DarthPenguin

Yeah, whatever else people think about him as an individual, his impact on popular culture worldwide can't be ignored. He was a genuine global star and i would still say he is possibly the most well known wrestler anywhere (even compared to the Rock etc.)

I have attended plenty of seminars over the years (mainly BJJ ones) and usually i find the following things important : The level of the instructor delivering the session is important (eg i went to a couple of Rickson Gracie seminars which were superb and i signed up straight away based on who was teaching without even asking what the material to be covered was). He was also extremely personable when he delivered his seminars and genuinely cared that people were learning - i have never forgotten him asking a quite new white belt if he was ok with a technique, getting the usual mumbled "yeah it's fine" response and then calling the guy out and personally drilling it with him for 5min (both performing the technique so the student could feel what it felt like and being uke) until he was comfortable that the student was getting a handle on it. In most cases (after all most people aren't Rickson etc.) then the material to be covered is by far the most important thing to me. I don't attend every seminar that our BJJ school puts on (or my judo class) as while i know that the person teaching is infinitely more skilled than me and i would no doubt learn something, if it is something i don't think would be a good fit for me or something i would be able to use then i don't attend. e.g. i am reasonably large (6'4" and 105kg) so if the seminar is something on ultra flexible inversions and LW style BJJ then i am unlikely to attend, but the second i saw we had Jon Thomas teaching a Collar & Sleeve seminar (which was great!) i signed up instantly. Also what i think i would get from it in relation to the cost factors in - for me i am pretty new to judo so anything any good teacher shows me will be an improvement, i am not probably good enough to benefit from a seminar properly so it doesnt feel like a good use of money (though as i improve i am more likely to look into it over time) If it is someone who will be teaching regular seminars then it could also be good for the potential student body at the hosting school to have an input into what is being taught - that would definitely lead to a lot of buy in i think! Credentials are important too if someone isn't a famous name - eg if there are two black belts offering seminars in De La Riva and i have heard of neither of them but one of them is a black belt under the De La Riva lineage directly then i would opt for them - similarly a seminar on fundamentals of jiu jitsu and someone is under the Roger Gracie tree etc. etc.

Sunday 13 July Lifting session It was 30C (which for us is epically hot - so i was pleased i got full session done!) Deadlift 60kg x 5 80kg x 3 95kg x 8 95kg x 8 95kg x 8 95kg x 8 95kg x 10 The lift felt fine though my grip was struggling at the end of each set. Had noticed the same at BJJ the day before that my grip was a little weaker than i am used to. Will start using grippers again i think to try and help with this ABF double KB oh press 2 x 16kg kb x 75 reps Cablr neck extension 9kg x 14 9kg x 14 9kg x 14 Cable neck flexion 9kg x 14 9kg x 14 9kg x 14 Fat bar biceps cable curl 18kg x 10 18kg x 10 18kg x 10 This felt pretty easy but not going to jump up in weight too quickly as want to build it gradually since it will get taxing on forearms quickly. Felt good though 18kg x 10 18kg x 10 This felt pretty easy but not going to ju

Saturday 12 July BJJ Session This session revolved around closed guard. First we worked at breaking top players grip and trying to get an arm secured; then built on this with more games / drills to get the arm trapped against body and more of an angle. Reminded myself of a couple of grip breaks i had forgotten whilst doing it which i was pleased with! Drilled triangle from this position a few times but would need a lot more work to be usable as was quite clunky freeing my leg to get it over the shoulder. Then drilled pendulum sweep a few times and finished class with some rolling

Very cool!!

