Saturday Jiu Jitsu training was at the Gracie Barra Diamond Bar gym. This morning, we worked on two self defense moves. One was defending from strikes and then catching our opponent so that we can get out to standing from using the technical lift. After that from the technical lift, if the opponent grabs a low ankle to go for a single, we did an escape from there by pivoting out and pushing the opponent to pull out the leg to escape.

Next, we did a tripod sweep from open guard and then de la riva sweep with pulling the arm and using the knee to bump the opponent to get the sweep. This de la riva sweep is the first that I've seen since every de la riva sweep that I've seen has a cross sleeve grip and/or lapel grip. After that I got to do specific training from both the top and bottom position from open guard for one round.

Today's training was at home. Spent the day working and then working with the kids on their homework. It was great taking out the stress on the weights. The momentum is still going strong in the training on the bench. I was able to get to 355lbs for 2 reps, but afterwards, I started to fade so I tapered down for the rest of the workout, since I had to move a piano today after the workout.

Bench Press - 135lbs and 225lbs - 10 reps, 285lbs and 320lbs - 1 rep, 350lbs, 355lbs, and 345lbs - 2 reps, 2 sets - 320lbs - 5 reps and 320lbs - 2 reps
Quad Mini-Band Rows with Scramble Grip Trainers - 4 sets - 10 reps
Quad Mini-Band Rows with Fat Gripz - 4 sets - 10 reps
Double Mini-Band Triceps Extensions - 3 sets - 12 reps
Fat Bar Hang Isometrics with Leg Raises - 3 sets - 15 reps

Today's training was at home. Training was within an hour. It felt longer, since I had to set up the equipment and re-rack everything afterwards.

I was spent after the squats and I took the kids to their activities. Then, I jumped back in for some deadlifts and Jiu Jitsu circuit training before I had to pick them back up. I was already warmed up before the deadlifts, so I tried to jump the weights, but by the time I got to the top set, I was done for.

Powerlifting Training

Barbell Squats - 135lbs - 10 reps, 245lbs - 6 reps, 345lbs, 435lbs, and 495lbs - 1 rep, and 3 sets - 515lbs - 6 reps
Barbell Deadlifts - 245lbs, 345lbs, 435lbs, and 495lbs - 1 rep, and 525lbs - 5 reps

Jiu Jitsu Training

After hitting the weights, I did a full circuit of 30 reps of Cross Collar Chokes, Bridges, Triangles, Hip Escapes, and 30 seconds of Body Hollow Isometrics.

Today's Jiu Jitsu training was at the Gracie Barra Diamond Bar gym. We worked on a full guard submission and sweeps. The first move of the day from full guard was blocking strikes from the opponent on top and transitioning to an arm bar with the knee over the opponent's shoulder and squeezing the arm from behind the elbow using a gable grip. After that, we worked on ankle sweep and waiter sweep from full guard. Given below are some videos that demonstrates the moves that we went over today.

Next, I spent a long round with various students in class on specific training from full guard. I got to work on passing with three students from the top position from full guard, and submitting or sweeping from the bottom. Working with the grappling dummy has paid off dividends, since my sensitivity and creativity have gone up during these specific training situations. I was able to either chain or set up the sweeps from various positions. I felt pretty good today, but my size is definitely hurting my bottom game, since I'm significantly less mobile. After that, we did some core work.

I weighed with my Gi on after class and I'm 326lbs. Without the Gi, I'm about 321lbs. I wear an A4 for my Gis. My goal for the rest of the month is to drop to 317lbs. Before the pandemic, I was at around 295lbs, so I definitely gained a lot. I'm sure that my game and conditioning will improve once the weight is off.

Yesterday's training was at the Crunch Fitness gym in Diamond Bar, CA. I was suppose to do squats, but the racks were taken, so I do a light workout for less than 20 minutes. I had a lot of stuff to do, since the first day of school is today and I did a lot of homework stuff with them for Kumon. I'll have to combine a heavy squat and deadlift session for this week to make up the session, but at least I got the work in.

