Tag Archives: Jiu Jitsu

Jun29

My date with Mrs. Instructor

Posted on June 29, 2024 by Ilsa Rey

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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.

Posted on June 23, 2024 by Ilsa Rey

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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.

Posted on June 16, 2024 by Ilsa Rey

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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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May19

Developing Reflexes

Posted on May 19, 2024 by Ilsa Rey

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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

Posted on May 3, 2024 by Ilsa Rey

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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

Posted on May 2, 2024 by Ilsa Rey

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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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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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Apr28

Oh, you’ve gotta be kidding me

Posted on April 28, 2024 by Ilsa Rey

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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????

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!

Posted on April 22, 2024 by Ilsa Rey

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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.

Posted on April 18, 2024 by Ilsa Rey

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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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Mar27

Help me figure this one out

Posted on March 27, 2024 by Ilsa Rey

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I’ve had a couple more elbow escape classes. You know, that one move I’m good at? In one of these classes, Instructor told me I was “on fire,” and said, “No point deductions,” which are my three favorite words.

Surfer Dude said, “That was so quick, I didn’t have a chance to commentate.” Poor guy.

In a slightly different elbow escape class, my partner said, “She’s got that down.”

“Yes. She. Does,” Instructor said as he walked away to watch another pairing.

“Those four stripes aren’t just for show,” Surfer Dude said.

I don’t know what it is with me and this particular move. Not only did I do it with my eyes closed, but I was even humming! Not intentionally to be a punk, mind you. It was just… happening.

Meanwhile, I hate to break this to you, but in the most recent triangle choke class, Instructor told us to lift our head and smile at our partner if they forgot to keep head control.

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Surfer Dude said, “That was so quick, I didn’t have a chance to commentate.” Poor guy.

In a slightly different elbow escape class, my partner said, “She’s got that down.”

“Yes. She. Does,” Instructor said as he walked away to watch another pairing.

“Those four stripes aren’t just for show,” Surfer Dude said.

I don’t know what it is with me and this particular move. Not only did I do it with my eyes closed, but I was even humming! Not intentionally to be a punk, mind you. It was just… happening.

Meanwhile, I hate to break this to you, but in the most recent triangle choke class, Instructor told us to lift our head and smile at our partner if they forgot to keep head control.

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