Derek's Mass Gain Manifesto and Milestone Log

[Derek Simonds]

Originally Posted by Yael Grauer

That guy sounds like a toolbox.

It was weird. In 5 years of traveling and training I have had 1 maybe 2 times where I felt like someone was acting odd. This was definitely the weirdest. I have really tried to not offer advice during grappling when I am on the road and that is why I asked the guy if he wanted a suggestion.

I might go to a different location tonight and tomorrow just so I don't have to deal with his ego.

17 April 2012 Tuesday

D W/U
Med ball rolling

Incline DB Bench 25 X 12, 35 X 10, 45 X 8 X 3
DB Rowz 45 X 10 X 5
Band low rows X 10 X 5

I got interrupted during my workout by a phone call and had to stop and go handle some heat. All done now and heading over to Nissan HQ.

[Yael Grauer]

Originally Posted by Derek Simonds

It was weird. In 5 years of traveling and training I have had 1 maybe 2 times where I felt like someone was acting odd. This was definitely the weirdest. I have really tried to not offer advice during grappling when I am on the road and that is why I asked the guy if he wanted a suggestion.

I might go to a different location tonight and tomorrow just so I don't have to deal with his ego.

I rolled with this brown belt who I actually really like, and was working really hard to pass half and she told me I was going 80% and she was only going 60%. I'm like, uh.... so? You're bigger than me and a brown belt. I mean, yeah I was using a fair amount of head pressure on the non-underhook side, but she knows how to frame on my face. She later apologized and said lower belts get to pick the pace. I think some people get upset if you even so much as score a point against them. I actually admire that tenacity and it's probably how she's gotten as good as she has (she's *so* good), but it also sometimes makes her hard to deal with.

Sorry to hijack.

[Derek Simonds]

Originally Posted by Yael Grauer

I rolled with this brown belt who I actually really like, and was working really hard to pass half and she told me I was going 80% and she was only going 60%. I'm like, uh.... so? You're bigger than me and a brown belt. I mean, yeah I was using a fair amount of head pressure on the non-underhook side, but she knows how to frame on my face. She later apologized and said lower belts get to pick the pace. I think some people get upset if you even so much as score a point against them. I actually admire that tenacity and it's probably how she's gotten as good as she has (she's *so* good), but it also sometimes makes her hard to deal with.

Sorry to hijack.

Good hijack. I have a couple of things I work on personally and that is to let the lower belt pick the pace unless it is unsafe. Last night was an example of that. I think that sometimes we say things to protect our ego (don't know if that is the right way to phrase it maybe sense of self) like I am going 60% or my shoulder is hurt. I really focus on not having that happen when I am working with someone.

I am glad to know that your head pressure at 80% is good enough to make her take notice. That means at tournament speed it would be a challenge to anyone of your rank!

[Derek Simonds]

Place holder for later

18 April 2012 Wednesday

BJJ Fundamentals at GB Cool Springs

19 April 2012 Thursday

Squats, lunges and DL's all with DB's

BJJ Fundamentals and Advanced at GB Brentwood and Professor Marcelo Ribiero. Very cool and I trained twice with a super heavyweight brown belt coach who is going to NY Open this weekend. Intense.

20 April 2012 Friday

Upper Body and I am going home!!!

[Derek Simonds]

My seminars ended fantastically at Nissan HQ but unfortunately the travel gods didn't smile on me. What should have been a simple 3 hour trip home ended up taking almost 10 hours. Oh well it happens. I am home!!!

21 April 2012 Saturday

Really tired but my wife was getting up at 06:00 to train so guess what I did...

D W/U
Foam Roll

DL 45 X 5 X 2, 135 X 3 X 3, 185 X 3 X 2, 205 X 3 X 2
Pinch Block Curlz X 8 X 4
Pinch Block Wrist Curlz X 4 X 3
Fat Gripz Piston Swings X a poop ton
Abz Wheel X 10 X 2

Finished with a .8 mile run with my wife. By the way the only concern I have about her for the upcoming competition is that she doesn't peak too early. Here is a shoulder shot from today.



Both of her competition suits came in and they look smoking on her. Don't think I want the kids to go with us but man they look good. I have been helping her with her posing practice but I don't really know what the judges criteria is. All I have done is try and watch people on youtube who have won and we emulate them. Who knows. This sport is very subjective.

[Derek Simonds]

21 April 2012 Saturday Noon

BJJ All Levels: Old school training today. 8 minutes of takedowns, 4 minutes of stretch and then 2 lines of students grappling across. Every round was 5 minutes and then one line rotates. We did 6 or 7 rounds. I am officially smoked. During one of the rounds with a black belt he kimura'ed me and then hit two consecutive ankle locks all in 5 minutes. It was good to be back at GBO.

[Arien Malec]

Despite the shoulder stuff, Derek, life is good, or so it seems to me from reading this.

[Derek Simonds]

Originally Posted by Arien Malec

Despite the shoulder stuff, Derek, life is good, or so it seems to me from reading this.

Arien life is really good. I cannot say enough thanks for my blessings. The kids and I just spent 30 minutes doing a little archery practice. Laney is actually getting it. Her bow is so under powered it is funny but she is working it hard.

[Derek Simonds]

23 April 2012 Monday AM

D W/U
Foam Roll

Push Ups on to box X 4 X 2
Box Jumps X 4 X 2

Bench 45 X 8, 95 X 8, 135 X 8 X 3
BB Row 45 X 8 X 5

Not explosive and really sore this morning. This was a grinder.

[Derek Simonds]

23 April 2012 Monday PM

BJJ Fundamentals: Warmed up and than worked with a guy who was in his 8th class. Lots of fun. I decided to head home after fundamentals. I just wasn't feeling it.

I did get some good sleep last night but still struggled to get up when the alarm went off. I have a brutal day of travel, meetings and entertainment tomorrow. I am going to make the most of today.

24 April 2012 Tuesday

D W/U
Foam Roll

FS 45 X 5,3, 95 X 3,3, 135 X 3 X 5

DB Lunge 20 X 10, 35 X 10 X 2
DB RDL 20 X 10, 35 X 10 X 2

Abz Wheel X 10 X 2

It was a balmy 49 this morning in sunny central FL. I was planning on some sprints but when I walked the dogs before my workout I decided to pass. Any excuse to avoid a run...