That's right folks. I got da funk - right on my face, neck, and left arm.
AAAAAGGGHHH! I am so frustrated!
Contrary to its name, ringworm is actually caused by a fungus, not a worm. Why did they have to give it that nasty name? I don't know - it only freaks people out more.
That's the harsh reality of any sport that involves practicing or competing on a mat or with boxing gloves. Even though our mats are sterilized between every class, you can't guarantee that the guy punching you in the face sterilized his gloves after punching the last guy in the face.
Along with this fungus, fighters and wrestlers also run the risk of staph infections (Staphylococcus Aureus) - which can be pretty serious if not treated immediately, and of course the famous cauliflower ears, which involves the cartilage in the ears growing out of control after repeated abuse.
According to the doctor I saw yesterday, ringworm is not contagious from skin to skin contact, though I have heard otherwise. He said you can transfer it to a non-human surface or contract it from a non-human surface.
According to some sources on the internet, you can spread it by skin to skin contact, so I don't know what to believe. To play it safe, I'm not going to go to Muay Thai or any other class until this clears up. I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable, and I don't want to spread it to any other surfaces at the gym.
Here is a link to one of the sites where I read about ringworm: http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/tc/ringworm-of-the-skin-topic-overview
This throws a real monkey wrench into my scheduled workout plans, as I was supposed to begin my Strength & Conditioning classes this week, along with Boxing and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu the last week of this month. Now, they're all going to have to wait until at least the first week of February, and it wouldn't be wise to try to start them all in the same week.
Until then, I will be taking my meds prescribed for it and doing all non-contact exercises and conditioning. I can still lift weights, run, and punch the bags, so it looks like that's what I'll be doing for the next two weeks.
It sucks, but this is the reality of these kinds of sports. Hopefully, I'll some more exciting and less creepy stories for you in a few weeks.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
07: Double Your Vision, Double Your Fun
Tonight was a great night. I sparred in the cage for the first time with headgear, shin guards, and 16-oz. gloves.
During these sparring sessions, which take place after Muay Thai class, the fighters increase the amount of power in their strikes to around 50 percent or more. The rounds are three minutes long, and you do anywhere from one to two rounds at a time. Since I was the new guy, I only did one round.
The guy I was up against is something like the Energizer bunny. I was sure to let him know it was my first time sparring outside of class, and he told me, "Just go easy."
I figured that would be no problem, I'll just ease my way into this. I've sparred easy a hundred times in my life, but it's always been "light contact." I'm used to sparring "easy." That's what you do in virtually every karate class in this country.
However, as soon as they set the timer and said, "Begin!" this dude came at me like a rabid badger! I was pretty sure he was putting way more than 50 percent power into his punches. Maybe it was the way he grunted when he swung at me, maybe it was because he was moving fast as hell - or maybe it was both. Either way, I knew I needed to turn it up a notch to hang with this guy.
He was all over the place. At first, I felt like a toddler trying to catch a mongoose. I gotta say, that made me feel really inadequate. Also, this was my first time using the 16-oz. gloves, and they felt really heavy to me. Throwing punches with all of this gear on feels really, really different.
Being inside the MMA cage made me feel secure - sort of like closing your bedroom door at night when you go to sleep. I don't know how else to explain it, but I really liked it in there. You don't have to worry about being crowded by other people in the class, and there is something really relieving about not having to pull your punches. Pulling punches in karate class just never felt right to me.
I tried remembering to keep my shoulders up and keep my chin tucked as I learned during a light sparring session in class this past Tuesday. However, as fatigue set in very quickly, I made that mistake again and got rrrocked!
He hit me with a right cross right on the chin and literally had me seeing double. I had to stop for a second, and it seemed like my vision was not going to go back to normal. I had a strange feeling of deja vu, as if somewhere before I had been staring at the floor inside of a cage while seeing double. I guess getting punched in the face can do weird things to the brain.
I've been knocked out twice during street fights before, but this was my first time getting rocked this hard without actually going down. If this were a real fight, he'd have come in for the kill, and I would have been toast.
I recovered in what I think was less than ten seconds, and I was surprised at how normal I felt upon recovering. I was able to continue sparring, and I did my best to turn the heat up on this guy.
I was feeling really fatigued and wondering how I was going to make it through the whole three minutes. This guy was just pouring it on me.
There's a lot of things going through your head while sparring like this. I was trying to remember to work my angles (footwork), keep my hands and shoulders up, tuck my chin, focus on technique and speed, throw my kicks from the opposite side as my last punch, control my breathing, and listen to my coach.
Now I fully understand why you need someone in your corner telling you what to do. To a spectator, it doesn't look like there's that much going on, but for the fighters, it's almost chaotic. Listening to my coach made a world of difference for me during this session.
On top of everything that was going on, my heart felt like it was going to pop out of my chest, my arms felt like lead weights, and there was a voice in the back of my head saying, "This is just a three-minute sparring session. You really want to fight full-contact for three, 5-minute rounds?" But the answer to that voice was easy - "HELL YEAH!"
I knew that the main thing defeating me during this session wasn't the other guy - it was my cardio. If I wasn't gassing out, it would have been much easier to stay focused.
