So sore!
I went to my academy's Hi-Perfomance JKD Boot Camp yesterday, and it was one of my greatest experiences ever. Granted, I can barely move today, but still, no regrets.
Twenty-four students and I met with Sifu Dion Riccardo yesterday at a ranch in Oregon, Illinois, for a full day of intensive martial arts training. Master Riccardo once trained privately with Rickson Gracie, the Gracie family Jiu-Jitsu champion, for three years, and he shared with us part of Gracie's 'Warrior Workout' - the equivalent of a half hour on the rack, but in a good way.
After that, we covered the five steps to passing the guard - techniques for establish a dominant position in grappling. I had my knee in a brace, but holding the closed guard was still a bit painful. In a way this is a good thing, because it will force me to adopt a different approach in my Jiu-Jitsu - I think I tend to be too quick about going to guard and trying to work attacks from the bottom. Expanded horizon's - and now I know more of the principles regarding what to do against the guard, which will certainly be helpful.
After a short lunch break, we came back and covered the official 18-count of the American Thai Boxing Association. As most of my earliest training focused on Muay Thai, I was right at home here, and worked up a good sweat kicking the Thai pads. The knee left my kicks a little softer than normal, but I was still able to deliver some power. It was a fun review.
After that, we cloed out the seminar with a half hour of stretching - 'flexibility through relaxation', Sifu called it. The bugs made relaxation nearly impossible. Still, it felt good to loosen the muscles.
Most of the students left around 4:30, but me and a few others hung around, threw the football, and went for a run in the woods out back. We then dragged the mats out of the garage and had some grappling sessions out on the lawn. I acquitted myself well for a gimp - nobody tapped me out, and I was able to block attacks before they happened and transition to strong positions, without having to use my guard. Good stuff.
At the end of a long day of traning in the sun, we finally said our goodbyes, and a 90-minute drive got us back into town at shortly after 9:00. I'm now sunburned and achy all over, and I'm sure the other guys are too. But hell yes it was worth it.
Twenty-four students and I met with Sifu Dion Riccardo yesterday at a ranch in Oregon, Illinois, for a full day of intensive martial arts training. Master Riccardo once trained privately with Rickson Gracie, the Gracie family Jiu-Jitsu champion, for three years, and he shared with us part of Gracie's 'Warrior Workout' - the equivalent of a half hour on the rack, but in a good way.
After that, we covered the five steps to passing the guard - techniques for establish a dominant position in grappling. I had my knee in a brace, but holding the closed guard was still a bit painful. In a way this is a good thing, because it will force me to adopt a different approach in my Jiu-Jitsu - I think I tend to be too quick about going to guard and trying to work attacks from the bottom. Expanded horizon's - and now I know more of the principles regarding what to do against the guard, which will certainly be helpful.
After a short lunch break, we came back and covered the official 18-count of the American Thai Boxing Association. As most of my earliest training focused on Muay Thai, I was right at home here, and worked up a good sweat kicking the Thai pads. The knee left my kicks a little softer than normal, but I was still able to deliver some power. It was a fun review.
After that, we cloed out the seminar with a half hour of stretching - 'flexibility through relaxation', Sifu called it. The bugs made relaxation nearly impossible. Still, it felt good to loosen the muscles.
Most of the students left around 4:30, but me and a few others hung around, threw the football, and went for a run in the woods out back. We then dragged the mats out of the garage and had some grappling sessions out on the lawn. I acquitted myself well for a gimp - nobody tapped me out, and I was able to block attacks before they happened and transition to strong positions, without having to use my guard. Good stuff.
At the end of a long day of traning in the sun, we finally said our goodbyes, and a 90-minute drive got us back into town at shortly after 9:00. I'm now sunburned and achy all over, and I'm sure the other guys are too. But hell yes it was worth it.