Back to open guard...

Several months ago I decided to never close my guard and my game went up.  When I began to develop my half guard lock down game I slipped back into a closed guard mindset.  Time to move on.  Kevin told me to open it up and work on spider guard.  Not my best position yet.  I can hold it OK, but I can't complete the sweeps with any authority.  Practice, practice, practice.

Tweaked my wrist.  I have using 14 oz gloves on the bag and during kick boxing for about 2 years now - mainly because I can pull them off and on faster than MMA gloves when we are doing focus mitt drills.  I hit the bag with bare knuckles the other day and my wrist folded.  My wrist strength has suffered using the big pillows  and I need to correct it.  From now on, 14oz or 16oz for sparring only, 4oz MMA gloves for everything else.

I'm excited about transitioning from straight up kick boxing to Muay Thai.  The most difficult part so far is the transition from throwing a hand - mostly hooks - and not returning to my peek a boo guard.  I spent a lot of time making sure that I didn't drop my hands or leave them hanging out, but I now I want to have a more open stance with the traditional Muay Thai hand position.  The kicks seem to be coming easier, but I am staying low until I feel like I hitting them most of the time.

I didn't work out very much this week and I wanted to run a few times but the timing was never right - really I was just lazy.  I also ate way too much food.  I really need to get focused this week.   On Sunday I did ring dips and reverse rows, and then did 30 minutes on the heavy bag.

The Roberto Traven seminar is coming soon and I need to be ready.

Monday morning: 125 push-ups, 20 pistol squats each leg, 62 inverted rows, and some short bag work.

Monday night was no gi.  Mountain climbers, LBs, and then double leg shoot drills. I did some light bag work at the end.

Sore on Sunday and took a rest.

Spent several hours in the gym on Saturday.  Keith has changed his schedule because of work, so I will be leading the kick boxing on Saturday mornings.  Got in a good workout - basics only.  Stcuk around for some progressions.  I've gotten lazy and started closing my guards again.  No closed guard for 1 month - need to open up my game.

Spent several hours in the gym on Saturday.  Keith has changed his schedule because of work, so I will be leading the kick boxing on Saturday mornings.  Got in a good workout - basics only.  Stcuk around for some progressions.  I've gotten lazy and started closing my guards again.  No closed guard for 1 month - need to open up my game.

Got up and ran this morning - first time in over two years that I have run anywhere except on the mat.  Mat running is really just part of the warm up, involves things like sprawls and side/backward movements, and is pretty short.

I was able to complete almost three miles - and the only reason I stopped is because of several hot spots on my feet.  Definitely don't want blisters first day out.  My pace was probably  around 9 min miles with low effort.

So...does this mean that running is useful for my training or not?  If my BJJ and kick boxing is enough to keep me fit enough to run 3 miles no problem then perhaps running by itself is superfluous.  Regardless, I enjoyed it and will continue for now.

To be fair, Emily, http://www.momonthemat.com/, bullied me out of bed, otherwise I would slept in.

Garage workout:

50 push ups
25 pull ups
5 single leg squats - each leg
5 hanging knee to elbows - shoulders say no more.

50 push ups
25 pull ups
5 single leg squats - each leg

50 push ups
12 pull ups - shoulders dodgy
5 single leg squats - each leg

did some heavy bag work, mainly for core.   Spinning back kicks were landing pretty well, but my flow is a little off.

Last night was skills only.  Kevin, Mike P, Christy, and me.

Drilled

• baseball choke from top side and bottom guard.
• Triangle from top mount - you don't need to have your ankle tucked under your knee.
• quickie knee bar from top guard - tuck your feet.
• s-mount from top mount.

Tonight I want to have a short bodyweight session and maybe get in a run.  Diet is going well but I need to go to sleep a little earlier.