Finally, I landed a good shot on this guy - I don't even remember what punch it was - but I soon as I felt him backing off, I felt energized again. I went in for the kill - probably with all the speed and agility of hippo on muscle relaxers.
Regardless, I landed a serious of several punches, though I can't vouch for the quality of my technique. I had him backed up against the cage and was throwing uppercuts and hooks as fast as I could when they called, "Time!"
I felt good that I finished stronger than I began, but I knew more than anything that my cardio and my technique failed me miserably.
Identify your weaknesses, work on them, and make them your strengths.
Several people, including my head instructor, told me that I did really well for it being my first "real" sparring session. That made me feel really great! I love my school and my team, and I love the positive vibes in that place.
I got some tips from our other instructor as well. He told me that I was dropping my hands after each punch, instead of pulling it right back to protect my face, and that I was punching too much with my arms and not my hips. I'm taking mental notes, and these will be two things I will be very focused on during my next session.
Having had this experience this evening has only added to my hunger. I can't wait to do this again. I can't wait to get into better shape, so that it is not as hard!
I was so tired before class today that I actually considered not going. I'm really glad I sucked it up and forced myself to go. I loved it!
During these sparring sessions, which take place after Muay Thai class, the fighters increase the amount of power in their strikes to around 50 percent or more. The rounds are three minutes long, and you do anywhere from one to two rounds at a time. Since I was the new guy, I only did one round.
The guy I was up against is something like the Energizer bunny. I was sure to let him know it was my first time sparring outside of class, and he told me, "Just go easy."
I figured that would be no problem, I'll just ease my way into this. I've sparred easy a hundred times in my life, but it's always been "light contact." I'm used to sparring "easy." That's what you do in virtually every karate class in this country.
However, as soon as they set the timer and said, "Begin!" this dude came at me like a rabid badger! I was pretty sure he was putting way more than 50 percent power into his punches. Maybe it was the way he grunted when he swung at me, maybe it was because he was moving fast as hell - or maybe it was both. Either way, I knew I needed to turn it up a notch to hang with this guy.
He was all over the place. At first, I felt like a toddler trying to catch a mongoose. I gotta say, that made me feel really inadequate. Also, this was my first time using the 16-oz. gloves, and they felt really heavy to me. Throwing punches with all of this gear on feels really, really different.
Being inside the MMA cage made me feel secure - sort of like closing your bedroom door at night when you go to sleep. I don't know how else to explain it, but I really liked it in there. You don't have to worry about being crowded by other people in the class, and there is something really relieving about not having to pull your punches. Pulling punches in karate class just never felt right to me.
I tried remembering to keep my shoulders up and keep my chin tucked as I learned during a light sparring session in class this past Tuesday. However, as fatigue set in very quickly, I made that mistake again and got rrrocked!
He hit me with a right cross right on the chin and literally had me seeing double. I had to stop for a second, and it seemed like my vision was not going to go back to normal. I had a strange feeling of deja vu, as if somewhere before I had been staring at the floor inside of a cage while seeing double. I guess getting punched in the face can do weird things to the brain.
I've been knocked out twice during street fights before, but this was my first time getting rocked this hard without actually going down. If this were a real fight, he'd have come in for the kill, and I would have been toast.
I recovered in what I think was less than ten seconds, and I was surprised at how normal I felt upon recovering. I was able to continue sparring, and I did my best to turn the heat up on this guy.
I was feeling really fatigued and wondering how I was going to make it through the whole three minutes. This guy was just pouring it on me.
There's a lot of things going through your head while sparring like this. I was trying to remember to work my angles (footwork), keep my hands and shoulders up, tuck my chin, focus on technique and speed, throw my kicks from the opposite side as my last punch, control my breathing, and listen to my coach.
Now I fully understand why you need someone in your corner telling you what to do. To a spectator, it doesn't look like there's that much going on, but for the fighters, it's almost chaotic. Listening to my coach made a world of difference for me during this session.
On top of everything that was going on, my heart felt like it was going to pop out of my chest, my arms felt like lead weights, and there was a voice in the back of my head saying, "This is just a three-minute sparring session. You really want to fight full-contact for three, 5-minute rounds?" But the answer to that voice was easy - "HELL YEAH!"
I knew that the main thing defeating me during this session wasn't the other guy - it was my cardio. If I wasn't gassing out, it would have been much easier to stay focused.
Finally, I landed a good shot on this guy - I don't even remember what punch it was - but I soon as I felt him backing off, I felt energized again. I went in for the kill - probably with all the speed and agility of hippo on muscle relaxers.
Regardless, I landed a serious of several punches, though I can't vouch for the quality of my technique. I had him backed up against the cage and was throwing uppercuts and hooks as fast as I could when they called, "Time!"
I felt good that I finished stronger than I began, but I knew more than anything that my cardio and my technique failed me miserably.
Identify your weaknesses, work on them, and make them your strengths.
Several people, including my head instructor, told me that I did really well for it being my first "real" sparring session. That made me feel really great! I love my school and my team, and I love the positive vibes in that place.
