Lesson Learned

It has been a few days since I have been able to post anything. Partly because my schedule is just ridiculously busy, and partly because by the time I get home and the kids are in bed- I am ready for bed too. The 3 and a half hour training classes 4 times a week is taking a serious toll. Even now as I type my hands and forearms are killing me. Luckily my legs are in pretty good shape, or I would question whether or not I could even sit here.
We have been doing a lot of drills on striking power- using technique to push through versus just swinging. What a concept. When I started this my hook was by far my weakest throw- after last night it now may be my hardest. Apparently all the guys were impressed. They all said my hook is harder then theres- with the exception of the title fighter of course. Good enough for meeeeee. I even got a high five from one of the guys that has been kind of stand offish. May have been the highlight of the evening.
At the end of the training class we did some sort of hellacious 10 minute action drill. For ten minutes you move- doing whatever the person calling out the orders tells you too...push ups, jumping jacks, squats, sprawls, ect...after about 3 minutes in to it I was done...I mean really done..keep in mind we had already done an hour and a half of high impact MMA training-...I mustered my way through the last 7 minutes so that I wouldn't start hearing the "girl" remarks..but none of the actions I did were actually worth anything. I did stay moving though...

On to Jiu Jitsu...I felt terrible moving on to the Jiu Jitsu class as sweaty and stinky as I was..but I guess the guys were too..
We were working on an arm bar technique- it was super hard for me..being as that I am short and chubby- "compact" as they say nicely (lol)...but I have the hardest time swinging my leg over the head...I can rotate t square up on the arm, but I can't seem to swing my leg over the head to sweep them. Practice makes perfect I guess..

I am curious if I were to have a girl to try the move on if I would be any more successful...the guys seem to have a hard time working the technique on me too...for apparently the same reason. I am thrilled that they are starting to work technique with me at all!!

I officially signed up for the upcoming Hanette Staack seminar. I am super excited to be going to meet some other female Jiu Jitsu practitioners, as well as learn some techniques from a topnotch female. I mentioned the class to my instructor and he seemed excited for me..always a good sign.
I feel like everyone is getting more and more accepting- in the beginning they just didn't know what to do with a girl, so they chose not to do anything I guess..
Lesson to self (and any other readers out there)..doing nothing is hardly ever the right option.

Make Room for Improvement

Shooooooweeeeee. I am worn out. I just got in from a three hour training session with "the boys". For the first hour and a half we worked on kickboxing and striking power. The kickboxing itself is fairly easy for me- although there is always room for improvement. I still have a lot to learn when it comes to striking power though...a lot of the technical motions are just not natural for me and I am going to have to re-train my muscles. Looking forward to putting in the work though.

The last hour of training was strictly Jiu Jitsu. There was a new guy there tonight too. New to me- but apparently not to the class. He is a very experienced and he had no problem rolling with a girl. OH HAPPY DAY!!!!...yes..one more time..OH HAPPY DAY!!! I finally found a consistent partner to roll with. He actually seemed thrilled to be rolling with someone that is more his height. Obviously if he chose to he could wear me out- but he didn't. He let me work the techniques over and over-

When we had our open mat session at the end of the evening I used the technique I learned from TECH teacher Tim Mannon and immediately passed guard into side control. That was the best feeling ever. Almost so good that for a split second I freaked out and was going to celebrate...but I caught myself- threw him into a keylock and he TAPPED!!! My first tap!!!! WOOHOOOO..

Mucho Thanks go to everyone at TECH that helped me even get into side control to begin with. Kudos to my new partner Austin for being man enough to take on a girl. I am off to celebrate!!!

Goodnight All-