Unfortunately, the heaviest weight on the seated leg press machine was 360lbs. I kept the rest to a minimum to focus more on conditioning. This went the same for the weighted jump squats and the kettlebell swings.

Seated Leg Press Machine - 180lbs - 20 reps and 4 sets - 360lbs - 12 reps
Weighted Jump Squats - 4 sets - 50lbs - 6 reps
Kettlebell Swings - 4 sets - 100lbs - 15 reps

Today's training was at home. My on-call schedule has affected my sleep the entire week. I took 7 days off from the last bench workout, but today's session was really good and I was able to crank out a bunch of sets without getting page.

Powerlifting Training

Bench Press - 135lbs and 225lbs - 10 reps, 280lbs and 320lbs - 1 rep, and 3 sets - 345lbs - 2 reps
1/2 Board Press - 4 sets - 345lbs - 2 reps and 3 sets - 320lbs - 6 reps
Close Grip Bench Press - 300lbs - 6 reps
Fatman Pull Ups with Scramble Grip Trainers - 4 sets - 10 reps
Fatman Pull Ups with Fat Grips (Pronated Grip) - 4 sets - 10 reps
Superset (Planks + Body Hollow Isometrics) - 2 sets - 45 seconds + 35 seconds

Jiu Jitsu Training

I was working with my grappling dummy today. I put on a lot of reps in a short amount of time to get something in. I did 10 reps for each submission from the mount with cross collar chokes and americana with an arm bar transition. After that, I did the same from the back with collar chokes and a collar choke with a half nelson transition to a bow and arrow, and then an arm bar. Finally, I finished off the workout with 30 triangles.

Today, I was fortunate enough to get some training in. I'm on-call this week and it's been a bit rough for these past couple of days and helping out the kids at the same time with their homework. Regardless of the lack of sleep, I just had to get something in to get rid of the stress.

Jiu Jitsu Training

I was training at the Gracie Barra Diamond Bar gym. We got to work on the Uchi Mata for takedowns, a cross collar choke from full mount, and a modified arm bar position from full mount when the opponent tries to get to their side. I was able to stretch out between each period when the instructor was demonstrating the moves. I'm pretty stiff since I'm sitting down all day. After that, I got to roll for two rounds.

Powerlifting Training

Right after class, I headed out the Crunch Fitness Diamond Bar. I was surprised to see most of the equipment outside. I had less than 30 minutes to work with and since I was warmed up, I jumped the weights, but I took it easy to build up my base and conditioning for the up coming weeks. Just one core lift, but I made it count.

Deadlifts - 225lbs - 6 reps, 365lbs - 2 reps, 455lbs - 1 rep, and 3 sets - 495lbs - 6 reps

Jiu Jitsu Training 8/1/20

Yesterday's training was at the Gracie Barra Diamond Bar gym. We continued on breaking the full guard and passing. We worked on the guard break that works on using the pants to hold the hips down and using the lower back to push back to break the guard and the other was to use the cross collar sleeve grip and use a two on one to stand up and push the leg down to break the guard. After the guard break, the pass was from the seated staggered position to weak side pass while blocking the leg and using the cross face to get to side control. Next, I got to work on positional training from close guard from both the top and bottom positions.

Powerlifting Training 8/2/20

Today's training was at the Crunch Fitness gym in Diamond Bar, CA. Luckily, I waited for just a couple of minutes before starting my training. I did the core lift at the gym and did the rest at home, since the equipment that I wanted to use were taken and I didn't want to waste time on waiting.

Barbell Squats - 155lbs - 10 reps, 275lbs - 5 reps, 385lbs, 475lbs, 535lbs, and 590lbs - 1 rep, 570lbs - 3 reps, and 565lbs - 5 reps
Kettlebell Swings - 3 sets - 100lbs - 12 reps
Superset (Bridge Isometrics and Body Hollow Isometrics) - 4 sets - 40 seconds hold for each exercise
Corrective Stretching - 5 minutes

Tonight, I got to walk around the park with the family for about 30 minutes. I did some more stretching there as well to work on my flexibility. It was a good cool down for the day, since the weather was cool and the walk was refreshing being next to the pond and seeing the different kinds of birds at the park while hanging out.

