The pros and cons of training in the heat.

I live in Florida.  

My gym is not fancy.  Not even a little.

It is basically an office, a singular bathroom, and mats.

Inside a warehouse, in an industrial park.

A far cry from the well know, absolutely gorgeous, state of the art, all white, glass front gym of the Art of Jiu-Jitsu Academy of the Mendes Brothers. ... that I am sure is kept about 15 degrees cooler than the gym I (very happily) call home.

As you can imagine, in Florida in the summer at midday, it can get a little warm.  And by a little warm, I mean 91 degrees.  It is air conditioned, but again... warehouse, midday, Florida... sweating bodies.  It stays about 90 degrees.

In the summer time I am dripping sweat by the end of warm ups.  You could literately just sit in the gym and warm up.

By the end of the second grapple my fingers are pruney, and they stay that way all class.  This really isn't a problem except for the fact that when my skin is all soggy, it is much more easily ripped or rubbed off.  And of course, gripping and pulling on lapels and sleeves for an hour does exactly that.  For about a month now my finger tips have been raw... and the horrifying calluses I have developed on all my knuckles over the past three years have been slowly rubbed off from grappling in a constant state of wet handedness.

My elbows and knees are also getting rubbed raw from the same thing... damp skin, wet rough gi = rubbed off skin.  And of course, its sweat, not just water so it stings.

Insert more bitching and complaining about grappling soggy here.

The mats are also constantly wet and slippery.  It can quite literally be like grappling on a slip and slide sometimes.

And all of that on top of, grappling in heat makes it hard to breathe, its hard to catch your breath, and staying hydrated while not drinking too much water is a fine line to walk.

It sucks.... but I love it.  It is weirdly satisfying.
(I also love BJJ, my team, and my instructor, so that makes all the suffering much more bearable.)
The singular pro is that I will train like this all summer, and when it comes time to compete in the lovely air conditioned gyms it will a cake walk.

Well, I guess, a second pro could be that the excessive exfoliation is making me softer than I've ever been in my life.  That counts for something I am sure.

Best night, ever.

Okay, maybe not ever... but definitely one of the best.

It was one of the most fun nights I've ever had at Fabio Novaes BJJ!

I got thrown about 40 times and got utterly destroyed by everyone I grappled, but it was all in good fun, and in spite of the ass beatings and throws, I've never felt more like part of the team.

And yes... I am competing in the Open still... as a blue belt.

I had no idea I would be until about a week ago... hence my insanity, self doubt, and general terror.

However, I'm over it..  I'm going to go, do the best that I can do, and that will just have to be enough.  =)

If I lose, I lose.

If I win.

All the better for me!

One funny thing happened though...  After my first grapple, my belt came off.. and I stood there looking for it for a good five or six seconds before I realized... I couldn't find it, because I was looking for a white belt.  =)

... I also feel it necessary to say... I under no circumstances feel like I should be wearing a blue belt... However, I am over joyed that Fabio thinks I should be.

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!

Stupid and Brave are often interchangeable in BJJ.

I have a new puppy... Yes, another one.  Three dogs.

My new puppy, Lord Vader is awesome.

I've been playing with him a lot, which has resulted in about 900 scratches all over my arms and legs.

Not a big deal in and of itself, but when you mix that with BJJ, and especially with the latest outbreak of ringworm going to class seemed like a bad idea.  The Miami Open is looming, and I didn't want to miss a class because I might get ring worm.  

I got two comments about my choice.  Brave, and stupid.  I think it is mostly just stupid.

I went... but I took precautions.  I washed my entire body with hibiclense.  It says it continues to protect you from any of the mat baddies for 6 hours post use.  I also covered all of my scratches in Nu-Skin  and wore long a long sleeved rash guard and long yoga pants under my gi.  I also rubbed down with this Anti-ringworm foam Fabio got for everyone to help combat the ringworm issue.  

Then I showered and re-hibicleansed when I got home.

Hopefully my lack of making good choices won't come back to bite me in the butt and put me out of training for longer than having just sat out last night.  

In other news... last night went much better than last Monday.  Though, realistically it couldn't have gone worse.  

