2024 Training Log Part 12

On the stereo today: Are You Experienced?- Jimi Hendrix

Last week I was still on the tail end of a sinus infection, so didn’t get too much done. Still, not a bad week. Big thing was that I got an inversion table to hang from to help my back. Like anything like this, it’s hard to know what the placebo effect is. Do I feel better because I used it, or do I think I feel better?

The other factor is that when you change something like this, you tend to change a lot of other things. A guy I used to work with used to say that the biggest effect of buying protein powder was the cost of it. Once a guy had spent €50 buying it, he tended to work out more to justify it. So did the protein make the difference, or the extra training? Hard to say. It’s the same here. I’ve changed a lot in my training since I found out about my back, plus bought a desk and am spending less time sitting, so what is really making the difference? All that, or the expensive weird Bat-Table?

I’m conscious that if you’re reading this, I may not be the best advertisement for Jiu Jitsu. But listen, I’ve got 20 something years of doing stupid shit with my body, of course I’m going to have some wear and tear. Actually, my mate walked into my kitchen on Sunday, and actually he and I hadn’t seen each other face to face in 12 years, which is nuts I know. But he looked great- kettlebells and kayaking- and we counted ourselves lucky to still be driven to stay in good nick, despite the niggles.

What I’m saying is I’ll take a few sessions a week hanging upside down on a table over a life on the couch. The juice is worth the squeeze.

Anyway, training-

Monday

Just Gym. I knew with the end of an illness I wouldn’t be on the mat, so I pushed hard.

Upper Body Push

1. w/u bench press. Top was 3x100kg
2. Incline Dumbbell Press 3×10
3. Arnold Press 2×15
4. Swiss Ball Plank 3x1min
5. Weighted Knee Raises 3×15
6. Pushdowns 3×15

Tuesday

Upper Body Pull

1. Neutral Pull Ups 5×8
2. Dumbbell Supported Row 5×8
3. Cable T-Row 3×15
4. Double Kettlebell Bench row- 3×12
5. Superman Planks 3×25
6. Squat Preachers 3×10
7. EZ Curls 3×10

Wednesday

Back on the mat. Praise be!

45 minutes first score in a group of 6 brown and black belts. Hard. I got scored on pretty fast in the early stages, but I caught a second wind and started to get some success as the round went on. A tough but fun night on the mats.

Thursday

Lower Body.

1. Leg Press 5×10
2. Single Leg Deadlift 3×8
3. Sissy Squat 3×12
4. Hamstring machine curls 3×15
5. Quad raises 3×10

Long trip in the sauna afterwards.

Friday

“Show and Go”. Like, we all know it’s good to get a pump on, but you need some function, so why not make it practical.

1. A) 45 Dumbbell Press x10, B) Heavy Cable Row x10. 5 sets
2. Fly Machine- 2 sets of max reps
3. Kettlebell Bench Row- 2 sets max reps
4. Seated “power cleans” 3×10
5. Lateral Raise 3×10
6. Hammer Curls 3×15
7. Pushdowns 3×15

Saturday

12 rounds of Jiu Jitsu. Enjoyable. Hybrid recovery came in to do a session afterwards with ice baths and compression sleeves. My first time with the latter, and I’d heard good things. A strange but relaxing feeling, and I’d have to say my legs felt grand on Sunday morning. I remain unconvinced by ice baths, but I did feel pretty good afterwards so there’s that placebo effect in action again I guess. I’ll take it.

In fact, I’ll take whatever’s going. I’m all for marginal gains.

See you on the mat,

Barry