So I feel old.
At least I feel old for beginning Brazilian Jujitsu. Now I am not claiming to be the oldest guy at the gym, and I KNOW I will have my cohort of over 30 friends telling me to shut it, but the amount of young guys (or kids) I train with is astounding.
I catch myself rationalizing when I watch fighters begin their MMA careers past 35 years old, but quickly realize most of the athletes who started MMA late were NASTY at some other athletic competition in a past life.
Now I was a 2 time (That's right folks 2 time) all-county badminton stud in high school, but that hardly qualifies me as having any type of background for what I am doing now.
But I figure I have a lot of youthful vibes going for me:
-I spend 6 hours a day with 24-seven year olds
-I rarely act my age
-I still get carded when buying booze
-I still have acne
-For christmas my parents bought me over 20 pro wrestling action figures (To be fair I did not ask for them)
-For christmas my wife bought me 4 WWF pillow wrestlers (ok.... I did ask for them)
I know there is more but let's try and keep some dignity shall we?
While I struggle with coming to grips with the sands of time slipping through the hour glass, I remember why I started this in the first place.
I began training as a way to celebrate a milestone year in my life. My 30th.
There is still a lot I want to accomplish throughout my time, but if I can keep the attitude that it is never to late to learn to read, well I have accomplished something significant now haven't I.
Wait something got lost in translation there... oh well.
Happy Reading,
Steve "Don't get choked out" Mahalic
I am turning 30 in a little over a year. As a celebration of this milestone, I am beginning to train in Jujitsu with the hopes that around the time of my 30th birthday I compete for the first time and.... "Don't Get Choked Out"
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
Progress?
So I have been neglecting my online record of my ninja training again, and I must apologize to my 7 fans out there.
This blog should have been written over a week ago.
It is a very exciting blog and while I have my pessimistic, self doubting theories, I am here to announce my first BJJ milestone.
I am a black belt.
That's right folks a black belt.
But to quote the words of one of Vince Vaughn's best roles to date Jeremy Grey of Wedding Crashers:
"Perhaps play a little game called "just the tip." Just for a second, just to see how it feels."
Yes I received my first black tip on my shiny white belt last week and I must say it was glorious.
On a side note, let me tell you why I am a messed up loser.
My first thoughts about reaching this accomplishment:
"This has to be solely based on the number of times I have come to the gym."
Immediately followed by,
"I don't deserve this yet."
But even with all my pessimistic fervor, I feel like a million bucks.
Mostly because it was completely unexpected. Now I HATE surprises as much as the next guy. But I also LOVE pleasant surprises as much as the next guy.
Now I am going to come clean and admit I have no real idea of how my gym ranks belts and promotions.
But I have to state the obvious that this means I am few short weeks away from becoming a killing machine.
Seriously though, this was a real spirit lifter. It was on a night where 13 guys were packed into the gym, and I have to say I was proud of myself. It was a nice reminder that I have made a commitment, and even though it has been a difficult journey I plan on seeing it through.
Below is a picture progression of your favorite killing machine's wifey photo shoot with newly acquired black tip! *Notice the sudden changes in behavior as the photo shoot progresses
Til next time,
Steve
This blog should have been written over a week ago.
It is a very exciting blog and while I have my pessimistic, self doubting theories, I am here to announce my first BJJ milestone.
I am a black belt.
That's right folks a black belt.
But to quote the words of one of Vince Vaughn's best roles to date Jeremy Grey of Wedding Crashers:
"Perhaps play a little game called "just the tip." Just for a second, just to see how it feels."
Yes I received my first black tip on my shiny white belt last week and I must say it was glorious.
On a side note, let me tell you why I am a messed up loser.
My first thoughts about reaching this accomplishment:
"This has to be solely based on the number of times I have come to the gym."
Immediately followed by,
"I don't deserve this yet."
But even with all my pessimistic fervor, I feel like a million bucks.
Mostly because it was completely unexpected. Now I HATE surprises as much as the next guy. But I also LOVE pleasant surprises as much as the next guy.
Now I am going to come clean and admit I have no real idea of how my gym ranks belts and promotions.
But I have to state the obvious that this means I am few short weeks away from becoming a killing machine.
Seriously though, this was a real spirit lifter. It was on a night where 13 guys were packed into the gym, and I have to say I was proud of myself. It was a nice reminder that I have made a commitment, and even though it has been a difficult journey I plan on seeing it through.
Below is a picture progression of your favorite killing machine's wifey photo shoot with newly acquired black tip! *Notice the sudden changes in behavior as the photo shoot progresses
Til next time,
Steve
 | ||||
| That's what you call a first tip! Looky Looky First Tip Everyone! OK, enough already.... Enough pictures Woman!!!! |
 |
| ARRRRHHHHH!(Sweet tip) |
Sunday, February 6, 2011
I suck at finishing (that's what she said)
"Does Steve Mahalic have to choke a bitch?"
Cause if so, he's screwed....
It's a Wednesday night and it iced and rained pretty bad Tuesday, so I am confident it will be a small class tonight. When I pull up to the gym and can't find parking I realize, I was wrong.
13 guys tonight crammed into a pretty small place can make for a frustrating night if you let it, and if you and your training partner don't gel well. I try and stay positive and I pair up with Charlie a familiar face. Charlie is yet another of the endless young guns at this gym. He is a few inches taller than I am, he doesn't say much, but I like training with him and he is comparable in size to me.
(This is key, because usually at the end of class, you will roll with your partner for at least a little while, and who wants to roll with a guy with 50 extra lbs of muscle? Yeah, yeah I remember the pep talk about "It will make me have better technique, but right now I just want to get through the basics without getting hurt by having a giant fall on me wrong)
First move of the night: Single leg take down defense
We learn a move while standing which is pretty new to me and very exciting to me.
What is way more exciting is the move is similar to a monkey flip like in Pro Wrestling.
Move set up:
While your opponent goes for your leg, you reach over his back and grab his belt, you then grab under his arm pit with your free arm hop forward with your free leg and basically sit down. When you sit he falls onto your legs and you kick him off to the side so you can get side control or mount. It is very judo-esk and I like it, and I am picking it up pretty quickly.
Tonight's Sensei are Billy and Matt. Both are awesome to work with, and are really committed to making us better. This is a quality I find in each Sensei I have trained with thus far, and it is totally refreshing and inspiring. They really want you to get the move and get better, which in turn makes you want to get it that much more.
Part two of the move:
So if you have been keeping up with my blog, you will see a trend in training routine. In simplest terms this is how class is broken down. Learn position, learn a way to finish from position, roll.
I am pretty good at the first part of class. I can get through all the mechanics of getting into a dominant position. And the third part of class I know I will get better with in time.
The part that I struggle mightily with at the present is the second part: Finishing an opponent.
Whether it be by choke or by arm bar, or by wedgie I am bad at finishing. I think this is partly due to the fact I have no experience in trying to choke a person or break their arm. It is also that the finish is the part of the move that is the hardest to instruct. Everything could look right to the trainers but if I am not putting the pressure in the right place the submission is ineffective. And for the life of me I can not (for lack of a better or more eloquent term) figure out how to choke a bitch (a la Wayne Brady).
Tonight's choke is one of dozens of variations of a Gi choke (We actually learn two variations tonight).
When you are attempting a Gi choke you usually are grabbing a part of their lapel close to their neck, and then grabbing something (anything else really) that completes the choke on the other side of the neck.
As usual I get everything down except for the most important part, the choke. Sensei Billy comes over to instruct, and shows me how easy it really is supposed to be. His chokes were effortless. I don't mean effortless as in he makes them look easy, and they are smooth. I literally mean EFFORTLESS. He looks like he is relaxing on the couch, but with everything in position he puts the slightest pressure on his choke and his training partner is tapping out faster than Samuel Morse (weak simile, I know).
Luckily, like I said earlier my trainers are their to make me better. Eventually I get the choke down. When it works, I must admit, it's awesome.
It will always intrigue me how much body positioning is crucial in pulling off submissions. Getting the move almost right is great, but if every limb has to be in a spot for a reason. Jujitsu is a very meticulous art in this sense. In a way it's like anything else but magnified. Let me explain, in golf you if you keep your head down, follow through the swing, keep your elbow in blah blah blah, and follow all these rules you will hit a good shot, forget one thing, you can still hit a good shot just not as good. When building a table if your measurements are off a touch, your table will still be a table, just not a perfect table.
