It was less scary than I imagined it would be :-)
Sunday, August 25, 2013
purple
At the end of John's seminar on Friday evening, I was promoted to purple belt.
It was less scary than I imagined it would be :-)
It was less scary than I imagined it would be :-)
John Will seminar
Last Friday, we had John over for another seminar. His theme was the deep collar grip.
He first taught a series of collar drags from standing, then from hooks in guard. The open guard section also went into how to keep distance and angle.
Then we looked at options from closed guard: a sweep and cross lapel choke two variations.We also looked at choke/ sweep options from open guard.
He first taught a series of collar drags from standing, then from hooks in guard. The open guard section also went into how to keep distance and angle.
Then we looked at options from closed guard: a sweep and cross lapel choke two variations.We also looked at choke/ sweep options from open guard.
Friday, May 31, 2013
graduation, martial arts and study
I've been training regularly and consistently and feel I'm making steady progress. Sometimes more, sometimes less. But lately, I've been flat out with my computing honours studies and I'm changing jobs, so there is a lot on my plate. Consequently, there has not been enough time to write here on in my horse blog.
I'm glad I have BJJ, as it is my release after long hourse in front of a computer, be it at work or uni. So while I've been unable to spend any leisure time on indulging in BJJ training DVDs, I still make the time to train. And although I'm a bit less intense on remembering and thinking over everything after ever BJJ class (just no time!!) and taking it more as a recreational activity, I'm still training. And that is the important thing, I think.
I completed my IT degree late last year, and I graduated in early May. The uni had a nice surprise in store for me. In addition to graduation with Distinction (which I knew), they awarded me the University medal for outstanding academic achievements. I didn't know until the graduation ceremony, so I was a bit in shock to be called back up on stage to receive the award. Since then, they have bestowed three more awards on me. I'm also doing fairly well in my honours course and I'm seriously considering a PhD course afterwards. Anyway, I'm studying because I really enjoy it, not because I'm seeking recognition. But occasionally, a pat on the back is a nice thing.
I do attribute at least part of my academic achievements to my martial arts training. I will admit that in my former life, I used to be a bit prone to taking the easy road, quitting before something was finished or generally saying "too hard", "can't do it" and many more of the same. And to be honest, I doubted my own capabilities all the time. Without question, I have better resilience, more determination, a better ability to cope with stress and more discipline than I had before I started training. I just have a much better head space. I am better organised and more efficient, so I actually feel that I achieve much more. But best of all is the fact that I'm more aware of my physical and mental limits and therefore more confident of what I can do. I guess that comes from pushing the envelope (physically and mentally) and learning and growing from the experience.
I'm glad I have BJJ, as it is my release after long hourse in front of a computer, be it at work or uni. So while I've been unable to spend any leisure time on indulging in BJJ training DVDs, I still make the time to train. And although I'm a bit less intense on remembering and thinking over everything after ever BJJ class (just no time!!) and taking it more as a recreational activity, I'm still training. And that is the important thing, I think.
I completed my IT degree late last year, and I graduated in early May. The uni had a nice surprise in store for me. In addition to graduation with Distinction (which I knew), they awarded me the University medal for outstanding academic achievements. I didn't know until the graduation ceremony, so I was a bit in shock to be called back up on stage to receive the award. Since then, they have bestowed three more awards on me. I'm also doing fairly well in my honours course and I'm seriously considering a PhD course afterwards. Anyway, I'm studying because I really enjoy it, not because I'm seeking recognition. But occasionally, a pat on the back is a nice thing.
I do attribute at least part of my academic achievements to my martial arts training. I will admit that in my former life, I used to be a bit prone to taking the easy road, quitting before something was finished or generally saying "too hard", "can't do it" and many more of the same. And to be honest, I doubted my own capabilities all the time. Without question, I have better resilience, more determination, a better ability to cope with stress and more discipline than I had before I started training. I just have a much better head space. I am better organised and more efficient, so I actually feel that I achieve much more. But best of all is the fact that I'm more aware of my physical and mental limits and therefore more confident of what I can do. I guess that comes from pushing the envelope (physically and mentally) and learning and growing from the experience.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
AGIG camp
This write up is coming a bit late :-)
The AGIG camp was fantastic. Kudos to Jess Fraser and her helpers for organising and hosting the event. Also to Dave from DMMA for hosting the event.
It was two days of informative talks & presentations, rolling sessions, instruction and general quality time with the other ladies.
Awesome.
I hear that sessions are planned for Sydney and the Gold Coast later on in the year. I would urge any lady interested in BJJ to attend these sessions.
The AGIG camp was fantastic. Kudos to Jess Fraser and her helpers for organising and hosting the event. Also to Dave from DMMA for hosting the event.
It was two days of informative talks & presentations, rolling sessions, instruction and general quality time with the other ladies.
Awesome.
I hear that sessions are planned for Sydney and the Gold Coast later on in the year. I would urge any lady interested in BJJ to attend these sessions.
Friday, April 5, 2013
John Will Seminar
We had John Will for a seminar on Good Friday. A great session, as usual.
Theme: crucifix
Various entries to the positions and an assortment of finishes. It taught me a much better understanding of the whole position. But it also opened my eyes to the fact that it is effectively a specialised version of back control. I had been thinking of that, as we had looked at another combination not long before, and I idly wondered just how easy it would be to go to either crucifix or armbar, depending on whether my lower leg went over or under the body. So that was another mini-revelation.
John told a bunch of funny stories and it was an entertaining as well as instructional evening.
