The Martial Artists' Training Log

[bushido_man96]

I appreciate the feedback @DarthPenguin.  We are mainly doing no gi, although the instructor has worn his gi once, and he said we can do it from time to time.  But I think I'll be the only one other than him in the gi, so not sure how much that helps me, if at all.

10/7/2024

Aikido Class:  Weapons Class:  5:00 - 6:00 pm.  Started with jo warm-ups, hi-8, then did jo kata 1, a few times on the traditional side and a few times on the unorthodox side.  Good review.  We also did jo disarms again, this time a kote-gashi throw, moving to the outside of a shomenuchi strike.  I need to focus on my center, where it is, and where everything else is in relation to my center.  I need to stay in my center, especially when turning and rotating.

After jo, we did bokken strikes and thrusts up and down the floor, and worked on getting a good launch to cover distance.  This is tough for me, having short legs, but made some progress on figuring it out.  We did bokken kata 1 twice.

[bushido_man96]

10/8/2024

Strength Training

Leg Press:  135x10, 185x10, 225x5, 295x3, 315x2, 345x5, 345x5, 345x5.

Press:  45x5x2, 75x5, 95x3, 115x2, 135x5, 135x5, 135x5.

Lat Pull-downs:  162.5x10, 162.5x10, 162.5x10.

 

10/9/2024

TKD Class:  Traditional Class:  5:30 - 6:30 pm.  I led the class today.  There were only three of us, counting the 3rd dan that usually teaches the class, but he wanted to jump into basics and asked that I lead it.  After getting through the normal strikes and blocks, I added in some things on the kicking basics and the combinations.  From our twin low blocks/front stance position, we usually do stretching kicks and then back leg front kicks advancing down the floor, and then finish with outer crescent kicks in place.  I added inner crescent kicks, and then finished with a combination of outer crescent kick followed by same leg spin outer crescent kick.  After we did our side kicks advancing down the floor in sitting stance, I added hook kicks advancing down the floor in a similar manner.  We did our normal combinations to finish, and I added in the long lost 3rd combination we hardly do any more; double face punches in front stance, followed by back leg round kick, followed by spin outer crescent kick.  I used the whole length of the dojang on most of the kicking and combination work, switching things up halfway down the floor.  Basics took us about 20 minutes, and it was a good warm-up.

I watched and critiqued forms next; Toi Gye, Hwa Rang, and Yoo Sin.  Then I did my form, Choong Jang.  I then watched them do low-blue/brown belt one-steps, and then we hopped into sparring.  No pads, 2 rounds.  I need to see things better and move a little more.  Finished up with a nice floor stretch.

[bushido_man96]

10/10/2024

Strength Training

Leg Press:  135x10, 185x10, 225x5, 315x3, 350x5, 350x5, 350x5.

Bench Press:  45x5x2, 75x5, 95x3, 115x2, 150x5, 150x5, 150x5.

Lat Pull-downs:  165x10, 165x10, 165x10.

 

BJJ Class:  7:00 - 8:30 pm.  I was paired up with Kendall the whole night, so I got some good work in (I think...).

1.  Standing, one person's job was to get double underhooks (win), and the other person's job was to try to break balance and use footwork to get an outside-to-inside foot sweep (scooping with the foot) and "lift."

6 min, 2 rounds.

It was really hard to get to double underhooks on Kendall.  He pummels well and moves well.  I think I got to double underhooks once on him.  On the flipside, Kendall struggled with setting up the foot sweep.  He could get close and step behind for a sweep, but that wasn't the focus of the drill and we talked about how to get better at it, which he did.  Coach provided some thoughts as well.  When I was trying to foot sweep, I could get to a good position footwork wise, but he kept a good base and I had trouble breaking his balance.

2.  One person on bottom, other on top in mount or side control.  Bottom man's job was to escape, reverse, or get to guard (win).  Top man's job was to hold the chest-to-chest or chest-to-back position (if offered) for as long as possible.  Top guy couldn't win, which meant in order to switch roles, it was on the bottom man.