In jujitsu it's a little different, everything can look right, and the move could LOOK like it will work, but if something is off (especially as a beginner) the submission or the sweep or the pass, or whatEVER you are trying to do won't work.
I would like to tell you when I finally got it, I had a light bulb moment. And to be perfectly honest, in the moment it felt like thatsensation. The sensation that you get when it all comes together,
That ohhhhhhhhhh, ok moment.
So I did have THAT feeling, which was cool, but I can not say it was a lightbulb moment, because even though I got it that time with Billy watching and assisting, I KNOW it a match I would not get it locked up. But that is what practice is for, and I am slowly learning this process takes time.
As much as you know it going in, and tell yourself that fact constantly, when you are doing it you WANT so BADLY for it to come faster than it inevitably does.
So with that being said my friends, I look forward to writing you more about when things actually DO all come together.
The good news is I can feel myself getting better. I am learning a lot. Wish me luck on being able to choke a bitch a la Mr. Brady (or anyone else for that matter).
Till next time,
Steve
P.S. My wife is at a baby shower so this post has been SELF edited. That basically means it is probably riddled with typos, so back off.
Cause if so, he's screwed....
It's a Wednesday night and it iced and rained pretty bad Tuesday, so I am confident it will be a small class tonight. When I pull up to the gym and can't find parking I realize, I was wrong.
13 guys tonight crammed into a pretty small place can make for a frustrating night if you let it, and if you and your training partner don't gel well. I try and stay positive and I pair up with Charlie a familiar face. Charlie is yet another of the endless young guns at this gym. He is a few inches taller than I am, he doesn't say much, but I like training with him and he is comparable in size to me.
(This is key, because usually at the end of class, you will roll with your partner for at least a little while, and who wants to roll with a guy with 50 extra lbs of muscle? Yeah, yeah I remember the pep talk about "It will make me have better technique, but right now I just want to get through the basics without getting hurt by having a giant fall on me wrong)
First move of the night: Single leg take down defense
We learn a move while standing which is pretty new to me and very exciting to me.
 |
| Kinda like this. |
Move set up:
While your opponent goes for your leg, you reach over his back and grab his belt, you then grab under his arm pit with your free arm hop forward with your free leg and basically sit down. When you sit he falls onto your legs and you kick him off to the side so you can get side control or mount. It is very judo-esk and I like it, and I am picking it up pretty quickly.
Tonight's Sensei are Billy and Matt. Both are awesome to work with, and are really committed to making us better. This is a quality I find in each Sensei I have trained with thus far, and it is totally refreshing and inspiring. They really want you to get the move and get better, which in turn makes you want to get it that much more.
Part two of the move:
So if you have been keeping up with my blog, you will see a trend in training routine. In simplest terms this is how class is broken down. Learn position, learn a way to finish from position, roll.
I am pretty good at the first part of class. I can get through all the mechanics of getting into a dominant position. And the third part of class I know I will get better with in time.
The part that I struggle mightily with at the present is the second part: Finishing an opponent.
 |
| Mr. Brady would definitely be better at a Gi choke than me presently. |
Tonight's choke is one of dozens of variations of a Gi choke (We actually learn two variations tonight).
When you are attempting a Gi choke you usually are grabbing a part of their lapel close to their neck, and then grabbing something (anything else really) that completes the choke on the other side of the neck.
As usual I get everything down except for the most important part, the choke. Sensei Billy comes over to instruct, and shows me how easy it really is supposed to be. His chokes were effortless. I don't mean effortless as in he makes them look easy, and they are smooth. I literally mean EFFORTLESS. He looks like he is relaxing on the couch, but with everything in position he puts the slightest pressure on his choke and his training partner is tapping out faster than Samuel Morse (weak simile, I know).
Luckily, like I said earlier my trainers are their to make me better. Eventually I get the choke down. When it works, I must admit, it's awesome.
It will always intrigue me how much body positioning is crucial in pulling off submissions. Getting the move almost right is great, but if every limb has to be in a spot for a reason. Jujitsu is a very meticulous art in this sense. In a way it's like anything else but magnified. Let me explain, in golf you if you keep your head down, follow through the swing, keep your elbow in blah blah blah, and follow all these rules you will hit a good shot, forget one thing, you can still hit a good shot just not as good. When building a table if your measurements are off a touch, your table will still be a table, just not a perfect table.
In jujitsu it's a little different, everything can look right, and the move could LOOK like it will work, but if something is off (especially as a beginner) the submission or the sweep or the pass, or whatEVER you are trying to do won't work.
I would like to tell you when I finally got it, I had a light bulb moment. And to be perfectly honest, in the moment it felt like thatsensation. The sensation that you get when it all comes together,
That ohhhhhhhhhh, ok moment.
So I did have THAT feeling, which was cool, but I can not say it was a lightbulb moment, because even though I got it that time with Billy watching and assisting, I KNOW it a match I would not get it locked up. But that is what practice is for, and I am slowly learning this process takes time.
As much as you know it going in, and tell yourself that fact constantly, when you are doing it you WANT so BADLY for it to come faster than it inevitably does.
So with that being said my friends, I look forward to writing you more about when things actually DO all come together.
The good news is I can feel myself getting better. I am learning a lot. Wish me luck on being able to choke a bitch a la Mr. Brady (or anyone else for that matter).
Till next time,
Steve
P.S. My wife is at a baby shower so this post has been SELF edited. That basically means it is probably riddled with typos, so back off.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Week wrap up: To tell my class or not to tell my class. Also Rolling sucks.
This week was a Tuesday, Saturday week for me.
I had to scale down my training to twice a week because unfortunately I have responsibilities outside of BJJ. Lesson 1 this week:
For the forseeable future, I will look like I am leaving work to go to fight club. The first two bruises on my face I did not capture on picture (and they were MUCH worse).
I didn't take pictures of them because I thought they may be aberrations and not the norm. As I am quickly finding out, bruises are par for the course, even on my face. Below is a small sample of some fresh and some healing bruises around my body since I have started:
I had some neck and chest bruises on film too but they are healing nicely and don't really come up great on camera. Anytime I get a blog worthy bruise I'll try and post it.
Getting beat up is not the hard part for me. I mean I have an older brother who is 7 years older, so it was NEVER a fair fight, and most of my friends are gargantuan so I've been beat up my whole life. The hard part is that I am a teacher of 7 year old children and I don't want to set any sort of bad example. And once I got that first very noticeable bruise on my face, I knew my exceptionally observant students would question me.
The question is how would I respond?
At first I thought, I would say I got the bruise from playing basketball. But in the end I decided to tell them the truth. My favorite teachers in my lifetime treated us as people first and students second. They never patronized or talked down, I try and model myself after them the best I can.
Sure enough one of my best and brightest noticed my face before I even told them to line up to come to the classroom. I explained my whole story,
"As you know class Mr. M just celebrated a birthday. Who remembers how old I turned? They knew.
Thats right! 29. What comes after 29 class? They knew. That's right 30! Well to make his 30th birthday a special one Mr. M decided to challenge himself to try something new......" and the rest is history.
They were surprisingly satisfied with my answer and not too inquisitive which was great because the last thing I wanted to do is waste class time on my training. I am worried though that if I keep coming to work with my face all bruised up that I will not look very professional.
Second lesson I learned this week: Rolling sucks, and I suck at rolling.
So here's the deal. I got lucky my first few times rolling. The more I rolled the LESS successful I have become and I am starting to understand (for me at least) this is going to be the norm for a while.
I have NO experience in combative sports (wrestling, martial arts, etc.) and most of these guys have been training for 6 months to 3 years and have some other background. Even though I am game during our rolling sessions and I put up a good fight, and show some technique, ultimately I am submitted or lose my position. I would think I am the perfect sparring partner for the more advanced white belts. I am someone who tries really hard, but is incompetent, a real live tackling dummy. Someone to practice moves on without fear of reversal because of my lack of knowledge. This is my fate for at least a few more months, especially since I am only training twice a week. I am trying to come to terms with it.
It is exceptionally difficult to come to grips with giving your all in something and failing and not understanding how to fix it or what you are doing wrong. This is why rolling sucks.
I look forward to the day when things begin to click more and I write to you all gloating about how I actually used the techniques I have learned to win rolling sessions.
The best way I can explain it is this.
