while on the run. The course is typically a  closed loop over a fixed distance, and the object is to lap the course as many times as possible in a fixed time period. It requires a combination of bike handling skill, endurance, and speed not found in other bicycle mounted sports. I've been fascinated by 'Cross since the first time I witnessed a race. The riders were hardy, tough people with considerable control, and skill. The observers in the crowd were rowdy cowbell ringing types who love to watch the riders test their medal, and drink beer. Everyone loves drinking beer (me too). Since my first experience I have wanted to ride 'Cross to be a part of the action. Riding requires equipment, and that is where I fall short. I just don't have the dough to drop on a good steed for this purpose. I have saved money to buy a bike, but every time I get close something seems to come up- a new transmission or tires for the truck, repairs to the house, or medical bills for my wife. Each time this happens I say "next year is the year" and I start saving again. Now I've figured out a way that I may be able to make this happen in the near-er future. Foundry Cycles is offering a "Tradesman" position, this position comes with a Foundry Brand bicycle. Foundry builds the Auger which looks to be a first class 'cross tool well beyond my means as a consumer. It's an exchange. I'd have to earn the bike by spreading the word about the brand all around Colorado, and here on my blog as well as other social medias. Foundry is a brand new bicycle brand, building carbon bikes that have a work-horse ethos about them. It appears they are looking for people like me who will not only torture test their equipment, but also evangelize for the new brand in environments where their market cross section would flock- places like oh say- Mud Runs. I honestly think events like Snow-Dash, Warrior Dash, Rugged Maniac, Spartan Challenge and Tough Mudder are like gateway drugs into a more rugged cross section of the population.  These are people who push themselves, and their gear to the outer limits of durability. These are the kind of people Foundry is looking for to consume their products. Why would I be a good Tradesman? I'm outgoing, and technically knowledgeable since I worked in a bike shop in High school and continue to follow trends in cycle technology. I'm "in the know" enough about the industry to have been following Foundry's brand development for well over a year. As has been proven with my experiences with other brands I have supported, I know how to do rep a product without being phoney. I'm already at the center of a market cross section. I have no less than 5 events scheduled for 2012, and if provided the means (an Auger) I'd enter regional 'Cross races as a means to demo the bike, meet with like minded individuals, and film for the planned upcoming web series "Phil Vs." which will be broadcast on YouTube. Think Man vs. Food without the calorie count. We actually plan to have me undertake a variety of challenges (cycling from Denver to Vail for instance) and film them under the auspices of "Here is an average guy doing things you wouldn't try- but maybe you could or should" The Auger would be prominently featured in the cycling episodes of the web show, as well as the Rocky style training montage we plan to include in every webisode.  I have already secured an editor to put together the episodes from raw footage to be shot via GoPro, and hand held cam. 2012 aims to be a big year for getting out amongst my fellow mud enthusiasts. I hope Foundry chooses to be a part of it.

Sick

So I'm not feeling well at all- definitely don't want to spread this to the school, so I'm staying off the mats for now. Still training for Tough Mudder at the end of the month though- running seems to suppress my symptoms, and a good sweat afterwards in the sauna clears my congestion.

Saturday we got started on the Jiu Jitsu room at my friends place. We have been talking about this ever since he closed on his new house, and now it is coming to reality. We will be using the Gracie Garage Mat Making Method that I linked here last year. Saturday was primer day and we got the room sufficiently coated. In the mean time, the closed cell foam, and vinyl mat cover are on order.
Here are some progress pics. The closets will have a place to hang Gis, and there will be an entertainment system housed in the cubbies so that we can film, and also stream tutorials to a wall mounted flatscreen.

It really should be an ultimate man-cave layout. The idea will be to use the space to work on drills, flow rolling, and also some comp rolling. Looking forward to having this available for training in the weeks to come.

42 BJJ Half Guard Bottom Techniques in Just 6 Minutes - Jason Scully

More great stuff from Jason Scully

Monday night intermediate Gi training with Peter Straub

I originally set out to take the black belt Gi class last night, but then got there plenty early and decided to start out with the intermediate group. We were working from half guard, and this is an area where i need a lot of work so I decided to stay with the intermediate class rather than switch out when the black belt class assembled.
Coach Peter has a really good way of breaking down technique. Not only does he go through the motions, but he also makes a point of explaining the "why" of the motion. ex: when you go from an underhook to a pummel your palm should be facing away from an opponents back- why? It has to do with how the arm bends. If you have palm down, it is easy for your opponent to clamp down with his elbow and render your pummel ineffective- but if you have palm up it makes the arm rigid against the opponents elbow and allows you to maintain leverage, and is more difficult to defeat. I've been training for nearly 2 years now, and I never understood that. It's the little things that change the game.

