Happy Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day to all the mommies out there!




I went for a 30 minute run in Historical Park Monceau today.
I understand that it not exactly a common thing to see women exercising- running here, so I wanted to make sure I found a place that I could avoid some unpleasant stares.  When I got there I found that there were just as many women than men running!  The only thing that made it a little difficult, is that people smoke EVERYWHERE and getting a few lung fulls of cigarette smoke was unavoidable.    

The view I wake up to.

Not so bad;)

good news bad news..ish.

Interesting week has just passed. 

Saturday open mat, we had 2 girls from 2 different clubs come in to roll.  One girl was a 3 stripe white from Toronto, she said that she had been training since August and that she had only been rolling for about a week.  The other girl is from one of our friend - sister - I am not sure what to call it - clubs.  She has been doing BJJ since Dec-Jan, MMA for a few years and  Japanese Jiu-Jitsu for 10 years.

Sunday open mat we had 2 girls again, the same girl from our friend club and another 4 stripe white who used to train at our club, but now trains at another club.  We all had a really great time and are going to try and make Sundays our 'Girl grapple get together'.

I am really stressed out and really busy.  My current contract is over and I was supposed to roll onto the next one, but my company approached me with a proposal---->To go to Paris to help train some industry professionals in the software we use!! OMG. 

So Ill be in Paris for 3 weeks.  I haven't started looking for any BJJ clubs out there yet...I don't know if I will even have time yet :(

This will be my longest time away from BJJ...

Interesting blurb on Coach Pierre's Blog about his views on children Mechanics and the sport of weightlifting.

Thursday

Lifting

I should have just skipped lifting yesterday as being sick all week had left me feeling weak and gross, but I really wanted to do some Cleans. 

Warm up with a few Cleans from hang. (start at hip, not the floor)

3x 25kg

3x 35kg

Full Clean and Jerk

45kg

50kg

57kg

61kg-fail

59kg

61kg-fail 

Okay, now I am getting pissed not only because last week I did 63kg and I was supposed to *up that*----> but  because new girl just power cleaned 68kg. (power cleaned =caught it almost standing)   She says that she sits at 69kg---> I am 5'4 and sit at 58kg on a bad day.  So percentage wise I lift more than my body weight therefore I SHOULDN'T be beating myself up.  Besides, I really, really like that there is someone there I can internally compete with, it lights the fire under my ass and gets me working HARD.  With lifting, getting pissed is a GOOD thing!! 

Pierre knows that I am grumpy and tells me to do 5 singles at 57kg

57kg

57kg

57kg

57kg

57kg

Back squat

One of the junior competitors is working in with me, he is a 14yo boy who literally works out 6 days a week and sometimes 2x a day.  Pierre knows I respond well to competition so he says we will see who out squats whom.  I respond with 'I am sick!' and then the kid retorts with 'yah, well I'm only 14!'  Touché.

Sound like I am making excuses? Yah, well I probably am haha! 

135lbs

165 lbs

175lbs

185lbs

195 lbs

205lbs

I had to leave for class, so I had to call it quits there.

BJJ

We worked on standing in guard, breaking and passing, same as last week. 

Rolling for 45 minutes. 

Nothing special.  I got a roll in with one of the bigger Blues.  The roll mostly consisted of getting toppled over, squished to side control, then me working to get my bony little knees in to regain guard.  At one point he had me in 100kg---he scooped me right up onto his lap and closed his elbows to his knees. I was actually, really trapped,  I thought it was pretty funny.  Overall I had a really fun day. Fun days are the best!!

Oh,  ahhhhhnnnd.... One of the other blues mentioned to my BF that my guard passing was getting fierce.  I guess all that frustration and practice that my BF has been doing with me... maybe starting to pay off?!  ;)

Two guys front the club  have fights tonight, one of the them is the main event.  A small group of us decided to get a table for the night.  Should be a good time.  It will be my first time at the fights...kinda excited:)

Wednesday

No-Gi Wednesday

I have been feeling awful all week with a nasty head cold...or allergies, I don't know.  I wasn't going to go to my BF No-Gi, but he didn't give me the option ;)

Last practice before the tourney Saturday.  Ten minutes of light flow rolling ---no resistance---->we then moved on to the top series drills, knee on belly, break dance, hop overs, standing in guard.  I paired up with the petite girl again.  While we were drilling the knee on belly, I felt like I was going to absolutely crush her, I  tried to just float on top of her---if I put any pressure on her, I felt like her rib cage would just pop open like a water balloon.  If I feel this way about her... I can imagine how it must be for some of the guys when they have to pair up with girls.  

