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Well my team rocked it at the tournament yesterday! Everyone placed 1st or second in their divisions!

I was a bit worried about the weigh ins since I wasn’t able to weigh myself before we left – need to get a scale! But I weighed in at 132 (needed to be under 135, was 140) so it was all good! I was expecting a weight cut to be much worse than it actually was. I had one water bottle to sip on if I got too miserable, and a couple handfuls of frozen grapes to keep blood sugars even. Then after weigh ins, I munched on fruit, oatmeal, water, and a protein shake for the next several hours.

Didn’t get jitters as badly this time! Barely had any actually – I was more pumped than anything! I got put in the novice category since I have had under 6 months of training.

I decided to do no gi as a “warm up” before the gi competition started. I had one match and this is how it went:

Jumped guard and pulled her down.

Don’t know any front choke attacks in no gi, so I went after her arms which she was nicely bracing on the mat for me.

Went a kimura, then ghost arm bar on her left arm, which she defended well.

A few seconds of her trying to open my guard.

Her right arm slipped to the mat and I locked in a kimura.

I heard my coach hollering to “open your guard and swing your left leg up over her shoulder!”

She suddenly starts screaming “tap!” While I hear her elbow popping.

Time elapsed: 1:02

I felt kind of bad for that elbow, she said she was tapping before I swung my leg over, but her other arm was under me and I didn’t feel it. But it’s a hazard of the game I guess – and she’ll be ok. Coach said it’s her fault for not tapping sooner or louder.

They moved me out of the novice ranks for the gi competition – I guess breaking your opponents is grounds for moving up in the ranks!

My coach approved my game plan which was: pull guard, get spider grips, go for a triangle. If triangle doesn’t work, go for sweep.

Worked like a charm in my first match. Not sure about the time but it seemed like less than my no gi fight.

Then I waited around for a battle for 1st place. Appears there were only 5 people in my weight class. Man we need more Jiu Jitsu girls!

Coach told me to use the same game plan in the next fight. She defended pretty well, but she was on the defense the whole time. Went to a ref’s decision and they gave it to me.

Coach says I made it a lot harder than necessary. My focus for the next few weeks is still gonna be sweeps. I had a tripod and ankle pick a few times and just didn’t recognize them.

All told, everyone on my team placed in their divisions – with a lot of 1st places being called out. Aaaaaaayyy! Coach was really proud of everyone! And I love my team!

I ended up coming home with double gold medals! Such a good feeling!

Next tournament is in 6 weeks. Doing the EGO in Nashville – and I’m gonna be a sweeping machine! I’m also gonna start doing the 3 classes in a row tue and thur night. Gi, no gi, then gi again. I figure that’ll help me get in better shape – and gonna start riding my bike to class. If I’m recovered enough, I’m gonna try the bike tomorrow morning.

Well, I made a small weight cut in the sauna this morning: cut from 139 to 135 in about an hour. Wasn’t planning on it, but a team mate was making a cut so I decided I would too so she’d have someone in the sauna with her. Figured I should experience it at least once.

Since then, I’ve done 2 1/2 hours of massage work on the energy provided by a handful of frozen grapes. I’m actually feeling pretty good! Thankfully I’ve done fasts for spiritual reasons pretty regularly, so my body adapts fairly well. (Extra sleep helps a LOT!)

I’m meeting coach at the gym tomorrow morning at 5. It’s a 3 hour drive to Memphis.

After weigh ins I’ll have several hours to chill so I’m bringing oatmeal and fruit so I can fuel up a bit.

Took it easy with the training since Tuesday – hope I do well!

Position this week is side control bottom. I didn’t roll this morning because I was the odd girl out in a class of big blue belts and new white belts. Coach promised to beat me up later anyhow.

At 5, I started out paired off with a large purple belt – who is also a black belt in Muy Thai and the head instructor. Felt like rolling with a mountain on top of me. Then went with a large immovable brown belt. I don’t think he knew what to do with me – he just sat there like a statue and wouldn’t look at me. Then went with the first guy again, followed by a smaller (exhausted) blue belt, and a small brown belt. Whew!

Normally I would rest after this, but they had odd numbers in the no gi class – so I somehow ended up joining that class as well.