We practice the move of the night over and over. Just when you feel like you are comfortable with it, you learn part two, usually a way to submit. Just when you feel comfortable putting those pieces together, you roll at 100 percent and are supposed to "practice" the moves you just learned.
This is not only easier said than done, but when you are a rookie, nearly impossible.
You practice the moves at 5 percent speed. When you roll, you go ALL out. You do not have time to sit and think what is the next step. Everytime we roll my mind goes blank. I am sure I go back into terrible form and survival mode and I feel like I get systematically taken apart until I lose position or get tapped out.
I know that the more I train the more comfortable I will get with this, but right now,
Rolling Sucks.
I had to scale down my training to twice a week because unfortunately I have responsibilities outside of BJJ. Lesson 1 this week:
For the forseeable future, I will look like I am leaving work to go to fight club. The first two bruises on my face I did not capture on picture (and they were MUCH worse).
I didn't take pictures of them because I thought they may be aberrations and not the norm. As I am quickly finding out, bruises are par for the course, even on my face. Below is a small sample of some fresh and some healing bruises around my body since I have started:
 |
| Under eye cut, smile mark cut. |
 | |
| This one hurt like a mofo. Not great pic of elbow bruise from take down drills. |
 |
| Old bicep bruise. My biceps get the MOST bruises. |
 |
| Another old Bicep bruise |
I had some neck and chest bruises on film too but they are healing nicely and don't really come up great on camera. Anytime I get a blog worthy bruise I'll try and post it.
Getting beat up is not the hard part for me. I mean I have an older brother who is 7 years older, so it was NEVER a fair fight, and most of my friends are gargantuan so I've been beat up my whole life. The hard part is that I am a teacher of 7 year old children and I don't want to set any sort of bad example. And once I got that first very noticeable bruise on my face, I knew my exceptionally observant students would question me.
The question is how would I respond?
At first I thought, I would say I got the bruise from playing basketball. But in the end I decided to tell them the truth. My favorite teachers in my lifetime treated us as people first and students second. They never patronized or talked down, I try and model myself after them the best I can.
Sure enough one of my best and brightest noticed my face before I even told them to line up to come to the classroom. I explained my whole story,
"As you know class Mr. M just celebrated a birthday. Who remembers how old I turned? They knew.
Thats right! 29. What comes after 29 class? They knew. That's right 30! Well to make his 30th birthday a special one Mr. M decided to challenge himself to try something new......" and the rest is history.
They were surprisingly satisfied with my answer and not too inquisitive which was great because the last thing I wanted to do is waste class time on my training. I am worried though that if I keep coming to work with my face all bruised up that I will not look very professional.
Second lesson I learned this week: Rolling sucks, and I suck at rolling.
So here's the deal. I got lucky my first few times rolling. The more I rolled the LESS successful I have become and I am starting to understand (for me at least) this is going to be the norm for a while.
I have NO experience in combative sports (wrestling, martial arts, etc.) and most of these guys have been training for 6 months to 3 years and have some other background. Even though I am game during our rolling sessions and I put up a good fight, and show some technique, ultimately I am submitted or lose my position. I would think I am the perfect sparring partner for the more advanced white belts. I am someone who tries really hard, but is incompetent, a real live tackling dummy. Someone to practice moves on without fear of reversal because of my lack of knowledge. This is my fate for at least a few more months, especially since I am only training twice a week. I am trying to come to terms with it.
It is exceptionally difficult to come to grips with giving your all in something and failing and not understanding how to fix it or what you are doing wrong. This is why rolling sucks.
I look forward to the day when things begin to click more and I write to you all gloating about how I actually used the techniques I have learned to win rolling sessions.
The best way I can explain it is this.
We practice the move of the night over and over. Just when you feel like you are comfortable with it, you learn part two, usually a way to submit. Just when you feel comfortable putting those pieces together, you roll at 100 percent and are supposed to "practice" the moves you just learned.
This is not only easier said than done, but when you are a rookie, nearly impossible.
You practice the moves at 5 percent speed. When you roll, you go ALL out. You do not have time to sit and think what is the next step. Everytime we roll my mind goes blank. I am sure I go back into terrible form and survival mode and I feel like I get systematically taken apart until I lose position or get tapped out.
I know that the more I train the more comfortable I will get with this, but right now,
Rolling Sucks.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Ugh
So I only trained one time this week, and I feel like a waste of space.
Between the snow and work it was a rough week, but I can't help but feel like I am WASTING money!
I will get back on that horse next week. Monday, Tuesday, Friday.
I expect all of you to get on me about it too, if I don't follow through!
Talk to you all next week!
Steve
Between the snow and work it was a rough week, but I can't help but feel like I am WASTING money!
I will get back on that horse next week. Monday, Tuesday, Friday.
I expect all of you to get on me about it too, if I don't follow through!
Talk to you all next week!
Steve
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Friday night 's alright for fighting
So I have decided Friday night's are going to be my favorite night for Jujitsu for two primary reasons:
First, less guys show up. Why is this great. Again a matter of simple math.
Less guys rolling means the Sensei has his eyes on me more.
More instruction, more correction, get better faster.
Second, one of the few blackbelt Sensei will be instructing on Fridays.
Blackbelts are better than brownbelts or bluebelts.
Move of the night:
So tonight I trained with a guy named Matt. College kid, and former high school wrestler, got probably 40 or 50 lbs on me. He's a nice guy and easy to train with.We work on two moves. The first is breaking down a fighter in turtle position.
Turtle position is when you crawl in a ball with your hands wrapped around your neck to protect from a choke, and your elbows crunched into your hips. I actually like this position a lot. It feels like a very strong defense to me, and being coiled up you possess a lot of power for a spontaneous attack.
The way you try and break down a fighter in turtle position is to pull on them from the back at a 45 degree angle. We practice this movement drill style, and it is deceivingly exhausting. While we are practicing this our blackbelt trainer comes in.
Blackbelt Sensei
Our blackbelt sensei is named Nick. It is actually really exciting to be learning BJJ from him because not only is he a blackbelt but he is one of the guys who run the gym. He is very laid back, and continually gives advice while training the move, it is great to train with him. He comes in and shows us move number two of the night.
Move number 2:
It is the move I trained just a couple days ago (mounting from side control into an arm bar), which I am elated to see. I have been thinking to myself lately that training a move each time I come is great, but without constant practice remembering all the steps to complete the move is very difficult. Being able to actually practice a move two nights in a row is a pleasant surprise. Matt and I get to training and no surprise, I am feeling confident in the movements and feel I am getting this technique down well.
Changing it up:
I am very excited that Matt suggested that we try the move from the other side. I have not done this yet. I am afraid. It is enough to try and get everything straight from one side of the body. Imagine being taught to hit a baseball, and then trying to hit from the other side. Most people look like they are recovering from a stroke or have some type of muscular dystrophy when doing something from the other side. I am somewhat ambidextrous but training BJJ is still VERY new to me. I would never be the one to suggest trying to the move from the other side, but if my partner is game so am I.
It is highly interesting to me how the moves were pulled off when we attempted them from the other side of our bodies. We followed the same steps, but all the angles felt strange and unfamiliar. The move was still successful but it did look and feel different.
I think to myself,
"Interesting. Now lets go back and practice it from the good side."
We soon go back to the normal set up, and keep practicing until Sensei brings us back to show us a variation.
Variation:
The variation is also fun to learn. After we get the mount from side control, the man on bottom sweeps the mounted fighter. ( A sweep is a reversal of position. Basically the guy on bottom rolls the guy on top over)
When this happens Nick shows us an armbar from the bottom. We practice, and train, and JUST like I learned from AJ, no more courtesy tapping.
Matt actually doesn't have the move set in perfectly once, and I do not tap. The thing about Matt is even if his technique was a little bit off, his angles and body positioning is always solid and he is so strong he can tap me from any position.
I have trouble with this technique more than the first, and I realize,
I am very good at getting to the submission set up. I am just really bad at finishing them.
I hope this comes with time and experience.
Finally its time to roll. My first thought:
"Uh oh. I hope he doesn't make me roll with Matt"
I am reprieved from rolling with the much stronger Matt and am paired up with Mason.
Rolling:
Mason is one of the only guys, shorter and lighter than me, but that means nothing.
It reminds me of the Wonder Years episode where Kevin tries out for the wrestling team and they throw him in there against "Spider". (You remember that one right?)
