I'm Lovin' It! :)

So being back on the mats competing is probably the best feeling I’ve ever had in my life. I didn't win any of my matches but you know what? that doesn’t matter at all to me at this point in the game. It was a great experience and I'd like to thank all of those involved: my coaches for helping me train prior to the competition (a special shout out the Hammer for coaching me while I was on the mats), my dad for being a great motivator prior to and at the comp, my roommates for filming me and cheering me on, my opponents for giving someone to compete against, and finally but certainly not the least, all my teammates that helped me get ready for it :)

Long story short, though I didn’t win I feel that I performed quite well. In fact there are some aspects of my matched that I believe I did better at this time around than at any other tournament I have been in. This being my first blue belt tournament and my first tournament in over 2 years, I’m proud of myself for simply stepping onto the mat.

Basically I just wanted to give a quick update and I promise a more detailed one (with video and all) will be going up within the next couple of days. I will also give a full list of the Academy’s results.

The next post will be the best and most exciting yet so keep your eyes peeled.

Until then,

Train Safe. Train Smart. Train Hard.

IIIIITTTTTT'SSSSS TIIIIIIME! (well... almost)

So tomorrow is the big day.

For those of you that haven't heard, I decided to move up a weight class and fight at Heavy so I actually have an opponent.

Feeling super confident. Can't wait to hit the mats tomorrow. Revised my game plan a little thanks to some good training in takedowns on Thursday (shout out to an amazing instructor and even better father, Tad Black).

I hope everyone can make it out to support me, the team and the sport. Remember: all day event (doors open at 9, divisions start at 10) at Carleton University in the Norm Fenn Gym. Gi tomorrow, children and no-gi Sunday.

See you there,

Until then,

Train Safe. Train Smart. Train Hard.

It's Crunch Time!

FOUR DAYS TO GO. Midterms are out of the way for now. I've got a bit of a cold but nothing I can't handle.Weights still not quite where it should be but I'm on my way there. Last time I checked still only me in my div so absolute champ it is! :)

Trained tonight. Training tomorrow Thai conditioning and randori. Training Wednesday at least randori. Training Thursday takedowns (hopefully) and randori, possibly technique depending on school and how I'm feeling. Getting my hair did for the comp and taking Friday off to recover and rest up.

Currently working on my game plan,I'll let you in on that AFTER I employ it. Wouldn't want the competition to get their hands on it (not that they could stop it from happening but why ruin the surprise :P).

I promise I'll get that academy update post written. After the tourney though. Gotta focus. Time to get some rest. Please come out and support, if not me, the sport at Carleton U this Saturday and Sunday. See you on the mats.

Until then,

Train Safe. Train Smart. Train Hard.

Quick Update, More to Come :)

I'm apparently TERRIBLE at this blogging thing. It's been forever since I posted. I've been back in training for over 5 months and I never updated with physio.

Obviously physio went well since I'm back at it. My weight loss didn't go as planned at all, I have basically lost nothing. I do however have a tournament coming up in nine days, the 2nd Annual Ottawa Open. I will not be competing at my desired weight class but hopefully I can get down to a decent weight by then (it's not going in my favor as of yet). I'm finding it hard to fit in the training I need due to student life and work :( but I'm not too worried, I more just want to get the rust off and strive for greater things later.

I just really wanted to write something and try to get myself back into the habit. Starting next year you will be seeing me on the mats a lot and I would like to keep you all posted throughout that Every comp I can make it to I will be there! Possibly even the Worlds, who knows?

A quick academy update Matt "Hammer" Hache recieved his black belt!!!!! How crazy awesome is that?!

There have been lots of other promotions and accomplishments but I think I will do a separate post to make sure I get all of them. Keep your eye out for that and...

Until then,
Train Safe. Train Smart. Train Hard.

Physio, Food and Fitness

Hey! So I’m a little later than I said I would be (and I started writing this 2 days ago, I really should have just posted what I had...). Physio went really well. Timeline as it stands now is I wont be back until May L but that could change depending on my progress I hope. Basically it started off with her seeing where I was in movement and strength. I could lift my arm to about 45 degrees and she said my strength was good; she almost seemed surprised. She got me started on some stretching first. There were two exercises: the first with a bar being held in both hands, me laying on my back and lifting my arms above my head using gravity and my other hand to stretch my bad arm; the second with a pulley using my good arm to stretch my bad. After I was done those we started on some strength stuff. Basically it was me keeping my elbow at my side while pushing in each direction against the wall. I am to continue doing 3 sets of 10 twice per day and for the time being I go for appts twice a week.

Nothing else to really tell. Trying to get my eating and fitness into my routine. Eating in the caf it’s really hard to eat clean due to the lack of choice. I was kinda hoping to start my Paleo diet but if eating clean is this hard I can just imagine trying to eat Paleo. I think I’m going to start a simple circuit routine with skipping, legs and abs.  Need to get back in shape and I need to drop some lbs; and by some I mean like at least 40 (first goal, we’ll see where it goes from there).  Gotta get back in shape cause I got get in at least one comp before I get my jaw surgery done (which I might delay slightly considering they’re thinking May!) I gotta get in some training; I don’t think I could handle too much more off. Even now I want to die (figuratively, not literally) with the almost 6 months that ive been on my ass.

