With soccer season over for the Spring, I was back in the dojo this week. Here are some random observations from the past couple week's of classes.
Running: We're running more often to start class now that we're in no gi season until Labor Day. Most of these runs have been something I've been able to manage. We've run different distances and there's been plenty of variety. Through graveyards and wooded paths. On flats and up steep hills. Some shorter and some longer. On many occasions, I'll position myself toward the back to act as a sweeper and to encourage a straggler. This past Thursday, I started near the front of a run led by Sempai Matt. He's down 60 pound as he prepares for his MMA debut on July 18th. Newly trim and always tall, Sempai went for a run and not a jog, I was doing everything I could to try and keep up with him. His stride is long and it felt like I was sprinting to keep up. When we finished, Sempai said that he kept going faster because he heard me on his heels. I'd have slowed down if I'd known.
Jujitsu Hallmark Cards: A few weeks ago, I'd played around with an ongoing 'You Might Be A Jujitsu Player' theme. reently, Sempai Jake suggested a line of jujitsu-inspired cards. He imagined they might not be a sweet and sympathetic as a traditional line of cards. Something like the outside of the card saying 'I'm sorry for your loss' and the inside saying 'Suck it up and get back to class'.
To escalate or not to escalate: I recently took a hard heel to the side of the head from my constant training partner and fellow blue belt Joelbow. It was in the middle of a roll and it bothered me off enough to kick me into another gear. Afterward Joelbow asked whether he'd pissed me off. I told him 'yes' and that maybe it was a good thing since it made me fight more aggressively. I also told him that I resisted doing that with him because I didn't think he had any governor. I figured he'd just amp up further and someone would get hurt - that I preferred to be one level of intensity below him and try to deal with that using technique. Of course, at a class sooner after, Joelbow was grinding his forearm into my face and bending my fingers back. I'd decided it was best to not go there and end up getting hurt trying to match those tactics. On the otherside, I think Joelbow is doing the appropriate thing from a self-defense standpoint. These are some ot the methods that may be necessary when push really comes to shove.
Progression: I've now been through the blue belt chart enough to have a decent understanding of the charts. Now it's time for refinement. This goes for working back on the white and yellow belt techniques. It's a lot to retain in an aging mind easily distracted with things like retirement planning and colonoscopies. That said, it's a good challenge to keep in front of me.
No gi Harai Goshi: Earlier this week, I got my best throw ever during randori. I was able to get an underhook on Joelbow and turn into a nice Harai. I was surprised myself when it worked so well and we bashed to the mats with me in side control. It was a little like that perfect golf putt, that smashing bowling strike or that swishing three-point basketball shot. I thought maybe I should just quit jujitsu then because I might never get another throw that felt so perfect.
Butt out: We did the sometimes perilous 'throw-only randori' at the end of Thursday's class. In a sense, this is little like what a judo class must be like. No ground fighting allowed. Just going for throws and then re-starting after each attempt. I went with Mega Chris and Sempai Cort and did decently. No great throws to speak of. I was fairly aggressive but my low 'butt away' posture was probably the basis of Sensei's class-ending discussion on not being overly cautious and taking that stance. He noted that you need to get your hips in and doing the 'butt away' stance was fine defensively but also negated your offense as well. Sempai Scuba also gave me some special instruction on how to clean up finishes if my seoi nage failed. And it does fail often.
Last class this half-century: Today is my last class before turning 50. These past few years of jujitsu have been an interesting challenge. I feel like this sport has allowed me to reach the half-century mark feeling fit and challenged. I've met many new friends, gathered innumberable memories and have a level of skill and fitness that a typical middle-aged sport like golf wouldn't have given me. I'm hoping that the years ahead will find me healthy enough to continue pursuing this sport. Choking out a 20-year old on my 60th birthday will be my next goal. I'm just hoping it doesn't turn out to my daughter's boyfriend.
