Geezer's Long March Toward the Elite Sneaking Up On the Finish Line

[Mark E. Hurling]

Weight: 249

Jujitsu last night with the kids was pretty great. Our star performer, an 11 year old girl was getting frustrated with white belts who apparently developed amnesia as she was trying to help teach them. So I joshed her into a better humor and told her that her teaching was fine, just that white belts are like that sometimes. While she's a good kid with an attitude to match she has trouble when confronted by this kind of thing. But she's a real tigress already when demonstrating technique. She'll definitely be a black belt someday. She got promoted to purple belt at the end of that session, the first her age to get one. Ever.

My own session in the adult class was somewhat less auspicious. My right delt is still growling at me after that heavy rowing yesterday morning. I was like the tin man re-teaching a blue belt second degree teen who hasn't been around much lately due to school work. So Master Bellman had me take him all the way up from white belt to blue belt 2nd degree to get him back up to speed. Along the way I got admonished for being so stiff in the upper body. Very frustrating, I've been battling this problem since the beginning nearly 9 years ago and it's no doubt worse lately because I've been careless about stretching. So back to that grinder. I can't sit all the way down in zazen for over a year even when my knee is 100% otherwise. So I seem to be ossifying from the top down and the bottom up now. whine Add to that my usual disrupted sleep after a hard session and an O-dark 30 page from work and I am running on fumes just now.

[Mark E. Hurling]

Weight: 247.5

5 minutes warmup on the bike. (3-3-3 week)

Bench Press: 170-3, 195-3, 220-3. The shoulder was better but still not 100% after the rows. I could not eke out even one more rep on that last set and I'm beginning to wonder after the pressing wednesday, if this a trend.

Power Snatch: 80-3, 90-3, 100-3. These felt very smooth and together. So my pulling seems to be vastly overcoming my pushing lately.

Stretched illiopsoas and hamstrings along with bar hangs and towel dislocates for shoulders.

[Oldman]

Nice work on the bench, Mark. I look forward to hitting the 200s one day. I hope your shoulder continues to improve, man.

[Mark E. Hurling]

You'll get there Oldman. Persistence pays off.

[Drewcar]

I've made the command decision to keep my kids out of spring soccer, and put them into that dojo I told you about. It will have to wait until the end of February.

Will actually be in your neck of the woods all next week. Staying at my mother-inlaws place in San Pedro. Will have to take advantage of a free 7 day pass at the San Pedro Y.

[Oldster]

Find the silver lining behind every cloud, Mark. Right now for you its pulling. So pull pull pull!

[Mark E. Hurling]

You must have ESP, Drew. I almost sent you a PM today about the MA and your kids, but thought nah. I don't want to be a nagging pest on the subject.

So you'll be back in the South Bay? Cool! I've met a few people passing through and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience every time. Both right here in Redundant Beach where I live and in El Smelgundo where I work. Any chance you'll have any free time for a conclave what with family obligations and all?

[Mark E. Hurling]

Find the silver lining behind every cloud, Mark. Right now for you its pulling. So pull pull pull!

I will. I just don't want to show poorly in the meet in April.

[Drewcar]

You must have ESP, Drew. I almost sent you a PM today about the MA and your kids, but thought nah. I don't want to be a nagging pest on the subject.

So you'll be back in the South Bay? Cool! I've met a few people passing through and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience every time. Both right here in Redundant Beach where I live and in El Smelgundo where I work. Any chance you'll have any free time for a conclave what with family obligations and all?

That is a definite possibility. I have plans on Sunday, Wednesday, and an unscheduled Disneyland day too.

[Mark E. Hurling]

The House of Mouse! Gotta take the kidlets to that place. Else you never hear the end of it. Let me know. I got vacation time to burn.