Aug8

My first Master Cycle class

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My first Master Cycle class

But first, back up with me a little.

I figured I had climbed to the top of the Combatives class when I was asked to be demo partner and to help other students, like in the days of old. My final clue that maybe I might just possibly be the highest belt was when Instructor said, “You’re the highest belt.”

Sometimes it’s difficult to read that man. Just say what you mean, already!

But when this realization dawned on me, I had an “Oh my goodness, I did it” moment.

I thought back to my last encounter with the fabled Chex Mix Guy, known to long-time readers here. When I saw him while wearing my stylish medical support boot and explained my Jiu-Jitsu fall from grace, he encouraged me, saying, “That gives you a goal to aim for. Work your way back to the top.”

It was a year later when I returned to Jiu-Jitsu, and several more months before I reached that objective, but wherever CMG is now, I thank him for the encouragement. I wish I could tell him I made it.

Covid birthday present because he loves Star Wars, and I am the Leslie Knope of gift giving. (Leslie Knope is from the show Parks and Recreation. She rocked presents for friends.)

And so, after reaching the peak, I was about to enter the base camp of yet another mountain to climb.

This was going to be tough.

As I was getting ready to leave, Mrs. Instructor messaged me.

She’s pretty much the best, right?

When I opened the door and crossed the gym threshold, I paused, taking a deep breath before my next step.

Instructor immediately greeted me from across the mat. Surfer Dude stepped over for a fist bump and a side hug. Several others congratulated me on making it to Master Cycle.

I wasn’t feeling so much, “I made it!” as, “Here I go!” And also, “Gulp.”

First observation: This class moves at a much faster pace. In Combatives, we repped the moves back and forth loads of times. Here, I got one or two reps before we moved on. The moves weren’t too complicated, but hard to retain with so few reps.

Then Instructor demoed a spread hand variation trap and roll I knew well from the Women Empowered Jiu-Jitsu program and from teaching it to my self-defense camp girls. (I’ve done that two years running now. It’s awesome. Two students were repeats from last year, both stoked to do it again. Go them!)

Ooh goody. I know this one. I’m going to dominate this! I foolishly said to myself.

Screen grab of the spread hand trap and roll from Women Empowered.

But Instructor continued. “Followed by this, this, and this.”

What I thought would be a piece of cake, turned into the most complicated move of the night.

Dang it! So close.

After the main portion of class is optional rolling, aka sparring.

Eh. Maybe I’m not ready for this.

“You want to roll with me?” Instructor asked.

I put my water back down. “Because you asked.”

How could I say no?

I wiggled out a lot. Attempting to submit him never crossed my mind. All I did was try not to let him catch me. Right at the end, he had me set up for an armbar, but didn’t sink it in before the timer went off.

I’m going to call that a win and pretend he wasn’t just taking it easy on me.

Then Instructor asked Surfer Dude to roll with me.

Swell.

“Try to hook sweep me,” he said while standing in front of me as I sat on the mat.

A rather awesome, if I may say so, screen grab of the hook sweep.

Every time I tried to get my feet in, he batted them away, over and over again. Then I got my fingers around the bottom cuff of one of his pant legs. Then the other. After that, I only needed to land one foot on his hip to send him crashing down.

“Nice,” he laughed.

“Did anyone see that?!” I looked around. They were all busy. And it’s not kosher to crow.

But before long, SD started to get me in a triangle choke, his specialty. I tapped right away. “I know where this is going. Forget it. You win.”

“Yeah, but I kicked you in the head, so it doesn’t count,” he said, having grazed his foot across my cranium.

“It didn’t hurt though, so whatever.”

Then I figured I would leave when the next alarm sounded. But Instructor, careful to include me, called on my old pal “Balloon Man,” the guy who, in the early days, had to frequently remind me to collect the balloon (maintain head control) during triangles.

Since I seem to have a theme going, here’s triangle choke set-up with exquisite head control.

