Jul20

The reflex development that was

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The reflex development that was

I wrote this at least two months ago, but, for whatever reason, never posted it. Better late than never?

After regular Friday Jiu-Jitsu is an hour-long Reflex Development (RD) class. One Friday, after the first class ended, I sat on the bench, holding my socks. Should I put them on and leave? I surveyed the assembled students: a couple Master Cycle people, one who intimidated me a little, and two Combatives (my class) students whom I wasn’t fond of working with for one reason or another through no real fault of their own.

Surfer Dude began instructions, paused, looked at me, and said, “Are you staying for RD, Betsy?”

“I’m not sure yet,” I said.

Instructor spoke up. “Yes, you are,” he said firmly. “I’m not letting you leave here without doing RD.”

Well, okay, then. I was glad to have the decision made for me. Then one of my chicas showed up, so I was happy and comfortable working with her.

(It wasn’t this chica, but…) Mrs. Instructor, who posts pics on socials, commented that I’m smiling in nearly all of them. How can I not be?

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Jul16

Bonding over T-shirts

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Bonding over T-shirts
I had a fun little chat with a man wearing this shirt at Costco. I agree, but I like more than three people.

He appreciated the shirt I was wearing too.

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Jul7

The birth of Taekwon-Jitsu!

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The birth of Taekwon-Jitsu!

One of my daughters wanted to continue Taekwondo. Sensei said it would take a lot to pull him back into teaching. I suggested maybe we do a blend of Taekwondo and Jiu-Jitsu on a quid pro quo basis. I’ve acquired some grappling mats. Might as well use them. He agreed. And thus, Taekwon-Jitsu was born!

Sensei practiced three forms with us then eagerly pointed at the mats. “Remind me how to do triangle chokes.”

But first I wanted to be sure everyone had break falls and standing up in base down. Youngest Daughter, who was my assistant when I did self defense classes with fellow moms at school, went over trap and rolls and wrist releases with her sisters. (I was so proud.)

Meanwhile, I helped Sensei with triangle chokes. At some point I elbow escaped to get back into guard and so subsequently had to refresh his memory on elbow escaping. (I should mention, he only did Jiu-Jitsu with me for a month.)

Visual reminder: triangle choke

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Jun29

My date with Mrs. Instructor

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My date with Mrs. Instructor

It started out well.

Chuckle chuckle.

Here’s the thing that’s funny about getting together with friends with children:

We have children.

First of all, my people were going to be hanging out with the cool kids. The Little Instructors have a Jiu-Jitsu instructor and the high school surf team captain as parents, okay?

My daughters accompanied me wearing matching “Libraries rock” T-shirts and skirts they literally sewed themselves.

Laura Ingalls Wilder would be so proud.

So, yeah. I was already working at a deficit in my mind, but I love my children. Their mom was no “cool kid,” though I carried some modicum of respect with the stoners and skaters of my high school. If they heard me use the word “modicum,” that would be the end of the respect.

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Jun23

Showing those boys what’s up.

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Showing those boys what’s up.

For the first time ever, I arrived at Jiu-Jitsu and was disappointed to see Surfer Dude. I admit it: I like being demo partner. It’s actually fun, and I’ve gained a lot of confidence.

SD waited on the center of the mat while Instructor looked down the line with a finger out pointing. “Let’s go wiiiiiiiith…” his finger stopped on me. Hope surged. Would he use both of us somehow?

Then he turned, as if seeing SD standing there for the first time. “Oh, hi. How are you?”

So no demo day for me. Later I thought it would have been funny if I had said to SD, “I’ll flip you for it,” because that’s something I learned to do years ago. And if I had flipped that big dude over my back in front of everyone, it would have been epic. Alas.

Here are some way back play back images of me being flipped by SD, back in his blonde days when the nickname fit.

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Jun16

Big ol’ slippery mat? Of course I’m going to slide on it.

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Big ol’ slippery mat? Of course I’m going to slide on it.

Before I get to the main event, let’s pretend that last post didn’t happen, shall we? For the time being, I’m going to keep on keeping on. But, to be certain about my next plan of attack being legit, I needed to ask Hubby, “Do you think I can pull off this book thing?” He said, “Yeah, of course.”

So that’s that. I already have the title for chapter 1: “It was Covid, and I have a lemon tree.” How did those two facts lead me to martial arts? You’ll just have to wait and see. I’m taking pre-orders now. Kidding. 😉

Now on with the post!

