[Saith]

Still on rehab exercises. 4 more weeks, then maybe I can start lifting again? I may put it off a bit longer so that I can work on my flexibility if I don't feel like I can hit ATG on my squat by then.

I'm thinking of starting BJJ training in the latter half of March. I had a co-worker who does it offer to go along with him and a friend and it seems like a good way to get introduced to the sport. Plus I don't think I'll be able to do MMA and make progress on my lifts in my current state.

On a related note, I have been keeping up with my HIIT training every third day. 5 minutes of squat thrusts and 5 minutes of pushups. I'm making progress slowly. I started at 9 squat thrusts per 30 second period and last time I did 12. I still can't do full pushups for the full five minutes though but I think that's maybe cause I do them second. When I can and start increasing my numbers I'll switch over to burpees for the whole 10 minutes.

[Saith]

My physical therapist OKAYed me for training again last night, but I'm still too inflexible to get to the bottom squat position. I'm going to (for the most part, except for a few good habbits) drop the rehab exercises and start focusing exclusively on squat flexibility. Then it's back on the 5x5 once I get to where I can squat all the way.

In other news, I'm going to start BJJ practice on M-W with a co-worker who is pretty cool. It is as yet to be determined when this will start, so I'm skeptical that it will (used to people dropping out of tentative obligations at this point in my life).

So about grip. What kind of set/rep routine is good for grippers/sledgehammer leavering/wrist rollering/pinch grip? I'm kind of lost on the specifics here....

[Saith]

Been doing this routine for a couple weeks now, but figured I'd post it so I can track my progress.

Squat thrusts
13
13
12
11
11

Pushups
10
5 + 7/2
6 + 2/2
4 + 5/2
3 + 7/2

/2 = half pushup

Squat stretch x4 (20 seconds, 20 seconds, 25 seconds, 25 seconds)
Good-morning ham stretch x 4 (20 seconds each)
Supermans (4x15 seconds)
Isometric calf stretch (3x15 seconds)
Cats and dogs x10

Took off from the foam roller/tennis ball tonight because my muscles are still sore from last time :/

[Saith]

Squat thrust intervals:
13
12
11
12
12

Pushup intervals:
11
8
6 + 2/2
5 + 3/2
4 + 3/2

Did much better on the pushups this time, and did more squat thrusts toward the end but not so much toward the beginning. I'm pretty sure this is because I didn't pack enough for my mid afternoon meal and didn't get enough sleep last night (took a 50 minute nap after I ate). Overall improvement is good though.

Squat stretch x4 (20 seconds, 25 seconds, 25 seconds, 30 seconds)
Good morning ham stretch x4 (20 seconds each)
Supermans (4x15 seconds)
Isometric calf stretch (3x15 seconds)
Cats and dogs x10

Gotta put together a grip routine so that next month when I build my wrist roller I can start training grip. Still no idea when my co-worker and his friend are gonna start BJJ, but I guess I'm not in any hurry as of right now anyway. Maybe after I get through a full BS5x5 I'll go off on my own if they still haven't started.

[Saith]

Squat thrust intervals
13
13
11
13
13

Pushup intervals
11
8
6
5 + 1/2
4 + 4/2

Squat stretch x2 (23 seconds, 20 seconds)
Not feeling limber tonight so I cut out the squat stretches early. Felt like I was going to pull a muscle.
Skipped ham stretches.
Supermans 4x15 seconds
Isometric calf stretch 3x15 seconds
No cats and dogs *notes to do spinal decompression the same night as core work*

[Saith]

I was lazy this weekend, I didn't even cook (have to do that tonight).

I go with my co-worker to BJJ in Fairfax on Thursday. Hurray for things panning out!

[Saith]

Did my usual routine last night, but the training logs were down when I tried to post so I'll have to post it when I get home.

Squat thrusts are starting to get easy and the pushups aren't progressing, so I'm thinking of just doing 10 minutes of burpee intervals now. I also have been having trouble getting into the squat stretch, so I'm gonna try again tonight.

Edit: Unilateral, DE work, infinite intensity, complex training, endurance,heavy lifting... Visit this later.

[Saith]

First night of BJJ!

BJJ first impressions: The school was really fucking cool. Big warehouse type feel with masonry walls and a line of mats. Some heavy bags in the corner, and boxes lying around. The instructor (a black belt) was really cool and it was also cool having someone I know there to teach me some basics. Another guy taught me how to sweep (I think that's what it is, when you're on your back and push the other guy onto his) from guard and I learned how to do an armbar and pass guard. A third guy taught me that beginners are food for the regulars to chew on and submit at will.

I'm gonna check out a couple more schools. There's another Yamasaki school in Springfield I'll check out on Saturday, then maybe next Thursday I can check out Capital Jiu Jitsu. A real compelling argument to go all the way out to the school I went to tonight (besides the fact that the people are really cool) is that it is taught by four blackbelts who actually spend time with the students. The drive home didn't take as long as I thought it would either, though in gas and miles it will definitely be harder on the car.

Things to improve:
-Keeping my knees tight to lock out a submission
-Keeping my weight on my opponent
-Keeping my body close to my opponent when I'm moving around
-Everything else.

[vince89]

Real obvious basic things Ive learned as a beginner:

Keep your arms close to you both standing and on the ground. Dont leave anything out there, you'll get punished especially by the black belts. Thats their bread and butter punishing mistakes.

Be as 'annoying' as you can. Dont just lie there. If youre in his guard, press down into his stomach with your knuckles or your elbow. Little tricks like that make it harder for people to submit you/pass your guard/escape etc It also doesnt really take any energy. If hes in your guard constantly attack the neck/arms and keep him busy.

Try to use more technique than muscle. I know at the start if you dont know any technique you just try and push or bridge the guy off desperately I do it myself alot but it leads to gassing and then the next round you roll youre a grappling dummy.

Keep your hips down when on top. Drive down with your hips and make yourself heavy. Lock the position down with leg hooks and controlling his head and then start thinking of attacks.

[kaboom187]

I will now be visiting your log to give you BJJ insight and advice.

you have been warned.

Important things to do: Take notes. be detailed.

Be calm.

Grips are your friend, and your enemy. Friend = when you have someone in your guard, get grips. Not your friend = when you are in their guard.

Elbows tight, and good posture at all times. In guard, good posture = butt down, looking straight ahead, back straight, with your arms pushing his hips down. In bottom sidemount = you want to be on your side, with your arms keeping their weight of fyou. One forearm in the hip, one in their neck. When mounted = elbows at your side and close to the ground, if doing gi, pull your collars down tight to not let them have choke attempts. When you're back mounted, same as mount.

Oh yeah, get used to getting owned a lot. Roll with the best people you can. As many high belts as possible. Your defense is the first part of jiujtsiu you want to learn. After that i would say it is your reguarding and passing the guard.
Drill thing slowly and perfectly.


Oh yeah, outline the different things about the schools.

You want ot look for:
Good instruction - anything from Black to Purple is good in my books
Good students - you want a club with a lot of students, and a lot of different levels. You dont watn ta club with 1083042348 whtie belts, 2 blues, 1 purple, etc.
Training schedule - the more often = the more flexibile for you. also see if they have a beginner class separate from the intermediate. I like this appraoch because in the beginner it is generally limited sparring, but a lot of drills, technique, and positional sparring.

Oh and finally, good luck.