tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59548532804737345502024-03-14T03:50:45.875+08:00Surviving BJJTales of killing and getting killed on the mats. Mostly about getting killed. Welcome to my life!Janahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00820291786752660503noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954853280473734550.post-56460698833809750942011-07-26T12:17:00.003+08:002011-07-26T12:23:19.499+08:00DIET = DIE +T<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px;"></span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don’t believe in DIETS. Cutting carbs, restricting yourself to vegetables (if you’re not vegetarian), skipping meals .. in the end, your body will give up and you’ll inevitably resort to bingeing. </span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eating Rules to Live By:</span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Your plate should be colorful (greens, reds, oranges, etc)</span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Breakfast like a KING, lunch like a PRINCE, dinner like a PAUPER</span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Atonement - If you eat a lot of junk during lunch, eat healthy for dinner.</span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Portion Control - Eat whatever you want, but cut your usual portion size in half.</span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Cheat Day- Allow yourself at least one cheat day! On my cheat days, I eat gelato :)</span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. Never skip BREAKFAST!</span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, healthy eating habits should be paired with regular exercise e.g. BJJ :)</span></div>Janahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00820291786752660503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954853280473734550.post-58131391865205223092011-07-25T15:30:00.000+08:002011-07-25T15:30:07.484+08:00in hiding<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With all the craziness that has been going on in my life, I took a self-imposed hiatus from BJJ. Ok, its only been two weeks, but it feels like forever. My last training session was hell for me..I was still recovering from the flu and my cardio was next to non-existent. After a horrible sparring session, I felt demoralized. To top it off, I received the worst news ever.. which I won't bother to mention here. I've got all my ducks in order and I'm ready to get back into the game. Sometimes, all you need is a little break from everything. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can't wait to train tonight!</span>Janahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00820291786752660503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954853280473734550.post-26357313890805956492011-07-07T01:45:00.000+08:002011-07-07T01:45:04.308+08:00Cross Training<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some pictures from a cross-training session we had two weeks ago :</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-htVaVxqbSzk/ThScSKxtWPI/AAAAAAAAAEw/nK2mCPNDKY8/s1600/268283_10150230575178061_599633060_7295502_5639946_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-htVaVxqbSzk/ThScSKxtWPI/AAAAAAAAAEw/nK2mCPNDKY8/s320/268283_10150230575178061_599633060_7295502_5639946_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(In this picture : Marc "Benignose" Benigno, Toffy "The Destroyer" Ilagan and Myself "Chipmunk BJJ")</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yB-kI6nzlFs/ThScvMa-j7I/AAAAAAAAAE0/sBE4eDR3iaI/s1600/261688_10150230575928061_599633060_7295510_2181957_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yB-kI6nzlFs/ThScvMa-j7I/AAAAAAAAAE0/sBE4eDR3iaI/s320/261688_10150230575928061_599633060_7295510_2181957_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(In this picture: Alvin "The Alvinator" Lee and Raymond "Lalake Ako" Varilla)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cross training sessions are the best. Not only do you get to check out other games, but you get a whole new lesson and of course, taught in a different style. Training with the same people all the time is fine and dandy, but mixing it up makes it so much more interesting. You also get to hang out with your other teammates and eat in yummy places like Lugang (OH SO GOOD) and try ginormous desserts as seen below:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a.yfrog.com/img611/7541/xskwy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://a.yfrog.com/img611/7541/xskwy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Red Beans with Shaved Ice</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a.yfrog.com/img616/7540/vzrfd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://a.yfrog.com/img616/7540/vzrfd.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peanut Smoothie</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you to Toffy, Raymond and Sam! We'll be back soon!</span></div>Janahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00820291786752660503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954853280473734550.post-83965622531953520422011-07-07T01:28:00.000+08:002011-07-07T01:28:58.009+08:00GEN ASS<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">General Assemblies never cease to amaze me. The DEFTAC family is huge, with over 8 branches nationwide! We're getting stronger and stronger thanks to our new colored belts.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CZketdPAHY4/ThSX_CM5R7I/AAAAAAAAAEs/PhxuGum4MNE/s1600/268167_10150362472179062_610704061_10388000_3971162_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CZketdPAHY4/ThSX_CM5R7I/AAAAAAAAAEs/PhxuGum4MNE/s320/268167_10150362472179062_610704061_10388000_3971162_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pictured above are our two new blue belts, Joel and Alvin. Not only do they look sweet, but they actually are. Contrary to popular belief, these two are some of the nicest guys you'll ever meet! Both of them have worked hard for their belts : training regularly, cross training, never giving up. They also serve as an inspiration to the newer white belts who just watch them in awe. First to defend the weaker, spazzy guys and last to leave the mats.. I'm proud to have them as my teammates! Congrats Joel and Alvin! May you stay sweet forever!