Never done a no gi class before – we drilled how to properly bridge and crossface out of side control bottom. Then the sparring…

I think it went okay! Was working with my BBB for drilling and the first round of sparring. Next round was with another girl who is a bit larger than me and is very hostile since I got my 3rd stripe – it was smash city. I got a half guard lockdown but couldn’t budge her off my face – spent several minutes like that while she tried to pry her leg out. She took her frustrations out on the side of my face and neck. After about 2 mins I asked if she wanted to restart since we seemed to be stalled – she growled “no!” We were stuck like that until time was called. Hope coach promotes her so she stops being angry! She’s been training a year longer than me so she’s pissed that I outrank her (so says the other girl). Seriously though? We’re both still just white belt beginners – not that big of a deal!

Anyhow, went with a guy I hadn’t met before next. He said he has only been coming for a couple weeks, but he had a wrestler’s stance so I watched for the leg grab. He went for it in just a couple seconds and I wasn’t able to sprawl out – was able to flip to guard though! The rest of class was me holding a body triangle – beyond that I was lost.

My last round was with the girl I’ve been training with at 10. I ended up jumping guard and going from there.

At the 7:15 class I was pretty tired. It the last class for one of my training partners who is leaving for L.A. – pretty sad to see her go! We drilled re-guarding from half guard bottom then hopped to rolling.

Did a couple rounds with my soon-to-be-gone training partner. Man gonna miss rolling with her! I did my next round with one of our purple belts who was lecturing me. I needed it too! Think that’s the hardest I’ve fought to stay on top so far – he told me “Tired is just in your head, you’re not tired, keep moving!”

Last round I jumped on coach. He was going after wrist locks to distract me from moving. I kept telling myself “I’m not tired! Now move!” He said I was doing really well at making space and getting my legs into position. Told me I’m gonna tear it up in Memphis.

Talked with the Muy Thai instructor after class – wanted to pick his brain. He said I was really doing well at making space – he had to crush the air out of me because it was the only way he could keep me still. Told me to work on sweeps.

I’m gonna start joining the cardio kickboxing class in the mornings when no one shows up for gi classes. Figure it’ll help build my endurance! Gonna start riding the bike to class next week as well – gonna wait until after the tournament since I figure I’ll be sore for a while from that (10 miles each way)

Yesterday we didn’t have class at 6:30 and I had to be at work at 12 – so I went in at 10 to train no gi with the fight camp.

The gal I train no gi with has her mma fight next saturday. She’ll be doing 3, 3 minute rounds – so we did 5, 3 minute rounds with one minute rest in between.

My purpose here is to keep her moving and fighting the whole time. Normally I’m trying to conserve energy when I roll – only using just enough. I cranked it up pretty close to max intensity and went all out.

She would absolutely destroy me in a striking battle, but our ground games are pretty well matched. Normally if I have someone in my guard I rest a bit, since I’m pretty secure in my guard – but not this time. I imagined her pummeling from my guard so focused on keeping her broken down to where she wouldn’t be able to strike.

All told, she’s gonna shred her opponent! Can’t wait to hear about it!

I’ve gotten a lot out of it as well – got my NAGA tournament next Saturday, and I decided to enter no gi as well as gi. Told her if I do well in no gi, it’s thanks to her!

My contract I signed with my gym is now expired, and coach made me up an auto-renewing yearly agreement that’ll cost 20 bucks less a month. He made the comment that I’ll probably get my black belt from him in a few years anyhow.

Had a talk with my big ol ufc teddy bear friend. In the last 6 months I’ve lost enough inches around my waist that my pants won’t stay up. Yet, I haven’t dropped any weight. He said that’s excellent – means I’m cutting fat and adding muscle. Problem being, I’m running out of places to cut from to make lightweight. I can’t do water cuts because my sodium levels tend to go haywire and try to shut down my central nervous system.

He suggested instead of cutting, why not just up my strength and agility – then I could be the small, wirey person in the weight class. Gotta say, that does appeal more to me. Anytime I get below 140 I feel like poop on a stick.

Speaking of poop on a stick, I think I caught a slight bug. Woke up this morning and my throat is raw and swollen – guess that explains why I’ve been so tired the last couple days. I always get sleepy when I’m fighting off a sickness – usually I’m able to sleep it off. Good thing it’s the weekend!

Again, just the big guys at 10 again – so I watched until gi class started at 11:30.

We drilled a simple sweep from closed guard – it’d be a great one to demoralize your opponent with how easy it was. Then we rolled a bit. We had odd numbers and not too many appropriate sparring partners for me, so I got two good rolls in then sat out.

One of the guys I went with is a very large (200 lb) blue belt – one of the few big guys I feel safe rolling with. He’s very technical and I just learned he’s a Sambo guy as well. I also just learned that he’s moving out of state – very sad. He did, however, promise to teach me some cool leg tricks before he leaves!