6 min.

We did this drill with the top guy in mount position.  From bottom, I could reverse or sweep or get to guard on a fairly regular basis.  I felt I did ok.  When Kendall was on bottom, the wrestler came out, and he turned and gave up his back a couple of times (trying to base out like a wrestler).  I talked him through some better options.

3.  Same game, but this time the top guy's job was to work to isolate both arms above the head and get the head, too (win).  Bottom guy still trying to escape/sweep/reverse (win).

6 min.

This time we worked with the top guy in side control.  It was much harder for me to get out.  I'd rather be under the mount.  A few times I was able to get to a half-guard, but I had a hell of a time finishing to a full guard.  I did carry the pressure better.  Or I just dealt with it better, one of the two.  It still sucked.  Kendall keeps such good pressure.  On our last roll I was actually getting his arms worked up while I was in mount but ran out of time.  What I failed to do was walk my knees up along with my hands.  We talked about it with coach afterwards and I mentioned that I feel like if my hips leave his hips I'm giving up control or something.  I don't know why I think that, but that's what I think, with no basis whatsoever.

After all that, Kendall and I rolled once for around 3 minutes I think.  We started standing, and he got me with an arm-drag where I went down to one knee, and he all but locked up a cradle on me and took me down.  Then it was a fight from the bottom.  After that, Kendall rolled several matches with coach.  He did pretty good at getting takedowns, but he seemed to always end up in a spider guard (I think).  He tapped to chokes a few times, which is a good learning experience for him.  He's getting better.

One thing I mentioned to coach while working on things was that with TKD I can see everything out in front of me, and I tend to know where I am and where someone else is.  I'm still learning to feel what I can't see when grappling.

[bushido_man96]

10/14/2024

Aikido Class:  Weapons Class: 5:00 - 6:00 pm.  We warmed up with jo basics:  hi-4, lo-4, hi-8, and lo-8.  I got to work with sensei and we really went at a pretty good clip, got to clacking those jos together.  After that was jo kata 1 and 2, a few times each, on both sides.  Jo 2 on the opposite side is a work in progress.

Next was bokken work.  We did some partner striking, doing yokomenuchi strikes back and forth, using our footwork to maintain distance (ma-ai).  Again, sensei and I worked at a pretty good clip.  Next was bokken kata 1 and 2 a few times each.

Finally, we finished with jo disarm, and we worked on a kokyo-nage variant.  Just need to work on these to get comfortable with them.

 

TKD Workout:  6:15 - 7:00 pm.  No one in class tonight but me, so I did a solo-basics workout.  Started with a floor stretch, then did or regular basics with my extra ones added in.  I finished off with a stretch in The Rack with the chair back at 2.  I made it up to 150 degrees fairly comfortably.

[bushido_man96]

10/15/2024

Strength Training

Leg Press:  135x10, 185x10, 225x5, 315x3, 355x5, 355x5, 355x5.

Press:  45x5x2, 75x5, 95x3, 115x2, 137.5x5, 137.5x5, 137.5x5.

Lat Pull-downs:  167.5x10, 167.5x10, 167.5x10.

Stretch.

 

10/17/2024

Strength Training

Squat:  45x5x2, 95x5, 135x5, 155x5, 155x5, 155x5.

Bench Press:  45x5x2, 95x5, 115x3, 135x2, 155x5, 155x5, 155x5.

Lat Pull-downs:  170x10, 170x10, 170x10.

The squat felt ok at the time.  I noticed later my tinnitus seemed to be louder, so I'll have to watch this.

 

BJJ Class:  7:00 - 8:00 pm. We worked from full guard in this class.

1.  Bottom guy has closed guard, and his job is to try to control top guy's posture and work to isolate head/arm (win).  Top guy can't win.

5 min.

I did ok here.  I was able to get head/arm isolation on Kendall a few times.  He struggled at first, but he caught on and was able to do the same to me.

