tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63308577080617698972024-03-04T23:07:57.279-06:00Mrs. Ibarra's Jiu Jitsu JourneyAn old lady's ramblings about her love of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I want my Jiu Jitsu to become a thing of beauty...fluid and graceful and beautiful...I know that someday it will be.Mrs. Ibarrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01211072714681211642noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330857708061769897.post-83044539825652717492017-01-01T18:59:00.001-06:002017-01-01T19:03:05.636-06:002017 Is Here<font face="Arial">When I was a little girl I'd often think about what will it be like when I am old. I used to think 30 was old. Then 40. But now 50 seems pretty young to me. I knew that in 2017 I'd turn 50. As a kid that seemed so far away. A million miles away. Little did I know. 2017 is here people. And this year I will turn 50. While I'm not making lists or resolutions or looking for some profound life event, I am in search of joy, peace and happiness. Love I already have. But those other things can be a little bit trickier. So this year I'm just trying to do what makes me happy. Hold on to those things that bring me joy. Hide away in my heart those things that give me peace. Like always. Those are the things I wish for each of you. May 2017 bring you peace, love and beautiful, happy and joyful Jiu Jitsu. </font>Mrs. Ibarrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01211072714681211642noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330857708061769897.post-87866135739328665782016-06-03T16:12:00.001-05:002016-06-04T19:22:14.968-05:00PowerThe power of jiu jitsu to change people never ever ceases to amaze me. I've seen people's lives changed in huge ways. It is a beautiful thing to behold. For myself though, I'm struggling daily with my ability to change, to commit, to stay on track. I'm tired of letting my depression and anxiety control me. It's been a difficult year. A lot of things have taken a toll on my mind and body. I pray for the strength to keep walking this journey. The grace to give in and let it change me. I know there's something inside of me that is scared of success. I have to stop sabotaging myself. Where will this journey lead me? I don't know. I'm scared. But you have to want it more than you are afraid of it. Mrs. Ibarrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01211072714681211642noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330857708061769897.post-20191491587716405142016-03-21T06:59:00.000-05:002016-03-21T06:59:09.078-05:00The Struggle is Real<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Usually I am a very private person; but, here goes...I've been struggling for quite a while with anxiety and depression. Sometimes it paralyzes me. Sometimes it doesn't. It's painful and hard to explain. If you ever see me drop off the face of the earth, you'll know I'm most likely struggling. I've become quite the expert at going off the grid. At times, training jiu jitsu has been life saving. It keeps me grounded and surrounded by a loving, non-judgmental support group. Your team is everything. They can make you or break you in the journey. It's also important having a coach who understands my struggles. He pushes and pulls me just as the right times. Then there are the times when even jiu jitsu doesn't save me. These times are the worst...like falling into a dark pit without a light or a ladder...scratching and clawing to find your way out. Every second wanting to be present and living your life; but unable to do so. Feeling like a complete and utter failure as a wife and daughter and mother and sister and team mate. Always feeling like you are letting them down. Yep, it is brutal. Then miraculously you crawl out of the pit. Sometimes with the help of others. Sometimes with the help of medication.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've been going through a very rough patch. I am trying. Some days all I manage is to get up and get out of bed. Some days I make it a little further. Soon I will be back in the world. Living and loving and training jiu jitsu. I am grateful every day for jiu jitsu. In many ways it saved me. It continues to save me. It heals me. It makes me strong...mind and body. So, if you've been wondering where I've been, I've been in the pit; but I am slowly crawling my way out of it. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I would love to hear from others who struggle with anxiety and depression. Feel free to talk to me. Ask me the hard questions. Mental health issues are so taboo in our society. I know from personal experience. We need to open up the dialogue and start changing the way we treat those with mental illness. I am ready for a change. I am ready for people to understand. Do not shy away from it. Ask questions. Give a hug. Make a call. Reach out. We are all hurting in different ways. It is time to end the stigma. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Remember to love yourself; and that your story is never over!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Peace - Love - Beautiful Jiu Jitsu! </span></span>Mrs. Ibarrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01211072714681211642noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330857708061769897.post-86801317539561181052015-10-06T22:55:00.001-05:002015-10-06T22:55:52.991-05:00The Comeback Kid<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The feeling you get when your kid goes to train without you. You are under the weather and can't train. She packs up, gets ready and drives herself to class without you bugging or begging. I can't tell you how good that makes me feel. She's transitioning to a new phase in her life. She's in college and in charge of her own time. I'm starting to see that spark again. As much as we want them to love jiu jitsu as much as we do, it has to be their own journey. For a while now she has supported me and encouraged me and pushed when needed. I'm glad for that. I will be content to fan the embers of her tiny little spark. Help that flame grow. I hope one day she sees what I see when I look at her. She's a fighter. A survivor. Beautiful. Strong. She's my Tasmanian Devil Girl. And for you guys at Combat Nation who haven't been introduced to her, you will soon know why I call her that. ;)</span>Mrs. Ibarrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01211072714681211642noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330857708061769897.post-85758850933783077612015-10-01T05:57:00.001-05:002015-10-01T06:01:53.326-05:00PinkIt's October