Squats with a Side of Yoke

Today was by far the worst squat session in a long time. I fell forward. FORWARD. I don't mess up squatting, it's the thing I can do without thinking. I started thinking about it today and it sucked.


But then I stood up and walked 435# in a simulated Yoke walk "start," so it's all good.

A1. Squat

2 x 8 x 135#
5 x 185#
3 x 225#
2 x 275#
1 x 325# felt a bit hard
0 x 345# fell forward. I never do that. argh.
2 x 1 x 315# first one wasn't deep enough, I finally stopped thinking on the second one and did fine


Yeah. Not a great day, considering I was planning on 325/350/375 for singles.


B1. SSB 1/4 Squats

8 x 85#
5 x 175#
3 x 265#
2 x 315#


At this point Jess had the idea that I should try simulating starting a Yoke walk, so I shifted to that.


C1. Yoke Walk Simulated Starts

315#
365#
405#
435#

I walked about 3 feet max, from the back to the front of the rack. I think I had 500# in me, but I really need to do a full walk. I need a real yoke... anyone wanna send me one for free?


Overall, the session redeemed itself. I wanted to do more but it was coming on 2 hours and I was beat down. I'll do the rest tomorrow.

Video:

ouch

Seth and I double tested for our second degree yellow last night. It was intense, I vomited afterwards. (Something I haven't done in a REALLY long time.) I wanted to die, but I think we made an ok show of it.

The black belt test... holy crap. He wasn't even legit testing for black, it was his second degree brown. I was going to spend my whole post ranting about it, but then I read Seth's post about not ruining it for you guys. Screw it, plan A.

Poor Gerald, that living machine. He ran 5 miles, did 70 squats, 70 situps, 70 pushups, helped with every testing up to his test, and then performed admirably. I won't go into details because I'm running late for an event, but suffice it to say, it was brutal, and at one point, involved all the adults in the class literally beating him up. His face looked like it had been through a meat grinder, and I wince to imagine the rest of it. I wanted to protect him, and I was so simultaneously proud.

Ok, running way late- doing a morning class, and then a glassblowing seminar... something I have wanted to learn my -entire- -life-. Excellent. Goddamn, but I love learning.


PS... those hand bruises are gone, and it's the next day. Apparently my wolverine healing power extend to the less commonly injured extremities... now I'm curious if my face heals this quick.

i feel empty and deranged

        You know, so many martial arts allude to being useful, that is you think you're learning something that would get you through a fight until you actually have to try and use it against someone else who's trained, but any style where your test includes conditioning and drills is probably pretty serious.  By the time I actually got to the curriculum part of testing, I was already winded, probably from the 5 minutes of straight pad drills we did before the test really started.  And that's to say nothing of the black belt test, which...well...i won't spoil it for anyone, you'll just have to join a Kaju group and see for yourself.

        It's been a while since I wore new colors in any style, i keep saying it, but it's good to be back at the bottom again, it's good to be looking up the road and just being open to whatever comes next.  I think everyone needs a few opportunities like that every now and then, whether it's learning something new, moving somewhere new, etc...

"A person needs new experiences. They jar something deep inside, allowing you to grow. Without them, it sleeps- seldom to awaken. The sleeper must awaken."


C'mon...the path starts over here.
        You know, seeing all the advanced belts test and feeling that pull to actually stay with a style for a bit and really get good at it just hammers home how much I'm done being the job.  I'm tired of looking at my life in 2 year increments, but I wonder how realistic it is to NOT do that if I'm not working for myself at some point.  If i've learned anything about my skillset, it's that there's definitely an expiration date on it at just about any company i'm going to work for, and if not that, then my patience.  May I just need to suck it up for the greater good...Nah.  Might as well suck on a bullet at that point...God knows my life is stagnant enough in some respects as it is.

Today's TrainingTune: This Godless Endeavor - Nevermore

undying flame

         Today was hands down the hardest cycle i've been through at Tribull since I started.  Part of that I attribute to the absolutely shitty night I had last night, well, not shitty,  just not good sleep, and the fact that we sparred.  Man I haven't sparred in a long time, which was good because it makes me realize how much work I have to do before my fight.  Thankfully the fights got pushed back to May, so maybe I can get myself to a point where I don't totally embarrass myself on the mats.  Ah, who am I kidding, that's probably inevitable at this point, but nothing wrong with getting a good dose of humility...Like i did today in class.

        I learned probably the most horrible thing in the world you can do with a medicine ball that won't make you have to register as sex offender in most states.  Who the hell comes up with a thing called Medicine Ball Abdominal Burpees?  I mean, that has to be some kind of criminal insanity, but man...ok I'm whining, yeah they suck, but i feel like it's the sort of thing I should be doing at least every other day...


...it was the superman punches...always the superman punches...
        I need to watch many many videos of people boxing methinks.  This is a completely alien style to me that I have absolutely no actual fight time in, so yeah, i'm a little behind the curve.  Ok, alot behind the curve. Ok, you know what, I'm not even on the same street, there I said it.

Kickboxing:
Warmup:

• A1. Jumprope: 2x3min
• A2. Gymjog: 2x2min

Main:

• A1. L superman punch, R round kick: x1min
• B1. R superman punch, L round kick: x1min
• C1. superman punch, round kick, flying knee: x1min
• B1. Sparring, jabs: x1min
• B2. Sparring, jab, cross: x1min
• B3. Sparring, jab, cross, hook: x1min
• B4. Sparring, freestyle: x1min

Abs:

• Freestyle: x2min

Crosspit:
Warmup:

• A1. Jumprope: 2x4min
• A2. Shadow box: 2x1min

Main:

• B1. Medball Ab Burpee: 4x1min
• B2. Bag punch: 4x1min
• B3. Bag kick: 4x1min
• B4. Bench dip: 4x1min
• B5. Landmine punches: 35 4x1min

Fun round:
Negative BW Squats on Medball

• C1. 10 in 1min
• C2. 20 in 1min
• C3. 30 in 1min
• C4. 30 in 1min
• C5. 20 in 1min
• C6. 10 in 1min

        Actually, i take it back, that negative squat pyramid was the worst thing ever.  Trying to climb the stairs to my loft tonight was just not happening.  I did horrible, horrible things to my legs today, but man, it's so fun.  Figured out some new jumprope tricks too, i think I have way too much fun jumping rope.  Ah well, what is training if not fun?  Yeah...good game guys.

