You'll never know how good you can be if you don't have the support of your team and your instructors. I am very fortunate to have many people that want to see me succeed. I got thinking this week after an email I received from Kimo that I am really doing things the wrong way. I am obviously picking up techniques and rolling and learning, but I am NEVER drilling or setting weekly goals for myself. I have every opportunity after class to grab someone and drill, but I just go ahead and roll. It never really dawned on me how counter intuitive that was. I am going out of town for a week and a half next week, but when I return I am going to be laser focused on publishing my weekly goals and asking for help in achieving them.
As I was driving home from class on Thursday I really reflected on what I want from Jiu-jitsu and what brings me joy about it. In all honesty, it is not belts or awards or medals. I am small and Jiu-jitsu for me is exactly what it was intended for, a smaller, weaker opponent to use technique to defeat a bigger, stronger opponent. Most everyone I roll with qualifies as the latter on me, so I've got that going for me. But, where I get the most joy is when I roll with a less experienced guy that is 50 lbs heavier than me and I get the better of them. Seeing their face and hearing the reaction to "how the hell did that little guy just do that to me" gives me pleasure that you can't imagine. Now that I've met Casey I might have to reconsider that which brings me joy, but for now I'm sticking to it.
So I read the Wise Grappler's emails all the time and this week I received one which showed itself in training and at even came up at the birthday BBQ. It was called "Are You Doing That Young Man's Stuff". It was so brilliant. Basically, it talked about Bernard Hopkins' last fight and how he was standing toe to toe with a much younger and probably stronger opponent. His corner man, after Bernard got pummeled one round, said exactly that "Don't do that young man's stuff". It rang so true this week as I rolled with Jesse. He is huge, much bigger and stronger than me and I "let" him get to side control. I was playing a big man's game, not a little man's game and Seth brought that up to me. So, my next question is how do I play the little man's game (the answer is don't let the big guy get side control! ha, ha still figuring it out) Anyway, that will stick in my brain and form my game in a significant fashion. I absolutely need to learn the little man's game, I just never realized it before.
So now I need to figure out what I want as far as setting my goals. I absolutely need to add more and more drills to my training - arm bar, triangle, omo plata for one, back take from half guard, arm bar from mount, I'll add others. I also need to focus on doing one thing well each week. From a suggestion, because of my knack for turtling, I will set a goal to get back to guard from as many positions as possible. I also want to do more flow drills. Like I said, I'm going out of town Wednesday for a week and a half and will only train once with my old pals outside of Philly, but when I get back it is game on. You will all see a new and improved "little guy" come August and September. Be prepared to drill with me too.
Last note - I am giving myself some props because I showed up Saturday to roll open mat. Friday night I must have drunk 2 bottles of wine and getting there Saturday was a real challenge. But, you all are keeping me motivated and even though I only sweated it out for 30 minutes, it was well worth my time and effort. I couldn't have said the same a few months ago, so thank you goes out to all of you guys who are supporting my journey.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
June 18, 2011
I ended up training 3 times this week with one session cut short. It seems as though every week I have the intention and goal of getting in 4 times at least but something comes up. I feel good, though because a few months ago I probably would've missed the whole week because I got a little hurt on Wednesday and had a bunch of crap go down with my car, but I focused on what I want and made sure to get in the gym. This blog has helped me as well - it keeps me motivated to get in there and get better.
I know others have probably felt this way before, but sometimes I think that maybe I'm not cut out to be good at Jiu-jitsu. Maybe I just don't have the right kind of brain to be aware of situations and stay out of danger, or be aware enough to recognize quickly when I have someone else in danger. I've been training on and off for just over 6 years and I'm a blue belt. I know the reasons why and I'm not upset about it. I've only had two great instructors, Noah Spear and Steve Hordinski (both Relson Gracie diciples). I spent my first year of training with Noah and I've now spent the last year with Steve. All of the in between was just rolling. It helped me to be able to defend myself a certain degree (turtle - you all know it), but I missed out on really learning and understanding techniques and drilling them. I think that if someone is a blue belt or white belt and their instructor is teaching X Guard it's probably time to find another school. I didn't (and I still don't know X Guard). I know in other sports there are certain people that will just never get it and be able to excel. I don't want to be that guy in BJJ and I keep hoping that isn't true for BJJ. Thankfully I'm addicted to it and I love being around the guys in the gym. All are great people. So I'll stick with it until I tap Wes, then I can retire in peace and happiness, ha, ha.
