Month 15… I know it’s a little early, but it’s slow at work so here we go. I have become completely obsessed with jiu jitsu. I couldn’t keep track of how many hours I spent daydreaming about what woulda, coulda, shoulda happened during my rolls from the previous week. My brain is overloaded with techniques and I’m starting to notice the tiny little details some of the most basic techniques. I actually missed my stop on the train going home because I was replaying a roll from the prior night’s training. I’m working on my open guard and it seems that the lasso is working best for me as far as retaining guard, and sweeping from there. I have been trying to omaplata from there, but I haven’t been able to pull it off live yet. With passing, I’m focusing on double unders and stacking. Successes are few and far between, but it does feel really good when I pull of a sweep, or submission, but for the most part, I am consistently getting an ass beating. The benefit of that is I’m getting much better at escaping mount/side mount/half guard. Abu Dhabi trials are on Oct. 20 so I’ve made a commitment to train at least 5 nights a week. I’m very nervous about my first competition at blue belt, but the training intensity of our little gym has increased, and I’m focused so I’m sure I’ll be the better for it. My regular training partners are beasts and I thought I might introduce you guys to a couple of them.
The Mountain – 6’ 235 fluffy asian guy. Reminds me of Odd Job from James Bond Goldfinger without the moustache. Blue belt. Judo brown belt. Don’t let his size or fluffiness fool you. This guy has the speed and agility of a guy 100 pounds lighter, is extremely tough, finds subs from the most unorthodox of positions, and rolls at a high intensity. He loves knee on belly, knee on kidney, knee on rib, knee on face. He’s been kicking my ass since day one and I can count the number of times I’ve caught him on one hand. I don’t look forward to rolling with him, on some days I’m hoping he doesn’t show up, but he is a perfect match for me and has been great training partner and we’ve become good friends.
The Wrestler – 6’1 240 built like a bulldozer. One of my best friends. Former room mate, and the toughest guy that I know. I’ve watched him beat up half a football team in our younger years. He was a great wrestler back in high school and I brought jiu jitsu to him. His technique is not very good, he can be spazzy, but he is extremely difficult to hold in mount. Explosive in every way and seems to have a sixth sense as he can feel when I cross his center of gravity and goes immediately for a reversal. Very difficult to sweep/submit and he never gives up. Has a couple of go to chokes from side control that he pulls off consistently. Great training partner, great friend.
More next month. Thanks for reading.
The Mountain – 6’ 235 fluffy asian guy. Reminds me of Odd Job from James Bond Goldfinger without the moustache. Blue belt. Judo brown belt. Don’t let his size or fluffiness fool you. This guy has the speed and agility of a guy 100 pounds lighter, is extremely tough, finds subs from the most unorthodox of positions, and rolls at a high intensity. He loves knee on belly, knee on kidney, knee on rib, knee on face. He’s been kicking my ass since day one and I can count the number of times I’ve caught him on one hand. I don’t look forward to rolling with him, on some days I’m hoping he doesn’t show up, but he is a perfect match for me and has been great training partner and we’ve become good friends.
The Wrestler – 6’1 240 built like a bulldozer. One of my best friends. Former room mate, and the toughest guy that I know. I’ve watched him beat up half a football team in our younger years. He was a great wrestler back in high school and I brought jiu jitsu to him. His technique is not very good, he can be spazzy, but he is extremely difficult to hold in mount. Explosive in every way and seems to have a sixth sense as he can feel when I cross his center of gravity and goes immediately for a reversal. Very difficult to sweep/submit and he never gives up. Has a couple of go to chokes from side control that he pulls off consistently. Great training partner, great friend.
More next month. Thanks for reading.