Well Spider is smaller than good ol' Kev, but Kev manages to get tossed around regardless.
I like to think I hold my own with Mason, and it is the best rolling session I've had yet. I say that because we are both completely exhausted when it is through. (I also didn't get gi choked this time, so that's a plus)
I also almost got Mason's back, but he kept defending one hook. He eventually turned it around on me and got top position of course, but still, I almost got his back, so that's a start. Overall Mason got the better of me much more than I got the better of him. I have learned you will usually win some and lose some during rolling. Right now I lose much more than I win. When I start getting closer to 50/50 I'll be a happy camper.
OK thats all for now folks.
I am falling a little behind here but what can I tell you, these take time, and life's not cake walk when you have a 9-5 with 24 eight year olds every day!
Over and Out,
Steve.
First, less guys show up. Why is this great. Again a matter of simple math.
Less guys rolling means the Sensei has his eyes on me more.
More instruction, more correction, get better faster.
Second, one of the few blackbelt Sensei will be instructing on Fridays.
Blackbelts are better than brownbelts or bluebelts.
Move of the night:
So tonight I trained with a guy named Matt. College kid, and former high school wrestler, got probably 40 or 50 lbs on me. He's a nice guy and easy to train with.We work on two moves. The first is breaking down a fighter in turtle position.
 |
| Turtle Position |
 |
| Actual turtle position (kinda) |
Turtle position is when you crawl in a ball with your hands wrapped around your neck to protect from a choke, and your elbows crunched into your hips. I actually like this position a lot. It feels like a very strong defense to me, and being coiled up you possess a lot of power for a spontaneous attack.
The way you try and break down a fighter in turtle position is to pull on them from the back at a 45 degree angle. We practice this movement drill style, and it is deceivingly exhausting. While we are practicing this our blackbelt trainer comes in.
Blackbelt Sensei
Our blackbelt sensei is named Nick. It is actually really exciting to be learning BJJ from him because not only is he a blackbelt but he is one of the guys who run the gym. He is very laid back, and continually gives advice while training the move, it is great to train with him. He comes in and shows us move number two of the night.
Move number 2:
It is the move I trained just a couple days ago (mounting from side control into an arm bar), which I am elated to see. I have been thinking to myself lately that training a move each time I come is great, but without constant practice remembering all the steps to complete the move is very difficult. Being able to actually practice a move two nights in a row is a pleasant surprise. Matt and I get to training and no surprise, I am feeling confident in the movements and feel I am getting this technique down well.
Changing it up:
I am very excited that Matt suggested that we try the move from the other side. I have not done this yet. I am afraid. It is enough to try and get everything straight from one side of the body. Imagine being taught to hit a baseball, and then trying to hit from the other side. Most people look like they are recovering from a stroke or have some type of muscular dystrophy when doing something from the other side. I am somewhat ambidextrous but training BJJ is still VERY new to me. I would never be the one to suggest trying to the move from the other side, but if my partner is game so am I.
It is highly interesting to me how the moves were pulled off when we attempted them from the other side of our bodies. We followed the same steps, but all the angles felt strange and unfamiliar. The move was still successful but it did look and feel different.
I think to myself,
"Interesting. Now lets go back and practice it from the good side."
We soon go back to the normal set up, and keep practicing until Sensei brings us back to show us a variation.
Variation:
The variation is also fun to learn. After we get the mount from side control, the man on bottom sweeps the mounted fighter. ( A sweep is a reversal of position. Basically the guy on bottom rolls the guy on top over)
When this happens Nick shows us an armbar from the bottom. We practice, and train, and JUST like I learned from AJ, no more courtesy tapping.
Matt actually doesn't have the move set in perfectly once, and I do not tap. The thing about Matt is even if his technique was a little bit off, his angles and body positioning is always solid and he is so strong he can tap me from any position.
I have trouble with this technique more than the first, and I realize,
I am very good at getting to the submission set up. I am just really bad at finishing them.
I hope this comes with time and experience.
Finally its time to roll. My first thought:
"Uh oh. I hope he doesn't make me roll with Matt"
I am reprieved from rolling with the much stronger Matt and am paired up with Mason.
Rolling:
Mason is one of the only guys, shorter and lighter than me, but that means nothing.
Well Spider is smaller than good ol' Kev, but Kev manages to get tossed around regardless.
I like to think I hold my own with Mason, and it is the best rolling session I've had yet. I say that because we are both completely exhausted when it is through. (I also didn't get gi choked this time, so that's a plus)
I also almost got Mason's back, but he kept defending one hook. He eventually turned it around on me and got top position of course, but still, I almost got his back, so that's a start. Overall Mason got the better of me much more than I got the better of him. I have learned you will usually win some and lose some during rolling. Right now I lose much more than I win. When I start getting closer to 50/50 I'll be a happy camper.
OK thats all for now folks.
I am falling a little behind here but what can I tell you, these take time, and life's not cake walk when you have a 9-5 with 24 eight year olds every day!
Over and Out,
Steve.
Friday, January 14, 2011
My first roll!
SO just to review. Rolling is like sparring. And my first two classes out, the Sensei did not let me do it.
First class, dumb mouth guard fiasco.
Second, just precautionary I guess, still getting my feet wet.
Finally, in my third class, Avi the bad ass says,
"You ever roll before?"
"Not yet."
"Well you know, we like to get you acclimated to the routine, and have you learn some defenses and escapes, but don't worry, we'll get you in there today."
Today is the day. So after training with Liz and AJ I watch the first part of the rolling session.
The two fighters get into a position, each fighter had to advance their position in some way.
If they did so, they win, and the fighters restart in the beginning positions.
You roll until the instructors say stop.
I was ok with being left out of this part of rolling because it let me watch and learn and ask more questions.
It also got the other classmates good and tired (so you'd think) and gave me a fighting chance when I got in there.
"If you have any questions feel free to ask. While they roll" Bad Ass tells me.
I ask.
"So since I really don't know anything. Should I just try anything? For example, when I mess around with my friends I like to try and throw on triangles. I doubt I have ever done one right, but should I try that if I get a chance?"
"Go for it."
AWESOME.
Then Avi explains,
"Always remember we are training though, give a guy a chance to tap. We don't snap on submissions, and we are always careful. You'll find everyone is pretty respectable, and a great group of guys."
Makes sense, and I don't think I am in any position to "snap on" any submissions anyways.
Finally it's my time.
The timer sounds, and its time for part two of rolling; an exercise called "King of the Hill".
KING OF THE HILL
Again Avi picked a perfect activity for me to get my feet wet.
During this "King of the Hill" rolling session one fighter starts in guard and the other is on top.
If the person on top advances his position by getting side control, mount, or getting his opponent's back, they win.
If the person on bottom advances with a sweep or submits from the bottom, they win.
Winner stays in on the mat, in the bottom position, new guy from the sidelines jumps in and gets in top position.
Why is this perfect for a newbie you might ask?
Well it's simple. If I have to tap out in 10 seconds because I am rolling against an animal, I get to get up to fight another day and most importantly try a different training partner. I am not stuck rolling with someone I have no chance against.
I can even step out if I want, if I am feeling overwhelmed.
If I were rolling during a normal session, I am stuck with whoever I partner up with for a whole 3 to 5 minutes. That can seem like an eternity.
Imagine 5 minutes with a gorilla who knows kung fu? Scary five minutes right?
Opponent 1:
So I finally get the balls enough to jump in. I am rolling with a kid probably my height, maybe has 20 pounds on me. We begin, its a handsy grab fest for about thirty seconds mostly because I have no frickin' clue what I am doing. I finally go for the guard break I learned in first class. I forget step 3 putting my foot up against his ass. His guard is not breaking. I go to re-adjust my position, and I guess while I am contemplating what I am doing wrong, what felt like out of nowhere I am being choked with my own collar.
TAP TAP.
"That wasn't so bad was it?" Avi jokes with me.
With all seriousness I say "No it was awesome."
I never thought I'd have so much fun being choked out.
I take a sip of water, and after a minute or two I get my second chance.
Try TWO
This time I roll with AJ. I have to admit I am a little intimidated after training with him.
We begin. Again hand fighting. Again I go for the guard break. Again this time faster.
TAP TAP.
It was the same damn Gi choke!
That was annoying. As an athlete I know if my opponent gets the upper hand on me twice in a row the same way, I have a glaring hole in my game. What's so frustrating is I don't know what it is yet.