For technique, he just asked the guys what they have been having problems with or needed a refresher on and we worked off of that. 

A little bit of King of the mat then he paired the student up by size and weight and they went at it 'one on one' for 3 minute rounds.  The  rest of us watched and cheered on the side.  

Tonight will be Lifting and BJJ Gi.  I am looking forward to the Clean and Jerks...I hope he doesn't make me do snatches because I missed them on Tuesday....Ill be pissed!  I hate snatching...blechhh.  

weekend

Saturday

 Went in for open mat.  Came in a bit late.  Some of the kids from the BF No-Gi came in for a bit of extra practice for the tourney this coming Saturday. Warmed up with a bit of light rolling with the BF, then he asked if he could roll his students.  I sat around for a bit and chit chatted and observed the going ons.   The kids class was about to start so about a half dozen +  of  us decided to go downstairs to continue rolling.  I got to roll with another newish Blue.  He has been one of my favorites to roll with but he hasn't been around too much lately, or we just come in on different days :(

I had a lot of fun for this roll.  Nothing special, it was just a fun time.  Then I got to rolling with my BF's favorite Blue. Gahhhhhh. With him, I always give up before I even start.  REALLY really bad habit. It is like 'resistance is futile', so I just go blank...I don't even do the things I KNOW I should be doing, then I end up getting an earful from this Blue and my BF--->a helpful, encouraging earful---> I always know when its coming, kinda funny, I really appreciate it because I know they just want to help :)

Sunday

Went in for a  no-Gi open mat.  We were really late and most people were leaving just as we started warming up.  BF decided to make me work on open guard passes.  With all the time we work one on one, you would think that I would freakin get it by now...get SOMETHING.  For such a simple concept as ***Control the legs, pass the legs, get them out of the way***It is really hard.  I dunno if he just has a super solid open guard or I just can't balance my body and wrap my head around it.  I was having fun, but the fun quickly turned to frustration (anyone who knows me, knows that I am REALLY hard on myself) But the frustration was getting so close to tears.  I was starting to feel like a whiny little cry baby. The last thing I want to be seen as, is that winy, weak, cry baby kid... especially around other people---->That Sunday, I was.   I left feeling angry.  Angry that I couldn't get it by now and angry that I was letting myself get emotional about something so stupid. 

Monday

I am sick, crusty nose sick.  No lifting and no BJJ for me.

THURSDAY

Lifting

Clean and Jerk

30kg

35kg

45kg

50kg

55kg

60kg

63kg apparently a PR.

56kg x2

56kg x2

45kg x4

45kg x4

Back squat, ass to grass

Singles

56kg

66kg

76kg

86kg

90kg

92kg

94kg

Triple

88kg x3

BJJ

Guard breaking, standing and passing.

Rolling, 5 x5-6  minutes.  No rolls with mister pancakes today.  Highlight of the day: Got a arm-bar  from knee on belly. Guy tries to shrimp out, turns towards you, wrap their top arm tight and tuck your arm against their chest, step around using the trapped arm as a pivot, et voilà.   I couldn't help but giggle that I actually managed to get it, because my BF had just showed me this right before class.  

I am really tired today as its been 2 night in a row with -6 hours of sleep.  I need my beauty rest!

Wednesday

No Gi Wednesday

Another tournament coming up in 2 weeks.  It is the same No-Gi tourney as just a few months ago and  more guys from my BF class will be competing this time.   I'm pretty excited for them!

We aren't learning anything new, just reviewing - revisiting basic things.  Guard breaking, standups etc.

One guy who comes in with his GF.  She is very very petite - slim so I usually pair up with her on Wednesdays, as pairing up with her BF...well is probably 200 + lbs and its not all muscle...

King of the Mat 15- 20 minutes.  I ended up with Petite Girl's BF and I couldn't help but notice that his nails were long and dirty!! Ewwwe Ewwe Ewe!!  I was so scared to get scratched by his little claws that I could barely focus on trying to break him down and submit, seeing as  he is a beast of a man, he eventually overpowered me...can't say that I wasn't happy...ewwwe.

Everyone else in the class is very clean, so I suppose of having a one-on-one talk to make him feel singled out...BF will have to make a 'general hygiene announcement - speech' to the class.

