Mizblog

Christian’s Tuesday morning class was the first I can remember where I went in and came out 99% uninjured.

We started running back and forth, then worked in shuffles, lunges, shadow boxing/advancing, punctuated by paired striking (palm strikes, knees).

Next was slipping punches, then bobbing and weaving. We worked it in with boxing gloves, adding the evasion moves after throwing a combination.

Last we went to the back training room, where we practiced chokes against the wall (from front and then from the back). Then Melissa was awarded her yellow belt (she tested on Saturday and was apparently devastated for the entire weekend).

TJ’s Saturday morning class. I came in worried that my cold was going to bother me, but it mostly didn’t. I was able to swallow the mucous I was generating.

Typical start-up but with shoulder tag, then bitchslaps with covering, transitioning to duck/roll/counter drill.

We got partners and gloves and focus mitts and did simple combos. Then we transitioned them into duck/roll/counter drills with the mitts. Finally we did a little boxing sparring. I did alright despite taking a few shots. I probably landed more than I absorbed so that’s good.

The self-defense bit was headlock defense from the ground. It’s basically kesa-gatame, but the defense is to frame against neck and hips, then hook their leg and slip your head out from under, strike, stand, and escape. Jeff had conceptual problems with it but it was very easy for me.

Christian’s Tuesday morning class, and my first since vacation, started with an intense cardio circuit. Then we went over all the elbows, then did some clinch and knees. Old man Mike was my partner and he’s seriously merciless with his grips in the standing side control. My skin was pinched uncomfortably.

For the self defense portion, we did bear hugs from the front with space. They’re the same with arms in or out so that was an easy refresher. After that we did from the front without space, arms free. I need to work out the footwork for that. It involves a head twist takedown and I need to remember to move my leg out of the way of their falling body so I don’t get my knee ruined. I had a close call with Mike right after Christian reminded me to do this. Oops.

Christian’s Tuesday morning class and my last chance to train before going out to Indiana for GENCON 2016. We started with a jump rope and mixed 30 seconds of rope jumping with 30 seconds of combatives or pad holding.

Then we got into combinations. Advancing punches (left then right, then left+right), groin kick + left+right punches, round kick + 1-2 punches, then #1 elbow + 2x knees. Finally we put them all together in a drill.

At the end we did baseball bat defense, and again we had about 5 minutes and Christian rushed it and we barely got to practice at all.

TJ’s Saturday morning class started normally with some jogging around, inside shuffle, outside shuffle, backpedaling, lunging, and waving our arms around. Spread out shadow boxing, pushups, shoulder tag with new guy Blake, squats, more shoulder tag with Blake, crunches, shoulder tag with Jeff. Then we stretched out, got a sip of water, and gloved up for focus mitts.

Jeff held mitts for me, and I thought I did okay. Only a couple of screw-ups. We were supposed to work Blake in, and I don’t think we did a good job. After that, we put on headgear and did some boxing sparring. I sparred with Jeff, Scott, and TJ. I did decent on that as well.

Gear away, kick shields out. Started with side kicks to a low pad, then a higher pad. I had to hold the pad really low for Jeff, whose flexibility is not so great, and he was having groin stretching issues. After side kicks, we went to back kicks, then stepping back kicks, then turning back kicks, then jump spin back kick. Jeff hits really hard with his back kicks, and one time I didn’t brace properly and took a hard shot right through the pad and into my gut. Not serious, just woah. I kicked harder. One of my turning back kicks lifted him up off the mat. We both even managed to land all our jump spinning back kicks without injuring ourselves or each other, and that was a happy surprise.

TJ’s Thursday morning class was a surprise. I didn’t think I’d be able to attend, but my morning meeting was over in 30 minutes and I was ready to go! TJ started by asking who’s scheduled for upcoming testing and wanted to see something, and I suggested bearhugs.

Warm up started with running and stuff, then shadow boxing, then shoulder tag. I paired with Jeff twice on that, and he’s very good. Tagged me a bunch of times. Mixed in was more calisthenics, then we got down to stretching. I was sweating a pool, and so was lil’ John next to me.

We strapped up the Thai pads, and I again paired up with Jeff. He’s awkward with the Thai pads and kept holding to the wrong side or forgetting to hold for the kick. He wasn’t terrible, but he was a lot like how I was a month or two ago. He’ll pick it up quick, I’m sure. Anyway, we got through it all without getting hurt.

After putting away the gloves and pads, we pulled out heavy bags and practiced the hip push move for bearhug defense before getting into the details. Base and strike/push the hips to make space, then strike and escape or whatever. We covered bearhug from the front with arms inside and outside, with space and without space. Lil’ John got to practice with Renee, and TJ joked that he was not supposed to do the motorboat defense.

To finish the class, we had a gauntlet that started with eyes closed spinning followed by a bear hug escape, run through a gauntlet of kick shield wielding classmates, and then throw continuous strikes on the tombstone pad that Brandon was holding up.

Good class.

Christian’s Tuesday morning class started with the selection of a medicine ball. Here was the circuit (30sec each round):

1. medicine ball squats
2. palm heel strikes
3. medicine ball squats
4. palm heel strikes
5. medicine ball squats
6. knees
7. medicine ball squats
8. knees
9. Russian twist
10. front kick
11. Russian twist
12. front kick

I think that was it. A little stretching and we gloved up and did focus mitt work for a bit.

After that, we went over all the elbows 1-7. Practiced a bunch in the mirror and then with a partner. I paired up with Ronnie.

At the end, we did baseball bat defense. Kind of like shooting the Street Fighter fireball. Ronnie was brand new at it and didn’t get many reps, but it felt pretty good for me. We ended 5 minutes late in the small room, as the BJJ folks warmed up on the big mat.

Brandon’s Saturday morning class while Mark taught the kids BJJ. We started with a lot of running, which I hated. Then interminable arm circles while Brandon caught up with Mike. Eventually the warm up was done and we did… stuff. I was hoping I’d remember by now but it’s not coming back. I guess we did thai pads. Mike said I had good kicks.

We learned step turning back kicks. Step across with your back foot to show your flank to the opponent, then pivot and send a back kick with what was before your front foot. These were awkward for me, but not as awkward as they were for Mike.

Then we reviewed level 1 choke defenses and did some drills.

TJ’s Thursday class. I had to miss the Tuesday class because of that stupid work meeting, so this was my one chance at training during the week. My knee was achey.

TJ started us up with a TRX warmup. We got a brief intro to the TRX bands and the wide variety of exercises you can do with them. I felt uncoordinated and out of shape and a bit foolish.

We got right on to throwing an overhand punch. We explored different fist orientations on impact by throwing lightly on the heavy bags. Most decided that thumb down was the best. Then we practiced with the new thai pads. I partnered with Melissa. Her wrist was her weak link so I suggested she hit lightly. I did the same, for the most part.

Then we learned outside defense, which is basically a 360 defense against a straight(ish) punch, if you’re caught off guard. Meh.

Then we did stick defense, with the knife hand to deflect the stick while the other hand makes a fist and delivers a punch to the face. It’s tricky to get the fist and hand action going, and pray you never have to do it from the other side!

TJ’s Saturday morning class. I came in feeling uneasy in my guts, but that went away during the class.

Started with shadow boxing, calisthenics, shoulder tag, etc.

We did no-flinch drills to face and body, inside and outside defenses with boxing gloves, and covering.

We did combos including body shots and stuff.

At the end we did boxing sparring.

Afterward, on the drive home, I realized I was a little out of it. Must have taken a good brain rattling that I don’t remember. That or I’m just pretty tired.