2026 Training Log Part 20

On the Stereo today- Nothing. Total silence in the house

Tired and sore this week. I just can’t wait for the tournament to come around now. I’m at a stage where I just want to get on the mat. I’m excited, but also a bit weary of wating. That’s something I have never gotten used to in 30 years of Martial Arts competition (well, about 28 years but I’m rounding up). You train and train, and then you’re both excited and scared in equal measure. There’s great excitement to go along with doing something like this, but there’s also the fear- not of getting hurt or injured, but of not performing despite your efforts. That’s the real fear, putting effort in for no reward.

My “joke” that I tell is that it’s like telling a girl you love her for the first time. You steel yourself for the moment, and then you go all in. Total commitment, no going back now. No takebacks. And your great hope is she says “I love you too”, but there’s also a decent chance she’ll say. “Oh. Thanks.”

So all in with the high chance of dissapointment is what we’re left with. And once you understand that, you begin to relise that the effort is the point. That’s another day’s work though.

Monday

Hard conditioning-

1. Hill climber bike ride 10mins
2. A- Decline bench x5 B- Pendlay row x5 C- Box Jump x5- 15mins
3. Hill climber bike x15mins
4. Core circuit

The ED training in Block 2 (it stands for escalating density, not erectile dysfunction) was tough. Basically you start with a moderate weight on the bars, then increase the weight by 10kgs until you hit a decent top set of 5. Rest times are how long it takes you to change the plates. If you don’t have to change the plates, then there’s no rest time. I worked up to 90kgs on the bench and then 80kgs on the row, then dropped back to 80kgs/60kgs. Constant movement, no catching your breath. Tough.

Evening Jiu Jitsu. Started with top spin speed drills for 4x40s, then worked into some top finishing. Positionals and then sparring. Decent session.

Tuesday

Travelled to Limerick in the morning to get some rounds in there with Jake McKenzie and Fergal Quinlan. I think about 10 rounds though I didn’t count. Very good training with 2 good guys who both took gold in London at the weekend. Exactly what I needed. 5hr round trip for 90 minutes of training was the worst part. Stiff as a board from the drive!

Wednesday

Morning swim to loosen out. Well, let’s face it, uncoordinated splash in the general direction of the other end of the pool is more what it was.

Evening Jiu Jitsu. Still feeling rough from the previous 2 days training, I got some decent rounds in though. About 5 or 6.

Friday

Recovery/Rep session

1. Single arm bench 5×10
2. Machine row 3×15
3. Close grip bench 3×15
4. Face Pulls 3×15
5. Wobble baord plank 3x60s
6. Single Arm Cable Pushdowns 3×20
7. Hammer Curls 3×15

Saturday

NoGi Sparring. 9 rounds. Ah not great to be honest. Just one of those days I couldn’t get the engine revving. It happens. Probably a bit fatigued.

Training Thoughts of the Week

Good stimulus week. Worked with Jake and Fergal on Tuesday and it made an instant difference to work with people for whom giving a grip is basically losing the entire match. It sharpens your mind, and you try to win the little battels rather than looking ofr larger movements. Stimulus is the key.

Non-Training Thoughts of the Week

I am locked in. I have no thoughts outside of training for the next few weeks. Don’t expect any.

See you on the mat,

Barry