I got some tips from our other instructor as well. He told me that I was dropping my hands after each punch, instead of pulling it right back to protect my face, and that I was punching too much with my arms and not my hips. I'm taking mental notes, and these will be two things I will be very focused on during my next session.
Having had this experience this evening has only added to my hunger. I can't wait to do this again. I can't wait to get into better shape, so that it is not as hard!
I was so tired before class today that I actually considered not going. I'm really glad I sucked it up and forced myself to go. I loved it!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
06: Crazy-Ass Schedule
Today I took the day off. After yesterday's three-miler and weightlifting, I felt that funny feeling in the back of my sinuses that said, "You're getting sick, dude." I ignored it long enough to complete Muay Thai class in the evening.
I also woke up with a runny nose this morning, so I figured better safe than sorry - take the day off. I'm glad I did, because I feel much better having rested, and my sinuses feel better.
Despite my plans to train six days a week, taking only Sundays off, my body has been giving out after about three days of intense training. I'm thinking I might start doing three days on and one off for about the first month or so - just until I get better accustomed to this level of exertion. Better to have a day off here and there than to lose two weeks from being sick. After my body gets used to it, I can increase my number of consecutive workout days.
So, since I took the day off, I have time to fill you in on just what I'm trying to pack into a week's worth of workouts.
All bag striking is done on the hardest heavy bag at our gym. This is used in lieu of shin conditioning as well, as the bag is hard enough to condition the legs, while also giving the benefit of exercise. Thankfully, this means no more time-consuming shin conditioning at home.
What is listed in bold/italic is what I still need to work into my schedule - the rest is what I'm already doing:
3-mile run - x2/week
Jump rope - 5 minutes
Pull-ups
Sit-ups
Push-ups
Rear dips
Sledgehammer swings
Rear-leg kicks - x100 per leg
Front-leg kicks - x100 per leg
Flying knees - x60 per leg
Jabs (punch) - x100 per arm
Crosses (punch) - x100 per arm
Hooks (punch) - x60 per arm
Heavy bag punches - 3, 3-minute intervals as fast as possible (30 seconds rest between sets)
Clinch knees - 2, 1-minute intervals as fast as possible
Muay Thai class - x2/week
Kata (practicing form and balance) - 20 minutes, x2/week
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class - x2/week
Strength & Conditioning class - x2/week
Side knees - 2, 1-minute intervals as fast as possible
Squats - no weight, x60
Sparring (Muay Thai) - x2/week
Sparring (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) - x2/week
Sprints
Teeps (this is a front kick/push) - x100 per leg
Weightlifting:
Incline press
Behind-the-neck press
Military press
Flat press
Seated rows
Biceps curl
Squat thrusts - 45-lb bar only
Quad extensions
Plate lifts
Kettle bell claps
Kettle bell front lifts
Neck exercises - 35-lb plate, x2/week
Upright rows
Body twists
Hamstrings curls
Lower back
As you can see, this is quite a bit to work into just six days, and it is challenging. Originally, I was scheduled to include Boxing and Judo classes twice each week as well, along with one Wrestling class and one Ground & Pound class, but time just does not permit.
Once I've been lifting for a little while and my cardio is where it needs to be, I will probably replace some of my lifting sessions with these classes.
Also, I need to get to a point where I'm getting in at least 500 kicks per leg, per day. This will entail getting to the gym a couple of hours earlier each day.
Just looking at all of this makes me tired. I know that it is unreasonable to try to fit all of these exercises in, and I am in danger of over-training, so I am just going do what I can, consult more with my coaches, and adjust my schedule from there.
Also, our Muay Thai instructors discourage any heavy weightlifting, because it slows down your punches. So, at some point I have to decide which exercises most complement my Muay Thai and BJJ and cut the rest out.
In the meantime, this schedule is a work in progress.
All that being said, rest and recovery is just as important as exercise, so good night!
I also woke up with a runny nose this morning, so I figured better safe than sorry - take the day off. I'm glad I did, because I feel much better having rested, and my sinuses feel better.
Despite my plans to train six days a week, taking only Sundays off, my body has been giving out after about three days of intense training. I'm thinking I might start doing three days on and one off for about the first month or so - just until I get better accustomed to this level of exertion. Better to have a day off here and there than to lose two weeks from being sick. After my body gets used to it, I can increase my number of consecutive workout days.
So, since I took the day off, I have time to fill you in on just what I'm trying to pack into a week's worth of workouts.
All bag striking is done on the hardest heavy bag at our gym. This is used in lieu of shin conditioning as well, as the bag is hard enough to condition the legs, while also giving the benefit of exercise. Thankfully, this means no more time-consuming shin conditioning at home.
