The very first BJJ comp I entered after a few solid weeks of BJJ schooling was the Kent BJJ Open back in November 2008. A year into the game I return to the Kent Open and get to the semi finales, and so does the Prince of Darkness a.k.a my brother.
After a year of rolling around on sweaty mats I stayed infection free. Washing my gi and all my gear soon as I got in and using a cap full of Dettol instead of softener in the machine and Dettol soap in the shower. Followed this with oiling my skin with coconut oil before I towel down. Worked great at keeping me bug free. But After a solid year of infection free grappling I've pick up a really strong strain of LS.
What is LS?
It mainly effects (but not excluded to) the latissimus dorsi (Lats) to region. The doctor tells me the only cure is to stop grappling. This will lead to the LS (Lat Syndrome) reversing over a period of 3-6 months.
All jokes aside I do feel I'm morphing into a Silverback the more I grapple.
Friday - 31.07.2009 – My body is now soft boiled
A few weeks ago I was on fire, my ground game was good, not great but good. And I felt like I was made of adamantium. I was lapel choking away like it was going out of fashion to the point of pain in my finger joints. Monday past the bubble burst. I felt human again. Every knock and bump hurt. When held down in side control by guys of a similar weight, I almost tapped from the pain I felt in my ribs. My whole body has been extremely sore and tender for the last two weeks.
Here’s a clip of me and my brother having a roll about.
Just got hold of a vid of me at the Essex Open (2009), lost on points, no-gi comp tomorrow, lets see how I do.
Sunday Night - 2009.03.15
I'm reverting back to my angry young man days. I go from indifferent to strong urges of picking people up and slamming them on their head faster then they can finish the very sentence which triggers my rage. Having two discs in my spine out of place has put me out of training for two weeks and now the discs have been realigned I've been told to lay off training for another two weeks. The lack of combat sports is not helping my mental health one bit.
The regular lads night of poker, sheesha and banter has not taken place for quite some time and I didn't think I'd miss it this much, but I do.
I've got soo many rants and ideas whipping a frenzy in my head right now it's a burden just focusing on one long enough to type it out.
I'll have me a home made burrito, some fat free water and smoke the last of my sheesha tobacco, while I watch Jack (24) save the day. (Ponders how Jack would do on the mat....)
Sunday 2009.03.01 – Prince of Darkness Takes Silver
My brother did well at the Bristol Open. Taking silver in the white belt 64kg division.
As for me, I barely escaped with my life, after facing the baby faced assassin (know as Tom to most) in my first fight I lost via pints. I was saved by the bell as the triangle he had on me was making me gurgle. Tom went on to assassinate another four or five guys to take the gold (white belt 70kg). Congratulations Tom a well deserved victory.
Yesterday the osteopath wasn't very happy with my intention to compete on Saturday. I promised after the Bristol Open I'd rest until I've healed fully. I also finished customizing my comp Gi
I weighed in this morning at a shocking 72.5kg this morning. To think I need to weigh in at 70kg with my Gi come Saturday.
Friday 2009.02.13 - No rest for the wicked
Last Monday While rolling the pain in my lat region become worse. And if any direct pressure was applied in the area the burning pain would turn to a stabbing pain which I just couldn’t take. I couldn’t even breathe when any pressure was placed on the injury. I cling filmed the ice pack to my back and took some aspirin.
Wednesday with the Osteopath, After the diagnosis and some very painfully massage and multiple failed attempts at releasing pressure in that region, I’ve been told to rest and come back in a week. I’ve done no training. Getting to sleep has become a mammoth task. Everyone I meet comments on how skinny I look, I’ve only lost 3kg. I weighed in at 72kg this morning. It must be the lack of sleep.
Today No training, I’m not even going in to watch as I did on Friday. I’m going home to knock up a lesson plan which I’ll be teaching tomorrow. Repeat after me ‘Phrasal Verbs’ . Bristol Open is in two weeks, do I enter? If so which weight category, under 70 or under 76kg. I’ll wait till Thursday and see how the back feels and what my scales suggest.
In the last year I had dropped from 82kg (28% BF) Dec 07, and weighed in at a BJJ Tourney in Dec 08 @ 71kg (18% BF) Pictures
Targets for 2009 are more sports specific. I'd like to become more fluid on the mat (BJJ) and partake in as many comps as possible. Also enter the some No Gi submission wrestling type comps also. I'd like to feel in a years time I've progressed from a novice grappler to a competent mid level blue belt standard of grappling
To break this down into smaller targets and of a more quantitative nature I'm aiming for following.
To increase sports specific flexibility Increase hip mobility, neck and core agility and flexibility.
Targets to hit by Jan 2010 Crossing my legs yoga style with out using my hands to pull legs in holding a full bridge, which includes the nose touching the floor for a full 3min etc)
To increase power to weight ratio Two fold strategy of decreasing body fat to 9% and increase power out put through 5x5 compounds
Targets to hit by Jan 2010
Deadlift 200% of Body weight (5x5) Squat 150% of body weight (5x5) Clean & Jerk 100% of body weight (5x5) Decrease my body fat to 9%
To increase grip strength
Targets to hit by Jan 2010 Gi pull ups of my body weight (5x5)
To get me started I've decided to enter two of the MyProtein.co.uk comps.
