The last couple of weeks, I have managed to jam both of my thumbs pretty badly while rolling on gi night. Last week, I jammed my left thumb. This week (last night), the left thumb was starting to feel pretty good, so what did I do? You got it. I managed to jam the right one. The right one feels worse than the left one did. It seems to be from grabbing my opponent's gi and having him make a sudden turn, unexpectedly torquing my thumb. So, I am icing my thumbs and taking ibuprofen and/or aleve. This too shall pass. All part of the game.
I am continuing to hold my own with bigger, heavier opponents. They are generally able to get me eventually, but they are having to work for it, which feels good. I got caught last night by an Americana, a few collar chokes, and the like.
I am registered for this year's Peachtree Road Race (July 4th), so I am trying to up my running a bit. I ran it last year, but this year they are returning to the original course, which will end in Piedmont Park. My rough goal for this time is to TRY to finish it in under an hour. I am hopeful I can pull it off, but if not, it is not the end of the world. It'll be cool just to finish it again.
Frank has secured a space for us, right next to the dance studio. We should be moving in sometime in April. Exciting stuff. Tim and I are helping out with the website. Lots of good things happening.
Roll on.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
This week
This week I trained fairly extensively. I had BJJ Tuesday night, Friday night, and today at noon. I normally don't go on Saturdays but Julia was scrapbooking. I had been working on a paper for school and needed a break and to blow off some steam so I went and rolled for an hour.
Tuesday was Gi night. We did some technique work and then rolled. I rolled with Tim a good bit and was actually able to submit him for the first time. It was a lucky break on my part. He had taken my back, had his hooks in but had crossed his feet. I was able to bring my right leg over and ankle-lock him. He made a silly mistake that I was able to recognize and capitalize upon. But I guess that is what BJJ is all about. Otherwise, again I was able to hold my own with him. Again I was able to get out of the Peruvian Necktie attempts, avoided a triangle choke and a gi choke attempt. He is good at sneaking the armbar in on me, however. He told me that my timing is getting a whole lot better, which is another huge aspect of the art.
Friday night (last night) was no-gi. Frank and Paul and I were there. Paul and I rolled against each other first and I was able to get to his back and sink in a rear naked choke for the tap. We spent the rest of last night taking turns rolling with Frank who basically dominated both of us.
Today was the same three folks. I rolled some with Frank and got dominated again. Lately I have a fascination of sorts with leglocks and I keep grabbing Frank's legs and thinking about trying to anklelock him, which has yet to be successful. Rolled twice with Paul and split the two rolls. He got me with an Americana (tapped more due to a jammed thumb getting torqued than the actual Americana) and I got him with a collar choke. Good stuff.
Frank called me a little while ago and things look very good toward Ronin moving into its own space by the middle of April. More details as we learn them.
Roll on.
Tuesday was Gi night. We did some technique work and then rolled. I rolled with Tim a good bit and was actually able to submit him for the first time. It was a lucky break on my part. He had taken my back, had his hooks in but had crossed his feet. I was able to bring my right leg over and ankle-lock him. He made a silly mistake that I was able to recognize and capitalize upon. But I guess that is what BJJ is all about. Otherwise, again I was able to hold my own with him. Again I was able to get out of the Peruvian Necktie attempts, avoided a triangle choke and a gi choke attempt. He is good at sneaking the armbar in on me, however. He told me that my timing is getting a whole lot better, which is another huge aspect of the art.
Friday night (last night) was no-gi. Frank and Paul and I were there. Paul and I rolled against each other first and I was able to get to his back and sink in a rear naked choke for the tap. We spent the rest of last night taking turns rolling with Frank who basically dominated both of us.
Today was the same three folks. I rolled some with Frank and got dominated again. Lately I have a fascination of sorts with leglocks and I keep grabbing Frank's legs and thinking about trying to anklelock him, which has yet to be successful. Rolled twice with Paul and split the two rolls. He got me with an Americana (tapped more due to a jammed thumb getting torqued than the actual Americana) and I got him with a collar choke. Good stuff.
Frank called me a little while ago and things look very good toward Ronin moving into its own space by the middle of April. More details as we learn them.