I am determined to find out though.
Third attempt.
I watch this fighter Andrew take on a couple guys in a row. Andrew is one of the few guys I would say is my weight, and a couple inches shorter than I am. He is also completely spent from the last 2 rounds of fighting.
I dive right in.
We wrestle for position. I manage to break his guard, and spin to side control. He spins out and I get his back.
I sink both hooks in, and Avi says it.
"Both hooks are in. Good job. Steve stay down."
SUCCESS. My first night. I could not be in a better mood.
Yes the other fighter was exhausted, but I did something right. I got his back.
Speaking of backs there is no time to pat myself on mine, because now I am on bottom.
Roll 4
Another fighter Eddie who is a similar size as me jumps in.
He manages to break my guard (damn it!), and I get into half guard.
I have a pretty strong handle on his leg, but I feel useless in this position.
Basically I am just hanging on for dear life.
I should have stayed there, because when I tried to improve my position Eddie got to half guard, and I was toasty toast.
The taste of success was fleeting to say the least.
Attempt 5. (Last one)
I re-roll with first guy. Again I try and break guard, but do not give up my neck as easily. We battle for position, and he pulls off some crazy monkey roll and I involuntarily roll as well.
I lose position, he gains. Round over. Roll over.
I loved rolling, but also hate how frustrating it is.
It's frustrating because of my lack of experience.
I am thinking too much, and when I do do something right, and get some position, I have no idea what to do when I get it. It will all come in time I am sure.
I am also sure, this is something I am really starting to get into.
I was a little late putting this post up, I ll try and recap this week, over the weekend.
Thanks for reading, and buy something from an ad!
Steve
First class, dumb mouth guard fiasco.
Second, just precautionary I guess, still getting my feet wet.
Finally, in my third class, Avi the bad ass says,
"You ever roll before?"
"Not yet."
"Well you know, we like to get you acclimated to the routine, and have you learn some defenses and escapes, but don't worry, we'll get you in there today."
Today is the day. So after training with Liz and AJ I watch the first part of the rolling session.
The two fighters get into a position, each fighter had to advance their position in some way.
If they did so, they win, and the fighters restart in the beginning positions.
You roll until the instructors say stop.
I was ok with being left out of this part of rolling because it let me watch and learn and ask more questions.
It also got the other classmates good and tired (so you'd think) and gave me a fighting chance when I got in there.
"If you have any questions feel free to ask. While they roll" Bad Ass tells me.
I ask.
"So since I really don't know anything. Should I just try anything? For example, when I mess around with my friends I like to try and throw on triangles. I doubt I have ever done one right, but should I try that if I get a chance?"
"Go for it."
AWESOME.
Then Avi explains,
"Always remember we are training though, give a guy a chance to tap. We don't snap on submissions, and we are always careful. You'll find everyone is pretty respectable, and a great group of guys."
Makes sense, and I don't think I am in any position to "snap on" any submissions anyways.
Finally it's my time.
The timer sounds, and its time for part two of rolling; an exercise called "King of the Hill".
KING OF THE HILL
Again Avi picked a perfect activity for me to get my feet wet.
During this "King of the Hill" rolling session one fighter starts in guard and the other is on top.
If the person on top advances his position by getting side control, mount, or getting his opponent's back, they win.
If the person on bottom advances with a sweep or submits from the bottom, they win.
Winner stays in on the mat, in the bottom position, new guy from the sidelines jumps in and gets in top position.
Why is this perfect for a newbie you might ask?
Well it's simple. If I have to tap out in 10 seconds because I am rolling against an animal, I get to get up to fight another day and most importantly try a different training partner. I am not stuck rolling with someone I have no chance against.
I can even step out if I want, if I am feeling overwhelmed.
If I were rolling during a normal session, I am stuck with whoever I partner up with for a whole 3 to 5 minutes. That can seem like an eternity.
Imagine 5 minutes with a gorilla who knows kung fu? Scary five minutes right?
Opponent 1:
So I finally get the balls enough to jump in. I am rolling with a kid probably my height, maybe has 20 pounds on me. We begin, its a handsy grab fest for about thirty seconds mostly because I have no frickin' clue what I am doing. I finally go for the guard break I learned in first class. I forget step 3 putting my foot up against his ass. His guard is not breaking. I go to re-adjust my position, and I guess while I am contemplating what I am doing wrong, what felt like out of nowhere I am being choked with my own collar.
TAP TAP.
"That wasn't so bad was it?" Avi jokes with me.
With all seriousness I say "No it was awesome."
I never thought I'd have so much fun being choked out.
I take a sip of water, and after a minute or two I get my second chance.
Try TWO
This time I roll with AJ. I have to admit I am a little intimidated after training with him.
We begin. Again hand fighting. Again I go for the guard break. Again this time faster.
TAP TAP.
It was the same damn Gi choke!
That was annoying. As an athlete I know if my opponent gets the upper hand on me twice in a row the same way, I have a glaring hole in my game. What's so frustrating is I don't know what it is yet.
I am determined to find out though.
Third attempt.
I watch this fighter Andrew take on a couple guys in a row. Andrew is one of the few guys I would say is my weight, and a couple inches shorter than I am. He is also completely spent from the last 2 rounds of fighting.
I dive right in.
We wrestle for position. I manage to break his guard, and spin to side control. He spins out and I get his back.
I sink both hooks in, and Avi says it.
"Both hooks are in. Good job. Steve stay down."
SUCCESS. My first night. I could not be in a better mood.
Yes the other fighter was exhausted, but I did something right. I got his back.
Speaking of backs there is no time to pat myself on mine, because now I am on bottom.
Roll 4
Another fighter Eddie who is a similar size as me jumps in.
He manages to break my guard (damn it!), and I get into half guard.
I have a pretty strong handle on his leg, but I feel useless in this position.
Basically I am just hanging on for dear life.
I should have stayed there, because when I tried to improve my position Eddie got to half guard, and I was toasty toast.
The taste of success was fleeting to say the least.
Attempt 5. (Last one)
I re-roll with first guy. Again I try and break guard, but do not give up my neck as easily. We battle for position, and he pulls off some crazy monkey roll and I involuntarily roll as well.
I lose position, he gains. Round over. Roll over.
I loved rolling, but also hate how frustrating it is.
It's frustrating because of my lack of experience.
I am thinking too much, and when I do do something right, and get some position, I have no idea what to do when I get it. It will all come in time I am sure.
I am also sure, this is something I am really starting to get into.
I was a little late putting this post up, I ll try and recap this week, over the weekend.
Thanks for reading, and buy something from an ad!
Steve
Monday, January 10, 2011
Being a white belt is all relative!
So it's a Friday night and we got some snow. I was crossing my fingers that I would have another private session because of the weather, but no luck. I get down there tonight and there is a good group, maybe 8 guys or so.
Scratch that, 6 guys and a girl. (I'll get to that interesting caveat later in this blog.)
When I first arrive I start thinkin to myself:
"Did I misread the schedule, all these people look like they are in the advanced class."
I came to find out being in the beginner class at my gym is all relative.
See beginners all have white belts. However some of us have cool purple stripes on the tips of our belts. For every purple stripe on your belt you are that much closer to earning your purple belt.
Obviously my belt is as white as the pure driven snow that was coming down earlier today, but as I look around, many of my fellow classmates have belts adorned with varying degrees of purple tape stripes.
"I'm in for it today."
Then I see my trainer for the day.
AVI
First impression: Bad Ass.
The other trainers or Sensei I have had to this point all have seemed like mild mannered gents by day, and Jujitsu masters by night. This guy looked the part of action movie hero or villain.
I found out quickly that Sensei Avi, fit the part as well.
His warm up was the most intense thus far, which believe it or not I thought was a good thing. We began the same. Light jogging, inside stepping, outside stepping, high knees, heels to butt, then some shrimping. (Shrimping is when you lie on your back and push off with one leg and shift to the other side of your body. Its a basic but important movement in BJJ). But it was followed by some good old calisthenics. 8 people in the circle each counting off 10 of each exercise.
Simple multiplication tells you 80 of each.
80 Jumping jacks no problem. 80 Crunches doable. 80 Push-ups.... lets just say I did as many as I could. Sensei Avi is for real.
Move of the day: Gi choke from full guard.