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other promotions:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PURPLE</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Karl Rodriguez </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Myron Mangubat </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BLUE</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mike Luna</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rover Lustana</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ali Reza</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Patrick Lubaton </span></div>Janahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00820291786752660503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954853280473734550.post-64051251008159673032011-07-05T23:46:00.000+08:002011-07-05T23:46:45.523+08:00Taking down notes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.indiana.edu/~libpres/manual/materials/matimages/notebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.indiana.edu/~libpres/manual/materials/matimages/notebook.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The BJJ Notebook- do you have one? If you don't, get one. How could you possibly keep track of all the techniques you've learned in class? Nobody's memory is that good.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love taking notes. My BJJ notebook is filled with techniques, drawings of techniques, flowcharts.. BJJ can get pretty nerdy if you get into it. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are a few tips for keeping a BJJ notebook:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>1. Details, details, details. </b>Mention all the details that go into executing the technique. Which hand do you use? Which leg do you kick? Where do you put your head? Write it all down!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>2. Videos </b>I've divided my notes into techniques I've learned from videos and techniques I've learned in class. I make sure to mention which DVD I got the technique from and of course,I include detailed information about the moves I learned.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>3.Spars </b>Ideally, you should be logging all your spars, especially the ones you've lost. You have to figure out how that guy got your back or why you ended up in someone's triangle. Once you find the answer, the likelihood of you ending in that position again would be next to impossible.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Good luck!</span></div>Janahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00820291786752660503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954853280473734550.post-40393122725713790792011-07-04T09:01:00.000+08:002011-07-04T09:01:53.971+08:00Running<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the past few <strike>days </strike> <strike>weeks</strike> , I've been promising myself that I'd start running. For some reason, I just can't bring myself to do it. I have no problem going to BJJ training after work, but running just seems so tiring to me. I know, I know.. it really shouldn't be that hard. I keep on making excuses for myself, about how I'm going to start once I get a new pair of running shoes how I need a new running playlist, etc. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After reading what I just wrote, I'm feeling more lame by the minute. Today is a new day and today I start running. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Running program for the week:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">55411</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5 minutes brisk walking</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5 minutes brisk walking with longer strides</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 minutes jogging</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 minute sprint</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 minute sprint</span><br />
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</span>Janahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00820291786752660503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954853280473734550.post-20889995453274811382011-07-02T02:08:00.000+08:002011-07-02T02:08:25.576+08:00A promise<div style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', hirakakupro-w3, osaka, 'ms pgothic', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;"><em><strong>I promise myself…</strong></em></div><ul style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', hirakakupro-w3, osaka, 'ms pgothic', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;"><li>I promise myself to be so strong that nothing can disturb my peace of mind </li>
<li>I promise myself to talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person I meet </li>
<li>I promise myself to make all my friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them </li>
<li>I promise myself to look at the sunny side of everything and make my optimism come true </li>
<li>I promise myself to think only the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best </li>
<li>I promise myself to be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about my own </li>
<li>I promise myself to forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future </li>
<li>I promise myself to wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature I meet </li>
<li>I promise myself to give so much time to improving myself that I have no time to criticize others </li>
<li>I promise myself to be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble </li>
