Tag Archives: Master Cycle

Sep10

And they’re back!

Posted on September 10, 2024 by Ilsa Rey

Okay, friends. After lulling you into a false sense of security with posts related to baking, beeping, and random food pics, I’m bringing Jiu-Jitsu back in force! (I just heard Mrs. Instructor quietly say, “Yay.”)

In a recent class, Instructor used the Combatives Belt Kid (CBK) as his demo partner. I thought of telling CBK later, “Hey, man, good for you. What an honor.”

But in last night’s class, Instructor used me as his demo partner, so I now realize it’s a matter of who’s sitting closest or randomly makes eye contact, rather than a matter of skill. [Note to self: Sit far away and avoid eye contact as though Instructor is Kaa from The Jungle Book or the basilisk from Harry Potter.]

Being demo partner in Master Cycle is frightening. Thankfully, the moves here are sort of a crap shoot. Some are ridiculously complicated, but a lot are really quite simple when you get down to it.

I feel like that last part is asking too much of me.

Read the rest of this entry →

Aug22

Surfer Dude has it coming

Posted on August 22, 2024 by Ilsa Rey

Standard

While I was doing triangle chokes in Reflex Development with Iceberg, Surfer Dude was watching.

“Where do you have your foot?” he asked me.

I looked. “Oh, it’s on his knee. It should be on his hip. Sorry. That was lazy of me.”

“You’re in Master Cycle now,” he reminded me, and continued reminding me as he pulled no punches when we rolled together later. “I want you to be as good at triangles as I am.”

“Whoa,” I said, kind of flattered at his apparent faith in me, since he is the king of triangles. “New life goal.”

Next SD helped Iceberg properly triangle choke me.

“When her face starts turning red like that, you know you’re getting it,” SD told him.

“Thanks, man. Appreciate it,” I said. He smiled.

Screenshot from a video I took in Betsy’s Jiu-Jitsu Journey Part 1, when SD’s blonde hair helped him live up to the name. The unfortunate man stuck sniffing his arm pit is Blue Belt, once called Mustache, if we’re trying to keep track. I asked them to do this video for me because I struggled most with triangle set up. I *think* I’ve finally gotten in down. 😉

Read the rest of this entry →

Aug11

Rolling with Mrs. Instructor, aka Do Not try this at home.

Posted on August 11, 2024 by Ilsa Rey

Standard

Rolling with Mrs. Instructor, aka Do Not try this at home.

So, you would think since Mrs. Instructor and I are friends, we’re both female, I’m new to Master Cycle, and given that the guys are nice and easy on me, she would be too, right?

Wrong!

That chic’s leg hooks were SOLID. I feel like 75% of the time I’m able to slip a choke. She was all, “Oh, you want to slide out by getting your back to the ground? Let me just pull you back on top of me as though you weigh approximately 7.5 pounds.”

“You got a frame in on the right side? That’s cool, I’ll just fling you over to the left and sink the choke in with that arm.”

Daaaaaaannnnnggg. Such fierceness!

Basically, I didn’t stand a chance.

See? We’re friends! Remember these good ol’ days? (Never mind that this was a tactical “hug” just before I swept her leg.)

Read the rest of this entry →

Aug8

My first Master Cycle class

Posted on August 8, 2024 by Ilsa Rey

Standard

But first, back up with me a little.

I figured I had climbed to the top of the Combatives class when I was asked to be demo partner and to help other students, like in the days of old. My final clue that maybe I might just possibly be the highest belt was when Instructor said, “You’re the highest belt.”

Sometimes it’s difficult to read that man. Just say what you mean, already!

But when this realization dawned on me, I had an “Oh my goodness, I did it” moment.

I thought back to my last encounter with the fabled Chex Mix Guy, known to long-time readers here. When I saw him while wearing my stylish medical support boot and explained my Jiu-Jitsu fall from grace, he encouraged me, saying, “That gives you a goal to aim for. Work your way back to the top.”

It was a year later when I returned to Jiu-Jitsu, and several more months before I reached that objective, but wherever CMG is now, I thank him for the encouragement. I wish I could tell him I made it.