He appreciated the shirt I was wearing too.
Jul16
Bonding over T-shirts
Tag Archives: martial arts
Jul7
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.)
Jun23
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.
Jun16
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.
Jun7
Stay or leave, I want you not to go, but you should [maybe]–Dave Matthews
![Stay or leave, I want you not to go, but you should [maybe]–Dave Matthews](https://ilsarey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/t-city-with-tate.jpg?w=150 "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.
May3
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.
May2
Surfer Dude has abandoned me
I’ve watched SD reprise his role enough times to *mostly* know how the game is played.
I’ve watched SD reprise his role enough times to *mostly* know how the game is played.
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.
Apr22
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.
Apr18
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…
Apr1
One about Surfer Dude
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.