Afterwards, Ben was promoted to Brown Belt. Ben is just the best training partner and we were all over the moon to see him wearing the new belt.
Theme: crucifix
Various entries to the positions and an assortment of finishes. It taught me a much better understanding of the whole position. But it also opened my eyes to the fact that it is effectively a specialised version of back control. I had been thinking of that, as we had looked at another combination not long before, and I idly wondered just how easy it would be to go to either crucifix or armbar, depending on whether my lower leg went over or under the body. So that was another mini-revelation.
John told a bunch of funny stories and it was an entertaining as well as instructional evening.
Afterwards, Ben was promoted to Brown Belt. Ben is just the best training partner and we were all over the moon to see him wearing the new belt.
Friday, March 22, 2013
AGIG camp tomorrow!!
Yay! It starts tomorrow!! The Australian Girls in Gi Camp III. If the previous two camps are anything to go by, then this one will be a ripper. It's a different format again, and it sounds awesome. Jess and her helpers have been busy!
I'm so in need of a break and I'm so looking forward to catching up with friends and meet the new ladies who are venturing into BJJ. Packing my bag tonight will be a pleasure.
The Age ran an article last week about AGIG and the camp. This article was also published by one of the Sydney newspapers. Great to see that BJJ and specifically the ladies are getting exposure in the mainstream media.
I'm so in need of a break and I'm so looking forward to catching up with friends and meet the new ladies who are venturing into BJJ. Packing my bag tonight will be a pleasure.
The Age ran an article last week about AGIG and the camp. This article was also published by one of the Sydney newspapers. Great to see that BJJ and specifically the ladies are getting exposure in the mainstream media.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Thursday, March 7, 2013
AGIG Camp III
AGIG Camp III will be run at Dominance MMA in Melbourne on March 23 &24.
I'm going! The last two camps were awesome, and this one is bound to be the same. Jess Fraser and her crew of helpers do a terrific job. I can't wait to meet all the ladies again, and to benefit from the program Jess has put together for us.
I hear that a few spots are left, so if you are sitting on the fence, go and book in!!
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
you have the right to be strong
A friend pointed me at this great post about women and training titled: A Lion in Iron: Women—Be More, Not Less (by Alexander Cortes).
While the post is written from a weightlifting/strength training perspective, it offers great advice and could equally apply to martial arts.
My favourite quote from the post:
"For women, though, it’s the opposite. Their whole perspective is based around what they want to get rid of. They want their bodies to be less than what they currently are, not more. The whole female side of the fitness industry has historically been built upon “getting rid” of everything about their bodies that makes them unhappy, which is generally everything.
This has to fucking STOP. I’m tired of it. I’m tired of women thinking they are supposed to be weak. I don’t know who taught them this. I don’t know if it was their mothers, the media, and/or their friends. I don’t know how this started or who started it, but I do know that it needs to end. Whatever it was, whoever it was, it needs to be killed. You are not supposed to be weak. You have the right to be strong."
Yeah. Too right.
While the post is written from a weightlifting/strength training perspective, it offers great advice and could equally apply to martial arts.
My favourite quote from the post:
"For women, though, it’s the opposite. Their whole perspective is based around what they want to get rid of. They want their bodies to be less than what they currently are, not more. The whole female side of the fitness industry has historically been built upon “getting rid” of everything about their bodies that makes them unhappy, which is generally everything.
This has to fucking STOP. I’m tired of it. I’m tired of women thinking they are supposed to be weak. I don’t know who taught them this. I don’t know if it was their mothers, the media, and/or their friends. I don’t know how this started or who started it, but I do know that it needs to end. Whatever it was, whoever it was, it needs to be killed. You are not supposed to be weak. You have the right to be strong."
Yeah. Too right.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
stolen!
We hear a lot of funny things on the mat. Last night I heard a good one I thought I'd share....
I was rolling with a fairly new white belt. I think it was one of his first few rolls. After a few minutes he started looking exasperated and he exclaimed "she keeps stealing my limbs!".
I think that's pretty good. Hey you, thief! Gimme back my arms and legs! :-)
I was rolling with a fairly new white belt. I think it was one of his first few rolls. After a few minutes he started looking exasperated and he exclaimed "she keeps stealing my limbs!".
I think that's pretty good. Hey you, thief! Gimme back my arms and legs! :-)
Saturday, February 2, 2013
stripes
Up to date, our school had stripes only for white belts. But following
some recent rule changes, there will now be stripes for the coloured
belts also.
Sooooo..... yesterday evening, we had a grading. Two guys got their fourth stripes on their white belt. And to bring us in in line with the new system there were multiple white stripes for some of us. Four on Ben's purple belt, two on Mark's blue belt and four on my own blue belt.
Feels funny. I was so used to the idea of no stripes, that it seems odd now :-)
Sooooo..... yesterday evening, we had a grading. Two guys got their fourth stripes on their white belt. And to bring us in in line with the new system there were multiple white stripes for some of us. Four on Ben's purple belt, two on Mark's blue belt and four on my own blue belt.
Feels funny. I was so used to the idea of no stripes, that it seems odd now :-)
Thursday, January 31, 2013
GTA no-gi comp
The GTA comp is on next weekend. I'd been undecided whether I should be
going. Entries are due tonight, but I've decided to give it a miss.
Aside from not having my head in that space at the moment, I also hurt a
rib in training recently. While that's come good now, I've had to take
it easy and my rolling has been guided by protecting that spot. My
cardio is ho-hum, too.