I'm going to wait on working on the heel hook thing until after the Miami Open.  Last night, just worked passing and maintaining dominate positions.  I also did not purposefully give up side control, and gladly did not find myself there once last night.  I decided if I get into side control I will work that choke, but other wise I will stick to normal competition preparation.  Pass.  Maintain.  Submit... and most importantly move move move.  My normal game is more of a guard to sweep kind of thing, but I think my biggest error in competition is getting stuck on the bottom by purposefully going there to sweep.  If I end up there that will be one thing, but I will not go there of my own accord any longer.  At least not in a competition.  

I am pretty fortunate and I have a lot of guys who are willing to answer my questions, and help me out after class.  I will save all of my weird questions and positions for them, and of course Fabio.  He helped me figure out that choke I was screwing up last Monday.  Woo!

67 days until the Miami Open!

Triangles, Triangles, Triangles!

I love triangles.  I tend to catch them more than anything else due to the fact that I like to play from my back, as well as the fact that my legs are 20 foot long spaghetti noodles.  I have yet to meet a shoulder neck combination I can't get my legs around.  Obviously, I am talking about willing participants here.  

On top of that I have a gimped grip so I am relying heavily on my legs for pretty much everything right now.

Taking those things into consideration, I was pretty pleased that last night Fabio went over triangles... and by pretty please, I mean stupid over the moon happy.

He went over all those little things that make everything oh-so much more amazing.  For example where you grab the head to pull down, and the importance of hipping up.  

In other news, I was practicing MMA Jiu-jitsu last night.  Sadly, it was against my own will, and the will of those unfortunate enough to have had to grapple me.  I've mentioned in the past that I love to grapple Yeti.  He asked me if I wanted to roll after class last night, and I am not one to turn down a grapple... especially when the invite is from an awesome purple belt.  I am sure he regretted his offer though.  Not only did I close fist punch him in the mouth when I was trying to swim his neck, but I kneed him in the head... twice.  And worst of all, at one point I had a scissor sweep set up... (Yeti lets me work.)  It felt right at least.  I knew I was set up properly, but I didn't actually look at my leg placement.  The leg that should have been booted against his torso... was booted against his neck... and when I went to sweep I pretty much kicked him in the side of the neck.  Hard.

I am a douche bag, Yeti.  I know you never would, but please kick me in the neck next time you have the opportunity.

Smooth like butter....

This blog is specifically for my teammates.

I'd like to clear a few things up...  lol

You see the box to the right of this blog entry... "Search this blog".  In the entry field, I would like you to type "butter" and see that nothing comes up... at least nothing in reference to Kyle.  I never said anything about butter cookies, or grappling in butter, or that Kyle grapples like butter... and while all of said rumors may be true... (LOL) I never actually said them.  Which in turn also means that by comparison Paul is not ... what was it... rigid and mechanical.  I will admit that I have called him a machine in the past, but in a complimentary way.

So, just so we are clear.

While Kyle may grapple like butter, I have never uttered the word butter and Kyle in the same sentence.

Nor did I say that Paul was rigid.... in fact he is quite the opposite,  if a stick of butter could go to the Pan Ams, win two gold medals, and choke me out with ease, I would call it Paul.  ...at least on days he shaves... because some times he can get a little rough and scratchy.

And on that note, Paul and Kyle... I've got nothing but love for ya!  <3

I would also like to ask anyone who can, to please choke Sam out once for me.  =)  I hear he is the rumor mill!  LOL

60 to zero in 5 minutes flat...

Tonight, I rolled with someone and afterward felt really good about the roll.  Not that I did anything to the guy... I think I got submitted even, but I still felt good about the roll.  I felt like I moved well, and did correct things.   


Next grapple.
BOOSH!
Insta-fail.


Another blue belt who is of around the same skill level, but totally different game.  


That grapple I felt clumsy, slow and generally retarded.  I don't know why, but it was just horrible.  And it's not like the guy was going hard on me.. quite the opposite.  He was nice, and helpful and went the pace I was going. ... but holy lord of light, I felt like I grappled like a moron.  


Lucky for me, it was my last grapple of the night.  No time to sneak in any possible redemption... and knowing myself as well as I do, I know I am going to dwell on it all night.  

