Operation Look Like A Goddess

[ledove]

TKD was cancelled tonight. The rain this weekend flooded the room we use and buckled the wood floor. They're trying to dry it out and fix it...

So I skipped lifting, ran home, and got my BJJ stuff. (You would know, the first night I don't take my BJJ stuff to TKD, I get to go to BJJ. That'll teach me.) Monday night, so it's the advanced class.

O
M
G

I thought I'd been getting in better shape, which was why the warmups on Tuesday weren't so bad. Wrong. The warmups on Tuesday are easy peasy and short compared to what we went through tonight. The instructors warmed us up, and then Tim took over and warmed us up some more. I was just about done by the end of the warmup... (though I did still beat two guys on the last drill).

Then we rolled. On Tuesday, we'd do drills first, which gives you a chance to rest and recover. Nope, not tonight. Rolling first, two rounds. Then drills. I got the Rubber Kid, the guy with the hyperflexible joints, for the drills. Gah. He doesn't even feel pressure unless you are exactly on the right spot. And then more rolling.

Holy
cow.

Then the instructors and Tim went over to put Tim through a circuit. He's still training for his fight on July 19th. Open mat for the rest of us. Some of the guys started working a guard escape and armbar, and working them wrong, so I helped them for a while. The guys started leaving.

Got 3 pullups. And then a set of 2. Stretched. Foam-rolled when I got home.

Bleh. Don't like stinking up the warmup and then being gassed the rest of class. I really need to hit the advanced class again, but I can't until TKD is off summer schedule. ... But I need time to recover from any intense workouts I throw in. ... I think I'll move lifting to Tuesday & Thursday before class, so that in class I've already worked once. (Ugh, Thursdays. They're already intense. Oh well...) Monday, Wednesday, maybe Friday, I'll just walk or bike at the gym.

Did try shoes again today. Toes still aren't happy. I'll try to hit a shoe store and find some closed-toe shoes with a wider toe box...

[ledove]

Last night BJJ, the Beginners' class. The warmup was almost as nuts as Monday night's. I was thinking, "Holy cow, I've lost this much in just four days? Couldn't have..."

I mentioned before that when we have a new guy, especially a know-it-all type, the warmups get more intense. Guess what? New guy. Three new ones, in fact, but two of them started last week and the warmups were doable then. The third is a 14-year-old scrawny kid. Yeah, this is all for him. Turns out (and I find this out after class) that he goes around picking fights and his parents don't know what to do with him. So they talked to Perry and/or Tim, and are bringing him in to get straightened out. His dad brings him to class and sits and waits. Monday night's warmup sent him outside to puke. Last night he made it through, but barely. (They did back off a little bit because it is, after all, the beginners' class.)

We drilled next, and I got in with some of the good guys. Then we rolled. At this point, I don't know we're supposed to be trouncing the little kid; I just know it's his second night, he's half my size, and he puked last night, so I felt sorry for him. I also didn't want to roll with him because I'm at least twice his age and female, and his dad's sitting right there. Really, a young teenager like that does not need to be rolling around on the floor with a woman twice his age, and if I were his parents, I wouldn't want him to. (And that's the only time I'll ever refer to myself as a "woman"; still think of myself as a "girl" or "chick".) There's a kid who comes sometimes who's a senior in high school--and he's been doing BJJ for longer than I have--and the rest of the guys are 18yo+ so I'm cool rolling with all of them.

But one of the instructors told me to roll with him "since he's new." Only he didn't tell me what's really going on here. I rolled once with someone else, then the instructor gave me a look and pointed at the kid. Oh, fine. Remember, I'm still feeling sorry for this kid and thinking it's inappropriate for us to be rolling. So all I did was sweep him around (and try not to end up with his face in my chest ). He kept trying to throw some weird front choke or something on me, but I'd just move him around and keep going. Saw lots of submissions but didn't take any of them. He had no clue what he was doing.