<li>I promise myself to think well of myself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, bun in great deeds </li>
<li>I promise myself to live in the faith that the whole world is on my side, so long as I am true to the best that is in me</li>
</ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', hirakakupro-w3, osaka, 'ms pgothic', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Christian Larson</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', hirakakupro-w3, osaka, 'ms pgothic', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', hirakakupro-w3, osaka, 'ms pgothic', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So many promises, yet which ones will you actually keep? There's no harm in trying and thinking positive. If we don't have that, what else is left?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', hirakakupro-w3, osaka, 'ms pgothic', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>Janahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00820291786752660503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954853280473734550.post-21118905503684596332011-06-27T02:17:00.000+08:002011-06-27T02:17:22.182+08:00Who is your BJJspiration?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NFNnKvY3yFo/TgdzJxCzSrI/AAAAAAAAAEg/HfyEo46FFPY/s1600/69133_142505822462411_141308942582099_198629_2901138_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NFNnKvY3yFo/TgdzJxCzSrI/AAAAAAAAAEg/HfyEo46FFPY/s320/69133_142505822462411_141308942582099_198629_2901138_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">My number one BJJspiration, obviously, is my boyfriend, Carlo. He was promoted to blue belt in less than 8 months (the fastest promotion to date) and is considered to be one of the most technical practitioners on our team. The key to Carlo's success? Attention to detail. Carlo makes sure he knows every single detail of every single move. He's a walking, talking BJJ dictionary. This is how he's able to beat guys twice his size. Did I mention his nice arms and super manly chin? :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.onzuka.com/Photos/Marcelo%20Garcia1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.onzuka.com/Photos/Marcelo%20Garcia1.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Marcelo "Marcelinho" Garcia. Ah-mazing. I love how he wins practically all his matches via submission and how he makes guys who outweigh and outpower (is there such a word?) him look like pansies. Quick as lightning and super deadly, Marcelinho's instructionals and matches are number 1 on my youtube viewing list.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQcBOi0Vlt5LcGCLy-JR8OOwlsD4N3okFlGYidyllsJAZJM4d_DDg&t=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQcBOi0Vlt5LcGCLy-JR8OOwlsD4N3okFlGYidyllsJAZJM4d_DDg&t=1" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Alvin Aguilar, our head instructor. How could he not be one of my BJJspirations? Number one, he's the first Filipino BJJ black belt. Secondly, he's almost completely self taught, at a time where instructionals weren't available. Even if his sparring partners are blue belts, purple belts and one brown belt, he was able to stand his ground at the Mundials last year. Unbelievable, right?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Who's your BJJspiration?</div>Janahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00820291786752660503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954853280473734550.post-86734150309425846532011-06-27T01:54:00.000+08:002011-06-27T01:54:25.452+08:00gi review #2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.btfightgear.com/photo/bjk-684_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.btfightgear.com/photo/bjk-684_1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(image courtesy of btfightgear.com)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Say hello to the Bullterrier Kids BJJ Gi (White, Lightweight)!</div><div style="text-align: left;">I bought this gi last December and I absolutely love it. So do the other girls. In fact, two of my teammates have the exact same gi. What I love most about it is how soft it feels - baby soft. Just like wearing a bathrobe and pyjama pants. Not only does it feel great, but it looks great too. Fits me like a glove in all the right areas. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Although Atama has a special place in my heart (I have two), I've grown quite fond of my Bullterrier and will definitely get the black version as well. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Size wise, I recommend this gi for petite girls like myself. I'm 5'1.5, around 97-99 lbs and the M3 fit me perfectly. </div><div style="text-align: left;">The gi hasn't shrunk much after numerous washings though I find it hard to take off the yellow stains on the knees (our mats are yellow).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Love love love this gi!</div>Janahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00820291786752660503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954853280473734550.post-86573107474661195242011-06-27T01:41:00.000+08:002011-06-27T01:41:24.633+08:00An update!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">According to my blog, the last time I've written in here was September 2010. Nine months ago! I could've had a baby by now! I may not be pregnant, but here are some other things that have happened to me (BJJ wise) in the last 9 months :</span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1) I got MY BLUE BELT!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I know right. Long time coming. But I'm glad I got it when I did. When I got my fourth stripe, my guard game was virtually non-existent. I swallowed my pride and worked on my guard. Got passed like crazy (still do.. sometimes.. hehe), got squashed.. but eventually I figured it out and ended up with a more well-rounded game. Yay!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">2) We have LOTS OF NEW GIRLS!</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VXT-qQ7s6fk/TgIL1KrQ_PI/AAAAAAAAAEU/ubwwLEtGjYU/s1600/222111_10150173867687485_600417484_6836984_5888557_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VXT-qQ7s6fk/TgIL1KrQ_PI/AAAAAAAAAEU/ubwwLEtGjYU/s400/222111_10150173867687485_600417484_6836984_5888557_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> From two became three and the numbers just kept on multiplying! What I love the most about these girls is that they're all really feisty. They either train hard or harder!<br />