Hey creepers!

So, apparently people read my blog.  Considering that it s a public blog, you probably wouldn't think that I would be shocked by this.

I don't mind and appreciate the feed back and comments that I get, but when people in class say ..."So, I was reading your blog the other day.... "  I get a little embarrassed and find myself wondering what I'd said in my recent blogs.  I blog mostly because my brain does not have an off switch and I enjoy putting my brain vomit into word form, but I never say anything in my blog that I wouldn't say to someone's face.  So, I don't have to worry about that... but when I blog about how awesome someone is... like, Kyle, who told me this morning he reads my blog, I feel like a idiot.  =)

So, this is to those of you who creep my blog.  If I gush about you, I'm sorry.  =)  I can't help it.  Be less awesome, and I won't go all squealing fan girl on you.

Girls, girls, girls!

When I started at Fabio's there was one other girl, and Allie and I were the only girls at Summerlin.

Now, counting Allie and I there are eight.  One of our blue belts, Salsa John, always brought his girlfriend to class.  Her name is Erica, and she finally started training this week!  I am so excited!  I really get the feeling she will pick it up VERY quickly.  She is in very good shape, and has been watching us grapple for a long time, so she had the general idea her very first grapple.  If I hadn't known it was her first grapple, I wouldn't have believed her.  She also happens to be almost my exact same size.  She about an inch shorter then I and around my same weight.  I am really excited to have a similar sized training partner, esp since I already know her fairly well, and we get along.  Though I must say, it is a little annoying to finally get a taste of my own medicine.  Her legs are super long too.  She feels like she is all legs sometimes.  lol

And we may be getting another girl soon.  Tony's girlfriend came to class last night, and I talked to her about it, and she said she is going to try it out next time she comes to class.  She on the other hand weighs maaaybe 80 pounds... hehe  It will be good partner for for Joyce though.  Joyce is also super tiny.. and it's not like I mind the tiny girls either.  Small people do things big people do not... so it is always fun.  ..I just feel like a huge oaf when I grapple them.

I am really excited to have so many girls to train with.  ... Though, not to take anything way from the guys... I love them all too.  hehe

This is how I roll...

Ben got the Summerlin BJJ site up!


http://www.summerlinbjj.com/


http://www.fabionovaesbjj.com/


http://www.brotherhoodbjj.com/

Okay... I'm a little scared.

Remember my first competition...  The Second Annual De la Riva Cup, where this happened:

That girl, the one whose legs are securely preventing any blood from getting to my brain, Tania... she is visiting my school tomorrow.  

I am excited though.  She is VERY nice, and I like her a lot.  I'm just nervous about grappling her again, at my school, on my mat, in front of my teammates.  I feel like I need to represent and am worried I might not be able to do so in the way I would like.  Honestly though, my fight with her is still my very favorite of all my competitions... and I lost that one... by submission.  So I know I will enjoy grappling her again.

Either way, I am going to do my best, and enjoy rolling with some new girls for a change... and I do like being challenged... and while getting owned is never FUN per say... It is nice to get all the holes in your game poked at.  I just don't want a neon flashing sign pointing at me "HOLES IN YOUR GAME ARE LOCATED: Here, here, here and here" 

I wanted to come and edit something in...

I was thinking about this while I was eating dinner, and I changed my mind.  I'm not scared.  I am just excited.

She is another woman, who is also a mom, who trains Jiujitsu.  Not only does she train, but she is just as obsessed as I am, and she trains as much as I do.  With as small a community as BJJ is, I need to grab hold of other women grapplers... esp ones like Tania whom  I can relate to on more then one level.

I can't wait to see her tomorrow.  =)

Sit down and shut up.

When I first hurt my rib, I didn't not grapple like I should have.  I rolled less and went light.  This time, I am going to act like if I bend over, my ribs are going to snap in half.

I'm going to just do a s little as possible, and hope that it speeds my recovery.  

I took some of the pain meds I was prescribed yesterday, but I don't think I am going to today.  I want to feel what hurts, so I can avoid doing it.  I need to recover...now.  I need to be grappling yesterday.  

