Strengths & Weaknesses
1 day ago
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Monday, January 05, 2009
So. I'm back...
in the states circa Friday night. Got home just in time for the club's holiday party/1 year anniversary party. It was good to see a lot of the people who make our school what it is be recognized for it. Cheers, guys.
In a nutshell, I'm pretty terrible now, as one would expect after taking 4 months off. I may not be completely hopeless, but I kinda feel that way right now. Everything just feels unnatural and awkward. Granted, coming back completely out of shape and with a right ear that could not be more fucking infected doesn't help too much, but I couldn't NOT go to class.
I really think that still enjoying something even though you are completely terrible at it really proves that you love doing it.
"That's what learning is, after all; not whether we lose the game, but how we lose and how we've changed because of it and what we take away from it that we never had before, to apply to other games. Losing, in a curious way, is winning."
-Richard Bach
...it's possible that truly loving to win means loving to lose, as well.
eh. maybe not.
In a nutshell, I'm pretty terrible now, as one would expect after taking 4 months off. I may not be completely hopeless, but I kinda feel that way right now. Everything just feels unnatural and awkward. Granted, coming back completely out of shape and with a right ear that could not be more fucking infected doesn't help too much, but I couldn't NOT go to class.
I really think that still enjoying something even though you are completely terrible at it really proves that you love doing it.
"That's what learning is, after all; not whether we lose the game, but how we lose and how we've changed because of it and what we take away from it that we never had before, to apply to other games. Losing, in a curious way, is winning."
-Richard Bach
...it's possible that truly loving to win means loving to lose, as well.
eh. maybe not.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Bonjour à Tous!
So, I've finally gotten around to writing since I've arrived in Paris. I'll be here for the next few months (leaving sometime around my birthday on December 15th) in order to work on my
French, and generally enjoy being in Europe and whatnot.
First off, I want to give a shout out to Paulo Sergio, Alexis de Bretagne and the rest of the Alliance BJJ (err JJB if you're over here) crew for welcoming me in to train with them while I am over here. They are located on the web at http://www.alliancebjjfrance.com/. Merci!
Anyhow... Until Monday I was away from any sort of jiu jitsu for about three weeks. If you know me at all, that's a huge amount of time for me to not be rolling. I've only way that I have been able to live out any kind of jj action is in my dreams, which I'm not embarrassed to say happens quite frequently. Lots of shrimping has happened in my hilariously small euro-bed.
A few days a go, though, I was able to catch up with Master Sergio and his boys at CLUB DAUMESNIL JJB ET GRAPPLING which is located literally five minutes of walking away from the historic location of the Bastille featured heavily in the French Revolution of late 18th century. Pretty nifty spot.
Unfortunately, I will only be able to train 3-4 nights a week (with one being nogi. bleh.), which is a bit of a reduction for me, but shouldn't be a big deal... I'm supposed to be enjoying my time in Europe seeing history and drinking German beer, not shoved in a small padded room rolling around with sweaty guys... right? Not really, but whatever.
I've definitely noticed that my jiu jitsu has... disappeared in the past two weeks that I've neglected to use it. Though I have only rolled a handful of times since Monday, I can tell that it will definitely take me at least a few weeks to get my mojo back... if you will. Oh well. That's jiu jitsu, and that's why we love it.
A few things that I have noticed about the jiu jitsu over here (compared to my limited experience in the States):
"If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast."
-Ernest Hemingway
French, and generally enjoy being in Europe and whatnot.
First off, I want to give a shout out to Paulo Sergio, Alexis de Bretagne and the rest of the Alliance BJJ (err JJB if you're over here) crew for welcoming me in to train with them while I am over here. They are located on the web at http://www.alliancebjjfrance.com/. Merci!
Anyhow... Until Monday I was away from any sort of jiu jitsu for about three weeks. If you know me at all, that's a huge amount of time for me to not be rolling. I've only way that I have been able to live out any kind of jj action is in my dreams, which I'm not embarrassed to say happens quite frequently. Lots of shrimping has happened in my hilariously small euro-bed.
A few days a go, though, I was able to catch up with Master Sergio and his boys at CLUB DAUMESNIL JJB ET GRAPPLING which is located literally five minutes of walking away from the historic location of the Bastille featured heavily in the French Revolution of late 18th century. Pretty nifty spot.
Unfortunately, I will only be able to train 3-4 nights a week (with one being nogi. bleh.), which is a bit of a reduction for me, but shouldn't be a big deal... I'm supposed to be enjoying my time in Europe seeing history and drinking German beer, not shoved in a small padded room rolling around with sweaty guys... right? Not really, but whatever.
I've definitely noticed that my jiu jitsu has... disappeared in the past two weeks that I've neglected to use it. Though I have only rolled a handful of times since Monday, I can tell that it will definitely take me at least a few weeks to get my mojo back... if you will. Oh well. That's jiu jitsu, and that's why we love it.
A few things that I have noticed about the jiu jitsu over here (compared to my limited experience in the States):
- There is a lot more open guard work. At home, people are desperate to attain the closed guard, while here many people (even those who are quite new) are comfortable to work a DLR or more conventional open guard. I think that this makes for...
