Rich67

I don't know about this one....could be nothing. But if the headache returns or the light headedness keeps up, go visit a doctor. On the RARE chance you strained yourself so much that you actually popped a small capillary or other blood vessel somewhere, it's always good to get checked out. I have heard rare occasions where an anyeurysm (sp?) popped when guys lift heavy weight or strain while not breathing. Always remember to breathe....let us know how u are doing!

I don't understand your question. Resist what? Cheesburgers? Or training? If you are "resisting" training, I don't know what he is likening that to...does that mean you refuse to learn? Or what? Please clarify...

I've only been taking BJJ for a short time, but I have mainly been focusing on standing drills: grappling from standing positions and some throws/ takedowns. I have dabbled in groundfighting in my training, but I sincerely believe what my instructor says: if you don't work on the standup drills first, it is harder for you to understand the dynamics of getting your opponent to the ground to do the other techniques in the first place! A buddy of mine trained under the Machados in L.A., and I remember him having a heck of a hard time actually getting me on the ground to be able to work some of the techniques he learned. Once he managed to get me on the ground (after he sustained some hearty kicks and punches ) he was well versed and I was pretty helpless. So always remember that although groundfighting is the focus of BJJ, it does depend a lot on your instructor. Hopefully he will spend some time on stand up skills and takedowns, since they play a big part in the whole Jiu Jitsu experience and success!

Bodyweight only exercises will certainly help strength and muscular development. But there is a limit to your development using them. Weightlifting will increase strength beyond what bodyweight exercises can do, but I do a lot of bodyweight onlys and have noticed a marked difference in my strength and muscular balance over doing just weightlifting.

Know why that is? LIABILITY. I am a trainer for our Sheriff's Office. The carotid restraint was taught to law enforcement a long time ago (pre Rodney King) but it was all but banned by the major departments because of the big L word. That's why LAPD didn't use it against King, which probably could have ended the situation a heckufa lot prettier. People were getting killed in the restraint....why? #1- improper application ( guys were arm barring instead of restraining the carotids)... #2 suspects were hopped up on dope ( which led to in custody deaths after restraints- though properly applied- were done.) Cops aren't taught a good MA regimen because many of the techniques aren't approved by their departments or by case laws restricting their use. The best stuff we teach our guys deals with basic kick/ punch techniques, pressure points and joint manipulation, and we just introduced groundfighting (BJJ based) into the def tactic program as well. Previous posters are right- if you aren't trained in the technique and aren't certified in CPR....leave it alone. If you have both, then use it with caution.

In a real fight, both can be advantageous. I found striking is more effective and simple. Kicks need to be kept low (around mid thigh or lower) since kicking higher gives even an unskilled fighter the opportunity to grab your leg and dump you.

I am going to try to put this "strking the bones makes it harder" myth to rest once and for all: #1: The ways to strengthen bones: http://www.bodytrends.com/articles/strength/strengthbones.htm http://www.primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/library/activity/bonehlth.htm These two sites explain that LOAD BEARING exercises can, in fact, help bone density. NOWHERE in these or any other medical-related articles do they insinuate bone density can be increased by strikes to the bone or deliberately "fracturing" the bone. I fully agree that weightlifting assists in bone development and strength. But dropping the weight on your shin WILL NOT strengthen the bone. Nutrition (calcium and vitamins K and D) also help strengthen bones. In this article: http://www.mybrokenleg.com/faq/detail.html?id=8 The fact that a fractured bone develops a "callous" and the process of that is outlined. It is also clear in this article as well as many other studies that the fractured bone does not come back to 100% strength before its fractured state. The article states it comes "close" to its original state. But never does it become STRONGER. Thus endth the theory that fracturing the bone makes it STRONGER over the course of time. Another piece of misinformation. Iron Body conditioning works on a different plane. Repeated stress to an area (shins, knuckles, etc) DOES have the tendency to allow a "tolerance" to stimuli. For example, repeated strikes to the shin will toughen the connective tissue and muscle surrounding the area, and also "desensitize" the student to the pain of taking a hit. However, the bone's strength itself does not become affected unless a proper nutrition regimen and weightlifting program is also adhered to. Look at it this way: if every day you stabbed an area in your hand with a pencil, eventually that area will sustain nerve damage and build up scar tissue. Eventually the pain would decrease and the area would not be as easily punctured. Same premise of Iron Body conditioning- but notice the bone doesn't come into play. Guys who bust baseball bats with their shins have good technique, focus, and have tough connective tissue in the shins. Their bone density may also be more so than the average Joe. But the density has nothing to do with kicking the bat repeatedly...its just becuase he has healthy, strong bones. I don't mean to sound like a jerk, and I didn't want to offend anyone. But I don't like to see information posted in forums that leads people to incorrect conclusions. Please understand that by deliberately injuring yourself is no way to train. It can become counterproductive and cause other issues with your body. All you need to do to become resistant to strikes and be straong is to: 1) Train hard in the gym and dojo 2) Eat properly- lots of calcium and vitamin K and D 3) If you want to do Iron Body programs, do so sensibly and don't fracture your bones...that's not its purpose.