So after our warm up Sensei shows us the move we will be working on today. It's complicated. It's complicated for me at least. I thought the 4 steps for the guard break was a lot to remember. But I do my best to watch and learn and soon we are pairing up to practice for ourselves.
I watch everyone pair up with each other, and I am odd man out (who wants to work with the new guy right?) Then a fellow classmate asks if I want to work in a trio. It takes a real man to befriend the new guy. Or in this case a real woman. The welcoming classmate is Liz, the only girl I've seen in the gym thus far. I appreciate her hospitality and join her and her training partner AJ. AJ is one of what seems like an endless amount of younger, stronger, former high school wrestlers to be training in BJJ. For every average Joe who is training, their is an AJ. Now if you know me, or get a sense of my personality yet from this blog, I am slightly pessimistic and highly self deprecating. But in this instance I am actually glad that there are several quality athletes in the gym. Training in this discipline isn't like working out at a gym. It isn't a show. You are all there to make each other better and to learn. So having training partners like AJ around is awesome. (More about AJ in a minute.)
Training with a female:
So here is how training was set up. AJ practiced the move on Liz, I jump in and Liz practices the move on me, AJ jumps in and I practice on him.
Training with a female is quite a head trip at first. First of all Liz deserves a lot of credit, it takes a lot of guts to be the only female training with all males. I try and act as if she is just one of the guys and I thought that's exactly what I was doing, but she kept telling me to relax. I think she was mistaking my inexperience nervousness for training with a girl nervousness. It didn't matter who my training partner was. I have only done this twice, I barely know how to even play the part of tackling dummy. After some beginning jitters we all start to hit our training stride and the class is my favorite class yet. (It is actually my third, I didn't write about my second. It sucked, and there wasn't much to write about) I find working with more experienced fighters is really an added benefit. Both Liz and AJ have some purple stripes, I will look to train with other purple stripes in the future.
AJ
Like I said after Liz practiced her move on me, AJ jumped in so I could practice on him. I have to admit, I began to dislike training with AJ almost immediately, for one simple reason. I would do the move, and he wouldn't tap. Then Avi would come over, try and figure out how the dopey new guy was screwin it up this time, and I felt like a total tool. It was an incredibly frustrating situation. I felt incompetent, unathletic, and weak, and I thought:
"This a**h*%# is just trying to show me up! Never again will I train with him"
I couldn't have been further from the truth. AJ said something that made perfect sense. And I could tell all in one second, he was the type of training partner I want to train with from now on.
"I am not going to tap if you aren't getting the move right."
Folks, it was like a light bulb went off in my head.
You are doing your training partner a DISSERVICE by "courtesy" tapping.
If they are f**king up the move, and you tap NO GOOD can come of it.
They think they did it right.
They continue to practice the move incorrectly because they THINK they made you tap,
and then when they are rolling or even worse competing and they attempt that move it will blow up in their face.
I was courtesy tapping the first two nights, just because it felt like the polite thing to do.
I'm an idiot.
Its funny the way you relearn things you have known all along just because you are actually doing them yourself. I knew and still know that BJJ is about securing the move properly and not about strength. If you know anything about the Gracie Family (considered the first family and creators of modern day BJJ), you know they aren't big strong guys. Still, they would take down guys twice their size and submit them because of their knowledge and understanding of Jujitsu.
But when I couldn't get AJ to tap, what do I do, I just kept pulling harder.
Avi came over, readjusted some of my limbs, and wah lah, AJ taps.
Avi reminded me,
"If you have to try and strong arm a submission in BJJ you KNOW you are doing something wrong."
I am sore 4 days later from trying to strong arm a submission, my body KNOWS I was doing something wrong.
Look forward to telling you all about my first roll, next blog, exciting stuff people!
Thanks and keep reading!
Steve
Scratch that, 6 guys and a girl. (I'll get to that interesting caveat later in this blog.)
When I first arrive I start thinkin to myself:
I came to find out being in the beginner class at my gym is all relative.
See beginners all have white belts. However some of us have cool purple stripes on the tips of our belts. For every purple stripe on your belt you are that much closer to earning your purple belt.
Obviously my belt is as white as the pure driven snow that was coming down earlier today, but as I look around, many of my fellow classmates have belts adorned with varying degrees of purple tape stripes.
"I'm in for it today."
Then I see my trainer for the day.
AVI
First impression: Bad Ass.
The other trainers or Sensei I have had to this point all have seemed like mild mannered gents by day, and Jujitsu masters by night. This guy looked the part of action movie hero or villain.
I found out quickly that Sensei Avi, fit the part as well.
His warm up was the most intense thus far, which believe it or not I thought was a good thing. We began the same. Light jogging, inside stepping, outside stepping, high knees, heels to butt, then some shrimping. (Shrimping is when you lie on your back and push off with one leg and shift to the other side of your body. Its a basic but important movement in BJJ). But it was followed by some good old calisthenics. 8 people in the circle each counting off 10 of each exercise.
Simple multiplication tells you 80 of each.
80 Jumping jacks no problem. 80 Crunches doable. 80 Push-ups.... lets just say I did as many as I could. Sensei Avi is for real.
Move of the day: Gi choke from full guard.
So after our warm up Sensei shows us the move we will be working on today. It's complicated. It's complicated for me at least. I thought the 4 steps for the guard break was a lot to remember. But I do my best to watch and learn and soon we are pairing up to practice for ourselves.
I watch everyone pair up with each other, and I am odd man out (who wants to work with the new guy right?) Then a fellow classmate asks if I want to work in a trio. It takes a real man to befriend the new guy. Or in this case a real woman. The welcoming classmate is Liz, the only girl I've seen in the gym thus far. I appreciate her hospitality and join her and her training partner AJ. AJ is one of what seems like an endless amount of younger, stronger, former high school wrestlers to be training in BJJ. For every average Joe who is training, their is an AJ. Now if you know me, or get a sense of my personality yet from this blog, I am slightly pessimistic and highly self deprecating. But in this instance I am actually glad that there are several quality athletes in the gym. Training in this discipline isn't like working out at a gym. It isn't a show. You are all there to make each other better and to learn. So having training partners like AJ around is awesome. (More about AJ in a minute.)
Training with a female:
So here is how training was set up. AJ practiced the move on Liz, I jump in and Liz practices the move on me, AJ jumps in and I practice on him.
Training with a female is quite a head trip at first. First of all Liz deserves a lot of credit, it takes a lot of guts to be the only female training with all males. I try and act as if she is just one of the guys and I thought that's exactly what I was doing, but she kept telling me to relax. I think she was mistaking my inexperience nervousness for training with a girl nervousness. It didn't matter who my training partner was. I have only done this twice, I barely know how to even play the part of tackling dummy. After some beginning jitters we all start to hit our training stride and the class is my favorite class yet. (It is actually my third, I didn't write about my second. It sucked, and there wasn't much to write about) I find working with more experienced fighters is really an added benefit. Both Liz and AJ have some purple stripes, I will look to train with other purple stripes in the future.
AJ
Like I said after Liz practiced her move on me, AJ jumped in so I could practice on him. I have to admit, I began to dislike training with AJ almost immediately, for one simple reason. I would do the move, and he wouldn't tap. Then Avi would come over, try and figure out how the dopey new guy was screwin it up this time, and I felt like a total tool. It was an incredibly frustrating situation. I felt incompetent, unathletic, and weak, and I thought:
"This a**h*%# is just trying to show me up! Never again will I train with him"
I couldn't have been further from the truth. AJ said something that made perfect sense. And I could tell all in one second, he was the type of training partner I want to train with from now on.
"I am not going to tap if you aren't getting the move right."
Folks, it was like a light bulb went off in my head.
You are doing your training partner a DISSERVICE by "courtesy" tapping.
If they are f**king up the move, and you tap NO GOOD can come of it.
They think they did it right.
They continue to practice the move incorrectly because they THINK they made you tap,
and then when they are rolling or even worse competing and they attempt that move it will blow up in their face.
I was courtesy tapping the first two nights, just because it felt like the polite thing to do.
I'm an idiot.
Its funny the way you relearn things you have known all along just because you are actually doing them yourself. I knew and still know that BJJ is about securing the move properly and not about strength. If you know anything about the Gracie Family (considered the first family and creators of modern day BJJ), you know they aren't big strong guys. Still, they would take down guys twice their size and submit them because of their knowledge and understanding of Jujitsu.
 |
| Ok not exactly BJJ but you get the analogy. |
But when I couldn't get AJ to tap, what do I do, I just kept pulling harder.