- More spazzy/athletic rolling. The training here is a fair amount more physical than it is at home. It's not a malicious/mma-fighter-esque mentality, so much as... well... actually I haven't a clue. But it's the reason that my shoulder is really sore right now. Obviously I shouldn't be fighting fire with fire (errr... muscle with muscle), but that's why I'm a white belt, right?
- Plentiful funky standing guard passes. I know two, and they both work for me when I can do them correctly. Do white belts really need more?
- Little/no half guard. I think that this is a direct result from the excess amount of "athletic" rolling. Guard passes are almost always hit or miss, which I think is very detrimental. I will admit, though, that it is very easy to get sucked into this style when you hardly know better. I need to remember to "grind" through my guard passes and enact more control before proceeding with my passing... especially with all of the open guard antics going on.
"If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast."
-Ernest Hemingway
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
In and around SoCal...
This past week I was in Southern California, and I figured that I should spend my vacation doing what any sane person would do: train some jiu jitsu (right?).
First up was Rickson's Academy on Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles.
Class was taught by Shawn Rice. Solid instruction. Would expect nothing less from Rickson's school, obviously.
Next up was Newbreed in Santa Fe Springs. Met up with my buddy Tameem there.
After a bit of class and some scenario spars, we rolled for a while. Got to learn a bit about Tameems secret-weapon overhooking guard. Cool stuff. Watch out for him and his x-guard sweeps at a Southern California purple-belt tournament near you.
And finally, a shot from my hotel room in San Diego, just because I like it.
“Experience, travel - these are as education in themselves.”
-Euripides
First up was Rickson's Academy on Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles.
Class was taught by Shawn Rice. Solid instruction. Would expect nothing less from Rickson's school, obviously.
Next up was Newbreed in Santa Fe Springs. Met up with my buddy Tameem there.
(we're both really photogenic.)
After a bit of class and some scenario spars, we rolled for a while. Got to learn a bit about Tameems secret-weapon overhooking guard. Cool stuff. Watch out for him and his x-guard sweeps at a Southern California purple-belt tournament near you.
And finally, a shot from my hotel room in San Diego, just because I like it.
“Experience, travel - these are as education in themselves.”
-Euripides
Monday, August 11, 2008
The Proverbial (barf) Journey
Dave said:
I can't emphasize enough that it's the journey rob not the destination. i got my purple but nothings changed. the process of getting there is what made the difference.
The journey is, believe it or not, what I enjoy. That's what makes Jiu-Jitsu such an amazing microcosmic version of life. The beauty of both is in the pursuit. The reason I engage in the largely futile endeavor of learning is the frustration. If it was easy, I wouldn't be going to class every day. If jiu jitsu was easy, Jim wouldn't have anyone to teach. If it was easy, you would see pink haired ninjas winning ADCC or the Mundials. The fact that BJJ is one of the few things left on the planet that can't be taught through a youtube video (but we all watch them like they can... don't even deny it) or a "Jiu Jitsu for Dummys" book is what makes it so sacred and rewarding.
The journey is beautiful. People work their entire lives to save enough money to retire from their jobs in order to intentionally do nothing. How fucking crazy is that?
I'm addicted to learning. It's something that apparently my mind does leagues better than my body does. If only I could grapple like I do in my (day)dreams. I'm sure I'm not the only person who feels this way. I have a feeling that some of the folks that wrote the screenplay for The Matrix felt similarly.
"I know Kung-Fu."
-Neo
I can't emphasize enough that it's the journey rob not the destination. i got my purple but nothings changed. the process of getting there is what made the difference.
The journey is, believe it or not, what I enjoy. That's what makes Jiu-Jitsu such an amazing microcosmic version of life. The beauty of both is in the pursuit. The reason I engage in the largely futile endeavor of learning is the frustration. If it was easy, I wouldn't be going to class every day. If jiu jitsu was easy, Jim wouldn't have anyone to teach. If it was easy, you would see pink haired ninjas winning ADCC or the Mundials. The fact that BJJ is one of the few things left on the planet that can't be taught through a youtube video (but we all watch them like they can... don't even deny it) or a "Jiu Jitsu for Dummys" book is what makes it so sacred and rewarding.
The journey is beautiful. People work their entire lives to save enough money to retire from their jobs in order to intentionally do nothing. How fucking crazy is that?
I'm addicted to learning. It's something that apparently my mind does leagues better than my body does. If only I could grapple like I do in my (day)dreams. I'm sure I'm not the only person who feels this way. I have a feeling that some of the folks that wrote the screenplay for The Matrix felt similarly.
"I know Kung-Fu."
-Neo
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Friday, August 08, 2008
Failing Miserably
Yep. I'm doing it pretty well. I feel like my jiu jitsu has been steadily declining for the past week or so. Who knows. I just hope Woody is right...
If you're not failing every now and again, it's a sign you're not doing anything very innovative.
Woody Allen
I am consumed with the fear of failing. Reaching deep down and finding confidence has made all my dreams come true.
Arsenio Hall
If you're not failing every now and again, it's a sign you're not doing anything very innovative.
Woody Allen
I am consumed with the fear of failing. Reaching deep down and finding confidence has made all my dreams come true.
Arsenio Hall
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