2.  Same game, but the bottom guy could work to a sweep if the top guy postured up and away.  If bottom guy got head/arm isolation or a sweep, that was a win.  Top guy still couldn't win.

5 min.

I did get one sweep on Kendall.  He said I moved faster than he thought I could .  Kendall did a much better job defending from the top this time, and I didn't get as many head/arm isolations.

3.  Setting triangle choke.  Bottom guy started with head/arm isolation, and his job was to try to set the triangle choke.  Top guy tried to defend it.

5 min, 2 rounds.

Kendall and I spent most of the time just trying to figure out how to set the choke.  We both have big legs (and short legs) and broad shoulders, and we had a tough time getting the choke set.  We just need to keep working on it.  Coach was able to talk Kendall through the choke on him, but we struggled when we grappled together.

[bushido_man96]

10/19/2024

Joint Shorin-Ryu Karate/Aikido Seminar:  3:30 - 6:30 pm.  I've recently learned that there is a Shorin-Ryu dojo about an hour northeast of me in a small town, High Winds Okinawan Karate.  They held a seminar about a month or so ago, but due to other commitments I was unable to attend.  My Aikido Sensei was able to attend for a day, and he had a good time and said they were very proficient.  So he invited them to come do a joint training session at his dojo, with their Senseis teaching Shorin-Ryu material the first hour and a half, and him teaching Aikido the second hour and a half.  I got to attend this one, and had a really good time.  I'm going to get long-winded here, fair warning.

Karate:  3:30 - 5:00 pm.  We started off with learning some basic techniques; high blocks, straight punches, outside-to-inside blocks, front thrust kicks, knife hand blocks (shuto), etc.  We moved to doing the kicks and punches on shields, in combinations.  Then we moved to focus mitts, doing strike/strike/block or duck/kick.  It was fun, as we haven't done focus mitt work in our school in forever.  This was all stuff I was familiar with, other than a few nuances which didn't really cause any issues.  Still fun.

Next, they did some self-defense work.  First was against a two-handed choke from the front.  The instructor taught to look one way and use the opposite arm to lock down on the same side arm, pinning it to your chest.  The other hand high blocks up to knock the other hand off, and then that high block hand comes back down as a knife hand strike to the neck.  Then he showed defenses against a bar-arm/rear naked choke from behind.  We secured the wrist of the attacker and raise our other hand up, then swing it down between our bodies and use the momentum to turn to face them at the same time.  From there, it was body lock and work to throw or find other solutions.  Then the attack was augmented to be choking and dragging you backwards.  From there we secured the wrist again, pulled down for some breathing room, and stepped the leg back around the attacker's leg on the closed side of the lock.  The step back helps to regain balance and put a pivot point on their leg.  Then it was twist into them slightly and then big twist back to the front, throwing them over the leg.  Last self-defense scenario was against a straight reverse punch or stepping punch.  Outside-to-inside block (I'd just call it inside block, they called it outside block) right above the elbow and simultaneous punch to the ribs with the other hand.  Punching hand then comes up towards the shoulder while the other hand stayed connected, then slide down to the wrist and arm bar, and if they try to bend the arm, switch over to an S-lock and take them down the other way.

Lastly, we finished up with them showing us some of the body conditioning they do.  Punches to the abdomen while tightening the core/kiai, doing inside blocks to each other to toughen the arms, and finally standing in fighting stance and taking round kicks to the inside and outside of the leg just above the knee.

Lots of good concepts, and it was very interesting to see how they did things.  Always cool to learn new stuff.

Aikido:  5:00 - 6:30 pm.  We started with rolling and breakfalling (ukemi), which I always need work on to smooth things out.  We worked ikkyo and nikkyo applications to a lapel grab/straight punch attack.  We did nikkyo first, and this went well, stepping to the inside of the attacking arm (big step off-line) and sending the hand to their shoulder to defend while stretching them out.  Then slide that arm down to secure the wrist, turn back and keep the body bladed to avoid attack and secure the nikkyo lock on the shoulder.

