whats going on..

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!

1. We finally have a girl in our gym!

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!

2. I finally competed!

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! 

3. I got promoted!

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. 

4. Competing again! 

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! 

5. Long distance :( 

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!

First Entry

Wow! If you're reading this, it must mean that you're either: a) really bored b) really interested c) a stalker d) Josh I kid, I kid. So, here's the story. Around a month ago, I came up with this crazy idea that I should join my first BJJ competition this October. As luck would have it, after I registered, I got an e-mail back saying that there wouldn't be a women's division this October. Yay, right? Wrong. I got so pumped up about finally competing that I decided to join the big one this December. See, the October competition was only for white belts, two stripes below. Come December, I'll be going against four stripe white belts, three stripe.. you get the picture. Ok, I'm terrified. Scared shitless. I've been watching tournaments on youtube instead of working (sorry) and the girls seem really big and rough. Not that my team mates (who are all macho men.. well most of them, anyway) aren't. They go a little bit easier on me since I weigh less than a 100 lbs. Sometimes, they even refuse to do techniques on me because they're afraid that they might hurt me. Or maybe they're scared of Carlo. Whatever the case may be, I'm not really used to being roughed up. Backtrack to a few weeks ago. I go to the main gym in Sucat and go against this Judo guy. He goes sorta rough on me. I hyperextend my arm, I cry. In front of everybody! What a lame-o, right? But anyway, I keep on standing up, trying to spar with the guy even if he continually beat me. If I'm going to cry in front of everyone, it might as well be for a good reason, right? So, there. In order to win this goddammed motherF897ckng tournament, I have to suck it up and take it like a man. There's no glory without pain, right? So what have I been doing so far, in order to train for the tournament? 1) I've been doing more cardio, before, after and between BJJ training. 2) I've been sort of watching BJJ videos with Carlo. 3) I read my notes every now and then. 4) I ask Carlo how to do certain moves, etc. Obviously, I am documenting my progress. Hell, I've been training for almost a year now and what do I have to show for it, right? Here we go! Stay tuned :) Practice tonight!