2024 Training Log Part 34

On the stereo today: Jeff Buckley- Sketches for my Sweetheart the Drunk

Great training week last week.

Monday

Upper Body Strength Training

1. Single Arm Dumbbell Press 20, 15, 15, 15, 15
2. Weighted Pull Up 5×5
3. Face Pull 3×15
4. Close Grip Bench 5×8
5. Plank 3×60
6. 45 degree back raise 2×15
7. Push downs 2×20
8. Squat preachers 3×10

Evening- Jiu Jitsu

About 8 rounds of really good training with good partners.

Tuesday

Lower Body strength in the BFRs. No before/after measurements for the legs because my cheap, shitty amazon purchased tape broke. Short and sweet due to time constraints.

1. Goblet squat 30, 15, 15, 15, 15
2. Nordic Curls 5×6
3. Weighted crunch 3×15
4. Wobble board plank 3x60s
5. Quad machine 3×15

Evening- NoGi

I wasn’t going to train, and then some people started filtering in and I got tempted. Enjoyed about 7 rounds of good stuff.

Wednesday

Jiu Jitsu- 9 or so rounds. I jumped in nice and early and got some rounds in. I felt fairly sticky but eventually got my groove going. Enjoyable.

Friday

Show and Go session. No BFR today, I gave my veins a break.

1. Bench press 5×8
2. Standing cable row 3×10
3. Pec deck 2xmax
4. Bench row 3×12
5. A) bent over flyes 3×10, B) Seated power cleans 3×10
6. Cable kickbacks 3×15
7. Concentration curl 3×12

No Saturday session this week as we had the Christmas belt test.

Training Thoughts of the Week

I love watching the belt tests that we do. It’s 45 minutes out on the mat with a fresh partner every point. It’s a physical challenge, but a mental one too. You need to prepare for it like you would any event, and that’s why I like it. I think a lot of people just give the belt when people are ready, which is good too, but I think a sense of ceremony and forcing people to think about their fitness and their technique in a critical way is a good idea. And then of course there’s the sense of achievement once you complete the test.

Non-Training Thoughts of the Week

Booze man… what a killer. Something I like to say is that I’m not a drinker, but I can do a good impression when called upon. I had 2 celebrations this weekend. On Friday I was at the afters of the Irish Soccer Writers Awards. My wife’s uncle, Terry Conroy was receiving an award along with the other members of the 1974 Irish team. There was a family reunion of sorts, so I had a few pints. Then we had our Christmas party on Saturday, and I had a few drinks at that too.

Nothing mental on either day. I enjoyed myself and I wasn’t hungover. But I still have no energy today. My stomach is in knots. I’m lethargic, and I can’t focus.

How do people do this regularly! How did I do this regularly in my 20s!

That’s enough for this week, go back to work.

See you on the mat,

Barry