DarthPenguin

Thanks for the detailed response! I think i will try adding in the concentration kicks for definite (i think i used to do these in the past but haven't done them in years so a good idea). Partner PNF stretching is a good idea too but might be a little harder to implement as not sure if i can easily access someone when in the house etc to help! The strength point is a good one too - i was thinking that part of the issue might be that the outer hip muscles / my glutes may be weaker than they used to be so i have been trying to do a little more for them. I have tried to add in some sets of sumo deadlifts as i find i always feel them in the outer hip area (i used to do them years ago too), starting light and will eventually build it up - i can already feel it in that specific area when i do the lift. Also been adding in bulgarian split squats as i know they are good for the glute area; good for knee stability too and inner thing part of leg. Found a better way to set up to start them so feeling more comfortable doing them: currently been using 2 x kbs but going to try them soon with a barbell on my back and see how i do! Will definitely try some of your suggestions though and will let you know how it works out over time

Hi all, I have recently been trying to work more on increasing my kicking height and thought asking on here might be a good idea and give me some useful suggestions/ advice! Currently my kicking height is awful! Mostly waist height for side kicks etc, little bit higher for mawashi geri but not much - sometimes looks more when i am sparring as i am quite tall. Not a structural issue as when i was younger i could comfortably mawash geri above my head; side kick similar etc. so i dont think there is a hip issue or anything preventing me accessing that range of motion. Granted i am older now (soon to be 46) but cant see any reason other than flexibility / mobility why i can't get it back. Is my own fault as ceased to actively work on my flexibility as much when i stopped striking arts years ago and focused on grappling and then got injured etc. I dug out my copy of Stretching Scientifically by Kurz, gave it a read, and have been working on it daily for the last few weeks. Current plan i have put together and have been following has been as follows : Twice Daily (morning and night) : dynamic stretches: 3 sets of 10 for the following stretches front straight leg raises / swings sideways leg raises / swings backwards leg raises / swings twice a week ( carried out after lifting session) isometric / weighted stretching using the following exercises for 2 sets of 15 seconds jefferson curl (using a kb) side splits (though i am a decent way off it!) using body weight and actively tensing my inner thighs to pull myself in then in the stretch front splits (2 sets each for left and right leg forwards) with a kb in each hand horse stance (kb in middle) butterfly stretch (using kb in each hand on top of knees) For each of these the second set i try to increase the stretch a little I know it is a little early to see proper benefits but feels like it is improving a bit. Wanted to see if there is anything else that people would add/remove from the above or if they would change it then what they would recommend! Thanks!

Tuesday 21 October Lifting session / strength endurance focus Ran through 20 sets of the double kb ABC. Managed them in 14min so was quite pleased - used a pair of 14kb kbs as was trying to push the conditioning element rather than the strength one. Will try to work it back up to 30 sets in less than 30min etc and then increase weight. Plan is to do one of these sessions a week ideally Lat pulldown (underhand grip) 52kg x 8 52kg x 8 52kg x 8 EZ Bar curl 28kg x 6 28kg x 6 28kg x 6 Added in these other exercises as areas i think i need to improve and had a little time left

Sunday 19th October Lifting Session Back squat 20kg x 5 40kg x 3 60kg x 2 75kg x 5 75kg x 5 75kg x 5 75kg x 5 Barbell Bench Press 20kg x 5 40kg x 3 69kg x 5 69kg x 5 69kg x 5 69kg x 5 Barbell sumo deadlift 75kg x 5 Biceps cable curl (tri set with one hand cable rows and triceps pushdowns) 28kg x 5 28kg x 5 28kg x 5 Triceps straight bar pushdown 26kg x 11 26kg x 11 26kg x 11 One Hand Cable Row (standing) - with "gi grip" 26kg x 5 reps (per hand) 26kg x 5 reps (per hand) 26kg x 5 reps (per hand) Got hold of some scramble grip trainers and thought i would use them to. They let me take a "gi grip" when doing the row which i definitely felt in my grip! Bulgarian Split Squats (weight is per leg) - identical done with left and right 28kg (2 x 14kg KB) x 5 28kg (2 x 14kg KB) x 5 28kg (2 x 14kg KB) x 5 Captain of Crush grippers identical work done for left and right hands. Same reps and strength for each. Trainer (60lb) x 10 Sport (80lb) x 6 0.5 (120lb) x 2 1 (140lb) x 5 1 (140lb) x 5 1 (140lb) x 5 1 (140lb) x 4 1 (140lb) x 4 Trainer (60lb) x 53