What is listed in bold/italic is what I still need to work into my schedule - the rest is what I'm already doing:
3-mile run - x2/week
Jump rope - 5 minutes
Pull-ups
Sit-ups
Push-ups
Rear dips
Sledgehammer swings
Rear-leg kicks - x100 per leg
Front-leg kicks - x100 per leg
Flying knees - x60 per leg
Jabs (punch) - x100 per arm
Crosses (punch) - x100 per arm
Hooks (punch) - x60 per arm
Heavy bag punches - 3, 3-minute intervals as fast as possible (30 seconds rest between sets)
Clinch knees - 2, 1-minute intervals as fast as possible
Muay Thai class - x2/week
Kata (practicing form and balance) - 20 minutes, x2/week
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class - x2/week
Strength & Conditioning class - x2/week
Side knees - 2, 1-minute intervals as fast as possible
Squats - no weight, x60
Sparring (Muay Thai) - x2/week
Sparring (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) - x2/week
Sprints
Teeps (this is a front kick/push) - x100 per leg
Weightlifting:
Incline press
Behind-the-neck press
Military press
Flat press
Seated rows
Biceps curl
Squat thrusts - 45-lb bar only
Quad extensions
Plate lifts
Kettle bell claps
Kettle bell front lifts
Neck exercises - 35-lb plate, x2/week
Upright rows
Body twists
Hamstrings curls
Lower back
As you can see, this is quite a bit to work into just six days, and it is challenging. Originally, I was scheduled to include Boxing and Judo classes twice each week as well, along with one Wrestling class and one Ground & Pound class, but time just does not permit.
Once I've been lifting for a little while and my cardio is where it needs to be, I will probably replace some of my lifting sessions with these classes.
Also, I need to get to a point where I'm getting in at least 500 kicks per leg, per day. This will entail getting to the gym a couple of hours earlier each day.
Just looking at all of this makes me tired. I know that it is unreasonable to try to fit all of these exercises in, and I am in danger of over-training, so I am just going do what I can, consult more with my coaches, and adjust my schedule from there.
Also, our Muay Thai instructors discourage any heavy weightlifting, because it slows down your punches. So, at some point I have to decide which exercises most complement my Muay Thai and BJJ and cut the rest out.
In the meantime, this schedule is a work in progress.
All that being said, rest and recovery is just as important as exercise, so good night!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
05: Wake Up Call
I have been working out about two times a day. Today, I ran three miles for time, then lifted weights. I was gonna roll with one of our coaches, but last night's protein shake was - shall we say - not agreeing with me. So I decided to spare him the experience. I was disappointed though, because I've been looking forward to getting more mat time in.
After that, I went home and made a late lunch. Later on, I'll talk about some of the quick, healthy meals I cook to save time while still getting in a balanced set of nutrients.
Anyway, I rested for a bit, then headed back to the gym for Muay Thai class. It started off o.k., but the three-miler took a bit out of me today and I was feeling it during warm-ups. We practiced several striking combinations then did some sparring.
This is where the wake up call comes in. I was sparring a middleweight MMA fighter, whose boxing and Muay Thai was clearly superior to mine. I never thought of myself as a poor striker, but this guy was picking me apart, and I landed very few shots - none of them decent.
He caught me with a good right hook to the jaw, and I was dazed. It only took a second to shake it off, but I knew that whatever I was doing was not working. My head instructor noticed as well, and he reminded me, "Tuck your chin!"
I was sure to keep my chin tucked for the remainder of the sparring session. Getting caught with a good punch is a great reminder.
However, I knew I was only going to continue to get beat on if I kept striking from his range. So, I decided to fight in close. I was able to secure a clinch position and land some decent knees just a few seconds before the round ended.
The lesson learned here is if I am competing against someone with longer reach or superior striking skills, then I need to get in close to fight.
After watching an episode of Fight Quest (Thailand) two nights ago, I learned a great exercise to help strengthen my jaw and neck simultaneously, which will improve my Muay Thai clinch. Yes, I know they say, "Don't try this at home," but I consulted a professional before doing the exercise.
Strengthening my jaw will help me to avoid getting dazed or knocked out as easily if - I mean when - I take another shot to the chin. Strengthening my neck will help the same thing in its own way, but it will also enable me to keep my head erect if someone tries to knee me in the head from the clinch position.
Anyway, I bought a length of 1/4-inch plastic tubing from the plumbing store. I cut off a piece about four feet long, and tied it through the hole of a 35-lb weight, securing the knot with duct tape to keep it from sliding apart.
I stood on top of a tractor tire that we have in the gym, allowing the weight to dangle through the hole in the center of the tire, while holding on to the tube with clenched teeth. Starting in a squat position, with my elbows on my knees and with my head down (looking at the floor), I raised my head to look at the ceiling for each repetition. I was only able to complete two sets of five repetitions my first time doing this, but I'll keep at it regularly.
This exercise is no joke. My instructor says I need to work my way up to a 45-lb plate, but I'll need thicker tubing to hold the weight (and a thicker neck). Also, I think if I moved up to 1/2-inch or bigger tubing, it will be more comfortable for my mouth, because it will give me more surface area to bite down on.
Considering that I have a skinny neck and a narrow jaw, this is an exercise I will need to do pretty consistently.
Well folks, that's it for now - time for some much-needed rest!
After that, I went home and made a late lunch. Later on, I'll talk about some of the quick, healthy meals I cook to save time while still getting in a balanced set of nutrients.
Anyway, I rested for a bit, then headed back to the gym for Muay Thai class. It started off o.k., but the three-miler took a bit out of me today and I was feeling it during warm-ups. We practiced several striking combinations then did some sparring.
