[Frodo]

5-17-2006

Went to Bill Vucick UFF today. There were a lot of people there! We went over:

• Armbar from Mount.
• Triangle then armbar from push-pull setup (except wrist is pushed to hip not to chest).

Then we drilled escaping mount for a while. Top guy couldn't submit but could transition to back-mount (but not side control/guard/etcetera). I was on top of a wrestler (who had 50 pounds on me), but it was his first day at grappling. He turtled and I got the back then secured with a standard overhook/underhook. I swear he paniced. He was like an angry hornet.

Afterward, the wrestler got soooooooooooo angry and left! He told Bill in private that he didn't want to get angry in there because we "knew how to fight." His friend claimed I was "choking him" but I couldn't have: I wasn't pressing against his neck. I had a freaking over/under hook; there is no way to choke someone from there! P S Y C H O.

After he left, we did some more of the drill and then some rolling. Finally I did 50-50-50 (squats-pushups-situps) and Bill showed me the second lockflow again.

...

Then I went to Steel City about an hour later (to save gas). Had a good time. We went over a hammerlock from turtle variation:

1. Start with uke turtled beside tori.
2. Try for a collar choke. Uke defends by grabing your hand on same side as body.
3. Get a 2-on-1 on same side as your body.
4. Switch over your near-head leg. Keep your head on uke with hips away.
5. This will pull uke's arm out over your hip and pressure him down so he can't get it out.
6. Twist wrist so pinky is pointed up (like aikido grip). Hip into his arm a little bit.
7. Submit or acquit!

We also covered a way to get hooks in when opponent turtles:

1. Start with uke turtled beside tori.
2. Try for a collar choke. Uke defends by grabing your hand on opposite side of body.
3. Grip his gi like a 1-on-1.
4. At same time: Bring other arm through and switch grips. Opposite hand goes to opponent's knee.
5. Pull opponent's arm 45 degrees toward your side of body. This opens his turtle and breaks his balance.
6. Replace opposite hand with leg to get a hook on that side.
7. Roll and get other hook. Proceed to choke.

Then we rolled for a while again. Good practice. I was 149 pounds afterward!!!

[Frodo]

Today I weighed 149 pounds after practice. All together that is 50 pounds less than when I started grappling 13 months ago. This is great.

Since high school, I gained about 10 pounds per year. I was depressed and couldn't control my weight. I tried many weight loss attemps - mainly diets and exercise routines - over the years. However, I couldn't stick to any of it. When I turned 201 pounds on my birthday in 2005, I thought I would end up with diabetes by 30 and die around 45 from poor health. I thought it would take at least 5 years to lose the weight.

When I started grappling, it was one of the hardest workouts I ever did. It was also one of the most humbling being easily beaten by people 40-50 pounds lighter than me. I shouldn't have entered a tournaent after only a month of training. However, something in me just wanted to try it. I was beaten easily at the tounament.

I'm still glad I did enter; because, I got hooked! It sparked a fire in me to do better. Now I train my butt off for grappling. It is worth it, because it helps me keep my weight down. I was 190 lbs after 1 month, 175 lbs after 4 months, 165 lbs after 7 months, and now 150 lbs.

If you want to lose weight, do Jiu Jitsu!

[Frodo]

5-18-2006

Went to the last practice of the CMU Grappling Club for the spring semester. This was also Drew's last practice with us. I'll really miss him. Drew explained moves very well and with lots of detail - more than most places. He was my best instructor IMHO.

It was gi day. Only Randy, Drew, and I showed up. We went over:

• Cross collar choke.
• Armbar from cross collar choke defense.
• Sliding collar choke from turtle.
• Clock choke (not good quality demo link) from turtle.
• I showed Randy the Eugene choke from turtle.

Then we did escape-guard drills, escape-mount drills, escape-turtle drills in a shark-bate pattern. Finally we rolled a little before calling it a day.

...

Then I went to SCMA. We did lots more drills! Mostly escape-guard drills, escape-mount drills, escape side-control drills, escape-north-south drills. At this point I was pretty exausted.

