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

[Mark E. Hurling]

Thanks ff.

[Mark E. Hurling]

If only the day after squats was as forgiving. My knees feel like they have some heavy grit sand in them this morning.

Rounds of box jumps (knees weren't happy with those), speed bag, handball, clap push ups, medicine ball slams, elliptical, heavy bag, and stretching.

[Mark E. Hurling]

Primary Loading: 80% of 1RM.

Bench Press: 185 for 5 sets of 5.

Seated Swiss Bar Press: 115 for 3 sets of 5.

Hammer Row: 280 for 3 sets of 5.

[Mark E. Hurling]

A little catching up to do.

Ball Cap.jpg

Jujitsu via Zoom yesterday. Master Bellman reviewed some basics with us. Stances first, being the natural stance, the ready stance, and the defensive stance. All of these are somewhat different from most Asian martial arts in that the feet are all about shoulder width apart. Many, if not most arts adopt wider spacing which are strong, but slow to move from when shifting direction forward, backward, diagonally, or side to side. So you often as not end up getting hit from not getting out of the way sooner.

He then had us working hand strikes with the short yawara stick. I use a 7" very bright flashlight with a stun taser incorporated into it. Between a bright light in the eyes, the strikes and blocks, and the high voltage, it's a very good non-lethal quick end to an attack. The review included strikes to the head, neck, nose, rib cage, and groin. Blocks were to the wrists, fingers, and forearms.

We finished with some work using batons with strikes as described above for the yawara and including blocks and strikes to the legs, knees, shins, and ankles.

This morning's conditioning was a pleasant walk along the trail in Chautauqua Bottoms on the West side of Carbondale. A brisk 50F sunrise with a stiff breeze blowing off leaves like falling snowflakes.

[Mark E. Hurling]

Primary Loading: 80% of 1RM.

Deadlifts: 305 for 5 sets of 3.

Box Squats w/Safety Squat Bar: 135 for 3 sets of 3.

This went way better than I thought it might, given the way much of my body felt stiff and creaky as it woke me up a few times last night and then getting up this morning. Getting old is not for sissies.

[Mark E. Hurling]

Primary Loading: 80% of 1RM.

Seated Press: 145 for 5 sets of 5.

Weighted Dips: 60 for 3 sets of 5.

Hammer High Row: 280 for 3 sets of 5.

[Mark E. Hurling]

A little speed work emphasis today. Handball, speed bag, box jumps, crunches, medicine ball toss.

[Mark E. Hurling]

Deload: 70% of 1RM.

Squat: 210 for 5 sets of 2.

Power Clean: 95 for 3 sets of 2.

[Mark E. Hurling]

Deload: 70% of 1RM.

Bench Press: 165 for 5 sets of 2.

Seated Swiss Bar Press: 100 for 5 sets of 2.

Hammer Rows: 245 for 5 sets of 2.

[Mark E. Hurling]

Deload: 70% of 1RM.

Deadlift: 265 for 5 reps.

Box Squats With Safety Squat Bar: 135 for 3 sets of 2.

The Rec Center will be on late limited hours tomorrow in honor of Armistice Day (I happen to like the old name I grew up with) so I did a back to back session today. It was more taxing than I anticipated despite the deload.