<br />
I promise to start updating my blog again. Promise, promise, promise!</div><div><span id="goog_1312246995"></span><span id="goog_1312246996"></span></div>Janahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00820291786752660503noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954853280473734550.post-46056629127118988962010-09-28T16:24:00.000+08:002010-09-28T16:24:23.652+08:00transitioning from gi to no gi<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Most Jiujitsu masters argue that once a person trains with a gi, there will be an almost seamless transition to no gi. After watching people train with no gi for the past week, it is apparent that not everyone is transitioning as smoothly as they should. A friend of mine narrowed down his no gi experience to a single quote - "No gi, no skills." </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Grips? Gone. Sneaky gi chokes? Gone. You're left with your hands, a pair of shorts and a rashguard. </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I've only trained no gi several times and I truly enjoy it. I love how everything goes so fast. Because of this, you learn how to be more explosive which is something you could definitely use in training with the gi. I can see how training wrestling could be an advantage in no gi since wrestling is based on strength and explosiveness. Another plus would be good cardio because it seems easier to gas out with all the moves you do. I'm definitely looking forward to training more without the gi- something else you can add to your BJJ resume!</span>Janahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00820291786752660503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954853280473734550.post-41815457812966884782010-09-15T11:42:00.000+08:002010-09-15T11:42:38.116+08:00post training eating habit<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Training for us usually ends at about 11 pm. I'm usually ravenous after training but recently, I decided to change up my eating habits- eating more before training and a healthy (and sometimes, not so healthy) snack after. I used to feel sluggish in the morning, especially after drowning myself in carbs and whatever fast food I could find. Mind you, I'm not on any kind of diet but I did pack on a few pounds back then. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I think I'll stick to my new routine, thank you very much! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4nDrSBNo8fE/SfVrVfdrSkI/AAAAAAAAAKc/SaENaRDkwZ8/s1600/banana_peanutbutter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4nDrSBNo8fE/SfVrVfdrSkI/AAAAAAAAAKc/SaENaRDkwZ8/s320/banana_peanutbutter.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">For all you pervs, stop it. Peanut butter and bananas after training are the best snack ever!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">Sometimes, I'll have this</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">:<a href="http://www.springfieldgrillemercer.com/cblog/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/brie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://www.springfieldgrillemercer.com/cblog/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/brie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"> with this</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Skyflakes_cracker.JPG" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">And this</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.foodmayhem.com/uploaded_images/dried-cranberries-716392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.foodmayhem.com/uploaded_images/dried-cranberries-716392.JPG" width="312" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">My teammate Joel swears by Chuckie chocolate milk :</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzl8U7SXse4/Slx0uGHP-BI/AAAAAAAADH4/ElPa8hU16rc/s1600/CHUCKIE+PROMO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Tzl8U7SXse4/Slx0uGHP-BI/AAAAAAAADH4/ElPa8hU16rc/s320/CHUCKIE+PROMO.jpg" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">What do you eat after training? </div>Janahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00820291786752660503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954853280473734550.post-88283003491273548392010-08-24T10:55:00.000+08:002010-08-24T10:55:51.910+08:00Gi Review - Atama Mundial #9<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://mmaclaw.com/claw_machine/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/atama-mundial9-gis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="http://mmaclaw.com/claw_machine/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/atama-mundial9-gis.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">After trying on my teammate's Atama (thanks, Laisa), I decided that I HAD to get one. The gi top fit me perfectly for once, and the length and width of the pants were just right. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'm 5'1.5 , 100 lbs with a puny upper body. Naturally, I chose the white F1 </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> (</span><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana,helvetica,arial; font-size: x-small;">4'9"-5'0"</span>/ <span style="color: black; font-family: verdana,helvetica,arial; font-size: x-small;">85-100 lbs) <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">thinking that it wouldn't be true to size. Sure enough, it is the best fitting gi I have ever had. The pants fall to just above the ankle and aren't baggy at all. The ripstop material on the pants felt weird at first, but now I think that I actually prefer them to cotton! They are kind of see-through though so make sure you wear a pair of black cycling shorts /yoga shorts. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana,helvetica,arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I've washed my gi about 5x already, and so far, there has been very minimal shrinkage (though some claim that Atama gis shrink like crazy).</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana,helvetica,arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Despite the hefty price tag, I will most definitely stick to this brand. Thank you, Atama for making a gi that finally fits me! <3</span></span></span>Janahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00820291786752660503noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954853280473734550.post-37939879960527225652010-08-24T10:28:00.001+08:002010-08-24T10:28:39.281+08:00swingy!I am probably one of the clumsiest, uncoordinated people you'll ever meet. There are some techniques that take me forever to learn (sorry Marc and Mig) and some that I just choose not to learn because my brain can't seem to coordinate properly with my limbs. However, there are certain techniques that come naturally to me. I call them the swingy techniques. They require swinging hip movement, hence the name.<br />
Some examples are:<br />
1. Sweeps from spider guard<br />
2. Sweeps from seated half guard<br />
<br />
Which technique comes naturally to you?Janahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00820291786752660503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954853280473734550.post-23396874298572860332010-08-23T11:24:00.000+08:002010-08-23T11:24:58.475+08:00Preventive Maintenance<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO YOU?!" </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When I started jiujitsu, my girlfriends would always gasp and point at my bruises in disgust. They've gotten used to it, but that doesn't mean that they think its ok. They shriek when they hear about my matburns and cringe when I talk about cauliflower ear. </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Jiujitsu is not a pretty sport, and I think it takes a certain kind of girl to be OK with all these... atrocities. So here are a few things I do to keep the ugly side of jiujitsu at bay:</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1. TAPE</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_p7WkE80sEOI/THHg3YRpmMI/AAAAAAAAADg/yZuw4yBzy2g/s1600/tape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_p7WkE80sEOI/THHg3YRpmMI/AAAAAAAAADg/yZuw4yBzy2g/s320/tape.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Mueller/LPL tape is a godsend for your fingers. I like to tape my fingers right below the nail, to protect them from getting calloused and dark from grips.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_p7WkE80sEOI/THHhTfVJqHI/AAAAAAAAADo/AUCw2bZ-B8Q/s1600/strips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_p7WkE80sEOI/THHhTfVJqHI/AAAAAAAAADo/AUCw2bZ-B8Q/s320/strips.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> The best way to do it is to cut the tape into small, long strips. This provides more mobility for the fingers.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_p7WkE80sEOI/THHhy_GcRsI/AAAAAAAAADw/Nu6zMxyERts/s1600/taped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_p7WkE80sEOI/THHhy_GcRsI/AAAAAAAAADw/Nu6zMxyERts/s320/taped.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Just wrap it around your finger, like so. I usually wrap three fingers, although it looks like I need to start wrapping my pinkie as well.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_p7WkE80sEOI/THHiIXHcbkI/AAAAAAAAAD4/JAhlc3Z2MbA/s1600/tapedfingers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_p7WkE80sEOI/THHiIXHcbkI/AAAAAAAAAD4/JAhlc3Z2MbA/s320/tapedfingers.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> 2. ARNICA</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://www.healthreaction.com/images/Nelsons/nelsons-arnica-cream.jpg" /></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> I use Arnica ointment on all my bruises. Its most effective when applied immediately after training. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> 3. KNEE PADS</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.auroradancewear.co.uk/acatalog/knee_pads-detail.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="http://www.auroradancewear.co.uk/acatalog/knee_pads-detail.gif" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> I used to wear knee pads all the time, but I've gotten lazy since they hurt the backs of my knees. I'll try to look into a different brand next time. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span>4. MOUTHGUARD<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gungfu.com/pics-general/pics-training-gear/training-gear-protective-mouth-guards-c-brain-pad-double-guardian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="http://www.gungfu.com/pics-general/pics-training-gear/training-gear-protective-mouth-guards-c-brain-pad-double-guardian.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Mouthguards protect your teeth and gums from impact injuries. In the event of a serious blow, it could also prevent concussion and reverberation damage. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> 5. DEEP CONDITION!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.beautyfool.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/pantene-3-minute-miracle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.beautyfool.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/pantene-3-minute-miracle.