Class at 5 was fairly small. I teamed up with one of the purple belts and we practiced another sweep from an open spider/de la riva guard. It was cool, although I like the one I learned tuesday better!

He mopped the mat with me when we started rolling. I did actually make an attempt at a takedown. Didn’t work, but I tried! He got me with a pretty solid kimura. I tapped, then asked him what I could have done to get out. He said I could turn onto that arm – I’d be giving up my back, but it would be better than tapping. Live another few seconds!

We had another girl in class so I went with her next. She’s just coming back from a torn pectoral muscle. A minute into it, she tweaked it so we stopped and I put some tiger balm on it for her. She took a break for the rest of the round.

Next I got to play with my BBB. We went for two rounds and he was really going after my left arm – I must have been waving it in his face or something. Anyhow, he finally got it – so he was happy!

At 7:15 we went over a fun sweep from guard when they manage to open your guard while sitting and get a knee up in the center. Loved that one!

There were two other girls in class today. And we all had non-standard issue gi colors. Pink, bright yellow, and I sported lavender. We’re on our way to a power rangers team!

Odd numbers in class, so coach joined the fun and tossed me around for a bit. He said it’s hard to keep me still without using pressure – good thing! Then he decided to try choking me with my belt – I told him “no!” He got me pretty tired! He proclaimed himself winner but I told him he can’t prove that without video footage.

I went with one of the girls after that. She’s larger than me, so she squished me pretty well. However, thanks to patience, I managed to get her with a cross choke.

Went with the other girl afterwards. She’s closer to my size so we got to move around a bit more. Got her with the cross choke pretty quickly, then managed to play top for the rest of the round.

Both of the girls started before I did. One 6 months, the other 1 1/2 years. So I was pleased with myself.

Sleep time! Just one more week of training before NAGA! Yay!

Position of the week is guard bottom. So I’ll be getting plenty of practice in with sweeps! Yay!

Yesterday I watched the guys roll at 10, then played a bit at 11:30. Learned a sick spider guard sweep that I am definitely putting in my tool belt! Got to roll with one of our purple belts (who is heading off to Worlds!), and it was fun! I managed to get him off base a couple of times – which gave me a confidence boost. Just need to start popping up faster once I get a sweep!

The other guys in class were big white/blue belts – and we had odd numbers – so I sat out. Then coach motioned me over and tossed me around for a few minutes. Made him laugh a few times – which means I was doing well.

At 5:00, I got one round in and then sat out – again, odd numbers and no one seemed inclined to play with me. However, my thursday BBF came today and rolled around with me on the side while the no gi class was going on. Caused a bit of commotion because he had MRSA last week, but the doc cleared him – so I’m not too worried.

The kineseotape worked it’s way off my knees during rolling. I guess the combination of 90+ degrees, high humidity, constant friction, and rivers of sweat was just too much for it. Gonna go back to my old brand – it stayed on better.

At 7:15 we drilled the same spider guard sweep – for about 30 mins. I’ll be doing that one in my sleep! Because of the knees, and a severe blood sugar crash, I (once again) sat out from rolling. Need to buy some fruit to carry with me!

I broke down and bought a lightweight knee brace last night to try out. It really does help! Gonna get another one for the other knee.

I went in this morning at 6:30 and found two new white belts from a school in Clarksville. Sounds like they are gonna be regulars during the summer! Yay!

We drilled a tripod, and a sickle sweep from an open guard. I’m really focusing on coming up on top after sweeping – think it’s gonna pay off soon!

At 10 I was official timekeeper for the guys again. We’re getting pretty close to their fights! I was given a hard time for not yelling the time very loudly – coach is threatening to call me “Hooks”. It’s a movie reference that they had to explain to me. I could dig it!

The 11:30 intro class was once again full of big new white belts (imagine that!) So I just headed home to rest a bit before work. Live to fight another day!

Since the gym is closed on Monday for Memorial Day, I went in yesterday for a roll. I don’t usually go in on Saturday, but figured may as well!

Got to roll around with a jet lagged purple belt who just got in from Israel. Jet lagged or not, he still kicked my butt royally.

I’ve been having a bunch of mini breakthroughs in the last few weeks. Been doing a lot less scrambling and a lot more thinking. I’m starting be able to anticipate what someone is going to do – just a little bit, but I’m starting! I wasn’t so sure about spider guard, but (of course) coach was right – it works well for me.

I have my first NAGA tournament on June 9th. Not gonna lie, I’m a bit nervous. I know that no matter how I do, the only thing that could disappoint my team or coach would be for me to quit. Since that’s not gonna happen, that leaves me with just my own self.

