Tallcall's journal

[tallcall]

6/17/08

Tuesday:
BJJ:
1 Hour

We went over 2 standing takedowns. The first was easy, basically just pushing forward and sweeping the opponent with your back foot (my right foot, using my left as a base) and punching them to the ground in one fluid motion, followed quickly by a knee on the belly or full mount and armbar (going in for the kill).

The second was a lot more complicated. grab opponents gi near the wrist (he is locking onto you), run your elbow up, over, and then under that arm, duck under it with your head and go down to the opposite knee, then hug his nearest leg and roll towards your shoulder (the one corresponding to the arm that was used to lock his arm), the opponent ends up on his back and you can easily roll into mount (well it wasn't so easy for me, but anyways). It was a bit more complicated than I was ready for.

Rolled for about 5 or 10 minutes, spent most of our time throwing each other to the ground and making sure we were falling correctly (we don't normally have these hard falls), since we are really working on maybe 2 inches of zebra mats on top on very thin carpeting and no other padding (no wrestling mats or anything).

 

[fufu]

you ever think about training no-gi?

 

[tallcall]

you ever think about training no-gi?

I thought about it and decided against it. I like training with a gi and I'm trying to cut some costs, so doing one discipline (with gi) is about $20 a month cheaper than doing multiple disciplines.

 

[tallcall]

6/19/08 Weigh in

6/19/08 Weigh in
Weight: 281â?????? No Change from last week

Waist: 34 inchesâ?????? No change from last week
Stomach: 35 inchesâ?????? No change from last week
Chest: 52 inches â?????? No change from last week
Shoulders: 64.5 inches â?????? No change from last week
Neck: 19 18.5 inches â?????? No change from last week

Bi's: Left â?????? 18 inches, Right 17.5 inches â?????? No change from last week
Calves: 19.5 inches - No change from last week

Lean Body Mass: 273.40 â?????? No change from last week
Body Fat Weight: 7.60 â?????? No change from last week

Caliper readings - 4 point test:
Abs â?????? 4.75 mm â?????? No change from last week
Suprailiac â?????? 5 mm â?????? No change from last week
Thigh â?????? 2 mm â?????? No change from last week
Triceps â?????? 3.5 mm â?????? No change from last week

Estimated body fat % is ~ 15 % - Coming from one of those handheld devices.

I was sick all week and seem to have been able to maintain everything, so I guess thatâ??????s good. Iâ??????ve been stressing out about everything and just canâ??????t wait until this damn month is finally over (what an awful month).

 

[tallcall]

6/18/08

Wednesday:
BJJ:
1 Hour

We did nothing but drill standing takedowns and then did a little in class tournament for points and everything. I was out in the first round but I only lost by 1 point. These were 2 minute rounds starting on the feet (I still suck at takedowns). I did get called back in a few times when the other guys got too tired or even a little dazed, so I got my share of action. I was seeing some stars at one point.

It was a lot of fun, Thiago promises that we'll be doing something like this Thursday as well to help get some of the guys ready for one of the tournaments coming up July 12th at FSU. UCF has an MMA event that same week, and there is a Muay Thai tournament somewhere that week.

Thiago wants to split the class into teams with one of us as a coach on each team to help us get used to listening to our respective corners. I think this could be very nice.

I am going to be testing for a belt promotion next Tuesday. I am a bit nervous, but with all the other crap going on in my life, this could actually be a nice relief for me just to get this one item off my chest. I could be a real beatdown, but I want to give it a try.

Calories - 3900

 

[tallcall]

6/19/08

Thursday:
BJJ:
1 Hour

We practiced taking each other down for the first half of class. The second half had us all paired up and sparring tournament style for points in a series of 3 minute rounds (for timing reasons). I lost both of my rounds because of nasty chokes (I thought I was seeing stars at one point. My second round was much better than my first and there was a nice epic scramble where I gained quite a few points, but I still lost to a choke from mount. I was applauded for that scramble though.

I like that way of training. We just went in and had everyone in class shouting at us and had to zero in on what one or two guys were saying, just like in a real tournament.

