Sep10

And they’re back!

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And they’re back!

Okay, friends. After lulling you into a false sense of security with posts related to baking, beeping, and random food pics, I’m bringing Jiu-Jitsu back in force! (I just heard Mrs. Instructor quietly say, “Yay.”)

In a recent class, Instructor used the Combatives Belt Kid (CBK) as his demo partner. I thought of telling CBK later, “Hey, man, good for you. What an honor.”

But in last night’s class, Instructor used me as his demo partner, so I now realize it’s a matter of who’s sitting closest or randomly makes eye contact, rather than a matter of skill. [Note to self: Sit far away and avoid eye contact as though Instructor is Kaa from The Jungle Book or the basilisk from Harry Potter.]

Being demo partner in Master Cycle is frightening. Thankfully, the moves here are sort of a crap shoot. Some are ridiculously complicated, but a lot are really quite simple when you get down to it.

I feel like that last part is asking too much of me.

So after Instructor demonstrated with me, and it was my turn to give it a go in front of the class, I semi-miraculously did so with ease.

Keep a straight face. Don’t let on that what you just did flawlessly was kind of a fluke because the move was that easy. Do not convey that it was easy.

So I tried to act nonchalant like, “No biggie. Pisht. You can’t get that? Guffaw,” etc etc.

Especially since, in general, I’m stinking up the free world in Master Cycle. At one point, I was so hung up on the difficult hand placement, that I couldn’t get it down despite my partner showing me multiple times. Finally, I said to myself, “I need to swing out in this direction,” so my hands went wherever they needed to go to make that happen, and voila!

So basically, stop thinking and just do it.

Being the odd woman out that night meant Instructor sometimes partnered with me. When I did something right, he said, “YES, Betsy.” That emphatic “yes” either means, “Wow, you really nailed that,” or “Wow, I can’t believe you finally got it right.” Regardless, I’ll take it.

At the end of class, we roll (spar) several times, a different partner each time. Since it was a small class, it was hard to avoid the bigger people, which is why I ultimately had to take on Blue Belt. He’s a big guy. A big goofy sweetheart of a guy. But still… big guy!

Blue Belt and Instructor. See what I mean?

I found myself in a position of not having a clue what to do. This happens often. I really only know two moves from that position and they are both so basic that one of the first things I learned in Master Cycle was how to counter them.

Side note: Once, when rolling with Surfer Dude, I was in this same position, so I started setting up the Americana. He said, “If you’re trying to Americana me, I wouldn’t recommend it.” Too true.

Well, I had no other ideas with Blue Belt, so I went for an Americana.

He tried to get away by lifting his arm off the mat and flipping me so my back was then on the mat. This was easy since I’m half his size, but I didn’t let go. Then, I dare say I invented a move by launching my legs up and crossing my ankles behind his elbow so he couldn’t straighten his arm.

After a few tense seconds, he tapped.

Though I know I shouldn’t, and I always regret it, I said, “Yeah!” (Forgive me, Blue Belt.) But I realized after a bit of introspection, that I did that because I wanted Instructor to know. I looked at him, he was watching a different group, but he was smiling. I think he knew. I’m pretty sure he saw. [Quiet yay!]

Blue Belt said, “I can’t believe you got an Americana on me.” Him and me both! And then, of course, a minute later, he caught me in an arm bar.

“Feel better?” I asked.

“Yeah,” he said.

Blue Belt, by the way, played bass in another show with SD’s, and now his, band. Once again, I went to support and rock out. Though I may regret showing this, because I don’t know what the heck this expression is that I’m making, here I am with the two of them after their latest gig.

Big lovable goofball, (should I change his name to that?) crazy Surfer Dude, crazy Ilsa, and a First Aid Kit.

I totally just made you scroll back up for the First Aid Kit.

Okay, here you go. You’ve earned it.

The Trivia Question, which I found a couple weeks ago but saved for today because it’s my birthday:

This is perhaps the world’s most famous song named after a deodorant.

Mark, don’t even bother. You know I know you know.

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81 responses »

  6. First, happy birthday! I’m assuming you are turning 30 now?

    And holy smokes is Blue Belt huge! Guys that big are why I (partly) carry.

    As for the trivia, I’m intrigued but totally stumped! Guess I’ll have to keep following you to find out 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

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  8. I was going to say that I’m sure there’s a song or two called Secret, but I doubt that’s the answer. Then I cheated and looked at the comments and that deodorant does ring a bell, though I’m not sure it’s sold anymore?

