Rolling, Rolling, Rolling. I'm Rolling with my kids!

Some key dates for me this year.
Injured on 2/19/2010.
Surgery on 2/24/2010.
Off crutches 3/20/2010.
Finally able to get into a car and drive 4/12/2010.
Able to lift more than 5 lb weights in a quad extension or hamstring curl 4/16/2010.
Rolling with my kids. 4/27/2010!
It was good doing some jits with my kids. We popped the Bullyproof DVD's in and started from Game 1 - Spidey Kids (maintain mount). The kids couldn't stop! And I didn't want to.
So the games we did - Spidey Kids (maintain mount), Shark Bite (trap and roll mount escape), Bulldozer (seated mount and mount adjustment), Crocodile Control (side mount), Base Battle, Snake Bite (trap and roll mount escape different hand variation), Guard Monster (maintain closed guard), Crazy Legs (standing guard pass).

We didn't do two games - Tackle the giant (takedown) and Crazy Horse (taking the back). These two games take a tone of knee stability. In Crazy Horse, the adult literally rears up like a horse and tests the child's hold of the back.

So, I know that there are sites out there that poo-poo the Gracie University - the Gracie Combatives and the concept of a video testing. I won't get into that argument. I'm a learner - and I do it differently from others - if someone has the opportunity to learn and get feedback - who am I to say that one way is better than another. I'm a scientist - so until I see a double blinded placebo controlled study - I won't be convinced that one way is better than another until I see data. I'll try them all!
But outside of the video testing, the quality of instruction, detail of technique and the drills that connect situation to situation to situation is outstanding. And it is the same detailed instruction in the Bullyproof DVD set.

The unbelievable thing about Bullyproof is that the lessons are set up not only to be able to instruct a parent doing the games and the jiujitsu combatives, but also set up to keep - CAPTURE! - the attention of the kids.

So how do I know the lessons help?
I maybe a bit biased or maybe my technique is weak, but when my kids do the Spidey Kid with me (maintain mount), I swear that I can't budge them. They move with the flow, shift position, shift their weight and nothing can get them off!
I know from first hand experience, a bully can stand nothing more than feeling like they have no options and no ability to really hurt their target. I once got a bully in a scarf hold judo position on the ground and I was able to keep them down until they calmed down and able to convince them to never bug me or my friend again.
I know that my kids are just a bit better prepared to have to handle a situation, without panicking, without having to throw a punch, and without having to take any physical punishment.

Untrained ear

I don't claim to be a worldly person. I have travelled abroad and all over the western hemisphere, but I don't have a huge frequent flier bank. I come from Chicago and I have been exposed to many different foods, faces and accents.

That all said - but when I listen to the FightWorks Podcast and Caleb talks to any male from Brazil -is it my untrained ear, but don't the brazilian guys all sound very similar?

They got that cool, deep voice and smooth accent.

New walk - the foot muscle is connected to the butt muscle.

I have to learn how to walk again! I didn't reinjure my leg. In fact, my knee is progressing very well. Knock on wood.

Last week I was doing some rehab exercises with the physical therapist and the physical therapist assistant. Just some small quater depth squats. In starting a squat, the PT and PTA, gave me a quizical look and gave each other looks and asked me to squat again. And then again and again. They asked me - "Do you always do that?" I had no idea what they were speaking to.

And then they pointed it out.

When I squat, and walk - my knee tracks inwards a bit. Towards the inside of my foot. I squat and walk a bit knock kneed. Apparently more than a bit.

The reason why they were a bit surprised that I was doing that was that I did not exhibit any other behaviors or any outward musculature signs that I would do such a thing. It was also immediately apparent to them as a main cause of my patellar tendonitis.

So what now? I've been walking like this, running like this and squating like this forever, or at least 37 years now.

I have to retrain my legs so that my knee tracks over my toes - Big toe and second toe would be the best.

When I walk, I have to walk with most of my weight on the outside of my foot.

It was noticed that I'm a bit flat footed. I asked about orthotics and found that the flat feet can be adjusted with muscle massage.

So, this little change would improve a ton!

That would improve the arch in my foot, prevent the inward roll of my ankle, improve the tracking of my knee, involve more of the outer aspects of my quadricep, my gluteus min, med and maximus and decrease or eliminate my patellar tendonitis.

By the way, the muscles that I'm looking to massage - Extensor digitorum longus. Stuck in between my shin bone and my calf. A tiny little strip. I also massage the outer edge of my calf.

UFC 112. Mouse trap re-visited.

UFC 112. INVINCI- wha? This bi-weekly (or is it semi-monthly?) addition of UFC was both hard on the eyes and the mind (and the fight fan heart!)
I was hoping to see some good technique and ground skills. I was underwhelmed.
Renzo followed Royce and Rolles as far as recent results of Gracies in MMA. It wasn't good.
The Abu Dhabi crowd was appreciative of good technique, but not much cheering. It was quite a turn around from the boo birds in Jersey. A turn for the better, even though it was quieter.
The two main events were unforgettable, but not in a good way. BJ Penn fought to not lose. And lost.
Anderson Silva showboated for three rounds and it was hard on the eyes. If you know you can take your opponent, then do it. Don't subject me to the antics. The last two rounds were hum drum and Silva won by decision.

A couple months ago I posed a question about BJJ being the current better mouse trap. Royce Gracie demonstrated what BJJ can do to an opponent that has little to no exposure to BJJ. Not only that, but he demonstrated what BJJ can do to an opponent that may know other types of striking and has little to no exposure to BJJ. It changed the martial arts world. But considering the most recent UFC performances of MMA fighters that are depending on their ground techniques to win a match - I wonder again, if my observation about the current better mouse trap is right? At least in the MMA world, fighters are much better prepared and experience in grappling and ground techniques evens the playing field.

Focusing on Rehab

I suppose with Jesse James and Tiger, folks would think I'm talking about sex addiction rehab! Sorry, but I'm talking about physical therapy for my knee.

I'm starting post-op week 6. With a patellar tendon rupture (or quadriceps tendon rupture, same thing) and repair the rehab is not as quick as an ACL repair. Rest and healing over 6 weeks. Minimal quadriceps firing and only passive range of motion exercises. At week three I was able to move my leg to about 30 degrees of motion. At week 6 my goal is 90 degrees of motion. That is just about enough to sit in a car or go to a movie and sit with minimal discomfort.

My exercise regimen is not too aggressive right now either. Quad Sets - with leg straight, flex the quad and hold it - And a variety of leg raises, side, front and rear.

This week - I get a little variety, weight shifts to the front and rear, practice with one crutch and no crutch. Woot Woot. Sarcasm. I'd really like to be able to to do some squats, rolling, kick a bag. Those actions are about 4 months away. I'm a bit wary. Rerupture in this injury is a definite risk. The tension put on the repair from your own quadricep flexing is considerable. When I work my repair, I keep thinking the words of the orthopedic surgeon - your knee is repaired, it doesn't mean it is healed.

My immediate goals - I'd like to be able to drive by next week (I don't have great muscle control right now) and I'd like to be off of crutches by next week as well. 4 month goals: gaining improved flexibility in the knee - 10 degree improvement every week, moving to active quadricep flexing with 10% improvements every two weeks - goal 90% of strong leg maximum.

Flex, strech, flex, stretch, flex stretch - 5 min and hour, every hour.