So that's why I decided not to go.
The GTA is a great comp, run by a bunch of really nice people. I feel a bit bad about not supporting it, but I heard they are getting plenty of entries, including a good number of women. So I hope they will all have a great time and I will be there in spirit, while I partake in a regular BJJ class on Saturday morning.
So that's why I decided not to go.
The GTA is a great comp, run by a bunch of really nice people. I feel a bit bad about not supporting it, but I heard they are getting plenty of entries, including a good number of women. So I hope they will all have a great time and I will be there in spirit, while I partake in a regular BJJ class on Saturday morning.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
an insight on injury from Jess
This great piece on injury management and rehab is reprinted with permission from Jess Fraser. It was originally posted on the Australian Girls in Gi Facebook page.
Jess is the moving force behind AGIG. More info about AGIG and Jess can found on the AGIG website.
An insight in to injury for my AGIG peeps.
Most of you know that I messed up my knee recently at this year’s Pan Pacs.
Yep. Fun stuff.
Before I begin, it’s important to note that this was like my 100 and somethingkth competition fight and the very first time I’ve come away with anything worse than the good ol‘ Jess Fraser Panda Eye…though I did manage to pick up one of those too.
In the grand scheme of things the injury itself is fairly superficial, though it’s impact on me and my lifestyle has been substantial.
I'm pleased that surgery is not on the cards but conversely I’m pretty distressed because I’m off the mats, which blows.
Not forever, of course, but longer than I had planned for. It’s a real shock to the system for sure.
Dealing with injury is hard. And, unfortunately, a very likely and common part of our sport.
It’s also something we don’t talk about too much until we’re right in the middle of it & then we quickly forget once we’re out the other side.
I feel like half my battle initially was that I was not at all prepared for time off and it has been hard for me to accept. In hindsight I wish I had have given it some thought and a little proactive planning prior. It would have helped ease some of the burden psychically as well as emotionally & financially.
So, as always and as BJJ has taught me to do in life, I am trying to find a positive result from a crappy situation. I am writing this to heal myself a little but to also share with you gals some insights and thoughts that may hopefully ease the ‘pain’ a little if you find yourself in this situation.
Injury. For the purposes of this rant I want you to know that I'm not talking about how sore your muscles are, or how mangled your hands/toes/ears are yet you yet you’re still making it to training...I'm talking about really being forced out and away from the sport that you love and for a considerable amount of time.
I’m also not talking about life altering injury/career ending or chronic pain – that, thankfully, I have no personal insight into and it would be remiss of me to pretend I do.
(Though maybe you do and you’d like to share some insights with us also so we can better understand?)
For me it's been a bit of a battle so far. One that is much tougher mentally than physically. The surprise issue and almost the hardest for me has been socially & then, as a knock on effect, emotionally.
You take someone that is used to training upwards of 3 hours a day (talking/thinking about it upwards of 23 hours a day) and you stop them suddenly. It's not good. And it's not easy. It becomes something everyone has to ‘deal with’. Yuck.
The only way I am even slightly keeping sane is to be extremely proactive and disciplined with rehab. Not only healing the busted knee but really taking the opportunity to balance and fix the rest of my body. Posture is the major one. LOTS of stretching and core strengthening. Working on realigning my body properly and getting BS strong and ready to rock again.
There are a heap of bad habits we get into when training BJJ regularly & countering this is often either completely ignored or put aside for ‘later’. Injury time sucks ass but it sure is a good time to address this stuff. And address it comprehensively.
For me, keeping busy in this way has been pivotal in keeping sane though even then I can’t say it’s 100% effective.
The physical side of things has been almost easy compared to other ‘hidden’ hassles…I can’t tell you how far away my nearest tram stop is feeling these days. Or how long it takes to mop the mats at work. How shit it is to wear almost any pants. And stairs generally – FU stairs! Why can’t we live in a magical world of ramps and no pants?!
Things I wish I had known about and planned for pre injury:
See a bulk billing GP immediately so you can get a referral to a specialist. You’ll need the referral so you might as well see the GP on the cheap.
You can track down the specialist you want first and then ask the GP to refer you directly to them, you don’t have to just go with the GP’s recommendation or some local dude that you know nothing about.
Ask your teammates, coaches or gym for help or recommendations on good sports Doctors & specialists. If you know someone that had good help with their back and you’ve banged up yours, find out who helped them – as well as who didn’t. Their previous experience - positive or negative - is a resource and you should definitely call on it.
Sports Doctors and the equipment involved are expensive. Add to that some unplanned time off work and you’re looking at a chunk of cash heading out the door. Even with private health care you’re going to be out of pocket initially.
My best advice is to save some cash and put it aside. Do it now. $300 - 500 in the hand will feel like a lotto win when you’re feeling sore and sad, I promise you.
I used my (tragically small) Worlds 2013 savings (which sucks) but I was able to get the best help & immediately. You don’t want to fk around too much or have to scrimp & save on good help. You’re gunning to get back on the mats so do it right and do it quick.
Ask for help. Stop being proud and ask for that shit. You need it. Yes, you need a lift to the Doctors. Yes, you want someone to be there with you and yes – when you’re having a really bad day you can say so. You wont be judged. And if you are – remind them that you will be back on the mats all too soon and you aren’t all that mentally stable anymore…
But seriously - it’s okay to be a bit broken and need & ask for help. In a weird small way it might make life easier on your friends/teammates because they really want to help you – they just don’t know how. Give them the how.
