There's no End

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So after taking a long hiatus to take care of family matters in Thailand in February. I am once again back at the academy rolling! And it feels like every time I take a hiatus from bjj. It sucks so bad. Cardio is gone. Belly is bigger, since I haven't followed my diet plan. So I'm back again. I started by writing my noted on "Evernote" again. And it's great to have an mginaction account to go thru the stuff I missed in class. I'll be writing more again. Sorry for the long hiatus.

Worth the commitment!

Photo of Marcelo looking on his student's technique. Bj Jonathan Saltos.

So I've been training really hard this year 4-5 times a week. I felt that by the end of last year my motivation was weening somewhat. Not going in and making excuses not to come in was becoming a norm in December. I had to remind myself how much I had to give up to come to Marcelo's. I had to wonder how Marcelo over the years would come in 2-3 times a day to train. What kind of commitment he made to himself and now to his school and students. In the past year I've only seen him miss a handful of days. Every day getting on the mats and warming up with us. Out doing all of us.

Hope our 2012 is amazing!

Happy New Years!!

1 year has past since I've started BJJ. It's gone by so fast I don't know what to say. New Years Resolution? For me it's to stay healthy and happy. Everything else I guess will fall into place. I'll leave you off with a re-post of something from "Of Cupcakes n Armbars" blog.

Belt Promotions!

Belt promotions at Marcelo Garcia's just happened this past Friday. A whole bunch of my buds just got their blues. And Marcelo just gave out his first two black belts. Josh Waitzkin and Alexander Meadows. I didn't get any stripes or anything but that doesn't mean I won't be training harder to get some. Really great ceremony. Marcelo was tearing up giving out his first black belts, and the overall mood was amazing. I'm really happy I'm here. Sorry for not posting up more. I promise I will. Just procrastinating and work takes its toll.


Excerpt from Emily Kwok's DVD with Stephan Kesting "How to defeat a bigger and stronger opponent." Get yours

10/25/2011 - Today wasn't so good

So today I was able to get to the advance class around 7pm. Batista was teaching today. He taught a over the shoulder sweep from guard when the opponent stands up. And then a deviation when the opponent sits back to counter the sweep. You extend your right leg onto his hip and wrap you left leg around his knee toward his thigh (almost like a De La Riva). And do the same motion for the sweep. I had huge issues when trying to do the first sweep shown. The second sweep was a lot easier to do. However I kind of cranked my neck while do it.

After our short break we got into group of three and rolled. I was put together with 2 fellow blue belts. Sherwin, who we nick named "Boat Legs" and Phil. Two, four minute rounds, with 10 minutes in between. One guy goes for the 8 minutes straight. The first one up was me vs. Phil. My butterfly guard got passed like butter. I had to rapidly get out of side control. And was able to by using his gi skirt to sweep him while transitioning. But Phil's technique was amazing and he ended up in superior positions all roll long. Eventually it ended up with me getting subbed by him. I worked hard just to survive.

Sherwin comes up next and by 4 minutes I am "EXHAUSTED" he proceeds to do whatever he wanted to do to me. Including knee on belly, North south, omoplata etc. Catching me in everything he threw up. I had no reply. Just huffing and puffing. Over all I faced Sherwin again this time he was exhausted and I was able to submit him too. He and I both have to work on our exhaustion Jiu-jitsu.

Lastly I rolled with Mateo, who is a purple belt. My god the disparity in skill is so huge. He probably caught me in every single thing he threw up. Swept me at will and I couldn't mount any offensive on him. Overall great night of training. My next few goals should be very encapsulated. Not letting anyone pass my guard or something like that.

On a side note. I leave class to get to my car parked across the street. And someone smashes the front driver side of my car. The person leave a note with his plate number and phone number that doesn't go anywhere.