Jiu Jitsu Training

Today's training was at home. I was working on the grappling dummy. I worked on from various positions from full guard, full mount, and back mount. From full guard, I was work on the arm bar, triangle, and kimura. Then from full mount, I worked on a couple of cross collar chokes, shoulder locks, and arm triangles. From back mount, I was working on collar chokes, bow and arrows, RNC, and arm bars. I was efficient with my time and I got to work on from both my strong side and weak side.

Powerlifting Training

Several hours later, I worked on my bench at home and did some upper back work with grip training.

Bench Press - 135lbs and 225lbs - 10 reps, 280lbs, 320lbs, 350lbs, 375lbs, and 4 sets - 350lbs - 1 rep
Bench Press with 1/2 Board - 4 sets - 315lbs - 6 reps
Close Grip Bench Press - 2 sets - 295lbs - 8 reps
Fat Man Pull Ups with Fat Gripz (Pronated Grip) - 4 sets - 10 reps 
Fat Man Pull Ups with Fat Gripz (Supinated Grip)  - 4 sets - 10 reps (Last Set - Held for an extra 10 seconds at the top part of the lift.)

It's been over a year since I late made a post. Since then, I was working on my second Master's degree, getting another IT certification, competing in both Jiu Jitsu and Powerlifting, training my kids for competition and helping them out with their homework. The pandemic practically ruined everything from working out at the gym, training Jiu Jitsu, helping out with my kids on their school work (homeschooling), and more. No more lunch Jiu Jitsu, so I switch Jiu Jitsu gyms and I trained mostly at home for strength and conditioning. I've been studying a lot more for both work and on stock investing.

Anyhow, I'm at the Gracie Barra Diamond Bar gym. I've trained with the owner, Professor Jaime Dietz-Velez, when I was a blue belt and purple belt during training camps, and that I have visited his gym several times. I'm new to the area and I'm glad that his gym is open and is close to home. He's a really good instructor and his students are great as well with the training environment that is definitely suited for me.

I'm definitely a lot stronger now, since I'm significantly heavier. I'm still constantly trying to find that balance in training. Luckily, I have a Jiu Jitsu dummy at home and I work with the kids. I don't think I'll be competing this year in Jiu Jitsu, but in Powerlifting, I'm looking to compete in November at the USPA Drug Tested North American Championships. I want to break some more state and national records.

Jiu Jitsu Training

Today's training was on breaking the full guard and passing. The first guard break was holding on to the hips by using the pants and using the lower back to push back to break the guard. Another guard break was to use the cross collar sleeve grip and use a two on one to stand up and push the leg down to break the guard. Next, using the opposite collar to bring over to threaten the choke to have the opponent open their guard. Finally, after the guard break, the pass was from the seated staggered position to weak side pass while blocking the leg and using the cross face to get to side control.

Next, we did positional training from the full guard for 6 minutes from both the top and bottom position. Then, I got to roll for one round. While Professor was going over each move, I was stretching out and taking advantage of the time to work on my flexibility in the meantime.

Powerlifting Training

Afterwards, I went straight to the Crunch Fitness gym in Diamond Bar, CA to work on the deadlifts. Luckily, I waited for just a couple of minutes before starting my training. I spent less than 20 minutes since I had errands to do afterwards and I needed to see on where I was at on the deadlifts. I made some big jumps between each set since I was already warmed up from the Jiu Jitsu training.

Deadlifts - 225lbs - 6 reps, 355lbs - 5 reps, 445lbs, 515lbs, and 575lbs - 1 rep, and 625lbs - 2 reps
Corework - 5 minutes (3 sets - Planks - 35 seconds for each set, 3 sets - Bridge Isometrics - 30 seconds, and 3 sets - Body Hollow Isometrics - 30 seconds)
​Corrective Stretching - 5 minutes