Interestingly, I am getting the feeling that some of my training partners are trying a little harder now that they are on my list and I have a blog. Seems that getting tapped by me would now be some sort of scarlet letter! I'm glad that everyone is going to be hard on me because that's the only way to learn. Just don't hurt me, remember that I'm an old man! I also think Seth is a bit upset at the name of the blog, he was hoping it was going to be Tapping Seth, but now that he's a purple belt (congrats, well deserved) it just wouldn't have made any sense.
Training was great this week. Did half guard passes and side control escapes. I learned when I'm in someone's half guard that I allow too much space, posture up, don't grip right and give my leg away. In side control I discovered that I suck at bridging / bumping. All these things are hopefully registering in my brain for the future, let me know.
I rolled with Seth, Garrett, Joe, Wes, Helius and Jason this week. Seth, Wes and Jason were kind but destroyed me with a series of submissions. Wes added a D'Arce choke to my list of submissions today which was nice. The following submissions have not been secured on me since I started the blog - guillotine, rear naked, wrist lock, americana, wedgie, five finger exploding heart, gogoplata, bocaplata, reverse triangle, some arm bar variations, cross choke, clock choke (even though Victor tried his hardest last week)... Anyway, there are many more, so get creative folks. Anyway, I got into great positions with some of my training partners, but failed to secure a submission. I missed little details in my transitions and I tried submissions that were probably not yet set up quite well enough. But, again, I learned and that is all that matters. I will start getting them.
Physically, I am in better shape than I have been in for a while. My energy is up, I'm getting stronger and I can almost see some muscles when I look in the mirror. It's difficult when you're as white as me, maybe I need a spray tan or something - can they spray muscles on? We'll see. I am going to the beach in a month. I'm also going back East in a week and a half and will be training with my old pals. I know that they'll see an improvement from the last time I saw them a year and a half ago. I'll also get a better gauge on how good they are compared to the studs I'm training with here.
I suppose that's it for now. Send me a message about anything if you want scottshore@yahoo.com
I know others have probably felt this way before, but sometimes I think that maybe I'm not cut out to be good at Jiu-jitsu. Maybe I just don't have the right kind of brain to be aware of situations and stay out of danger, or be aware enough to recognize quickly when I have someone else in danger. I've been training on and off for just over 6 years and I'm a blue belt. I know the reasons why and I'm not upset about it. I've only had two great instructors, Noah Spear and Steve Hordinski (both Relson Gracie diciples). I spent my first year of training with Noah and I've now spent the last year with Steve. All of the in between was just rolling. It helped me to be able to defend myself a certain degree (turtle - you all know it), but I missed out on really learning and understanding techniques and drilling them. I think that if someone is a blue belt or white belt and their instructor is teaching X Guard it's probably time to find another school. I didn't (and I still don't know X Guard). I know in other sports there are certain people that will just never get it and be able to excel. I don't want to be that guy in BJJ and I keep hoping that isn't true for BJJ. Thankfully I'm addicted to it and I love being around the guys in the gym. All are great people. So I'll stick with it until I tap Wes, then I can retire in peace and happiness, ha, ha.
Interestingly, I am getting the feeling that some of my training partners are trying a little harder now that they are on my list and I have a blog. Seems that getting tapped by me would now be some sort of scarlet letter! I'm glad that everyone is going to be hard on me because that's the only way to learn. Just don't hurt me, remember that I'm an old man! I also think Seth is a bit upset at the name of the blog, he was hoping it was going to be Tapping Seth, but now that he's a purple belt (congrats, well deserved) it just wouldn't have made any sense.
Training was great this week. Did half guard passes and side control escapes. I learned when I'm in someone's half guard that I allow too much space, posture up, don't grip right and give my leg away. In side control I discovered that I suck at bridging / bumping. All these things are hopefully registering in my brain for the future, let me know.
I rolled with Seth, Garrett, Joe, Wes, Helius and Jason this week. Seth, Wes and Jason were kind but destroyed me with a series of submissions. Wes added a D'Arce choke to my list of submissions today which was nice. The following submissions have not been secured on me since I started the blog - guillotine, rear naked, wrist lock, americana, wedgie, five finger exploding heart, gogoplata, bocaplata, reverse triangle, some arm bar variations, cross choke, clock choke (even though Victor tried his hardest last week)... Anyway, there are many more, so get creative folks. Anyway, I got into great positions with some of my training partners, but failed to secure a submission. I missed little details in my transitions and I tried submissions that were probably not yet set up quite well enough. But, again, I learned and that is all that matters. I will start getting them.