Monday 7 July Karate Session Small class this week which is great for extra attention to fix issues / problems (especially since the CI reminded me i need to sit Shodan in March lol). Downside is it can be a killer as is very hard work throughout, nowhere to hide for a moment lol. Ran through grading required kihon, every kata from kihon kata up until Bassai Dai then a few rounds of kumite

Thursday 3 July Seated Barbell oh press 20kg x 5 30kg x 5 35kg x 3 40kg x 1 45kg x 16 ABC 2 x 16kg kb x 12 rounds Asssisted chin ups 25kg assistance 2 reps 2 reps 2 reps 2 reps 2 reps Cable neck extension 9kg x 12 9kg x 12 9kg x 12 9kg x 12 9kg x 12 Cable neck flexion 9kg x 12 9kg x 12 9kg x 12 9kg x 12 9kg x 12 Fat bar biceps cable curl 16kg x 10 16kg x 10 16kg x 10

Wednesday 2 July Karate session First one for a while unfortunately as a tonne of stuff has come up recently but seems to be dying down now. Was a good class though followed the usual format but that was good for getting back into it

Tuesday 1 July Squat 20kg x 5 45kg x 5 55kg x 3 65kg x 1 70kg x 16 ABF OH PRess 2 x 16kg kb 80 reps total Barbell snatch high pull 20kg x 5 30kg x 5 40kg x 5 Decided to try this for first time in years and quite liked it! Cable neck flexion 9kg x 11 9kg x 11 9kg x 11 Cable neck extension 9kg x 11 9kg x 11 9kg x 11 KB single arm curl 14kg x 6 reps per arm and 2 sets total Added these in to try them

Sunday 29 June Bench Press 20kg x 5 30kg x 5 45kg x 5 55kg x 3 60kg x 1 65kg x 12 ABC 2 x 16kg KB x 12 rounds Assisted chin up 25kg assistance 4 reps 3 reps 3 reps Cable neck flexion 9kg x 10 9kg x 10 9kg x 10 Cable neck extension 9kg x 10 9kg x 10 9kg x 10

Thursday 26 June Deadlift 60kg x 5 75kg x 3 85kg x 1 90kg x 15 ABF KB OH Press 2 x 16kg kb x 64 total reps Assisted chin up 25kg assistance 3 reps 3 reps 3 reps Cable neck extension 7kg x 20 7kg x 20 7kg x 20 Cable neck flexion 7kg x 20 7kg x 20 7kg x 20

Tuesday 24 June Seated overhead barbell press 20kg x 5 30kg x 3 35kg x 5 35kg x 5 40kg x 10 40kg x 10 40kg x 11 ABC 2 x 16kg KB x 20 rounds Cable neck extension 7kg x 18 7kg x 18 7kg x 18 Cable neck flexion 7kg x 18 7kg x 18 7kg x 18 Triceps pushdown with fat bar 20kg x 10 20kg x 10 20kg x 10 20kg x 10 20kg x 10

Friday 20th June Squat 20kg x 5 40kg x 5 50kg x 5 60kg x 5 65kg x 10 65kg x 10 65kg x 15 ABF OH Press 2 x 16kg KB x 75 total reps Assisted chin up 45kg assistance 5 reps 5 reps 5 reps 4 reps Cable neck extension 7kg x 17 7 kg x 17 7kg x 17 Cable neck flexion 7kg x 17 7kg x 17 7kg x 17

Tuesday 10 June Bench Press 20kg x 5 40kg x 5 50kg x 5 55kg x 5 60kg x 10 60kg x 10 60kg x 11 ABC 2 x 16kg KB x 10 rounds Assisted chin up 45kg assistance 4 reps 4 reps 4 reps 4 reps Cable neck flexion 7kg x 16 7kg x 16 7kg x 16 7kg x 16 Cable neck extension 7kg x 16 7kg x 16 7kg x 16 7kg x 16

Sunday 8th June Deadlift 70kg x 5 75kg x 5 85kg x 10 85kg x 10 85kg x 12 ABF KB OH Press 2 x 16kg KB x 70 total reps Assisted chin ups 45kg assistance 3 reps 3 reps 3 reps 3 reps Cable neck extension 7kg x 15 7kg x 15 7kg x 15 7kg x 15 Cable neck flexion 7kg x 15 7kg x 15 7kg x 15 7kg x 16