82,5 - bjj

Today I'll go to BJJ class. I'll try to attack, but also to take it easy.

82,9 - getting fat, but playing golf

I did my gym workout yesterday and today I'm STRONG - or just stiff from my shoulders.

It's golf day today and I'm hitting it looong with a new driver. (It's new to me. I'm just borrowing it from my neighbor.)

Sunday golf and blue ideas

Autumn is the time to start again - to bounce back what ever was left behind during summer break. For motivational texts check BJJ Canvas.
If you don't know what motivates you, you can take my motivational questionnaire. It does not give an answer, but there are good questions that can help.

I just signed in for a lecture at Harvard and MIT joint virtual university
Isn't that something. I could do anything I want to - and I'll go and play golf:-)

It's a sunny day so why not.

Flow roll - with bumps:-)

Today at open mat I'll try some "flow roll", but it might be more like stop motion animation. It's just one step in the process of getting better.

After open mat, I'll visit a birthday part (7 years). I might get some flow roll there too.

82,1 - recovery

Today is a well needed recovery day. Yesterday was golf and Wednesday was a long day at the office.

I do like Fridays!

82 - golf and pull ups?

I'll play golf straight after work. Yesterday was my first pull ups day in gym workout and I need to work on it. I did 5-4-3-2 letting shoulders relax after each rep. I am feeling strong a.c.a stiff today.

AND my fellow bjj rollers - watch out for my armlock:-)
I'll attack you with this combination -  it's so easy - click on the pull up image.

81,7 - 50/60 "life is life" BJJ patch-project

Did the second part of my split full body gym program today. It was better than I expected:-)

Just to remember to assign a patch project to students. To design a BJJ patch "Matti Nykänen"
who one famous quote is possibility is  50 - 60.

In Bjj 50/50

82,2 - BJJ

Yesterday I planned to go to open mat, but played golf instead. Today there is a strong possibility that I'll go to BJJ class - or babysit my granddaughter.  

Gym and pull ups

Today is the first day of ...rest of my life?...new gym workout. We'll modify it on the first session, but it's good to do something new. Related to the gym is pull ups. I'm not good at it at all. We used to do 30 pull ups in 3 sets ( 12 - 10 - 8) but at the moment 7 is hard for me. So I'm planning to do an extra exercises - do daily 10 pull ups passing from kitchen to living room. I have a pull up bar there. So I'll do ones each time I pass my pull up bar. - Just an idea. I'll know how it works in one or two months.

81,9 - new blog

I decided not to write about motor learning on the same blog as fitness. Fitness is a diary of my personal training and it should not be mixed with new hobby - research of motor learning. My interest in motor learning is not new, but the idea of having it as a hobby - not as a serious attempt to be a real researcher. My new blog is at http://xophd.blogspot.fi

81,6 - heavy bag, bill, paul and other workouts

Looks like Thursday gym will be on Friday, but today I'll do a little development on my heavy bag workout - add a little kettle bell, dumbbell and pull ups to it.

Bill superfoot kicking routine and Paul's warm up routine are included:) 

New workout for gym

It's time to plan a new workout for gym. I need to work on my legs - still and maybe more on core too. I need to grow muscle on legs, but core could be endurance. Next gym is on Thursday but I have a rough plan for the workout all ready.

Monday - Legs, Back Strength
Exercise	Sets	Reps
Front squats	4	10,8,6,4
Single Leg Squat	4	10,8,6,4
Stiff leg	4	10,8,6,4
Calf Raises	4	10
Pull Ups	4	10,8,6,4
Lat Pull Down	4	10,8,6,4
Plank series	2	60sec (diagonal + side)
One Arm Dumbbell Row	4	10

Thursday - Chest, Shoulders & Triceps
Exercise	Sets	Reps
Abs Bench Press	3 4	10 10,8,6,4
Incline Dumbbell Press	4	10
Upright Rows	4	10
Shrugs	4	10
Dips	4	10,8,6,4

”Undulating diagonal woodchop”   4         10

Hyperextensions

4

10

81,6 - gym

Sunday was an interesting golf tournament - you get to play mulligans halve your hcp. I've been lazy reading research article so no interesting quotes. Maybe I'll have time to read during day.