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> I shampoo my hair almost everyday because of jiujitsu (as opposed to every other day) . Even if I keep my hair in a ponytail/bun, I still find strands here and there- BJJ is murdering my hair! To keep it healthy and manageable, I only use sulfate free shampoos and conditioners, and make sure I deep condition at least once a week. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> With regards to cleanliness, I always keep a bar of antibacterial soap and facial wash, betadine/neosporin and a bottle of isopropyl alcohol in my gym bag. After training, I make sure I wash all exposed limbs with soap, then put alcohol, then shower. I know it might seem a bit much, but you never know what kind of diseases those mats are harboring. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">What do you do?</span>Janahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00820291786752660503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954853280473734550.post-75938178127271290962010-08-17T17:16:00.001+08:002010-08-17T17:47:18.701+08:00war wounds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs389.snc4/45219_430548702484_600417484_4891425_4324690_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs389.snc4/45219_430548702484_600417484_4891425_4324690_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here is my latest war wound (the biggest I've had so far), located on my right knee. Luckily, it is just a bruise and will go away in a matter of days. In the meantime, I am forced to wear pants instead of the dresses I usually wear to work. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Since starting BJJ , I have grown accustomed to the following </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">(much to the dismay of my boyfriend)</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> :</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1. Calloused appendages (fingers, toes, knuckles)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">2. Mild cauliflower ear</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">3. Mat burn</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">4. Busted lips</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">5. Random scratches</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Gross? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Well, BJJ is a contact sport that comes hand in hand with all these injuries. Remember, if you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">xoxo! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span>Janahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00820291786752660503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954853280473734550.post-34953878485321519662010-08-17T16:49:00.000+08:002010-08-17T16:49:56.447+08:00position vs submission<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As of late, I've been attacking more than I should. Instead of holding the position before going to my submission, I attack right away and end up vulnerable to passes, eventually turning into a better position over me. Lesson learned. Securing a position sure beats .. being beat! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">One of the reasons for attacking so much is my lack of cardio. I feel like I should finish the fight as soon as I can, before gassing out. Obviously, this is wrong. What I should be doing is working on my cardio and learning how to secure positions. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">You definitely learn something new everyday! </span>Janahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00820291786752660503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954853280473734550.post-67483499017331508532010-08-12T10:00:00.002+08:002010-08-12T10:00:33.020+08:00The Path to the Black BeltAccording to my extensive research (hi, google), all the champions train at least three times a day, everyday. So how does one get to black belt with training three times a week (that's all my gym offers) with a regular 8-5 job? <br />
Here's my path/long winding road to the black belt:<br />
1. Train 4x a week (one cross training session)<br />
2. Weights 2x a week<br />
And eventually... 3. Jogging/Swimming/Some kind of cardio/Yoga every morning<br />
<br />
I'll get there someday, some way, somehow.Janahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00820291786752660503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954853280473734550.post-79814754521397613912010-08-11T09:59:00.002+08:002010-08-11T11:26:29.956+08:00whats going on..<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A lot has happened since I last updated my BJJ blog. Its been an eventful 8 months and my love affair with BJJ is still going strong!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1. We finally have a girl in our gym!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">After a year and a half of training, God decided to send us a tough, pint sized, 17 year old "angel". The best part is that she loves BJJ as much as I do and is willing to train whenever, wherever! Though still a newbie, she already has become a force to be reckoned with. She is stronger than some of the guys in our gym (sorry, guys) and it seems that BJJ is a sport that comes naturally to her. We've already named her "the beast" and "the prodigy", so you can just imagine what she's like!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">2. I finally competed!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I joined my first major tournament in May, losing both in my weight division and absolute. Instead of dwelling on my losses and quitting, I decided to work on what went wrong (with the help of my loving instructor/boyfriend). Since then, I have learned how to master breaking the closed guard and escaping from the triangle choke. Also how to hold my breath longer.. haha! </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">3. I got promoted!