Friday, March 23, 2012

SMH and Smiling

Sometimes I just sit here and shake my head and wonder how did I get here?  I’m glad I’m here, but some days I just wonder, how did a conservative, middle aged, mini-van driving, wife and mother of two find her way to jiu jitsu.  The odds seemed pretty stacked against me ever stepping foot on a mat anywhere.  I do believe that somehow we were destined to be together (jiu jitsu and me).  Trust me, I certainly didn’t even know jiu jitsu existed before September of 2009.  But the stars and planets aligned, my kids schedules became free of baseball and softball obligations, and the magic ingredient…my daughter didn’t have to take physical education in 7th grade junior high.  Crazy!  Right?  No PE?  How could that be?  Every kid needs to run and jump and sweat.  It’s good for them.  But that was the catalyst that got me off my butt and looking for something physical for my kids to do.   Voila, 2 ½ years later, here we are.  My kids started first, and I followed suit about 9 months later.  I was infatuated from the very first class I took my son to.  What were those people doing on the mats?  That looks like fun.  Could I do that?  Really, could I do that?  Would they let somebody like me try to do that?  Yes, yes and YES!!
I guess I was feeling a little bit sentimental today.  I get that way on occasion.  Sometimes I do need to get it all out…to get it all off my chest, the good, the bad and the ugly.  Today it was good stuff that needed to get out…I like those days.  I was also thinking that the internet and blogging community can be a wonderful place.  For me, it’s been an outlet for the emotional and physical aspects of my jiu jitsu journey.  I appreciate all who stop by and read my thoughts and musings and rants and ravings and a special thank you to those of you who send me encouragement and support (and even a few gis)!  A girl needs all the help she can get.  I feel like I’ve got this community of people around the world that are all walking this journey with me.  My desire is to one day travel this great big world and train with all the amazing people I’ve met through the blogging community!  Get ready…one day I might just show up at a gym near you!!

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Sometimes you do get what you need


Sometimes what you need to make it all better is a good night of training jiu jitsu.  Tonight I was praying for that.  I needed that.  I really, really needed that.  I needed to smell those familiar smells and hear those familiar voices.  I needed to feel the mat against my feet and my face.  I needed to sweat and sweat and sweat some more.  I needed to push myself until I was out of breath.  I needed that right balance of a good training partner.  I needed to hear encouragement and constructive criticism.  Tonight I got all those things and more.  Yes, sometimes all you need to make it all better is a good night of training jiu jitsu.  :D

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Spring Break Adventures

Last week was Spring Break and I went on a family vacation.  My husband loves the Texas Hill Country and we wanted to go climb Enchanted Rock.  The last time we did this was in 2007.  I was very, very out of shape then. I was hurting all the time, everywhere.  The climb was extremely difficult for me.  I had to keep stopping and resting during the climb.  I thought I wasn’t going to be able to make it to the summit.  My husband helped me up most of the way.  This climb was so very different from that one.  It’s still a tough climb, but nothing I couldn’t handle.  This time I had to keep reminding my husband that I’m not that girl anymore…that girl from 2007.  It’s nice that he wants to take care of me, I actually love that about him, but I want him to see the strong person I’ve become.  I know he will in time.
The kids didn't have any trouble hiking up Enchanted Rock (you can see it in the background)!
It's about 475' to the summit. 
I climbed Enchanted Rock in my new Vibram Five Fingers.  They are pretty amazing. 
I heard this Tim McGraw song for the first time today called “Better Than I Used to Be”.  The lyrics really spoke to me, to my life, to my journey, to my jiu jitsu.  We are all a work in progress.  We are all imperfect and we all need a little help.  Thank goodness that I learned I don’t have to be who I was.  My journey’s just beginning and I will get better and I appreciate the fact that I am “better than I used to be”.  :)

Monday, March 5, 2012

I won a new Gi...meet me at Girls in Gis

After training last Friday, I got home and then logged into Facebook.  Guess what?  I won a free gi.  Yep, you heard me right, a free gi!!  Thanks Da Firma Kimono Company.  I can’t wait to get my new gi and train in it.  I will try to do a quick write-up after I’ve gotten it and had a chance to train in it for a bit.  In addition, these guys are the first I’ve seen to offer a short length.  They really do appreciate that we come in all shapes and sizes.  Check it out below.  Thanks again Da Firma!
Adult (mens)
A-0 5’0”-5”4 100-140
A -1 5’5” -5’8" 145-165
A-2 5’8”- 5’11” 165-185
A-2.5 (LONG) 6'0" - 6'4" 170-195
A-3 (SHORT) 5'-5" 5'-9" 190-220
A-3 5’10” -6'2” 190-225
A-4 6’0”- 6-4 215-260

Women's
F0 4'10" - 5'3" 95-125
F0 long 5'6" to5'9" under 125lbs
F1 5'4" - 5'8" 125-150
F2 5'5"- 5'9" 145-165
F3 short 5'3" -5'7" 165-190
F3 5'8"-5'11" 155-180
F4 5'9 -6'2" 175-220
This week will be filled with lots of work (I do have a day job), another acupuncture session, training BJJ, band parent meetings (yes, I am the proud parent of a band nerd) and getting ready for Spring Break next week.  I’m hoping to start our Spring Break off with Girls in Gis in Austin on Sunday, March 11th.  Ladies, if you are in the area, ready for a little road trip, bored, or even want to try jiu jitsu for the first time, come join us.  We will be at Paragon Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Austin, 6800 Westgate Blvd., Suite 116, Austin, TX 78745 from 12:00 – 3:00 p.m.