I feel like I am at a bit of a crossroads right now, like I need to do something differently than I have been for the past few months. I'm thinking that has to be getting my ass into the Black Belt classes again. Starting this week I am committing to at least one black belt class per week. Come februaray I will have been training for 2 full years, so at that point it will be about getting to 2 Black belt classes per week. i'll need to consult with Shannon as to how I can do that, but I feel like it needs to be done.

38 Closed Guard BJJ Combinations Everyone Should Know in 4 Minutes - Jas...

Wednesday Morning No Gi training with Coach John Boyle- No Gi Gear review

No Gi training this week is still drilling the pendulum sweep, but rather than transitioning to the armbar we transitioned to the omoplata with a under-roll where I ended up in mount. This was pretty slick, but risky unless it happens very quickly, and the omoplata is pretty secure- in other words- not for a novice like me. At least not yet.

The Tux from The BJJ Life $39.95
In the spirit of sharing, I also added another piece of gear to my Gi Bag a few months back. Its about time i posted a review of my Tuxedo Shirt Rash Guard which I purchased from The BJJ Life. I like it for the good time reaction it gets from my training partners. Everyone gets a laugh when I come out of the locker room ready to party, but still be formal. Style wise, it is exactly what it sounds like it is- a tuxedo print on a rash guard. It is well constructed with heavy stitching at the seams, and the print has been washed several times without cracking or coming loose from the fabric. I never dry it, but just leave it to air dry, this could be the reason the print is holding up so well. It is a screened on vinyl material, and I imagine dryer heat would damage it pretty quickly. I like the thing, but it isn't all sunshine- the collar is a little too restrictive. I really wish it had the more t-shirt like lay-flat collar of my other new rash guard which I'll review below. The collar feels a bit like a very weak midget is trying to put a rear naked choke on me, and the reinforces seams don't seem to be allowing any stretch to cure it.

Nike iD Pro Combat Core Compression T-shirt $40.00

I picked this up as sort of an afterthought. a buddy of mine was having his birthday, and very generously gave me a ticket to UFC 135 here in Denver. I wanted to thank him so I ordered up one of these customized Nike iD rash guards for him as a birthday gift. While I was creating his shirt I decided:Why the hell not get one of my own? So I designed one using a nickname / forum username, and some other little easter eggs from my life. What I got is what you see to the left. I chose white as the primary color, with blue details signifying my rank. I initially went with white as I also wear it under my Gi, and I didn't want the color to rub off on the inside of my Gi. After use and abuse I see now that there was no need for concern. The shirt is a Nike- and as much as I claim not to be a fan boi of labels, I still trust big names. Nike hasn't let me down here. Stitched together in Mexico, the shirt is well put together and tough. I've been wearing it for about 2 months now and just took the photos for the blog today. The prints are sublimated into the fabric- which is like they dye the design into the fabric instead of sticking the design onto the fabric. This is pretty nice considering how much wear and tear a rashguard gets- friction against the inside of my gi, or against the mats in no gi class. The designs are completely unaffected, and the shirt itself is standing up to my abuse very well. there are a few pills around the shoulders, but i think that is from that metallic liner in my Shoyoroll ComPadre rubbing against it.
I wear a large, and the fit is great. The collar is pretty much t-shirt perfect, while still laying comfortably flat. The material feels very light, and breaths, and wicks away moisture really well allowing me to sweat without becoming all soggy and gross feeling. I do regret not going for the long sleeved version, but that is easily remedied in my next order. The price seemed quite reasonable considering that the garment is a custom one off. I am a bit curious how they turn these orders around so quickly- I had my shirt within 10 days of placing the order which was pretty impressive to me, but then this IS Nike, it's not like they don't have the cash-flow to pick up some advanced manufacturing techniques. So I'm pretty impressed with the shirt as a rashguard, and I will definitely be ordering another in the not to distant future.
Next on my wish list are some actual grappling shorts- possibly Forty Thieves, or Jaco. I'm also interested in Scramble grappling tights for No Gi training. I've seen the size of the new gym, and it's gonna be nippy training in the mornings in winter.

Tuesday night training- Pendulum sweeps with Prof. Junior

Tuesday afternoon I hit the Rec center gym. I ran 2 miles, then took a 15 minute steam. This si part of my training for the TX Tough Mudder coming up at the end of January. Later that night I trained in the Gi with Professor Junior. We practiced seoi-nage (shoulder throws) and then moved to the ground where we worked, pendulum sweeps, then pendulum to armbar, and then back to the sweep with an armbar finish. We rolled to finish out the class. I hung in there pretty well with Jason, I went for a few submissions, but he defended well. I was able to regain the guard afterwards which was a good thing.

