Grappler's High

I spend more time training to fight than most people spend watching TV. Six days of the week are spend between Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai Kickboxing, and MMA (Mixed Martial Arts – think UFC), and one day is spent on conditioning. My ass gets kicked frequently at the latter two, but I'm working on it. I typically miss one day of training each week because I fall into a sleep induced coma to let my body heal, just so that I can repeat the process. There is a torn muscle in my back, a new scar on my face, numerous bruises, my right rib hurts lately, my lips are always busted, and I’m getting used to having to drain fluid out of my ear with an insulin syringe when it swells. This is my idea of fun. External beatings keep me mentally, internally, healthy. In comparison to my training partners though, I am something of a sissy. At least I didn’t have my leg broken in five places like my buddy.

Other hobbies take up some of my time, but for the most part, I live what has been termed “The Jiu-Jitsu Lifestyle.” My diet, my surroundings, my overall mood, and often times, my company revolve around my training. It went from being what I do to who I am, and I’m content with it. Wouldn’t trade it for anything. Here’s a link to drive home what I’m talking about. It’s really its own culture, in a way. The first link should give you links to parts two and three, if you get that far.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lhIU0MiU6w

There is one problem though: I suck, especially when it comes to competing. Some people were born with that little voice in their heads that tells them they have to win. On the other hand, I was born with the who-gives-a-shit gene. As badly as I want to want to win, come fight time, I become apathetic. I don’t know if it’s intimidation, nerves, or what, but the only thing on my mind when I’m fighting in a tournament is nothing. Absolutely nothing. I have out of body experiences, which remove all concept of proper technique and the urge to win or beat the shit out of my opponent. Some were born to compete; I was born to commentate. My record is something like 3-25. The 3 I am sure of, but the 25 is only a guess. Could be more.

My main focus now as far as tournament training is to look to go in for the kill (and not to smile at my opponents, damnit). My conditioning is fine, my technique is fine, but my nerves (desire to win, or whatever you want to call it) suck. The only way to eventually get past that is to compete as often as possible, which I have been. I went to a tournament this past weekend in Austin, and though I lost, I didn’t get completely destroyed like I did a few months ago. Until I get past my Achilles heel, I will continue to help people attain good records. When I finally do get over it, I aim to try cage fighting. Just like it’s hard to have a toy and not play with it, it’s hard to learn skills and never use them. It’s time to train smarter. I’m considering doing the Jiu-Jitsu World tournament in LA in November. As a goal, it’s far enough away that I’ll have time to really dedicate myself. We’ll see.

If the links work, here is one of my earlier wins, as well as my most recent loss. Both are fairly short, considering we were allotted 5 to 6 minutes. The win (I'm in the orange) starts off we me getting taken down (2 points - if no one submits, the winner is decided on a points system, each having to do with being in an advantageous position) which is followed by me pulling guard. In grappling, if my opponents torso is between my legs, I am in an offensive position. When my legs flail about for a second, it's because my opponent applies an illegal move; one which could have injured my neck if he were stronger. Though it's hard to tell, I attempt many submissions, but I can't make anything work for a while. I eventually get his arm across his body and submit him with an arm-bar. The loss (I’m in the blue) is due to a collar choke. We pause in the middle because we go out of bounds. I always get taken down. Hope you enjoyed a peek into the life of a masochist.