Goals & Gains MAGA - Make Awesome Gains Again!

[KnightTemplar]

That's the way to approach properly doing JJ. That's when it gets fun and is what the higher belts are doing when it feels like you have no answer in a roll. You created a reaction, they defended and it opened up another attack, which they then couldn't respond to.

Same thing will happen with the DLR guard if that works with your game.

I am primarily a no gi person and could count on one hand the amount of Gi chokes I have hit in over a decade of training. We covered loop chokes the other day. I only hit a single loop choke, but landed multiple bow and arrow/cross collar chokes in that session. All because they suddenly opened up as people over defended the loop choke threat. 1 move suddenly made setting up gi chokes make sense to me.

I'm the exact opposite: I've almost solely trained in Gi. I've only done a couple of No-Gi classes. From my very limited experience, No-Gi seems to be much more explosive and athletic than training in the Gi. The Gi itself gives you so many options.

The good thing about being at the very bottom of the pecking order is there's no pressure on me. All I have to concentrate on is learning and getting better. Anything else is a bonus.

 

[maximus__]

I'm the exact opposite: I've almost solely trained in Gi. I've only done a couple of No-Gi classes. From my very limited experience, No-Gi seems to be much more explosive and athletic than training in the Gi. The Gi itself gives you so many options.

The good thing about being at the very bottom of the pecking order is there's no pressure on me. All I have to concentrate on is learning and getting better. Anything else is a bonus.

I was a whitebelt technically for over 10 years. I started with No gi and MMA. It starts like that initially until you go into the leg game. Then it's just as technical as the gi.

That's the right approach. Keeps the perspective because no matter how good we get, there is always someone better. That's why I used that choke example. It's a running joke when I train gi that I forget it exists offensively. 1 class added a whole new level to my game.

 

[KnightTemplar]

I was a whitebelt technically for over 10 years. I started with No gi and MMA. It starts like that initially until you go into the leg game. Then it's just as technical as the gi.

That's the right approach. Keeps the perspective because no matter how good we get, there is always someone better. That's why I used that choke example. It's a running joke when I train gi that I forget it exists offensively. 1 class added a whole new level to my game.

Yeah, I didn't mean to imply that No-Gi required less technique than Gi. You only have to watch someone like Gordon Ryan to see the level of skill involved. Gi isn't better than No-Gi. It's just different.

 

[maximus__]

Yeah, I didn't mean to imply that No-Gi required less technique than Gi. You only have to watch someone like Gordon Ryan to see the level of skill involved. Gi isn't better than No-Gi. It's just different.

Nah mate I didn't take it like that at all. Just commenting that the leg lock game is on a whole other world.

Easily on par with some of the most complicated gi guards, if not more because your knee is at risk the entire time.

 

[KnightTemplar]

Nah mate I didn't take it like that at all. Just commenting that the leg lock game is on a whole other world.

Easily on par with some of the most complicated gi guards, if not more because your knee is at risk the entire time.

No argument from me.

Leg Locks scare the shit out of me.

 

[KnightTemplar]

Project 2025: Week 14/Day 40

Trap Bar Deadlifts:

3 X 70kg

3 X 90kg

3 X 100kg

Kaz Press:

3 X 6 X 35kg

Chin- Ups Grip Pulldowns:

4 X 4 X 60kg

Seated Machine Rows:

4 X 4 X 55kg

Close Grip Dumbbell Bench:

4 X 4 X 14kg

 

[KnightTemplar]

Stair Climber:

10 Floors @ Level 10

 

[KnightTemplar]

Project 2025: Week 14/Day 41

Swiss Bar Bench:

3 X 3 X 37kg

Swiss Bar Rows:

3 X 5 X 55kg

 

[KnightTemplar]

BJJ.

Sweeps from a sitting position. From beginner to advanced. Obviously, I trained the basic versions. One thing I noticed is that I'm hitting the Chokes more easily during training(Rolling is another matter entirely, of course). I used to have to fumble around to sink the Choke in. Now it happens as soon as I get position.

Rolling. I got creamed by two Three Stripe Whites, at least one of whom will probably get his Blue this year. But I managed to Tap a Blue Belt with the ugliest Choke you've ever seen: I caught him in a Guillotine, but he rolled out, so our heads were side by side and my arms were above my head, still holding the Choke. He couldn't get free and had to Tap. I don't even know if this technique has a name.