folks. Time to get out your pink and honor those breast cancer survivors. To pay homage to those who fought a valiant battle and lost. To comfort those left behind. Do a self breast exam. Get that mammogram you've been putting off. Wear pink and wear it with pride. I know some amazing survivors. They inspire me. They gave meaning to the words "fight like a girl". I have that inked on my left shoulder. Whenever I get down or think I can't go on in my training, I remember them. Real warriors. In their darkest hour, all they could do was "Fight like a Girl". This post is for you. Mrs. Ibarrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01211072714681211642noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330857708061769897.post-15741156287109236242015-09-29T13:10:00.001-05:002015-09-29T13:11:21.182-05:00GraceI have been feeling horrible lately. Feels like my body is betraying me. Chronic joint pain. Pinched nerves in my neck giving me grief. Shoulder, well we won't speak of it. What's an old gal to do? Go train. Stay home and rest. Go and watch. Hmmmm. It's a tough one for me. Last week I opted out. Now I'm thinking that was a mistake because I feel worse. So tonight I will dust off my pride and suck it up and go train. I know there is not a magic pill that will make all my aches and pains go away. Jiu jitsu has helped me survive the last 5 plus years. I fear that had I not started training I would have just given in to the pain. Jiu jitsu saved me. That's the thing I have to cling to. It's grace keeps me from ever going back to that girl I was before. Peace. Love. Beautiful Jiu Jitsu. Mrs. Ibarrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01211072714681211642noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330857708061769897.post-68027120687254119992015-09-17T10:04:00.000-05:002015-09-17T10:04:25.227-05:00Passive Aggressive Bears<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 28px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">I had the honor to learn and train with three of the Machado brothers last weekend at RCJ Machado Farmers Branch. Affiliate instructors and students from all over were there along with my coach and I. I don't think I've ever seen so many black belts in one place. It was just a tiny bit intimidating. But these guys were here to learn just like me. If I could sum up the message I got from training with Carlos Machado and his two brothers, John and Roger, it would be to work smarter, not harder. Simple, low impact takedowns. Disengaging from guard. I'm going to nickname this the passive aggressive bear guard pass. These were the two key elements I walked away with. Not to mention opening my eyes to deep half guard and hook flips. The longer I train the more I realize that I can conserve my energy, use less effort, make gravity work for me. So, basically, work smarter, not harder. Peace. Love. Beautiful Jiu Jitsu. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 28px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br /></span>Mrs. Ibarrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01211072714681211642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330857708061769897.post-14326155080023281622015-09-09T06:03:00.001-05:002015-09-09T06:03:51.609-05:00Purple PassionIt's just a color. Purple. That belt that I never thought I'd get. Never thought I'd get there. After the euphoria wore off and reality set in...I'm still trying to wrap my head around what it really means. For me. For my coach. For my team. I hope that I can live up to it. I want to be the best I can be at jiu jitsu. I remind myself when I pull out that belt and tie it around my waist, it's just a color. Purple. There's no magic. Just hard work.Mrs. Ibarrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01211072714681211642noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330857708061769897.post-48223555288380342642015-03-25T00:11:00.001-05:002015-03-25T00:25:10.496-05:00Pass the Broccoli<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Started food prepping five weeks ago. Tracking what I eat using the MyFitnessPal app. Doing jiu jitsu and kickboxing trying to get the weight off and in some semblance of shape. It's hard folks. My entire body hurts. Muscles are spasming. Joints are swollen and aching. Some days I just want to give in and eat a king size Kit Kat. Oh, and wash it down with a super size Dr. Pepper. Instead, pass the broccoli and water. Girl on a mission here. I've got to push through. I'm finally starting to feel comfortable in my gis again. I am rediscovering that endorphin high I get from kickboxing. I didn't realize how much I'd missed the teamwork and that feeling of community. I love the fact that I'm doing moves I didn't think I could before. Coach Anthony pushes me to find the right angles and movement and placement of my body to make it work. He pushes me to try even when I think I might not be able to do something. And, I'm always amazed that there usually is a way to make it work for the body I'm in today. But in 6 months or a year from now, this body will be different and we will change and refine these same moves. That my friends is the beauty of jiu jitsu. Ever changing. Graceful. Flowing. Beautiful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wishing you all peace, love and beautiful jiu jitsu. </span></div>
Mrs. Ibarrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01211072714681211642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330857708061769897.post-34672735719619194952015-02-27T00:45:00.000-06:002015-02-27T00:45:18.263-06:00Short Legs and Triangles do Mix<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The dreaded triangle choke. For the person with short legs it's not been a go to move ever. In the past, when the coach says we are going to work triangles, I would cringe inside. You see, I believed that my short legs were not made for triangles. Well, I could not have been more wrong. This week I learned several different kinds of triangles. Not going to say it was easy. Not going to say I mastered them all. But I definitely had some "aha" moments and now I have some new tools in my bag of tricks. As a self proclaimed slow learner in jiu jitsu, it is no wonder it took me five years to see and understand the many nuances of the triangle choke. My eyes are opened to the infinite possibilities that are just waiting for me to reach out and grab. I'm excited! What will another five years bring? I can't wait to find out. Wishing you all peace, love and great Jiu