Entry #366

This afternoon saw some stretch dynamics, followed by shadow boxing and bag work.

My roundhouse feels heavy; my stiff, stubborn bag crumples in two upon contact. However, there's not enough snap to it, an unfortunate habit that's encouraged by a bag that doesn't react in place of sparring partners.

I've become completely double~sided in stance. I feel as comfortable jabbing with my left as I do southpaw. Lefts used to be frail and awkward.

Lifting was done at night, in the dark.

DE lower~body

This session is always done at home with unorthodox, unmarked weights, so there will be no distinctive recording of numbers until I'm familiar enough with the movements to upgrade to heavier sets at the gym.

Everything that involved weight saw a significant increase. Last week was merely form practice.

Snatch squats: 10 sets, 3 reps
The heavier load made flaws in form more obvious. I require practice and studying on the snatch movement. My balance was notably better, however. Correct positioning of the bar overhead is key; I seem to have a tendency to hold it a few degrees in front of center, which raises the difficulty ostensibly, since more strain must go into holding that alignment.

Good mornings: 4 sets, 12 reps
These were awesome. The weight was heavy enough that my legs were shaking. I did better in keeping them straight. The form was much more comfortable this week.

Chop crunches: 5 sets, 12 reps
My abdominals were bright red afterwards. It seems to me that these have some applicability to weighted crunches. They condition the midsection to withstand heavy force.

Plate pinches: 3 sets, 30 second holds