 

[KnightTemplar]

Project 2025: Week 14/Day 42

SS Bar Box Squats:

3 X 50kg

3 X 70kg

3 X 80kg

RDL's:

3 X 6 X 52kg

Lu Raises:

3 X 6 X 5kg

Chest Supported Reverse Fly:

3 X 6 X 6kg

Hex Press:

3 X 6 X 14kg

Smith Machine JM Press:

5 X 31kg

5 X 36kg

5 X 41kg

 

[KnightTemplar]

Stair Climber:

11 Floors @ Level 10

 

[KnightTemplar]

End of Week 14.

Had to back off a bit on the SS Bar Squats, as I picked up a dead-leg Rolling on Wednesday.

 

[Lug's Spear]

No argument from me.

Leg Locks scare the shit out of me.

What I’m finding out is the more you learn how to use them the more you learn how to defend them. Also certain leg control positions are easier to counter than others. I used to rely on single leg x since it’s easy to enter and 50/50, but both of these expose you to a lot of counters. I try to prioritize the saddle, outside sankaku, butterfly ashi for attacking. When it comes to safety you need a partner who puts your safety above winning the round.

 

[Lug's Spear]

BJJ.

Sweeps from a sitting position. From beginner to advanced. Obviously, I trained the basic versions. One thing I noticed is that I'm hitting the Chokes more easily during training(Rolling is another matter entirely, of course). I used to have to fumble around to sink the Choke in. Now it happens as soon as I get position.

Rolling. I got creamed by two Three Stripe Whites, at least one of whom will probably get his Blue this year. But I managed to Tap a Blue Belt with the ugliest Choke you've ever seen: I caught him in a Guillotine, but he rolled out, so our heads were side by side and my arms were above my head, still holding the Choke. He couldn't get free and had to Tap. I don't even know if this technique has a name.

That’s awesome that your chokes are coming together. I think chokes are the most fun type of submission. That submission you described sounds like an inverted north south guillotine. A lot of times you can roll with them when they do that into mount to finish the guillotine.

 

[KnightTemplar]

That’s awesome that your chokes are coming together. I think chokes are the most fun type of submission. That submission you described sounds like an inverted north south guillotine. A lot of times you can roll with them when they do that into mount to finish the guillotine.

Thank you! I couldn't figure out what to call it. I've never hit it before, and I wasn't looking for it. Just one of those weird Subs you sometimes manage to pull off almost by accident.

 

[KnightTemplar]

What I’m finding out is the more you learn how to use them the more you learn how to defend them. Also certain leg control positions are easier to counter than others. I used to rely on single leg x since it’s easy to enter and 50/50, but both of these expose you to a lot of counters. I try to prioritize the saddle, outside sankaku, butterfly ashi for attacking. When it comes to safety you need a partner who puts your safety above winning the round.

The White Belts I Roll with don't try Leg Locks and the higher Belts don't bother when they're rolling with me. They can Tap me easily enough with Chokes, Arm Bars etc. But even when we're just practicing them, I Tap as soon as I know it's on. I don't wait for it to start to hurt.

 

[KnightTemplar]

Project 2025: Week 15/Day 43

Trap Bar Deadlifts:

3 X 67kg

3 X 91kg

3 X 100kg

Chins-Grip Pulldowns:

4 X 6 X 60kg

Seated Rows:

4 X 6 X 55kg

Kaz Press:

5 X 34kg

5 X 36kg

5 X 41kg

Hex Press:

3 X 5 X 16kg

 

[KnightTemplar]

Stair Climber:

12 Floors @ Level 10

 

[KnightTemplar]

Project 2025: Week 15/Day 44

Football Bar Bench Press:

3 X 35kg

3 X 37kg

3 X 38kg

Football Bar Rows:

3 X 6 X 55kg

 

[KnightTemplar]

BJJ

Scissor Sweep. We trained four variations. From the most basic up to a more advanced version. I was able to perform the first three with my partner, but both of us got stuck on the fourth and most advanced version.

Rolled with two other Whites. Both were no-score draws. My defensive game is very, very slightly improving. My offensive game is still non-existent. Unless I stumble into a fluke position, as I did when I caught the Blue Belt last week.