I went to class last night, and watched.  Fabio let me be the timer girl.  I finally got to sit and just watch some of my favorite people roll.  I always complain that when Fabio goes with Ben or Paul I never get to watch because I am grappling.  Last night I got to watch...and it was awesome!  Fabio is insane.  Insane.  I am sure I sat there with my mouth hanging open like an idiot... and all he did was guard passes last night.  

He also taught a super fantastic choke from guard.  I hope I can remember it, and try it when I can move a little better.  Because A. I love chokes, and B. I love guard.  Chokes from guard = Happy.  

And seriously, I do love my team.  They are the best.  =)   ...even if they make fun of my chicken wing.   

Man vs Woman

Tonight I grappled a guy for the first time who is roughly my height, but has about 20 pounds on me, and according to our instructors, we are of the same skill level.  We both have three stripes.  I've always wondered how I would fair against a man of my size.  I have been told probably 100 times that a man of my relative size and skill level would probably beat me just due to the strength difference.  Tonight, that theory was proven right... and I am just going to go with it.  lol

He pretty much owned me.  Or at least I felt like he did.  Allie claims it did not look that way, but it sure felt like ownage.  He was just SO fast... I felt like I could do nothing to stop him save getting a knee in.  (I was able to defend all his submissions, but I don't think I could ever stop defending long enough to go for one myself.)  And he just flipped clean out of my butterfly guard twice.  The third time, I kind of expected it so I could kind of stop him.  Normally, if someone tries to flip out of my butterfly guard like that, I just sink my hooks extra deep and go with them to mount, or if nothing else stop them. (this is on someone who is around my skill level, obviously I'm not stopping a brown belt or even blue belts with my hooks) .... but not tonight.

Now, he wasn't mean, or anything like that when we grappled he was just bigger, stronger and faster... and it sure felt like, more skilled.

But either way, I am going to chalk it up to him being a man  Cop out?.. perhaps... but whatever, it makes me feel better.  =)

Kiss grappling...

It is like submission grappling, but the goal is to kiss other person face.  LOL

Another bonus of grappling with your best friend.... you can do idiotic things like this.  =)

I have mention before I am a touchy person... I hug and kiss everyone.  Allie on the other hand isn't so much with the kissing.  Not that I am kissing people on the mouth or anything... Anyhow, after class, I went to go kiss her on the cheek, and she defended my kiss as if I were going to choke her, and it went from there.  We got into a full blown grapple, except I was trying to kiss her, and she was trying not to be kissed.  It was really fun, and a great way to have no pressure grappling.  No one cared who was on top, or who was sweeping who... We just moved like crazy.  I did get my kiss though.  LOL  So happy endings all around.

Obviously, this is not something I would attempt with one of my male teammates.  That might get a little hairy.  lol

May I also say... OMG!  It was so awesome to be back on the mat!

I did it!!

I closed that blasted side control triangle!!!

Apparently the majority of my problem was an obvious one that Ben helped me figure out on Saturday morning. It is pretty much a reverse triangle, but I was squeezing my knees forward like you would in a normal triangle from guard.  I needed to be pointing my knees the other way while squeezing together... and I also was not creating enough of an angle.  I did both tonight, and closed it!

I got so excited, I said "Really?!" after he tapped, and then felt kind of like a jerk.  It was someone I had never submitted before and I get the impression he thought I was referring to the submission in general, but really, it was that I figured that one in particular out.... it has been my nemesis for so long now, I was just so happy to actually close it.  Either way, I am going to mention it to him next time that I wasn't trying to be a jerk, I was just so excited that I figured that triangle out.  I dunno, I don't want to be like, "So, remember when I triangled you.... "    Maybe I should let it go.  I just feel bad.  I know the person wasn't going 100% or anywhere near... so we both know it wasn't a real submission...  He actually is one of my favorite people to grapple because he comes down to my level when we roll.

Anyway, on top of that happening today I got help with taking the back from guard, and hopefully will be able to do that now with out feeling like a clumsy oaf.  To be honest though, even being walked through it, I still felt oafish with it.  Perhaps fluidity comes with time.  Ah well.... that is my new goal.  Learn to take the back with out feeling like an oaf.

America's Best Grappling Academy....

...Just happens to be my school.  At least according to Tapout Magazine.  =)  I tend to agree with them.

