Tonight's training was on squats and push press, since I spent a lot of time on resting between sets on the squats, I didn't have that much time for anything else. From the bar to 635lbs, I was coming up quickly off the hole. I felt great tonight, even though I felt strain in my back and knee yesterday. I will be doing more volume next month and focus on going deeper on the squats. I plan on getting 705lbs next month.

For the push press, I haven't gone heavy in about a month, because of my knee. Also, I haven't done plyometrics in a bit as well. My knee feels better, so I'll start incorporating them next week. Before the workout, I spent about 15 minutes on the foam roll and corrective stretching. I was primed to go heavy from the get go.

Warm Up

Foam Roll - Quads, IT Band, Piriformis, Traps, Upper and Lower Back - 2 rounds - 5 minutes
Corrective Stretching - Hip Flexors, Chest, Piriformis, and Hamstrings - 5 minutes
Barbell Squats - 45lbs - 10 reps, 135lbs, 225lbs, and 315lbs - 5 reps, 405lbs, 495lbs, and 575lbs - 1 rep

Workout

Barbell Squats - 635lbs and 675lbs - 1 rep, and 545lbs - 1 rep (Pause Squat)
Barbell Push Press - 135lbs - 5 reps, 185lbs and 225lbs - 2 reps, 245lbs and 265lbs - 1 rep

This was the 2nd workout for today. I felt pretty good and I had to snack within the workout to get some extra boost of energy for the deadlifts. I put in a lot of work and I got to work on my weakness. For the board press, I was using a squat pad. It is probably equivalent to a 1/2 board, since the pad sinks a lot, even though it is thick.

For the sumo deadlifts, I took some jumps on the warm ups, since I was already spent from the pressing part of the workout.

Warm Up

Board Press - 2 sets - 45lbs, 135lbs, and 225lbs - 10 reps, and 275lbs - 1 rep

Workout

Board Press - 315lbs, 335lbs, and 345lbs - 1 rep, and 2 sets - 315lbs - 2 reps
Pause Bench Press - 3 sets - 280lbs - 5 reps
Sumo Deadlifts - 225lbs - 5 reps, 335lbs - 3 reps, 430lbs, 520lbs, and 565lbs - 1 rep, and 585lbs - 2 reps
Hoist T-Bar Row (Pronated Grip) - 135lbs and 225lbs - 10 reps, and 4 sets - 260lbs - 5 reps
Hoist T-Bar Row (Neutral Grip) - 3 sets - 225lbs - 5 reps
Reverse Fly Machine + Bodyweight Hangs Superset - 4 sets - 160lbs - 10 reps + 20 second isometric hold.
TRX Abdominal Rollout - 3 sets - 10 reps

Day 2 - NABJJF LA Open Tournament Training

This morning's training was at the Gracie Barra West Covina. I was training with my friend, Danny Pena, on some specific training from half guard, full guard, side control, and from the back take. We did 5 minute rounds from each position with 1 minute rest while we work on both the top and bottom positions from each guard position and side control. We were pretty focused and intense with the training. The biggest thing was that we got things done before the day got started.

Things got started quick, which is great, because I'm a slow starter when it comes to training. Since I don't train as often, I had to pick up the intensity. Also, because we are both getting ready for tournaments. In tournaments, I generally don't warm up and I just go at it, but I did some corrective stretching before we got things started. Thanks Danny for today's training. Good luck in your matches and MMA fight next month. 

Day 2 - NABJJF LA Open Tournament Training

Saturday morning training was at the Untamed Jiu-Jitsu gym in West Covina. I got to work on a lot of reps on various movements from the full guard position. The first two positions were cross collar chokes from the full guard. Then, I got to work on a scissor sweep from full guard to full mount and a failed scissor sweep to a push pull sweep to full mount. We even got to work on a reversal from failing on the scissor sweep. After that, I got to work on the bow and arrow choke, and an arm bar transition from a failed bow and arrow choke.

For most of the moves during training, I was able to work on both my weak and strong sides. I would like to thank everyone at Untamed Jiu-Jitsu for the hospitality and cross-training. It's always great to see and train with family and friends. I got to meet new people and make new friends. Part of the Jiu Jitsu journey for me is all the great friendships and bonds that I make.

Today's training was a two a day training. The first workout was on the squats, which went great. The second workout was a bench workout and that didn't go so well. I was still spent from the 1st workout, but the accessory work went well.

1st Workout

Warm Up

Barbell Squats - 45lbs, 135lbs and 225lbs - 10 reps, 315lbs - 5 reps, 405lbs and 495lbs - 1 rep

Workout

Barbell Squats - 570lbs, 625lbs and 660lbs - 1 rep
One Leg Seated Leg Press - 240lbs, 320lbs, and 400lbs - 10 reps
Sprint Sled Push - 4 sets - 50ft - 115lbs

2nd Workout

Warm Up

Barbell Bench Press - 135lbs and 225lbs - 10 reps

Workout

Barbell Bench Press - 5 sets - 275lbs - 5 reps
Hoist Dip Machine - 4 sets - 345lbs - 10 reps
Cybex Lat Pulldown Machine (Pronated Grip) - 260lbs and 4 sets - 345lbs - 10 reps
Rope Cable Pushdowns - 3 sets - 195lbs - 10 reps
​Corework - 5 minutes

Day 1 - NABJJF LA Open

Today's lunch training was at the Rodrigo Freitas BJJ gym in Hawthorne. Training was on half guard to full guard recovery when the opponent has the head and arm position with shoulder pressure. Then, we worked on a half guard transition from the same position to taking the back. I got a lot of reps in and I was able to get some stretching in when Professor Rodrigo was going over the moves for today. I went two rounds on the live drills afterwards from both the top and bottom position of the half guard.