Even while we were all rolling after King of the Mat, he was rolling with someone else and I got a very good closeup of his toe claws too >:(

Cut your nails people!

Tuesday

Lifting

Snatch Day.

I hate snatch day.

Snatch from blocks. Working on catching the bar in the deep squat. For the life of me, I keep power snatching.  I am having a real mental block with full snatching.  Few things I need to work on:

-Think of my knees and legs as actual cushions and DROP my butt fast.

-Grow some balls and just commit to the lift.

-I need to really start looking up and throwing my head way, WAY...way back.  Exaggerate the movement.

Technique work = no heavy lifts today.

20kg x5

25kg x5

30kg x3

37kg

37kg

37kg

39kg - fail- the mental block garbage

37kg

37kg

37kg

Front squats

45kg

55kg

65kg

70kg

75kg

80kg -fail

78kg

Back extensions with bar on back on the GHD

2 x10

Advanced Class BJJ

Small class today.  Today was all about guard breaking, sitting, standing and transition to triangle and armbar.

5x 6 minute rolls.

Nothing special. Just trying to survive.  Mr. Pancakes did not spend the entire time squashing me.  He did land really hard on my sternum with his knee, it knocked the  wind right out of me. Usually after our rolls he always jokes that if he wasn't 70-100lbs heavier than me, that I would probably beat the poo out of him. Mehhhh...

After class BF and I went home, showered, cooked up some steak and asparagus, played with the puppy and went to bed!

I am really looking forward to this month to be over.  I get to finish up this current contract (Supervising on 'Fish Hooks' for Disney) and start on a new one.   I am excited for a different pace, style and crew for this next show, Season II of  'Stella and Sam'. 

Thursday

Lifting

Met a new girl, tall strong and she has one of those 'hard to miss' squatting bubble butts!

Made me feel like a weakling ;)  She apparently just started at Pierre's in January and is kicking butt.  I love it because, when I train around women who are strong and who make it look easy----> its fuel to my motivation fire.  I need that! 

Clean and Jerk

Worked up to 65kg

Tried a few Snatches, but I wasn't getting under it fast enough so I skipped that and went straight to back squats. worked up to 75-80kg, then called it quits for the day and headed to BJJ.

Advanced Class

Working sweeps and a choke.  Rolling after wards, I think 5x 6 minute rounds or something like that.  Got absolutely pancaked, again.  The roll was full of wheezing and groaning, I tried not to but the sounds are somewhat involuntary.  I need to stay focused, be quick  and not allow myself to get under this giant!! 

While rolling with a Blue I was getting frustrated by trying to pass his open guard---one of those things were you get mad and you just grab their legs and smash em down to the ground, another Blue who was sitting out chimed in and told me I need to be more controlled - something ot the effect of--->not to let the strength smashy-smash- muscle mentality of lifting get in the way lol.  Oooops! :(

I got to roll with both Black Belts that day too:)

Wednesday No Gi

Ughhhh.  I really did not want to go to class Wednesday.  The couch looked so comfortable... and the chocolate ice cream mini cake sitting in the freezer was  taunting me with its delicious, chocolaty, cookie goo.  I actually did not end up eating it and I dragged my lazy ass to class.

I taped up my hand pretty good and also one of my second last toes...It is sprained pretty bad, I think it happened a few weeks ago when we first started the Butterfly Sweep stuff...pushed off the foot really hard and one toe just stuck to the mat without the support of the surrounding toes.  

Brown belt was back for today's class.  They (bf & Brown belt) worked on taking the back, half back and holding it again today.  

After Technique 15 minutes of King of the Mat and 3x5 minute rolls.

Nothing exciting, but I made a conscious decision to ATTACK after my first roll, and tapped one of the better guys with a arm triangle type dealio---was in mount, got his head and arm then slouched off to the side and sunk really really low and tight...not sure it was the best thing to do...but at the time, going to S Mount, Arm Bar or Americana wasn't really working...besides I just wanted to see if it was possible to pull off...  I was pretty happy about that.  I think that is my weeks highlight!  

After class Mr. Brown belt was showing a few guys some half guard options...kinda using the guys legs against him by using it as leverage to roll him over and take his back...pretty nifty and slick looking, I hope I get to try it out!

Tonight is going to be Clean and Jerks + Back Squats!

