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August 12th, 2016The Next 10 Weeks
July 30th, 2016In the past, we’ve worked 2 month blocks in CrossFit. This has meant focusing on one lift and one gymnastic movement and seeing if we can improve on both in 8 weeks. The measuring has been simple: do a 1rm for the lift and as many consecutive reps as possible for the gymnastic movement then at the end of the 8 weeks, retest.
This time, we will change things slightly.
First off, the block will be 10 weeks long. This will allow us to do 8 weeks of work while still having a whole week at the beginning and end to insure everyone gets a chance to test.
Second, I will write up a weekly task on Monday. If you’re there on Monday, do it then. If you’re not, do it whenever you come in that week. If you miss a week, don’t double up. I’ll try and ask everyone if they’ve done the weekly task but I’m sure I’ll need some help with that.
Third, there will be some higher rep sets than people might be used to. Don’t sweat it. It’s an experiment. If our numbers get better, it worked. If they don’t, then we’ll try something else. I call it science.
The moves for the next 10 weeks? Deadlift and handstand. Let’s do it!
Position before… Striking
July 18th, 2016Three stages
There is a position that is so bad that if you are put there, no matter how good your striking skills are, you should abandon them and focus on escaping using your grappling skills. That awful position can vary from person to person. For me, if I am caught in the rear mount, it is a good time to forget about trying to hit and time to switch on the grappling escape mode.
The more skill you have, the better you will know when to hit and when to escape. The more you know your “bad positions” the better you will be at avoiding them and not panicking and flailing when you get stuck in them.
Hit. Grapple. Mix them together.
You be Me
July 9th, 2016You be me
There is a confusing cliche that gets dropped at martial arts schools on a daily basis: “get rid of your ego”. Aren’t you supposed to win? Aren’t there points and submissions and trophies out there that require an ego?
The trouble, I think, comes in acknowledging the value of competition while also acknowledging the value of community (your training partners). How do you compete and still be kind, respectful and friendly with your fellow martial artists? Rather than checking your ego at the door, think of your training as a way not just to make you better but also to make everyone you train with better.
To this end, talk to your partners about how they beat you and how you beat them. Suggest ways in which they might shut down your game. All these efforts will result in both your evolution and theirs. Acknowledge the pursuit of improvement in both yourself and others. It is a group endeavor.
On Tuesday, we followed this basic idea by picking apart one student’s sparring game and trying to come up with ways to shut it down. It made him adapt. It made us adapt. Good for individual egos and the group.
Can’t Armbar? Biceps Cut.
June 24th, 2016Biceps cutter
Often when you go to armbar someone, they grab their hands together and hold on for dear life to prevent the finish. There are many solutions, of course, but one is to use a technique called the biceps cutter.
Basically, it involves cramming your radius bone deep in your partner’s elbow crook and then twisting it. Fun stuff. It either makes them tap or let go of their hand. And if they let go, you can get that armbar you wanted.