Look at and modify your diet in a realistic way. You wont be moving nearly as much and the last thing you want to do is feel crappo about one more thing that’s happening for your body. Try to avoid and inevitable weight gain by addressing the fact that you are less active.
Also, certain foods and eating plans can really benefit things like ligament healing etc. Seek out a good sports nutritionist if you’re keen. Muzz from AGIG Camp2 is a good choice. If you’re completely broke the team at Endeavour in the city are very helpful and only $10. Winner!
Some ideas for keeping your sanity:
Plan & ask for rehab training/exercises/stretching etc. from your specialists. Do these things daily (or as advised, obviously). Even if each daily task is tiny and seems futile.
An ice pack for 10 minutes each night before bed might seem like nothing but it’s still proactive. Doing something daily – whether it’s cleaning up your diet, drinking more water or full blown lifting, whatever - it will make you feel like you’re actively working back to your ultimate goal of full recovery. It’s important to not feel listless & passive. That shit sets in like rot. Real quick.
Strengthen the rest of your body – around the injury. Ask a good physiotherapist about the repercussions of your injury on the muscles that surround it. See if there are exercises you can do to support your journey back to the mats.
You need the endorphins the working out & training will give you, you’re actually probably a little addicted to those bad boys. You’ll also need to keep training so you don’t lose all of your hard work/strength/balance and health from your current regular training. One of my big priorities is to hit the mats safe and strong once I’m ready to and to not create a second injury because my fitness has lapsed.
Ask teammates to join you for a strength and conditioning or stretching session.
You’ll miss them when not training with them regularly and it’s a good way to hang out for both of you. You know each other through training; you get along when training, it’s a good thing to continue & it’s active. Going for a coffee leads to talking about training, which leads to feeling real sorry for yourself all over again…not fun & a little unfair on you both. A movie and less talking is a better option if you’re looking for an outing.
Get involved at your gym in a different way from your usual.
I’m digging photography a lot. It helps me feel involved and keeps me connected to my team. Filming good sparring or comps & making a badass montage from footage would also be an idea. Ask around also, no doubt people have some fights or pics that they’d love to see set to awesome music – everyone loves a good montage. Make one for you or the team.
If your camera sucks maybe ask to borrow a good one off a teammate and take pics for them? Some people have no pictures of their training, it’s nice to have.
And of course, do something else. Anything else. Get away from jiu jitsu while you’ve got this chance. Break free ya free range injured chook!
Do something you’ve put aside because you’re always at bloody training.
FYI - My awesome boss recommends Hot Springs on the Peninsula.
That’s the PeniNsula ladies. Sheesh, keep it in yer pants. You’re injured for chrrisakes.
Some ideas for people who’s team mates are injured:
Definitely offer lifts to the Doctors & to come with/support. For many, bad news is softened with a friend nearby and if they’re not comfortable with this they’ll say so. It won’t hurt to offer. This was given to me without a seconds thought by Liv and Lachie and genuinely changed the direction of my mood from the outset. It meant a lot and helped more than I can explain.
If you have ice packs/wheat packs/crutches etc do offer to lend them. Keeping the cost of injury down is more helpful and supportive than you probably realize.
Offer to help carry/do shopping in that first week. Food shopping is awful with a sling or crutches.
However much your training rocks right now it will be hard for your teammate to hear. No worries to gush about your improvements & excitement about the up coming comp but don’t expect them to be as excited as you are. Sorry but it’s just not the right time.
If you have expertise to share and 100% know you will not cause any damage in offering it – think about doing so. I have a whole bag of yoga tricks I can utilize safely to increase my healing and it’s invaluable to me at this time, if I can share this safely in the future I certainly will.
Ask how the injured/limpy gimp is doing and - how rehab is going if you’re stuck and want to make small talk. Ask if you can do anything by way of a training/rehab session together. Ask if the sanity is holding up. Ask about plans/goals once training commences again BUT please please don’t ask ‘how’s the knee/neck/wrist/ankle’ because here’s the answer: It’s SHIT. It’s so fkn SUPER SHIT that we really don’t want to talk about it. Coz there’s not much to say outside of the fact that it’s SHIT. And the really fun part is that we get to have the EXACT same conversation with the next 40 people we run in to today. SHITTYSHITSHIT SHIT! So please, ask almost anything else. Something that might have a positive answer…for both your sakes.
Be patient. If they’re being an asshole it’s because they’ve been dealt an asshole situation and life is not ideal right now. They’ll come good. It’s in passing but for now try to be patient.
Some final thoughts:
Something I should share with you is the positive side of injury/healing time.
Wait, what? Is there such a thing Jess? Well sure there is kids – follow me!
I was sore, so fkn sore before I got hurt. I wasn’t sleeping through the night because my back would wake me up with pain. My neck was doing bad things after a spike or two in failed wrestling. My fingers were looking and feeling like walnuts. Things were feeling oooooold. Real old. I was creaking like creepy ass floor boards.
I can happily say that I’m now extremely well rested. I have more time to myself and I’m getting loads done. I’m seeing mates that I haven’t seen in ages. Actually getting phone calls made to much neglected family members. I have done a huge spring clean of my house. Have gone to the night markets a bunch of times. Have mentored friends on and off the mats because I have the time and energy to give to them. Have spent some time with a very attractive man. Had a haircut – much to everyone’s happiness - and even brushed it sometimes.