I love the Clean part, not so much the Jerk.  I have problems locking out my arms...still.   T_T.

Saturday

My BF had been writing essays all last week, so Saturday was the first time in a week that we had the chance to put our Gis on.   Two guys from No-Gi class even came by Ronin for open mat.  I am pretty sure that it was the first time for both of them to be able to roll with someone outside of class.  One of them even got the opportunity to roll with a black belt for about half an hour.  I think it blew his mind!  

Monday

We had a special guest come into No-gi class.  One of the Brown belts from the club came in.   Bf and Brown Belt decided to work on 'taking the back' type stuff in preparation for the next batch of competitions coming up in April.  For some of the guys this will be their second time competing and for others,  it will be their first.
After warm-up, technique and 15 minutes of King Of the Mat we did 4x 5minute rounds.  It was my first 'off' day in almost 3 weeks.  I don't think that it is so much an 'off day' but more...me being negative and beating myself up.  When I go in to class with a positive attitude and ready to have 'Fun' = having a blast.  When I feel like I am doubting myself and I over think = sucky times.  Just stop thinking, go in like a killer and have fun...seems pretty simple.  Mehhh.


Tuesday

Pierres
Snatch Day! Probably my least favorite day.  Yuck.  Apparently it takes a lot longer for women to warm up then men.  I takes me A LOT longer than anyone to warm up, but once I got it...I got it.
Full snatch
25kg
35kg
40kg troubles
Did some technique, power snatch and drop snatch for a bit, worked from blocks up to 35kg, then back to full snatch
35kg
36kg
37kg
40kg
41kg
42kg

Snatch pulls
Worked up to around 50kg +-

Front Squats 
I don't remember how heavy.

Side note, against my initial decision to not compete this year ... I decided to register with the Weightlifting Association as a competitor anyway, so if I do decide to compete, I can...but no pressure this time :)
Oh, and I ripped my hands AGAIN. It is pretty raw. I thought that it would heal over and stay nice and thick...and it was nice and thick before it peeled right off...gahhhhh...

Made it in time for Advanced Class at the club
Working on and around the butterfly sweep again.
Rolls 4x 6 min.
I got completely pancaked 2x.  I mean...absolutely flattened = I can not move and believe me...I tried my darnedest...and they weren't even using their whole weight!! I think that is still partially my own fault, as I had asked one of the guys a few weeks ago NOT to go that easy on me.  Its okay,  I know that I will eventually get tired of it and figure out a way of retaliating... or just not...get under people. duh.

Thursday

I am pooped.  2.5 hours of lifting then 1.5 hours of BJJ with about 30 min in between.

After a talk with Pierre, we decided that I am only going to 'commit' to come in 2x per week and if I want more, then it becomes a bonus.  We don't want to overdo it----->Well, I tend to make it a stressful thing.  I put to much pressure on myself to perform and soon, the fun of it becomes lost. 

Lifting

I did it. Double rip. It is trying to heal, but because its deep for a peel, it cracks...and it throbs. Boooo. 

Clean and Jerks from the Box 

20kg

35kg

45kg

55kg

I think we went up to 60kg

Back squats test for 1RM

I used the station with the lbs plates

115

135

155

175

195

205

210

215

220 - fail

220 - wore a belt this time

220 - with belt and an assist on stick point half way up.  No count.

Did some fun corrective stuff, I am probably not allowed to talk about ;)

Stripped 10kg off and did 2 sets of 2 at 200lbs

Advanced class

Missed beginners class because I was lifting my butt off. 

Butterfly sweep stuff we worked on last week and earlier this week. Added in a little choke. 

Rolling for 5 rounds

Got cruuushed.  One fellow I've only rolled with once before, said that I was quick and strong. 

And after a roll with one of our black belts (he was away for 2 weeks) said he was pleased with the changes he saw - felt!! Yay for improvements!! :)

This is the first time during BJJ, that I have ever felt this close to puking...I mean, I really felt sick. 

Today, I am exhaustipated...

Wednesday

Ohhh Emm Gee.

I am sore.  Traps, biceps,  quads and hammies, oh my.  I ripped the skin right off my hand Tuesday from the Oly bar. I am hoping I don't end up with a double rip tonight.

 

I am making a real effort to actually eat enough and of the right stuff.  Some  recurring favorites over the past few weeks have been:

-Glutamine

-Red peppers

-Avocado

-Mango

-Fish

Desk food. Yellow mango, red pepper, chicken breast.  Delish.

