Among massive tech layoffs, I was lucky to be able keep training. The idea
struck me when I noticed a few Google and Facebook guys stop coming. The manager
at work did put me under a "performance improvement plan," by the way (more on
that later), but I barely felt anything. Folks from the local police, the
university, and businesses showed up as usual. No new injuries befell yours
truly and four or five days a week, I sweated in the dojo.
A few new white belts have stayed and among them, Hadrian, Mike, and Levi were
young, big, and strong and it gave me great joy to out-maneuver and submit them.
They were either lost or just too slow, reminding me of my early white belt
days. I was even able to practice some mount attacks on Mike and teach him a few
things, which always made it more satisfying.
I pulled the head-lock, or kesa-gatami, from cross side a lot. Most expierenced
guys know how to counter: they either duck their elbow or clasp hands at my
armpit and bridge. I did catch a few guys by surprise, however, and was able to
trap their arms and finish.
As always, people have been helpful, e.g., David, Jon, and professor Weiqi
always encouraged me. Weiqi liked to try his head-and-arm guillotine on me and
thought my defense was good. "Keep doing what you're doing" he said once and
"Use the turtle as a transition" on another occasion. When I asked him if I
should try to escape a fully locked rear naked choke, he first said no and then
"You'll get a strong neck doing it."
Feb 15, as Stephen and I were facing off, Brenda came over camera in hand.
"I'll make you famous" she said, recorded our roll, and shared it with the team.
Stephen tapped me out with a belly-down armbar setup which turned into a
standard cross-side armbar because I rolled over attempting to get out.
Watching the video afterward was very educational: I could see my mistakes and
options much better.
Sam trained three years and got three stripes on his white belt. In my opinion
he should've got his blue belt long ago. 15 lbs heavier, he was very good
controlling me on the mat and I rarely passed his open guard. He is very
methodical and analyzes and drills positions much more than I do.
The West analyzes, the East feels. The value of intellectual understanding is
obvious. The more I train, however, the more I trust the senses and the flow
according to Rickson, e.g. In this art, the body could be superior than the
mind.
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