But the biggest and MOST exciting thing is that I’m not in the general haze of pain and fatigue for the first time in as long as I can remember. And it feels GREAT! Oh, I know, I see the irony in it all. Injury = less pain & more energy but I tells ya what, I aint arguing with it. I’m LOVING it!
So it’s not all bad. Far from it. It just isn’t easy. And all I can say is that you (and I) will make it through.
Just as he was leaving the gym just now Byron Silva (big awesome black belt from Dominance) stopped by to chat and of course, the talk about my knee began. He asked the usual stuff and expressed concern. I whined and sighed as I do. He left with one parting comment that was a genuine light bulb moment for me “Don’t worry, we’ve all been there”.
And he’s right, so so right. Every single person that you look up to and aspire to be has been through this. It’s hard but look where they are now & look what they have done. It’s a momentary set back in the bigger picture of an amazing journey that makes you happy – and will continue to for a long, long time.
Hope this helps those that needs it.
Love Swear Jar.
Jess is the moving force behind AGIG. More info about AGIG and Jess can found on the AGIG website.
An insight in to injury for my AGIG peeps.
Most of you know that I messed up my knee recently at this year’s Pan Pacs.
Yep. Fun stuff.
Before I begin, it’s important to note that this was like my 100 and somethingkth competition fight and the very first time I’ve come away with anything worse than the good ol‘ Jess Fraser Panda Eye…though I did manage to pick up one of those too.
In the grand scheme of things the injury itself is fairly superficial, though it’s impact on me and my lifestyle has been substantial.
I'm pleased that surgery is not on the cards but conversely I’m pretty distressed because I’m off the mats, which blows.
Not forever, of course, but longer than I had planned for. It’s a real shock to the system for sure.
Dealing with injury is hard. And, unfortunately, a very likely and common part of our sport.
It’s also something we don’t talk about too much until we’re right in the middle of it & then we quickly forget once we’re out the other side.
I feel like half my battle initially was that I was not at all prepared for time off and it has been hard for me to accept. In hindsight I wish I had have given it some thought and a little proactive planning prior. It would have helped ease some of the burden psychically as well as emotionally & financially.
So, as always and as BJJ has taught me to do in life, I am trying to find a positive result from a crappy situation. I am writing this to heal myself a little but to also share with you gals some insights and thoughts that may hopefully ease the ‘pain’ a little if you find yourself in this situation.
Injury. For the purposes of this rant I want you to know that I'm not talking about how sore your muscles are, or how mangled your hands/toes/ears are yet you yet you’re still making it to training...I'm talking about really being forced out and away from the sport that you love and for a considerable amount of time.
I’m also not talking about life altering injury/career ending or chronic pain – that, thankfully, I have no personal insight into and it would be remiss of me to pretend I do.
(Though maybe you do and you’d like to share some insights with us also so we can better understand?)
For me it's been a bit of a battle so far. One that is much tougher mentally than physically. The surprise issue and almost the hardest for me has been socially & then, as a knock on effect, emotionally.
You take someone that is used to training upwards of 3 hours a day (talking/thinking about it upwards of 23 hours a day) and you stop them suddenly. It's not good. And it's not easy. It becomes something everyone has to ‘deal with’. Yuck.
The only way I am even slightly keeping sane is to be extremely proactive and disciplined with rehab. Not only healing the busted knee but really taking the opportunity to balance and fix the rest of my body. Posture is the major one. LOTS of stretching and core strengthening. Working on realigning my body properly and getting BS strong and ready to rock again.
There are a heap of bad habits we get into when training BJJ regularly & countering this is often either completely ignored or put aside for ‘later’. Injury time sucks ass but it sure is a good time to address this stuff. And address it comprehensively.
For me, keeping busy in this way has been pivotal in keeping sane though even then I can’t say it’s 100% effective.
The physical side of things has been almost easy compared to other ‘hidden’ hassles…I can’t tell you how far away my nearest tram stop is feeling these days. Or how long it takes to mop the mats at work. How shit it is to wear almost any pants. And stairs generally – FU stairs! Why can’t we live in a magical world of ramps and no pants?!
Things I wish I had known about and planned for pre injury:
See a bulk billing GP immediately so you can get a referral to a specialist. You’ll need the referral so you might as well see the GP on the cheap.
You can track down the specialist you want first and then ask the GP to refer you directly to them, you don’t have to just go with the GP’s recommendation or some local dude that you know nothing about.
Ask your teammates, coaches or gym for help or recommendations on good sports Doctors & specialists. If you know someone that had good help with their back and you’ve banged up yours, find out who helped them – as well as who didn’t. Their previous experience - positive or negative - is a resource and you should definitely call on it.
Sports Doctors and the equipment involved are expensive. Add to that some unplanned time off work and you’re looking at a chunk of cash heading out the door. Even with private health care you’re going to be out of pocket initially.
My best advice is to save some cash and put it aside. Do it now. $300 - 500 in the hand will feel like a lotto win when you’re feeling sore and sad, I promise you.
I used my (tragically small) Worlds 2013 savings (which sucks) but I was able to get the best help & immediately. You don’t want to fk around too much or have to scrimp & save on good help. You’re gunning to get back on the mats so do it right and do it quick.
Ask for help. Stop being proud and ask for that shit. You need it. Yes, you need a lift to the Doctors. Yes, you want someone to be there with you and yes – when you’re having a really bad day you can say so. You wont be judged. And if you are – remind them that you will be back on the mats all too soon and you aren’t all that mentally stable anymore…
But seriously - it’s okay to be a bit broken and need & ask for help. In a weird small way it might make life easier on your friends/teammates because they really want to help you – they just don’t know how. Give them the how.
