Alright, let me tell you about today’s session down at the Cave MMA. Woke up feeling kinda meh, you know? Needed to sweat it out.
So, I grabbed my gym bag. Threw in my wraps, gloves – the ones that are kinda falling apart but still feel right – shin guards, and that mouthguard I probably should’ve replaced ages ago. Headed over there.
Walked in. Place always has that distinct smell, kinda like old sweat and cleaning stuff trying to cover it up. But it feels like home base, you know? Saw the usual faces, nodded hello.
Getting Started
First things first, warming up. Jumped rope for what felt like forever. My timing was off at the start, kept tripping over the damn thing. Felt like a total beginner for a minute. Then some dynamic stretching, arm circles, leg swings, trying to get everything moving. Finished the warm-up with shadow boxing. Focused on footwork mostly, trying to stay light, which is easier said than done after sitting at a desk.
Drilling the Basics
Coach got us paired up. Today was all about clinch work against the cage wall. We practiced pummeling for underhooks, fighting for head position. Over and over. My partner was strong, really dug in. Felt my shoulders burning pretty quick. We worked on some basic trips from the clinch too. Landed a couple, got taken down a couple times myself. It’s always a grind, that part. You just gotta keep working your position.
Rolling Time
Then we hit the mats for some rolling. Started from the knees. My goal today was just survival, honestly. Got caught in side control almost immediately by one of the regulars. Felt like an eternity trying to shrimp out and get my guard back. He was heavy, knew exactly how to pin me down. Eventually, I managed to make some space, but man, it took everything I had. Tapped out once to a quick armbar I didn’t see coming. Happens. You tap, reset, go again. No big deal.
Finishing Up
Ended the session with conditioning. Coach loves his circuits.
- Burpees
- Kettlebell swings
- Medicine ball slams
- Sprawls
Just brutal stuff. By the last round, everyone was just sucking wind. My legs felt like jelly. But you push through it, right? That’s the whole point. Build that mental toughness along with the physical stuff.
Finally done. Peeled off my sweaty gear, packed my bag feeling completely wiped out, but good. Like I actually accomplished something, you know? Gave a few fist bumps on the way out. Another day ticked off. It wasn’t pretty, wasn’t my best performance, but I showed up and put the work in. That’s the game.
