bushido_man96

Don't know why it seems like I just saw this, but hey, that's ok. I've found the more I roll in BJJ class that principles are a better way to look at things as opposed to "this or that technique." Principles will apply to techniques, and this is the better way to train. Of course, having a base of techniques to reference is also helpful.

4/10/2026 Strength Training Squats: 45x5x2, 95x5, 135x3, 155x1, 175x3, 195x3, 205x3, 215x3. Bench Press: 45x5x2, 95x5, 115x5, 135x3, 155x1, 180x5, 180x5, 180x5. Power Cleans: 75x3, 95x3, 115x3, 125x3. Deadlifts: 135x3, 185x2, 225x1, 245x3, 245x3. Full body workout in today. Sets of 3 on squats and deadlifts are making a difference in my head not exploding. When I sat down rep 3 on the deadlift, I thought about going for the 4th rep, but as I took in the breath, I felt the pressure in my head start to build. I took that as a sign to let it set and hit another set of 3 after a rest. The last set went well. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: 6:45 - 8:15 pm. Three warmup rounds, about 3 minutes each. I've decided to focus on a different approach to the warmup rounds; I'm just going to focus on working on position; maintaining good positions or improving position. And when I get better, I'll work on transitioning from one advantageous position to another. Not going to be trying to submit, but will try to see and recognize the opportunities, maybe even briefly attack and then stop and move on. Focus tonight was on leg entanglements. We started with games focused on starting in and holding the position, and they progressed from there. Keeping the knee line. We progressed to top player starting standing and seated player working on getting the leg entanglement from seated and tripping, then holding position. We started seated and got into the entangled position, then went from there. We finished by working on ankle locks and heel hooks. I got a couple of rounds of free rolling in. I ended up submitting to knee on belly position. I was stuck there too long and it just overwhelmed me and couldn't breath. Some time ago I mentioned in one of these posts after a Taekwondo class that a couple of college athletes came in to use the TKD floor to do some grappling, and I stopped and chatted with them for a bit. Good kids. I told them about the Jiu-Jitsu school. Well, they made it in tonight. It was cool to have them in there, but in a way it wasn't, because they just kicked my butt. Younger, athletic, and of course taller than me. But such good kids. It was cool to see them make it in, and hopefully I get to train with them some more in the future as their schedule (and mine) allows.

That's probably a good idea. Throwing Mendoza right into the fire won't be super beneficial, and he'll get a chance to see how a pro prepares for a game. He could learn quite a bit from watching Cousins for the first 4 or so weeks of the season.

4/9/2026 Aikido: 8:45 - 9:45 am. Morning Class. Loosened up and then got into technique work. Katatetori sankyo, omote and ura: I struggled with ura. I have to focus on driving uke's elbow to their hip with the step and turn that is required of the ura variation. I struggled with the entry, too. Maybe overthinking it.

Is Karate in this Olympics?

I don't currently use any fixed blades for work, just a folder. I think I'd like to have a bit longer blade; I think it's only about 3". I've seen some blades that are referred to as "last ditch knives," and they are shaped like a karambit. Something fairly slim that wouldn't take up a lot of space on the belt or on the vest with a comfortable grip and possibly a thumb hole. I'm not sure I'm much help.

4/8/2026 Strength Training Press: 45x5x2, 75x5, 95x3, 127.5x5, 127.5x5, 127.5x5. Lat Pull-downs: 122.5x10, 122.5x10, 122.5x10.

4/6/2026 Strength Training Squats: 45x5x2, 95x5, 115x5, 135x3, 155x3, 175x3. Had a long break before the last set. Too long. Next time I won't get distracted for so long.