Then we blocked on the inside with the other hand while sweeping the back foot all the way back and around, moving the body out of the way and setting up the transition into ikkyo, almost like and arm bar, but turning the elbow to point down at the finish, with something like an S-lock on the wrist.  It was an odd stepping motion with the block, and I had to really think about it to get it down.  Then from that position to get the arm moving, there is a back step with the leg in front to a front stance-like position, then I do what I liken to turning from one front stance to another front stance facing the other way, using the hips to generate the movement of the attacker into position.  Keeping it all tied to the hips is the key.

Last technique was going outside to block the arm, what he referred to as the "Hail Mary" version, due to the more potential for being struck.  This went into juju-nage, which is twisting one arm around the other and throwing.  Took some work, but got to where it was feeling better.

We got to do some "free work" after, where we could blend elements of what we learned from the Karate section, or from what we know previously, into the techniques.  This was fun to explore.  I primarily see opportunities to strike and kick.

This seminar was a lot of fun, I met some great people, and even caught up with an old friend who attends that Karate dojo.  I look forward to more opportunities to train with them.

Edited October 22 by bushido_man96

[bushido_man96]

10/21/2024

Aikido Class:  Weapons Class:  5:00 - 6:00 pm.  Lots of jo work today.  We had some new students in the class, so we worked a lot on hi-4.  I got to do some lo-8 with another experienced student, and got some good continuous work in.  Then we did jo kata 1, both sides, and jo kata 2.  We had to really dig into memory and put jo kata 2 together, but we got there, and I think it'll stick better from that work.  We finished with some jo-dori.

TKD Class:  Black Belt Class:  6:30 - 7:30 pm.  Just me and the CI, so we did all 12 three-steps, and then all colored belt one-steps.  The three-steps we did back and forth, and for the one-steps, we did each belt rank's one-steps continuously, then attacked for the other partner to do them all.  Some good steady work, and my outer crescent kicks went better today.  We finished by doing all black belt forms up to our current rank.  Then I sat in The Rack and stretched up to 140 degrees.

 

10/22/2024

Strength Training

Leg Press:  135x10, 185x10, 225x5, 315x3, 360x5, 360x5, 360x5.

Bench Press:  45x5x2, 95x5, 115x3, 135x2, 160x5, 160x5, 160x5.

Lat Pull-downs:  172.5x10, 172.5x10, 172.5x10.

Press was on the agenda for today, but my head wasn't feeling it, so I did bench instead.  I put the belt on for the work sets, and I noticed a difference.

[bushido_man96]

10/23/2024

TKD Class:  Traditional Class:  5:30 - 6:30 pm.  Basics:  I took it easy on stepping and turning today; knees weren't feeling great.  I really made sure I was pre-pivoting on kicks and when walking in stances.  The mat was really chewing up my feet again.  I did all the front kicks today as thrusting front kicks.  The 3rd dan leading the class had a really good thought he got from a higher-up on doing back leg round kicks and then landing in front stance; really pull back on the rechamber so you pull the body back into a better position to set down quicker.  It worked well.  After basics I did a floor stretch.

Forms:  Choong Jang.  It was feeling really good, but I was off-target, and have been several times, when punching my left hand into my right palm (reverse punch in a back stance).  I don't have this issue on the other side.

One-steps:  Watched a blue belt and an orange belt work back and forth on white belt one-steps.  I gave comments on the evasive motions, and how they needed to cut out the extra steps in order to make them smooth and better effect the evasion.

[bushido_man96]

10/24/2024

Strength Training

Leg Press:  135x10, 185x10, 225x5, 315x3, 335x2, 365x5, 365x5, 365x5.

Press:  45x5x2, 75x5, 95x3, 115x2, 140x5, 140x5, 140x5.

Lat Pull-downs:  175x8, 175x8, 175x8, 175x8.

Moving the pull-downs to 4 sets of 8.  Sets of 10 just weren't finishing like I wanted them to.  I'm also going to forego supersetting them with the upper body movement to better recover for each set.