82,3 - did not talk to my self

Played a round of golf today, but it was not as good as yesterday. Maybe I just did not talk to my self:-)

82,2 - it's time to something else

Writing about my personal training is not very interesting. It's not supposed to be. Maybe I should write about something else. One idea is to write about learning motor skills and quote research. Like the research that stated that people who talk to them self score better in sports. In golf I talk to my ball so that's why I don't score so well.

Today I'll play golf and self talk me a best possible round:)

81,5 - heavy bag

Today my work starts at 10 am so I'll do some tapata and heavy bag workouts before going to work.

 I've been reading research articles on learning motor skills. Very interesting result is that watching videos help you learn. You don't learn just by watching, but after watching techniques you learn faster by actually practicing them. Click the image and learn:)

82,2 - golf

I did not go to bjj yesterday. It was enough to do the gym workout. Today is golf and it's time to draw conclusions from this golf season. I played less than previous seasons and practiced sparingly - result was no progress in skills:) What! I did not get better because I did not play or practice enough. Next season is my first in seniors. If I want to get better I need to make a off season practice program...BUT I think I'll start in February...

81,1 - maybe slow roll and gym

Just realized that I could go to fightclub and see if there is some one who would like to roll. I've promised to go to gym 6 pm so it's a bit asking too much, but any way...

Oldman crosstraining and golf

It's Sunday an time to play with my grandchild and with my neighbor. With my neighbor I'll do the oldman crosstraining program. In the afternoon it's time for Sunday golf, but today I'll smash the ball - like yesterday:-)

82,1 - fat and playing golf

Ok - fat maybe an overstatement as my personal fatso limit is 82,0, but 82,1 is over it. Also playing golf might be an overstatement considering my game, but both are fairly easy to fix. One way would be to lower the par... playing golf is just having fun. And that would be sensible as I'm not making a living from golf. Today I'll swing with all the relaxation and just whip the ball to far far away land!

Golf -don't have to stop practicing yet

One thing in common with golf and bjj is that your never quite as good as you would like to be. There is always room for improvement. To be truthful my golf and bjj both suck so there is no reason to stop practicing - I'm not getting too good at either one. AND that is a good thing!  Remember it's not the result that counts but the journey - it's all about how you work your way to your goal. After you are there, it's done and you have to move on to next goal.

Golf competition

Today I'll go to Siilinjärvi about 170 km to play a golf tournament. Today we'll practice and tomorrow is the big day. I have last years championship to defend:) Anything can happen, but most of all - I hope we have a good time. (It's not the winning that counts, but getting a way from work place.)

81,8 - gym

After work I'll go to gym. No BJJ today. I really need to workout a plan to do more bjj workouts. Goal is to do some slow rolling after work. For me it's about 2 pm. So rolling 2PM - any takers?

btw - click the image to see a video

Golf

It's getting cold in the morning - about +6C at 7 am. Looks like it has been zero during night. Autumn is here! My last "big" competition in golf is in couple days: Thursday and Friday. Weather broadcast predicts heavy rain - well it's the same for everyone.

Today I'll play golf

81,3 - recovery

I have an one hours break before getting my grandchild from day care and few hours working time after her mom comes to get her from our home. I could do some short game practice on golf or some slow rolling. I'll end up taking a recovery day:)

81,3 - no gi

I did some no gi bjj today. Not that I know anything, but I did get some bruises for trying.

One important observation was that it's a good idea to invite someone you know to open mat sessions. Everyone was more or less rolling with own partners. No harm done as I did want an easy day, but still some "gi" rolling would have been nice.

81,8 - golf

I know I should stretch. I know I should do some daily drills for bjj, but I am lazy and I'll just go golfing after work.

Golf results - team -personal

80,6 - best ball and gym

I have a small golf competition in the afternoon and after it I'll go to gym and do my split day routine. So it's a full working day...

So our team won the best ball competition... and I was 3.rd in personal series... and gym was good too. 

Looks like I am way better in golf than in BJJ:) 

80,6 - fight like a pig

We have a saying "kuin pulloperse sika". I'll translate it as fight like a pig with a bottle stuffed in it's ass. That was the mental feeling after yesterdays open mat. I was very angry for not getting any attacks done - and not much sensible techniques at all. I was lost and could not even read my opponents. OK - positive thought is that there is only one way to go - it's getting better.

