Feb16

Talking Music with Surfer Dude/Instructor the Mind Reader

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Talking Music with Surfer Dude/Instructor the Mind Reader
My neighbor, Subie, on left, Surfer Dude on right, saying, “Shout out to Ilsa’s blog readers!” [Not really, but how awesome would that have been?]

One night for rolls at Jiu-Jitsu, a song by Pierce the Veil called “Bulls in the Bronx” played. During a flamenco interlude, I couldn’t help but stop rolling with Surfer Dude to “dance” while kneeling. Not missing a beat, he pulled on a prim and proper face like a flamenco guitarist and pretended to play. It was priceless.

Back to rolling, which always involves laughter when I’m with SD (and most people, but especially SD), I said, “Maybe we’re just having too much fun,” a second before that line was sung.

He smiled and fist bumped me with our sparring gloves on.

Later, I was rolling with Balloon Man when “Ride the Lightning” by Metallica played. I ALMOST pulled the same stunt by telling Balloon Man (not going to abbreviate that one), “Now it’s time to die,” to align with the song.

I didn’t have the nerve. I told SD about it later. He said,

“You should have said it. That would’ve been hilarious.”

It would have been. I just wasn’t sure I could get away with it with Balloon Man. In hindsight, I totally could have. Dang.

I told SD that Metallica was by big brother’s favorite band growing up, so I became very familiar with the songs. In college, I had a fun “party trick.” Whenever out with friends and Metallica happened to be playing, I could sing along verbatim. This shocked my friends because they didn’t expect it from sweet, innocent me.

SD bobbed his head and smiled. “That’s awesome. Great story.”

Instructor the Mind Reader

“Little Sister” [of Blue Belt] received her Combatives belt and is now in Master Cycle! I’m THRILLED about this, but that’s not what this post is about. 🙂

It was time to roll with Instructor. “Let’s start standing,” he said. He played bad guy, coming toward me aggressively.

Oooh, I really want to go Taekwondo on him and kick him in the face!

I wouldn’t really, of course, but I was sorely tempted to kick near his face.

As though hearing my thoughts, he spun, jump kicked several feet in front of me, and launched one more kick.

I grinned, “That was a me move.”

Then I went in for the clinch, switching to rear clinch when he tried to wrap my head in a guillotine.

That’s when a student walked in, bringing his wife for her first class.

Instructor trotted to the edge of the mat to greet them, with me still holding on. I was in position for a takedown! I wasn’t going to waste that. Besides, he hadn’t given the quick double tap indicating I should let go. Instead, I popped my head around his back to watch the conversation until he trotted back to finish our roll.

Then, instead of getting to take him down, he switched it up on me and flipped me over his hip. I could have been irritated, but instead I said, “Yay!” because getting flipped is still my favorite thing ever. I also noted that he didn’t go slowly or gently like in my early days. This is Master Cycle, baby. He let me have it. And I loved it.

When the timer went off to switch partners, I was the odd woman out, so I took a breather on the bench.

As I watched Instructor and his partner roll, I considered that I could just leave. 

Should I go? Ehh. That would be kind of lame of me. Though I could just leave. Nah. I should stick it out and wait for the next partner change, then get back in there.

No sooner had I finished thinking this when Instructor, mid-struggle, looked up from his back on the mat, scanned the room until his eyes met mine, and pulled a hand free to give me a thumbs up with a questioning look.

I smiled and nodded. This is a man who takes care of his people.

Though he also, you know, beats them up. 🙂

Yes, yes, people, HRH is for Her Royal Highness. I didn’t think it would be THAT easy. But several of you gave your own interpretations. I’ll be sure to include those the next time I write about Mrs. Instructor. 🙂

Q: Modern pizza was invented in this city during the late 19th century.

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68 responses »

  2. I guess it’s nice to not abbreviate Balloon Man. BM could be misinterpreted as Bowel Movement. 😃 Instructors can sure seem to be mind readers. My sensei sure seemed to be at times. Your loving getting flipped is mind boggling to me, Ilsa.

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  5. Methinks any band that gives a shout out to a blog will probably lose some street cred. And as to the pizza question. My guess is NY. Italians began arriving in NYC in the late 19th century, which, I assume, is about the same time pizza started taking hold. On the other hand, I have always heard pizza was not a traditional Italian dish, so, why not Chicago? I have a suspicion, whatever the answer is, both cities claim it as their own.

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    • Yeah, that modern pizza bit will require some research. As for the music, you are forgiven–as opposed to the Metallica song, “Unforgiven.” (Sorry. Had to, Barb. It was right there.) My brother even had Metallica for his wedding song. 😛 But it was a slow, sweet song.

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  10. “Shout out to Ilsa’s blog readers!” Hahaha! That was a great opening. You had me there for a second.

    I love that you love your classes and being tossed around. My sport was racquetball. I wonder if I would have had the discipline and patience for martial arts. Hmm…

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    • Why does everyone know THAT song? It’s not like it’s their only one! 😛 You’re the second commenter to mention it, and another person on the side said it’s their fave Metallica song. It’s decent, I guess. “Wherever I May Roam” does it for me.

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  13. Random question out of interest: you don’t practice in groups of three if you are an odd number? That’s what we do in Aikido. One doing the technique, two attackers, alternating. And you keep switching roles. We don’t wait and rest 😉

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    • Oooh, that sounds intense! And fun! JJ is mostly ground techniques, so it’s one on one. It would be hard to entangle your legs and effectively execute a move when there are six legs in the mix. I suppose it’s possible, but we don’t. I’ve heard that for black belt test, the standing techniques, you’re surrounded by six people who come at you. That sounds wild.

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  17. Naples, Italy?
    Isn’t it funny how we learn, whether we like it or not, the music of our older brothers? Thanks to mine, I know all the words to most of the songs by The Who, The Beatles, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Rush, and many others that are today considered old school.

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  18. I remember Metallica was used in the context for a roast war between two friends and one called the other Metallica cuz they had braces. 😆

    That’s great that you can Metallica verbatim. I bet it does bring out the awes from the unsuspecting onlookers!

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    • The marvel of it wore off quickly with my college friends, sadly, if I remember correctly. At least SD appreciated my musical knowledge–if not my JJ knowledge. That dude just wrecks me every time. Most recently, when I was on my side, he put his shin against it and simply dropped his weight into me until I tapped. It was so mean. Though perhaps not as mean as when he expresses surprise at me doing, okay, trying, something skilled. One day I’ll get him though! Do you hear me, SD?! ONE DAY!! Mwuaha–Oh. He’s not reading this.

      Also, calling the brace face Metallica is mean. Unless the person thought it was cool. That’s what I would’ve done. And then felt obligated to learn to play the guitar.

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  19. The Beatles, The Eagles, Elton John, Gordon Lightfoot, and the rad instrumentals of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, just to name a few I’m completely familiar with courtesy of my brother, his always-on-after-school stereo, and his endless record collection. The pizza trivia has me stymied. Can’t decide whether to go with northern or southern Italy. I’ll side with The Travel Architect. Napoli?

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    • Always safe to side with the Travel Architect when it comes to questions of foreign lands! Fun that you’re also sharing the musical influence of your big brother. I asked SD why he was into Pierce the Veil and other bands like My Chemical Romance, since he was a baby when their music came out. He said it was because it was what his big brother listened to, aka, Instructor. 🙂

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