Lastditch's log - another geezer joins the fray

[lastditch]

Time to post a log. First a bit of training history. I moved to Japan many moons ago to pursue my love of martial arts and in the process I lost a lot of weight. The Japanese are fanatical about technique, flexibility and speed; strength is actually frowned upon in many of the dogos I have practiced. Anyway I was down to a body weight of 68kgs/150lbs when I realized I had to do something about it. Took some time off MA and ran SS once and got up to a BW of 86kgs/187llbs. I am just coming back from a layoff and find unusually find myself with some free time so though I would keep a log.
I had never done any barbel training before and I have very weak upper body strength as you are about to find out.

So basics:
Age: 46
Height: 173cm/5'8"
BW: 84kg/185lbs


Friday
squat:
20 x5
60 x5
80 x5
100kg (220lbs) 3x5

Bench
15 x5
55 x5
65 x5
73.5kg (162) 3x5

D/L
50 x5
70 x5
90 x3
110kg (243) 1x5

Squat felt good, lots of depth
Bench feels heavy already - may have started too heavy
D/L - hate this lift never feels right

[lastditch]

Mon 13jun2011

Squat
20 2x5
60 x5
80 x4
100 x2
105kg (231) 3x5

Press
20 2x5
30 x5
40 x4
47.5kg (104) 3x5

Hyp
+5kg 3x10

Chins 8,5,5

Squat - starting with a narrower stance than I used before, feels much heavier but I am getting better depth, no belt yet
Press - OK last rep slow, only 3 mins rest between sets
Chins - only 2 mins rest had to rush off

[lastditch]

Wed15june

Bench
50 2x5
60 x4
70 x3
75kgs (165) 3x5 (medium)

Squat
20 2x5
60 x5
80 x4
100 x3
110 (243) 3x5 (medium)

Cleans
20 x5
30 x3
40 x3
52.5kgs (116) 5x3 (light)

someone in the squat rack so did bench first. should have warmed up with empty bar but wanted to finish bench quick so I didn't miss my place on the squat.
Squats felt comfortable, min effort, used a belt
bench, only 3 mins rest, rushed these
cleans, felt light - could have started heavier - try 5kg jump next?

[lastditch]

Fri17jun

Squat
20kgs 2x5
60 x5
80 x4
100 x3
115kgs (254) 3x5

med heavy - go up 2.5kgs next


Press
20 2x5
30 x3
40 x3
50kgs (110) 3x5

heavy - go up 1kg next

Hyper +10kg 3x10

Pull up 3x5
add reps next

[Mark E. Hurling]

Man-o-man. This gathering gaggle of geezers is really gaining critical mass. Welcome to another one of us. I don't suppose I need to tell you to ignore the Japanese re: strength. Which is not to say they are wrong about form and technique, just their disdain for and ignoring of strength. Which art(s) do you practice?

[El Viejo]

Oh boy, another youngster who thinks he's a geezer. Welcome to the forum. Regarding your hatred of deadlifts: I used to also hate them until I started to do them regularly. Now it is my favorite exercise. When I started Wendler's 5-3-1 program I put them in 1st on Mondays. That way I had no excuse not to do them, even if I missed a workout later in the week or ran out of time. You'll start to like them more when you get more comfortable with the technique and start moving some weight. Be sure to use chalk. It's amazing how much it helps.

[bob g]

Oh boy, another youngster who thinks he's a geezer.

Really, what's with the kids these days?

Serioulsy, welcome Lastditch. Ask lots of questions.

[lastditch]

Thanks for the welcome guys.
OK maybe not a geezer but an aspiring one - or is it geezling now?
Mark, my main art is Shorinji Kempo, I got 2nd dan a few years ago but have been lazy recently. I also like Aikido (1st dan) and I've messed around with something call Nihon Kempo. I'm impressed to see you coaching BJJ, I've always wanted to try it but unfortunately no clubs around here.
El Viejo, thanks for the advice on deads. I realized my squats will overtake deads this week because D/Ls are only about once a week. I'm going to try a 20lb jump tomorrow and see how it goes.
Bob g, thanks, I will no doubt be asking a lot of questions soon!
Cheers

[Mark E. Hurling]

Owww! BJJ, (making sign of the cross now). I practice mushin ryu jujitsu of which ground technique plays only about 10% or less. We make a good deal of fun at the expense of ground types since like you folks in kempo we subscribe to the sound belief that the ground is a place to know what to get up again from quickly. We know it and do it, but much prefer stand up in the real world. Our dojo emphasizes self defense, competition is not even on our radar screen other than a couple of younger primates. Master Bellman started in danzan ryu and then synthesized some kempo back into it that was no doubt there until judo got popular. Anyway, no blood no foul. I look forward to more from your log and chats with you.

[lastditch]

oops sorry Mark, I will learn to read your log more closely in the future!

Now onto today's workout

Squat
20 2x5
60 x5
80 x4
100 x3
117.5kg (259) 3x5
used belt, med heavy, bar slow on last rep, go 2.5kg next

Bench
25 x5
55 x5
65 x5
70 x2
76kg (168) 3x5
lets rep on each set slow - damn I'm weak, up 1.5kg next

D/L
50 x5
70 x4
90 x3
100 x2
120kg (264) 1x5
started too low here, did a 10kg jump, felt fine today, go up in 5kgs though to keep moving