Jiu-jitsu Month 30

A good diet and regular physical exertions have done wonders to my immune system

although it took one decade. I used to get sick twice a year on average, even

after six marathons. But for 2023, for the first time in my life, I have stayed

malady-free. I knew it was possible because of Luis who started ultra running at

52 and raced into his 60s, didn't get the bugs like the rest of us at work. I

thought it was his genes but here I am. Bragging could jinx it but I do feel

very good about myself.

 

Since starting jiu-jitsu, I've never regretted a day of training. Conquering my

own doubt, fear, and sloth motivates like nothing else. But this month, fun

became the main theme. I was very happy to roll with the bigger guys and enjoy

my escapes and reversals leading to submitting my opponents. It seems jiu-jitsu

compensates my lack of might in the big muscle groups by strengthening those

executing escape and side-control techniques. I loved the feeling of power that

at certain positions, my moves were unstoppable.

 

Eric dropped by on the last day of Nov. A former Redwood City police detective,

he started teaching and promoting jiu-jitsu in law enforcement until he quit the

force, started the gym as a purple belt, and joined the Jean-Jacques Machado

association. Recently he moved to Texas and launched another gym and only came

back to visit a few times a year. 55 years old, he is now a 3rd-degree black

belt under JJM.

 

Of a similar build and only slightly bigger (less than 170 lbs), he teaches a

style easier for me to imitate. We had a great class focusing on the butterfly

guard and arm-drag. Saturday, he rolled with me and taught me a couple of tricks

on passing the butterfly guard and back-taking. He again called me "the Great

Wall of China" and praised my defense. "The more you say it, the more I believe

it." I said.

 

Jeremy visited us for three days, overlaping Eric's stay. He used to coach Tim

in his first competition and had been a brown belt for a couple of years. He had

since moved to LA and trained at JJM HQ and said he was starting from the bottom

of the totem pole there. I felt very happy for him.

 

Two of my mates were promoted on Sat Dec 2: Bret to brown belt after 7 years and

Scott to purple. Both were great training partners and their promotions well

deserved. Scott was as wiry as me and he trained kick-boxing at the same time.

Another two on Dec 4: JayR to purple and Salvatore to blue. Very happy for them.

 

Dec 9. A guard-passing/retaining drill opened my eyes: I sucked! I had some

success at passing the butterfly guard from the knees but for the open guard,

the legs and feet could be anywhere. The coaches kept telling me to stand up to

pass. I also had to be aware of the guy grabbing my foot/feet. Michael could

sweep me once he controlled one arm and one leg. Ali was probably 30 lbs lighter

and could not only hold her own but sweep and submit me.

 

Sam has become really good. The last no-gi class, he scissors-swept me once and

submitted me twice, by triangle and guilotine. Very impressive.

 

The holidays took the last week and I stayed home with an injury in the left

ankle from jumping off a rock on Mission Peak. It would take a while to heal but

the pain was minor. I should be able to go back to train the day after the New

Year.