Kettle bells and BJJ

So, I'm committing myself to go to a major tournament next year and my goal is to compete at the Pan Ams. This is a pretty big commitment for me and so I realize now that I need to do more than just train on gym days if I hope to feel good about my performance, win or lose.

So, I've decided to train on my own time, outside of BJJ/judo classes. I have tried this before with body weight exercises, weights, running, etc. It doesn't work and I've never really enjoyed it.

Here recently though, I've been influenced by two different resources of information. First, there have been numerous videos, emails and posts online about using kettle bell training specifically for MMA and BJJ. There is even a great video showing specific exercises and how they translate directly into BJJ and Judo. It almost seems that the Turkish Get Up exercise was specifically created for BJJ, it has so many applications.

I was also influenced by a friend that is a record setting amateur power lifter. His main praise is that kettle bell training builds functional strength through having to control weight in a way that you don't have to do when working with dumbbells and bars. It is also supposed to build explosive movement.

Well, what it's done for me is wear me out. I'm cooked from 15 minutes of kettle bells last night, which made my BJJ and judo training very difficult, but likely more productive.

I do a circuit, so that I get multiple muscles worked and a cardio effect by doing it quickly.

Kettle Bell workout

5 Turkish Get ups each side.

10 Kettle Bell Swings each side.

5 Front Squat Presses (not lunge, but a squat and then military press) each side.

10 Kettle Bell High swings to and pull into chest. (kazukshi).

5 Windmills (military press and hold, then bend to one side and touch toes) each side.

10 Kettle Bell Snatches each side.

20 pass through lunges (lunge and pass kettle bell through).

10 Kettle Bell Swings each side.

5 Turkish Get ups each side.

If anyone wants to come by some time and give it a try, please do. I'd be happy to walk you through my program.

Open guard....the enigma.

I had a great time rolling today and working on judo. We worked sacrifice throws, which I find very useful against people that like to push and shove from standing. I specifically enjoyed yoko garuma from a Russian two on one or just a clinch type position.

It really flows very naturally into knee on belly mount.

I stayed for sparring as well and I'm having an odd time of it. I either completely dominate or I am completely dominated. There isn't really any middle ground for me. I used to think it had something to do with my cardio, but I'm finding that that is not the case.

I also discovered that I have a very difficult time getting control of someone in open guard. If we start in closed guard and I release them to open, that's fine. But if we just start open....not so great. I need to work on some fast entries into an open guard set.

As for passing guard, I had some fun with a standing break today and tried the standing passes that I learned from Kris Williams down in Florida. I'm clearing legs and getting passed knees fairly well (against most people....so of the purple belts and higher blue belts still sweep me fairly regularly and I need to get a go to standing pass).

What I'm running into now is issues with people that know how to use their hands well (pushing the head, shoulder, shooting for an under hook, etc). I need to start thinking about getting passed that next level.