I also want to take a moment in the blog to thank Jason Scully of BJJ for Life! on Facebook. Professor Scully sent me his "Super Solo Grappling Drills" for free after I won a contest on his page. ALL HAIL FREE SHIT! These look really good, and I can definitely use them here at home. I'll go through the DVDs (there are 3) and try out all 330 drills, then post a review soon. Thanks again BJJ for Life!

Here is tonights lesson taught by Professor Scully

Thursday PM training w/ Professor Junior- Adaptation

When everything starts to go wrong in your life what should you do? Should you push a bad position and hope that by pushing hard enough you will overwhelm your troubles? Should you just freeze up and let the bad things happen? Should you look for an alternate way out of the problem? Change direction, and focus? Should you draw in your goals to focus on short term success instead of planning out the long run?
So it is with Jiu Jitsu. It's always good to have a plan A, and a plan B- but when it all starts going sideways, you need to adapt to what is happening, and react to it with smaller goals- like "I need to get my elbow out of there" or "how can I get him to transfer some weight off of my chest so I can get to my side" once you accomplish those small goals and regain a bit of control you can start planning your steps. This is why so many people compare BJJ to Chess. It's planning, adapting, reacting, attacking.
Last night we worked on some sweeps, and a sweet (but complicated) triangle from inverted guard.

I did some training with John, who is larger than me- he is quite good at using his size, and technique together and he pulled of some great subs- caught me in an armbar, and a choke- he nearly had a kimora, but gave up on it a little too soon. I wish I could say I was letting that happen, but really he was getting around me just fine. I think in his case I need to focus on making him reach so that I can get to the top. He storms my guard, and is one of few people I have rolled with that just seems to break right through. So I learned I need to develop some new engagements.

I finished the evening with a smaller guy and triangled him twice.  The first was almost identicle to the drill: triangle, armbar, then back to triangle and finish. The second was just straight triangle- he defended so I wrist locked him and sunk it in for the tap.

Not long for Broadway... AM training with Coach Boyle

The big news around Easton right now is the new 10,000 sq ft "Easton Training Center" which will be a full training center- BJJ, Muay Thai, Cross fit, Cardio- the works. the rumors say we will also have Showers at the new facility. Still, I was pretty much planning to keep coming to the school on Broadway since it is a bit closer than the new location. It's been nearly 2 years on the mats at Broadway, and the place feels like a home to me, but alas, my coach verified today Broadway is to close, and be replaced by the ETC. This raises some community questions for me, as it is widely publicized that MMA fighter Elliot Marshall will run the ETC. I like Elliot a lot, the few times we have met he has been awesome to work with- but this leaves me wondering where our current administrator will go. Professor King is a large part of the reason I started BJJ. Sure, Andrew "dragged" me in there for that first lesson, but honestly I had met Prof. Larry a few times before then and his genuine personality was definitely a factor in making training a permanent part of my life. I hope there are plans for him to continue in his role at the new facility- if they move him elsewhere, there is a good chance I would follow.

Monday AM training was the same drill focused workout I have come to expect and appreciate. I got my heart rate going, and learned a new drill. Excellent training partner once again- even more excellent than before because apparently he could be reading this (Ben) LoL

Interesting sidebar to Training Partner Ben, he will also be participating in the Boulder GORUCK in May. This is awesome because the more people I know who get involved the more driven I will be to train and be ready.

Also of note- the BEST MOTHER IN LAW IN THE GALAXY has gotten me a gift certificate to help me pick up my needed UA Coldgear for the Jan. Tough Mudder. Pretty psyched about that.

Jiu Jitsu Week Training Day 5 Intermediate Gi training with Professor Junior Fidelis (Denver)

Saturday I attended my usual 11am Intermediate class. Class went well, I got a lot of opportunity to put the techniques I worked on all week into practice.
I had a funny moment when I went for the cross guard- inverted triangle on Eddie. To review, Eddie and I are about the same weight, but where I am lanky, he is compact so he makes for an interesting challenge. I rarely get a choke to work with him because it is very difficult to get to his neck. So I get to cross guard- slip the bottom knee through and hook up strong with my over the top leg. I pull in the clench expecting the tap. It doesn't come. I make an adjustment of angle- clench- no tap. So now here I am WAY out of position to regain defense. I got control of both sleeves again, then "gave up" the inverted triangle- and drew my leg back through. I was able to then get my right knee to his left biceps in a modified spider. I gave that up for closed guard and started hunting for options again. This was a relief and gave me more confidence in "going for it" when the inverted triangle is available because I have some steps to get back to a safe position.

It was a good day training, I took some lumps, and learned some things. I didn't get hurt.