After practice I was 148 pounds. Feeling good about that, I had half a cup of penne with a meatball, some orange juice, and a homemade Arnold Palmer tee. The AP was pretty good. It was basically half a glass of crystal light instant lemonade mixed with half a glass of crystal lite instant iced tea. OK, so it wasn't the best, but it was a little better than either seperate.

[True2KungFu]

inspirational Jim, those are stories i like to hear. Haha that wrestler kid couldnt hack it cuz he couldnt check his ego at the door. fuckin training demon you are. keep it up.

[Frodo]

Thanks. I figure that if in 13 months I can lose 6 years of fat, then so can most people. They simply have to make training a priority (not just exercise, but training for a goal). Make the time. I feel for that wrestler, since I was in an even worse situation a year ago. I hope he doesn't quit!!! Good job with your training too. I was doing cardio today, and I got completely exausted. Someday I'll be in as good shape as you. Then I'll fight you and you'll kick my ass, of course... ;-)

[Frodo]

5-19-2006

Didn't do any grappling because it is CARDIO DAY! I need to let my joints heal up a little, and the last few days of cutting weight and practicing twice a day really took a tool on me. So I went to Pete and began by running on the elliptical. Data recorded:

• Time: 33 minutes
• Distance: 3.74 miles
• Energy Used: 430.2 (kilo) calories
• Average Heart Rate: 156 beats/minute
• Maximum Heart Rate: 178 beats/minute

Then I went down to the mat area and did some 2 minute drills (2 min drill/2 min rest intervals):

1. Shrimping
2. Reverse shrimping
3. Grappler situps
4. Ball rolling left
5. Ball rolling right
6. Ball rolling left with grappler situps
7. Ball rolling right with grappler situps
8. Situps
9. Pushups on chairs (one for each hand and one for feet)
10. Crunches side-to-side
11. Planks
12. Bodyweight squats

At this point, I started feeling dizzy and sick most likely from not eating or drinking enough today. Had to stop. Next time - with proper nutrition and hydration - I plan on completing this with sprawl drills, shot drills, burpees, jogging, and wall sits. Man, I'm pissed that I couldn't finish!!!

With clothes (no shoes) I was 148 lbs. I also had to leave for a graduation dinner with Drew and Randy at Lulu's. I think I gained all the weight I lost today there. That's ok, as long as I am around 150 tomorrow, I can lose the weight by next Friday weigh-ins.

[Q mystic]

Originally Posted by Frodo

Judo with no pants:

It sucks when people throe you like that in practice. Hurts your heels. And their throwing tech. Thats how you can tell throwers from uchikomi guys.

Nice thread. You should aim higher tho.

Damn. Whats his name? Strived to be the best. Beating cancer was a side effect.


Lance Armstrong. Sorry.

[Frodo]

Haha Thanks. I admire what Lance Armstrong overcame, and sometimes that helps me chug along too. ;-)

[Frodo]

5-20-2006

Went to see Mike Neso (Psych-o Mike-o) vs Donnie Kaecher at Showdown in Mo-town. It was an exciting match with lost of sweeps and reversals. Mike got the takedowns, but Donnie attacked with guillotines from positions you didn't think you could be choked out (like bottom side-control). Don won 6-4.5 (Sonny Achille was the referee - he gave that half a point for advantages). Bob boxed too. He survived to the end for the first time in his career. Unfortunately, he lost by decision, but Bob fought a good fight. Jay Morris also had a good kickboxing match. He is so intense when he fights. Jay won, and he is scary!

[Frodo]

5-21-2006

Didn't do any grappling because Bill canceled all Sunday practices until after his mma fight. So I went to Pete and went running on the elliptical. Data recorded:

• Time: 33 minutes
• Distance: 4.03 miles
• Energy Used: 471.6 (kilo) calories
• Average Heart Rate: 161 beats/minute
• Maximum Heart Rate: 185 beats/minute
• Zone: 107-164 beats/minute for 14:28

That's a personal record! :-D Didn't do anything else since the gyms then immediately closed. Oh well...