Roll on.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Sad News
Was working this morning and happened upon the news of the death of Charles "Mask" Lewis, the founder of the TapOut brand of clothing and MMA gear. Mask and his cohorts have done a lot to promote the fighting arts to what they are today and he will be missed. The full circumstances surrounding the car accident that killed Mask are not yet known. Hopefully drugs or alcohol on his part is not a factor. In any event, a great supporter of mixed martial arts has passed away.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Progress/Shoutouts/An Irish Blessing
My apologies for being so spotty lately with posts on here. I have been very busy with work and school and have had a lot going on in my personal life as well. I am going to try to be a better blogger. I am working on the second installment of my series on the spiritual parallels of Jiu-Jitsu, so look for that soon (hopefully).
I had a good training week last week. Rolled some with Frank and, as usual, felt pretty helpless and got my butt handed to me in a variety of fashions. He doesn't outweigh me significantly (he is around 170, I fluctuate 145-155), but he is very good at USING his weight very effectively. He likes to get into side control and bear down with his weight. I usually turn to my side at that point and attempt to shrimp away. When I do that, though, he almost invariably takes my back and from there it is just a matter of time before he sinks in some manner of choke. However, I also rolled with Tim, one of our blue belts, who I have mentioned in previous posts. I managed to extricate myself from several predicaments when grappling with him. I worked my way out of two Peruvian Necktie attempts (see video below for demo of the Peruvian).
This was good for my psyche, as this is the one choke I have been caught in that has actually put me to sleep. Frank caught me in the Peruvian awhile back and it didn't feel that tight. I went to turn to try to work my way out of it and next thing I knew I was looking at the ceiling with him kneelng next to me telling me I had gone to sleep. Very odd sensation. I am generally one to tap if I know I am caught. I never felt that one coming.
Anyway, back to my roll with Tim. I also managed to extricate myself from a triangle attempt by posturing up and driving forward, flipping him over. Shortly after that, he managed to grab one of my arms and get an armbar on me. But, I feel like my skill level is slowly improving.
On the subject of shoutouts, I would like to say a big hello to Kyle Kaiser and the folks at AnointedFighter.com. Anointed Fighter is a website/ministry dedicated to Christians involved with the fighting arts. A lot of really great people on that site, in addition to some professional fighters who are also believers.
I will be going to class tomorrow night and Friday night and will post sometime during that span.
I will leave you with an Irish blessing that the great "Rowdy" Roddy Piper ended his recent interview with TAGGRADIO.com with. This blessing kind of made my morning.
To those who love us, may God bless them. And for those who don't may God turn their hearts. And for those whose hearts He cannot turn, may He turn their ankles so we recognize them by their limp.
Roll on.
I had a good training week last week. Rolled some with Frank and, as usual, felt pretty helpless and got my butt handed to me in a variety of fashions. He doesn't outweigh me significantly (he is around 170, I fluctuate 145-155), but he is very good at USING his weight very effectively. He likes to get into side control and bear down with his weight. I usually turn to my side at that point and attempt to shrimp away. When I do that, though, he almost invariably takes my back and from there it is just a matter of time before he sinks in some manner of choke. However, I also rolled with Tim, one of our blue belts, who I have mentioned in previous posts. I managed to extricate myself from several predicaments when grappling with him. I worked my way out of two Peruvian Necktie attempts (see video below for demo of the Peruvian).
This was good for my psyche, as this is the one choke I have been caught in that has actually put me to sleep. Frank caught me in the Peruvian awhile back and it didn't feel that tight. I went to turn to try to work my way out of it and next thing I knew I was looking at the ceiling with him kneelng next to me telling me I had gone to sleep. Very odd sensation. I am generally one to tap if I know I am caught. I never felt that one coming.
Anyway, back to my roll with Tim. I also managed to extricate myself from a triangle attempt by posturing up and driving forward, flipping him over. Shortly after that, he managed to grab one of my arms and get an armbar on me. But, I feel like my skill level is slowly improving.
On the subject of shoutouts, I would like to say a big hello to Kyle Kaiser and the folks at AnointedFighter.com. Anointed Fighter is a website/ministry dedicated to Christians involved with the fighting arts. A lot of really great people on that site, in addition to some professional fighters who are also believers.
I will be going to class tomorrow night and Friday night and will post sometime during that span.
I will leave you with an Irish blessing that the great "Rowdy" Roddy Piper ended his recent interview with TAGGRADIO.com with. This blessing kind of made my morning.
To those who love us, may God bless them. And for those who don't may God turn their hearts. And for those whose hearts He cannot turn, may He turn their ankles so we recognize them by their limp.
Roll on.
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