Jitsu. </span>Mrs. Ibarrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01211072714681211642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330857708061769897.post-46073679572872422792015-02-21T13:56:00.001-06:002015-02-21T13:56:06.485-06:00Reclaiming the Mats<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In case you were wondering, I'm still alive and well. Took an unexpected break from jiu jitsu with very, very little training over the past year. For me, always, the mats were calling me, screaming at even, to come back and train. I won't lie, it took every ounce of courage I had to walk back on those mats after such a long break. This self-proclaimed scaredy-cat was shaking in her gi. To add insult to injury, my gym closed its doors while I was on my break. So, not only did I have to suck it up and squeeze back into my gi, I had to do it at a new gym. Thankfully we were a part of the Solis Martial Arts family and there are lots of amazing gyms to choose from. I've found my new jiu jitsu home at Combat Nation. Found a great new coach in Anthony Bernabeo. It's a small place with a big heart. I have discovered old friends, and I'm making new friends and it's already starting to feel like home. Anthony has a great teaching style and I'm excited about learning lots of beautiful jiu jitsu from him. It's interesting, we think we know how our journey is going to go, then life happens and things change and we end up somewhere completly different. I believe that everything happens for a reason, so I know that this is where I am supposed to be. I'm slowly, very slowly, getting back in the swing of things. I don't feel like a complete alien in my body. And, if you were wondering about Tasmanian Devil Girl, she's doing well too. Haven't got her back on the mats just yet, but she did go to an open mat and train a little bit with me. It's a start. She's anxious to get back to training, but hey, she's a teenager, a senior in high school, with prom and graduation and college on the brain, so training doesn't always take top billing. But I know she has jiu jitsu in her soul, and the mats are calling to her. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So if any of you have taken an extended break from training, I'd love to hear your experiences about getting back on the mats and back in shape. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wishing you all peace, love and great Jiu Jitsu!! </span>Mrs. Ibarrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01211072714681211642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330857708061769897.post-53238421328548031562014-02-15T15:40:00.000-06:002014-02-15T15:40:29.153-06:00Looking for the right balance<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wow. I'm embarrassed I haven't posted in such a long time. Working. Training when I can. Being a wife and mom. I still love jiu jitsu, but I've found myself in a situation where I have to work longer hours and I've let it take over. I am in desperate need of mat therapy. I need jiu jitsu on a regular basis. It calms me. Keeps me centered. Looking for a way to shift my schedule at work to allow me to have a life. Pray for me. I need jiu jitsu. That is all folks. Wishing you all peace, love and beautiful jiu jitsu. </span>Mrs. Ibarrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01211072714681211642noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330857708061769897.post-5827761953093657652013-08-29T22:18:00.000-05:002013-08-29T22:33:31.013-05:00Inside the mind of a fighter - an Interview with Casey Jones<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ever since I entered the martial arts world, I’ve found myself
intrigued by those brave souls that decide to fight in the cage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They seek out the octagon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They crave it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They want to step in there more than anything
else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am fascinated by what drives these
fighters. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What makes them tick?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What makes them want to get in that
cage?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love to interview people, so
when I found out that Casey Jones was going to be coming over to Dirty Bay MMA
and training his stand-up game, I knew that I was going to ask him for an
interview.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am so thankful that he
agreed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has really been an honor to
watch him go through this process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To
Casey I would like to say, “You are a warrior, you have fought the good fight, you
have trained well, you have prepared yourself for battle and you have already
won.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am proud to call you my jiu jitsu
brother.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked his Coach at Iron
Dragon to give Casey a shout out, and here’s what Beard Jitsu had to say, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“</i></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Casey has been awesome training for this
fight. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His attitude and hard work were
everything I could ask for as a coach. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Casey
is my first blue belt and I have no doubt he will win this fight however he
chooses, either standing or on the ground. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm proud to have him representing us at Iron
Dragon MMA / Solis Martial Arts and of course Beard Jitsu. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last word of advice is to just go out there and
have fun, and show Houston what we are all about.”</span></i></b><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks
Beard for those words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Casey will be fighting on Saturday, August 31, 2013 in <a href="http://www.legacyfights.net/events/legacy-amateur-series-13-fight-card/" target="_blank">Legacy Amateur Series 13</a>. He is going into this fight in the 135 pound weight bracket. This will be his first fight with Legacy. Thank you again Casey for the interview and good luck on fight
night!</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What all martial arts
do you train and when did you start training? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Well now I practice Jiu Jitsu, Tae Kwon Do, Muay Thai Kickboxing
and some wrestling. Then I try to put it all together for Mixed Martial arts.
