2025 Training Log Part 14

On the stereo today- Charlie Parker. Oh man.

Oh man.

I am hungover. I don’t drink to excess, and I can count on the fingers of one hand the amount of times I’ve had a hangover in the last decade, but I think this one finally moves it onto the other hand. Met an old friend for dinner and drinks yesterday, and we slipped into our 20 year old selves for a few hours.

Oh man. Expect spelling mistakes. Maybe it’ll improve by the time I finish this blog.

Monday

3km run chasing daughter on a scooter. Then off to the gym.

1. Dumbbell floor press 5×15
2. Inverted row 5×10
3. Face pulls 3×12
4. Low to high cable flyes 3×12
5. Weighted sit ups 3×15
6. Plank 3x60s
7. Hammer curls 3×12
8. Pushdowns 3×10

Monday night Jiu Jitsu was a bust. I had trained pretty well on the Saturday before but woke up with a stiff neck that didn’t resolve enough by Monday, so I called it.

Tuesday

Lower body work first.

1. Bike 10 mins
2. RDL 5×8. Don’t do RDLs anymore.
3. Step Ups 3×12
4. Crunches 150
5. Goblet squats 5×12

Another bust! I think RDLs are too much loading on my low spine. I cut it short after it felt stiff and heavy.

Wednesday

3km run chasing daughter.

Sauna 30 minutes in the morning.

Then glorious Jiu Jitsu in the evening! 6 rounds. Loved it.

Thursday

Very stiff lower back today. A combo of RDLs and running probably. I did some chest and triceps work in the gym.

1. Decline bench 5×12
2. Pec deck 2xmax
3. Single arm dumbbell press 3×15
4. Hanging leg raises 3×20
5. Pushdowns 3×20
6. Single arm pushdowns 3×15

Very odd to discover that I can press almost perfectly in the decline position. The loading around the shoulder obviously changes and doesn’t press the nerve at that angle. It meant some real pressing loading for the first time in ages. (60kg)

Friday

Back and Biceps, full bro split the last 2 days, but I just wanted to have some focus on triceps for recovery the day before.

1. Pendlay row 5×8
2. Seated cable row 3×15
3. Dumbbell row 5×10
4. Bent over raises 3×15
5. Ab circuit
6. EZ curls 3×15
7. Cable hammer curls 3×12
8. Single arm cable curl 3×10

Saturday

9 rounds of NoGi. Thought to myself in the middle of it “I’m back”. Neck felt grand. Hand a bit weak during and more after, but almost totally recovered today, on that front at least.

Training Thoughts of the Week

This week was the first week where I felt things coming together in the gym and on the mat. Up to now it’s felt like the rehab was ongoing, but now I feel fully in Return to Play mode. It feels great and just in time to train with Fellipe Andrew next week.

Non-Training Thoughts of the Week

Alcohol and me. I like a few beers now and then with friends but not very often and not to excess. All I can think of when I do is “Do people do this every weekend?” Even 3 beers has an effect on me 2 days later in training. I’m glad I don’t live that way. You’d spend your whole life knackered!

See you on the mat,

Barry