I think I pulled something in my upper back (it feels like my traps) during that last roll. I hope it feels better by tonight when I have to go back in for another one of those new workouts.

This belt test coming up makes me very nervous. I want to do well, but I really don't have any time to practice because of the moving. I told him that, and that I'll just do everything I can and try not to stress out about it, but that's proving to be easier said than done. Until recently I had no idea there was a difference between back mount and back control. Back mount is easy, back control is where you're beside the opponent and controlling his hips or arms while he is on all fours. I don't remember anything about sweeps from that position. I'm going to try to get over there Monday, but I have to start moving into the storage unit, so I don't know how much time I'll have afterward. Oh well, I kind of wish I could curl up into a little ball and hide somewhere, it really does feel kind of debilitating. I may go out for an hour or so Sunday night downtown to one of the gay clubs and try to have a little fun (somewhat clean).

calories - 3600

 

[tallcall]

6/20/08

Friday:
All Body Program Week 1 Day 2:

Clean Pull: RI - 90 | 185x5, 5, 5

Front Step Up: RI - 60 | 105x10, 115x10, 115x10

Split Good Mornings: RI - 60 | 105x10, 125x10, 125x10

Push Jerk: RI - 60 | 65x10, 10, 10

Mixed Grip Pull-up: RI - 60 | BW-46x10, 10, 10

Reverse Grip Bench: RI - 60 | 65x10, 95x10, 105x5 (drop to 95x5)

2 Arm Horizontal Pull-up: RI - 60 | BWx10, 10, 10

Plank with Weight Xfer | 8 pounds x 30 seconds

Cardio - 20 min
10 min bike
10 min abs
15 min stretching

Back was feeling much better, I think I pulled my traps. It is just slightly painful to bend my neck down and to the left. I felt no pain when I was doing everything here though.

I tried the Jerk Push at about 75 pounds as well and it was simply too heavy for me right now, my shoulders wouldn't handle the load.

I had to sit and wait for a bench today, I swear I wanted to yell at these assholes, one was just sitting there playing with his phone and the others were just talking. I decided it was better to just let them finish their sets and then I'd have it all to myself. It took me about 5 minutes to burn through that one anyways.

Those pull-ups do still hurt a bit, I started my third set with one grip and alternated when my hands started to feel the pain, I think that worked better.

I really like those planks, I got my strength trainer to show me how to do them and they are incredibly simple yet taxing on the whole body.

My arms and legs were shaking by the end. My total time was about 1 hour 15 minutes, but would have been less if I didn't have to wait 15 minutes for that damn bench.

Calories - 4300

 

[tallcall]

Saturday - 6/21/08 - cheated a bit (~5000) because it was one of my instrucor's last day so we had a little going away party. I'm going to miss him.

Sunday - 6/22/08 - (3400) Went over to Parliament House, had a great time! I love their T Dance shows. I'm still trying to figure out what song one of them was performing, it sounded so good to me.

I packed the car to start my move, a lot of crap is going out in the first load.

This week is going to be difficult when it comes to workouts and BJJ. I have my belt test Tuesday, and I'll probably be in class Wednesday night - maybe , maybe not. I will probably do another workout Wednesday morning when I have time, and possibly Thursday morning. If not, I'll just make up an entire week at the end of the 4 week program.

I still feel alot like crap about all of this, but I guess it'll all work out.

 

[goob]

Saturday - 6/21/08 - cheated a bit (~5000) because it was one of my instrucor's last day so we had a little going away party. I'm going to miss him.

Sunday - 6/22/08 - (3400) Went over to Parliament House, had a great time! I love their T Dance shows. I'm still trying to figure out what song one of them was performing, it sounded so good to me.

I packed the car to start my move, a lot of crap is going out in the first load.

This week is going to be difficult when it comes to workouts and BJJ. I have my belt test Tuesday, and I'll probably be in class Wednesday night - maybe , maybe not. I will probably do another workout Wednesday morning when I have time, and possibly Thursday morning. If not, I'll just make up an entire week at the end of the 4 week program.