Avi came over, readjusted some of my limbs, and wah lah, AJ taps.
Avi reminded me,
"If you have to try and strong arm a submission in BJJ you KNOW you are doing something wrong."
I am sore 4 days later from trying to strong arm a submission, my body KNOWS I was doing something wrong.
Look forward to telling you all about my first roll, next blog, exciting stuff people!
Thanks and keep reading!
Steve
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Showers
Something I forgot to mention after my second intro class.
When I officially signed on the dotted line with Jason, another Sensei, Beau was also behind the desk.
"Don't forget to bring flip flops and one of those soap thingys"
"A lufa" I say with effeminate pride.
"Yeah thats it ! A lufa, and a towel. After class everyone has to hit to showers wash up, get clean. Get it all done here before you go home."
"Got it. Sounds good." (Did I really just say sounds good?)
Now I have never wrestled, or played football on a team, or played any sport where you have to shower in a locker room. On TV shows they make it look like it's no big deal to shower naked with a room full of dudes, and when I worked for the Y as a camp counselor years back old dudes would walk around with their wangs hangin out all the time. But still, there was a level of uncomfortableness with the whole idea. I shrug it off, and think "Your a grown-ass man, get over it."
Well at the end of the next class, it's the moment of truth. I go to get my trusty lufa and AXE man soap, and get mentally prepared to get sudsy in a room full of sausage.
I open the door to the shower room and...
its two shower stalls with curtains. Sometimes your mind and your assumptions can run wild.
To all my lady readers sorry no future posts about naked male shower scenes.
You'll all have to use your imaginations.
Stay well, keep reading.
Steve
When I officially signed on the dotted line with Jason, another Sensei, Beau was also behind the desk.
"Don't forget to bring flip flops and one of those soap thingys"
"A lufa" I say with effeminate pride.
"Yeah thats it ! A lufa, and a towel. After class everyone has to hit to showers wash up, get clean. Get it all done here before you go home."
"Got it. Sounds good." (Did I really just say sounds good?)
Now I have never wrestled, or played football on a team, or played any sport where you have to shower in a locker room. On TV shows they make it look like it's no big deal to shower naked with a room full of dudes, and when I worked for the Y as a camp counselor years back old dudes would walk around with their wangs hangin out all the time. But still, there was a level of uncomfortableness with the whole idea. I shrug it off, and think "Your a grown-ass man, get over it."
Well at the end of the next class, it's the moment of truth. I go to get my trusty lufa and AXE man soap, and get mentally prepared to get sudsy in a room full of sausage.
I open the door to the shower room and...
its two shower stalls with curtains. Sometimes your mind and your assumptions can run wild.
To all my lady readers sorry no future posts about naked male shower scenes.
You'll all have to use your imaginations.
Stay well, keep reading.
Steve
Week ONE: Weather makes for stressless first night
While the blizzard and holidays kept my first week to a solo session, I have to say it helped ease me into my new hobby. Only one other student showed on my first night of training, and thankfully he was my size or a few pounds smaller.
There were two instructors or Sensei training me and Max (the other white belt). Sensei Gil and Sensei Matt (I think. During introductions I did that thing where I was so concerned with saying my name, I didn't catch his name, and then felt silly asking again.)
THE PORNO WHITE BELT:
Now my Cobra Kai Black Gi did not come with a belt so luckily they had one to lend me the first night. Unfortunately it was 9 sizes too big. The two ends of the belt were dangling around my ankles and I looked like the Brazilian Jujitsu version of Ron Jeremy.
"Is this ok?"
"Yeah, they're just a little long don't worry about it, ok white belts start running."
So we proceed to start running in a circle, my porn star white belt flappin in the breeze is making me extremely uncomfortable. As we continue to run, I am continually multi tasking. Run, tie belt, Run, tie belt.
Finally I think to myself,
"F**k this"
I stop and tie the belt in 5 extra knots, it wasn't perfect but it did the trick.
WARM UPS:
After running, we did some push ups, (which thanks to my run in with P90X I am pretty good at), followed by
some toe touch crunches. What I like most is we finish warm ups with a jujitsu movement exercise. We practice getting in position for an arm bar and switch from side to side. Still a very awkward movement for me, but practice makes perfect they say.
TRAINING:
After warmups we begin to train a guard break. Being in guard is when you are on top of your opponent but their legs are locked around your waist. The idea of breaking guard is to break their leg lock, and move to a "Better position". A "Better Position" is one in which you have a better chance of submitting you opponent. A couple examples of better position is full mount, side control, or "getting their back". We'll cross those bridges when we come to them.
Our Sensei shows us the steps for the guard break several times on another trainer. Then Max and I get to try it on each other. What I am already fascinated about while I am learning jujitsu is its complexity. This stuff is super complex. What we are learning tonight is the most basic elementary stuff, and their is already 4 steps that if not done properly and in the right order will lead to failure to complete the task.
I have to say it is a very overwhelming feeling to try to complete the move you just learned the first time.
I watched intently as the Sensei did the move. I pictured it in my head, I mimed the motions in the air while he continually repeated them, and still when I was in position to try it for the first time, it was as if someone dropped me in the middle of the forest at night in a place I had never been before. I was utterly lost.
Luckily, me and Max are the only two there this night, and we had step-by-step instruction from 3 trainers. You get over that feeling of helplessness quickly and the more you practice the move the better you get. At one point Max was having trouble with the last step of the guard break. So yours truly got to be the demonstration dummy while Sensei Matt shows Max the move. I know I shouldn't have been, but I was taken by surprise by the strength of Sensei Matt. He looks mild mannered enough, and I know he is only going at 50 percent, and is going slowly step-by-step. Still, in each step I can feel the power in his grips and postures.
After a while we both begin pulling the guard break off smoothly.
It is a great feeling of accomplishment when you properly pull off the move in training. I can only imagine how good it must feel when you actually pull off the move while actually "rolling".
(Rolling is jujitsu's form of sparring. It happens at the end of training. You and a partner set up in a position and both of you try and advance or submit each other using everything you have learned.)
MOUTH GUARD LET DOWN:
Finally it is time to roll! I am very excited to actually try to roll for the first time. Then I get the bad news.
Sensi Gil asks,
"Have you purchased a mouth guard yet."
"No."
"It's really important to ......."
That's all I hear, I know he's right , but I am disappointed. I realize though, it's the first night, you have a year to get your ass kicked, maybe next time.
And next time, I get my chance! Check back soon too see how my first roll goes!
Thanks for reading,
Steve
There were two instructors or Sensei training me and Max (the other white belt). Sensei Gil and Sensei Matt (I think. During introductions I did that thing where I was so concerned with saying my name, I didn't catch his name, and then felt silly asking again.)
THE PORNO WHITE BELT:
Now my Cobra Kai Black Gi did not come with a belt so luckily they had one to lend me the first night. Unfortunately it was 9 sizes too big. The two ends of the belt were dangling around my ankles and I looked like the Brazilian Jujitsu version of Ron Jeremy.
"Is this ok?"
"Yeah, they're just a little long don't worry about it, ok white belts start running."
So we proceed to start running in a circle, my porn star white belt flappin in the breeze is making me extremely uncomfortable. As we continue to run, I am continually multi tasking. Run, tie belt, Run, tie belt.
Finally I think to myself,
"F**k this"
I stop and tie the belt in 5 extra knots, it wasn't perfect but it did the trick.
WARM UPS:
After running, we did some push ups, (which thanks to my run in with P90X I am pretty good at), followed by
some toe touch crunches. What I like most is we finish warm ups with a jujitsu movement exercise. We practice getting in position for an arm bar and switch from side to side. Still a very awkward movement for me, but practice makes perfect they say.
TRAINING:
After warmups we begin to train a guard break. Being in guard is when you are on top of your opponent but their legs are locked around your waist. The idea of breaking guard is to break their leg lock, and move to a "Better position". A "Better Position" is one in which you have a better chance of submitting you opponent. A couple examples of better position is full mount, side control, or "getting their back". We'll cross those bridges when we come to them.
Our Sensei shows us the steps for the guard break several times on another trainer. Then Max and I get to try it on each other. What I am already fascinated about while I am learning jujitsu is its complexity. This stuff is super complex. What we are learning tonight is the most basic elementary stuff, and their is already 4 steps that if not done properly and in the right order will lead to failure to complete the task.