Addition because of my delayed postage (that sounds so stupid...) my exercises are still going well, easy. I decided to do some wall sits and drills last night while at the academy. My lgs are now horribly sore... I feel so out of shape considering. One of the drills I did was from the video I posted last week (?), the chicken. The shooting drill has always been my favorite just because of my natural wrestling skills so that fits in really well with what I like to do J

I have physio tonight so well see if anything changes or if its just more of the same. I shall let you all know J

Until then,

Train Safe. Train Smart. Train Hard.

Good News :)

Hey! So I know I probably should have done an update like the first of January, but I didn’t; live with it. But at least now I can say that I actually have something to report J Actually, now that I think of it, something is a bit of an understatement...

Big news today is that my first physio session is on Thursday so I will for sure be writing about that either Thursday night or Friday all depending on how I’m feeling. But, before the break I also discovered I can to shrimps and back rolls on one side. BJJ FTW!!! Also, even though its probably not really recommended I can sorta shadow box. Still slow movement with my left arm but at least I can practice motion.

I’m a little out of the loop when it comes to the academy but you can always check the news out at www.oama.ca. I know that the Ascension Open tourney is coming up and I’m sure our usual competitors will be there. Of course I would love to be there but recovery is key.

I am so psyched about my physio starting. I had no idea that I would get in the same week I went up to book an appointment. Bring on the pain; bring on the healing!

I’ve also decided to start posting some videos... maybe like once a month. I have a pretty cool one for today. My dad sent me on to youtube looking for Galvao drills and I came across one that shows all of his “animal drills” as well as how to make it into a flow drill which I thought was pretty sweet. Definitely something I’d like to try to help with movement.

 I felt the need to share this comment. I almost lost it... "I like the shrimp one. I'm hardly a martial arts expert, but I can see how that can help with escapes when it comes to grappling." you, my friend, must know nothing of jiu jitsu...
I also thought this would bea much more usful comment, "shrimp- hip escape, spider- base switching, chimp- passing open guard, leopard/crocodile- better side control, chicken- opening closed guard, kangaroo- standing in closed guard, frog passing butterfly guard, gorilla - passing half guard by standing, scorpion- practice for the x/matador style pass, seal- escaping the mount, cricket- mantaining pressure on moving opponent"
A few i'm not so sure about but feel free to comment down below, i'd love to hear from you about this video or any other content :)
Until next time,
Train Safe. Train Hard. Train Smart.
Jerrica

A Little Bit of Everything...

So much to catch up on. I hate school. It always seems to distract me from writing.

Personal update. Second day out of the sling. Gonna go attempt to set up my physio for next year but I have a feeling I won’t be able to even do that until next year... doctor’ s receptionists need to learn to pick up the phone and/or respond to messages left multiple times on their phone. However, I finally got the requisition. It says I can start jogging now but I don’t really want to do anything until I talk to someone about it... that won’t be until January. I have put on SO MUCH weight ‘cause I haven’t gotten off my fat ass. Kind of sucky and I’m not feeling too great about. Soon enough, soon enough; that’s all I can say.

Team updates. A lot. Lol. The team went to the Ontario Provincials (OJA26/27NOV2011) BJJ tourney. We came back with, if I counted correctly, 66 medals. The girls cleaned up their respective divs. My Kanata home girl Steph Typhair walked out with 3 gold and 1 silver (the three gold from div and 1 absolute, the silver from the other absolute). Shout out to Mateo, Jack, Cole and Stan for their performance too. Gotta love my Kanata family J Derek, even though he was competing a weight class up due to his MMA bout he still managed to come out on top along with Joel.  Biggest shout-out out goes to my little buddy Amari. He’s one of the kiddies that trains at OAMA and has been doing privates with both Nick and Hammer and is really dedicated despite his age. He brought home gold in his division too. It’s such a huge accomplishment I couldn’t let it go without mentioning it; so proud. Also, Throwdown Gatineau (RECPromotions02DEC2011) just passed we went 4-1. Everyone fought well, or so I heard I didn’t get to go because my bus never showed up, it was too late to find a ride and I didn’t have the money to grab a cab. Blah! I will not miss the next one though so I will have a better update for you. Finally, BJJ promotions were last night. Seventeen blue belts, 1 purple and 1 brown! So exciting. So much hard work goes into each of those belts, again I ended up missing this too this time due to final exams... grr! I’m not going to go through everyone but shout out to Anne for her purple and Fred for his Brown. And I’d also like to give a shout-out to my Kanata crew (not that everyone else doesn’t count :P but I helped them achieve this so I feel a little closer to it) Cole, Jack, Dave, Jeff, Jordan, Greg and Tristan!

Not sure if there is really anything else to say. I should be back doing Thai by middle of February, or so I hope. Once physio starts I’ll update you guys on that but until then...

Train Safe. Train Smart. Train Hard.

Jerrica