I still feel alot like crap about all of this, but I guess it'll all work out.

Where you moving?

 

[tallcall]

Where you moving?

Just moving 30 miles down the road to Mom and Dad's house until I can find a decent place and/or better job around Orlando (or anywhere nearby). The owner of the house I was renting is going into bankruptcy and I think it won't be too long before the bank takes this house, so I'm getting out of here before I come home one day and see a notice on the door, or the locks changed and the furniture missing.

 

[tallcall]

6/24/08
BJJ:
1.5 Hours

I did my belt test! I think I passed, he won't tell us for a little while because he wants to get everyone together and do a graduation ceremony.

We went over two escapes from half guard and rolled for about 10 minutes. We had a bonus warmup with the Pilates instructor which was so much more difficult than I thought. I usually have a hard time understanding what people want me to do at first, but after multiple attempts I usually get it. I could not get some of the exercises she was having us do. I'm also still having a hard time with sprawling, my knees still hurt when doing them because I land on them a little bit, but when sprawling with a live person there I usually do fine!?!

We played a game of WAR, my team won. Then we did a mini tournament. I won the first round, then lost to my former team captain, a couple ranks higher than me. We had some impressive fights that night. I was being cornered by my friend and pro MMA-er. I wasnt sure what he was trying to get me to do at first but once I got it I was able to quickly mount and tap my opponent out with his help (way to go Dan ).

When I was going up against my team captain (now he's a former state wrestling champion from Nebraska), I was able to take him down, I got caught in a guillotine choke, I tripoded up and escaped, but lost to an americana (I almost got the reversal for the americana, but my knees weren't feeling so good after taking him down - I landed kind of hard on them).

Calories - ~3400

6/25/08
BJJ:
2 Hours

More escapes from half guard. I rolled for 20 minutes.

Calories - ~3700 - they got a little messed up because I had to stop at Subway for lunch and just had to have some of their cookies

6/26/08
Quick Weight In:

Weight - 277 - Down 4 pounds from last week (don't know how, but whatever)

BF - Lost about 1 percent of body fat according to the hand held device I've been using.

I credit moving large objects all over the county, and rolling for almost 4 hours in 2 days for this large change.

 

[Double D]

I still dont know the purpose of doing reverse grip bench, but some trainers swear by it. You like em?

 

[fufu]

6/24/08
BJJ:
1.5 Hours

I did my belt test! I think I passed, he won't tell us for a little while because he wants to get everyone together and do a graduation ceremony.

We went over two escapes from half guard and rolled for about 10 minutes. We had a bonus warmup with the Pilates instructor which was so much more difficult than I thought. I usually have a hard time understanding what people want me to do at first, but after multiple attempts I usually get it. I could not get some of the exercises she was having us do. I'm also still having a hard time with sprawling, my knees still hurt when doing them because I land on them a little bit, but when sprawling with a live person there I usually do fine!?!

We played a game of WAR, my team won. Then we did a mini tournament. I won the first round, then lost to my former team captain, a couple ranks higher than me. We had some impressive fights that night. I was being cornered by my friend and pro MMA-er. I wasnt sure what he was trying to get me to do at first but once I got it I was able to quickly mount and tap my opponent out with his help (way to go Dan ).

When I was going up against my team captain (now he's a former state wrestling champion from Nebraska), I was able to take him down, I got caught in a guillotine choke, I tripoded up and escaped, but lost to an americana (I almost got the reversal for the americana, but my knees weren't feeling so good after taking him down - I landed kind of hard on them).

Calories - ~3400

6/25/08
BJJ:
2 Hours

More escapes from half guard. I rolled for 20 minutes.

Calories - ~3700 - they got a little messed up because I had to stop at Subway for lunch and just had to have some of their cookies

6/26/08
Quick Weight In:

Weight - 277 - Down 4 pounds from last week (don't know how, but whatever)

BF - Lost about 1 percent of body fat according to the hand held device I've been using.

