SW Portland Martial Arts Blog

Well, I forgot to clear out the memory in my phone so today’s CrossFit workout cut out 5 minutes before the end… but it was just some stretches. But darnit! I was trying to get more stretches in our workouts. So it goes. Gotta remember to clear the phone every time.

Dug went over some of my favorite fakes today in striking. The old backfist/ridgehand switcheroo. If you don’t know it, you should do the class. And heck, even if you do know it, you should do the class.

For kids class today, we showed how to reverse the vicious side control of a stuffed penguin. As always, it was a hoot.

Got a moment for at home grappling practice? Grab a pillow and practice your triangle from top side control. Better yet, grab a giant stuffed animal and do it. Best, grab your grappling dummy that you’ve made because you desperately miss having real partners…

Feel the power of jumping kata! Well, maybe not. But perhaps you will feel where your power is supposed to be coming from if you DO jump in your kata.

Today as I was doing the CrossFit video, I thought… I wonder how this change in schedule is changing my fitness? I’m not sparring any more. I’m not wrestling anymore. I’m doing a ton of bodyweight skills and bodyweight conditioning. Huh. Anyway, I ask the question during today’s workout: how is your fitness changing? I feel like I’m gaining relative (bodyweight) strength and coordination but I’m probably losing absolute (maximum weight on a barbell) strength. Fun experiment…

For kid’s class today, I got really excited about forward rolls. Hopefully I didn’t overdo it for anyone out there.

Ever scratch your head about how to connect forms and sparring? Or forms and grappling? Well, ever hear a coach tell you to keep your hands up in sparring? Ever hear a coach tell you to keep your elbows in when you grapple? I’ve found over the years that if, when you do kata, you focus on your “off” hand, you can improve your ability to focus on keeping your hands up in sparring and your elbows in during grappling. Try it!

Are you a stance switcher? Do you fight southpaw and conventional? Well, if you do, check out today’s striking video for a cool way to switch stances, move forward, and strike ALL AT ONCE! Wow.

Triangle choke from… mount? Heck yeah! Watch the video and I’ll show you how to do the move by yourself and on a grappling dummy. You’ve got one of those now, right?

For kid’s class today, the theme was “hands up”. So with our hands glued to our cheeks, we worked the boxing combo, frames, and… of course, we swung at each other with foam samurai swords.

For the CrossFittery, we used the old “stuff a backpack with books trick” and had fun throwing around strange objects. Pshaw. When this whole pandemic is over, we won’t even need barbells any more.

Friday means internal martial arts class is on! Join Jaydra and get your structure on.

I know you’re supposed to find things to be grateful for and well, making a grappling dummy and then arm barring it was amazing. Make a grappling dummy and then simulate murder. You will not be disappointed.

Have you considered yelling when you do your form? You should. Put a ki-ai in your favorite part of your kata. It brings focus, highlights your best move, and it just feels good to belt out a battle cry.

What’s the best way to defend against a punch? Heck if I know but what I do know is that it feels awesome when you duck under a sparring partner’s punch and then return a punch of your own without missing a beat. This striking video is a simple example of that dreamy strategy.