I run a Ju-Jitsu class at a Kyokushin School in Cromwell, CT. I have very small student base because there is really no advertising done and I do it out of passion. I don’t even get paid :). Last night I was fortunate enough to walk into the class to see 2 new students! I have a total of 7 people training! Unheard of in my small little place in the ju-jitsu world. Both of the new students were interesting, one more so then the other. Both were very eager, and both felt like they had something to prove. They had to tell me of their past martial arts experience and they both felt the need to somewhat show off.

I can understand that new students are nervous and it is a “fighting” class where men need to be men and try to assert themselves as the dominant person, but there are just certain things you should not do and ways you should not act in a martial arts class, whether you are a new student, or a returning one.

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One of the best positions in Jiu-Jitsu, grappling, MMA, hand to hand combat is the mount position. The only better position would be having someone’s back. The problem is that not many people actually get the mount on a regular basis. This actually causes a problem. Since they are not in the mount on a regular basis, they become uncomfortable in that position, waste time, and eventually get reversed or are unable to finish

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Real Kicking for a Real Street fight

Summary from Geoff Thompson’s Book: Real Kicking

To be a complete fighting martial artist you must know all combat ranges. Many martial artists think kicks should only be used for long range attacks. But in reality kicking can be used in any range, and used for setting up for other fight ending techniques or initiating grappling techniques. If you only ever use kicking technique once in your lifetime in a real street fight and it works for you, then all the years of martial arts kick training was worth it.

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This is my Big Boy Matt Workout Routine for maximum power and strength!! Sounds like a fucking infomercial….
In all seriousness this is my routine that I have used and modified over the years to but on solid mass, and become much stronger.
Note: Like I said in previous posts, I am ordering a camera, so I can demonstrate some lifts, exercises, and grappling stuff. But I have another 2 months worth of healing on the shoulder before I can go heavy again (May 2008).
The workouts revolve around the big 3, plus Push Press. I alternate deadlifts and squats depending on the month. Plus, when I am working squats, I like to do the 20 rep squat routine. I have a great deal of success with that. I’ll go over that in another post. This post will use deadlifts as an example, highlighting a sample week workout.
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I have been a long time advocate that strength training greatly increases your martial arts ability not only physically, but mentally as well. There are many, many, MANY different philosophies on strength and many different people trying to sell you the quick way to achieve it. I’m actually somewhat “lucky” where I have the body type that I am able to put on mass fairly easily, but with that I also put on fat very easy. My diet needs to be right on when I am trying to be at a certain weight. If you are hardgainer and looking to put on some good mass, check this guy out. His site is a little “selling” but I’ve actually read a good deal of his articles and have seen him published before. Hes got a great program for strength training, and the “correct” way to take supplements, have the right diet, and good lifting principles. It’s called No Nonsense Muscle Building and it’s worth a good look at.

What I liked about No Nonsense Muscle Building is that it is focused around the big three and compound lifts. The big three being deadlift, squat and bench. Personally, I have stopped benching. Mostly because I can’t with my shoulder (just had surgery) and heavy benching took its tool. I have fell in love with heavy dumbbells. The only problem is that getting a good spot, with a bum shoulder is hard to come by.

Those 3 are the core exercises, but I also would like to add Push Press, Power Cleans, Pull-ups, Dips, and Power Curls.

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