Actually managed to attend both classes, hurrah me. Officially wore the scariest shirt of the class to one of them.
Lesson 5: Ow, my Knee
- Duckwalk warmups require pushing one’s knee floorwards with the pelvis. Otherwise you hurt your knee, as mine still hurts slightly a week later. You live and learn.
- When attempting a back escape, it makes a world of difference to put your head against the mat.
- If the opponent/training partner has a death grip, don’t force yourself out of it. Wait a moment until they lose some of their intensity, then attempt to escape. Fascinating and logical.
- I did not understand how a sideways roll works. Like, at all.
- I frequently do the exact opposite of what is expected of me when training techniques. If I’m shown again, I usually do get the general gist of the technique.
- Had a nice chat in the changing room with someone who has been doing BJJ for a year. “I like doing this because it’s so difficult!” I hope to make it to a year as well.
- The instructor referred to how we will all get our arse handed to us for at least the first 6 months we spar with more experienced white belts after beginner’s class. “And only those of you who don’t mind that end up staying.” At the moment, I don’t feel discouraged by this estimation. I might help me build my resilience.
Lesson 6: Scary Shirt Saves the Day
- The T-shirt my loving family bought me when they attended Parikkala Statue Park (pictured) was universally deemed as motherhugging creepy by training partners and changing room mates alike. I should really buy some rashguards.
- I had done the duckwalk with my legs too close to each other, apparently.
- Shrimping can be incorporated into escaping from side control. Techniques taught individually start to fit together like puzzle pieces.
- I DID get the idea of a sideways roll and can almost do it now. Oh joy!
- Triangles were introduced. They were fun, yet a bit confusing.
- I have gotten to the point that I asked if it was okay to train rolls on my own at the gym. If I arrive an hour before class, I can.
Just realised I’ve made it through half of the course. I’m definitely going to keep doing BJJ after I finish this course.