But first, here’s two quick side stories about Balloon Man:

  • One class, he walked over and sat next to me against the wall. Didn’t look at me, said nothing, just sat down and stuck his fist out for me to bump. So cool.
  • Another time, I headed to my car after my class. He was outside on the phone. His other hand held his gym back. His hands thus occupied, he stuck an elbow out toward me. I laughed quietly as I bumped his elbow with mine.

Back to the story:

“Uh-oh. The legend,” he said when I approached.

Ha! As if.

He took it way easier on me than the other two, and even let me submit him twice. After the first time, which actually felt kinda legit, I again sought witnesses. Still none, so I asked him to speak widely of my exploits later.

Then he got serious.

“Shoot. Now you’re going to get your revenge,” I said. And he did.

After this roll, he told me I had good attacks. Heh. Whaduya know?

At the end of class, as we were lined back up on the wall, each a little sweatier and breathing heavier, like I’d often observed of the MC students when I’d arrive for my class at the end of theirs, Instructor said, “This was Betsy’s first Master Cycle class.” Everyone clapped. “She even stayed for all the rolls. Right on.”

More clapping.

These people are nothing if not kind and welcoming.

The next morning, I responded to Mrs. Instructor with a thorough rundown of my first class:

One down, many more to go.

In further pursuit of trivia

The board game that entered the National Toy Hall of Fame in the hall’s inaugural year of 1998 was indeed Monopoly.

Next up, something for you sports fans:

The Red River Showdown is an annual football game that sees the rollout of the world’s largest version of this state’s flag.

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89 responses »

  3. I was a little confused when I saw this post in my email. Reading the title, I was thinking, “She switch to bicycling?” Good thing I read the rest of the post or I’d still be very confused. I’m not surprised you’re in the master class, I’m just wondering how long before you’re the master teacher — couple of weeks?

    and if it’s a big state you’re asking about, I’d say Texas. I don’t know much about football (one of the few things I’m not an expert on) but the biggest flag has to be Texas.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Couple of weeks. Haha! Not even a couple of years, but I appreciate the vote of confidence, Andrew.

      Your logic to the trivia question is sound. One of the few things you’re not an expert on. Haha. That sounds like a reference to your “Here’s everything I know about ___” posts. 😛

      Liked by 1 person

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  6. I’m glad you found kind and welcoming people in your latest exercise adventure. I’ve never been to a gym where people were kind and welcoming so this seems like a fantasy story to me. No idea about the football game.

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. Whoa! You totally duped me with this post. First, I thought this was going to be about a cycling class, like at the exercise gym. Then I was clicking on the photo trying to make it be a video. You got me!
    I’m not a sports fan, but since Texans feel like everything is bigger there, I’m going to say Texas.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Oh, man! Now I feel guilty! So sorry. You’re the second to think bicycles (I should have known that would be confusing.) And, yes, totally I can see that that looks like a video to be played. The frustration I inadvertently caused people. So sorry. And your logic re: the trivia is very sound. 😉

      Liked by 1 person

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  14. Congrats on making it to and completing your first Master Cycle class, Betsy. There’s something thrilling and rewarding about conquering a mountain to find yourself at the base of another one to conquer. You got this new one!

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  16. Pingback: Rolling with Mrs. Instructor, aka Do Not try this at home. | Motherhood and Martial Arts

  19. I feel like Congratulations! Way to Go! Woohoo! are in order. But then looking at all these poses of pain, I am thinking Goodness! Betsy just got promoted to an advance level of torment! But seriously, soooooo very proud of you.

    P/S I think this the first glimpse of CMG? I hope you get to see him again one day to tell him in person!

    Liked by 1 person

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  20. You’re a female phenomenon! Let’s pretend we’re doing a virtual knuckle bump, it’s what writers do! Congratulations Betsy! I’m so proud of you and yet not envious at all. Bahaha. Here’s to tapping out. Hugs, C

    Liked by 1 person

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