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Some guy brought his chiro into the gym on Saturday to give free adjustments. Of course, I jumped on that! Found out too late that the guy is an idiot. Now my ribs are jacked up – can’t bend, inhale deeply, or take any pressure. He messed up a few of the guys as well and now, even the most peaceful among us wants to injure this guy.

This chiro dude claimed to be my coach’s chiro, and coach is furious – as he’d never heard of the guy. Coach hooked me up with his actual chiro – got me an appointment for tomorrow morning. He’s gonna x-ray and see what exactly this creep did to me.

At any rate, I haven’t been able to roll this week. Barely able to drill really. Did get to do some light, very limited, rolling today with one of our small brown belts. Made me feel alive!

I did learn a lot watching class tonight though. Watching everyone else getting yelled at to “hip escape” really helped some of my brain cells click. Can’t wait to try rolling again! I’m gonna try to obey what the doc tells me tomorrow. Hope it’s fixable!

Thursday:
At 11:30 we had a HUGE class. Drilled the same half guard pass that we did yesterday – nice to get more reps in with that one. I even managed to do all right with it live! Yay! I was planning to sit out from rolling since we had odd numbers and lots of big white belts – but I managed to snag two smaller guys for a couple of rounds. Yay!

Went back that evening at 5 for sparring. I managed to get a deep half guard locked in – haven’t used that one for a while. The guy was perfectly happy to sit on top of me until I bumped him up and shot my hand under to grab the back of his gi. It’s very satisfying to get an involuntary “oh shit!” Out of your sparring partner.

The last 3 rounds I did in class were pretty rough! I had sweat pouring into my eyes and had to keep my eyes closed, and I gassed pretty hard. Vision was going gray and could hardly stand – but I made it through and didn’t quit! Success! So glad I had my oatmeal and recovery powder stuffs with me!

By the time 7:15 came around, I was feeling recharged and ready to roll. Coincidentally, we worked on the coolest counters for deep half guard! One was a nasty shoulder lock for if they hook your foot; the other, a back take for if they keep their knees together. It was awesome!

Sparred some more, had fun! Got aggressively straight ankle locked by someone a bit overzealous, I had to ice when I got home.

Coach rolled a bit with me. He started by saying “oh this is gonna be easy! I just nudge you and you’ll dump yourself on your butt!” Of course, than meant I had to stay off my butt! Did ok for a couple mins – then, of course, I got dumped on my butt. At least I lasted longer than usual!

Friday:
I just went to the 6:30 class this morning. It was myself and a brand new white belt (2nd class). We drilled half guard smash pass, and the cut through. Coach “tossed me around” a bit more. He said it was a good warmup for him.

Got some warm fuzzies too! One of our purple belts (teaches Judo at another school) came in for a private lesson right at the end of class. Coach told him I’m “tough as shit” and that he’ll probably have to start using his weight on me when I reach purple belt – or maybe even blue. I asked him if I could just stay a white belt forever – he laughed. Don’t think I was taken very seriously.

I didn’t even have the energy to type up a post before crashing last night!

Tuesday was pretty tiring, started off with drilling class at 11:30. We were drilling the smash pass from half guard and I think I got that one down pretty well – needs a few thousand more reps but got a good start. I didn’t think I was using a whole ton of pressure, but my drilling partner said it was pretty incredible. I think when I sit out on one hip, with my knee in their hip, it really increases my leverage.

Rolled a couple rounds – and did really well! Managed to lock in a kimura from guard – he rolled around a bit, and I finished it as a mousetrap americana in mount.

Almost landed a triangle on another guy – he said he’s gonna have to go harder on me now. Eeep!

I decided I would ride my bicycle to class that evening. It’s an 8 mile, hilly ride – and I haven’t ridden a bike in over 12 years. It wasn’t a bad ride, although I did come into our tough sparring class with less than fresh legs.

Got very soundly beaten up. Highlight of the evening was being utterly smashed under one of our purple belts. He has been after me for giving up the bottom too easily. I promised I would never pull guard on him again. He replied “it’s not that you pulled guard. It’s that when I went down, you sat down too.” He proclaimed he hasn’t given up on me yet – which is very much appreciated. Don’t know what my mental problem is!

Ate oatmeal during no gi, then jumped into the 7:15 class. Did ok up until rolling time – I really did try my darndest to stay on top, but it just didn’t work. I got frustrated and had to walk off the mats and be done rolling for the night.

The bike ride home was extraordinarily long. Don’t think I’m gonna ride to evening classes again – that ride was just not safe!

Woke up Wed morning for 6:30 class and was not too sore! Apologized to coach for getting frustrated the night before “it happens” was his reply.

There were people in class! 4 white belts showed, and a blue belt came in late! Coach is really trying to build the early morning class up. We drilled a half guard pass for use when someone pops up a knee shield – I managed to get it live! Usually am not able to!

The soreness started kicking in a couple of hours later, so I skipped the 11:30 class in favor of a nap. Had a full schedule at work anyhow!

And that brings it all up to date. I’m gonna keep trying to play on top – eventually it’ll click! Most of the time I don’t even realize I’m in a dominant position, which makes it difficult to realize when I’m giving it up! Other times, I don’t think I have the move and give it up too soon. It’s just gonna take time – which sucks. I want everything now! Oh well – just means I’ll REALLY appreciate it once I do finally “get it”!

Well I overslept the 6:30 class this morning. Of course coach texted me to let me know that 3 people showed up for it. I just KNEW the one time I missed, someone would actually show up! Oh well.

Showed up at 10 and got my ass kicked by our brown belt instructor, then one of our “almost brown” purple belts. One of the guys took video with his ipad, so I get to relive it over and over again since he’s emailing it to me.

Basically, still need to work on my hip escaping from bottom. I downright suck at it! After getting beaten up soundly, I skipped the 11:30 class and went home to shower before work.

It was good! I need to get beaten up more! Eventually I’ll stop making the same mistakes over and over again.

This week’s goal: hip escape from bottom. I think I’ll try putting myself in bad positions just so I can practice getting out!

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!