Trials and Triumphs in Jiu Jitsu

This "open journal" is dedicated to all the women who love Jiu Jitsu and aren't afraid to roll with the men. :-) I began training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu on July 9, 2012 and it didn't take me long to realize that this was going to be an adventure worth journalizing. I was a personal trainer/yoga instructor for six years so I've dabbled in all types of training from power lifting (another fave of mine) to kickboxing. After leaving the fitness industry I took an office job in Manhattan and spent close to a year being pretty friggin lazy. Finally, fed up with the weak, off-balance thing that I had become I gave up trying to convince my sister to try BJJ with me and rolled into my first class solo. Despite my past fitness endeavors I was totally overwhelmed . . . but mama don't raise no quitters. I'm going to learn this martial art. Wish me luck! PS: In case you're wondering I'm 5'0"/95 lbs. Be afraid, be very afraid. :-D Update: All recipes will be posted here from now on - italkitchen.tumblr.com.

[jiujitsuladies]

Random side note unrelated to jiu-jitsu... It’s official! I’m taking my side hustle to LIC Flea & Food Market. 🤗 (Cuz training doesn't pay for itself!) If you’re in the NYC area, come and get some! Show the e-coupon above for discounts. For more info, follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@iandiartisans).

[jiujitsuladies]

Caution: D-bag Training?

So, yeah. Pretty sure I spotted a d-bag training in class last night. But, of course, I’m second guessing myself because I can’t bring myself to believe that anyone who trains at my school would be anything less than super cool and awesome. Misguided maybe, but a straight d-bag? It can’t be!

So this new guy shows up with James, who actually is super cool and awesome by the way. New guy is a purple belt, small, not much taller than me but heavier. Anyway, after warm ups we were paired up for practicing techniques. I smiled, asked him his name before we started. He smiled and told me. Perfectly normal behavior. Then we started practicing and things got a bit weird. He was completely and totally not engaged with me. At all. We would do the technique once and then he would spend several minutes just staring at the guys as they practiced. We’d do the technique again and then he’d be right back to staring and not engaging with me. HIS PARTNER. I tried to talk to him to get his attention back on us but he just seemed non-responsive and uninterested. Now I’m a teacher so I know that everyone has different learning styles but this is jiu jitsu! At some point you need to stop watching and physically do the technique. But whatevs.

Then came rolling. We were paired for the first roll and I spent every second of 5 minutes defending an incessant barrage of attacks upon attacks. He caught me with one arm bar in the middle but for 5 straight minutes he was beyond unrelenting. Almost weirdly so maybe? I don’t know. I wasn’t worried about it but then after the buzzer went off I sat up to give him five like we always do. But I couldn’t. His back was turned and he was already gone, ghost. No five, no “good roll”. What the hell happened to respect for your opponent??? That was the nauseating part. I’ve had guys try to smash and rag doll me in the past. It sucks and I get over it. But I’ve NEVER had any one so flagrantly not acknowledge my existence at the end of a roll. Am I nuts or is this guy a certifiable d-bag?

To top it off, at the end of class new guy was all gung ho about practicing techniques with the other guys on the mat over and over again. But not with me. Sooooo, I’m gonna just say it. Targeted d-baggery? 😡

[jiujitsuladies]

Guess who got her third stripe AND a new gi. This girl! 🤗

[jiujitsuladies]

I'm not sure which drives me more crazy: this or when I get submitted and have absolutely no clue what hit me or how it happened.

[jiujitsuladies]

Chipping Away at the Rust

Another good class this week. Hoping to stick to one a week for another few weeks before I go for twice a week. Shoulder feels solid. Big toe is a little busted up but it’ll be good to go by next week.

Things to remember:

Side control with gift wrap: Take back by posturing up and leaning toward partner’s knees (seems easy enough … if you can get/hold the gift wrap)

From closed guard (and I always get stuck here):

If the head goes low while you have control of one arm, push the arm across partner’s body to one side, let it go so that you can pop out and sit up on the other side (stay close so that you keep control of that arm). Grab lat, bump hips to initiate resistance then fall back and roll partner over you.

Or

Pendulum sweep: Control one arm, use other hand to grab partner’s opposite leg behind knee, swing legs and push partner’s leg while pulling the arm so that partner can’t base.

Rolls were great: J outweighs me by about 70 lbs but he had a bruised rib situation going on which gave me some opportunities that wouldn’t otherwise be there. Worked a couple of back takes and chokes in there. :-)

[jiujitsuladies]

Time to Go to School

Second degree burn on arm: healed. Ready to train again. Survived the "first day back" (which always hurts like hell) and I even felt pretty good about it. Things to remember: Triangle - I'm not that tall and my legs aren't that long. Lift my hips or I'll keep coming up short (pun fully intended). Grab that shin, get a good angle and lock it in. Mount - Attack fast. If I don't I'll just lose the position. Maybe I don't even want mount. Maybe side control? Americana/kimura - I learned these ages ago. Why am I not using them??? Need to eat more (and earlier) before class.

