Garage almost done!

Since I can not go to class, I am turning my garage into a gym... and I am almost done!

HUZZAH!

I just need one more 5x10 mat, and I will have everything I need!  (Well, I want to get a weight set, but that isn't really a priority at this point as I have joined a gym.)

Fantastic Gis

Even though I am not grappling right now, I can still blog about gis.  =)

http://www.fenomkimonos.com

They just put out their lotus series, and I love the Fenom Classic so much, I plan on getting a Fenom Lotus gi as soon as I get back to the mat.

Just wanted to pass along the news.

Saporito!

I still can not get over what a cool guy he was.  Friendly, nice, and all the while a little scary.  =)  He has this, I-am-awesome-and-I-know it kind of aura about him, but not in a cocky way, but these are just the facts kind of way.  I can't explain it, but he was just really great.

He taught the seminar, obviously, and two of Fabio's regular classes afterward.  He is leaving tomorrow morning at 8 AM.  I can honestly say I am going to miss him. I can NOT wait until next year!

My favorite thing I learned from him is this froward shoulder roll from top half guard that lands you with your opponent's back.  I love it.  A lot of the other techniques he showed revolved around getting to the back or attacking the back... which I really appreciated because, that is my favorite place to be.  Now I know 3 or 4 new ways to get there.

 I can totally see where Fabio gets his style of teaching.  I could see a lot of Fabio's style in Saporito, and it was really neat to see first hand where Fabio comes from.... well, where Fabio's BJJ comes from anyway.

Even off the mat he was a really great guy.  I take my kids to the day time classes, and he was really nice to them, played with them, and even let Zaile play with his belt!  I took pictures.  hehe

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

Marcelo Saporito!

He is doing a seminar at Fabio's this weekend.  I am really excited.  It will be my first seminar.

He is a black belt under Carlson Gracie, Sr.  He is/was Fabio's instructor.

I met him Wednesday night.  He was just hanging out during class.

I knew who he was the second I walked into the office, but he totally caught me off guard.  He looked like a super normal guy... save the grim reaper tattooed on the back of his neck.  He doesn't speak much English, but he was very nice and told me I looked like Kyra Gracie.  (LOL!)

I don't have any classes between now and the seminar, so hopefully my brain will make some room for a new technique or two.  Gushing about the seminar to follow.  =)

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.