1. Fat Loss. I've had a Carb feast for every meal today and will be starting an Atkins/ high fat diet from Monday.
2. Strength Increase. I was intending to video myself on Clean & Jerk as I've never really trained this awesome compound movement. But due to one of the worst cramps I've experienced occurring during sparring on Friday night in my calf, I've decided to do something a little different. I shall perform pistols on my left leg till failure. Also attempt a one arm press-up. Don't think I can do it, but will give it shot. I will then work on these two movements over the next 12 weeks and attempt a PB for each on the deadline day for the comp.
Few things I do to keep me on track (Fri 2009.01.09)
Figure out which classes you can attend and mark it in your dairy. On that day and time I have to be at that class. Even if I'm injured, I'll be there and just watch. If an emergency occurs and due to that I couldn't attend, then the money I'd put aside for that class goes to my equipment fund (Gi, rash guards etc)
Budget for classes, equipment and supplements. It doesn't have to be huge some of money. A fiver a week, and six months down the line £130 can go towards a decent Gi (£60), wrestling shoes (£40) and a couple of KG of protein (£20).
Prepare for each class in advance. Fridays I finish work late, hang about for an hour, and walk to the BJJ club. Everything I need in one the holdall, which I prepared the night before. Including the pre & post work out shakes (just add water).
When you get back from your session, put it all in the washing machine and anything that won't go in (head guard, holdall, wrestling shoes) spray with disinfectant and let it air out.
Now hit the shower, I recommend Dettol soap, as mats used for combat sports are a breading ground for bacteria.
One last thing, don't keep training if you need to use the lavatory. Training hard with a full bladder can lead to some serious problems. Click here to read a post by 'Hailtotheking's if you don't believe me.
Still my hero (2008.12.25) Whenever I here some rap lyrics about missing someone they've lost to urban violence, my mind always has flashbacks of my very close friend and older brother figure Riz. He was a legend, the man had knocked out both of his opponents in the first round on the same night in the regional championships. He could bang, but the man was smooth as silk on his feet too, this was a very dangerous combination. He was in many ways my hero as I was coming into my own as a fighter and a young man. I'd often tell him if it wasn't for the 20kg he had on me, I'd school him in the ring, he'd laugh it off. I didn't know too much about his personal life, but being a legend has its negatives. There were so many stories of brawls which took place outside the ring, where Riz had given guys much bigger a right hiding and from what I knew of Riz, he'd have been the last person to have started trouble. He was one of the most humble people I knew. He never admitted to winning in a street fight, but would divert the conversation, by telling those who asked about the times he was beaten at school by older kids.
I was once walking towards Ilford, when Riz was driving by, he pulled up and asked me were I was heading. He told me to hop in and he'd drop me off. Explaining to him it's in the opposite direction to where he's heading didn't make any difference. He wouldn't take no for an answer. This was a guy who went out of his way to make my life that bit easier.
We once walked down the high street as we we're due to box at a show held in the West Ham Working Men's Club. Riz must have been stopped close to a dozen times by guys of all ages, to shake his hand and ask how he was, and in a way pay their respects. As we finished the fourth such encounter I realized that the guy I often verbally laid into and teased like a fellow school buddy was truly a local legend. I then joked that I’ll never walk with him anywhere again as it takes twice the time with all these stops. He then apologised, and explained; how out of all the people he had met he only knew one by name. Right there he had become my hero, he made time for the common guy, the weaklings, dweebs, uncools of society. People Riz had nothing to gain from. Those who showed him respect we're treated with a similar level of respect, and those who harmed or even threatened to harm his friends where suddenly waking up lying flat out on the ground.
April 2003 - I got a call, my hero had been stabbed on the High Street, he later died in Newham General, I couldn't be there but friends tell me how when they were allowed to finally see his body, it was a gruesome sight. I still come close to tears of anger and rage when I think about what a rare type of man to poses so much talent along with humbleness and mutual respect was a victim of an urban feud.
I miss you Riz, and will try my best to treat people with the respect I witnessed you show others. You're still a hero to me, and you had a very positive influence on my life. I'll be praying for you.
To judge the character of a man you must witness how he treats those he has nothing to gain from.
Hereford Combat Academy Ground Fighting Comp (Sunday 2008.12.07)
I really did enjoy myself at the Kent Open, and while I only intended to be a spectator until the Friday before it, I found the experience of my first BJJ competition a real master class. I've decided to enter the Ground fight Championship (Gi) Sunday 2008.12.07 which is a great tournament for white belts (White belts only BJJ) and matches start on the knees.
I contacted them and they informed me I can weigh in without the Gi, I'll try and enter the 71kg division, I weighed in this morning at 74.3kg. I'll be knocking up a work out and meal plan tonight after my BJJ session.
I had four fights, lost two, won one by submission, and one by points. Still carrying quite a bit of body fat so I entered the 76kg white belt division.
