thoughts from round two

First of all - i almost didn't go to class tonight. I *really* wanted to go but I am pretty beat up from a mountain bike crash on Saturday.

I raced an 8 hour race on a duo (female) team. (we won!) I crashed pretty hard on my last lap. Huge bruises on my hip, swollen/banged up knee and a skinned up elbow. My knee hurts pretty bad - I can't bend it very far. :( I was hesitant to go to class - but thought of missing a training session didn't set well with me so I went. (suck it up buttercup - i told myself)

skinned up elbow :(

bruises healing nicely after 5 days.
I wonder if you get this beat up in jui jitsu? ;)

Hairdo status:
The modified "princess leia" hairdo held up pretty well. I was surprised but it didn't get in the way during the warmup rolling exercises and during the training session it stayed put. I'm stoked it's gonna work out. I do look pretty goofy - but what can you do??


I need a new outfit:
The instructor brought a A0 and an A1 gi for me to try on. Sadly - neither one worked for me. The A0 sleeves were too short (that's a first) and the A1 was ginormous on me. :( I guess I'll be on the hunt for a gi that fits me. At 4'10" and 110lbs - that's the story of my life - not being able to fit in normal people clothes...and the reason I have 3 custom mountain bikes. being petite has it's bennies but also has it's drawbacks...

jeesh - i sound like a girlie-girl talking about my hair and new of a new outfit. hee-hee...I crack myself up!

grappling with the men
This is my 2nd session and i trained with the instructor (Mike)and one other guy(Richard). Both super nice guys. I've read other blogs and websites where a lot of women feel very uncomfortable grappling with the men.

so far that's not a problem for me. Maybe because Mike and Richard seem very respectful and not all macho (though I'm sure there a ton of macho guys in this sport). And maybe because I've participated in so many male dominated sports - I don't mind it being so physical.

I will admit a couple of times while doing the moves I realized my boobs were pretty much *right in* the face of the person I was grappling with. A flitting thought of "oops" would cross my mind but then I would shake it off and get back at the task at hand.

Even tho some of the positions are very intimate - it doesn't feel sexual to me. will that change or will i suddenly become uncomfortable? I dunno...i'm guessing it will depend a lot on the people I train with.

I'm sure I'll have more thoughts on this later...

but so far - i'm still hooked (line and sinker!)

jiu jitsu hairdo

(originally posted on my mtn bike blog)

I've always thought the "fighting" sports and martial arts were very interesting. The fitness required, the aglility, the reading of the other person, the mental focus/toughness required under pressure all seemed facinating to me.

It seemed like something i'd like to try except (and this is a BIG except and a total deal-breaker) the 'getting hit in the head' part. I don't mind getting bruises and beat up - I just don't want my brain sloshed around continuously. But I guess that's the whole point of fighting - is to take the other person down, eh? So I thought it would be something I would admire from afar.

Then last weekend, Dave and I watched a show about Royce Gracie and how he used jiu-jitsu to defeat much larger opponents with finesse, intellence, patience, technique and skill and NOT brute force and NOT by hitting them in the head. Damn - don't you know that sucked me in bigtime...so you know where this going.

I started reading about jiu-jitsu and in training and competitions of straight jiu-jitsu you don't focus on hitting people in the head. You focus on getting their bodies in position in order for them to 'submit'.

Yes - I signed up. My first class was last night and i LOVED it. It is *very* technical. It was described as a 'isometric chess match' and after experiencing some of the moves that is an apt description.

so...move over speedskating...this off-season i'll be doing jiu-jitsu as cross training.

A big annoyance to me was my hair. I did the typical one long braid down my back but that didn't work out so well - with all the tumbling, grappling and tussling - my hair was constantly getting matted up and coming loose.

After a little experimenting - I think I have a good jiu-jitsu hair do. I know it looks goofy but hopefully it's functional. We'll see - my next class is Tuesday. :)

step 1 - regular hair do
(not that it's that much of a "do" ;) )

step 2 - 2 pony tails high up on my head
(so when I'm rolling around on my back i won't roll on these)

step 3 - braid into pig tails

step 4 - wrap braids into a bun and secure w/bobby pins
(modified "princess leia" do)

life's an adventure, eh?

it all began when I saw the show "Ultimate Gracie" on Spike TV. It peaked my interest, i investigated, i signed up for a "free" class and i'm hooked.

and of course (and i don't why) i've fallen in love with *another* male dominated sport. so in typical "cynthia fashion" I'm 100% in and will embrace it with everything I have.

in case you're wondering previous/current sports/activities: motorcycle road racing, ice speedskating, semi-pro pool player, mountain biking and now jiu-jitsu.

And as with learning anything new - you have to be prepared to swallow your pride, feel like a spaz, and look like a idiot. I'm ready - so let's go!