If this doodle doesn't explain Jiu-jitsu, nothing does...

25

Twenty five days until the Open.

My nerves come and go.

Yesterday, I had about 3 hours where I and convinced myself that light weight was the way to go, and pretty much wanted to choke myself out for waiting until the last minute.  However, I was brought to my senses by a good friend and fellow grappler who is a nutritionist.  Attempting the cut now would be bad for me in many ways.

And remember that wave of good I was running into.... I am still in the midst of it.  Huzzah!! It is giving me some much needed confidence, but at the same time slightly adding to my paranoia.

Either way though, I am seriously enjoying the preparation...   and that is really what it is all about anyway.

I just happen to give and receive joy via chokes!

I am moving!

... at least, on the internet.  =)

I have an extreme dislike for the new super stalker feature on Facebook.

I will still use my Facebook page to keep up with those not on Google+ and post pictures for my grandma who calls me on a regular basis to ask for more photos of the kids....  but other than that I will be on Google+.

My Facebook Page

My Google+ Page

My Jiujitsunista Facebook Page - This I will still update.

Add me on either if you wish.   =)

The only girl in BJJ

Last night when class started I was the only girl.  Normally, there are several other women.

I am comfortable with almost everyone in the gym, but I felt very conspicuous.  If I gave more of a crap it might have bothered me, and it probably would have bothered me if I didn't know everyone there.  That part was fine, but as we started warm ups, I started eye balling the clock... getting nervous.  Who am I going to drill with?  Looking around the room I started crossing off the acceptable training partners list...

Too big....
Too spazzy...
Too much resistance offer-er...
Guy who is clearly uncomfortable when I pause too long in certain positions while trying to figure things out...
Sweaty guy...
Nervous kid...
Never washes his gi...

I can and will drill with anyone willing to drill with me, but I am talking about ideal partners here.

Just when I was resigning myself to sweaty guy or nervous kid two of the other girls walked in.  Relief!

Mad props to all of you girls who go it alone.  Being a woman in BJJ is hard, I can't imaging being the only one in the room ALL the time.

Easier said then done sometimes, I know.  

In other news, I have slight fluid buildup in my ear.  Going to have to drain it...  I refuse to be the girl with cauliflower ear.


Edit:  There seems to be slight confusion about this post, so I will clarify....


I fiercely love my school and all of my teammates.  Stinky, resistant or nervous.  They may not always be the ideal person for me to drill with, but I am always more than happy to do it.  =) .... but given the choice, I will always choose a female of my relative size to drill with.

And for the record, if anyone is interested in following me around and attending all classes I do, my ideal training partner is a 5'9 145 pound female black belt with impeccable hygiene and nerves of steel.

And on the off chance no one volunteers I am more than happy to roll and drill with anyone who will have me.

Are you an IBJJF registered athlete?

What is the deal with that?

It looks to me that aside from black and brown belts it is an optional thing, but they make things more difficult for unregistered athletes.

I'm sure it will make things easier for them to keep track of individual's rank and competition record to prevent sandbagging and what not, but to me it just seems like another pointless way to take our money.  Maybe I am just being grouchy about it, but I don't see the point.  Not counting food and travel expenses, it costs 100 dollars to compete... and now I have to pay an additional 30 dollars annually?  Lame.

Or am I missing the point?

Is there some other reason for this? I mean, I don't need a card to tell me how good or bad I am at Jiu-jitsu.  I can see that for myself every time I get on the mat.


If you have any input on the matter I'd be happy to hear it....  otherwise I am just going to go administer some Dorito & Midol therapy and stop blogging while irritated.  lol

Breakfast of Champions

Back to back classes this morning.

Women's Class, promptly followed by Open mat.

Both of which were awesome for different reasons.

Two of the young girls who attend the women's class shocked the snot out of me.  Both of them were pulling off sweeps and guard passes properly this morning.  I mean, they were doing actual, legit Jiu-jitsu.  It blew my mind.  With as much as they laugh and giggle they are actually learning.  Amazing!  If I could go back in time and change one thing in my life, I would have started BJJ when I was a kid.  I hope they stick with it as they get older!

Open mat was also awesome.  20 minute grapples.  Win!

I was a little afraid of who was going to show up for Open mat....  I've been warned it's a lot of the bigger, me-smash-me-pass type grapplers.  Thankfully though, a couple of people showed up who I really enjoy grappling.  Much fun was had.

One thing amused me though.  Until this morning, I have never grappled a dude who smelled better than I did.  Women's Class + Open Mat had me quite ripe by the time noon rolled around.  One of the guys I rolled with smelled nice... and on top of that, he had on a prettier gi than I did!  lol  He has a really awesome tie dye gi.  I was wearing my blue Fenom, which is beautiful, and I love it... but it's not tie dyed.

It was an interesting turn of the tables.  lol  I'm not sure I liked it.  hahaha!

It's the Final Countdown!

Six weeks until the Miami Open.

Thinking about it now, I should have started my 'training camp' last week, so I could relax a bit the week before the Open, but five weeks of hard training should be just fine.

On top of trying to finagle two extra classes a week, I think I might do the thing I never thought I would have the motivation to do.

The 6 am class.

Fabio's is 30 minutes from my house, and if I want to arrive in my BJJ pajamas, and not my actual pajamas that means I have to be up at 5 am.

I am told this is what sunrise looks like... but I've never been up that early to verify.

If I can manage that I will be able to hit the gym 6 times a week.  I am super excited about that considering for the better part of the past nine months I've been there 1-2 times at best. 

Other good news is that I've been feeling like a semi-competent grappler lately.  It is staving off some of my epic terror.... but I am sure that will pass.  It is just merely an up in my training... and this up is starting to put the fear of god in me... as far as training goes anyway.  There is always a down promptly following one of my ups... and depending on the speed and velocity of the down, I may be in for a rough couple of weeks.. When I have a run in with some bad weeks on the mat my confidence in myself waivers and I don't want that on top of my competition doubts and jitters.  

I just have to ride this up all the way to the podium.  

I will say this though... I am SO glad I decided to go medio.  I'd be a mess if I had weight to worry about as well.