Today is golf.

81,1 - Today it's BJJ

Today I'll go to open mat and roll for a while.

80,4 - mooonday

bjj and no golf (just kidding!)

I'll try not to play golf today so that I'll have no excuses for skipping bjj class. I'll do slow roll - maybe I should make a priority of open mats. Open mats are not so intensive as bjj classes. I am sure that best way to learn bjj is to roll every day, but my body does not recover from normal speed ... even light normal speed rolling.

One good thing about physical activity is that one gets better by doing it. So no problem - just do it!
More rolling and less whining.

Weather in summer is better for golf than in winter - I'm playing golf. BJJ is on Tuesday.

Golf

Feels like winter is coming and it's last opportunity to play. Weather is below 15 C, windy and rainy BUT August is one of summer months? Feels like we jumped fron early spring to late autumn and skipped summer. I'll play some more golf until my last "big" competition. It's 24 - 25 of August. After that we will have a one week BJJ seminar and let's see if it turns golf season to bjj.

81,8 - golf and coffee

I'll play a round of golf again today. After golf I will enjoy a cake and coffee to celebrate Outi's Nordic Bmx Championship. And we will watch London bmx finals to stay in the mood.

82,6 - tabata and golf

Looks like I'm staying over my fatso limit - 82 kg. Too much cake and sitting in meetings! I did my morning run and in the afternoon I'll play 18 holes golf. Lot of golf is on the program for next two weeks.

82,7 - bjj from youtube and for real

I did my morning run and tabata even though it's a rainy day and working day also - so I'll ride my bike (kawa) to work and watch bjj on youtube as much as possible and in the evening I'll roll for real - slow roll ofcourse. I hope to recall some move during rolling. I'm happy if I catch my self even trying to do an attack. I have a lot of attacks on my mind, but execution is just not happening.

Did not make it to BJJ class - too tiered... maybe from work?
 

81,3 - it's raining

81,1 - jog, work, golf

I,m pleased with my self. I ran 2,2 km and did my tabata in the morning and it's a working day. My vacation is over, but I've booked a round of golf after work. Just to forget everything what happens during work.

81,1 - golf tournament

Just listened to Olympic games and one important comment from sportsmen was to have fun. I'll try to have fun today:) I've got a good example from my daughter - she won the Nordic championship in cruisers in BMX and came second in 20" bikes 17+ class. Congrats to Outi for yesterdays competition.

I was T6 - tied for 6. It's not bad, but not good either. (Only winning counts on that tournament...)

80,2 - jog, gym and mental bjj

I did some slow rolling yesterday. I am very bad in attacking my opponent. I just don't know where to begin. To get my game started I need to renew my game plan. Just decide an attack from some dominant positions. (Or a compilation of attacks...) AND drill those attacks so that I can do them first in slow rolling and later in free rolling.

81,4 - golf and bjj

I'll play golf and going to BJJ class today. BJJ will be slow roll. I have one of my main events on Sunday. If I win, I get to play at a tournament were the winner goes to Spain. I know that odds are against me, but in golf you never know.

81,1 - golf and gym (next season planning)

August starts and it's time to make plans for the next season training:

• Monday gym?
• I hope boxing will be on Tuesdays.
• BJJ on Wednesday.
• I'd like to do Judo. Maybe I'll start going to Darmakai's Thursday classes (starting from September?).
• BJJ on Friday.
• Saturday... recovery/gym?
• Sunday BJJ 

Looks good, but I need to add some heavy-bag  workouts and tabata. Maybe aerobic workouts could be done commuting to and from work.

August is still golf competition season. From September golf competitions are over, but golf season continues so I'll just skip some workout sessions/classes and play golf.

Goals:
Legs need to be stronger.
Aerobic ability needs to be better.
Kicks need to be more balanced.

Getting back home

Helsinki

Helsinki

Knee on belly should be escaped as soon as possible:)

80,4 - "Recovery" , gym and BJJ

My smashing test in golf worked fine. I scored my usual - just in the buffer, but very long drives - long for me that is:) I'll visit Helsinki for few days: no golf and no bjj - not even youtube.