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Just last month, our black belt made a visit to our gym to do promotions. As usual, he made us spar in order to gauge whether we deserved a promotion or not. When it was my turn, I found out that I would be going against a guy who I had yet to beat. I don't really know what happened, but I remember that at one point, I had his leg and I didn't let go for what seemed like ages.I could hear Carlo screaming and hooting in the background, which gave me strength (haha) so I swept, mounted and then ended up armbarring him. I surprised even myself. After that, I had to go against someone almost twice my size, ordered to tap me out in 20 secs. He didn't and I was so happy. In the end, when Alvin, our blackbelt, asked me to finish out my stripes, I almost cried (again) from sheer joy and all the emotions that were built up inside me. Luckily, I didn't even shed a tear. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">4. Competing again! </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'm going to try and compete again this September. Hopefully it will go better than my first tournament. I'm so grateful to have such great instructors/friends who are willing to answer all my questions and teach me stuff that I supposedly already know to cover all bases. Thanks guys! </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">5. Long distance :( </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Carlo finally moved to Singapore (only for a year and a half) for his MBA and it sucks. But I know that this will only strengthen our relationship and ultimately, make us stronger people. I don't think I've ever been this excited to talk to someone on skype, or felt this anxious because someone hasn't texted.. but when I see that red flashing light, I have the biggest, cheesiest smile on my face and everyone knows why :) Here's to more adventures in love and BJJ! Cheers!</div>Janahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00820291786752660503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954853280473734550.post-40077237455109434462009-12-18T10:56:00.002+08:002009-12-18T11:02:10.089+08:00trapikTraffic in Manila is horrendous this time of year. It takes approximately 30 minutes to get from my house to anywhere else in Makati (OK, maybe I'm exaggerating.. 20 minutes then) and I can't even imagine how long it will take for me to go down South tonight. Friday night + Christmas season = MAJOR DISASTER. However, I will be bringing some goodies in the car to keep Carlo and myself busy. Goodies such as:<blockquote></blockquote>
<ol><li>A deck of cards</li><li>Granola bars</li><li>Chocolate chip cookies</li><li>PSP</li><li>Pillow and blanket</li></ol>Wish me luck!Janahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00820291786752660503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954853280473734550.post-56548650973911870822009-12-15T15:52:00.004+08:002009-12-15T16:06:38.783+08:00there is still some good left in this world!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.goodkarmafactory.com/sitebuilder/images/KarmaCop-311x322.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 311px; height: 322px;" src="http://www.goodkarmafactory.com/sitebuilder/images/KarmaCop-311x322.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I was running late to meet my friends for lunch and quickly signaled for a cab to take me to my destination. Told the driver where I was headed, and made sure everyone knew I was on my way. When I got there, I dug around my bag for my wallet.. and to my horror, it was nowhere to be found! Embarrassed, I had no idea what to do. I told the driver to meet me at my office as I scribbled down my address on a piece of paper. Instead of getting angry and pissy (like most cab drivers), he waved his hand and said, "Ok lang yan". I apologized over and over again and he just smiled at me. "Sige na," was all he said. I told him thank you and closed the cab door quietly. I felt horrible. Here I was, going to a mall to have lunch with my friends which would probably cost as much as his allowance for the whole day, if not more.. and him off to work to make up for what he lost. I said a little prayer of thanks and wished that lots of good karma would come his way.
Good deeds seem to be completely unheard of nowadays, especially from strangers- and I consider myself extremely lucky today.. I shall do a good deed today as well :)Janahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00820291786752660503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954853280473734550.post-6622269905875860792009-12-11T10:24:00.004+08:002009-12-11T10:40:07.087+08:00It's beginning to smell a lot like Xmas!<div style="text-align: justify;">I just finished rewriting my Christmas list and it looks like I still have a long way to go. Yech. Oh well, I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that I'll be done by this weekend! Since Monday, productivity in my office has reached an all time low. Quite a few people have been calling in "sick" this week and of course I am not included because I am a responsible employee. So, I'm thinking of going shopping during my lunch break. Whaddaya think? Hahaha<blockquote></blockquote>
</div>Janahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00820291786752660503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954853280473734550.post-2123001111482916122009-12-10T10:42:00.003+08:002009-12-10T10:51:38.932+08:00Yoga for BJJ and Grapplingtaken from grapplearts.com
<div style="text-align: center;">Yoga for BJJ- A Personal Challenge
</div><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size:78%;">
</span></b></span> <p style="font-family: arial;">An individual seeking to become a complete martial athlete cannot afford to leave the ancient practice of yoga out of his/her training regimen. No other exercise addresses and develops as many physical AND mental attributes as yoga does. If you think that yoga is only for new age hippies or human pretzels, think again!! If BJJ black belts such as Rickson Gracie and Wallid Ismail train in yoga, you owe it to yourself to rethink what yoga is all about.