I credit moving large objects all over the county, and rolling for almost 4 hours in 2 days for this large change.

that mini tourney sounds fun, I wish my school would do things like that.

 

[tallcall]

I still dont know the purpose of doing reverse grip bench, but some trainers swear by it. You like em?

I don't mind them, but they are a real pain in the wrists once you try to pile on some weight.

 

[tallcall]

that mini tourney sounds fun, I wish my school would do things like that.

Yeah, I was exhausted after that.

 

[Double D]

Ya I dont think I have ever done em b4. I just dont see a point. Besides I have zero mobility in my wrists....

 

[tallcall]

Alright, I'm mostly settled after that move, stuff is still in boxes and I'm at my parents house.

6/30/08:
Monday:
BJJ:
1 hour

My friend was teaching (filling in for the other guy who moved back to Brazil so his wife could be with family while she has her baby), he did a great job!

We went over 3 sweeps from butterfly guard: One of the traditional ones, one where the guy posts a leg to block, and then an arm drag sweep.

I did very well on all of these.

I rolled with the other guy for only 5 minutes, but it was solid with nonstop scrambling and I almost got his back (I lost balance right before). He made me tap to a rear collar choke (I almost got out but just couldn't keep turning into his arm). I also defended myself very well on all fours and made it incredibly difficult for him to get me in that choke, so kudos to him for getting me.

I should find out about that promotion sometime next week (I think I got it though). The teacher is going to do a graduation ceremony, and usually there is a little party afterwards. He was talking about when he got his purple belt in Brazil, the guys would gang up on you, put you to sleep (this is after the test, so you're staggering and almost out by then anyway), then they'd remove your old belt and you'd wake up with the new one and a bunch of crazed looking guys standing over you . Unfortunately that's not really allowed here (my masochistic side again ).

Calories - 3900

 

[tallcall]

7/01/08

Tuesday:
All Body Program Week 2 Day 1:

Clean Pulls: RI - 120 | 225x3 PR for Weight, 3, 3

Front Step Ups: RI - 90 | 135x5 PR for Weight, 5, 5

Split Good Mornings: RI - 90 | 155 x 5 PR for Weight, 5, 5

Push Jerks: RI - 90 | 75x5 PR for Weight, 5, 5

Mixed Grip Pullups: RI - 90 | BWx5 PR for Weight, 5, 5

Reverse Grip Bench Press: RI - 90 | 100x5 PR for Weight, 5, 5

2 Arm Horizontal Pullup: RI - 90 | BWx5, 5, 5

Plank W/Weight Xfer | 10 lb hex dbl x 30 seconds - PR for Weight

Cardio - 20 minutes

10 minutes on a bike
10 minutes abs
15 minutes stretching

I'm using a new gym under the same name as the old one, and I think this place kind of sucks. So many machines, and that assisted pullup machine is crap at best, so while I only need about 40 lbs of assistance, I am forced to take no less than 60 or greater and I cannot even use the bars solo because the thing in the middle that gives assistance is a knee pad that cannot be detached or lowered. At least I was only one of maybe 5 people using any free weights and the only one using both a power rack and squat cage correctly (I swear to god I'll knock the next guy I see doing either barbell curls or shrugs off the thing when they know someone else wants to use it for something like what I've been doing).

My pullups really do still stink, but I think they've gotten better. My bench has definitely improved a lot, I could have probably gotten ten at that weight today.

I'm making it a goal of mine to make some new friends at this place, so I started today by introducing myself to one of their personal trainers, apparently he knows about my academy and knows the kind of crazy and intense things we do there, I guess he goes or knows someone who goes there (what a small world!). Talking to him (very cool guy) and seeing all the other good looking guys was very nice, I think I might grow to like it here (you can kind of tell there are a bunch of colleges nearby when guys come in looking like these guys did - very well built ).

Calories - 4000

My diet has been all over the place for the last week or so, so I think I've pretty much got it all back on track now.

 

[tallcall]

Where am I?

I can see dead people!

