A strange observation.

I have noticed recently that I grapple my best when I am completely and utterly out matched.  It makes no sense.  

If I grapple someone who I cab obliterate with my eyes closed (which is limited to 40 pound sleeping 5 year olds) or someone who is close to my level, sure I do okay.  I can do things right.  I can finish submissions.  I can escape submissions... and of course get submitted.

But there are two really awesome grapplers in particular that when I grapple them, I feel like I am absolutely at the top of my game.  I lose.  Hard.  For the entire duration of the grapple.  But I feel like if I always grappled the way I grapple them, I would be way better than I am. 

It makes about as much sense at this picture does.

Sadly, I can only be awesome 5 minutes at a time, and generally with only those two people... and I spend the 5 minutes of grappling super powers losing.  Its like a cruel joke.

It is especially cruel when I feel like I can walk on water post grappling them, then go grapple someone else and it's like... Oh yeah, I forgot, I am terrible at this!

It's like a depressing reverse rags to riches story every time.

Make Your Own Shapeable Ice Packs

I am pretty sure every last grappler on earth has at some point needed to ice something.

I have this really awesome ice mud pack that freezes (and microwaves) but it doesn't freeze solid, thus letting me mold it to my injuries.  It also has a Velcro strap, so I can strap it on, and go about my business.  It was expensive though, and once I wear it it takes several hours to refreeze.

If I want to ice it again before its cold, I either end up using an ace bandage to strap a pack of frozen vegetables to myself... or putting ice cubes in a bag and strapping that to my body... But I hate wasting the vegetables, and I hate the hard home made poky ice packs.

But I have just discovered this little gem.

If you mix one part rubbing alcohol with three parts water, and put it in the freezer, it will get really cold, but the alcohol will keep the water from freezing solid so you can mold it to your injury.

Stick in in a pillow case, or wrap a towel around it and tada, awesome ice pack. 

Competitions

I've been a little quiet on the blog front as of late.  I don't know if I should say, 'Sorry', or 'You're Welcome'.  Choose which ever is more applicable.

I have two competitions coming up in the next four months.  It is time to start thinking about goals.

Once again, I am exhibiting signs of irrationality and mental unsoundness.  I think I am going light weight for the Miami Open.  I have to lose roughly 12 pounds in 4 months.  That would basically be 200-300 less calories per day from now until then, and I would easily make my goal.  That could easily go unnoticed as far as self control goes.

I'm not even worried about it.

The other thing I want to work on is my lower half.  I would like to suck less at escaping and applying leg attacks.  They make me so nervous I never really try to apply them, or escape.  I am paranoid I will roll the wrong way and break myself, or the same would happen to someone I tried to leg lock.  I'm just not secure enough to know when to let go and when to hold on.  So, I need to fix that.

And escapes.  Always escapes... escapes from everywhere.  I feel like they will never good enough.