Saturday 18th October BJJ session Good session this one, we were working on escapes from side control, using ecological drilling style approach. Initial goal was to get on your side; then get on side and get an underhook; then get out into turtle or dogfight etc' then do this but also add a sweep or throw or something to end up on top. Was useful session i thought - plenty to work on ( i was bridging too gently when trying to escape my hips with underhook but on the flip side i was please with my half guard recovery and found myself naturally working some sweeps from there to get on top that i had been wanting to practice. Rolling went well too - managed to pull off a couple of guard passes i have been wanting to work on

As someone who is also not in their 20s anymore i can empathise about going against the young massively athletic kid (though remember you are always free to decline to roll with someone if don't feel safe!). Also, remember you are allowed to adapt techniques to your own body type a little and also can focus on what works for you: isn't like karate or tkd where there is a syllabus you need to work on for each grade, you can find what works for you. For me, our head coach is small and incredibly flexible - his stuff will never work for me (though he is amazingly knowledgeable etc and a great teacher) but one of the other coaches teaches a much more methodical pressure based game which suits me a lot more. Some advice i was given years ago is pick a technique or two to work on and gradually improve it: eg if you can only get the initial grip then work on getting that consistently when you want it; then work on layering on the next step and consistently getting to that point. If you lose it then who cares you have already improved and work in this manner until you can reliably pull off the technique / escape etc that you are trying then rinse and repeat for more techniques. You don't need 100000000 escapes from side control; you need a few that you can reliably execute and ability to survive etc.

Either way it is still progression!

that is likely the difference then - a national governing body for you likely covers the same kind of scope as an international body for us due to the sheer size of the USA. Always curious how things work in different locations!

Wednesday 15 October Karate Session Quite a small class tonight which was good for picking up little issues i need to work on! Good session though. Ran through the expected Kihon i will need for Shodan grading and also through katas. Several good rounds of kumite with one of the 2nd dans - we were both encouraged (strongly!) to go in pretty hard and if the opponent didn't block a strike it's their fault, they get hit then! Enjoyed it quite a bit!

Tuesday 14 October Lifting Session Back squat 20kg x 5 40kg x 3 60kg x 2 75kg x 5 75kg x 5 75kg x 5 75kg x 5 Barbell Bench Press 20kg x 5 40kg x 3 69kg x 5 69kg x 5 69kg x 5 69kg x 5 Barbell sumo deadlift 75kg x 5 Biceps cable curl (tri set with one hand cable rows and triceps pushdowns) 28kg x 5 28kg x 5 28kg x 5 Triceps straight bar pushdown 26kg x 10 26kg x 10 26kg x 10 One Hand Cable Row (standing) - with "gi grip" 26kg x 5 reps (per hand) 26kg x 5 reps (per hand) 26kg x 5 reps (per hand) Got hold of some scramble grip trainers and thought i would use them to. They let me take a "gi grip" when doing the row which i definitely felt in my grip! Bulgarian Split Squats (weight is per leg) - identical done with left and right 28kg (2 x 14kg KB) x 5 28kg (2 x 14kg KB) x 5 28kg (2 x 14kg KB) x 5 Captain of Crush grippers identical work done for left and right hands. Same reps and strength for each. Trainer (60lb) x 10 Sport (80lb) x 6 0.5 (120lb) x 2 1 (140lb) x 5 1 (140lb) x 5 1 (140lb) x 4 1 (140lb) x 4 1 (140lb) x 4 Trainer (60lb) x 52

True but you are also rolling with competitive wrestlers so that is going to happen! Plus i think you said you mainly train nogi - that massively benefits the younger, more athletic grappler. The gi helps a lot once older to grab on and slow them down!

