Rich67

Check out Amazon.com for the books. I had a really good book that Kid Peligro and Renzo and Royler Gracie collaborated on. It helped supplement my training right off the bat; it's a good starter book for BJJ with gi's. I loaned it to a "friend" and haven't seen it for a while. I also believe Royler has another book out on physical fitness for BJJ and no gi techniques also. Those are by far the best books I've seen. As for videos, I don't know of any offhand, but check out Grappling magazine at Borders or Barnes and Noble bookstores. There are a lot of Jiu Jitsu vids advertised in there.

A bag of flour? Must have gotten real messy in his dojo whenever he'd practice.....

That's very true. The abs are where you get the twisting motion from, hence the power behind the punch. When you strike, a lot more muscles are involved than just the chest and arms. Legs are involved, back, abs, you name it. You have to do heavy bag work to increase your punching strength. Also do ab work, aerobic conditioning, and stretch. A good program will eventually increase the power behind your punches.

If I had to pick one thing, it'd have to be the heavy bag. You can hang it to train MT, and lay it on the ground to practice knees and elbows in BJJ, mounted attacks, etc. Oh yeah, also get some exercise mats so you don't rip up your knees and elbows.

DIE %^$%^# *&*@&*!!! ....my personal fave....

We did some joint locks and arm bars. Didn't do too much on the way of takedowns, just some judo-style flips. Mainly, we stressed striking, striking locations to elicit specific responses, and knees and elbows.

That's a good point. However, the point I was trying to make was a general muscular growth program, not a training specific program. Compound exercises, as always, are the best for achieving gains. But for a beginning weightlifter, and program is better than none at all. Even though his program is not one I would recommend, he's off to a good start. Here's my recommended program: CHEST Warmup with pushups Bench presses followed by chest dumbbell flyes SHOULDERS overhead presses with dumbbells or a Smith machine if available Dips TRI'S Machine pressdowns or skull crushers with EZ curl bar Next day, BACK Pullups One arm rows or bent over rows with barbell BICEPS Dumbbell curls or preacher curls with EZ bar ABS Hanging leg raises (the best!) and crunches Then, LEGS Squats or leg presses on the sled Straight-leg deadlifts for the hams calf raises on machine or with dumbbells in hand LOWER BACK lying extensions or roman chair extensions ABS ab burnout routine (10 reps each of crunches, reverse crunches, leg lifts, oblique crunches, bicycles,ins and outs, full body crunches and toe touches without any rest in between). I used a similar program when I first started, and made the biggest gains I ever made in my whole weightlifting career....ah to be young again....

Whoever said that San Soo does not deal with defense is incorrect. San Soo does not deal with defensive techniques in the traditional sense. In other words, it doesn't teach the old "step back and block" or "back up and parry then counter" defenses. It teaches a "stuff" defense, in which you actually move into your opponent's attack to throw him off balance and disrupt his movement. Once inside this zone, you immediately go to elbows, knees, head butts, and eye gouging or groin strikes. This form of attack DOES work well against other martial arts. (DISCLAIMER: I am not referring to ALL arts or ALL practitioners here, just giving a broad range example). If I were to spar a TSD or TKD student who is used to a combination attack, forward moving, I am really messing with his mind when I move in and stuff his attack. He is used to his sparring opponent moving back or out of the way and blocking the attack, then countering and going on the offensive after he sees an opening. Granted, not all people spar this way, but try it one time. As soon as your opponent moves in, get INSIDE his attack and use your knees on him or even just grab and sweep him. You'll see it's pretty practical. And you'll see how it can throw some (not all) people for a loop and make their attack inefficient.

Thanks,man. I wish there were more movie clips posted here.

The sad thing is, some people spell like that normally!

The bottom line is this: if the program is working, then continue doing it. How do you KNOW it's working, though? Here are hints that it is: 1) You are gaining lean body mass. The only way to know for sure is to have your bodyfat tested on a routine basis during the program. Most gyms have this testing available free of charge if you are a member. 2) You see a difference in your musculature. 3) You are routinely lifting more and more weight each time you hit the gym, or are able to do more reps of the same weight week after week. The only way to gauge this is to keep a training log and record all your lifts. 4) You are happy and love going to the gym. How do you know it's STOPPED or ISN'T working? 1) You are stagnating. Both in lean body mass building and in the weight/reps you can handle. 2) You are actually going DOWN in weight/reps (overtraining) 3) You are burnt out, have headaches and have trouble falling asleep (also overtraining). You don't want to go into the gym. 4) You notice no difference in your physical appearance. Pretty simple, right? Just keep in mind, no program is wrong for you unless it doesn't work or help you improve. You are a tall, thin guy, and if you are just starting to lift, then pretty much anything you do will stimulate growth. If you add the compound lifts to your routine, you will really get stronger and bigger. Just remember the above tips, and recognize the symptoms your program has stopped working.It will eventually, and you should always switch routines every 3-4 months.