This is where the wake up call comes in. I was sparring a middleweight MMA fighter, whose boxing and Muay Thai was clearly superior to mine. I never thought of myself as a poor striker, but this guy was picking me apart, and I landed very few shots - none of them decent.
He caught me with a good right hook to the jaw, and I was dazed. It only took a second to shake it off, but I knew that whatever I was doing was not working. My head instructor noticed as well, and he reminded me, "Tuck your chin!"
I was sure to keep my chin tucked for the remainder of the sparring session. Getting caught with a good punch is a great reminder.
However, I knew I was only going to continue to get beat on if I kept striking from his range. So, I decided to fight in close. I was able to secure a clinch position and land some decent knees just a few seconds before the round ended.
The lesson learned here is if I am competing against someone with longer reach or superior striking skills, then I need to get in close to fight.
After watching an episode of Fight Quest (Thailand) two nights ago, I learned a great exercise to help strengthen my jaw and neck simultaneously, which will improve my Muay Thai clinch. Yes, I know they say, "Don't try this at home," but I consulted a professional before doing the exercise.
Strengthening my jaw will help me to avoid getting dazed or knocked out as easily if - I mean when - I take another shot to the chin. Strengthening my neck will help the same thing in its own way, but it will also enable me to keep my head erect if someone tries to knee me in the head from the clinch position.
Anyway, I bought a length of 1/4-inch plastic tubing from the plumbing store. I cut off a piece about four feet long, and tied it through the hole of a 35-lb weight, securing the knot with duct tape to keep it from sliding apart.
I stood on top of a tractor tire that we have in the gym, allowing the weight to dangle through the hole in the center of the tire, while holding on to the tube with clenched teeth. Starting in a squat position, with my elbows on my knees and with my head down (looking at the floor), I raised my head to look at the ceiling for each repetition. I was only able to complete two sets of five repetitions my first time doing this, but I'll keep at it regularly.
This exercise is no joke. My instructor says I need to work my way up to a 45-lb plate, but I'll need thicker tubing to hold the weight (and a thicker neck). Also, I think if I moved up to 1/2-inch or bigger tubing, it will be more comfortable for my mouth, because it will give me more surface area to bite down on.
Considering that I have a skinny neck and a narrow jaw, this is an exercise I will need to do pretty consistently.
Well folks, that's it for now - time for some much-needed rest!
Monday, January 4, 2010
04: Tired!
Aaah, it has been almost a month since I've blogged! This is due in part to school finals, training exhaustion, and of course the Christmas/New Year holidays.
Despite my plans to "officially start" on Jan. 2, I hit the gym on Dec. 14th instead, literally just a couple hours after I finished my last final exam.
I already had a lifting/exercise schedule mapped out, so I got a head start on that. I worked out steadily from Dec. 14th through the 23rd. By the time Christmas Eve rolled around, I was so sore and dead-tired that I didn't even attempt to work out on Christmas Eve like I had planned (our gym was open until 2 p.m.). The days following proved mostly too busy to get to the gym, but they also gave me some much-needed rest!
I only worked out once between the 24th and the 1st, due to holiday plans to go out of town.
I traveled back to my old home, "dreary Erie," PA on the 28th. Living up to its nickname, Erie was gloomy and had been dumped on by about two feet of snow the night before I arrived.
After searching the internet for a gym with a working phone number, I settled on an MMA gym located at 1702 West 38th St. - about halfway between the airport and my cousin's house, where I'd be staying.
From what I understand, this gym is owned by Dan Swift - a guy who trains with former UFC fighter and current Strikeforce lightweight, Jorge Gurgel - but the gym is run by some members of his team, "Team DNA" (http://www.freewebs.com/danswiftsteamdna).
The fighters at his school speak very highly of Dan, though I did not get a chance to meet him. I understand he is a very, very experienced pro fighter and grappler, and many of his students are title holders in some of the MMA organizations up there in the rust belt.
I literally went straight to this gym from the airport and right into a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class (BJJ). I was greeted by a very friendly instructor named Ben, who welcomed me into their school and allowed me the honor of training with some very talented BJJ artists - himself included.
In BJJ, sparring with an opponent is called "rolling."
The training was awesome! We rolled for a couple of hours, and I learned two great new moves from Ben, which I can't wait to practice again. Despite the 50 lbs I have on Ben, he tore me apart on the mat, as did everyone else there I rolled with!
One thing about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - or any grappling art for that matter - is that if you are training on a mat with multiple other people, another pair is either going to accidentally roll over onto your head, or someone will kick you in the nuts by mistake. It just happens with close-quarters training. This time, I got kicked in the nuts - hard. Thanks to my ShockDoctor protective cup, my junk is still in tact. Let that be a lesson to any of you guys who are too lazy to train without a cup - it will catch up to you!
Another thing about grappling, is that if you have gas, it's gonna come out. This guy, Adam, kneeled right on my stomach to pass my guard, and sure enough, that bubble I'd been trying to hold in announced its exit. I can assure you this isn't the first time that's happened in a BJJ class, nor will it be the last! Adam ignored it, and continued to twist me into a human pretzel. I try to find a silver lining in everything though, and in this case I took comfort in knowing I could reciprocate at least some of the discomfort that was being dished out to me.