But I didn’t start out training at an actual martial arts school. I just by
chance met my good friend Rich Casteneda through a friend and ended up training
with him in his shed. He trained in Kuk Sool Won, and since I had no fighting
arts experience period, I was an open book. Rich is also just a lover of all
martial arts so he knew of Jiu Jistu and had friends that knew other forms of
fighting that came by to train occasionally. So I picked up what I liked and
threw away what didn’t seem to work for me. Richard eventually took me to Iron
Dragon to expand our knowledge, and Rich humbly told me there wasn’t anything
more he could teach me and we needed to know go to an school to learn more. So
here I am 3 years later. And a side note, I still learn something from Rich
every day when we grapple so the teaching never ended. I really do want to
thank him for really being my bridge into the world of martial arts I wouldn’t
have ever started this awesome journey if not for his willingness to teach me.</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At what point in your
training did you know that you wanted to get in the cage?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It’s hard to say when or if there ever was a specific moment.
But I know that I began to feel that I was supposed to do this. Because I had
never been particularly good at any sport. Mostly because a lot of sports like
track, football, basketball all really depended on you to be fast, jump high,
be strong or big. And I was none of these things so fighting seemed to be the
only thing were you wanting it more than that guy across from you in the cage,
actually played a factor in you winning or losing. Even though I wasn’t
naturally aggressive or anything I seemed to be able to use it when I needed
to.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do you have any
specific short term goals in BJJ? MMA?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Well a short term goal is to win an amateur title for sure. Even
though it’s just amateur that would be so huge for me. And of course over time
when you fight you develop different reasons why you do it, and now I want to
become known for my coaches and their schools to help them grow and prosper.
Because my coaches like Bryan (Beard Jitsu) who is my Jiu jitsu coach helps me
so much and has been supporting me the whole way through, and Vincent Serrano
who is now my Muay Thai coach and has put in a ton of effort teaching me even
though he has only known me a short time. I want to help them along with Master
Jason white, who is the owner of Iron Dragon and got me my first cage fight, to
build up their schools and business. That’s what I feel I can do in return for
all they do for me.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What are your long
term goals in BJJ? MMA? Or other martial arts that you train?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My long term MMA goals are obviously to get into the UFC and
fight for that organization and go as far with it as I can. But that’s
everybody’s answer pretty much. But I would eventually like to be teaching BJJ
and No Gi, and MMA in either somebody’s school or my own school. Because I
really do love coaching and teaching the newer guys that come in.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do you have any
aspirations to cross over to the professional fighting circuit in the near
future?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yes I do, as I said before I’d like to attain an amateur title
and either stay and defend it for more experience depending on what myself and
my team thinks, or move on and begin a professional career.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div>
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</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Preparing for a fight
is physically and mentally grueling work. Tell us how you managed your
schedule and training and how did you prepare yourself mentally for the fight?</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Well I’m 22 years old now so I’m still slowly making my way
through school, so when schools going on that’s one more thing to worry about.
But I work at San Jacinto hospital on the weekends part time, usually just two
12 hour shifts on Friday and Sunday night just to keep money coming in because,
no money means no gas no food and without those things training isn’t too
likely. But I chose to work weekends so that I could have all week to train. So
when people at work would ask why I don’t work during the week I used to say
because I have to train. And they would ask “train for what?” or “Oh cuz you
work out during the week”. And since most of them don’t understand and give me
this look like I’m just lazy or something. But I can’t expect anyone who
doesn’t practice martial arts or who has never trained hard for anything to
understand what I mean. So now I just say I don’t work during the week because
of school to avoid the frustration. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What advice can you
give those out there who might be thinking about getting in the cage to
fight? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Make sure you are at a good gym and that the coaches feel you
are ready. Don’t just walk in a gym and say you wanna fight. You might, but
that won’t stop somebody from pounding your face like a drum and choking you to
sleep because you don’t know what you’re doing and just don’t have the
experience. And I might be referencing a few of my early cage experiences. I do
feel I starting fighting too early, mostly because I wasn’t a natural talent to
I couldn’t rely on aggression or strength in there and really just need to be
good at the arts and be technical. I’d say if you’re a guy who is picking up
stuff pretty quick and are getting all areas of your game worked on (Striking,
Wrestling, Jiu Jistu) then maybe about six months and see what your coaches
think. I only was at Iron Dragon Maybe 3 months before my first fight. But I
asked for it and Joel Scott gave it. Haha. Even though that first one got fight
of the night, losing just isn’t okay anymore. I got a lot of good experience
taking all those early fights but it left me with an ugly record to climb out
from under. So make sure this is what you want and you’re willing to give up
some things to make it happen.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div>
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</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">BJJ is my passion, so
I always want to know...what's your favorite submission and go to move? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I would have to say, even though it’s nothing special, the rear
naked choke. I’ve gotten two of my wins by RNC and the reason I prefer chokes
to armbars, especially in MMA, is because a guy may let his arm pop to get out
of it in MMA. But with a choke he can be tough all he wants, he’s still going
to sleep.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div>
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</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What motivates you to
keep going and what helps keep you on the right track? Is there
anyone that inspires you or someone that has been a big influence on your
decision to train BJJ/MMA?</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Honestly I think training actually keeps me on the right track
in life outside of the gym. If I’m not doing right in life, my training will
suffer because it can mess with head when you’re not doing what you’re supposed
to and you’re consciously aware of it. Well all my training partners and
