2024 Training Log- Part 9

On the stereo: Depeche Mode- Playing The Angel

Because of my Daughter’s Communion this weekend, and logging Monday’s session last Tuesday, I actually only have one Jiu Jitsu session to log this week, Wednesday’s. An unusual circumstance, but I’m happy with it.

Tuesday

Logged a decent Strength session in Kyuzo despite being pretty tired from the night before.

1. Incline Bench- 5×5
2. Lying Floor press max outs- 3x@25kg
3. Single Arm Row- 3×12
4. Face Pulls- 2×17
5. Palov Press 2xT
6. Seated curls 3×10

Wednesday

Lower body Strength in the morning, which was a bit of a disaster. Having gone 8 weeks not aggravating my back and being oh so very proud of myself, I lost some form in my RDLs and felt a hip twinge. Stupid.

1. RDLs 5×5
2. Sissy Squats- 2×12
3. Single leg deadlift- 3×10
4. Plank 3x60s
5. Knee raises (weighted) 3×15

Then I just went home cursing myself. I should have stuck with some Goblets or something manageable. Silly. Lesson learned. So I went to spar that night pretty tight. Surprisingly, it wasn’t awful. I felt it a little in a few scenarios, but I just played very conservative on top (which is no harm) and tried not to get swept. I decided I needed a full rest the next day so…

Thursday

… I rested.

Friday

Last day on the weights. A mixed conditioning session I’d call “Show and Go”.

1A) Dumbbell Bench Press 5×10
1B) Heavy Standing Single Cable Row 5×10
2) Kettlebell Bench Row 3×12
3) Decline Bench 3xmax out
4) Weighted leg raises 3×20
5) Arnold Press 3×12

Went for a sauna, except some dude was yapping about being into Jiu Jitsu, so I left.

Monday (today)

Well I said only 1 session last week but I did go training with Roger Dardis (Royal Grappling Academy) this morning. We did 6 rounds from standing match starts. It was very tough, obviously, Roger is a top guy. But it’s not about winning or losing in training, it’s about exposing yourself to different stimuli. You need to feel how someone does something different, or tighter, or looser, or faster.

Training Thoughts of the Week

Why am I not unhappy about only getting 2 sessions 2 weeks out from an event? Because I’m not cramming. I’ve done a lot of work. The hard slog is done, I have 12 good weeks behind me, and life sometimes gets in the way. You have to adapt, work around, and stay positive. I see so many people cramming- jamming in as many sessions as they can in the few weeks before an event. Often too late for it to make a difference, and often too much so that you just tire your body and mind out.

Non-Training Thoughts of the Week

You have to learn how to relax. I don’t think our ancestors had to learn that. Now so many things are vying for our attention that it feels like you’ve to be “on” even when you’re due to be set to “off”. I have 2 healthy habits I think are good that I didn’t even realise other people needed to do:

1. I leave my phone downstairs at night. It doesn’t go near my bed.
2. My phone is on silent when I walk my dog.

That’s it. That’ll be €50 please.

Okay, flying out on Friday, so next log you’ll read is after the Euros.