[jiujitsuladies]

Jiu Jitsu Reboot

So the summer of 2015 marks the reboot of my jiu jitsu training. After almost 2 yrs sans mat I finally found a new school that I like. The first two weeks have been tough, as expected, but just as much fun as I remembered. Haven't met a single woman at the new school yet (uber sad face!) but most of the guys have been really welcoming so far so no complaints here. My left shoulder is tweaking a bit after two weeks of getting re-acclimated to full contact sparring with the big boys (that's a regular thing, no biggie) but the once-fractured rib that became a chronic problem a couple of years back hasn't made a peep yet (knocking on wood right now). I'm looking forward to training more regularly throughout the summer and into the school year. Wish me luck!

[jiujitsuladies]

Ah yes! Nothing like a new gi. 😍😍😍

[jiujitsuladies]

Starting Over

It was bound to happen. After an impromptu move, months of crazy work demands and a couple of trips abroad I’ve finally started looking for a new BJJ school. Even though I’ve got a little training under my belt, I find that walking into these schools is just as intimidating as it was two years ago. I start training on Monday. Wish me luck, guys! Btw does anyone have any experience with Pizol BJJ or C3 Athletics?

[jiujitsuladies]

More adventures in Thailand: A large sidecar attached to a moped AKA a tuk tuk. No windshield, no windows, no doors. Just a wing, a prayer and a whole lot of wind in our faces all the way to Aonong. It's like being on a roller coaster with no safety harness. I'm officially addicted. Can't wait to get to a muay thai fight in Bangkok.

[jiujitsuladies]

So in Thailand, hotels don’t leave little chocolates on your bed. They leave giant, gold-sequined muay thai boxing gloves that say “lights” and “out”. I love this place!

[jiujitsuladies]

Hello, judo. ☺️

That's right. Judo!!! My ribs are still a problem off and on so instead of letting big people sit on and squish me I've decided that for the moment I'd prefer to let big people throw me. It's been a lot easier on my ribs so far, no pain after class other than standard soreness so I'll be working on my throws and takedowns for the next few months. We still do a little groundwork so hopefully my jiu jitsu won't get too rusty. Over the summer when I'll have a lot more time to train (and recover) I'll definitely go back to rolling. But for now: randori!

[jiujitsuladies]

How did the hemp gi work out?

Hey there! Sorry I took so long to respond but I finally got around to testing my new Hemp Ecstasy gi. So far I love it. It's definitely thinner than the last gi I had so I'm a little cooler when I'm training and the material is less coarse so it's more comfortable to move around in. The arms and legs are shorter than I'm used to but I think that's just because my last gi was too big for me. The only thing I didn't like was that the gi reeked of moth balls when I first got it. I had to wash it twice and hang dry it outside to get the smell out.

[jiujitsuladies]

Guess Who's Back

Yep, I got to class not once but TWICE this week. And of course it feels great to be back. It especially feels good when your sensei asks you who you’ve been rolling with while you were gone because you’re still in good shape and remember some basics. :-)

[liferemastered-deactivated20160]

[jiujitsuladies]

Hahaha! Yeah, not a good place to be.

[bjjsam-blog]

What? Completely disagree. I think if one party is much bigger and/or much more advanced they should pull guard/play bottom to start at least. Please don’t let the 250 lb guy insist on top. That means I’m effed bc he is going to play hard and to his strength/size advantage. A big guy going guard is more likely to mean he understands how to make this a good train for both of us, or at least give you a shot. I don’t want a big guy on top of me if I can help it, thanks. I get how this is meant in a playful, uh oh this guy is big AND has a bottom game but my knee jerk thoughts were pretty strong.

[jiujitsuladies]

Yes, yes, someone who’s significantly larger than you should definitely try to pull guard or play open guard and let you try to pass. Being squashed and smothered by someone much bigger than you isn't much of a learning experience. But if they try to pull guard I hope to be quick enough to not let them succeed. If they do I consider that a fail. And it’s a frustrating pain in the ass to get out. The guard passes that I've been taught require you to stand up which is harder when the person dangling from your waist has the weight advantage. Just saying.

[liferemastered-deactivated20160]

[jiujitsuladies]

Hahaha! Yeah, not a good place to be.

[jiujitsuladies]

IT'S FINALLY HERE!!!!!!