Tag Archives: Jiu-Jitsu

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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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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Apr28

Oh, you’ve gotta be kidding me

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Oh, you’ve gotta be kidding me

I finally finally FINALLY made it to a legit Class 20, the one I conned cajoled kindly asked Surfer Dude to give me an X on my card for after I demonstrated mastery and played 5,000 rounds of rock, paper, scissors.

I returned the next day for class 21, and what did I see on my card????

No second X for class 20!

I approached SD at the desk and pointed out the problem. “Of all the classes for me to miss getting a second X. The one for which I worked so hard to get the first X.”

“Let’s do rock, paper, scissors,” he suggested.

“No!” I fake-yelled and walked away as he marked my card.

“Not even for fun?” he asked.

“Well, okay.” I returned to the desk. I shot rock. He threw down

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Apr22

Redemption!

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Redemption!

I studied up. I watched the videos and did multiple mental reps to prep for the next mini Reflex Development class.

I knew the moves before the first mini RD, yet they eluded me when I needed them. Not this time, brain. Not this time.

I messaged Mrs. Instructor:

Since I was the only one staying for RD, lounging solo on the mat, waiting, Instructor walked over and said something roughly to the effect of, “When Surfer Dude is ready, just do a minute each of mount control.”

“Okay,” I said, disheartened. I wanted to prove myself by doing the moves I had utterly failed at the first night.

However, SD sauntered over, not having been given instructions, and said, “Let’s do the stuff we did the first night.” That you utterly failed at was kindly left unsaid.

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Apr18

Well, THAT didn’t go well.

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Well, THAT didn’t go well.

In one Jiu-Jitsu class, Instructor was watching me do the moves and pointed out that the position the “bad guy” wound up in was perfect for Twisting Arm Control from a different lesson.

Do I know how to do Twisting Arm Control? Why, of course I do.

Could I remember in that moment how to do Twisting Arm Control? Why, of course I couldn’t.

Instructor had to remind me of the steps, but, before he could say, “Jump into side mount,” I proudly jumped into side mount! Facing. The wrong. Direction.

Later I reflected on what had gone wrong there and realized it was probably because it was his left arm, when I’ve only practiced this move right handed.

Knowing I need to work on that, I was excited to learn of new mini-Reflex Development classes happening after most regular classes.

In the first one, run by Surfer Dude, it was just me and one other student. I’ll call him…

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Apr1

One about Surfer Dude

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One about Surfer Dude
From August 2022 when I earned my fourth white stripe. Apparently Instructor (left) and Surfer Dude (right) were doing a tough guy pose. Not surprisingly, I appear to have been too happy to look tough.

Before Jiu-Jitsu class formally started one night, two students were trying to do a particular move. They couldn’t remember how it started (the indicator) and were doing the parts they could remember rather clumsily. Doing it incorrectly repeatedly is not a good way to practice. It would’ve been wrong for me to stand by and watch.

“You doing class 20?” I asked.

“Take the back from the guard?” one said.

I nodded.

“Wow, she even knows the numbers,” one said to the other.

I know this number, for a very specific reason, which I’ll tell you in a moment.

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Mar6

Let’s pretend I did that on purpose

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Let’s pretend I did that on purpose

Frequently I’m partnered with the kid, whom I’ll call Billy. (Get it?) Even when I’m not the only female, I get matched with Billy. That’s not my favorite, since I’m unlikely to be attacked by a 6th grader, but I get it. I’m closest in size to him, since I, too am built like an 11-year-old boy.

Anyway, one night he did some move which was apparently cool. I didn’t see it, but Instructor asked if he had done it on purpose. Billy said no. (Points for honesty!) Instructor said he shouldn’t admit when he does something cool by mistake.

Later, Instructor told Billy to really make me work for it, which I appreciated. So Billy put up a fight. Instructor: “Whoa, Betsy. You got your knees up behind his back. Pulling out stuff from class 11.” He turned to Surfer Dude. “Did you see that?”

“Yeah.” Surfer Dude nodded appreciatively.

It’s a good thing I had just learned not to admit when I do something cool by accident.

Happily doing an arm bar. Pics compliments of Mrs. Instructor who kindly sent them to me after a different class. (That’s not Billy.)

In another class, we learned a new-to-me way of doing the headlock escape superbase variation, so I had no muscle memory to carry me through on this one. Instructor sat down in front of me to watch, so of course my mind immediately went blank.

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