2025 Training Log Part 44

On the stereo today- I’m in a cafe and forgot my headphones so it’s Michael F*cking Bublé.

On a Bublé note, I went to watch a 16 piece jazz band last Monday, literally in my local pub. Anyway, they were playing Christmas tunes and had guest singers up. It was like being in Vegas in 1965. They were unbelievable! As I’m watching this lad of about 30 walks by and catches my eye and says “These guys are fucking sick bro!” All I could say was, Uh, yeah. I’ve never felt more middle aged.

Monday

Pressing session. Full chest whopbomaloobop. Let’s not pretend we’re training anything but a big chest. Get those functional ideas of Jiu Jitsu out of your head. It’s December, the most anabolic month of the year. You’ve got Guinness and Cream to help you pack on those chesticles so don’t hold back.

1. Incline bench 5×10
2. Single arm machine press 3×15
3. Decline press 3×10
4. Pec Deck 2xmax
5. Weighted decline crunch 3×15
6. Plank 3x60s
7. Pushdowns 3×15
8. Single arm cable kickbacks 3×15

Evening Jiu Jitsu. Gi session, just grabbed some warm bodies and rolled for an hour. Great craic. No plans just have fun.

Tuesday

Back and biceps. As I said, Guinness and Cream. Mince Pies too. Hit those biceps. If you can still scratch your own head by New Year’s Eve, you ain’t done it right.

1. Dumbbell Row 4×8
2. Staggered stance cable row 3×15
3. Face Pulls 3×15
4. Seated Neutral Row 3×16
5. Side Plank 3x1min
6. Squat Curls 3×12
7. EZ Curls 2×15
8. Hammer Curls 3×12

NoGi Session in the evening. Warm bodies, great craic. 1 hour of sparring. Pulled a few of my white belts for a roll including one very talented young kid who will do great.

Wednesday

Swimming. Not much. Just enough to get a bit of a blow on.

Friday

Lower body stuff.

1. Front squat w/u to a max 5 with 80kgs
2. Supported Pistol Squats 5×5 each leg
3. Nordic curls 4×8
4. Lying hamstring curls 3×10
5. Quad raises 2xmax

And then barely walk down the stairs. The Pistols did for me. They’re an amazing exercise and so beneficial. You just can’t cheat them, you must go to the bottom.

Saturday

I decided to coach and watch, hard as it was. I wanted to introduce some new drills. But oh how I love my Saturday training. It killed me just to view it but that’s the life of a coach I guess.

Training Thoughts of the Week

Not much Jiu Jitsu this week, just 2 very good sessions. For gym work, I’m also just having the craic. This last month has just been about resetting and thinking about my goals for next year. Even at 47, or maybe because I’m 47, I need to think very clearly about what I want out of training. I set my targets, but I adjust as necessary. Life gets in the way, so flexibility is important.

Non-Training Thoughts of the Week

When I take time off, I switch off my notifications, I lock the doors of the gym, and I never check my email. It’s been a busy year and I’m looking forward to recharging the batteries next week, spending time with my family and doing nothing. It’ll last about 1 week and then I’ll be itching to get back!

See you on the mat,

Barry