Wednesday No-Gi

Technique: Butterfly sweep

 King of the Mat for a while.

3 x 5minute rolls.

Nothing fancy-special today. I do not really like king of the mat with really big new guys = muscle, toss, crush, die.

One of the newer guys comes in with his GF.  He crushed her and she had to stop, sit out.  I think she went to the bathroom to cry.  It sucks being a little girl sometimes :'(

Tuesday

Last Fall,  I had decided to switch gears and go from Olympic style lifting and Powerlifting to Crossfit type lifting.  Once we got the puppy, all of that pretty much fell through and I had to stop going to Pierre's all together.  I decided to see the silver lining:

-More money in my pocket

-More time with the BF

-More quality time to focus on BJJ

-Take a much needed break

-See how my body composition would change

In the 6-7 months:

-I dropped +10lbs

-I lost my squatting bubble butt----> not happy about that one.

-My quads shrunk noticeably

-I paid off my Orthodontist

-Paid off a chunk of my Visa

-Fell in Love with BJJ

-Learned a quite a bit about myself.

 A few weeks ago, one of the Purple belts approached me about Oly lifting, so I obviously sent him Pierre's way.  It got me surprisingly jealous.  'What!? someone else at the club might be Oly lifitng, and I am NOT?!? '

No, not happening.

After MUCH thought and a well deserved break from any heavy- consistent lifting (KBells dont count!)  I've decided to go back to Pierre's.  

Yesterday was my first day back.  Pierre took no time(or pity) in throwing me back in.  I hit the ground running with Snatches and 1RM front squats.

Wu  and playing around with some

Hang Snatch, Power Snatch and Full Snatch.

Bar

25kg

30kg

35kg

37kg

35kg

30kg

etc.

Front Squats

15kg x1

35kg x1

55kg x1

65kg x1

75kg x1

80kg x1

82kg x1

75kg x2

75kg x2

75kg x2

I must say that I am very pleased and surprised at how much strength the front squats still had after taking such a long break.  Pretty neat!

BF picked me up and we headed to BJJ.  I had every intention of hitting up Beginners class before Advanced, but Pierre's took a little longer than I thought.  We are working on Butterlfy for a month or so.  Last few weeks we been working up to a few things. Basic sweep to Kesa and working off and from that in many different directions.  But last night we worked on the simple sweep but if the person tries to defend and lunges - posts a leg to stop the sweep - then the sweeper scoots under their legs to stretch them out -  then kinda do a Turkish getup and regain control.  For the Life of me I could not get this darn getup.  I couldn't stretch out my partner enough to switch their weight off me.  I was getting upset.  We modified it, worked around it, used a little more  X guard type leg stuff and finally it started making sense.  Grrrrr. I felt so...dummy :(

Last bit of class was rolling 4x 5 min rounds.  All rolls were terrible.  I couldn't focus. My mind was foggy.  I'm going to blame it on the 1RM squats before class.  My system was shot!! I swear it!!

LINKS FOR SLIDEY!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaCM7jhdCek

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkuiQFIAqSI

Non BJJ or Gym related

The Show I Co- Animation Directed on won a Pixie award. 

Check it out.

Trixxies

I find it hard to keep my head on straight between Gi and No-Gi sometimes.  Both classes are a different group all together, so the energy, skill and experience level is different.  BJJ is hard. Its hard on my head, trixxies...

I decided to actively follow, to my best, the advice given to me by my BF and the black belt I rolled with a few weeks ago--> Because I am small, weaker and very new to this, I need to simply focus on maintaining and controlling positions.  I shouldn't be scrambling to work for submissions(which is tempting) when all  I need to learn right now, is to be strong in dominant spots. Once I can hold the spots, comfortably with confidence, then the next step is to start thinking about submission(with less fear of the other person escaping, you can really start thinking about it)
Seems very logical.

 No-gi was really getting me down.  My BF told me he was purposely not teaching me subs in this class, (95% of the kids in this class also do the MMA class in which I am sure they are learning a lot of subs)  That being said,  when I go to the no-gi class, it seems all I end up doing is tap, tap, and tap.  Now if I started to focus on getting to and holding the dominant spots, the tapping would happen less frequently, no?