There was a two page article on my school in this months issue, the one with Frank Mir on the cover.

It seems strange to me that seven months ago I had no idea what BJJ was, and now I am completely and totally obsessed, and grapple almost every single day.  BJJ has changed my life for the better in so many ways.  I seriously don't know where I would be with out it.  It helped me get through one of the most difficult times in my life.

Not only that, but I stumbled into one of the best schools in the country.  I probably couldn't repeat that if I tried.

On top of all of that, I have a whole new second family.  Seriously.  I love everyone at my school, and feel accepted there.  My kids come with me to class sometimes, and while I know they are an epic pain in the rear, I still feel welcome to bring them.  Fabio's pregnant wife, Roberta, and son come to most classes too, just to hang out.  I love that.  And I love how Fabio announced to the whole class when they found out Roberta was pregnant, and when they found out they were getting the girl they wanted.  It is so much more then just an academy where I train.  They really are like my second family.

I love Fabio Novaes BJJ!

Epic Fail

I posted earlier this month about feeling off...  It has gotten better since then, but today was probably the worst class I've had in a long time.... possibly ever.  I was on the verge of tears at the end of class.  Normally, on my bad days I just feel like I hadn't grappled the way I know I should have... but today I just felt flat out dominated all day.  People who I should be able to control were ALL OVER ME.  I know I was trying to work this triangle thing from inside someone's side control, and to work that, I pretty much have to let someone pass into side control, but once people got there, I couldn't close the triangle, I couldn't escape... I couldn't do anything.  I sat in someone's side control almost every grapple.  It was beyond frustrating!


For some reason, I have latched onto this triangle, and I want to work it into my game SO badly.  If someone gets me into their side control I can almost always get the triangle, I land it at least once or twice every class, but I can never close it.  I've asked Ben about it probably two or three times now, and today after class I think I may have found what I am doing wrong.... so I am going to try to work with it on Monday too.... but this time I am not going to give up side control to try it... I will just try it if I get there.  I can't take another night of being locked up in side control.

I will get this stupid triangle down.  I know the triangle is close-able.  When Ben was showing me somethings about it after class he closed it so super tight it made me do that gaggy thing... Granted, he is a big brown belt guy, but I should be able to do it too if I can get the technique right.

It is now to the point that I have to learn how to close it for my own sanity.  It is driving me crazy!

*sigh*

The one good thing about having had such a bad day is now I am SO fired up for Monday night.  I want to make up for my epic failure on the mat today.... but sadly my biggest gap between classes is Saturday morning to Monday night.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

The Good:

Today I pretty much got to Jits all day.  I went to Fabio's afternoon class in Lakeland, and his evening class in Brandon.  I have been out to the Brandon school once before.  It was great to go back... it is nice to roll with people I don't normally get to roll with in an environment where I feel safe.  My friend Jen has to miss every other Friday due to her new work schedule, so she wants to start going out there on Thursday nights to make up for her missed class.  I went with her tonight because she was a little nervous to go alone, but I might just go with her every time.  I had a lot of fun. ... plus, I am not one to turn down a chance to grapple! =)

The Bad:

I had to talk to my instructor about an issue I am having with another student.  I *really* hate to do that.  I have had to do it once before, but for an entirely different reason.  This time it was just generally that I did not know how to handle something myself, which could have resulted in me becoming injured... and that is just one thing that is not okay..  I really didn't know how to handle the situation, so I had to ask what I should do.. and in doing so, I feel like I sailed someone down the river...  But I keep telling myself if they weren't doing it in the first place, I wouldn't have to have sold them down the river.  Either way, it just sucks.

