I have not missed a single class unless I was forced to, against my will.
Tonight, I am not going by my own choosing, and it is making me miserable. Well, more miserable.
I am sick.
I'm not super sick, but I am an achy kind of sick, and every single one of my little injuries feels flared up... and my non-injured joints ache a bit. So, grappling right now would just be stupid. I would go and watch, but I would have to bring my kids tonight....so I might not even get to pay attention. So, to avoid what could be just an annoying evening, I am going to stay at home, go to bed early and hope I feel better in the morning.
I am so bummed. I have been looking more forward to grappling tonight then I have been in a long time.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
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.
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.
Friday, February 26, 2010
How to Drain Your Cauliflowering Ear - By Georgette Oden
Thanks Georgette for the how to on draining cauliflower ear!
"I used insulin needles. I went to Walgreens at the pharmacy counter and asked for the tiniest gauge needles they had; a sack of 10 syringes with super-teeny needles was like $2.50.
I also bought a box of alcohol pads that happened to have anesthetic in there too. (No harm in being a pain-weenie.)
I carefuly wiped all around the inside and outside of my ear and let the pad sit for a minute or so on the place where the fluid was filled up, so the novacaine could soak in if it was going to. (As it turns out, it doesn't numb your ear, at least not that I could feel. But the needle prick isn't all that painful either.)
Depending where the fluid pocket is, you'll need to play around with where to stick the needle. Pull all your hair back and use bobby pins so you have a very clear view and do this in front of your bathroom mirror. Take all the protective caps off the syringe, needle-end and plunger-end. Work the plunger in and out a little bit so it doesn't stick, and I left the plunger out about .5cc so there was some airspace the fluid could flow into.
You'll want to put the needle in all the way, and have the tip of the needle in the middle of the deepest part of the fluid. The hardest part is actually penetrating your skin (the top layer is tough!) Sometimes, just getting into the ear is enough to get the blood/fluid draining. Sometimes, you need to get the needle in and then pull the plunger back bit by bit.
If nothing at all comes into the chamber when you pull the plunger a bit, you may need to change the angle of the needle relative to the pocket of fluid, or maybe pull the needle out a tiny bit to get less deeply into the pocket, or ick, you may need to change where you pierce the skin entirely.
Sad to say, you'll get a good feel for that particular pocket over the next day or two, and you'll find a place and angle that reliably works. That one "stick site" will become sore but the feeling of relief and the lack of vegetableness of your ear will be worth it.
FYI-- sometimes, the fluid is bloody (even really dark red) and sometimes it's clear-yellow serum. Usually, it starts out with a droplet of blood- then a bunch of serum- then the tail end of that draw will be blood, which actually looks pretty cool as it swirls into the serum. Sorry, I guess I'm twisted.
Make sure you use an alcohol pad to pinch against the stick site again, and hold it tightly for a minute or so to stop any residual bleeding. Also make sure you bend the needle back (pressing it against the floor or a hard nonscratch surface) and then re-cap it so no one can reuse it." - http://georgetteoden.blogspot.com/2010/02/how-to-drain-your-cauliflowering-ear.html
"I used insulin needles. I went to Walgreens at the pharmacy counter and asked for the tiniest gauge needles they had; a sack of 10 syringes with super-teeny needles was like $2.50.
I also bought a box of alcohol pads that happened to have anesthetic in there too. (No harm in being a pain-weenie.)
I carefuly wiped all around the inside and outside of my ear and let the pad sit for a minute or so on the place where the fluid was filled up, so the novacaine could soak in if it was going to. (As it turns out, it doesn't numb your ear, at least not that I could feel. But the needle prick isn't all that painful either.)
Depending where the fluid pocket is, you'll need to play around with where to stick the needle. Pull all your hair back and use bobby pins so you have a very clear view and do this in front of your bathroom mirror. Take all the protective caps off the syringe, needle-end and plunger-end. Work the plunger in and out a little bit so it doesn't stick, and I left the plunger out about .5cc so there was some airspace the fluid could flow into.
You'll want to put the needle in all the way, and have the tip of the needle in the middle of the deepest part of the fluid. The hardest part is actually penetrating your skin (the top layer is tough!) Sometimes, just getting into the ear is enough to get the blood/fluid draining. Sometimes, you need to get the needle in and then pull the plunger back bit by bit.
If nothing at all comes into the chamber when you pull the plunger a bit, you may need to change the angle of the needle relative to the pocket of fluid, or maybe pull the needle out a tiny bit to get less deeply into the pocket, or ick, you may need to change where you pierce the skin entirely.
Sad to say, you'll get a good feel for that particular pocket over the next day or two, and you'll find a place and angle that reliably works. That one "stick site" will become sore but the feeling of relief and the lack of vegetableness of your ear will be worth it.
