Not grappling on purpose...?!

I've been sideline for injury more times than I can remember, and due to circumstances outside my control I had to take 9 months off last year.  Each time, I counted down every minute until I could grapple again, and like the mature adult I am, I pouted like a child until I was back on the mat.  No seriously.  I pouted like a child.  Openly, and shamefully.

Last week I did something purposefully that I knew would sideline me for at least a week, possibly two.  Yet, I gladly marched my happy ass right toward it.  It has been a week since I've grappled, and oddly I'm not behaving like a huffy upset toddler.  Perhaps it was because this time I knew ahead of time I would not be able to grapple, or perhaps because this time I'm not hobbling around my house like a peg legged pirate.  Or maybe it is because I am just happy to finally have gotten my tattoo I don't mind that I can't grapple for a few weeks.

It is a week old today and it feels fine.  I could probably grapple tonight if I wanted to but since I still have a few small scabby areas I'm going to go ahead and not rub myself all over the mat and risk infection.

Up close of the flowers.. 

Far away and blurry... 

And good luck to everyone heading to the Pan Ams this week!  Be safe! 

Perma-Funk

My favorite gi has a permanent funk.

I wash my gi after every class, and if I can't wash it right away, I pull it out of my bag as soon as I get home and hang it up so it can air out, and not fester.  I will admit there have been a few times I forget and it sits in my gym bag over night... but generally I am on it with the whole clean gi thing.

Anyway - when I wash it now, it smells good.  I can jam my face right in the arm pit and take a huge wiff and only smell Tropical Passion.  However, the second.. and I mean the very second sweat comes in contact with the arm pit of my gi it smells like sweaty death.

I am fairly certain this guy lives in the pits of my gi and activates like a gremlin after a post-midnight snack when I sweat. 

I've tried everything to rid my gi of this funk, but have had no luck.

This morning I found something that pleases me... and I feel might just do the trick.

Help me Fabreze Sport.  You're my only hope! 

I'll keep you posted.  

Killers!

Once again Team Fabio Novaes killed it at NAGA.

I think this is our third or fourth consecutive time taking home first place in gi!

Congratulations guys!!

EDIT: I lied.  Of the last 4 NAGAs we got first in gi, three times, second once.  Second over all twice.  We generally bring about 15-20 people.  Not too shabby.  I love you guys!

Seminars, Seminars, Seminars!

The Muzio seminar was awesome!!  He went over the IBBJF rules in great detail, and answered a ton of questions for us.  And, he showed us some pretty awesome technique.  Perhaps my new favorite sweep for when people stand in your guard.  Now... someone just needs to stand in my guard so I can try it in a live grapple.

It is basically this, with some slightly different details;

Right after the Muzio seminar, Allie and I with the help of about 8 other really awesome guys held a self defense seminar at a local church for a really awesome charity.  (http://trashmountain.com/) Derrick Davis, one of Fabio's purple belts taught the seminar.  We had a pretty good turn out, and a lot of fun.  Hopefully we will pick up a few new people from the exposure!  Yay!

And tonight, Allie and I (mostly Allie) are teaching a Women's Self Defense seminar for Relay for Life.  I am really excited!