bjjfights

It's just a color. Purple. That belt that I never thought I'd get. Never thought I'd get there. After the euphoria wore off and reality set in...I'm still trying to wrap my head around what it really means. For me. For my coach. For my team. I hope that I can live up to it. I want to be the best I can be at jiu jitsu. I remind myself when I pull out that belt and tie it around my waist, it's just a color. Purple. There's no magic. Just hard work.

Started food prepping five weeks ago. Tracking what I eat using the MyFitnessPal app. Doing jiu jitsu and kickboxing trying to get the weight off and in some semblance of shape. It's hard folks. My entire body hurts. Muscles are spasming. Joints are swollen and aching. Some days I just want to give in and eat a king size Kit Kat. Oh, and wash it down with a super size Dr. Pepper.  Instead, pass the broccoli and water. Girl on a mission here. I've got to push through. I'm finally starting to feel comfortable in my gis again. I am rediscovering that endorphin high I get from kickboxing. I didn't realize how much I'd missed the teamwork and that feeling of community. I love the fact that I'm doing moves I didn't think I could before. Coach Anthony pushes me to find the right angles and movement and placement of my body to make it work. He pushes me to try even when I think I might not be able to do something. And, I'm always amazed that there usually is a w...

The dreaded triangle choke. For the person with short legs it's not been a go to move ever. In the past, when the coach says we are going to work triangles, I would cringe inside. You see, I believed that my short legs were not made for triangles. Well, I could not have been more wrong. This week I learned several different kinds of triangles. Not going to say it was easy. Not going to say I mastered them all. But I definitely had some "aha" moments and now I have some new tools in my bag of tricks. As a self proclaimed slow learner in jiu jitsu, it is no wonder it took me five years to see and understand the many nuances of the triangle choke.  My eyes are opened to the infinite possibilities that are just waiting for me to reach out and grab. I'm excited!  What will another five years bring?  I can't wait to find out.  Wishing you all peace, love and great Jiu Jitsu. 

In case you were wondering, I'm still alive and well.  Took an unexpected break from jiu jitsu with very, very little training over the past year.  For me, always, the mats were calling me, screaming at even, to come back and train.  I won't lie, it took every ounce of courage I had to walk back on those mats after such a long break.  This self-proclaimed scaredy-cat was shaking in her gi.  To add insult to injury, my gym closed its doors while I was on my break.  So, not only did I have to suck it up and squeeze back into my gi, I had to do it at a new gym.  Thankfully we were a part of the Solis Martial Arts family and there are lots of amazing gyms to choose from.  I've found my new jiu jitsu home at Combat Nation.  Found a great new coach in Anthony Bernabeo.  It's a small place with a big heart.  I have discovered old friends, and I'm making new friends and it's already starting to feel like home.  Anthony has a great teac...

Wow. I'm embarrassed I haven't posted in such a long time. Working. Training when I can. Being a wife and mom. I still love jiu jitsu, but I've found myself in a situation where I have to work longer hours and I've let it take over.  I am in desperate need of mat therapy. I need jiu jitsu on a regular basis. It calms me. Keeps me centered. Looking for a way to shift my schedule at work to allow me to have a life. Pray for me. I need jiu jitsu. That is all folks. Wishing you all peace, love and beautiful jiu jitsu. 

Ever since I entered the martial arts world, I’ve found myself intrigued by those brave souls that decide to fight in the cage.   They seek out the octagon.   They crave it.   They want to step in there more than anything else.   I am fascinated by what drives these fighters.   What makes them tick?   What makes them want to get in that cage?   I love to interview people, so when I found out that Casey Jones was going to be coming over to Dirty Bay MMA and training his stand-up game, I knew that I was going to ask him for an interview.   I am so thankful that he agreed.   It has really been an honor to watch him go through this process.   To Casey I would like to say, “You are a warrior, you have fought the good fight, you have trained well, you have prepared yourself for battle and you have already won.   I am proud to call you my jiu jitsu brother.”   I asked his Coach at Iron Dragon to give Casey a shout out, and here’s what...

Sometimes, it’s nice to be reminded about the beginning of the journey.   I am always excited when I meet someone so new to the sport that they are just glowing with excitement and anticipation.   They look at you with eyes shining.   They can’t wait to roll with you and test themselves and learn from you.    I am not the most athletic chick on the mat.   Not the most coordinated.   Not the most fit.   Not the one people ask for help.   But last weekend I got to train with some really cool newbies at Girls in Gis.   It was a privilege to train with them.   To show them what little knowledge I have about jiu jitsu.   They reminded me of a time not too long ago when my belt was fresh and white and clean.   They reminded me of a   time when my white belt had an empty black bar and was devoid of dirt and blood and sweat and tears.   I left that event with a full heart, smiling, happy, knowing that I had helped someon...