What is also discouraging but with a silver lining: Few weeks ago, one of the guys in No-Gi said to me after our roll 'hmmm, stepping up your game. Eh?'
I laughed, but he brought it up again later this week- said something to the effect of - Before he thought I wasn't really a challenging roll, that it was easy, and he could just sub me.  *That made me sad.*  But, he felt that I had recently reached the next level, that he has to try and really scramble now and that it has become quite frustrating for him.
YES! That is good.  I want that.

What a treat!

Yesterday, to my surprise, I had quite the treat to spend the better part of an hour straight rolling with  a black belt!
That made my week and made me very happy :)

Niiice

http://www.capitalsc.com/post/3154889023

Friend Meaghan being badass!

Feb.

Yah, I've been Blog slacking.

I am really excited for the rest of the month.   Next week is my BF's reading week and it is a long weekend for myself,  there is also the Abu Dhabi Trials in Montreal the following weekend!  We invited the boyfriend's little sister up for reading week.  She is currently going to the University of Guelph and taking wrestling there...we will be  dragging her to all our BJJ classes. This makes me really excited!

The BF had decided to compete, but when he realised how much the weekend would end up costing, he decided not to...Then his dad said he would help him out with the registration fees and whatnot, so now he has less than 2 weeks to prep! I'm glad he decided to do it, I love watching him...and I also just really wanted an excuse to go to Montreal ;)

Weight training has not exactly bee consistent lately...But BJJ has,  it is going on 8 days in a row! 

Sunday

I decided to do some KB for a warm-up, ended up being a 35-40 minute workout.

Circuit 1 x3

16Kg KB

 -Swings x 20

-Pushups x 12

(one hand on KB  switch side to side)

-On arm snatch x 10

-One leg deadlift x10 side

Circuit 2 

20Kg KB

Place KB on shoulder

Walking Lunges down mat and back x4

Place KB on shoulder

Farmer walk Down mat and back x3

Hold KB to chest with both hands on handle

Speedy full squats x10x2

After KB WO- rolling goofing off for  2ish hours! :)

Monday

BF no-gi class.

So we have 2 girls who are now pretty consistent (cross fingers*)

I had been hitting a wall and had been getting discouraged in the No-Gi class.(One of the reason I wasn't really blogging.)

Honeslty, for some reason No-Gi feels so much harder than Gi. 

I know that it is most likely just in my head...

But, I think I may have figured something out!  BF brought it up before,  he says that he sees me constantly  hesitating to commit to moves that he knows I know how to do, or stalling...as if  I am waiting for something to happen before I start moving to positions or sinking a sub.  So, after a few weeks of being discouraged and being constantly mauled, I said F*CK IT.  I'm not letting these little punks get the best of me.  I just started moving, not thinking,  not worrying, just doing it, whatever it is.  You know what?  I am having so much fun!  I am still not tapping people, but who cares-- I am escaping more and with confidence---and I am holding positions longer and stronger. It is kind of fun to make people (boys) squirm and struggle.  That makes me happy.

Workout

Underhand Row

95x8

115x8

125x8

135x8

135x8

135x8

Overhead Squat Snatch grip

45x10

45x10

45x10

CDL

135x8

135x8

135x8

135x8

Circuit with BF 

4 rounds of:

-Pull ups underhand-x3 (Yah,yah... I know, only 3? I am working on it! We bought a chin up bar for home- new rule- every time you walk through the door with the chin up bar you have to do 2!)

-Push Press

55x5

-Medicine ball tricep pushups

x8 I am working on it, its hard!

-KB oblique bends 16kg

x10 per side

Firsts

Well, I got my first black eye.

Rolling during open mat on Saturday, as things were slowing down, I caught a knee to the brow.  I swear that I felt my eyeball shake.  Saturday evening I iced, but the blood drained down and as the days pass, the bruise is transforming from a deep burgundy-purple at the corner of my eye and eyelid to a blue green yellow aura around my whole eye and brow. Oh so pretty!

Monday we had 3 girls for BF's no-gi class.  Two of them sat out for Position and Movement drills while the remaining girl stuck around.  Since she was fairly new, we decided it would be best if  stayed with her for the two 6 minute rounds.   She listens very well and she has the little glimmer in her eyes that tells me that she has what it takes.  I hope she sticks around.
During the second round I let her work on side control- trying to get to mount and... I caught another knee.  Right to the mouth. Anyone who has braces, will know that it can be an extra uncomfortable experience as the brackets ...staple themselves right into the soft skin of the mouth.  Nice. I assured her it was fine, no big deal, not to worry, that we could continue rolling.  By that time apologies were shared there was only  about a minute left.