FYI-- sometimes, the fluid is bloody (even really dark red) and sometimes it's clear-yellow serum. Usually, it starts out with a droplet of blood- then a bunch of serum- then the tail end of that draw will be blood, which actually looks pretty cool as it swirls into the serum. Sorry, I guess I'm twisted.
Make sure you use an alcohol pad to pinch against the stick site again, and hold it tightly for a minute or so to stop any residual bleeding. Also make sure you bend the needle back (pressing it against the floor or a hard nonscratch surface) and then re-cap it so no one can reuse it." - http://georgetteoden.blogspot.com/2010/02/how-to-drain-your-cauliflowering-ear.html
Thursday, February 25, 2010
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.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
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!
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!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Cauliflower ear .... ?
I talked to someone this weekend about cauliflower ear.
He said his got worse when he wore the ear protection because it was constantly rubbing his ear a little bit vs the random banging while grappling... well, wrestling in his case.
Now I don't know what I should do.
I am going to drain the little bit of fluid that is in my ear right now... Or I should say that Allie is going to do it for me. (Thanks girl! That's real love right there. lol)
So, does anyone have any input on cauliflower ear... Any tips on how to not let my ear get all Randy Couture?
Here is what it looks like right now... It's not bad yet. I doubt people would even notice unless I pointed it out, but still... I don't want it to get any worse. I have a weird shaped ear to begin with, so I circled the cauliflower-ing area... hehe (Warning: If you click the picture my face gets huge. lol)
He said his got worse when he wore the ear protection because it was constantly rubbing his ear a little bit vs the random banging while grappling... well, wrestling in his case.
Now I don't know what I should do.
I am going to drain the little bit of fluid that is in my ear right now... Or I should say that Allie is going to do it for me. (Thanks girl! That's real love right there. lol)
So, does anyone have any input on cauliflower ear... Any tips on how to not let my ear get all Randy Couture?
Here is what it looks like right now... It's not bad yet. I doubt people would even notice unless I pointed it out, but still... I don't want it to get any worse. I have a weird shaped ear to begin with, so I circled the cauliflower-ing area... hehe (Warning: If you click the picture my face gets huge. lol)
Friday, February 19, 2010
Injury updates
My left wrist seems to be fine. I have not worn my wrist brace to class in about two weeks, and it has given me no trouble. Yay!
The left side of my rib cage is still sensitive to pressure, and aches when I pull anything with my left arm, but it is manageable. Not that there is anything I could do about it anyway.... but this is pretty much how it has been since I popped my rib in the first place. It's always been a little sensitive to pressure, but the generally achiness comes and goes.
My toe is still broken, or jammed or whatever it is. It hurts to walk without tape, and it hurts to bend it downward period.... and I can not bend it downward with out physically pushing it down with my hand. I might go to the doctor just to make sure it's not too mangled. But, I am able to grapple with it... I just have to be careful.
And my gi burn is still disgusting. I have to keep it wrapped up when I grapple because it leaks and bleeds, so it has yet to scab over. It doesn't hinder my ankle's range of motion anymore...it used to sting when I would turn my ankle.. Obviously it still hurts when someone grabs a hold of it... and it is in a really nice spot for grabbing and holding. lol But I don't grapple on Fridays so, I am going to let it get some air and hopefully a scab.
So, all and all, I feel pretty good.
Except for the fact that I think I might be starting to get a little tiny bit of CAULIFLOWER EAR!
Gaaah!!
Ear protection here I come.
The left side of my rib cage is still sensitive to pressure, and aches when I pull anything with my left arm, but it is manageable. Not that there is anything I could do about it anyway.... but this is pretty much how it has been since I popped my rib in the first place. It's always been a little sensitive to pressure, but the generally achiness comes and goes.
My toe is still broken, or jammed or whatever it is. It hurts to walk without tape, and it hurts to bend it downward period.... and I can not bend it downward with out physically pushing it down with my hand. I might go to the doctor just to make sure it's not too mangled. But, I am able to grapple with it... I just have to be careful.
And my gi burn is still disgusting. I have to keep it wrapped up when I grapple because it leaks and bleeds, so it has yet to scab over. It doesn't hinder my ankle's range of motion anymore...it used to sting when I would turn my ankle.. Obviously it still hurts when someone grabs a hold of it... and it is in a really nice spot for grabbing and holding. lol But I don't grapple on Fridays so, I am going to let it get some air and hopefully a scab.
So, all and all, I feel pretty good.
Except for the fact that I think I might be starting to get a little tiny bit of CAULIFLOWER EAR!
Gaaah!!
Ear protection here I come.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)