Pan Ams 2013 and Tattoos

Fabio competed again this year and brought home another medal!  Congrats Fabio!  Always proud to be one of his students.

I watched online, and serious props to Budo Videos.  Their multimat technology kicked ass.  I saw every single matched I wanted to see.  Absolutely worth it this year... my only request would be they have the scores on the screen for all the matches, not just the adult male finals... which by the way, were amazing.  Caio Terra is probably my favorite grappler, so I always enjoy watching him grapple... Third gold at the Pans in a row! Woohoo!

I would watch the Pan Ams online next year, but I'm going instead. Woohoo! I've wanted to go the past two years, but I am tried of just wanting to go.  I'm going.  I've already got it worked out.  So, 2014 Pan Ams.. I will see you there! =D

I am also doing the Miami Open in six months.  So, it works it self out perfectly.  Miami is in 6 months, and the Pan Ams are six months after that.  I'll have plenty of time before each to give my body rest, then kick my own ass training.

And speaking of rest.. .that is what I am doing now.  I am in the middle of a one month break.  My knee is being lame and I would like it to fully recover before I start competition training.  The break perfectly coincided with tattoo time as well.  So my arm and knee can heal at the same time.  Multi tasking for the win.

Sean Williams, my tattoo artist is all sorts of awesome as you can tell.

www.CollectiveTattoo.com

This tattoo is finished, but in all likelihood this will become a half sleeve.

Good News, Bad News

Good News:

My tattoo is finished.  I went in yesterday so Sean could check that it healed properly and touch up anything that may have needed touching up.

I am going on a cruise in three weeks.

Bad News:

Both my elbow and knee have been feeling like they could use a break.

I can not grapple because of my tattoo.

Conclusion:

I am going to take a month off.  I can't actually grapple for thee weeks this month, and instead of trying to squeeze in a class here and there, I'm going to just take some time off.  I think it will be good for me as I have many minor annoying injuries that I am sure will heal much more efficiently and quickly if I lay off them.

Boo!  ...and also Yay! for the tattoo and cruise news.  I'm going to get fat and sunburnt!

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!