Look at and modify your diet in a realistic way. You wont be moving nearly as much and the last thing you want to do is feel crappo about one more thing that’s happening for your body. Try to avoid and inevitable weight gain by addressing the fact that you are less active.
Also, certain foods and eating plans can really benefit things like ligament healing etc. Seek out a good sports nutritionist if you’re keen. Muzz from AGIG Camp2 is a good choice. If you’re completely broke the team at Endeavour in the city are very helpful and only $10. Winner!
Some ideas for keeping your sanity:
Plan & ask for rehab training/exercises/stretching etc. from your specialists. Do these things daily (or as advised, obviously). Even if each daily task is tiny and seems futile.
An ice pack for 10 minutes each night before bed might seem like nothing but it’s still proactive. Doing something daily – whether it’s cleaning up your diet, drinking more water or full blown lifting, whatever - it will make you feel like you’re actively working back to your ultimate goal of full recovery. It’s important to not feel listless & passive. That shit sets in like rot. Real quick.
Strengthen the rest of your body – around the injury. Ask a good physiotherapist about the repercussions of your injury on the muscles that surround it. See if there are exercises you can do to support your journey back to the mats.
You need the endorphins the working out & training will give you, you’re actually probably a little addicted to those bad boys. You’ll also need to keep training so you don’t lose all of your hard work/strength/balance and health from your current regular training. One of my big priorities is to hit the mats safe and strong once I’m ready to and to not create a second injury because my fitness has lapsed.
Ask teammates to join you for a strength and conditioning or stretching session.
You’ll miss them when not training with them regularly and it’s a good way to hang out for both of you. You know each other through training; you get along when training, it’s a good thing to continue & it’s active. Going for a coffee leads to talking about training, which leads to feeling real sorry for yourself all over again…not fun & a little unfair on you both. A movie and less talking is a better option if you’re looking for an outing.
Get involved at your gym in a different way from your usual.
I’m digging photography a lot. It helps me feel involved and keeps me connected to my team. Filming good sparring or comps & making a badass montage from footage would also be an idea. Ask around also, no doubt people have some fights or pics that they’d love to see set to awesome music – everyone loves a good montage. Make one for you or the team.
If your camera sucks maybe ask to borrow a good one off a teammate and take pics for them? Some people have no pictures of their training, it’s nice to have.
And of course, do something else. Anything else. Get away from jiu jitsu while you’ve got this chance. Break free ya free range injured chook!
Do something you’ve put aside because you’re always at bloody training.
FYI - My awesome boss recommends Hot Springs on the Peninsula.
That’s the PeniNsula ladies. Sheesh, keep it in yer pants. You’re injured for chrrisakes.
Some ideas for people who’s team mates are injured:
Definitely offer lifts to the Doctors & to come with/support. For many, bad news is softened with a friend nearby and if they’re not comfortable with this they’ll say so. It won’t hurt to offer. This was given to me without a seconds thought by Liv and Lachie and genuinely changed the direction of my mood from the outset. It meant a lot and helped more than I can explain.
If you have ice packs/wheat packs/crutches etc do offer to lend them. Keeping the cost of injury down is more helpful and supportive than you probably realize.
Offer to help carry/do shopping in that first week. Food shopping is awful with a sling or crutches.
However much your training rocks right now it will be hard for your teammate to hear. No worries to gush about your improvements & excitement about the up coming comp but don’t expect them to be as excited as you are. Sorry but it’s just not the right time.
If you have expertise to share and 100% know you will not cause any damage in offering it – think about doing so. I have a whole bag of yoga tricks I can utilize safely to increase my healing and it’s invaluable to me at this time, if I can share this safely in the future I certainly will.
Ask how the injured/limpy gimp is doing and - how rehab is going if you’re stuck and want to make small talk. Ask if you can do anything by way of a training/rehab session together. Ask if the sanity is holding up. Ask about plans/goals once training commences again BUT please please don’t ask ‘how’s the knee/neck/wrist/ankle’ because here’s the answer: It’s SHIT. It’s so fkn SUPER SHIT that we really don’t want to talk about it. Coz there’s not much to say outside of the fact that it’s SHIT. And the really fun part is that we get to have the EXACT same conversation with the next 40 people we run in to today. SHITTYSHITSHIT SHIT! So please, ask almost anything else. Something that might have a positive answer…for both your sakes.
Be patient. If they’re being an asshole it’s because they’ve been dealt an asshole situation and life is not ideal right now. They’ll come good. It’s in passing but for now try to be patient.
Some final thoughts:
Something I should share with you is the positive side of injury/healing time.
Wait, what? Is there such a thing Jess? Well sure there is kids – follow me!
I was sore, so fkn sore before I got hurt. I wasn’t sleeping through the night because my back would wake me up with pain. My neck was doing bad things after a spike or two in failed wrestling. My fingers were looking and feeling like walnuts. Things were feeling oooooold. Real old. I was creaking like creepy ass floor boards.
I can happily say that I’m now extremely well rested. I have more time to myself and I’m getting loads done. I’m seeing mates that I haven’t seen in ages. Actually getting phone calls made to much neglected family members. I have done a huge spring clean of my house. Have gone to the night markets a bunch of times. Have mentored friends on and off the mats because I have the time and energy to give to them. Have spent some time with a very attractive man. Had a haircut – much to everyone’s happiness - and even brushed it sometimes.