Think it varies tbh. For my karate club we are under one of the main karate bodies (the KUGB) and gradings are arranged to have one of the KUGB technical committee (5 8th Dan's) come and conduct the grading so the grades are awarded by the HQ itself in essence. For judo, the first few kyu are awarded by the club instructors and sent off but after a few then they are sat at central gradings which are arranged by the governing body (in my case Judo Scotland) so the grades are awarded by HQ. The relative size of the USA and Scotland / the rest of the UK may factor into it though. Is your HQ a multi state body or for your home state only?

As a longstanding Mariners fan i hope you are totally wrong! Though as i have followed both the Bills and Mariners for years (think i am unusual over here as being a foreign fan who doesn't support the 'reigning champions' lol) i have my fingers crossed that this year ends up being an awesome title laden year! Also, Raleigh for MVP!

that happens to everyone! is a progression: when new you get smashed by everyone and basically suffer for a year or two > some people you can smash and everyone else smashes you > can smash more people but those who smashed you before often still smash you etc. The smashing never ends unless you were a teen / child prodigy and end up Mica Galvao!

For me i generally practice either the full thing with pacing as i would usually do it (so if two techniques are chained together i would do that - if a long pause etc i do that) though with less force / power than when performing it for testing or even in the class. If not running through i might perform a small sequence i want to work on, but again i will chain it as if i was performing it. In my head i think of it like the way i would perform BJJ drills: eg if drilling an arm bar from closed guard then when first learning you take the grips, pause, break posture, pause, perform hip movement, pause, legs for armbar etc. but once you know it, when drilling you might not go full force but you try to flow more. For me i find it helps with making sure i don't lose the transitions from one technique to the next, though i am less experienced than many of you so possibly i am wrong lol I do like Zaine's idea above though - sounds interesting! We did something tangentially related in a style i used to train where for grading you had to perform the 'form' of the prior grade with 'free direction' where you were expected to add in changes in direction / jumping variations of kicks etc. as you saw fit. Was quite a useful drill to work on what parts of the combinations in the form lent themselves to a change in angle etc and which should flow together:" eg a right leg mawashi geri followed immediately by a left leg ushiro mawashi geri may be easier to remain facing same way, but for the block afterwards or hand technique afterwards maybe you could adjust your footing and target a different direction etc

that makes sense - also it might be a reflection in the different way things are run in the USA for martial arts compared to the UK (not saying either is better!). In the UK people are typically graded from a central body and it would be them who would apply promotions / demotions etc.. If someone graded in a reputable org then it would usually be expected (from my experience) to transfer over to a new org: eg a JKA BB in shotokan would likely start at same grade in JKS, JSKA etc. Though i hear more often about in USA if someone moves school they have to start again from white belt even if same style. So for you guys this might be just an instance of the disciplinary process being more local - which has its benefits probably as less formal than going via the governing body itself: so the CI can "teach her a lesson" without it affecting her future grades etc

Wednesday 1st October BJJ Session Really good session. Was working submission chains from side control using the far side lapel. Initial submission was a lapel americana. Then worked transitioning to a paper cutter / cross choke style choke if they pulled their arm out. Then transition to armbar if they defend the choke by framing. Really liked the chain and can see it being something i will actively try to develop. Couple of rounds sparring. Went well. managed several guard passes using the two passes i wanted to work on (over under with collar hand deep and lots of pressure and double under pass with pressure). Pulled guard to start everytime and managed to work a sweep too which i was pleased with. Only got one submission but managed to take top control and move in it smoothly which is what i was mainly working on. Overall really pleased! Now to prepare for getting absolutely smashed next session as that is usually how it goes!!