You know, I realize you were "upset" at my post accusing you of not knowing what you are talking about. But I REALLY find the misinformation and innacurate medical information in your posts quite disheartening. FIRST: You DO NOT cause "tiny fractures in the bone" when you hit it with a hard object! There different types of fractures: oblique,spiral, compound, comminuted, greenstick, traverse, and simple. Have you ever held a human bone? It's not like a piece of plaster that breaks at the slightest tap. And based on your hypothesis you are making it sound as if it is. It takes a large amount of force to break a bone. More force than can be produced by you slamming a stick into your gut. Even if someone were to strike you with a stick and break a rib, you will either completely break it or cause a hairline fracture to it. Either way, it is quite painful, gives way to breathing difficulty, and can cause internal injury if done hard enough. SECOND: calcium buildup will occur after a break, but this in no way strengthens the bone MORE than its original state. By you stating that by striking yourself repeatedly in the ribs over the course of time and fracturing your ribs so that calcium buildup occurs and thus strengthens your ribs is completely INCORRECT. This isn't saying that doing the same type of conditioning to your tibia or knuckles wouldnt have a positive effect. But to say you are actually fracturing the bone is an incorrect statement. The muscle, tendons, skin, and other areas surrounding the bone WILL build up a resistance to this kind of training. Bone strength relies on calcium and its intake over the course of your life. Breaking a bone causes an area of weakness in the bone. EVEN IF calcium rebuilds the bone this area is still weaker than the healthy bone. That's why you hear of people breaking bones repeatedly in the same spot after it heals. So no, you do not know what you're talking about. To reiterate, no one is calling you a liar. You are simply misinformed, and we are just trying to properly inform you so you (or someone else) won't seriously injure yourself while trying to do something that doesn't have the proper intended purpose.

I guess realistically.... how would it look if you were skipping down the street instead of jogging.... Jogging is somewhat hard on the knees, especially if you are prone to supination or pronation excessively and you buy cheap shoes. I ran a lot up until I tore my ACL, and now I do low impact cardio. That would be like biking, elliptical trainers, stair climbers, etc. All things that don't have your foot pounding on a concrete surface repeatedly.

The only way to condition this area is to work your abs. The rectus abdominus covers this area and a strong muscle can help reduce the impact to the area. However, regardless of how well conditioned it may be, a strong blow still has the ability to crack ribs, no matter HOW much you do. As far as "Dear John"... -take a stick and hit your ribs. Uhhhh..... how big a stick? -do this every day forever. Talk about dedication! -dont do it too hard, never enough to make a visible bruise. -only do it once a day. -eventually you will build a good calciums deposits and hve strong ribs. ??? Calcium deposits are only formed if bones are broken or usually in ball and sockey joints due to repetitive use syndrome. Are you saying you are actually breaking the ribs?? Please...don't do that... -the place above the abs and below the chest is called the solar plexus and strengthening that takes basic stomach exercises. While it is true you can lessen the vulnerability of the solar plexus with strong abs, you cannot strengthen the plexus itself. It is a protrusion at the base of the sternum wrapped with nerves, and is cartilage/bone- not a muscle... Please, before you post, know what you are talking about before you cause some gullible people to actually take your advice. Slamming a stick into your gut daily for the rest of your life is not the answer. Let's be responsible here...

It all depends on who is teaching it, and what their idea of BJJ is. The BJJ I am studying deals purely with grappling. Standing grappling to takedowns, guard and mount positions, etc. Not any fancy kicks, just dirstractors to the knees and thighs, and elbow strikes. Don't know what your friend may be doing, but it may be a hybrid style- if he doesn't know any grappling, he may not actually be studying BJJ, maybe capoeira.

Do hanging leg lifts/raises. Crunches are not the best exercise for abs- they take a large amount to display benefits, and I personally don't want to waste 20 minutes crunching and feeling a burn. I do 3 sets of 12-15 hanging leg raises, my abs are sore the next day, and I have seen more ab development by doing them in the past 6 months than I saw in my 10 years of doing crunches.

Keep in mind also that those guys dido a lot of cardio. Cardio also helps keep you lean so you don't bulk up as much. I agree with what Radok says to a point (SARCO WHAT???! ) but I don't think you should strictly lift heavy weight at low reps from training cycle to training cycle. This kind of work will still add some bulk once you develop a resistance to the weight you are lifting. Mix it up with higher rep/ lower weight work as well. But keep in mind- bulk is all a matter of genetics. If you are a naturally lean person, chances are you won't put too much weight on your frame to interfere with other activities. I am 5'11" and 190#'s. I am not built for bulk, and no matter how heavy I go, I won't get so big I will look like those guys on Muscle and Fitness or Ironman magazine. Unless I do roids. And even still, look at guys like Ken Shamrock, Frank Mir, etc. Those guys are still pretty big, but I don't think anyone considers them inflexible or "musclebound". That's because they mix in lots of stretching, training, cardio and lifting in equal parts- not to mention MAYBE some chemical enhancement- though I am not accusing them of that.

