Reflex Development | Writing and Martial Arts

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. 😉

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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.