I'm determined not to let this blog go the same way as my Bullshido.net training log but I have a worse memory than a senile Goldfish. Normally, I remember the next day that I need to update my blog and then can't really remember the class or (and this is probably more common) I just can't be bothered. Well now this has to stop. I had to take last week off Jiu Jitsu after having my drink spiked in a local pub but from today I am 'in training' for the Gracie Invitational at SENI. I'm going to be attending at least 4 classes per week with 2 conditioning sessions on top.
I started off yesterday with hill running on Southend cliffs (Photos coming). I feel really lucky to have a place like this to run not too far from home. There are several paths and stairways on the cliffs that go from the seafront right to the top and I've made myself a fantastic little route that alternates between running up the stairs and sprinting up hills. I first got the idea back in my muay Thai days when I started joining the fighters on their pre-class runs. Back in those days I could hardly jog from the class to the seafront, so you can imagine what it was like sprinting up the hills. I remember one time specifically it felt like I was actually rolling back down the hill, like I'd run out of momentum on a push bike. My legs were on fire and I almost vomited. Yesterday, I got to the top of the hill and the endorphines were hitting me like some kind of drug high. I felt so good that I went straight back down and did it again. The second time wasn't quite so Rocky-esque. I got to the top still moving at a decent pace but I was covered in snot and flem and was dry heaving.... But I did it. I was screaming and grunting and hardly made it home... But I did it. Later on I had to go up my stairs on all fours and lower myself into the bath using my upper body for support... But I did it.
Most people see pushing yourself to the point of being sick or even collapse to be a completely ridiculous thing to do, remarking that it couldn't possibly be good for you or asking what the point of it all is. These are the same people who laugh at our diets and boggle at our training schedules. But why do we do it? We want to be the best we can be and we of course, want to be better than our opponent but that's not the full story. Why do we deprive ourselves of the food we love? Why do we cripple our social lives and most of all, why do we put ourselves through physical and mental torture?
Why? Because we love it.
SENI is coming and I'm going to be ready. If I go out onto that mat and lose my first fight because the other person was better than me, that's BJJ. If I am ready and do the absolute best I can, there's absolutely no shame in losing but if fatigue and lack of conditioning are to blame, that's my fault and I will have beaten myself before the fight has even begun.
Monday, 22 March 2010
Tuesday, 2 March 2010
BJJ - RGA VIE Farringdon 02/03/10
I've been pretty bad at updating this blog recently, due to a massive change in personal circumstances but this post marks a re-dedication to my training and blogging. I won't be going into so much detail though and simply marking important points that I've taken away from each class.
Something that a few of us have been discussing recently is the subject of conditioning in BJJ and how much is too much. The general consensus is that it is certainly important, but it should be more BJJ specific exercises rather than just doing star jumps and press ups til people drop. Max and Dmetri are known purveyors of savage warm ups that tend to lean more towards the standard circuits format but Eddie, who was taking the class tonight puts us through much more specific exercises. For example, our warm up tonight consisted of a brief, 5 minute Aerobic session with running and jumping etc before we moved on to open guard exercises with one person trying to pass the legs of the other and put their knee down on their partners stomach. Neither person was allowed to grip and as soon as it went to the floor, we had to restart to keep things moving.
We then drilled how to regain open guard using the opposite side leg and ended with specific sparring from open guard that restarted whenever someone passed. Specific sparring was ok, I know a few passes that I was trying and had success with:
Sparring went pretty well, I'm now attacking a lot more rather than waiting for my partner to make a move that I can counter. I've started using the Triangle to Omoplata setup quite a lot, though I'm finding it hard to finish the Omoplata. I'm also getting in the mounted triangle position a lot these days but when I roll over to put it on, my leg seems to be over the back rather than the neck and I can hardly ever finish it. I try to make an angle by cupping their leg but something's not quite right.
I've also found that I'm able to keep moving now instead of just laying in positions and waiting for an opening, Lawrence commented to me the other day that I'm not just laying still any more. I really do need to start going straight to open guard when I can though. This is a major sticking point in my game and probably the biggest hurdle for me to progress.
My last roll of the night was with George and was one of the funnest I've ever had. There was constant movement, sweeps, reversals and submission attempts. He impressed me with his movement but it wasn't quite tight enough for him to land things like rolling armbars that he was trying. He put me in a couple of bad positions with possible armbars but I always managed to keep my cool and get my arm out just enough to prevent the lock and then start passing.
All in all it was a good session and I plan to really get my head down and train as much as possible over the next few months. I'm feeling the urge to get on the competition mat again but I'd like to feel a little more confident in my abilities first.
Something that a few of us have been discussing recently is the subject of conditioning in BJJ and how much is too much. The general consensus is that it is certainly important, but it should be more BJJ specific exercises rather than just doing star jumps and press ups til people drop. Max and Dmetri are known purveyors of savage warm ups that tend to lean more towards the standard circuits format but Eddie, who was taking the class tonight puts us through much more specific exercises. For example, our warm up tonight consisted of a brief, 5 minute Aerobic session with running and jumping etc before we moved on to open guard exercises with one person trying to pass the legs of the other and put their knee down on their partners stomach. Neither person was allowed to grip and as soon as it went to the floor, we had to restart to keep things moving.
We then drilled how to regain open guard using the opposite side leg and ended with specific sparring from open guard that restarted whenever someone passed. Specific sparring was ok, I know a few passes that I was trying and had success with:
- Pushing the person's legs towards them and sitting on their backside almost like riding them and passing to one side
- Pushing the legs to one side and sliding your leg alongside them so you basically sit down on your side and then turn into side control
- Leapfrogging the legs into mount
Sparring went pretty well, I'm now attacking a lot more rather than waiting for my partner to make a move that I can counter. I've started using the Triangle to Omoplata setup quite a lot, though I'm finding it hard to finish the Omoplata. I'm also getting in the mounted triangle position a lot these days but when I roll over to put it on, my leg seems to be over the back rather than the neck and I can hardly ever finish it. I try to make an angle by cupping their leg but something's not quite right.
I've also found that I'm able to keep moving now instead of just laying in positions and waiting for an opening, Lawrence commented to me the other day that I'm not just laying still any more. I really do need to start going straight to open guard when I can though. This is a major sticking point in my game and probably the biggest hurdle for me to progress.
My last roll of the night was with George and was one of the funnest I've ever had. There was constant movement, sweeps, reversals and submission attempts. He impressed me with his movement but it wasn't quite tight enough for him to land things like rolling armbars that he was trying. He put me in a couple of bad positions with possible armbars but I always managed to keep my cool and get my arm out just enough to prevent the lock and then start passing.
All in all it was a good session and I plan to really get my head down and train as much as possible over the next few months. I'm feeling the urge to get on the competition mat again but I'd like to feel a little more confident in my abilities first.
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