It can...only if you do it long enough.

Oh cripes, here we go. Not as harmful as alcohol?? This is brainwashing at its finest here. First off, SMOKING (dope included) causes lung, throat and mouth cancers. It causes emphysema later in life. The same holds true if you smoke weed. In fact, the risks of the above are greater with weed, since no filtration is present (no, the screen/ bong water doesn't filter out the bad stuff). Secondly, everyone says it is not as bad as alcohol. What a cop-out. Alcohol is far greatly abused than weed, since it is more readily available (read-LEGAL)and more people resort to it to kill pains (mental and physical). Weed will do the same thing to you mentally and behaviorally as alcohol. In my job, I come into contact with many people who are high on drugs as well as marijuana. They can be just as violent, criminally intent, and just as stupid on weed as they can on booze. If you don't believe that, then go pay a visit to your local jail on a given Friday or Saturday night. Pot makes you lose your drive and willingness to be a self-starter. It is a pointless crutch. If you need marijuana to get through a day, you are a weak and feeble person. Anyone who needs to resort to illegal drugs as well as booze to cope has a weakness issue, and needs to get some self-esteem and strength. The guy shoulda been disqualified. As far as I am concerned he (along with guys why use 'roids) have no business being in the MA's. It is exactly OPPOSITE what the MA's stand for. I find it pathetic and weak.

I agree here. I am in the same predicament as you- I lift around 8 or 9 pm and hit the sack at around 11 pm. I usually don't have much of a problem falling asleep, however. After my cool down, I drink a light protein shake and a glass of water. This stems the headache. I think you may be gettiing the headaches since you are not properly hydrating before nighty-night. Your muscles need water to repair themselves, which is what they are doing while you sleep. If they run out of water, they zap it from other areas of your body which causes a "hangover" like headache. Hence, DEHYDRATION. Drink lots of water before bed and if you wake up, down a glass too. As far as being wound up and not able to sleep, try just sitting around and relaxing for at least an hour before bed. Take a nice warm shower right before bed and give that a try. It always works for me.

Jumping rope is excellent cardio. But it is only beneficial if you can jump without resting too much in between- about 10-15 minutes straight without hanging up the rope. Reason being, in order for cardio to be effective (fat loss, general boost of energy, heart fitness) you have to maintain a certain BPM (or, beats per minute) depending on what your fitness goals are for a certain period of time. Don't take my word for it, read this: http://faculty.weber.edu/molpin/exercisebenefits.html I'd work in some other form of cardio like biking or jogging, so you can do about a 30-40 minute medium intensity session about 3 times a week (more if you want more fat loss).

Ouch, man.

The main thing in order to see results, is make sure you are exercising enough. Too many people hit the gym and make it a "social hour"...they take 5 minutes between sets, hang out and * with buddies, then their workout becomes a 2 hour quest for a date on a Friday night. You shouldn't spend any more than an hour in the gym if you are being productive. And by productive, that means you are sweating buckets after that hour and you have pretty much no energy left. Some people may laugh, but I think you should order some workout DVD's. They are actually very helpful for starting exercisers since they give you some level of personal training you don't get just by making up your own routine. The best ones out there IMO are Tae Bo and Power 90. The Power 90 stuff has 2 levels of difficulty and I lost a lot of weight and toned a lot on it. I now adapt my own workouts around it, and it works great for me.

lmao @ red j

A cold or ice cold bath after a strenuous workout might not be a good idea. I think the fact that the "water gets into the pores and causes the spasms" is nonsense . Muscles may cramp because of excessively cold water, but who takes a cold bath??? The warm bath is therapeutic, and may help muscle recovery. Taking an ice bath for certain body part may work to stem swelling, but that's about all.

Milk is not only a good protein source, but the calcium helps strengthen bones. Folks who took in little milk as they were growing up are more prone to broken bones and future bone problems as they get older (broken hips from falls, osteoperosis, etc.) As far as quality of protein, the best by far is whey, then soy or other types. I like soy since it doesn't mess with my stomach like whey does. But they all do the trick. Bottom line is, 2-3 glasses of skim milk a day is good for you...heck, it won't hurt!

Hmmm....I would think (not a scientifically based opinion, mind you) that this may be one of those "old wive's tales"....don't eat and swim within 10 minutes, don't have sex before a big game, etc... I don't see what the problem would be. In fact, I would think a warm or hot bath after straining the muscles would be very relaxing and may aid in recovery time...reducing muscle soreness, etc. I like to soak in the jacuzzi after working out hard, and I know I feel a lot better after doing so.

You're right; that was just an example. But the rear naked is the same choke (basically) as ANY carotid restraint or what everyone is referring to as a "blood choke". In order to shut off blood supply, the carotid arteries must be compressed- and in order to do that, the easiest method is the bicep/forearm restraint- hence, Blood choke, AKA carotid restraint hold, AKA sleeper, AKA rear naked. Any other choke is one that shuts off air supply.