coaches are such a big part of my motivation because I want to do well for them
and for our school so that’s always a driving force. I also want to do well for
my family my grandparents my little brother who for some reason looks up to me
and my wonderful girlfriend Nicole. But mostly for my Mom, she’s had a rough life a
lot of things have not gone well for her but somehow she keeps this upbeat
attitude and is always smiling and trying to be happy. She’s been my biggest
fan through all of my ups and downs in this sport and I know she will continue
to support me always. She gets so excited when I have a fight coming up and
wants to make posters and shirts and has all these ideas. I feel that by doing
well and winning and giving her something to be proud of and excited about is
something I can do for her to keep her smiling. </span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What would you
consider the biggest life change as a result of your training?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’ve really grown up since I began training. This growth has
been evident in my 4 year relationship with my girlfriend and I’ve gained a lot
of maturity over this time. And as I said before, my training keeps my life in
check. So it’s helped me really grow as a man. Because as an amateur fighter,
not even a well-known amateur fighter, you end up having to do a lot of the
outside conditioning training on your own. So I’ve had to learn to keep myself
accountable to the things I needed to get done if fighting means that much to
me. So it’s also taught me accountability.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div>
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</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Where do you see
yourself in the BJJ and MMA community in 10 years?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If my body holds up, possibly still fighting if I make it to the
big show. And even if I am still fighting I might be teaching MMA or jiu jitsu
classes as well. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div>
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</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tell us something we
might not know about you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you have
any jiu jitsu ink?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you like to
do in your spare time?</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Well let’s see, I’m a Nurse Tech at the hospital going to school
for nursing. I love outdoor stuff, hunting and fishing; I used to play paintball
when I had the time. I loved playing football, hanging out with my buddies from
high school. But most of that stuff I don’t have time for anymore. The only
thing I really do on the regular is watch movies at night with my girlfriend
Nicole when I get home from training but we try to do fun stuff like go to the
pier and fish late at night or go to Galveston for the day or something, we
find stuff to do. Like I said I work weekends and train all week but you have
to make sacrifices for the things you want. If you want it that bad, it’s worth
it. </span></div>
Mrs. Ibarrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01211072714681211642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330857708061769897.post-30781224174350296552013-08-23T11:18:00.003-05:002013-08-23T11:18:55.186-05:00Looking back and smiling<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_219744980"></span><span id="goog_219744981"></span>Sometimes, it’s nice to be reminded about the beginning of the journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am always excited when I meet someone so new to the sport that they are just glowing with excitement and anticipation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They look at you with eyes shining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can’t wait to roll with you and test themselves and learn from you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not the most athletic chick on the mat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not the most coordinated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not the most fit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not the one people ask for help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But last weekend I got to train with some really cool newbies at Girls in Gis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a privilege to train with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To show them what little knowledge I have about jiu jitsu.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They reminded me of a time not too long ago when my belt was fresh and white and clean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They reminded me of a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>time when my white belt had an empty black bar and was devoid of dirt and blood and sweat and tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I left that event with a full heart, smiling, happy, knowing that I had helped someone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may not seem like much, but it was just what I needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes you need to be reminded about the beginning to see how far you’ve come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The journey, it’s so personal and unique for each person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will always be an honor when I can be a part of the beginning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I tried to find the right words for this post, I remembered something I had read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was from Mark Johnson’s book “Jiu-Jitsu on the Brain”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just felt it was worth sharing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though my belt is now blue and it is getting worn and frayed, I still love to remember the beginning, because without the beginning there would be no journey at all.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 139.5pt 10pt 1in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“The black bar on your belt represents the beginning; it’s blank, like your experience in jiu-jitsu.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will be introduced to a new world, one filled with red-belted masters and wonderful techniques and weird uniforms and dealing with your own ego and frustration and knowledge and exhaustion and bliss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It all begins with a search, a search for fulfillment or exercise or confidence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The search has brought you to jiu-jitsu and this is where you begin.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
Mrs. Ibarrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01211072714681211642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330857708061769897.post-87306862394115671222013-08-08T00:23:00.000-05:002013-08-08T00:23:01.997-05:00Meet Vincent Serrano
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I want to start by saying thank you to
my coach Vincent Serrano for allowing me the opportunity to do this interview. I've known Vincent for several years now and as
fate would have it he's now my instructor at Dirty Bay MMA. I knew early on after meeting Vincent and watching him on the mats that he had a gift
for teaching. But, you have to see it and experience it to know what I am talking
about. Vincent can be a hard task master. He doesn't see your age or what you might believe to be your
physical limitations. He will push you beyond your limits at times.
