Giving Thanks and Jiu Jitsu Love

We have been working a sweep that has proven very difficult for me so I am thankful for some very patient training partners this week.  They both have seemed so confident and made the move seem effortless...while I was spazzy and sweating and out of breath and obviously not executing it very well.  They just kept encouraging me and helping me tweak it and make it my own and they didn't let me stop.  I am in desperate need of one of those beautiful moments when everything comes together, but right now it's just not happening.  I am extra slow and clumsy and my cardio downright SUCKS!  The summer heat is kicking me in my big old butt.  I have been fortunate to roll this week with some exceptional partners, pushing me and encouraging me, just the right balance of push and pull.  I'm thankful for that.  I needed that.  I even managed some Judo rolls this week.  I didn't sneak out of doing them like I had been doing in previous weeks.  I just walked up to the line and took a deep breath and did one at a time until I was through.  I was slow, but I did them.  I'm thankful for that too.  I have to say I was really feeling the jiu jitsu love last night after training.  I haven't been feeling that a lot lately and it was starting to worry me.  It's that feeling that comes from stepping on the mat, working hard and finishing class and stepping off the mat and knowing you did something exceptional.  I love that feeling.  I go home bouncing off the walls wanting to talk about jiu jitsu to everyone at my house...even when they don't necessarily want to talk about it with me....but they listen and nod and smile...that's enough for me.  So tonight I am looking forward to class.  I will train to the best of my ability and hopefully this sweep will come together...if not, that's okay.  I am working on being patient with my training.  I am a slow learner.  I know this in my heart, but my head wants my body to hurry up and learn, learn, learn.  So I am taking a deep breath and smiling and telling myself to slow down and enjoy the small victories and look forward to all the wonderful jiu jitsu I still have to learn. 

Time to Train

I had a post written before I went on vacation last week...but it was written out of anger and frustration and I decided not to post it.  I might save it for a later date if that anger and frustration rears its ugly head, but for now it's in the vault!  I think it made me feel better just to write about it.  I've been on my yearly family vacation and for over a week I haven't trained.  I've enjoyed sleeping late and eating too much and drinking gallons of Dr. Pepper and doing crazy, touristy stuff with my family.  But alas, all good things must come to an end.  Back to work and back to my routine.  It's a good thing, because I've started missing the gym and the people and the mat and yes, even the smell (if you do BJJ, you know the smell...LOL)!  So tonight it is time to train!! :)