 

[Rubes]

your at that one place with dead people in it

 

[tallcall]

your at that one place with dead people in it

 

[tallcall]

7/3/08 Weigh in

7/3/08 Weigh in

Weight: 277.5 â?????? Down 4 pounds from last week
Waist: 33.75 inchesâ?????? Down 0.25 inches from last week
Stomach: 34.5 inchesâ?????? Down 0.50 inches from last week
Chest: 50 inches â?????? Down 2 inches from last week
Shoulders: 64.5 inches â?????? No change from last week
Neck: 18.5 inches â?????? Down 0.50 inches from last week

Bi's: Left â?????? 18 inches, Right 17.5 inches â?????? No change from last week
Calves: 19.5 inches - No change from last week

Lean Body Mass: 270.57 â?????? Down 2.83 pounds from last week
Body Fat Weight: 6.93 â?????? Down 0.67 pounds from last week

Caliper readings - 4 point test:
Abs â?????? 4.75 mm â?????? No change from last week
Suprailiac â?????? 4.75 mm â?????? Down 0.25 mm from last week
Thigh â?????? 2 mm â?????? No change from last week
Triceps â?????? 3 mm â?????? Down 0.50 mm from last week

Estimated body fat % is ~ 15 % - Coming from one of those handheld devices.

Iâ??????ve been moving for the past week and really havenâ??????t done as much as I should have done to keep up with things. I feel a lot lighter and a little quicker. It sucks that I lost all that LBM weight, like I said before, the diet has been all over the place the last week or so due to the move.

 

[tallcall]

7/02/08

Wednesday:
BJJ:
2 hours:

We covered transition from full guard to open guard to ankle under chin for omo plata, gog plata, kimura, armbar, and a sort of crucifix with an armbar and leg choke.

Also did our mini tournys during the last hour, I made it to the second round and keep getting rounds of applause because I guess I'm getting better and quicker.

Calories - ~3400

 

[tallcall]

7/03/08

Thursday:
All Body Program Week 2 Day 2:

Clean Pulls: RI - 120 | 225x3, 3, 3

Front Step Ups: RI - 90 | 135x5, 5, 5

Split Good Mornings: RI - 90 | 155 x 5, 5, 5

Push Jerks: RI - 90 | 75x5, 5, 5

Mixed Grip Pullups: RI - 90 | BWx4, 5, 4

Reverse Grip Bench Press: RI - 90 | 100x5, 5, 5

2 Arm Horizontal Pullup: RI - 90 | BWx5, 5, 5

Plank W/Weight Xfer | 10 lb hex dbl x 30 seconds

Cardio - 20 minutes

10 minutes on a bike
10 minutes abs
15 minutes stretching

Those pullups were very sub par because my left elbow was in some slight pain and I didn't want to chance it.

Everything else ran pretty smooth today!

Calories - 4000

BJJ:
1 Hour

More mini tournys. I was an early elimination to a one of my wrestling buddies (blue belt). I nearly had a single leg takedown on him but didn't push it enough, so I got taken to the ground and landed kind of hard so he took my arm into an Americana. I tried to reverse it, but it was the elbow from before and I heard a pop, so I tapped very quickly. It's perfectly fine (usually you're safe if it pops once, twice is pushing it, and three times is probably going to be a serious problem).

We rolled for 5 minutes at the end. All in all a good day.

I tried some ginseng one of my friends brought in, and man it was powerful, I am still WIDE awake and focused enough to write this essay! I'm gonna have to get some of of that for myself!

 

[tallcall]

7/05/08

Saturday:
All Body Program Week 2 Day 3:

Clean Pulls: RI - 120 | 225x3, 3, 3

Front Step Ups: RI - 90 | 135x5, 5, 5

Split Good Mornings: RI - 90 | 155 x 5, 5, 5

Push Jerks: RI - 90 | 75x5, 5, 5

Mixed Grip Pullups: RI - 90 | BWx4, 4, 4

Reverse Grip Bench Press: RI - 90 | 100x5, 5, 5

2 Arm Horizontal Pullup: RI - 90 | BWx5, 5, 5

Plank W/Weight Xfer | 10 lb hex dbl x 30 seconds

Cardio - 20 minutes

10 minutes on a bike
10 minutes abs
15 minutes stretching

Pullups sucked again, my elbows still hurt a little bit when doing them, I may have to stop doing them for a little while.