He will expect you to give him just a little bit more than you think you can
give. Even if you don't believe in your abilities, Vincent sees beyond
that. He sees what he knows you can become. I am proud to call him
my coach, my instructor, my friend. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. Thank you Vincent!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Meet Vincent
Serrano.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vincent is a Brown Belt and the
Head Instructor at Dirty Bay MMA in Baytown, TX.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dirty Bay MMA is an affiliate school of Solis
Martial Arts Academy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are proud to be
a part of Team SMAA! Vincent currently teaches all classes. We are excited to watch our small gym grow and blossom under his leadership. </span><br />
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dirty Bay MMA
currently offers the following classes:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu – Monday & Wednesday / 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Muay Thai Kickboxing – Tuesday & Thursday / 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wrestling – Tuesday & Thursday / 7:00 – 7:45 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">MMA Sparring – Tuesday & Thursday / 7:50 – 8:20 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">No-Gi Open Mat – Friday / 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJShRAvbZ2OtaEda-eVo8GbDQrf14JLixfm87OBD9l8y2iRq-oDRmtXkOi5ECpCYb6O7UPlBe0BpH8ci9HqiTSgGHCSfBUPFLpaOHqKt8f93rSCh0z5321AY7XdEsfFlnZI9NFqLnNCgY/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJShRAvbZ2OtaEda-eVo8GbDQrf14JLixfm87OBD9l8y2iRq-oDRmtXkOi5ECpCYb6O7UPlBe0BpH8ci9HqiTSgGHCSfBUPFLpaOHqKt8f93rSCh0z5321AY7XdEsfFlnZI9NFqLnNCgY/s1600/photo.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How long have you been training Jiu-Jitsu?<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I'm honestly
not sure, I just know I started BJJ when I was a junior in high school and
don't ask me what year I graduated either it’s been too long. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>lol<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How long have you been training Muay Thai?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I started
when I was a freshman in high school.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What other martial arts have you trained?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I've trained
Jeet Kune Do, kickboxing, and a little boxing. I've dabbled in others, but
nothing too serious. My main styles are BJJ and Muay Thai Kickboxing.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How would you describe your teaching style
for Muay Thai and for Jiu Jitsu?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Great question! The way I think about it, I never teach
my students anything, I show them how I do it and let them figure out their own
way with my supervision. I’m small and fast, so some things I can do that some
people can’t, so I am always helping my students adapt to their body. In BJJ my
style is very aggressive, always going for takedowns, always attacking,
submissions, always staying on top and staying active. Basically it's a
wrestling style BJJ game. If we get put on our backs our main focus is to put
them back on their backs, so you will hardly see us trying to recover our
guard. We love to smash guards and make you submit. lol <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For Muay Thai it's the same as BJJ, very aggressive and
very explosive. I show everything - kicking, punching, elbows and knees. We do
a lot of combinations. I never show to just throw a single punch or a kick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we throw a strike, expect a powerful,
very aggressive combination to come right after. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">People can be intimidated to start training
martial arts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would you say to
someone who is out of shape or on the fence about training to encourage them to
give it a try?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There's no
such thing as "out of shape". There's always going to be someone who
is faster, stronger, and has a better body than you. It doesn't mean you’re
"out of shape". Out of shape is negative and I really don't like
negativity around my gym.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are all
here to help and lift you up. You honestly never know how you feel about
something if you've never tried it. I encourage everyone to give something
you've never done a try.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes people
are still on the fence about it, so I invite them to at least watch a class.
Once they see our class and see how I am with my students, it usually makes
them want to try. My students are very friendly and they will give you their
last water if they had too. My students and I are always picking people up off
the ground when they think they are too tired to keep going. When you
experience something like that first hand, it's really amazing, and that's
usually when people try out our class and make a life changing decision. We are
all one, if someone falls we don't leave them, we stop, pick them up, and keep
moving, even if we have to carry them. I love my ninja clan.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do you have any long term goals for
yourself and your training?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My long term
goal for myself is to make my clan bigger. By clan I mean my students/friends.
We are a very close team and I make it a point to get to know my students in
and out of the gym. One of my other long terms goals is to help my students
reach their goals, whether it's becoming a black belt, owning their own gym, or
becoming doctors, scientists, etc. I love my job and I love lending a hand. If
you become one of my students, expect to get pushed past your limits in and out
of the gym. My goal for training is too keep training and passing on my
knowledge. Right now I'm all about the gym. I also plan on fighting very soon.
I'm very comfortable and very motivated where I'm at. My technique and my
skills have gotten so much better since I started teaching and training with SMAA,
so look out for my comeback, it's going to be mind-blowing for you.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tell us a little something about Vincent
Serrano off the mat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With me there's no such thing as "off the mat".