I just noticed on my morning run that I need to go to gym - otherwise I will have a long break from gym. Next possible workout is on Thursday. So I'll do a workout today.
OK - we are leaving tomorrow - so I have time to go to BJJ and play golf next morning. Not really a recovery day:)

80 - Letting go at golf course

After 4 days tournament, today I'll go and play careless golf and punish my golf balls a little. I'll dig some dirt with my clubs and enjoy the beautiful weather. Next weekend is an important competition - grand prize is to play in Spain or compete for the possibility.

No Bjj today - unless watching youtube counts:)

80,5 - final day of golf tournament

I was 15th. It was not good, but not bad either.

80 - third day of the tournament

80,5 - second day

After second day I am 15th of 60 players. I would be happy to be in top ten after 4 days. Golf is strange - Some times every thing is easy and you score well, but ...

80,6 - First golf tournament day

Life-score of the competition is at
http://www.nexgolf.fi/mgs/livescoring.nxg?s=610
I don't have much expectations for this tournament. My game is very unstable. It means that sometimes I play very well for 9 holes, but it has not lasted for a full round. OK - tournament is 4 full rounds so I can expect some not so perfect holes.

80,9 - recovery

I did my morning run and tabatas. Today is recovery and rest of the week is a 4 day golf tournament. If I had a rolling partner I would go slow rolling. I really have to get someone to roll with me. I am hoping that Autumn will change that. Folk comes back from summer vacation fat and eager to roll:)

Today was a great day for slow roll. It was just what I needed - need to do this more often:) ... every day would be make some progress on my rolling.

81,3 - golf and maybe bjj

Bjj class is straight after a round of golf. Previous experience tells me that I might not make it, but you'll never know. I am still trying to figure out how to get people to drill techniques with me. Gracie combatives was not the answer, maybe Ribeiro's book or Ryan Halls DVD is? (I am getting better at imagining the techniques so maybe I can do the drills just as a mental exercises:)

80,8 - old man gross fit or gym

Yesterday was a good day at bjj class. It was slow roll or at least low intensity. I noticed that if I start attacking, my defense sucks. This means that I need to attack more - but after I have a controlled position. No worries - it will come...eventually.

81,2 - golf and bjj

I'm skipping my morning run and playing golf a little earlier. My intention is get to my bjj class. I'll try to slow roll with everyone - or play defensive positions ( as I always do).

Today my plan worked.

81 - jog and gym

Today my main event is...making chocolate and crisp bread:)

I did my morning run and afternoon is gym. I wish I had a rolling partner to do some slow roll. I need to test a lot of new techniques, but first I need to learn them.

81,8 - jog, golf, bjj

Looks like I'm starting to gain weight again. It must be muscle growing. I think if you workout 4 times a week, you can get 1- 2 kg muscle in a year. I go to gym 2 times a week and time of weight increase is one week - so there is a possibility of 25g of new muscle for me. (OK - it's cake.) But it's better to have cake and workout than just eat it.

I've found very interesting new bjj instructors: Rafael Lovato Jr, Ryan Hall, Reaction Team, Marcello C. Monteiro... and many more. I think I need to pick one and try to figure out what is his game about. (Or what should me game be about...)

Did not make it to BJJ Class. I was cleaning strawberries to fridge for winter. Maybe I'll get more strawberry cake and grow a little more:)
  

81,4 - gym day

I did my morning run second time. I'm not sure if I can do it every morning. Maybe I need to recover from the tabata? Today is gym and probably it's more maintenance than development. I don't feel hungry enough to build muscle. (But I'm sure I'll get some doms on legs - as usual.)

81,5 - morning run and golf

I ran 2,2 km straight from bed. I did one tabata during my morning run. Just have to listen how it feels tomorrow.
It's a rainy day again, but I'll try to play 18 holes of golf.

I am still wondering how to learn bjj and how to learn to teach bjj. (For the teaching part I am also wondering why do I need to teach it - but maybe it's to get partner's who would slow roll. Kind of "old man jiu-jitsu" or in my case "oxjj")

Going to BJJ seminar - Marko Helén

In Savonlinna