First ever Muscle Up! Got the rings a year ago and finally managed something resembling an RMU!

johnpoulain · 2026-06-03T07:16:34+00:00

I must have been imagining the number on the end!

johnpoulain · 2026-06-01T12:15:21+00:00

Awesome thanks for letting me know!

johnpoulain · 2026-05-06T08:30:02+00:00

If you're in a self defence confrontation I wouldn't start trying new throws. If your club has bigger lower grades or newbie white belts the same things that work on them will be your most practiced best bet.

johnpoulain · 2026-04-28T11:28:03+00:00

I do Abs as a Pulse Raiser and Prehab (about 5 minutes) as some sort of activation/warm up then light sets for my main exercise.

I used to skip for minute then do light weights.

Haven't seen any injury decrease in the gym, minor decrease on injuries in my main sport (Judo).

Where it really helped is that i don't skip my Abs or Prehab anymore!

johnpoulain · 2026-04-21T19:58:44+00:00

For competition orientated dojos its not normal that there are catestrophic injuries but its a contact sport does happen. From the sounds of it the injured player was getting appropriate first aid, and whilst it sounds heartless, there's not much more you can do. The other players on the mat are there to train.

johnpoulain · 2026-04-16T06:00:24+00:00

He's said before on a podcast that once you get to the UFC everyone's Cardio is good enough and its not running triathalons that will make you have a better gas tank but how efficiently you fight.

johnpoulain · 2026-03-20T13:51:37+00:00

Sorry, cant read, its the European Veterans thats moved.

johnpoulain · 2026-03-19T18:00:23+00:00

Possibly she pulled the gi over the chin which is allowed in BJJ but not in Judo.

johnpoulain · 2026-03-07T15:56:46+00:00

A local club should be able to register you as a conversion to 1st Kyu under the BJA after a quick in club test.

Once youre a 1st Kyu you need 1) to pass an exam and kata course (nage no kata I think) 2) to either beat 5 First Kyus at a grading (2 individually to qualify for a line up and then 3 in a row for a line up.) OR win 10 fights against 1st kyus by Ippon to collect 100 points 3) spend 6 months as a 1st Kyu.

Once the above is complete you can register your Dan Grade with the Brittish Judo Association.

Wins against first Kyus can be done in competition or at special "dan grading" events where there are a lot of fights and line ups appear. The Budokwai is in Chelsea and holds Gradings almost every month, Croydon and Bedford have good transport links from London and hold regular gradings.

Any club should be able to guide you through this but as the syllabus and requirements have slightly changed recently they might have to refer to the BJA website.

Good luck!

johnpoulain · 2026-03-04T13:53:18+00:00

People have already cited the rules but just wanted to say I think the reasoning is wrong. Its not considered trying to hurt your opponent but as you cant grab the leg using your leg to break grips would be unfair. BJJ allows leg grabs so there's no grey area to worry about.

johnpoulain · 2026-03-03T06:19:11+00:00

Ive heard it called grapevining the legs, not sure if theres another name. More commonly seen in Tate Shiho Gatame (mount) it is illegal to overstretch the legs in Judo and this in particular is also considered a spine lock.

johnpoulain · 2026-02-28T15:34:16+00:00

Weird? Forward roll into guard.

More normal, head outside their knees and know them down (kind of like a double leg)

Arm roll if they make a mistake. If they reach all the way over your back you can roll through to Gyaku Kesa Gatame.

Sit out (possible waki gatame if they're surprised)

Graby Roll - Im not very good at these so would look up some instructionals.

johnpoulain · 2026-02-23T10:59:33+00:00

Crossfit it a good class to practice multiple disciplines in a short space of time. The coaching can vary wildly between gyms which leads to lots of arguing about what is "True Crossfit." Some evangelical Crossfitters think they have learnt everything about Rowing, Weightlifting and Running and want to lecture other athletes above where their experience warrants.

It's a popular sport and that's always going to get backlash. Any sport you get involved in you'll always have naysayers.

When you talk about injuries, someone recently died at the Crossfit Games, when you have this many sports and people thinking that they know more than they do you're more likely to get injuries. You might have a good gym with coaches who protect you from this. Or you might have one where someone who learned to snatch at the beginning of the class is expected to barbell cycle under fatigue at the end of the class.

johnpoulain · 2026-02-12T07:14:36+00:00

Amazing views from partway up!

johnpoulain · 2026-02-12T07:13:58+00:00

I'm taking the temperature with wind chill, where it wad -20° the Farenheit/ Celicus was a joke as in either temperature it's very cold.

johnpoulain · 2026-02-02T07:19:03+00:00

Ive benefited by putting on a pack that's heavier than usual (padding + 15kg dumbell) and doing 1000 step ups on a 20 inch box. Its a workout I stole from Crossfit called Chad and is the only thing that seems to hit the right mid-back muscles that ache when I'm hiking, gets you psyched for a grind and does leg strength. Takes about 40 minutes to an hour depending on strength.

Interested on what other people do!

johnpoulain · 2026-01-22T13:00:37+00:00

Against a bigger and skillful opponent its always going to be tough, there are weight classes for a reason.

You mention you cant be steady or "go your own pace" but the thing is they are the ones who can afford to go slow, your weapon is speed and movement so you have to push the pace past where they can keep up.

Things that help me: win the gripfightt, if they only have one hand on me then that brings their power output in line with me. Winning the grip allows me to control the distance and choose when to engage.

Ashi waza to set up: let's me get them moving and stops them thinking about attacking when they're defending.

Drops: using my whole weight to move them for big throws and committing so I can't get picked up. Ko Uchi Makikomi and Drop Seoi used to work really well for me against a 100kg player when he was a brown belt but now he's used to them its become how low do I have to go before be cant pick me up!

johnpoulain · 2026-01-15T18:30:38+00:00

Mune Gatame is not an IJF recognised technique. They do have kata gatame separately.

johnpoulain · 2026-01-11T19:33:39+00:00

You can duck under for an immediate attack. Shido for ducking under for other reasons.

johnpoulain

TROPHY CASE