The workout was killer, and I was so tired and sore by the time I left, that I couldn't wait to shower and go to bed.
I am extremely grateful for the training they shared with me. Every move learned, every hour on the mat, is a step closer to where I need to be.
As I left the gym, I found my rental car buried under an additional three inches of snow, and I needed help getting it unstuck from its parking spot. I do not miss the Erie snow.
I drove to my cousin Nick's house, my velocity topping out at a whopping 20 mph, due to road conditions. I passed out shortly thereafter, and slept for about 12 hours.
I can't wait for another opportunity to train with these guys again. Every trip to Erie from here on out, I plan to make it out to roll with the folks at Team DNA. Really great people all around - very positive and very talented. Thanks guys!
BJJ is a very effective martial art, and I recommend it to anyone and everyone - but it requires a lot of hard work. In BJJ, an intermediate-level female of small stature can mop the floor with an inexperienced man of large stature. It is that effective. If you don't believe me, visit a local BJJ school and just watch. If then you still don't believe, please call me and we can make bets for real money.
As promised, I began training on Jan. 2, the morning after I returned from my trip. Already I am exhausted! More details to follow ...
Despite my plans to "officially start" on Jan. 2, I hit the gym on Dec. 14th instead, literally just a couple hours after I finished my last final exam.
I already had a lifting/exercise schedule mapped out, so I got a head start on that. I worked out steadily from Dec. 14th through the 23rd. By the time Christmas Eve rolled around, I was so sore and dead-tired that I didn't even attempt to work out on Christmas Eve like I had planned (our gym was open until 2 p.m.). The days following proved mostly too busy to get to the gym, but they also gave me some much-needed rest!
I only worked out once between the 24th and the 1st, due to holiday plans to go out of town.
I traveled back to my old home, "dreary Erie," PA on the 28th. Living up to its nickname, Erie was gloomy and had been dumped on by about two feet of snow the night before I arrived.
After searching the internet for a gym with a working phone number, I settled on an MMA gym located at 1702 West 38th St. - about halfway between the airport and my cousin's house, where I'd be staying.
From what I understand, this gym is owned by Dan Swift - a guy who trains with former UFC fighter and current Strikeforce lightweight, Jorge Gurgel - but the gym is run by some members of his team, "Team DNA" (http://www.freewebs.com/danswiftsteamdna).
The fighters at his school speak very highly of Dan, though I did not get a chance to meet him. I understand he is a very, very experienced pro fighter and grappler, and many of his students are title holders in some of the MMA organizations up there in the rust belt.
I literally went straight to this gym from the airport and right into a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class (BJJ). I was greeted by a very friendly instructor named Ben, who welcomed me into their school and allowed me the honor of training with some very talented BJJ artists - himself included.
In BJJ, sparring with an opponent is called "rolling."
The training was awesome! We rolled for a couple of hours, and I learned two great new moves from Ben, which I can't wait to practice again. Despite the 50 lbs I have on Ben, he tore me apart on the mat, as did everyone else there I rolled with!
One thing about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - or any grappling art for that matter - is that if you are training on a mat with multiple other people, another pair is either going to accidentally roll over onto your head, or someone will kick you in the nuts by mistake. It just happens with close-quarters training. This time, I got kicked in the nuts - hard. Thanks to my ShockDoctor protective cup, my junk is still in tact. Let that be a lesson to any of you guys who are too lazy to train without a cup - it will catch up to you!
Another thing about grappling, is that if you have gas, it's gonna come out. This guy, Adam, kneeled right on my stomach to pass my guard, and sure enough, that bubble I'd been trying to hold in announced its exit. I can assure you this isn't the first time that's happened in a BJJ class, nor will it be the last! Adam ignored it, and continued to twist me into a human pretzel. I try to find a silver lining in everything though, and in this case I took comfort in knowing I could reciprocate at least some of the discomfort that was being dished out to me.
The workout was killer, and I was so tired and sore by the time I left, that I couldn't wait to shower and go to bed.
I am extremely grateful for the training they shared with me. Every move learned, every hour on the mat, is a step closer to where I need to be.
As I left the gym, I found my rental car buried under an additional three inches of snow, and I needed help getting it unstuck from its parking spot. I do not miss the Erie snow.
I drove to my cousin Nick's house, my velocity topping out at a whopping 20 mph, due to road conditions. I passed out shortly thereafter, and slept for about 12 hours.
I can't wait for another opportunity to train with these guys again. Every trip to Erie from here on out, I plan to make it out to roll with the folks at Team DNA. Really great people all around - very positive and very talented. Thanks guys!
BJJ is a very effective martial art, and I recommend it to anyone and everyone - but it requires a lot of hard work. In BJJ, an intermediate-level female of small stature can mop the floor with an inexperienced man of large stature. It is that effective. If you don't believe me, visit a local BJJ school and just watch. If then you still don't believe, please call me and we can make bets for real money.
As promised, I began training on Jan. 2, the morning after I returned from my trip. Already I am exhausted! More details to follow ...
