2026 Training Log Part 22

On the Stereo today- Well I’m sitting in the sports book of my hotel in Vegas, and it’s Germany vs Paraguay on the TV.

Finally! I get to fight!

Monday

Evening Jiu Jitsu. Just a sweat. Warmed up then did some speed drills and then stopped. It’s always good to get a sweat on even when you know you’re not going to spar. At the very least it distracts you for an evening before you travel!

Wednesday

Arrived in Vegas late Tuesday night and got out to train in Drysdale’s to shake out the limbs the next evening. No formal training, but got some light rounds with some guys. Good to get a bit of a session in to acclimatise a bit.

Thursday

Competition Day in the Gi.

I can honestly say I’ve never had a match like this.

First match of the day at 9.30am and I was pretty nervy, which is unusual for me. Started pretty well and got a sweep early to go 2 up. My opponent had a really tricky game, and I could feel him setting up unusual grips from his back. He was baiting me to overcommit on some positions, which should have had me more wary. He got a reversal off one for no score, but I swept again, 4-0, and after a bit of a scramble I ended up on top weigh 15s to go. In the bag, I switched off, to be honest.

What happened next had never happened me before, and will never happen again. He hit a roll and went straight into a chest compression/ neck crank sub (that he specialises in it turns out). I had to tap with 3s to go.

Stunned doesn’t cover it. I’m used to losing, but that has never happened before.

Friday

So my neck was pretty tight after that, and I gave long and careful thought to competing the next day in the No-Gi. In the end with a little help from ibuprofen and a “Fuck it I’ll just tap if I feel it” attitude, I went on.

First match I pulled and the guy set up on a low base with a good under/ over positional shutting down my guard. He had a couple of pops at passing without threatening much. I’d decided to play conservatively and not let anyone near my neck, so I used the switch position a bit to try to bait him forward to sweep.

Last 30s with no score on the board I went for broke and baited him for an outside pass to my good side. I came up on a single and scored 2. You’d better believe I saw that match out!

Semi final the guy sat first and swept early to go 2 up. There wasn’t much to it after that. It was him on my guard not committing to much, and me struggling to create space. I opened up on the last few seconds to have a go and he stepped to mount to get an extra 7pts.

Overall, I was happy enough given the circumstances. But I trained to win it. Anything short of that is a disappointment but not a failure.

Training Thoughts of the Week

This is a tough game to win. It’s also a tough game to lose!

Non-Training Thoughts of the Week

My first time to travel to compete with both of my sons, and it’s been a fun one. Vegas is nuts. There’s no place like it. I actually dislike it quite a bit. It’s like 2am in Temple Bar 24hrs a day. But it’s been a brilliant experience for my guys, which was the goal.

See you on the mat,

Barry