Watch out for chiropractors. I have had many a friend treated by them and had their conditions aggravated as a result of the treatment. A good chiro will not make a diagnosis of your condition without an xray, MRI or both. If he doesn't...run away...very fast. Most back pain (not all, mind you) especially lower back can be attributed to weak abdominals. This is because your stabalizing muscles along the torso are the abs and the back muscles. If the abs are weak, then the back muscles must work very hard to stabalize the torso; and hence back pain/problems. Try doing this for a while and see if it eases up: Hanging leg raises: hang from a bar and lift your knees up to your chest, pulling your knees with your stomach. Start with 3 sets of 8-10, then add sets or reps as you get stronger. Crunches: with your knees up on a bench or sofa. Small ranges of motion. Lower back extensions: lie flat on your stomach with arms extended. Lift arms and legs off the ground, leaving stomach only on the ground. Hold for 5 count. Do 5 reps to start, hold for longer and lift higher as you improve. Those core exercises will seriously strengthen your abs and lower back, easing the stress on the back. I have done this routine for about a year now, and I rarely have any lower back pain. It only hurts if I twist the wrong way or squat too heavy.

http://www.hardgainer.com/articles/11-55.html Overtraining is a possibility with any program-even 8rep programs. That's why you need to significantly cut down the days you train legs if using the 20 rep routine. To be honest, a legs-once-a-week program is actually more appropriate, providing you BLAST the legs on that one day, and don't do any other body parts on the same leg day. Hardgainer- I think the https://www.hargainer.com site is now defunct- was an awesome resource for drug-free bodybuilders, because it gave you programs that would work great for non-chemically assisted regular guys. Natural bodybuilders can't use the same routines they see in FLEX magazine, or MUSCLE AND FITNESS. If you did, you'd be overtrained in one week. The 20 rep routine is great for squats. It almost goes along the lines of POWER FACTOR training by Sisco and Little, sans the partial reps. Their philosophy is the more work you can do in a given time period stresses the muscles as good (if not better) than low reps in fixed sets. Just cut down on the days you do the leg work, sometime just 1x a week is fine.

Leg curls and extensions are good only for toning and definition if done in high reps. Squats and deadlifts are the main staple of mass. You are a thin guy, so don't expect to have Paul DeMayo's quads after a few months of working out. The best us long legged guys can hope for are some good hamstring development and some good separation in the lower quad near the knee. But you won't bulk up too much. I'd recommend you try this for starters: Work out your legs HARD twice a week to start (trust me, if you work out hard you won't want to hit em more than twice): SQUATS: 3 warm up reps using a light weight you can pump out for about 12 reps. 4 work sets using progressive weight, doing no less that 8 reps. DEADLIFTS: 2 warm up sets using light weight for 12 reps. 3 work sets at 8-12 reps each. Work up to 20 reps on the squat using a decent weight. In reality, high reps for the legs using moderate weight is more effective than heavy low rep work. You can still do the extensions and curls, but don't rely on them alone. If the squats bother your knees or back, don't go so low and always focus your eyes on a high point on the wall or near the ceiling. Your weight should be on your heels, and your head should be up. Keep your back straight, rest the bar on your traps, not on your neck. DO NOT round your back on deadlifts. I use straight-legged deads, keep my eyes forward and head up as I go down, forcing my back to stay straight. Good luck, and EAT PROTEIN.

One thing you'll learn quickly is that money truly is the root of all evil. Here's a little something that might help you in future situations: statement: Hey bud, don't worry about the (insert monetary value here). Whenever you can pay me back, it's cool. translation: I'll give you one day. After that, I better get my money or your a## is mine. statement: Hey bro, where's that (monetary value) I loaned ya? translation: Pay me my money, scumbag, or I'm gonna take it out of your a##. If you borrow money, pay 'em back the next day. People are funny like that. They may not say it, but they want to be paid back quick. Regardless of the * they might spew when they loan it to you.

That is a really good point. We practice what we call "flow drills", where we spar lightly and work from the standup fight and end up on the ground, going into various submissions, etc. It's not really like a sparring match, but more like a choreographed series of moves: we start off throwing a series of punches and kicks each, blocking and parrying them back and forth, then shoot in for a one or two leg takedown, then go into various submission drills, looking for a different technique when each incident arises. It's fun, and I think it's very practical.

Good link. I agree with some of the points made in that article, but I think the article is written from the NHB tournament standpoint. I agree that since NHB rules have changed (time constraints, restarts, etc) the fighters must also adapt, making Jiu Jitsu less competitive in that arena. However, when it comes to real-life and a street fight, Jiu Jitsu still has an important place. I don't think a well-rounded fighter (both in and out of the arena) should be specifically BJJ. You need a good mix of stand-up and groundwork to get the job done. That applies to both environments. I am training in BJJ right now, but I also had a lot of years in primarily stand-up styles. I am taking BJJ to help "round out" my training. I want to feel as comfortable on the ground as I am on my feet.