On the plus side, I met a very nice guy named Poseidon (cool name). Totally hot and I know he's gay (the way he talked with that empathy in his voice - super sweet - and his handshake, holding my hand between his thumb and fingers not quite completely grabbing my hand, very gently shaking). I got to watch him do some ghetto rows, he did pretty good and his arms slightly bulging looked great so I complimented him on his work and that's when we started talking and shaking hands. Then I saw him right before I left and looked into his eyes for a minute as I said good bye. I like him!

Calories - 7/04/08 - ~4500 (cheat day)
7/05/08 - 4000

 

[Double D]

I love your workouts, plenty of oly lifts!

 

[tallcall]

I love your workouts, plenty of oly lifts!

I certainly feel the results. My legs aren't always stiff and sore, they just get a little bit wobbly and I end up sweating buckets.

I also feel like I'm quicker on the mat and have no problem popping up from a prone position in one or two very fluid movements (as opposed to the step by step pattern I was doing).

I really like this one.

 

[tallcall]

7/07/08

Monday:
All Body Program Week 3 Day 1:

Clean Pull: RI - 120 | 215x5, 5, 5

Front Step Ups (on 4 risers instead of 3 like before): RI - 60 | 125x8, 8, 8

Split Good Mornings: RI - 60 | 155 x8, 8, 8

Push Jerks: RI - 60 | 75x8, 8, 8

Mixed Grip Pullups: RI - 60 | BWx8, 6 (2 missed), 8

Reverse Grip Bench Press: RI - 60 | 95x8, 8, 8

2 Arm Horizontal Pullup: RI - 60 | BWx8, 8, 8

Plank W/Weight Xfer | 10 lb hex dbl x 30 seconds

Cardio - 10 minutes

10 minutes on a bike
15 minutes stretching

Front Step Ups were very nice today! Pull Ups were a little bit stronger, but still lacking. I hate not being able to get the assisted pull up machine to work right for me (can't get it to give me less that 60 lbs of assistance, I only need 40 at most, even less now I think).

BJJ:
1 Hour:

We drilled single leg takedowns, and sprawls (pummeling one arm under their leading arm to break the grip). The sprawl was then turned into a way to get back control and roll them into a position to set up for a rear naked choke, or any number of other chokes from there. Then we used it to get a blood choke while pushing the guy flat to the ground and driving our wrists into his throat (gi only, since we are using it to keep the grip tight - and man it works quick, I was tapping way before he finished locking it in - it took a couple seconds for it to work tops).

Calories - 4500 (cheated)

 

[tallcall]

7/11/08 Weigh in

7/11/08 Weigh in

Weight: 277.0â?????? Down 0.5 pounds from last week

Waist: 33.75 inchesâ?????? No change from last week
Stomach: 34.5 inchesâ?????? No change from last week
Chest: 50 inches â?????? No change from last week
Shoulders: 64.5 inches â?????? No change from last week
Neck: 18.5 inches â?????? No change from last week

Bi's: Left â?????? 18 inches, Right 17.5 inches â?????? No change from last week
Calves: 19.5 inches - No change from last week

Lean Body Mass: 270.47 â?????? Down 0.10 pounds from last week
Body Fat Weight: 6.53 â?????? Down 0.40 pounds from last week

Caliper readings - 4 point test:
Abs â?????? 4.5 mm â?????? Down 0.25 mm from last week
Suprailiac â?????? 4.5 mm â?????? Down 0.25 mm from last week
Thigh â?????? 2 mm â?????? No change from last week
Triceps â?????? 3 mm â?????? No change from last week

Estimated body fat % is ~ 15 % - Coming from one of those handheld devices.

Feelâ??????s good. I feel a lot lighter and a little quicker. My diet is more stable right now, still need to fix a few things.

 

[fufu]

how did that belt test turn out for you?