But the biggest and MOST exciting thing is that I’m not in the general haze of pain and fatigue for the first time in as long as I can remember. And it feels GREAT! Oh, I know, I see the irony in it all. Injury = less pain & more energy but I tells ya what, I aint arguing with it. I’m LOVING it!
So it’s not all bad. Far from it. It just isn’t easy. And all I can say is that you (and I) will make it through.
Just as he was leaving the gym just now Byron Silva (big awesome black belt from Dominance) stopped by to chat and of course, the talk about my knee began. He asked the usual stuff and expressed concern. I whined and sighed as I do. He left with one parting comment that was a genuine light bulb moment for me “Don’t worry, we’ve all been there”.
And he’s right, so so right. Every single person that you look up to and aspire to be has been through this. It’s hard but look where they are now & look what they have done. It’s a momentary set back in the bigger picture of an amazing journey that makes you happy – and will continue to for a long, long time.
Hope this helps those that needs it.
Love Swear Jar.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Postural problems
Head on over to the Scramblog for a great post on postural problems caused by BJJ and our usual sitting life & workstyle. Includes some exercises to help fix your dodgy body.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
bruises and year end
What makes better bruises than BJJ?
Paintball. Definitely paintball!
We had our end of year/end of project (uni) paintball day on Sunday. It was a good day. I scored more hits than I received and we had a lot of fun.
Someone saw the bruises on my thigh at training yesterday and immediately recognised them as paintball damage :-)
Well, we marked the end of our year long project for uni, the end of the semester, the end of the year and in my case, the end of my uni degree. The last couple of months have been super busy, which is why I haven't posted here a lot. I even missed some training, much to my disgust. But all in all, I have still been able to able to fit in at least four sessions per week so I shouldn't complain too much.
More sitting down to study and less time on the mat or around the horses took their toll in a bit of lost cardio and a couple of added kilos. I noticed though that after the day long paintball session on Sunday and the double training session yesterday, I've already lost most of that extra weight. The cardio will improve quick enough as well. I actually felt super well after the two hard sessions last night. On the other hand, my body had a few stiff bits and general complaints this morning.
Now that that I have finished my studies, I will finally have time to work through several DVDs I bought. Some I've seen but need to review, such as Ryan Hall's Back Attacks and Deep Half Guard and Roy Dean's Brown and Purple Belt Requirements. Others I haven't even seen yet, such as Robson Moura's Fusion sets, John Will's The Great Escapes and Stephan Kesting's How to Defeat the Bigger, Stonger Opponent Series 2. Tons and tons of material...
Paintball. Definitely paintball!
We had our end of year/end of project (uni) paintball day on Sunday. It was a good day. I scored more hits than I received and we had a lot of fun.
Someone saw the bruises on my thigh at training yesterday and immediately recognised them as paintball damage :-)
Well, we marked the end of our year long project for uni, the end of the semester, the end of the year and in my case, the end of my uni degree. The last couple of months have been super busy, which is why I haven't posted here a lot. I even missed some training, much to my disgust. But all in all, I have still been able to able to fit in at least four sessions per week so I shouldn't complain too much.
More sitting down to study and less time on the mat or around the horses took their toll in a bit of lost cardio and a couple of added kilos. I noticed though that after the day long paintball session on Sunday and the double training session yesterday, I've already lost most of that extra weight. The cardio will improve quick enough as well. I actually felt super well after the two hard sessions last night. On the other hand, my body had a few stiff bits and general complaints this morning.
Now that that I have finished my studies, I will finally have time to work through several DVDs I bought. Some I've seen but need to review, such as Ryan Hall's Back Attacks and Deep Half Guard and Roy Dean's Brown and Purple Belt Requirements. Others I haven't even seen yet, such as Robson Moura's Fusion sets, John Will's The Great Escapes and Stephan Kesting's How to Defeat the Bigger, Stonger Opponent Series 2. Tons and tons of material...
Monday, September 3, 2012
AGIG comp
I really enjoyed the AGIG comp on Saturday. Friendly atmosphere, well run by Jess Fraser and her crew of helpers, and hosted in Dave and Ting's beautiful new gym called Immersion Mixed Martial Arts.
There were three blue belts in each of the gi and no-gi division. I won and lost one fight in the gi, and won both fights in the no-gi division. I then participated in the grand absolute (sub only), where I lost to a purple belt lady.
I was very happy. I deserved to lose the two matches I lost, the ladies were simply better than I. The three matches I won, I won by sub, and I managed to make good use of back control and top positions. I also lasted well through all the matches, never feeling like my cardio let me down.
On top of all that, I caught up with people, and made some new friends. Really a fantastic day.
Friday, August 31, 2012
it arrived
I'm sure you heard about the movie being made by Hywel Teague about the Red Belts of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
I donated some money and got one of the perks, the one-off Scramble gi. It arrived in the mail today, and I'm pleased to say it fits almost perfectly. The nice guys from Scramble also sent a gi bag, some stickers, a wrist band and a key ring. How good is that?!
Here we are:
Oh, and see more awesome short videos at BJJHacks.com.
I donated some money and got one of the perks, the one-off Scramble gi. It arrived in the mail today, and I'm pleased to say it fits almost perfectly. The nice guys from Scramble also sent a gi bag, some stickers, a wrist band and a key ring. How good is that?!
Here we are:
Oh, and see more awesome short videos at BJJHacks.com.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
that time of the year..