If you have a problem with excessive pronation or supination (rolling of ankle over the foot, a simple way to put it, in either direction) then ankle supports can help you avoid injury. But most of the over-the counter supports are worthless. If you are working out hard, you need a stiffer support. I don't use them, since I have no need for them. I have only received a sprained ankle a couple times in my life. I could see using a support if you have a prior ankle injury, or constantly sprain it during exercise. Otherwise, forget it.

The most important thing was not discussed: WHAT KIND of pain is it?? If it is a deep, intramuscular pain, this is the result of working the muscle very hard. When you lift heavy or use your muscles beyond their capacity, you cause miniscule tears in the muscle. This is actually microscopic damage to the tissue. In order to make the pain subside you have to do several things: 1) REST. Muscles recuperate during rest, and grow during same.Without the appropriate rest and recovery, the muscle cannot repair, may actually become weaker, and will continually be sore. 2) NUTRIENTS. You MUST drink water. Water is essential for recovery. Potassium. Helps prevent cramping and helps muscular function...also helps the absorption of water into the muscle cell. Of course, you must have protein in order for the damaged muscle to rebuild and strengthen. 3) STRETCH. Stretch before, during, and after your workout. This helps prevent excess lactic acid buildup.You have to work it out of the muscle. If the pain is joint soreness, you have other problems. MY DIAGNOSIS: you are working out too frequently, probably not drinking enough water, and not getting adequate rest between workouts. If you MUST work out 5 times a week, then you must get 8-10 hours of sleep a night, drink gallons of water, and eat lots of protein. The "average" person should not work out more than 4-5 times a week...that's assuming you have a strenuous one hour or more session. Light workouts can be done more frequently. Don't overdo it. Take it from an old man, it can catch up to you. Furthermore, overtraining-what you sound like you are doing- is detrimental to your health. You'll get sicker more often, more "free radicals" will be released into your circulatory system, and you make yourself susceptible to heart disease and cancer as you get older.

OK, let's put this to bed (pardon the pun) right now.....how old is your sister? If she's under 18 consider the picture discussion over!

I have been studying with a friend who has took BJJ under the Machados in the past. It really amazes me how good those guys are at gaining the dominant positions and the variety of submissions they have available. It really makes you realize, damn....I'd be in a world of hurt if I ended up rolling around with this guy in a sparring match or street fight.

Not trying to be a jerk or anything, but why is this topic even being discussed in this particular portion of the forum? I think it needs to be moved to GENERAL CHAT.

I once fought a guy who was a former "golden gloves" winner (or so he claimed) and managed to keep him at bay. He fought one of my buddies and busted his nose right before he fought me. I kept my distance, blocked almost all of his punches, and managed to pop him a couple times with low kicks to the abdomen and thighs. Bottom line, I didn't want to trade punches with him. I saw what he could do, and I know where my limits are. Boxers are well trained in feints, movement, and punch delivery. Don't underestimate any boxer; they are worthy adversaries. Some MA guys have the attitude "I have the advantage, I know how to kick"....*. If you don't time your kicks right, he can move in on you and put a hurting on you fast. Match his game, dance with him and deflect his shots using good defense and blocks. Look to throw off his timing with low kicks, and if he reacts low, toss a couple headshots his way. But get in and get out fast, unless you see him start to back away against your advances. Watch for uppercuts...they can sneak in there. Kickboxers, who intermingle the 2 philosophies, are dangerous in their own right. They are fast kickers, and deliver hard punches. They can give a lot of boxers a run for their money.

Well, I can't say I wouldn't have done the same thing...I have (without the battery charge). When you're young, it's important (to you) to defend your character and not appear afraid. The problem is, one day you may stand up to the wrong guy and get your clock cleaned...severely (been there too). To approach 3 guys and confront them for simply chucking snowballs at you seems petty. But I have to say, I'm impressed with the way you stood your ground. You're just lucky his 2 buddies didn't grow a pair and wallop on you. I don't care how tough you think you are, 3 on 1 is a bad proposition in a street fight. Unfortunately, you learned the hard way that what you did was wrong. Self defense is not when you approach someone even if they battered you with ice first. If the scenario was: the guys threw snowballs at you, you told them to stop, they cussed at you then approached you and you tried to back up but couldn't, then you would be justified in self-defense. The law always looks at your ability to retreat. If it is a possibility, the law wants you to do it. Better to walk away than to try to satisfy your ego. In your case, they could be going to court and you'd be the victim had you just let them pelt you and walked away.