Usually when I'm rolling with newer guys, I'm not trying to work submissions on them because I don't want to be a big mean old person who just taps them out continuously just because I can. (I really don't work them enough even with the other guys--need to change that.)

After class, when the kid was gone and we were halfway through a round-robin in gi class, the instructor tells me he wanted me to submit the kid every which way and told me the whole story. Oh, now you tell me! I finally get sicced on someone, only I don't know I am, so I take it easy on him! Bah! He said, too, he wouldn't normally put me with a kid like that; he understood how I thought it would be inappropriate.

Well, now I know, and now I know even more than I can trust my instructors. So the next time I'm at BJJ or even MMA, and if that kid's there, I'll work him over (wear him out, tap or tag him). And I've got to start working toward more submissions.

TKD is still in flux. We got word that the room we use might take months to fix. Apparently the floor is just about ruined. We could probably get a raquetball court in the gym for the rest of the summer, but then we'll need something once classes start back. Usually in the fall we get a 30-50 person beginner class, and that won't fit in a raquetball court. (I'm perversely happy about it at the moment because I might get in some more BJJ. But long term, that's no good.) So we're not sure when or where we can have class...

[LWilson212]

Hey Leslie-

Sounds like you had an interesting class.

That sucks about the TKD room taking months to fix. Hopefully they'll figure out something.

[Bytsi]

LOL about the kid Leslie... We have a boy who's about 13 or 14 in karate. I got paired with him for joint locks - which included, on that night, a lock where we basically sit straddling their neck/face. AWKWARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't wanna do that to ANY of the guys (or have it done to me ), but I can't imagine a kid that age enjoying a 40-year-old woman sitting on his face!!!!! When he had to straddle me, he stayed WAY up in the air above me

[ledove]

Originally Posted by LWilson212

Hey Leslie-

Sounds like you had an interesting class.

That sucks about the TKD room taking months to fix. Hopefully they'll figure out something.

Hey, Leah. I'm just glad that it wasn't just me suddenly stinking up the warmups.

For TKD, we're looking in to other rooms on campus (although most of the reservations for next year are already done) and at other places in the community. I'll probably talk to Perry/Tim about using their space after they finish their classes for the night. Downside is it's the next town over, and the bus doesn't get very close. So if we go that way, we'll have to figure out carpools, and probably won't have a large beginner class. (Good news is I won't have to miss any BJJ.)

Originally Posted by Bytsi

LOL about the kid Leslie... We have a boy who's about 13 or 14 in karate. I got paired with him for joint locks - which included, on that night, a lock where we basically sit straddling their neck/face. AWKWARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't wanna do that to ANY of the guys (or have it done to me ), but I can't imagine a kid that age enjoying a 40-year-old woman sitting on his face!!!!! When he had to straddle me, he stayed WAY up in the air above me

Heh, I didn't want this kid to enjoy it too much.

Yeah, a few of the guys won't do some of the moves on me because they're basically straddling my face. (Only one has actually said anything, and that was after I was there for a while because he wouldn't apply any pressure and I wouldn't tap until he did.) Usually I try not to think about the, um, compromising positions we end up in. If any pictures from class were ever taken out of context...

[LWilson212]

Originally Posted by Bytsi

LOL about the kid Leslie... We have a boy who's about 13 or 14 in karate. I got paired with him for joint locks - which included, on that night, a lock where we basically sit straddling their neck/face. AWKWARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't wanna do that to ANY of the guys (or have it done to me ), but I can't imagine a kid that age enjoying a 40-year-old woman sitting on his face!!!!! When he had to straddle me, he stayed WAY up in the air above me

OMG does this crack me up! That was definitely the part I was hesitant about in going to grappling, like isn't it going to be weird to be straddling these guys. Luckily the guys are required to wear cups so I don't have to worry about anything really scarey touching me!

[Bytsi]

Luckily the guys are required to wear cups so I don't have to worry about anything really scarey touching me!

I just spit my water all over my keyboard!!!