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
03: Slow motion
There are just six days left until I finish my last final exam for the semester. I've decided to start my strength training a little early, and will begin that full-time on Monday, following my exam. I've decided that I can't wait until January 2 to get started, and this last week feels more like a month. It doesn't help that I have to skip Muay Thai class this week so I can study for finals.
Hitting the gym a little early should help break me in a bit before I begin a legitimate full-time training schedule.
I went to the gym after school today, simply out of anxiousness. I ran two miles and did some light lifting.
I'll be in PA for four days this month, and I should manage to hit the YMCA while I'm there (you get in free with a military I.D. if you live out of state).
However, I'll schedule my training as if those days don't exist. I plan on doing some social drinking while I'm there, since I'll be visiting with friends that I haven't seen in more than two years, and well - I gotta have my tequila on New Year's Eve!
Drinking days will be few and far between once January rolls around, which is another part of the reason why January 2 is my "official" start date. Holiday celebrations will be over, and it will be time for business.
This evening, I made a healthy dinner - salad with tomatoes, red onions, carrots, hard-boiled egg, grilled chicken, and a few slices of pepperoni for flavor (I know, I know ...). No dressing, though - the pepperoni replaced that. So, it was mostly healthy, anyway. It tasted great.
Right now, I'm going to watch some television while I do some shin conditioning. Then, I'll spend the rest of the night studying for finals.
25 days.
Hitting the gym a little early should help break me in a bit before I begin a legitimate full-time training schedule.
I went to the gym after school today, simply out of anxiousness. I ran two miles and did some light lifting.
I'll be in PA for four days this month, and I should manage to hit the YMCA while I'm there (you get in free with a military I.D. if you live out of state).
However, I'll schedule my training as if those days don't exist. I plan on doing some social drinking while I'm there, since I'll be visiting with friends that I haven't seen in more than two years, and well - I gotta have my tequila on New Year's Eve!
Drinking days will be few and far between once January rolls around, which is another part of the reason why January 2 is my "official" start date. Holiday celebrations will be over, and it will be time for business.
This evening, I made a healthy dinner - salad with tomatoes, red onions, carrots, hard-boiled egg, grilled chicken, and a few slices of pepperoni for flavor (I know, I know ...). No dressing, though - the pepperoni replaced that. So, it was mostly healthy, anyway. It tasted great.
Right now, I'm going to watch some television while I do some shin conditioning. Then, I'll spend the rest of the night studying for finals.
25 days.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
02: The Pillowcase
I know the first few weeks of January 2010 are going to be the most painful for me. I'll be strength or endurance training five to six days out of every week.
Right now, I get a little running in, a little weight lifting, and a little Muay Thai. I also try to get an additional day in each week just kicking the heavy bag. What I do in an entire week right now should be less than what I will be doing in just one day, one month from now.
(( DISCLAIMER: The following is not intended for instructional purposes. It is not recommended that anyone try this. How I choose to train or condition my body for this sport is my own personal preference, and you should seek the advice of a professional before beginning any training or conditioning process. ))
I've already started conditioning my shins with a twisted up pillow case, like my Muay Thai instructor told me to do. This helps to deaden the nerves so I feel less pain from kicking heavy bags, car tires, and people.
He said to tear a pillowcase in half, twist it up, and cover it with Tiger Balm ointment. However, I thought that might be too small, so I didn't tear it in half - I just used the whole pillow case. I twisted it up real tight, so that when I folded it in half, it twisted up on itself. Then I just cinched down the open end with a heavy rubber band to keep it from untwisting.
I couldn't find any Tiger Balm at the grocery store, and it was pretty expensive online. I just used Vaseline instead, which you can get for two or three dollars. I put a generous layer on my leg before I begin the process, instead of on the pillow case. This helps to keep the hard, twisted cloth from wearing down my skin. The pillowcase also absorbs some of the Vaseline, becoming heavier and harder, but less abrasive.
It is my understanding that the pillowcase method is preferred to the use of sticks or bottles, because anything too hard can cause hairline fractures in your shin bone, which would only impede with your training progress.
The bruises from the pillowcase beatings are really not too bad, but the conditioning itself is time-consuming and a little boring. My arms get tired from the hundreds of repetitions. I do about 600 whacks for every 10 minutes. After 30 minutes, my arms are tired enough that I always plan to do the other leg the next day.
Each portion hurts for about 5 minutes, then it goes numb. It becomes very easy to beat the tar out of your leg once it goes numb - you would be surprised.
On the inside of one of my calves, a nerve twitches the muscle every time I hit it with a certain amount of power. I find that slightly entertaining, but I'm pretty sure my family thinks I'm nuts. The pain really does not bother me. I know how much easier it will make my training in the gym, so it's worth it. If I have to stop kicking a bag or person because my leg hurts, then my endurance and power in the area of kicking cannot progress.
I usually watch television while I do this, to pass the time. I just turn up the volume so I can hear it over the whacking noise, and check the clock every now and then so I know when to rotate to another portion of my leg.
The entire bottom half of the lower leg is the most tender, so that is what I work on most. I begin with the lower shin. The left and right sides of the calf, working from the bottom up, are next priority. It is important to realize that no one should strike things with their foot if it can be avoided, because that puts the metatarsals and other joints at risk of injury. It won't impact an opponent the way a sharp shin bone will, so I don't bother conditioning the tops of my feet or insteps.
