[Team Dragonfire]

Originally Posted by Waxwingslain

I wouldn't go too hard on Thurs if you're competing on Sat.

Seems odd that the comp is at night. All the competitions I've been to have been in the day.

Best of luck man!

They are going to be during the day, but the white belt divisions are the last divisions each day so I wouldn't expect to get on the mat until 3-4pm, if it's run well.

[Team Dragonfire]

Tuesday, February 27th, 2007


Jiu-Jitsu (nogi):

Warmup:

• 100 crunches
• 50 bicycles
• 50 6"
• 50 big scissor kicks
• 60 leg kick ups with partner

BRUTAL....


No technique today... straight to rolling.


Rolling:

• Mike - Really strong and a bit smaller than me. I passed his guard with our school's guard pass (see previous posts, its the favored pass at Torres) a few times but didn't submit him
• Tim - Accidently got under him in half guard, but was FINALLY able to get out and take his back. He layed on top of me and as he rolled over, I transfered to armbar and got a tap. Big confidence booster for me.
• Big strong guy - Forgot his name, but this guy is bigger than me and probably stronger. Just stayed solid with technique and was able to pass his guard a lot but didn't submit him
• Blue - Really pushed it against Blue but I wasn't able to have much luck. He got mount on me a few times from sweeps from his guard but wasn't able to submit me. I almost got him with the kimura from turtle. i LOVE that submission.
• New Guy - Totally forgot this guy's name as well but he's really cool. I went straight to turtle and tried to work the kimura over and over. I also let him take my back to work on defending the choke. He did get it in really really tight and held it for about 10 seconds before I could fight it off. I was suprised how long I can last against a tight choke.
• Jacob - Again went straight to turtle and worked kimura. I REALLY need to explode with it fast and not work it for 5-10 seconds like I have been. People are getting wise to it real fast.

**I will be weighing in at 189 for the tournament. I weighed 192.5 at the end of practice last night and that's with drinking 3 gal. of water during the day so it'll be a VERY easy cut**

[Team Dragonfire]

Wednesday, February 28th, 2007


Jiu-Jitsu (gi):

Warmup: Usualy obscene amount of crunches

Technique:

• Jumping Guard - sleeve and collar grip. Keep hips far back until jump. Jumping hips up as fast and hard as possible. Try to pull opponent down on top of you.
• Jumping Guard to sweep - Once opponent is standing with you hanging in guard, slowly drop down and work either a back door sweep (keeping hold of collar to pull them over) or a push/pull sweep.
• Defending guard jump to pass -

Rolling:

• Tod - My first lesson of the night is to be patient with a takedown. If you get frustrated first, and force something, you will end up with a 270lb. man mounted on top of you. He didn't submit me, but I still lost.
• Mike - Got me with a clock choke. I need to remember that if I roll to my knees to keep opponent from scoring points, I need to work back to my guard asap and not ALWAYS try for the kimura escape.
• Stewart - finished me with a nice armbar
• Ken - this kid's getting stronger and stronger every day... getting harder to submit, but somehow I'm still managing it

Not the best night of rolling, but I'm still feeling confident about the tournament this weekend. I weighed 188.5 (new PR!!! since I weighed 240 in college) after practice so I'll make weight easy. Still, I'm cutting out the carbs and not drinking or eating on friday.

[Team Dragonfire]

Thursday, February 29th, 2007

Jiu-Jitsu (nogi):
Technique:
Kimura from half guard
Counter to kimura from half guard

Rolling:

Only rolled with Jason (did fairly well against him, almost got my kimura from turtle) and then worked a lot of strategy with Marshall. I have my ENTIRE gameplan down now and I'm a BILLION times more confident now. Marshall has been in the game for a long time and gave me probably the best advice I've ever received. My favorite parts of class is when I get to work with him during technique or after class.

Very excited for the Arnold this weekend. Weight should be fine and I even had breakfast this morning. I'll eat some no-carb stuff for lunch and i'll be all set.



Here goes nothing...........

[Team Dragonfire]

Sunday, March 4th 2007

Arnold Games / NAGA Recap:

**I will be adding pictures in as my friends e-mail them to me**

Got there Friday night and made weight easy just by not drinking or eating much on Friday (weighed in at 188lbs.)

Gi Division:
Nervous as heck for my first ever competition match. The guy I went against was really big and I'll admit that I was pretty intimidated before we started. We felt eachother out for a few seconds and I could tell he wasn't going to commit to anything. We threw eachother around for a bit working our grips and eventually I'd had enough and jumped guard. I almost pulled him down but he held me up and began working me off him. We both fell and he passed to my half guard. I swept him and began working to pass his guard. He tried for armbar but i defended. With about 10 seconds left he was up so I went for a sloppy pass and got armbarred. Let me explain the rules... they're lame.