I learned about structure very early on, and preach it often when I teach classes, especially in stances. When striking, I teach that power comes from the ground, up through the body, and without proper structure, strikes are moot. In Aikido I find structure to be just as important, and am learning it in a different manner, and I see that when my techniques don't seem to be working quite right, I can trace the root of the problem back to structure. I wonder if these schools that you are seeing this problem from stems from the possibility that they don't hit anything? Hitting a makiwara is one thing; hit that with bad structure and you'll soon realize it. But even striking heavy bags, kicking shields, and focus mitts can help to see the leaks in a weak structure. That kind of immediate feedback should help students with these issues to realize their issues.

4/3/2026 Strength Training Bench Press: 45x5x2, 95x5, 115x3, 135x1, 175x5, 175x5, 175x5. Barbell Curls: 55x15, 55x15, 55x15. Triceps Push-downs: 65x15, 65x15, 65x15.

Boy howdy, I hope it's not the tumor. Keep up the fight! I'll keep praying.

4/2/2026 Aikido: 8:45 - 9:45 am. Morning Class. Loosened up, then jumped right into technique work. In these morning classes we finish a lot of the techniques in a stretch until we are feeling warmed up enough to take ukemi. Technique work was 5th kyu focused. Munestski kotegashi: It felt like I was getting up high doing it on the right side, especially on the entry. I wasn't blending as well. Shomenuchi kotegashi: I need to blend better here, too. Kaitenange: Several versions. I've got a testing date set for May 12th. I'm excited for it, but there is a lot of material in this testing. I'm going to be reviewing more video to get prepared. Aikido: 3:30 - 4:30 pm. Club Class. Mostly technique work. Shomenuchi iriminage: Did ok here. Shomenuchi iriminage omote: Struggled with this one. The tenkan and turn, and keeping uke close enough was a task. My entry here needs work. I did do some falling, but switched it up and finished in stretches as well. My back was still pretty sore.

I've got one of these, but it was written quite a few years ago. If there is a newer one that is updated, I'll need to find it. The one I have isn't a very big book at all.

I have seen that book for years but never pulled the trigger on it. I will pick it up the next chance I get. Thanks for the suggestion!

4/1/2026 Strength Training Deadlifts: 135x3, 185x2. Back still sore, and the pulling didn't seem to agree with it. Going easy today and hopefully can bet back to pulling next week.

3/30/2026 Strength Training Press: 45x5x2, 75x5, 95x3, 125x5, 125x5, 125x5. Lat Pull-downs: 120x10, 120x10, 120x10. Back was still a little sore, but the workout didn't seem to aggravate it further.

Dang, me too....

As do the rest of us. You aren't breaking any new ground here.

Gracie Submission Essentials, by Helio and Royler Gracie. Trying to soak up what I can for BJJ classes.

Fields is an interesting signing for KC. Reid has done good things with QBs like him in the past, and I could see some packages being set up for him to get a few touches near the endzone in a game, to keep Patrick from running the ball as much in those tighter areas. I think the CFL runs an 18 game regular season, with 2 or 3 bye weeks. If the NFL goes to 18 games, I'll bet the NFLPA will require another bye week.

That's really cool that you could see that. Kind of like one of Bob's "a hah!" moments.

I would do it. When one teaches, two learn. It's one of the best ways to make yourself better. And teaching kids teaches you a lot of lessons, too.

3/25/2026 Strength Training Squat: 45x5x2, 115x5, 135x3, 155x1, 170x5, 185x3, 200x1. Clean & Jerk: 95x2, 115x2, 130x2, 130x2, 130x2. I think I strained my back while squatting. Don't know why. It was hurting pretty bad at the end of the session.

3/23/2026 Strength Training Bench Press: 45x5x2, 95x5, 115x5, 135x3, 155x1, 175x5, 175x5, 175x5. Barbell Curls: 50x15, 50x15, 50x15. Triceps Push-downs: 60x15, 60x15, 60x15. Aikido: 6:15 - 7:15 pm. Weapons Class. Bokken focus, warmed up with basic strikes and thrusts, then moved into kumi tachi (paired work) 2 and 3. Finished with jo kata 1 review.

Agreed, we are pulling for you! Get well soon!