Just want a normal schedule.

Work has been crazy this summer. We are 24x7 and usually have two "floater" positions who cover for people when they need time off. Well I have been the only floater all summer so I have been covering for people's vacations and random needs to have time off. My normal schedule is Mon-Tues and Thurs-Fri 6am-430pm, which works really well from me because most of the Jiu Jitsu classes are in the evening. Well, finally starting next week there will be a second floater again! As for this week I have been covering for a co-worker who went to Disney World at the end of the fiscal year, which is a busy time for us. So, I have been off my usual routine and have not been at Jiu Jitsu all week!! Which just blows. But, luckily next Monday I will be back on the mats. I have managed to get in three workouts this week, two Jump Rope and calestinics workout and on running workout. So, hopefully I have been able to somewhat maintain cardio. I prefer to get in 5-6 workouts a week, especially if I'm trying to get back in shape and lose weight like I am right now. I'm going to get a fourth workout in tomorrow. Here's to keeping your head down and getting some work in and BOO to one day weekends!! Back to work....

-Luke

More Side control Escaping...

Made it to the afternoon class today. We continued working on sidecontrol escapes. Maybe it's because I'm a big guy but it seems the guys at this gym like to put a knee on your head to control you in side control. I must say it works well but damn if it doesn't grind the hell out of your ears. It was hard to wash my hair afterwards because my left ear is mangled. Time to get some wrestling head gear to avoid the dreaded cauliflower ear.

I'm starting to get to know some people at the gym which is making it more comfortable. I really miss the comraderie I experienced at my old gym in Mobile. I did get a little time to talk to our black belt Matt, the owner of the gym, and he was telling me how his Dad and Grandpa both died of heart attacks in their 50's and how he has high colesterol. So, of course I talked about my family history. We both agreed I was in the right place for losing weight and getting back in shape. Which by the way my pants are getting loser which is a good thing!

A quick and healthy recipe I tried this week was getting some prepacked asian veggies in the frozen section and some deveined shrimp and threw together a quick meal sauteed in canola oil added a little garlic powder and a pinch of sea salt. It was quite satisfying!

So, In class today we warmed up by rolling. My stamina is getting better to where I can stay competetive a little longer. I held my own and did not get submitted by two blue belts and got a cross choke on another white belt. It's defnitely not all about submissions but it's nice get one from time-to-time. After warming up we drilled escaping from side control which wore me out pretty good. And then we did some 6 minute matchs from the standing position! That was pretty fun although i was pretty tired by then and didn't have as much to give as i would have liked. Although i did nail a seoi nage judo throw. It wasn't real pretty but it worked! Here's a video of some people that can do it way better then myself. I wish I could do it that well! I apologize for the rockin' music that accompanies this video.



Anyhow after a couple rounds of standing to submission sparring I was done. All-in-all it was a good class and another step in the right direction.

Jumping Rope

I got out an old favorite of mine this week for a couple workouts, the jump rope. I discovered the benefits of jumping rope way back when I used to play basketball. I remember reading an article about Clyde Drexler, coincidentally, of the Portland Trailblazers and how he would jump rope to improve his jumping ability, quickness and first-step explosiveness. So, to the garage I went to jump rope. I also remember my Dad telling me that my uncle David recommended jumping rope, he was kind of the sports advisor for me because he was a high school football coach and always in killer shape. It doesn't take long to realize the benefits of jumping rope because after a few minutes you will really start to feel it. Jumping rope will improve your foot work, your coordination and will really blast your calfs and shoulders. Plus, a jump rope is cheap and portable and just a good way to put some variation in your workouts.

I like to switch up my foot patterns when jumping. I usually start off jumping with both feet then move to a running in place type pattern. I also like jumping twice on one foot then alternate. It's up to you and what comes natural.

I have a couple different workouts I do with the jump rope.

This week I did one where I:

Jump Rope 1 minute
1x10 pushups
1x15 squats
jump rope 1 minute
1x10 pushups
1x15 lunges (on each leg so actually 30)
Repeat until you get 10 minutes of jumping rope in. I'm not in very good shape at the moment so this was plenty challenging for me adjust it to fit your fitness level.

Another one I did was:

Jump rope 5 minutes
1x12 curls (25lb. dumbbells)
1x15 kick backs
1x12 lateral raises for shoulders (25lb. dumbbells)
1x12 front raises for shoulders (25lb. dumbbells)
1x20 crunches (I use a camping sleeping pad because we have hardwood floors and it can be rough on the back)
1x20 leg lifts
Repeat the sets 4 times
Finish with 5 minutes of jumping rope.

Also, I have found that a jump rope with plastic beads or 1.5" sections (whatever you want to refer to them as) to work best for me rather then just a rope.

So, get on it!

P.s.- Jumping rope is also good because you can stay in if you just don't feel like going outside to work out and you can watch TV to distract from the pain.

Side Control Escape Week

Yeah, it's been forever but I have been training at least twice a week... But, I have finally come to a place where nothing will stop me from training to get better and to lose weight and get back in shape. It was really hard to get to that place and actually humble myself. It almost like starting over. I can't believe how much I let life affect me after Dad died and I moved to Portland. I really just tried to stay numb and seek comforting things. I have given up the majority of impurities in my life like soda, alcohol (sans wine and the occasional micro brew) and green. First time I have sought a pure life style in quite awhile. Enough rambling.

This week is side control escapes at SBG. Here's a link on Wikipedia that explains side control. Cane was teaching the class, one of my favorite coaches and brown belt, he is really good at breaking down the positions so you can understand them. He started by showing us the basic position you want to assume when you are caught in side control. If someone is on your right side you want to put your left arm across your stomach with your hand on your right hip and pin your right elbow on your side with your arm bent defending the cross face and blocking your opponents hips. He then moved on to showing how to get that basic position back when someone your arms are caught outside the basic position by utilizing the umpa aka bridging and driving your right elbow into the space you create when you umpa then you bridge again and thrust your left arm up over your right shoulder driving your elbow back down across your body to get your basic position back.

I came home and weighed after class and was down 7lbs. that's a lot of sweat! I consider that a good class.