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm always thinking about training. I'm
always finding ways to improve. I'm always coming up with new ways to make my
training and my clans training better. So the mats go wherever I go. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>lol <o:p></o:p></span><br />
Mrs. Ibarrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01211072714681211642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330857708061769897.post-16826988902427298752013-08-02T16:12:00.000-05:002013-08-02T16:12:50.279-05:00Anything is possible Tasmanian Devil Girl<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I love the fact that my daughter and I train together. I affectionately nicknamed her Tasmanian Devil Girl on the mats. We have been blessed with some of our best memories because of jiu jitsu. Training together and going to seminars and attending Girls in Gis events and our Team SMAA open mats has given us countless hours of bonding time. Jiu jitsu allows us to push each other, talk to each other openly and support each other. I love that. The thing that I don’t love is watching her struggle. Lately I’ve been watching her feel defeated and broken. I feel helpless not being able to help her. Not having the right words to say to comfort her. It’s hard being a Mom sometimes. I want to protect her from everything bad in this world. On the mats I want to protect her too. I don’t want her to get hurt emotionally or physically. So, it’s a fine line we walk as jiu jitsu Moms. How do we let go enough to let them grow, but still protect them when we need to? I guess we will figure it out together. In the meantime, I will continue to support her and encourage her and even push her. I will pick her up from her first part-time job and help teach her how to drive and when she lets me, I will teach her to master the kimura from half guard and escape from side control even when it’s a 200 pound sweaty dude. And one day, when she’s ready, the bread and butter choke will be waiting for her. So, all you other Moms and Dads out there training with your kids, what do you do when you see your kids struggling on the mats? My wish for everyone today is peace, love and great Jiu Jitsu! </span>Mrs. Ibarrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01211072714681211642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330857708061769897.post-22057244399228779222013-06-26T12:47:00.000-05:002013-06-26T12:47:32.210-05:00Duct tape and good friends<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">I don’t talk too much about my Muay Thai training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s more like a good friend, while jiu jitsu is my true love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, I have to say that after a good solid year of training under Vincent Serrano I do know that I have made progress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never was hoping for huge improvement, I do Muay Thai for fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, because let’s face it, it is fun to punch and kick and knee and elbow people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a lot of fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was really nervous about a full on Muay Thai class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d only done cardio kickboxing before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Very safe, impersonal even.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Muay Thai, it’s face to face, in your face, in your space, people kicking you and coming very near close to punching you in the face, and actually punching you in the body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Way outside my comfort zone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, I love Vincent’s teaching style, and I decided from day one that if anyone could help me improve it would be him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s got the patience of ten thousand teachers!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So last night, nothing particularly amazing happened, except my gloves started literally falling apart, little pieces at a time all over the mat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s the by-product of a year of Muay Thai training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, I think it’s time to get out the duct tape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These gloves started this journey with me and they are going be in my corner till the duct tape won’t hold them together anymore!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>:D<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mrs. Ibarrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01211072714681211642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330857708061769897.post-64966604568017994702013-05-12T17:28:00.000-05:002013-05-12T18:15:10.550-05:00All the right words<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">My coach Roy Davis said
something to me once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a fairly
innocent comment during training, when I was second guessing whether I could
ever do something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said, “Anything is
possible”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think he realized the
impact that tiny little statement had on me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Anything is possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three
little words. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took those words to
heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those words became a catalyst, a
spark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three tiny little words that I
needed to hear at that exact moment in my jiu jitsu journey to keep me moving
forward on my path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Recently I dropped in on a
class at one of our affiliate schools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve
been working late a lot lately and I couldn’t make it to my school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had the pleasure of working with the
instructor. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At one point he said, “Why
do things harder, when you can do them smarter”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I almost laughed out loud when he said
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My husband has been telling me and my kids that for as long as I can
remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, I guess I never thought
of it in the context of my jiu jitsu game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was another one of those moments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was just what I needed to hear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It made me feel empowered in my own skin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It made me see that my jiu jitsu can be
amazing in the body I have right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
just have to make my body work for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Smarter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not harder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">When you speak or write,
remember that your words are powerful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Choose
them wisely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The words I share in this
blog are personal to me, and my hope is to always help and uplift and
encourage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To show others my struggles
and my joys and triumphs and even the dark valleys that I’ve gone through. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope they even make you laugh or sometimes they
might even make you cry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve learned over time the power of words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So...how are you using your power?</span></div>
Mrs. Ibarrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01211072714681211642noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330857708061769897.post-87012199347790823372013-05-08T12:40:00.001-05:002013-05-08T12:40:30.294-05:00Sit up straight!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought I had pretty good posture. Hey, I spent my childhood being told by teachers and adults to "sit up straight". So, I thought I was doing a halfway decent job of it. Just recently though, I had one of those moment on the mats, I realized that my posture was terrible. Actually, it kind of sucks. So, I'm working on my posture - back straight as an arrow and head up. For me, it's the little things that eventually add up to create a tiny step forward in my jiu jitsu. That's all I have for today folks. Wishing you all peace, love and great jiu jitsu! :)</span>Mrs. Ibarrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01211072714681211642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330857708061769897.post-40082260513095817712013-04-17T12:44:00.001-05:002013-04-17T12:44:29.540-05:00Cool Happenings<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Lots of cool things going on. My affiliate school, Solis Martial Arts Academy, launched a new women's only jiu jitsu class yesterday. It's going to be every Tuesday and Thursday. Might pop in a couple times a month (or more, it was really fun). There were about 17 women there last night. I had the pleasure of working with someone who was trying jiu jitsu for the very first time. That was extremely cool. Our school, Dirty Bay MMA, is having a women's only Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai seminar on Saturday. Our hope is to expose women to these two martial arts and show them that there's nothing scary or intimidating about training, and that it can be great fun and a great workout. Sunday is Girls in Gis in San Antonio. I can't wait to train and visit with all my jiu jitsu sisters. So what's going on with all of you? Wishing you peace, love and great jiu jitsu! :)</span>Mrs. Ibarrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01211072714681211642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330857708061769897.post-18692933035449212442013-03-29T08:44:00.000-05:002013-03-29T08:44:25.040-05:00Jiu jitsu is for everyone<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">JIU JITSU IS FOR EVERYONE!