NAGA Rules scoring: 2pts for takedown even though I dropped off, 2 pts for me for sweep, 1pt for him for his sloppy armbar attempt. YES, they give points for throwing up sloppy submissions.

Nogi Division:
First match I was MUCH more relaxed than yesterday. The guy jumped guard and I passed. He was so gassed that I just help him into side mount and waited for 20 seconds left to move to mount. I didn't get mount but I still won.
Second match the guy wouldn't coimmit and kept running away. I had to beckon him back to our mat at least 3-4 times. But in the end he won because I got impatient and stuck my neck out too far and got guillotined.

Pretty happy with my performance. Also saw that the white belt who beat me yesterday won the intermediate division in our weight class so that gave me a huge confidence boost knowing I could hang with him.

The tournament was run by a guy named Kipp and the refs were fantastic. On another note, Stewart took 4th in both of his divisions and Miguel got 1st in his weight class and 2nd in the weight class above him (yes, he did two )... I've never seen a 16 mat tournament but it was run smoothly and I cannot wait to go to another NAGA event.

Arnold Fitness Festival:
I basically lived on Cytosport products and the free protein bars this weekend. Cytosport was giving out their new muscle milk bars (DELICIOUS) and a TON of pre-mixed muscle milk boxes. Lots of fun walking around and trying out all the free products. Also got to meet a few fighters... none really worth mentioning...

UFC:
Caught this show at the IMAX across the street from the arena where the UFC was taking place. THe IMAX was packed and we were all yelling like we were really at the fights. Best part of the night: Seeing a 65ft. tall Rich Franklin decimate McDonald.

[Team Dragonfire]

Monday, March 5th, 2007

Took a day break from jiu-jitsu (still went in during the morning and hung out for a bit since the schoolkids are on vacation)

Lifting:

• Deadlift 5x5 (175, 195, 215, 235, 255).. notice that I FINALLY got more plates!!
• Stiff Leg Deadlifts (8x155, 8x175, 5x185, 5x195)
• Dumbell BO Rows 3x8 (75lbs.)
• High Pulls 4x6 (115, 125, 130, 135)
• Curlz for teh gurlz (10x40, 8x45, 6x50)
• Cleans to OHP to squat (10 squats after clean; 3sets@115lbs.).. just wanted to test this for my squatting day since i have no rack

Crunches (50 ea.): Regular, Bicycle, Crosses

[Team Dragonfire]

Tuesday, March 6th, 2007


Couldn't stay away for too long so back to class it is...

Jiu-Jitsu (nogi):

We went straight into rolling and other types of stuff:

• 4 people in the middle with a fresh guy in their back every minute (I was in the middle.. I take stuff like this as a compliment because I feel like I'm starting to be considered one of the guys who's serious about training)
• Takedowns King of the Hill (I did alright for the most part and got some good takedowns but also got chucked around a lot haha)

Rolling:

• Mando - jumpe half guard and made Mando work for a bit to pass... ended up being choked with Mando on my back but, as always, a great learning experience
• Wes - jumped half guard and worked for guillotine, inside kimura, outside kimura, and sweeps.... kept wes from being able to flatten me out and I eventually got an outside kimura
• New Guy - Miguel told me that this guy, who's name i forget, has actually be training for about 4 years. Miguel was about to give him his blue belt about two years ago when the guy seriously hurt his shoulder and quit coming... tough roll but I eventually got a nice arm triangle.

[Team Dragonfire]

Wednesday March 7th, 2007

Jiu-Jitsu (Gi):

• Knee on belly - remember to keep him forward and be either working for the mount or the armbar, NOT just sitting there
• Sweep from opponent's knee on belly - remember to keep hand tight to body and immediately roll to knees.

Rolling:

Rolled with Mando, Swift and Danny (new guy). Good rolls, but I realized that I need to be taking more advantage of rolling after class and going with at least 4-5 guys.

[Team Dragonfire]

Thursday, March 8th, 2007

Lifting:

• Bench Press 5x5 (185, 145, 155, 165, 170, 180)
• Close Grip Bench Press 3x5 (115, 125, 135).. going to make this a 3x8
• Dumbell Incline Bench Press 3x12 (60lbs).. brutal
• Lateral Bench Dips (20x+50lbs.)
• HC-FS-PP (1x7x95)

Thats quite a workout for starting it at 11pm.

[Team Dragonfire]

Friday, March 9th 2007

Lifting:

4x Barbell Squat (20xBW, 10x115, 10x135, 10x135, 10x135)
3x Dumbell Walking Lunges (10x60lbs.)
3x Dumbell Sumo Squats (105, 145, 145)
3x HC-FS-PP (95lbs.)
3xShrugs (20x135, 15x235, 10x235)
150xLeg Lifts