It’s stupid really. Yet another thing to just “get over.”

Anyhow, my boss is awesome and gave me every day off I requested in order to do tournaments! Here’s what I got:

June 9 – NAGA Memphis
July 21 – EGO Nashville
August 18 – IBJJFO Chicago
September 15 – TN State Championship
October 13 – NAGA St. Louis
November 17 – NAGA Nashville
December 1 – NAGA Atlanta

I figure that should get me primed for Pan Ams next year. Thankfully, I’ve been assured that once I do Pan Ams, I’ll never get the jitters in competition again (unless I do Worlds). On the other hand, I’ve also been assured that no amount of small tournament “warm ups” will help me not be nervous as Pan Ams.

As long as I have my team mates, I’ll be all right!

Got to drill a full on bravo choke this morning at 6:30. I’ve almost gotten that one a few times live – but it just didn’t flow as easily as it should have. So it was nice to get some correction!

At 10 I got to do some no gi training with our mma girl. Normally I trade off rolling with one of our smaller guys, but he wasn’t there today. So it was just me and her. Good news is that my arms didn’t get so tired this time – I think this no gi stuff is really building some muscle endurance. I should try taking a no gi class or two so maybe I’ll get some ideas of what in the world to do when I can’t wrap someone up with their gi!

After an hour of that, I had no energy left for the 11:30 class – so I went to eat Thai food and take a nap before my 5:00 massage client arrived.

I’m thinking of training a bit tomorrow. Normally I take Saturdays off but the gym is closed on Monday. Think I’ll just wait and see what time I wake up!

So was pretty surprised, but coach gave me my 3rd belt stripe after today’s 11:30 class! I was told it’s usually 4-6 months between stripes – so I must be doing something right!

Anyhow, back to business.

Just watched again at 10. At 11:30 we drilled a gi choke from side control top. It felt pretty rusty until one of our purple belts smoothed it out for me – then it was slick!

Rolled a couple of rounds. My last roll was with my purple belt spider guard friend. I did all right, he let me play around and move. One thing I’ve had happening is people just lying on their sides to keep me from playing spider guard. I asked him about this and he said to just come up and take mount since they’re asking for it and saving me the trouble of sweeping them.

Line up, third stripe for Nicholle, yay/pats on back, moving on.

Went back at 5 for some more rolling. I got beat up pretty thoroughly. One of our very energetic blue belts kept me moving for a couple rounds. Then I got snagged by a brown belt instructor and was shredded finely. Man I was tired after that!

I managed to tweak my left knee a bit, so I took the time between classes to (once again) kinesiotape my knee. Also downed some partially frozen gatorade – yummy!

At 7:15 we drilled a fun counter from side control top – if they manage to get all the way on their side, it’s a slick spin to flatten them out from the other side.

Had a couple fun rolls! Went with the same energetic blue belt again – managed to keep him at bay for a little while before he managed to smash pass me. Finished off with one of our purple belts who is off to IBJJF Worlds next week. He’s a Judo fiend and is REALLY good at playing with body weight. I think that’s the hardest he has rolled with me so far! Twas fun! Afterwards, he admonished me “use your weight more!” Normally I’d retort “what weight” – but he weighs the same as me, so I could only nod. If he can do it, so can I!

We had a blue belt test at the end of class. Two new blue belts in the ranks. Aaaaaayyyyy!

Our girl mma fighter made it to team training at 10, so I got to take turns with her. Gotta say, our last round was probably our best ever! Wish we had taken video of it! When they called time, we both popped up and in unison hollered “that was awesome!”

At 11:30 I teamed up with a purple belt instructor from Murfreesboro. It was great fun drilling and then rolling a bit. He got me with a pretty mean wrist lock which I, of course, gave him a hard time about – after my eyes had stopped watering.

I had some good rolls at 5. Got beat up by a brown belt, purple, and a couple of our more controlled blues.

Got to play against a spider guard for a change – it was the purple belt who taught me some tricks last week. I kept my base low and managed to avoid his sweeps for several minutes, then he got me with a really simple one that made my brain say “Du-oh!”

Let’s see, one of the blue belts got me with a kimura several times. He told me that’s what I get for putting my hand on the mat. Got spun upside-down a few times – getting fairly comfortable with that!

I came prepared with muscle milk for refueling – but ended up not joining the 7:15 class. It was mainly large white belts whom I didn’t know – so I figured I’d just go home and rest some instead. 6:30 comes early!