Tuesday 30th September Lifting Session Back squat 20kg x 5 40kg x 3 60kg x 2 80kg x 1 90kg x 3 90kg x 3 90kg x 3 Barbell Bench Press 20kg x 5 40kg x 3 60kg x 2 83kg x 3 83kg x 3 83kg x 3 Barbell sumo deadlift 90kg x 5 Biceps cable curl (tri set with one hand cable rows and triceps pushdowns) 26kg x 7 26kg x 7 26kg x 7 Triceps straight bar pushdown 26kg x 13 26kg x 13 26kg x 13 One Hand Cable Row (standing) 26kg x 10 reps (per hand) 26kg x 10 reps (per hand) 26kg x 10 reps (per hand) Tried these standing and actually felt tougher than last time. Will try again next time and decide after a few goes. Is less hassle to set up too which is good! Captain of Crush grippers identical work done for left and right hands. Same reps and strength for each. Trainer (60lb) x 10 Sport (80lb) x 6 0.5 (120lb) x 2 1 (140lb) x 5 1 (140lb) x 4 1 (140lb) x 4 1 (140lb) x 4 1 (140lb) x 4 Trainer (60lb) x 51

Monday 29 September Was a public holiday so no karate. Decided to do a little cardio on the indoor cycle. did 5.4km in 13min. Intent was gentle pace and managed that

Sunday 28 September Lifting Session Back squat 20kg x 5 40kg x 3 60kg x 2 80kg x 5 80kg x 5 80kg x 5 80kg x 5 Barbell Bench Press 20kg x 5 40kg x 3 60kg x 2 74kg x 5 74kg x 5 74kg x 5 74kg x 5 Barbell sumo deadlift 80kg x 5 Thought i would switch to these for a while as they will help with strengthening hips. Added in cable rows to cover row pattern Biceps cable curl (tri set with one hand cable rows and triceps pushdowns) 26kg x 6 26kg x 6 26kg x 6 Triceps straight bar pushdown 26kg x 12 26kg x 12 26kg x 12 One Hand Cable Row (seated) 26kg x 10 reps (per hand) 26kg x 10 reps (per hand) 26kg x 10 reps (per hand)

The thing is over here gambling has always been allowed and sports gambling is a huge deal - multiple bookmakers on every high street etc; several football clubs are sponsored directly by Bookmakers (they wear the bookmakers name on the front of their jersey) : i support Glasgow Rangers personally and they have "Unibet" as a jersey sponsor etc. So i don't think it is necessarily gambling companies that are the issue with the prices, just seems to be a shift in mindset over time: tbh not going to go into much more detail here as i have my own thoughts on that and it would likely get too political for on here!

It really is just pure greed!

Tbh as someone abroad i have always thought you guys get the short end of the stick with charges for sports. UFC and boxing are an easy example: if i decide to pay for a boxing PPV here (and it is normally only the biggest high profile fights that are a PPV) it is about £20/25 usually - i was shocked to see it is $99 in the USA and covers a lot of the fights. Similarly my subscription to TNT sports (formerly ESPN etc in the UK) includes almost all UFC events - i only pay for the biggest ones that are a PPV and sometimes i object on principle to paying when i already have a subscription! You guys definitely get ripped off - I also saw the head of TKO openly saying that WWE prices needed to change as they were stupidly priced to allow families to attend and it was leaving potential profits on the table! Sheer greed - if families can't attend then they are costing themselves potential future customers!

That is true but not what i meant: i meant that someone who has not trained against resistance is materially different to someone who has done so. So if someone has never sparred/done kumite/randori and is a black belt then it is probably not as important when they enter some competition in another style that is related as someone who has performed it against resisting opponent. eg ask me if i want to fight someone who has done Muay Thai for 10years, never fought and only done bagwork or someone who has done it for 2years but spars weekly and had a couple of fights : i will pick the first person every single time

Thursday 25 September Judo Session First session for ages and felt it! was good to get back on the judo mats. Standard warm up which slaughtered me lol and then practiced throws of the day. Gradually felt smoother as the reps went on. Newaza went well and we didn't do any Tachiwaza. All in all a good first session back