I'm definitely not ready at this point for competition. I still need to get my instincts, speed, and timing back. Next week, I'll need to be more aggressive. Hopefully, my leg will be more stable. I did well for the most part when I my Rehband knee sleeve on.

Today, I signed up for the NABJJF Los Angeles International Jiu Jitsu Open. Thanks to Breakpoint and CKFightLife for your help through the sponsorship program. This will be my first time competing at Masters 2, since I will be 36 at that time. 3 days after my birthday as a matter of fact.

Tonight's training went okay. I had a good start on the bench, then I faded after the 1st top set. My shoulders feel fine. On the sumo deadlifts, I did those instead, since I had a rough time with the conventional deadlifts on Sunday. Also, I need to work on my hips/glutes, so I needed to make the switch.

I'm still working on my sumo technique. Otherwise, I would of gone heavier. My first set was horrible, since I was pulling on my leggings during each rep.

Warm Up

Barbell Bench Press - 45lbs, 135lbs, and 225lbs - 10 reps, and 275lbs - 5 reps

Workout

Barbell Bench Press - 295lbs - 5 reps, 3 sets - 295lbs - 2 reps, and 275lbs - 6 reps
Dumbbell Bench Press - 3 sets - 240lbs - 10 reps
Sumo Deadlifts - 135lbs and 225lbs - 5 reps, 315lbs - 2 reps, 405lbs and 495lbs - 1 rep, 545lbs - 2 reps, and 545lbs - 3 reps
Close Grip Cable Rows with Fat Gripz - 160lbs and 235lbs - 12 reps, and 260lbs - 10 reps
Cybex T-Bar Rows - 135lbs - 10 reps, 225lbs - 6 reps, 260lbs - 2 reps, Dropdown set - 225lbs - 5 reps

Today's training was at the Rodrigo Freitas BJJ in Hawthorne. During lunch, I got to work on a full guard recovery from half guard, in which I had to frame and shrimp out to get to the full guard position. Then, we worked on the knee slice pass to pass the half guard. After that, I got to live drill for 3 rounds from both the top and bottom positions.

I didn't well during the live drills. I still felt pain on my knee, so I stopped after the 3 round. I had a hard time bracing to use my leg to get the reversals, but I did hold my ground for a bit when I was defending from the half guard. Passing on the other hand was non-existent. I had a hard time on getting my knee off the floor to use pressure. I'll have to go back to wearing the knee sleeve in the meantime.

Tonight's training was significantly better than yesterday. My friends at the gym were there to push, which made all the difference in the world. Also, I tend to do better at night than in the morning with the lower body workouts. The stress from the long commute is built up and I take it out all of my frustrations on the weights. I'm on pace to squat 675lbs by the end of the month, which is my goal, so working up to it so far has been on point. I might even go to 700lbs, but I don't want to burn myself out.

Warm Up

Barbell Squats - 45lbs - 10 reps, 135lbs and 225lbs - 5 reps, 315lbs - 3 reps, 405lbs and 495lbs - 1 rep

Workout

Barbell Squats - 565lbs - 1 rep and 615lbs - 2 reps
One Legged Leg Press - 3 sets - 370lbs - 10 reps
Cybex Row Machine (Neutral Grip) - 180lbs and 360lbs - 10 reps, and 3 sets - 540lbs - 5 reps
Cable Pulldowns (Pronated Grip) - 160lbs and 220lbs - 10 reps, and 2 sets - 235lbs - 6 reps
TRX Abdominal Rollouts - 3 sets - 10 reps

Today's training didn't go according to plan, even though I did spend a good time warming up. When I got to 585lbs, my hip and back was not firing, so I had to drop down the weight. My next deadlift workout, I'll go back to sumo, since I use a lot of back when I squat. Also, the sumo deadlifts have been a big help with my conventional deadlifts. The workout was for about 30 minutes, so maybe I was rushing it this morning. It was disappointing, since I was in a roll up to this point.

Warm Up

Bodyweight Squats - 3 sets - 10 reps
Barbell Deadlifts - 45lbs and 135lbs - 10 reps, 225lbs an 315lbs - 5 reps, 405lbs - 2 reps, and 495lbs - 1 rep

Workout

Barbell Deadlifts - 545lbs - 1 rep, 2 sets - 585lbs - Failed Attempts (The last set, I did an isometric deadlift for 10 seconds before the lift, but I still failed off the floor.)
Speed Deadlifts - 3 sets - 405lbs - 5 reps