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
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