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!

Angry Bir... er, Deadlifting

Deadlifted today.


No, scratch that.


I sucked at deadlifting today.

A1. Deadlift

2 x 8 x 135#
5 x 225#
2 x 315# felt really easy. was excited for singles
1 x 365# this flew up
1 x 405# this also felt great
0 x 455# glued to the floor
0 x 425# also glued

So the plan was to do a few singles at 425#. However, the 405# felt so great that I let my eyes get bigger than my butt and I went for the PR at 455#. I couldn't budge it, so I dropped to 425#. That also wouldn't budge. I should have stuck with my plan.


I was so pissed that I did 3" deficit deadlifts.

B1. 3" Deficit Deadlift

12 x 315# (4, 2, 2, 2, 2)

The last set is not on video as the battery died. These all felt great. I will destroy that sticking point at the bottom and get my damn deadlift PR in a few weeks.

Videos:

C1. 1-Arm Row

4 x 6 x 110#

C2. Plate Hold

3 x 30s x 45#

Deadlifts didn't go the way I wanted today and I had to skip the prowler at the end due to the Syracuse-Ohio State game starting. I guess I can't complain too much- maybe tomorrow I'll do a Farmer Walk/Prowler medley and freak out the neighbors :)

Yay, pole!

Score! I've finally broken that conditioning barrier... which usually happens at about month 3. That converts to being able to eat less for more work, I've moved up to 2 hours a day... usually Kaju and then kickboxing. I'm starting to get a bit of my muscle back, proved it with some pole tricks! :)





Lets see, number thingies... I guess I'll try to attempt them.

3 minutes of jump rope, single jumps, not skips
1 minute of shadow boxing
1 minute of leg shadow boxing (I kicked the shit out of some imaginary ninjas)
1 minute of leg/fist combo shadow boxing (I got beat up by imaginary ninjas. Awkward!)

*1-10 and then 10-1 jabs (that's one. One two. One two three, ect)
*same, with both arms (jab cross. [1] jab cross jab cross [2]) 1-10 and 10-1
*lead leg kicks 1-10 10-1
*switch, lead leg kicks 1-10 10-1
*sit up, jab cross the person holding your legs, go down, get punched in the stomach. Do this for 2 minutes.
*die

Tonight, I do battle with imagined attackers. Tomorrow, I do battle for my intern. If only I could just make HR submit with an arm bar, this whole thing would be so much easier. FIGHT!

Post-GDC Training and Competition! Also Stones.

So I totally trained a few times before GDC and didn't track it here. Then I meant to deload during GDC. Instead of deload, I didn't train at all. Then I got back and concentrated on coaching my wife for the last week before the USAPL Missouri State/Ozark Championship meet this past weekend.


Before getting into tonight's training, my wife's numbers at the meet. I was her waterboy/kneewrapper/shirt tugger/baby powder wrangler/coach. She lifted geared except for the deadlift, which was raw:

Squat: 147.5kg/325lb
Bench: 100kg/221lb
Deadlift: 157.5kg/347lb (raw)

Total: 405kg/893lb

That total qualifies her for USAPL Women's Nationals in May, in Boise, ID. The goal was to qualify at this meet, so congrats to her!

Jessica pulling 347lb - Action Shot!

Now on to my training! All I did was play with my stone tonight. Jess wrapped my arms and timed me.

A1. Atlas Stone over 48" Bar (Timed)

8 x 175# stone in 1 minute (PR!)
7 x 175# stone in 1 minute

The 8 stones is a PR! Awesome. Video!

I wanted to do some grip work but man, my conditioning betrayed me. I think I had a dozen stones in a minute based on strength, but by about the 40 second mark on both runs I just ran out of gas. Good thing it's almost Prowler season...