2026 Training Log Part 31

On the Stereo today- John Coltrane. A Love Supreme

Back injury remains and got considerably worse last week. I shall catalogue a series of disasters below.

Monday

Started the day with my back feeling a little tight. But sure fuck it says I, to the gym with me!

Upper Body Push

1. Decline Bench Press- 5×8
2. Single Arm Incline press 5×12
3. Core work- A) Plank B) Decline Weighted Sit Ups
4. Seated Overhead Press… hang about, my back feels a bit tight here
5. Tricep Pushdowns 3×12… oooh this isn’t going away. Oww.

Sauna, Jacuzzi. Heat on back. Oof. Not great. I think I’ll get on the traction table this evening before I teach class to let this hang.

5.30pm- On to the traction table in the gym. Letting everything go loose. Very nice. Feeling good. Then I returned to the standing position and…

Oooh man. Into a world of sudden pain. I had to grab the counter top beside me so as not to fall over. I felt like every ligament in my low back was screaming at me. The world went into a small dot like turning off the old Bush TV in my living room growing up. A few breaths later and I felt a little better, but could barely put my Gi pants on.

I managed to teach class. Somehow. I actually think it went okay considering!

A few walks during the week but nothing to write home about, or to write in a training log for that matter!

Friday

Physiotherapy. By chance I ran into the physio who works above the new gym in the shops. I’m so busy at the moment that I didn’t even call anyone to book an appointment. She was sticking up a sign for Pilates classes and I thought, okay, maybe I need something like that. She took one look at me and said, come see me. 35 minutes later, I walked out, not quite fixed, but able to walk around pain free. So a pretty good chance meeting!

It’s just a spasm. I’m fine. The reality is that while I look after myself pretty well, over the summer I haven’t been. I’m out of routine, I was busy, I didn’t have time, I was focusing on other things, my dog ate my homework.

So it’s back to the grindstone!

Training Thoughts of the Week

Well now, not much training there is there? So this section seems a little redundant this week.

Non-Training Thoughts of the Week

Plenty of these though, since not-training gives you the chance to think a lot. It’s funny because often, when I tell someone I’m disinterested in something to do with Jiu Jitsu, like a match or a certain personality, they seem to think it’s because I’m burned out, or I don’t care. So for example, people think that when I’m not training I must be going crazy. And yes, it’s frustrating not to be on the mat as much as I want to, and I like to stay in shape. But going nuts is a choice! When I’m going to be on an extended break from training, I take the opportunity to focus on other things.

For example, last week I did some time analysis of my classes and the coaches under me. You need to be self-critical when you’re coaching. What works, what doesn’t? What has immediate effect, and when should I consider the long-term impact of what we’re doing. How much time do I spend talking? How much time do they spend moving?

I won’t share the results here but the analysis was eye-opening for me and my coaches, and a worthy use of my time. If I was training, I wouldn’t have had the time to do it.

See you on the mat,

Barry