 

BJJ Class:  7:00 - 8:15 pm.

1.  Top guy on knees, bottom guy sits on his butt in butterfly guard.  Bottom guy's job was to elevate and sweep, trying to use a shoulder crunch to do so.  The shoulder crunch was basically isolating one shoulder with a forearm across the top guy's face, and lifting the elbow to help facilitate the sweep like a lever (win).  The top guy's job was to try to get a high body lock, apply pressure and pass by getting the legs clear of the hips by getting to them to the side (win).

5 min, x2 rounds.

I really struggled on both ends of this drill.  On bottom, I wasn't getting him pulled up high enough onto me to get him unbalanced and swept.  When on top, I struggled getting the pressure and the body lock.  I did pass a few times.  When I was on bottom I was keeping my hooks in too high.  I needed to keep them out more towards the knees, and I needed to keep them active.

2.  Standing.  One guy had a single-leg shelved on the outside, and try to move them and get a trip.  The defender's job was to get an uchi-mata (win).

3 min.

I got the uchi-mata a few times.  I had trouble getting a good trip.

3.  Same drill, but the person with the leg shelved was trying to get to the other leg for a takedown, or otherwise takedown with the single-leg.

3 min.

This was very challenging against Kendall.

Free rolling:  3 rounds, 3 min each, all with Kendall.

In one round I managed to get a decent takedown, but I broke contact and didn't follow into it, so he recovered quickly.  At one point I almost had an armbar; I just didn't get it set right.  He did get me with an Americana in side control once.  A common theme is that I tend to get taken down a lot and end up pulling guard.  I was exhausted after that second round.  My arms felt like lead.

[bushido_man96]

Finally back to getting some work in after missing a week.  My head did a big reset on me.  It seems to happen this time of year every year.  No idea how to deal with it.

11/9/2024

BJJ Class:  10:00 - 10:40 am.  Back control focus.  Three of us in class, so we did round-robins in the drills.

1.  Referee's position, top guy lock hands.  Top focus was to break the bottom guy down onto his hips and just control for as long as possible.  Bottom guy's job was to escape/reverse (win).

6 min.

This went ok to start out.  I could get the grip broke and hip heist out a few times, but Kendall thought I was putting myself in a bad position when doing that (and I very well could have been, since the drill would end with the escape).  I could break down Kendall's hips and hold him a little while.  When I would lock up the instructor from behind, he could move well and often got me on my back.  I got into bad position trying to hold on.  Probably not following with my hips enough.

2.  Same drill, but the top guy could break hands and get a seat belt grip, a 2-on-1, and put hooks in.  Bottom guy had the same job, escape/reverse (win).

6 min.

The instructor let me work from bottom, and I could find points to gather the arms up and get things moved around and got to mount position a few times.  I couldn't break Kendall's hips down this go around, though.  Not sure what I wasn't doing right, but he stayed pretty solid.

3.  Now we went to a seated position with the "top" guy in the backpack position, underhooks and hooks in the legs.  Top guy's job was to work to isolation of head/arm, to get to a rear naked choke, armbar, triangle, or whatever (win).  Bottom guy still working to reverse/escape/etc. (win).

6 min.

The instructor gave a few pointers during this drill.  When bottom here, and they have your back, getting your shoulders flat to the mat was the key.  I'd drive back onto the "top" person and then try to get flat to the mat...it really helped out.  He pointed out that the "top" guy getting driven back should try to use the hips to throw them back forward and get back to work from there.  Sometimes it would require getting the "bottom" guy's hands busy so they start moving, but it was helpful as well.  Kendall caught me in a weird armbar as I was moving away from him and I had to tap out of it in a hurry.  He also was working in a pretty good choke and I eventually tapped out of that before getting it sank in.

After all that I was done.  Kendall and the coach rolled for a while and Kendall was learning some good stuff.  I sat and stretched for a bit and watched.