[ledove]

Originally Posted by LWilson212

OMG does this crack me up! That was definitely the part I was hesitant about in going to grappling, like isn't it going to be weird to be straddling these guys. Luckily the guys are required to wear cups so I don't have to worry about anything really scarey touching me!

Originally Posted by Bytsi

I just spit my water all over my keyboard!!!

Glad I didn't have any water around.

It can definitely get a little awkward in there if you stop to think about the position you're in.

And every once in a while, the guys will get stuck in something awkward with each other--the "no pressure, no tap" trap--and then there are catcalls from the sidelines about "no eye contact!"

* * * * *

Just when I was getting excited about another night of BJJ (even brought my gear!), I got an email about TKD. We've gotten a couple of raquetball courts for tonight. Oh, well: I'll still have MMA tomorrow. But TKD does mean I get to leave early and hit the gym first.

[ledove]

TKD was outside, even though the grass was wet--we really don't like to be on the raquetball courts; the echos make it hard to hear anything. Also, although the gym will set aside courts for university-led classes that use that room, they won't set aside courts for clubs. (They only did tonight because we haven't had time to find another place to train.) Which means there has to be one available and we have to get there in time--and if we're always taking up a court that someone wants to use, then they won't be happy with us.

The second half of class we did body conditioning. Basically, you hit your partner to toughen them up in a certain area. We rarely do it but pulled it out tonight because it doesn't take a lot of moving around. I ran that part of class and so didn't actually do it.

Then I ran by BJJ to talk to Perry about letting TKD use the floor when all the classes are finished each night, only he was in the middle of teaching a class. I'm not sure what it is; something self-defense related, maybe Krav Maga. So I was just going to wait his class out. Then he dragged me in to class because one guy was leaving and that left them uneven.

They were doing a self-defense scenario where up to three people could attack you at one time, and all three were doing something different; one even had a plastic knife. You had to take everyone "out", esp. the guy with the knife. I didn't go in the middle, just worked as another attacker; I could have, probably, but wasn't really sure of what they were doing. Then we worked through the first six basic self-defense moves for whatever system they're doing (I'm betting on Krav Maga still).

The last part of class was... body conditioning! Thank goodness I didn't do it at TKD first. Only they (are supposed to) hit harder here than we do. And since my partner was the very quiet and not-hard-hitting girl in the class, Perry came over at one point and started working me over. Ouch!! There were a couple of drills, and I'm so taking them back to TKD with me. 5 minutes, end of class, at least once a week. Funness.

[ledove]

Usually for MMA, we warm up with shadow boxing and then get to drills. Tonight we started with part of a BJJ warmup. (I was starting to wonder if Tim knew which class he was teaching. Again, though, all for the 14yo kid.) But then he stood us up for some pummelling drills. The brilliant thing was that I finally knew what I was doing, and I was doing it pretty well!

One of the drills was a standing pass to the back. The second round of that, I worked with the 14-year old. I didn't beat him up (there was no punching in this drill), but I did stay tight and didn't take it easy. He was real loose on me, mostly because he hasn't yet realized that tightness is important and maybe because he didn't want to hurt me. Hehe. Tim jumped in our round once and muscled me around to demonstrate how tight he was supposed to be--and to show him that I wasn't going to break.

Then we worked a jab-cross drill, and then jab-cross w/ takedown. I worked with a different 14-year old. But I've known him longer, and his dad's in class, so that's not nearly as weird. And I don't roll with him, either.

After class, we had open mat, so I rolled with the second 14yo's dad. But we're both beat up, so that ended fairly quickly... Most of the guys left, and then the Olive Garden crew headed over, which includes the second 14yo and his dad.

During dinner, his dad tells me that the other 14yo, the troublemaker, is his ex-wife's stepson... which means it's his son's stepbrother... which means that the kid's dad, who sits on the sidelines every night, is his ex-wife's new husband... My head's spinning. And for whatever reason, even though the guy is bringing his son to us to get straightened out, that dad doesn't think BJJ is worth anything. More spinning head. These people...

