A good diet and regular physical exertions have done wonders to my immune system although it took one decade. I used to get sick twice a year on average, even after six marathons. But for 2023, for the first time in my life, I have stayed malady-free. I knew it was possible because of Luis who started ultra running at 52 and raced into his 60s, didn't get the bugs like the rest of us at work. I thought it was his genes but here I am. Bragging could jinx it but I do feel very good about myself. Since starting jiu-jitsu, I've never regretted a day of training. Conquering my own doubt, fear, and sloth motivates like nothing else. But this month, fun became the main theme. I was very happy to roll with the bigger guys and enjoy my escapes and reversals leading to submitting my opponents. It seems jiu-jitsu compensates my lack of might in the big muscle groups by strengthening those executing escape and side-control techniques. I loved the feeling of power that at certain positions, my moves were unstoppable. Eric dropped by on the last day of Nov. A former Redwood City police detective, he started teaching and promoting jiu-jitsu in law enforcement until he quit the force, started the gym as a purple belt, and joined the Jean-Jacques Machado association. Recently he moved to Texas and launched another gym and only came back to visit a few times a year. 55 years old, he is now a 3rd-degree black belt under JJM. Of a similar build and only slightly bigger (less than 170 lbs), he teaches a style easier for me to imitate. We had a great class focusing on the butterfly guard and arm-drag. Saturday, he rolled with me and taught me a couple of tricks on passing the butterfly guard and back-taking. He again called me "the Great Wall of China" and praised my defense. "The more you say it, the more I believe it." I said. Jeremy visited us for three days, overlaping Eric's stay. He used to coach Tim in his first competition and had been a brown belt for a couple of years. He had since moved to LA and trained at JJM HQ and said he was starting from the bottom of the totem pole there. I felt very happy for him. Two of my mates were promoted on Sat Dec 2: Bret to brown belt after 7 years and Scott to purple. Both were great training partners and their promotions well deserved. Scott was as wiry as me and he trained kick-boxing at the same time. Another two on Dec 4: JayR to purple and Salvatore to blue. Very happy for them. Dec 9. A guard-passing/retaining drill opened my eyes: I sucked! I had some success at passing the butterfly guard from the knees but for the open guard, the legs and feet could be anywhere. The coaches kept telling me to stand up to pass. I also had to be aware of the guy grabbing my foot/feet. Michael could sweep me once he controlled one arm and one leg. Ali was probably 30 lbs lighter and could not only hold her own but sweep and submit me. Sam has become really good. The last no-gi class, he scissors-swept me once and submitted me twice, by triangle and guilotine. Very impressive. The holidays took the last week and I stayed home with an injury in the left ankle from jumping off a rock on Mission Peak. It would take a while to heal but the pain was minor. I should be able to go back to train the day after the New Year. |