With schoolwork, household chores, and family functions, it's hard to find the time to do the conditioning as often as I should. Also, since it makes a lot of noise, I try to limit it to when I'm home alone.
It takes around 30 minutes a day to condition just one lower leg. Altogether, I work on the front, left, and right sides of each leg, below the knee. These are the areas which are used either for striking your opponent or "checking" his kicks
Due to current time constraints, I alter between legs every couple of days, which is not quite enough. When January rolls around, I'll be working various types of pain/impact conditioning into almost every training day.
We have a group of about 12 bags in our gym. Most of them are reasonably padded, but one of them is fairly hard. Kicking it at full power will really make your legs hurt, deep down inside. I see our head instructor kick the life out of it, and it doesn't even faze him.
During my first two weeks of class, the tips of my feet were completely bruised up, from my foot slapping the back of the bag like a whip whenever I connected with a shin kick. It looked bad, but my feet didn't hurt at all.
There are days when I try to get about 100 kicks in per leg, but I'm not moving at nearly the same speed that my instructor does. My speed needs tremendous improvement. I feel like my body torque and power are pretty decent right now. After strengthening my core however, I hope to eventually double - maybe even triple - my output. Right now, I'm too inexperienced to know if that is shooting too low or too high, but I will find my answer in due time.
30 days.
Right now, I get a little running in, a little weight lifting, and a little Muay Thai. I also try to get an additional day in each week just kicking the heavy bag. What I do in an entire week right now should be less than what I will be doing in just one day, one month from now.
(( DISCLAIMER: The following is not intended for instructional purposes. It is not recommended that anyone try this. How I choose to train or condition my body for this sport is my own personal preference, and you should seek the advice of a professional before beginning any training or conditioning process. ))
I've already started conditioning my shins with a twisted up pillow case, like my Muay Thai instructor told me to do. This helps to deaden the nerves so I feel less pain from kicking heavy bags, car tires, and people.
I couldn't find any Tiger Balm at the grocery store, and it was pretty expensive online. I just used Vaseline instead, which you can get for two or three dollars. I put a generous layer on my leg before I begin the process, instead of on the pillow case. This helps to keep the hard, twisted cloth from wearing down my skin. The pillowcase also absorbs some of the Vaseline, becoming heavier and harder, but less abrasive.
It is my understanding that the pillowcase method is preferred to the use of sticks or bottles, because anything too hard can cause hairline fractures in your shin bone, which would only impede with your training progress.
The bruises from the pillowcase beatings are really not too bad, but the conditioning itself is time-consuming and a little boring. My arms get tired from the hundreds of repetitions. I do about 600 whacks for every 10 minutes. After 30 minutes, my arms are tired enough that I always plan to do the other leg the next day.
Each portion hurts for about 5 minutes, then it goes numb. It becomes very easy to beat the tar out of your leg once it goes numb - you would be surprised.
On the inside of one of my calves, a nerve twitches the muscle every time I hit it with a certain amount of power. I find that slightly entertaining, but I'm pretty sure my family thinks I'm nuts. The pain really does not bother me. I know how much easier it will make my training in the gym, so it's worth it. If I have to stop kicking a bag or person because my leg hurts, then my endurance and power in the area of kicking cannot progress.
I usually watch television while I do this, to pass the time. I just turn up the volume so I can hear it over the whacking noise, and check the clock every now and then so I know when to rotate to another portion of my leg.
The entire bottom half of the lower leg is the most tender, so that is what I work on most. I begin with the lower shin. The left and right sides of the calf, working from the bottom up, are next priority. It is important to realize that no one should strike things with their foot if it can be avoided, because that puts the metatarsals and other joints at risk of injury. It won't impact an opponent the way a sharp shin bone will, so I don't bother conditioning the tops of my feet or insteps.
With schoolwork, household chores, and family functions, it's hard to find the time to do the conditioning as often as I should. Also, since it makes a lot of noise, I try to limit it to when I'm home alone.
It takes around 30 minutes a day to condition just one lower leg. Altogether, I work on the front, left, and right sides of each leg, below the knee. These are the areas which are used either for striking your opponent or "checking" his kicks
Due to current time constraints, I alter between legs every couple of days, which is not quite enough. When January rolls around, I'll be working various types of pain/impact conditioning into almost every training day.
We have a group of about 12 bags in our gym. Most of them are reasonably padded, but one of them is fairly hard. Kicking it at full power will really make your legs hurt, deep down inside. I see our head instructor kick the life out of it, and it doesn't even faze him.
During my first two weeks of class, the tips of my feet were completely bruised up, from my foot slapping the back of the bag like a whip whenever I connected with a shin kick. It looked bad, but my feet didn't hurt at all.
There are days when I try to get about 100 kicks in per leg, but I'm not moving at nearly the same speed that my instructor does. My speed needs tremendous improvement. I feel like my body torque and power are pretty decent right now. After strengthening my core however, I hope to eventually double - maybe even triple - my output. Right now, I'm too inexperienced to know if that is shooting too low or too high, but I will find my answer in due time.
30 days.
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