- When winter is nearly over and spring is in the air
- When my horses and other furry critters start losing their winter coats
- When the pace quickens and the workload adds up at uni
- When a bunch of family birthdays are coming up
- When BJJ comps are calling
Yeah, I have two comps coming up.
This Saturday, we'll have the inaugural Australian Girls in Gi Comp. Both gi and no-gi round robins. After that, I'll be visiting my sister (it's her birthday).
The following Saturday, we'll have the annual Gathering (Will-Machado Nationals), followed by a Rigan Machado seminar on Sunday.
I've been having good, bad and average training sessions. Some days I don't feel like a grappler's armpit, but other days I think there is hope that one day, when the stars align, and I have put in a LOT more work, I might actually get better. Lately, I seem to forget more stuff than I'm learning. I know that's partially due to the fact that I have so much on my plate at uni (final year, doing a project, blah blah). But meh, I feel that my BJJ is pretty mediocre just now. In addition, my cardio is pretty shameful.
What marvellous prep for the comp, and what awesome mindset. Haha.. To be honest, if I hadn't gone and entered one and promised to be there for the other comp, I'd gladly not go. But then I know myself, which is why weeks ago, I ensured I couldn't pull out. I outsmarted my own cowardly self.
Chances are that when I get there, I'll get my arse kicked. But I know I'll enjoy myself and I'll learn from it. If I can get off my lazy ass and kick into a more aggressive mindset, I may well do better.
Anyway, never mind. I ramble. I always have this mental fight before comps. I'll now STFU and go and compete :-)
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Royler Gracie seminar
The seminar was held at Gracie Jiu Jitsu in Kilsyth, an eastern suburb of Melbourne. This meant a 370km round trip, but it was well worth it! Four of us went, so I had company, which makes for a more entertaining and seemingly shorter trip.
Royler was awesome. What a nice guy!
As expected, we went through some of the Gracie self defense techniques. Two of them dealt with problems from the front (grab/shove), three responded to choke holds from behind. Simple and as far as I can see, pretty effective.
This was followed by a series of techniques involving standing guard passes. Yes, some of it was specific grips, but a lot of it was more broad, like how maintain good posture. Not just to avoid the sweep, but to prevent the guard player from placing feet on hips. He emphasized that we need to adjust level when standing in guard as needed. We then looked at a similar scenario, but where the guard player has double sleeve grips instead of holding our heels. We learned a neat way of passing which negated those grips. From there, we looked at what we can do in case the guard player gets his feet on hip and bicep. Some very simple but effective grip changes were shown to deal with this, and where necessary, bringing a knee into play to dislodge one of his feet.
We drilled the setups and techniques independently, and then had a "play" with it, where each partner could present the other with scenarios, which required one of the passes we had just learned. Royler repeated reminded us of how important it is to be a good training partner.
Lastly, we looked at two side control escapes. Royler started by saying that sometimes you have to give something up to make progress. So if you are stuck in bottom side control and can't budge, the only resort may be to stick an arm out. However, within reason :-) Of course, it's also possible to end up in bottom side control with the far arm in a bad position anyway, and then we are forced to deal with that bad situation anyway. The two escapes both started from me having my far arm between his near shoulder and head, but with my elbow out - the worst place to have it... One ended with a head arm choke from the bottom, the other (recommended for when the guy is too big to do the choke) is basically just an escape that leaves the other person turtled with me on top.
At the end, we had some time for questions. They ranged from how to deal with berimbolos and similar techniques to what he might recommend for a small woman trapped on the bottom of a bigger guy in a self defense situation. Someone also asked about Royler's most memorable fight.
Royler was generous with his time during questions, and with photos afterwards. He's awesome.
Royler was awesome. What a nice guy!
As expected, we went through some of the Gracie self defense techniques. Two of them dealt with problems from the front (grab/shove), three responded to choke holds from behind. Simple and as far as I can see, pretty effective.
This was followed by a series of techniques involving standing guard passes. Yes, some of it was specific grips, but a lot of it was more broad, like how maintain good posture. Not just to avoid the sweep, but to prevent the guard player from placing feet on hips. He emphasized that we need to adjust level when standing in guard as needed. We then looked at a similar scenario, but where the guard player has double sleeve grips instead of holding our heels. We learned a neat way of passing which negated those grips. From there, we looked at what we can do in case the guard player gets his feet on hip and bicep. Some very simple but effective grip changes were shown to deal with this, and where necessary, bringing a knee into play to dislodge one of his feet.
We drilled the setups and techniques independently, and then had a "play" with it, where each partner could present the other with scenarios, which required one of the passes we had just learned. Royler repeated reminded us of how important it is to be a good training partner.
Lastly, we looked at two side control escapes. Royler started by saying that sometimes you have to give something up to make progress. So if you are stuck in bottom side control and can't budge, the only resort may be to stick an arm out. However, within reason :-) Of course, it's also possible to end up in bottom side control with the far arm in a bad position anyway, and then we are forced to deal with that bad situation anyway. The two escapes both started from me having my far arm between his near shoulder and head, but with my elbow out - the worst place to have it... One ended with a head arm choke from the bottom, the other (recommended for when the guy is too big to do the choke) is basically just an escape that leaves the other person turtled with me on top.
At the end, we had some time for questions. They ranged from how to deal with berimbolos and similar techniques to what he might recommend for a small woman trapped on the bottom of a bigger guy in a self defense situation. Someone also asked about Royler's most memorable fight.
Royler was generous with his time during questions, and with photos afterwards. He's awesome.
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