Less frustrated :)

Still training a ton.  Still working from home (a ton, too)... and happy to report my rolls have been a good bit less frustrating lately.  I think one of the resident blackbelts was getting ready for a tournament and I'm flattered he says he was using me to experiment on. Now that it's behind him, he's gone back to a more pleasant lighthearted (aka-- it's more about me) style and I feel more in the game when we roll.  Or maybe I just lightened up and opened up my game somewhat, that's a more remote possibility but I wouldn't kick it out of bed for eating crackers.

Last night had a great class with a good friend and second-gen Rickson blackbelt. which I will write up separately.  Right now I gotta get serious work done on this appeal due the fourth. 

happy training :)

A nifty wristlock...

My buddy Anthony Argyros, a blackbelt under Carlos Catania (Sergio Penha lineage) and NAGA Grappler of the Decade, 2000-2009, has a "technique of the week" channel on Youtube now, and his guard passing drill is sweet.  Oldy but a goody that I'd forgotten since the days of the Coach Giberson and Jordan Silverman warmups that lasted an hour at the Relson school...

Also, he posted a nice wristlock.  I have been seeing them (as victim and attempted perpetrator) lots lately.

This is Anthony's channel.

I like the videos-- they're quick and easy to watch, with good explanations.  Here's that wristlock...

World Jiu Jitsu Expo Seminars

The many layers of frustration...

So here's why I'm whining...

1.  I'm at a new school in a new city in a new life (this is a great place, by the way-- good people, good grappling, good vibe, good instruction.)  But it's different.  And I mean, different.  I'm coming from one side of the BJJ family to the other, and wow, they really are.. on separate planets. 

2.  Now I get lots of one on one attention from the upper belts and instructor.  LOTS.  Lots of rolling time, every day.  This is great.  But it also means I am always frustrated. 

3.  My purple belt conferred no magic.  I am still a small, older female.  This means when grappling larger, younger, stronger men, I get stuffed.  Less than before, success... but when I get somewhere with a brown or blackbelt... I know they let me, at some level.  And I get pissed.  But I also get pissed when they don't let me.  And I'm struggling (still) to discern when the aren't letting me by virtue of using their strength (so not cool) or because their technique is so awesome. 

4.  I find myself comparing the way I was taught to do things with the way I'm currently being taught and I want my old way to be the better way (because if Donald and Henry taught it that way, then by golly, it's the right way).  So when I ask about the new way and their preferences versus mine, I am frustrated that I don't always remember the reason why we did it this other way.  And I am double mad when I can't execute the "right way" against the new people.  Because I want to rep my origins.

5. When I am allowed to get somewhere, I find myself blanking and returning to the same old boring 3-4 subs and series.  I need new material, writers! 

6.  Those same old series aren't working! so I need to find new sneaky ways!  and hello, against browns and blacks, that's not easy at all.

Sigh :)

About time to get back to blogging...

It's been a while, but I'm back... back to training every day, back to thinking about Jiu jitsu and back to lots of parts of my life that kind of got back burner'd for a while.

Just wanted to show off my latest indulgence... this Mizuno gi, the Rickson model.  It's lovely, heavy, soft, with a very thick collar.  Size 3.5 is just a smidge big on me but I can't seem to shrink it and i don't want to alter it, so it's fine. You can see the Rickson embroidery is close to the pants hem, so if I shorten them, that proportion will be awry.  I bought it used from a good friend. Who also got it used, as his name isn't Ishimaru (if Ms. or Mr. Ishimaru is out there, I'd love to get in touch...)

Anyway, been adjusting to a lot of life changes and enjoying the chance to train daily.  I'm always working on my guard, and i feel most of the time like a purple belt (except when playing guard ;) )

More soon...