For BJJ practitioners, the most crucial physical link between yoga and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is their emphasis on ground work. ALL yoga poses (handstands, seated poses, standing poses) emphasize the body's relationship to the ground. All strength related exercises in yoga put the practitioner in direct resistance to the pull of gravity. Sound easy? Sure, if you're just standing around on both legs, gravity is a piece of cake. Now try standing on the balls of your feet, squat down until your thighs are parallel to the ground, and hold that pose for 10 controlled breaths. That's yoga!
More importantly, the mechanics for most of the poses found in yoga almost directly resemble the physical movements found in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I've found, from personal experience, that yoga's "crow" pose (hands on the floor, with your knees planted behind your triceps for support) has helped my transition from side-mount to knee-on-belly tremendously. Next time you bench press 250 lb., ask yourself how that's going to help your mount escape. If you're not sure, I'm willing to bet that there's a pose in yoga that will.
Finally, yoga prepares you mentally for the rigors of BJJ sparring and competition because it teaches you how to mentally relax while holding physically compromising positions. There are poses in yoga that are meant to arouse specific emotional responses, be it anger, fear, or frustration.
Regardless of what you might feel, and how intensely you feel it, the practice of yoga teaches you not only to endure such emotions, but also encourages you to EXPERIENCE them. When you experience your physical and mental limits at their extremes, yet respond with a calm and clear attitude... getting mounted by a 260 lb. sparring partner or competitor won't be as fearsome as it used to be. That is the true benefit of yoga. Each pose, each practice session, is an opportunity to face your internal, resisting opponent. Each breath and each moment is a personal challenge that we can experience and overcome.
It's quite unfortunate that, for the majority of the population, when the word "yoga" comes up in conversation, one immediately envisions a half-naked Indian man, dressed only in a loin cloth, with his feet behind his head, chanting "ohm", smiling the widest, most masochistic grin imaginable. Or, even worse, one envisions a group of individuals, seated in full-lotus position, trying to get in touch with their inner dolphin.
But there is more to this art. Much more. Drop the weights, leave the running shoes, the gloves, and the gi at home for just one hour every Saturday, and open yourself... to yourself. Empty your cup. This is the first challenge of the path to yoga. </p>Ever since I started yoga classes, my base has improved... drastically! Instead of rapid, heaving breaths during sparring, my breaths have become more controlled already. Only after a few sessions! Imagine what 3 months worth of yoga will do for your game. Amazing. I wish I had gone back to yoga earlier. Maybe my game would be so much better than what it is now.. but like they say, its better now than never, right? Can't wait for my next yoga class!
Namaste!Janahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00820291786752660503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954853280473734550.post-50708990272994903582009-12-09T11:57:00.003+08:002009-12-09T12:11:33.431+08:00Escaping from Sidemount/ Side Control<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jiujitsu-zone.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/side-mount.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 579px; height: 472px;" src="http://www.jiujitsu-zone.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/side-mount.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>As someone much smaller than my opponents, I find it very difficult to escape from side mount or side control. I feel completely powerless when I'm trapped in side mount, and my bridging or "upa's" don't make any difference. Even shrimping and turning seems impossible to do, especially when the guy makes his side mount really heavy. I know what the escapes are - pulling guard or getting on my knees, I even know how to use the "paw grip" to avoid getting cross-faced. Does anyone have any other tips or suggestions.. I need to stop getting TRAPPED!Janahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00820291786752660503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954853280473734550.post-58229478278108853342009-12-08T10:46:00.003+08:002009-12-08T11:10:55.553+08:00xmas<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://thechristmasguide.com/images/christmas_gifts.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 537px; height: 347px;" src="http://thechristmasguide.com/images/christmas_gifts.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Christmas is here and I haven't started shopping yet. I'm so dead.
</div>Janahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00820291786752660503noreply@blogger.com0