The first time Instructor asked if people could help clean the mats after class, I jumped at it. Why not? The fancy vacuums, however, are not intuitive. Instructor had to say to me, “These are kind of tricky” three times as he repeatedly showed me how to put them together, turn them on, take them back apart, empty them…

When trying to put the “tank” back on the pole part, Surfer Dude said, “You make the labels match up.” He pointed at the labels. I stared at them. “It goes label to label,” he said again. Finally this computed in my brain, and I successfully put the pieces together, both literally and figuratively.

Visual interlude: This pic of SD was posted on Instagram. I commented, “That’s how I like to stand against the wall too. Feet are for chumps.”

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Jun7

Stay or leave, I want you not to go, but you should [maybe]–Dave Matthews

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Stay or leave, I want you not to go, but you should [maybe]–Dave Matthews

Jacqui at Word Dreams suggested I write a memoir about my martial arts experience. I’m intrigued by the idea. I do enjoy writing books and recently learned there’s a Polish version of my parenting book. (There’s also a Polish translation of my first book. Good ol’ Poles!)

The problem is, it’s hard to start a book when you don’t know the ending. Will it be book-worthy? Betsy takes on the world and succeeds against all odds–Yes. Betsy does martial arts for a few years then quits because her body can’t take it any more?–Not so much.

But I worry that could be my fate.

Here’s the thing: my lower extremities hate me. Still. I wear my ankle brace constantly, and I’ve been back to sitting on the shower floor for months. The first time I decided to sit because my feet can’t take the pressure, I sort of smiled inwardly, in a sad ironic way, and thought, “Hello, shower floor, my old friend,” because I tend to think in modified song lyrics.

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May19

Developing Reflexes

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Developing Reflexes

It was a large Reflex Development class Friday night, including four Master Cycle students. Often the MCers are paired with lowly white belts like me so as to help us. One of those MC women loves to be helpful, which is great, but also… not helpful. Should I be paired with her, I was formulating how I might kindly ask her to let me think through the moves rather than her telling me them.

When it was time to partner up, I hung back, letting the chips fall where they may, and taking whomever Instructor assigned me. Everyone who stepped from the wall looked around at each other and quickly paired up. By staying against the wall, I became invisible. Thus, a new strategy was born. When there’s an odd number of people (and I’m the oddest one), the straggler goes to…

Surfer Dude.

Score!

He’s second in command and sometimes teaches, giving Instructor a day off. In fact, recently, I was demo partner with SD instead of being the SD (demo partner) for Instructor. That was kind of trippy and fun.

Come on, Betsy, get it! SD loves to make me work for those arm bars. Instructor has since taught me a new way to break the arm free. My first thought was, “I’ve got to remember to use this on SD.”

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May3

A story about oranges … but also somewhat Jiu-Jitsu, of course

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A story about oranges … but also somewhat Jiu-Jitsu, of course

First, let me take you back to a fine afternoon in early April. As it is wont to do, my mind was on Jiu-Jitsu, what class we’d be doing in Jiu-Jitsu, how many more hours until Jiu-Jitsu. Finally, overflowing with eager anticipation, I messaged Mrs. Instructor.

I had not. I needed to check this out. Here it was:

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May2

Surfer Dude has abandoned me

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Surfer Dude has abandoned me

I’ve watched SD reprise his role enough times to *mostly* know how the game is played.

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I’ve watched SD reprise his role enough times to *mostly* know how the game is played.

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When Surfer Dude (SD) isn’t present and Instructor needs a demonstration partner, he usually scans the faces along the wall before saying, “So-in-so, can I use you, please?” often with a cupped hand beckoning the person onto the mat.

This time we had barely lined up, Instructor was still walking onto the mat, and didn’t even look when he called me out, as though it was a given.

That’s cool, and it’s still an honor, but when I reached the center of the mat, I saw SD standing on the far end.

Normally, I play the part of dutiful partner, staying on script, making myself as unmemorable as possible, but I couldn’t help but look at SD and throw my arms up in a “What the heck?!” fashion. He just smiled broadly then trained his eyes on Instructor.

I did the same because focusing on Instructor made it easier not to think about SD watching me. While I did his job. And he sized me up for competency.

Apparently he was just waiting to get across the mat without interrupting, because he left shortly after that. I breathed a little easier.

I’ve watched SD reprise his role enough times to *mostly* know how the game is played.

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