Today's TrainingTune: My Obsession - Killswitch Engage

the cast in this play

        Gah, my brain is in the worst place right now, so this isn't going to be very exciting.  No, i'm not going to rant about personal shit here, but yeah, there's a reason i'm not incredibly witty and pointed today...like i ever am, right?

        Kajukenbo teaches us a few very important life lessons.  Guard up, never trust anyone, always be prepared.

        Oh fuck it.


Front Grab Defense 1, Go, GO!

Kajukenbo:
Pre-testing B - Self Defense

Kickboxing:
Warmup:

• A1. Jumprope: 2x4min
• A2. Shadowbox: 2x1min

Main:

• B1. Jab: 1x2min/30s rest, 1x1min
• B2. Jab, Cross: 1x2min/30s rest, 1x1min
• B3. Jab, Cross, Hook: 1x2min/30s rest, 1x1min
• B4. Jab, Cross, Hook, Cross: 1x2min/30s rest, 1x1min
• B5. Freestyle (jab, uppercut, shovelhook): 1x2min/30s rest, 1x1min
• B6. Speed bag: 1x2min/30s rest, 1x1min
• B7. Knees: 1x2min/30s rest, 1x1min
• B8. Abs: 1x2min/30s rest, 1x1min
• B9. Pushups: 1x2min/30s rest, 1x1min

Abs: 1x2min

        That's all i've got to say for now.  Ugh.  So stupid.  But apparently I did really well on my pre-tests!  Whatever.

Today's TrainingTune: Freedom By Mutilation - Carnal Forge

to hell with redemption

        It is officially Test Week!  Pre-testing Monday went ok, although i tripped up a tiny bit on kick combos.  Eh, what can I say, I was nervous!  Like i said, I haven't tested for a belt in many years, heck, I haven't really performed at all in years outside of work, so overall it's all kinds of a new/re-visited experience.  The prospect of advancement always makes me nervous too, it's always fun.

        That actually brings to mind a somewhat rant about martial arts and belts, although not the one you probably think.  See, i actually am of an opposite mind about belts, and that's that I fucking like getting new belts.  Now, i agree, it's not about the belt, but what it IS about is getting to learn new stuff.  Reality is, you don't get to learn new techniques and train with more experienced people if you don't get the belts.  That's what it's about, being able to increase your knowledge, and moreso, being in a position to pass it on.  And yeah yeah i know we've all had the douchebag black belt instructor who didn't know dick, whatever.  You're going to run into those people, so you should make it a priority to get up in the ranks so YOU can LESSEN the number of douchebag incompetent black belt instructors out there.  I could go on and on about this, but not tonight.  My brain is not in a good place.  Maybe that'll be my after test rant.


I'll just take a bit of this knowledge with me...
        Crosspit wasn't terribly murderous today, but I'll admit the stations weren't awful.  I haven't done floorwipers in a while, in fact, I haven't done anything with a straight bar in a while, and I gotta admit, pushing the bar up, even at 115 felt really foreign.  MUST.  GET.  BACK.  IN.  GYM.

Totally spacing on what we did at Kickboxing...

Crosspit:
Warmup:

• A1. Jumprope: 2x4min
• A2. Shadowbox: 2x1min

Main:

• B1. 24" Box jump: 3x1min
• B2. Burpee: 3x1min
• B3. Floorwiper: 115 3x1min
• B4. Bag punch: 3x1min
• B5. Bag kick: 3x1min
• B6. Abs: 3x1min

Fun round:

• C1. L head kick: x50
• C2. R head kick: x50

        Some days flexibility isn't an issue, some days it is.  I'm finding i'm less good at kicking against pads because i don't adjust properly and kick from weird positions.  Need to get better about being quick on the moves.

Today's TrainingTune: Inspiration - Mushroomhead

Serki... Er, Circus Lifting!

Been looking at a bunch of strongman comps this week, and noticed that the Circus Dumbbell Clean and Press is quite prevalent. So I figured I should try it out. Since we have no actual iron dumbbells, I just used our loadable one and added a Fat Gripz to it.

A1. Circus (2.25" grip) Dumbbell Clean & Press

8 x 10# (left and right hand)
4 x 30# (L & R)
2 x 50# (L & R, incorrectly labeled as 60# in the video)
1 x 70# (L & R)
1 x 80 (L & R, 2 handed clean)
1 x 85# (R only, missed on L. 2-handed clean)


These were hard... and I need to figure out if I can clean with 2 hands, as the heavier weights are difficult to keep a handle on with the thicker handle. If I need to clean with 1 hand, I'm in trouble...


B1. Swiss Bar Speed OH Press

8 x 85#
4 x 125#
5 x 2 x 175#

This part of the training session brought to you by the Geto Boys.

Lost my balance a few times on these. I think I need to work on some stability. Probably important for strongman...


C1. Farmer Holds

2 x 20s x 200# per hand

My grip suuuuuuucks.


Overall a good session. Had some tasty fish, asparagus and rice with an amazing salsa thing that Jess made afterwards. I foresee more eating tonight as well...


Video!