NAGA!! (Facebook note)

There is going to be a Naga tournament in Florida this November, and I am going to compete. I am completely terrified, but really excited. They have a division for women who have been training for less than 6 months, and by the time November comes around I will have 4 months of Jiu-jitsu under my white belt. hehe If Allie and I go together we can get a family discount, and it would actually be cheaper for us to compete in both gi, and no-gi then just one division. So, that is the plan as of right now.

I spoke with my instructor Mario about it, and he said if we go, he will come too. I really think it is awesome that he would come to support us, (I think he might compete too..) but it makes me a little nervous. I’d want to do him proud…and if I can’t manage that I’d like to at least not embarrass him.

So, my plan is:

Run a mile without stopping. I’ve never actually tried before last night. (I can almost do it..) I used to do high intensity interval training, but that is a lot of stopping and going for 30 minutes. I want to just go the whole mile. I walk four miles every night, and I can easily break it down into a warm up - one mile run – one mile walk – one mile run, and then cool down. My goal is to do that, and be alive when I make it back to my door step.

Keep up with yoga. I started 2 weeks ago, and did the full 50 minutes last night for the first time. I want to do it every day. My goal is to be able to lay my hands flat on the floor with my knees straight. I know it’s a weird goal, but I want to be able to do that. hehe

Those are semi-unrelated to Jiu-jitsu, but they will help me get into better shape, and I would like to lose 5 pounds so I don’t have to worry about spilling into a higher weight class with my gi on. Last night I weighed myself with my gi, and I was literally half a pound into the next weight class. Not that I think weight classes are going to actually matter so much for the women’s divisions. Mario said to expect them to combine the weight classes… but on the off chance they don’t, I don’t want to be going up against giants because of half a pound…though, I am kind of a giant myself.

My Jiu-jitsu game plan is:

Class twice a week, and at least twice a week Allie and I are going to get together and grapple. If I can work it out, I might start taking some extra classes in November. Though, that is a big fat maybe. If I still have my niece and nephew living with me I will go broke paying for a baby sitter 5 times a week on top of paying for two schools. But I really would like to work it out, because I need to work on my submissions. That is where I am weakest. I know I am getting better at moving… I am by no means good, but I know I am terrible at submissions. Maybe I am missing some sort of aggressive gene, or it just goes against my nature to try and bend someone’s arm off. I take care of people, not injure them. lol It’s probably just that I suck, but whatever it is, I need to get better at submissions.

There are also a couple of solo drills I am going to run every day.

I think if I do all of these things, I will not get owned by some 110 pound tween in my first fight.

I really have no earthly idea why I am SO excited about Jiu-jitsu, but I am. It is what is keeping me sane right now. I’ve been under an incredible amount emotional stress the past few months, and I have been able to burn some of that off with Jiu-jitsu. So, it’s a double win.

I was talking to my friend Dain about the tournament, and this is what he said… (I hope you don’t mind me quoting you, I just laughed SO hard.)

“I'm sure you'll do well in at naga btw
Even if they do combine, eff blue belts they are weak.
They know just enough to not be sure and not enough to be awesome at it
Where as you are the VIOLENT NEWB DEATH MACHINE
You kung fu your face off with awesome ignorance of technique, overpowering your opponent with awkward attack after awkward and unpredictable attack!
HIYAH!”

I love you, Dain! hahah

While I don’t agree with the blue belt comment, blue belts would eat my face for dinner. I do know that I can be a spastic white belt.. and I want to work on not being one. lol

Thus ends my overly long ramble about NAGA. If you read all the way through, I am sorry you wasted your time… lol But you can expect more of the same in the future. You are warned. Next time you waste your time reading my notes; it will be your own fault. =)