The Ugly:

I hurt someone today.  =(  I am normally super duper careful about people's joints, and if I bonk someone mid grapple with a knee or an elbow, I always make sure to say sorry.  Today, I was grappling someone who tried to take my back from guard, but ended up kind of falling onto his back and had me in a weird side guard.  He still had his legs crossed, so I trianlged my legs around his ankles and pushed down.  I have had that done to me before.. I know it hurts.  But he didn't let go...which is what I wanted him to do, or tap... so I pushed harder, and his ankle popped.  I probably would have just let it go except for the fact that he is kind of a big guy, and he had just been trying to muscle a neck crank.  Which is fine...  I don't want people going easy on me because I am a girl, but at the same time, if you are going to put it on me, I am not going to back out of my submissions because you are too stubborn to tap... or just let go, which is all I wanted in the first place.  ... but I feel bad!  I do NOT want to hurt my team mates.  Ben says all the time to just tap if someone gets you in something.  Be a courteous grappler.  If someone gets you, acknowledge it.... don't challenge someone to break your arm... most people will let go, but if you get in the habit of making people let go of submissions because they don't want to be a jerk and hurt you, it is really going to suck for you when you get someone who won't.  Ben and Fabio both said I did the right thing, but I feel bad...  I don't want to be that guy... I don't want to be the reason someone gets put out grappling for a week or two so they can recover.... I HATE when that happens to me.... and I really hate that I may have done that to someone else.  It bums me out.

Most nerve wracking grapple... ever.

We have a Judo Olympian, Brian Germain, who trains Jits at our school.  He is, obviously, a black belt in Judo, but a blue belt in Jiujitsu.

He has a teenage daughter who is roughly my size... my height, but a bit lighter then I am.  She is a brown belt in Judo, and she also wrestles.  She was actually the female state champion earlier this year.

The very first time I grappled Brian a few months ago, he told me he wanted me to grapple his daughter.  He said I would give her a run for her money.  I was pretty much like, Oh okay, whatever, she would school me, but I laughed and said it sounded like fun.

After class, Brian decided to tell me again, in front of every single one of my coaches that he wanted to bring her in, so I could grapple her.  ... Grrreaaaat.  They all agreed it would be a good match up... later they told me I would have no trouble grappling her...they said being that she does Judo, and wrestles she will make mistakes in BJJ ... which I highly doubted, and was 100% certain they were just trying to boost my confidence.

She came tonight.

The second I saw her, my heart leaped up into my throat, and I started sweating.  Yes, yes, I was scared of a teenage girl.  I knew I was going to have to grapple her, and I knew people were going to be watching.  Esp her dad.  I was more nervous then, then I was at my very first competition.  Mostly because my coaches seemed to think I could beat her in a grapple, and I did not want to prove them wrong.

She was the only girl who was there for the drills, so I had to drill with her... Which is totally 100% okay with me... until people started watching us... as in standing there, watching us... not even trying to hide it.  Maybe they were all spacing out and happened to be facing our way, but it really felt like they were staring at us.

And of course my first grapple of the night was with her.

As I was walking over to her on the mat, I passed a friend, and I told her I was scared.  She told me I would do fine, but not to give her an inch because she would take it, and choke me out.  So, I sat down in front of her, tried to hide that I was terrified, and when Fabio said go, I went...

It ended up being a really great grapple.  She was really good at defending my chokes.. I assume that came from her Judo, but she gave up her back a lot, and I assume that is one of the down falls of wrestling.  Once I got a feel for her, I relaxed a little and after I submitted her I took down the intensity a notch or two... and ended up having a lot of fun rolling with her.

She said she is going to be back next week, and I am really excited to have another female grappler! ...and so glad that first nerve wracking grapple is out of the way!

Really bummed....

One of my BJJ schools is closing.  =(  It's not final yet, but it looks like we will be finishing out the month, and that will be the end.

I am really sad.  I love training under Ben and Mario.  I will still be seeing Ben at Fabio's, but Mario said he is done with Jiujitsu all together.

The whole thing makes me sad....  I am sad that I won't be Ben's student anymore....  He gave me my first stripe.  I just always thought that he would be the one who gave me the rest of the stripes I may or may not eventually earn.  lol  Don't get me wrong, I love Fabio, and I really feel it is an honor to be one of his students.  He is an fantastic teacher, an awesome person, and I love training under him....  but... I dunno.  I'm just sad.

I'm also sad that Mario is quitting.  I won't see him anymore.  Both of those things make me sad....  Mario said he is burnt out.  He has been doing it a long time, and maybe it has lost the attraction for him.  I can't imagine ever getting to that point, and I am sad he is.... I am going to miss him.

I am just really, really bummed out.