I have to say it is a very overwhelming feeling to try to complete the move you just learned the first time.
I watched intently as the Sensei did the move. I pictured it in my head, I mimed the motions in the air while he continually repeated them, and still when I was in position to try it for the first time, it was as if someone dropped me in the middle of the forest at night in a place I had never been before. I was utterly lost.
Luckily, me and Max are the only two there this night, and we had step-by-step instruction from 3 trainers. You get over that feeling of helplessness quickly and the more you practice the move the better you get. At one point Max was having trouble with the last step of the guard break. So yours truly got to be the demonstration dummy while Sensei Matt shows Max the move. I know I shouldn't have been, but I was taken by surprise by the strength of Sensei Matt. He looks mild mannered enough, and I know he is only going at 50 percent, and is going slowly step-by-step. Still, in each step I can feel the power in his grips and postures.
After a while we both begin pulling the guard break off smoothly.
It is a great feeling of accomplishment when you properly pull off the move in training. I can only imagine how good it must feel when you actually pull off the move while actually "rolling".
(Rolling is jujitsu's form of sparring. It happens at the end of training. You and a partner set up in a position and both of you try and advance or submit each other using everything you have learned.)
MOUTH GUARD LET DOWN:
Finally it is time to roll! I am very excited to actually try to roll for the first time. Then I get the bad news.
Sensi Gil asks,
"Have you purchased a mouth guard yet."
"No."
"It's really important to ......."
That's all I hear, I know he's right , but I am disappointed. I realize though, it's the first night, you have a year to get your ass kicked, maybe next time.
And next time, I get my chance! Check back soon too see how my first roll goes!
Thanks for reading,
Steve
Sunday, January 2, 2011
First Class Nerves "Should I have bought a black Gi?"
So it is the week after Christmas and I thought I'd be amped to begin my training. Then Ol' Mother Nature drops 24 inches on us and I come down with the stomach flu. Not an auspicious start. Finally I am feeling better and its been a couple days since the blizzard and I decide tonight is the night. Being a teacher I am off from work this week and decided to tackle the project of organizing all our DVDs. As it gets closer to 6pm, (the intro class Wednesday night time) while I am in the middle of putting the pro wrestling DVDs into the sleeves of the CD binder, I start to get the proverbial cold feet.
"Should I have bought a black Gi?" I think to myself. (For those of you not familiar a Gi is a traditional martial arts uniform that consists of a top and bottom and belt. If you have seen any martial arts films you have seen a gi. In jujitsu you need a particularly strong gi as it is often used to be grabbed on during combat. You will see me in my gi if you continue to read the blog.)
The questions continue to mount.
"Why would I draw any unwanted attention to myself?"
"A black Gi seriously, who do I think I am part of Cobra Kai?"
(No this is not me. But it is the character Johnny Lawrence.
Cobra Kai Commander from the movie Karate Kid)
So then I start thinking of excuses.
"It was on sale."
"My wife bought it and didn't tell me she was buying black."
"Not gonna get a black belt so this is the next best thing?" (No don't say that one...)
Needless to say I was worried that I was going to catch some heat for not going with a traditional white Gi.
I shake off my anxiety make a quick dinner and head off to class.
When I arrive behind the desk are two guys I have seen before, and on the mats are 4 others I do not recognize. I tell Beau (one of the guys behind the desk that I recognize from my intro classes) this is my first night. First thing he asks,
"You have your gi right?" Of course this is the first thing he asks....
"Yeah I do, but it didn't come with a belt, do you guys have a belt you can lend me for tonight? Oh and color doesn't matter does it? Jason told me it didn't." You all like how I slipped that in there.
"I am sure we can find you a belt for tonight, and color doesn't matter."
I figured at this point I would just throw it out there, "Ok good, I was nervous because I bought a black one."
Billy (the other guy behind the desk) "Uh oh, you know what that means."
"What?" I ask.
"It means you better back it up"
We all laugh, and to be honest it was a relief. I wasn't uncomfortable, or nervous and Billy even told me a story about when he started some others were nervous about rolling with him because he was wearing a black gi because people assumed a black gi meant you were a bad ass.
"What brand?" Beau asks.
"Cahill."
"Cako?"
"CaHILL"
"Oh, never heard of it."
That's when I throw in the line that it was on sale AND it was a gift from my wife (why not double up on excuses, both are also true in case you were wondering.)Beau then found my paperwork, and asked me if I know the routine, (which I did because he told me about it last week. See he didn't remember meeting me but that was totally fine with me, because I figure I'd already brought enough attention to myself with my gi choice.)
"Yeah you told me all about it last week."
"I did? We met last week?"
"Yeah you were wearing the blue gi. Told me all about the shower and flip flops and what not."
Billy chimes in, "Ah you remember the blue gi!"
Anyway enough about gis. Bottom line is I got over the first hump. Getting to my first class.
I have to give the guys at the desk credit, they were welcoming and non-threatening, which is really important for making a new student feel comfortable. Once I started rolling and learning, I realized what color you are wearing means nothing to what you are doing. In my next blog I will tell you all about how first class actually went when I actually got to the mats.
No matter what color my gi was, my belt is still white. I will be working on changing THAT over the next 12 months. Thats all for now folks, if you made it this far enjoy the first picture of me in my bad ass black gi. Steve
(SWEEP THE LEG!!!! Just Kidding.)
"Should I have bought a black Gi?" I think to myself. (For those of you not familiar a Gi is a traditional martial arts uniform that consists of a top and bottom and belt. If you have seen any martial arts films you have seen a gi. In jujitsu you need a particularly strong gi as it is often used to be grabbed on during combat. You will see me in my gi if you continue to read the blog.)
The questions continue to mount.
"Why would I draw any unwanted attention to myself?"
"A black Gi seriously, who do I think I am part of Cobra Kai?"
Cobra Kai Commander from the movie Karate Kid)
So then I start thinking of excuses.
"It was on sale."
"My wife bought it and didn't tell me she was buying black."
"Not gonna get a black belt so this is the next best thing?" (No don't say that one...)
Needless to say I was worried that I was going to catch some heat for not going with a traditional white Gi.
I shake off my anxiety make a quick dinner and head off to class.
When I arrive behind the desk are two guys I have seen before, and on the mats are 4 others I do not recognize. I tell Beau (one of the guys behind the desk that I recognize from my intro classes) this is my first night. First thing he asks,
"You have your gi right?" Of course this is the first thing he asks....
"Yeah I do, but it didn't come with a belt, do you guys have a belt you can lend me for tonight? Oh and color doesn't matter does it? Jason told me it didn't." You all like how I slipped that in there.
"I am sure we can find you a belt for tonight, and color doesn't matter."
I figured at this point I would just throw it out there, "Ok good, I was nervous because I bought a black one."
Billy (the other guy behind the desk) "Uh oh, you know what that means."
"What?" I ask.
"It means you better back it up"
We all laugh, and to be honest it was a relief. I wasn't uncomfortable, or nervous and Billy even told me a story about when he started some others were nervous about rolling with him because he was wearing a black gi because people assumed a black gi meant you were a bad ass.
"What brand?" Beau asks.
"Cahill."
"Cako?"
"CaHILL"
"Oh, never heard of it."
That's when I throw in the line that it was on sale AND it was a gift from my wife (why not double up on excuses, both are also true in case you were wondering.)Beau then found my paperwork, and asked me if I know the routine, (which I did because he told me about it last week. See he didn't remember meeting me but that was totally fine with me, because I figure I'd already brought enough attention to myself with my gi choice.)
"Yeah you told me all about it last week."
"I did? We met last week?"
"Yeah you were wearing the blue gi. Told me all about the shower and flip flops and what not."
Billy chimes in, "Ah you remember the blue gi!"
Anyway enough about gis. Bottom line is I got over the first hump. Getting to my first class.
I have to give the guys at the desk credit, they were welcoming and non-threatening, which is really important for making a new student feel comfortable. Once I started rolling and learning, I realized what color you are wearing means nothing to what you are doing. In my next blog I will tell you all about how first class actually went when I actually got to the mats.
No matter what color my gi was, my belt is still white. I will be working on changing THAT over the next 12 months. Thats all for now folks, if you made it this far enjoy the first picture of me in my bad ass black gi. Steve
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