(I think that they officially signed the contract tonight, though, for the kid to join. I didn't really pay attention to him the first two nights, except to feel sorry for him and avoid him best I could, but he seems like he's really listening and trying.)

One of the guys said he was talking to the "MMA instructor", who started with an attitude. My guy asked when this kid was going to have his next fight, because that's all he's talked about since he started. The "MMA instructor" said, "Not anytime soon. I have a lot to learn!" *clap* He gets points for that. Tim's been saying that since the guy started, and he finally gets it.

Also found out over dinner that someone stole our tire. I was wondering why we hadn't been using it recently. Man!! (The guys also voted that I'm a "cool chick" because I flip tires with them. ... ... ...Wait, if someone stole our tire, and I can't flip it anymore, does that mean I'm not cool any more? Dang it!)

[ledove]

Bleh. Somewhat gassed through the warmup this morning. Didn't eat my oatmeal this morning like I usually do.

None of the lighter guys showed up, so everyone I rolled with was ~50lbs heavier than me. Stinks once they get on top; it's hard to get them off.

Still, one of them, who hasn't been there in about 2 months, told me afterward that I've gotten better since he last rolled with me. (Yay!) And the 14yo's dad told me that he'd rather take on any of the guys before messing with me. (Ha!) And Tim said after that I'm getting better and in better shape, too.

Feels like I've been run over by a truck! And I want my tire back!!

[ledove]

Got to the gym before TKD. 30 minutes on the bike (5 min warmup, 10 min intervals (1 min/1 min), 15 min cooldown).

TKD was outside. Really nice day, but the grass makes my feet itch! End of class we did relays. By the last one I was tired of picking my legs up to kick.

BJJ they were actually hanging around, though not doing much. Some of us hit the Mexican restaurant next door after.

Came up with a stretching/foam rolling routine. Did it this morning and will do it here before bed.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

So, looked at the calendar today. I have about 1 more month of TKD summer schedule (testing is August 9). Which means I have about 1 more month of really hitting FLTS and dropping weight. Because then I go to 5 days/week of BJJ/MMA, and I can't be low on calories or energy those days.

Okay, 1 month. Here goes...

[ledove]

Beginners' Class, but bunch of new guys. Now that I know what's coming, it's not so much of a shock when Tim calls out for one more trip down the mats or adds evil pushup variations at the end. It's still hard, though.

Tonight was also gi class, and one of the new guys (I think he was there last night) showed up in a gi...and a yellow belt. There are no yellow belts in BJJ. Well, not in adult BJJ. Kids have yellow belts. This guy looked college age, though. Someone talked to him, and apparently he's been doing BJJ for a year and a half. But I guess no one gave him the memo about no yellow belts for adults... So, because we had a new guy in a belt that doesn't exist in our class, we got lots of extra warmup. (Darn new guys, messing up my warmups!) New guys all gassed; Tim was happy.

Rolling... . My guys say I'm getting better; the instructors say I'm getting better. Tim says I'm getting better. Renzo and Matt and Paul said I was doing good. Random bystanders are afraid of me. And yet I can't tap a guy in a kid's belt. I tried hard. He had maybe 20 lbs on me but was about my size and was probably about the same skill level as I am, but he could muscle out of everything I tried, no matter how tight I had it. Another new guy, who was completely gassed by the time I rolled with him--couldn't do anything against him either. I just got tossed around. And I can't break their grip. It's so frustrating...

No more class the rest of the week because of Tim's fight on Saturday. The instructors and most of the blue belts will be going down to see him. I'm probably going to a body building show to help either my dad or brother run their table.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Eats (c'mon, girl--you can track for a month at least!):
1523 cals
41.1% P, 28.5% C, 29.4% F

[stingo]

Sometimes I wonder if the old Japanese system isn't the best - white, or black, no in betweens.