I look like I got the crap beat out of me.  I guess I kinda did! ;)

Monday

It is really cold outside, so I kinda wore my pj's to work with some fuzzy slippers. Awesome. 


BJJ

BF class

5 new students.

WU: Various, jogs, shrimps, rolls, etc

Technique: After reviewing the tournament BF noticed a re-occurring problem with his students.  They seem to be having a difficult time breaking- standing out of guard.  Breaking guard- stand up review- not broadcasting you weight shift- solid braced- load bearing foot- stand up straight as if squatting a heavy load.  You aren't going to lean all over the place- you are going to go straight up- strong. Parcticed this for a bit then it turned into how not to get swept- what to do to counter it etc.

Position and movement drills:  Starting in guard- 4- 2 minute rounds of breaking guard and passing to a controlled spot, person on bottom- sweep or submit. Every time one of these things are accomplished- reset and start again.

Stayed after class and rolled with BF for 15-20 minutes before heading to the gym.  Everyone else stuck around and was rolling and having a good time.

Lifting

First day back in a long time- didnt want to overdo it, because I know...oh boy, I am really going to feel this in two days time.

Front squats

Bar x10

95lbs x8

115lbs x6

135lbs x3

155lbs x2

165lbs x1

165lbs x1

Deadlifts

Wu 95x 8

115x6

135x6

155x2

185x1

185x1

Overhead squats snatch grip

45x8

45x8

45x10

45x10

Underhand BB row paired with tricep and one arm pushups on medicice ball (not actually one arm,but one hand one the medicine ball and other on floor)

95x8

115x8

Pushup-one arm x6 a side

115x8

Tricep pushup x8

115x8

Pushup-one arm x6 a side

115x8

Tricep pushup x6

I want more mat time :(

Weekend

Friday 

We went in for about 90 minutes of open mat.  There was a Thai class upstairs and we were the only ones there for BJJ,  we just went downstairs.  I wasn't even in the mood to roll,  but I knew I would feel better if we went in and did something.  We rolled light and slow, I made it clear that I did not want to get crushed today-  I just wanted to work on weaknesses without having my soul extracted from my body.  We spent the last half hour going over standups.  I'm weak, and shift my weight too much, broadcasting what direction I am about to lean in. I need to tidy it up and be straight and strong.  Time to get back to the front squats, and a bit of unilateral work I think... 

Since I took such a long break from lifting I would like to get back to basics.

Focus on basic body weight stuff as well as the big lifts, then move back to heavy lifting.  

Breaking the 85kg front squat mark will be my short term goal. 

Long term goal, hit the 137kg DL mark.  70 ish lbs to go.

Lots of:

BW Pullups

BW Dips

Hand stand pushups

Explosive Pushups and variations.

Front Squat

Back squat

Overhead Squats 

Cleans

Pulls

CDL, SDL and RDL.

Jerks

I am debating on bringing in my KB's to the club- that way I can just do my KB workouts there. Kill two birds with one stone.

I could save the unilateral work for KB days-

Lunges

One leg deadlifts

and of course...

Volume ladder swings and timed swings- 

Clean and press.

Saturday

Tourney this weekend went well.  It was pretty small, felt like it was mostly white belts and beginners.  There were no women and no category under like---145lbs. I think overall our group brought back 5 first places. 

BF's class took 2 first places and 1 second place.

 

 My favorite fight of the day was watching my lil' buddy- teammate fight in the absolutes.  I was so nervous!  Check him out--->here<---  at the 13:26 mark,  fighting the red giant.

Wednesday Thursday

Wednesday

Yup, as predicted, the girls did not come back for the Thai class or the BJJ class.  Am I surprised? No. :(

But the guys who are competing on Saturday needed a full regular class anyway, so it work out.

WU: Usual of various jogs, shrimps, rolls, drags etc.

Technique: Shoulder pressure and half guard escape.

Brown belt from the club came to join the class at the start of technique. I paired up with him.  He added in a few things, like when you get to 100kg, you can control the person's inside arm by flattening it out with your shin. You can continue to hold it with your shin-leg and be slick and switch it between your legs, depending on what you wanna do. Something to keep in mind.

