2025 Training Log Part 17

On the stereo today- A mix. Right now, Euro Zero Zero- Massive Attack.

One of my favourite authors is Kurt Vonnegut, and he tells this story about his (real life) uncle in one of his books, who, when the sun was shining and he was with his family and nothing was bothering him, he’d say “If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is”.

Vonnegut used it as a sort of urging to remind yourself to take stock when things were going well. SO I do it a bit. God knows there’s enough hassle to go around. So briefly before we get into the weeds of training-

Last week I did some training, took a short break with my wife, went for walks with my daughter, hung out with my sons a bit, cooked and ate some really good food and had some cooked for me, and I did some Jiu Jitsu.

If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.

Monday

Lifted some weights. I think I’m getting really close to 100% on my nerve issue, or, as close to 100% as I ever will be. Strength in the bad arm is improving, slowly, and I can do more or less anything at low loads now. I enjoyed putting myself through the ringer today-

1. Decline bench 5×5
2. Single arm slight incline press 5×15
3. Staggered Push Ups 3×15
4. Single arm machine press 3×12
5. Wobble Board Plank 3x60s
6. Weighted Crunch 3×15
7. EZ Curls 3×15

Tuesday

Nothing

Wednesday

Just a few fun rounds at the end of training. I went away the night before and had some Negronis and one of the best meals I’d eaten in a long time, so I wasn’t up for much else!

Thursday

Back work.

1. Pendlay Row 5×8
2. Single arm standing cable row 3×12
3. Prone row 3×20
4. Lat Pulldown 3×10
5. Ab circuit 5 mins
6. Pushdowns 3×15
7. Single Arm cable kickback 3×10

Friday

Pump Club, Giant Sets

1. a) Landmine Press 3×10 b) Floor Press 3×10 c) Push Ups 3xmax
2. a) Curls 30, 15, 15 b) Band Pushdowns 30, 15, 15 c) Hammer Curls 20 d) Overhead extensions 20. Around twice.
3. a) Side Raise x10 b) Front Raise x10 c) Bent raise x10

That’s all folks. Half an eye on Saturday.

Saturday

Good training. Mobility warm up and then into 3 man Positional Sparring. 3min rounds, 20 second changeovers.

Bad Position Starts- Bottom Mount. Top’s job is to eek out the round 4 points up and finish if possible. Bottom’s job is to escape AND score twice or submit to finish.

Bottom Guard dominant Starts- Bottom takes grips. Reset if submission happens.

Top Guard Dominant Starts- Top takes pants grips. Reset if submission happens.

Good training. I had a brown and purple around my own weight, which was good, particularly for the mount drill.

Training Thoughts of the Week

I think I’m good to go for London in June now. The goal was to get back for Barcelona in early May, but that hasn’t happened. I think I probably still could have done it at 60% and done okay. The competition is tough at black belt at any age, and you might think 60% sounds low based on that. But my experience at Masters is that you’re never 100% and neither is anyone else! I’d say we’re all operating at about 80% at best with age and injury! So at 60% I would have been competitive!

Non-Training Thoughts of the Week

If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.

See you on the mat!

Barry