Physically, I am in better shape than I have been in for a while. My energy is up, I'm getting stronger and I can almost see some muscles when I look in the mirror. It's difficult when you're as white as me, maybe I need a spray tan or something - can they spray muscles on? We'll see. I am going to the beach in a month. I'm also going back East in a week and a half and will be training with my old pals. I know that they'll see an improvement from the last time I saw them a year and a half ago. I'll also get a better gauge on how good they are compared to the studs I'm training with here.
I suppose that's it for now. Send me a message about anything if you want scottshore@yahoo.com
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Sunday June 12, 2011
Welcome to my blog. You might think by its title that my sole purpose and goal is to tap Wes Glassmeyer, but it really isn't. The goal of my blog is to document the journey of a 39 year old, married, father of two trying to get into better shape and advance in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. Although, some of my benchmarks to improving will be submitting bigger, stronger and more advanced people like Wes! Everyone at Relson Gracie Jiu-jitsu is technically awesome, fit and works super hard, so I know my journey is going to be hard, but I also know I am working with the best. I am also using this as a way to stay motivated and hopefully in the process motivate others. I don't want to be the guy who achieves blue belt and stops training forever, I want to get better, stronger and more in shape than I've ever been. Please help.
So yesterday was a good day. I rolled for about an hour and a half or so and did so with a bunch of guys - Seth, Wes, Victor and Dusty. I was beaten up and submitted in a ton of different ways. I was swept, mounted, had my back taken, turtled and many more. I got leg locked, foot locked, anaconda choked (Wes), arm barred, triangle choked and lastly, smothered (Dusty's patented shoulder over the nose and mouth, although I think it was Curtis' originally). I am thankful for each one of those awful experiences. I almost pulled off a bow and arrow choke that we learned last Wednesday, but didn't quite master one part of the technique (plus one unnamed training partner has a gigantic nearly un-submittable neck).
I did some things well, though. I got into some good positions offensively and held and escaped a number of defensive positions. I learned that I need that one last part of a full technique to finish the bow and arrow, which I will remember next time. I reinforced in myself that no part of any technique is unnecessary. I thought more about my grips and how they impact what my opponent is going to be able to do. I learned several new minor changes to approaching passing the half guard effectively. All of these things I hope to be able to build into my game in order to minimize my mistakes in the future.
I also stretched, did push ups, pull ups, squats and crunches because I am so out of shape. I am a total physical mess even though I am only 160 lbs. I will get stronger all around on my journey and have the gas to be able to compete effectively and not crap out after the first fight.
Should you like to inquire about your status on my goals list of people to tap, please send me a post here or to scottshore@yahoo.com. Don't feel bad if you are not Wes, he is not alone. I hope that you all continue to submit me with the flare and grace I have come to expect of each and every one of you. Lastly, I will only count my submissions if it is an arm attack or choke, no leg or ankle locks. I hope this blog doesn't get boring. If it does tell me and I'll submit.
So yesterday was a good day. I rolled for about an hour and a half or so and did so with a bunch of guys - Seth, Wes, Victor and Dusty. I was beaten up and submitted in a ton of different ways. I was swept, mounted, had my back taken, turtled and many more. I got leg locked, foot locked, anaconda choked (Wes), arm barred, triangle choked and lastly, smothered (Dusty's patented shoulder over the nose and mouth, although I think it was Curtis' originally). I am thankful for each one of those awful experiences. I almost pulled off a bow and arrow choke that we learned last Wednesday, but didn't quite master one part of the technique (plus one unnamed training partner has a gigantic nearly un-submittable neck).
I did some things well, though. I got into some good positions offensively and held and escaped a number of defensive positions. I learned that I need that one last part of a full technique to finish the bow and arrow, which I will remember next time. I reinforced in myself that no part of any technique is unnecessary. I thought more about my grips and how they impact what my opponent is going to be able to do. I learned several new minor changes to approaching passing the half guard effectively. All of these things I hope to be able to build into my game in order to minimize my mistakes in the future.
I also stretched, did push ups, pull ups, squats and crunches because I am so out of shape. I am a total physical mess even though I am only 160 lbs. I will get stronger all around on my journey and have the gas to be able to compete effectively and not crap out after the first fight.
Should you like to inquire about your status on my goals list of people to tap, please send me a post here or to scottshore@yahoo.com. Don't feel bad if you are not Wes, he is not alone. I hope that you all continue to submit me with the flare and grace I have come to expect of each and every one of you. Lastly, I will only count my submissions if it is an arm attack or choke, no leg or ankle locks. I hope this blog doesn't get boring. If it does tell me and I'll submit.
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