Position and movement drills: 5x 5 minutes

First: Brown belt buddy, rolled with him the day before and he just tossed me around like a little mouse.  He said, that the day before, he was trying to get a fire going, trying to get me wound up. It was starting to work, I said that I honestly appreciate it, and that it was good even if I looked discouraged. Tap tap tap.

Second: Chokemasterzilla. He is tiny, but his legs are like vice grips. He had me in guard and went to throw a triangle up- I pulled my arm out and postured up before he got his legs crossed but he took my neck anyway and squeezed the heck out of it- I had to tap. Then later he got me in an armbar and cranked it.  I've come to the realization that I quit being shy about asking people to tone it down.   I asked him to not crank armbars when he gets them, he apologized.

Fourth: Stupid body triangles. Gotta ask my BF how to get out of those.

Fifth: Caught in a choke from behind- even with scooping low, facing the elbow, trying to get my chin under and prying it off- still didnt work against the strenght :(

Brown belt showed the class a few little things to help get out of those after class.

After rolls, I played guinea pig as my BF went over the point system and refreshed on a few escapes.

Thursday

We were both exhausted.  I wanted to go to beginners class, my bf wanted to skip it, take a nap and go to Advanced.  I knew that If I laid down, that I wouldn't be getting up.  I tried to bribe him to come to beginners class with chocolate chip cookies.  It didn't work and we slept right through until a phone call from my mom woke me up at  8.

Tuesday

Beginners class

Late- got there right on the hour.  I make a habit of wearing my shorts and rash guard under my clothes, it makes for a quick change into  Gi.

Warm up: Bunny hops over the person who is laying on their belly. One minute rounds 2x each.

10 standups per side. 10 knee on belly pass per side.

Technique: Went over same thing as last week, Scissor sweep and Flower sweep.  I have been pairing up with the only other girl in class.  We both felt a bit off on the sweeps. I kept getting my leg caught under her- the leg she gets swept over-  I would go to sweep her, then it would snag and I couldn't sweep her properly all the way over.

Rolling: Only for about the last 10 minutes of class. First, I cant remember.

Second was with a big white belt, I have really been struggling lately while under someone - I am not bridging strong enough and I am not shrimping fast enough. It is really tough feeling helpless under someone who is 60-80lbs heavier than you --- and they are just pancaking you.  Maybe I should try not allowing myself to get under big people, on the other hand, maybe I should.  I should try to put myself where I am most uncomfortable and really work on that weakness.

Advanced Class

Wu: various jogs, rolls, breakfalls. Robot legs, then a couple of drills around, regaining  guard-getting back in front of someone while on your butt-back-- while someone is standing and trying to pass.

Technique: no Technique

Rolling: 7 rounds of 7 minutes.

First: Big white belt, he is the guy who almost hurt me a few months ago. First time I rolled with him, he was very aggressive-rough-yanking-cranking and shoving on things.  Today it wasn't so bad, I think I might be getting a little desensitized as my BF has been rolling somewhat more hard- mean- no pity with me- beating me up lol.  I told myself that I was not going to give him the opportunity to get on top and crush me( like all the other guys do).  After a few minutes, and getting swept,  I got to his back and became a living back pack.  I did not let go, he would get half out and I would weasel my way back on and stay there.  He was frustrated and that made me a very happy little girl.

Second: Tall lanky blue.  He always just flattens me right out, he is like sticky toffee, I'm not going anywhere. Hes skinny, but he knows exactly where to put his weight to be heavy as heck.  Resistance is futile.

Third: Purple. I am always, nervous and doubt myself when I am not familiar rolling with someone. He was really helpful and pointed out a few things.  As we were going, I got to mount and he just let me do whatever...I wanted to work for things so,  I asked him to try harder and fight lol.

Fourth: With my BF. Crushed, what can I say. I really need to work on controlling the legs-inside knee grips before I storm through and get all tangled up and in trouble.  I keep hitting a brick wall. 

Fifth: Brown. He kept tossing me around. Knocking me over, and over...and over. I felt like a little mouse. At least he made me realize my balance is wayyyy off...I need to work on being solid,sturdy, pyramid, base.

Sixth: Black. He let me work triangles and bottom escapes.

Conclusion- thoughts: Need to become more explosive and fast on bottom, to get my knees in after shrimping.  Need to work on being balanced and not leaning over for whatever reason.  CONTROL the darn legs, control grips, don't worry about the upper body when you have legs... all up on your face.  Maintaining position, control position- don't be greedy = sloppy.