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  9. Happy Birthday, crazy Betsy! 29 again? Your “crazy” expression in the last photo was fortuitous (and yes, you called it with the first-aid kit scroll-back) because I wondered about your facial expression when you demo’d in front of the class. Serious, am I right? No smile? All business? You need to share one of those no-smiles with your readers some time, if only to remind us: “don’t mess with Jiu-Jitsu Betsy”.

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    • Hmm… I suppose I could try to make a serious face while at Jiu-Jitsu, though it will be difficult, I’m sure.

      Mrs. Instructor, you reading this? Think you can get me looking serious at the gym for a change?

      She’s probably thinking, nope. I can dig through. I might have something. But you’re right, Dave. I was trying to look all serious. Well, no, more like casual in that moment.

      And thanks for the b-day wishes! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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    • Or where they USED to sell it. Maybe it was just a flash in the pan sort of product?? And hilarious calling him Babe, etc. If I were to change his name to that, but shorten it to Babe, that would give the wrong idea. But I definitely like where your creative mind is at.

      Liked by 1 person

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  17. Happy birthday Betsy! What a fun crew you have in your class.

    And yes, never make eye contact if you don’t wanna get picked on. But avoiding eye contact also backfires sometimes. 😆😂

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  21. Yeah, I knew three words into the trivia question. You can make them a little harder than that.

    True story: in high school gym class – probably my sophomore year? – we did a unit of wrestling, and while everyone else was pretty evenly matched, I was paired up with the biggest, strongest guy in the class. No idea why, but suffice it to say, I couldn’t do jack against him. The next day, I showed up with my arm in a sling so I wouldn’t have to wrestle again. I’m not making this up. I should probably blog about it sometime, lol.

    I thought an Americana was something you ordered at Starbucks.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Hahaha. Awh, man. I can’t say I blame you for the sling. I wonder if you fooled everyone. Anyone? And I’m laughing, too, at the coffee joke. I wrote on here years ago, when I first heard of that move, that my first thought was, “Isn’t that a type of coffee?”

      Not that I did that trivia question for you, but weren’t you due for a win anyway?

      Liked by 1 person

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      • Overdue actually, but I usually read your post after seven other people have answered correctly.

        Speaking of, if you’re quick, you might just make the 30th comment on my latest post!

        How the mighty have fallen…

        Liked by 1 person

    • What makes sense that I was born in September? So were you, and all the best people were? I can get behind that theory. 😛

      No biting, tickling, or eye gauges allowed. Apparently tickling is a bit of a gray area. The song is Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana. Apparently Teen Spirit was/is a deodorant?

      Liked by 1 person

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      • Some say that people born in September are extroverts by nature and have a large network of friends. They are super smart and live longer than most people! I was born in May, we’re stubborn, temperamental, introverts, not known for our genius! We write, drink coffee, die young. There are no studies but it’s factual nonetheless. 💕

        Liked by 1 person

  24. First of all, a belated happy birthday to you!
    “Stop thinking and just do it.” That’s probably good advice for many areas of life.
    “Technique over strength.” That’s true in rock climbing, too!
    That last picture is a good reminder: you never know who has jiu jitsu skills, so careful who you tangle with.
    Let’s see, Old Spice, Tom’s of Maine (that’s the one I use) Speed Stick? Nope. No idea. (But it’s amazing how few deodorant brands I can call up at a moment’s notice.)

    Like

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      1. Thank you. 2. I almost made a joke about “Stop thinking and just do it” being good advice because there are definitely loads of instances when it wouldn’t be. It could go either way, depending. I decided to drop it. But fun that you were thinking along similar lines. 3. You rock climb? That’s so fun! When I come visit, maybe you can–are you ready?–show me the ropes. Heh. And afterward we’ll meet Mark at a supper club in the middle of nowhere in between you two. He assured me, wherever it is, there will be a supper club. 😛 4. It’s Teen Spirit?! If not for the Nirvana song, I would have never known that was or is a deodorant. It’s being “hotly” debated in the comments about whether or not it actually exists. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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  26. Yeah! Betsy, you’re inspiring! I don’t know how you do it (well, lots of hard work and bruises galore) but very impressive that you could take on Blue Belt guy. As for scrolling back up to the photo, yes, I did, thinking the Swedish folk duo ‘First Aid Kit’ had mysteriously joined you all!! Sadly not!

    Liked by 1 person

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