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been seeing some wonderful stories about the diverse group of people we’ve got training the gentle art.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes me so freaking happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can be 45 or 61 or 16 or 6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can be short or tall or thin as a rail or a chunky monkey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can suffer from a mental illness or you can be challenged mentally or physically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can be deaf or even blind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can be slow as a turtle or quick as lightning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those things do not decide whether or not you get to train this beautiful art.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is the beauty of jiu jitsu.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is what I love about jiu jitsu.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>JIU JITSU IS FOR EVERYONE! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mrs. Ibarrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01211072714681211642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330857708061769897.post-45182351838101517062013-03-26T15:59:00.001-05:002013-03-26T15:59:07.331-05:00You can't keep an old gal down<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Usually I celebrate my age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Age is just a number. In fact, </span>I really enjoy being able to hang with the youngsters in my jiu jitsu class, and even in my Muay Thai class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I can make it through the entire class, no injuries, still standing, no worse for the wear, I count that as a victory!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For all the older grapplers out there, check out this cool t-shirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can get one at <a href="http://bjjtees.com/">bjjtees.com</a> for a limited time…I ordered mine today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can also follow this guy on Facebook at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/OldManJiuJitsu?fref=ts" target="_blank">Old Man Jiu Jitsu</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLoYRuQx3cVbdQ9zY61qbdGNvlJ8WVc0Kazcawe_Aq9WPFgrGPvkt6CCmXlId6TWiZGJt0QJlg_4-Jqipz-tzxVAv-amZJV-aOkJl1oAAS6YQolm9hZeEqyP8fcFKkMwS34IrueMbM_Wr/s1600/OMJJ_black.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLoYRuQx3cVbdQ9zY61qbdGNvlJ8WVc0Kazcawe_Aq9WPFgrGPvkt6CCmXlId6TWiZGJt0QJlg_4-Jqipz-tzxVAv-amZJV-aOkJl1oAAS6YQolm9hZeEqyP8fcFKkMwS34IrueMbM_Wr/s640/OMJJ_black.jpg" usa="true" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Last night I did have a moment though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One too many people took my back, got on top of my back and smashed the crap out of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was just too much for my old lady body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to tap and sit out the last few minutes of class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The old back was just not having it last night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, I’m not going to let that get me down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will get back up and go back to class and hopefully this time I will grapple smarter and keep those youngsters off my back!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yep, this old gal still has some fight left in her!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>:D<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mrs. Ibarrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01211072714681211642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330857708061769897.post-36500074194924638222013-02-26T12:28:00.000-06:002013-02-26T12:28:41.084-06:00For my sister...<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">I started writing this almost a year ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just could not bring myself to post it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is very personal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then the rape of the young woman on New Year’s Eve happened…and it rocked the jiu jitsu community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still waited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today I decided I needed to release this burden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here goes…this is for my sister.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">I share a lot about myself and my family on this blog, but something that most of you probably don’t know is that I had an older sister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her name was Melissa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was four years older than me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I was little I would follow her around and hang on to her every word, and if she asked me to do something (even if I knew it probably wasn’t a good idea) I did it anyway, she was my big sister after all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We rocked along like this for a while until the little sisters came along and she didn’t really want to play with me anymore, she was four years older than me after all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, I have really good memories of her and me as little kids (one in particular involves our house and a red crayon, good times).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, to tell the truth, she did take me to my first R-rated movie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was exciting and a maybe a little bit risky, but it was our secret.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was something that we did together, just the two of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is something I still smile about, and any time I’m channel surfing and that movie is on, I stop and watch it, because it reminds me of happy times with my big sister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">The other thing most people don’t know about her is that she was a victim of sexual assault.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t share that with very many people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes people uncomfortable and they don’t usually want to talk about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, it is reality, and it did happen, and she was forever changed by it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something broke inside my sister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was never the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She spent many, many years doing battle with the demons in her mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She struggled with her mental health.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She put up walls and didn’t really let anyone in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can you just sit and watch someone you love slowly deteriorate a little at a time and not be able to do anything to help her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then when you think all is lost, things can turn around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the first time in a long time, things were good, really good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was February 2008.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My sister was 44 years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out of the blue, one afternoon in early February she dies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No warning signs or indications that she was ill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We later find out from her autopsy report that she had a pulmonary embolism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She went peacefully and in no pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She doesn’t have to do battle with her demons anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is finally at peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">You might wonder why I would want to write about this or what it has to do with jiu jitsu.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had developed a certain sense of security, familiarity, of trust with my jiu jitsu community (men and women alike).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really thought we were a special, honorable community of people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I let my guard down, maybe there is nothing wrong with that, but then the rape of the young woman on New Year’s Eve happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The social media sites were bombarded with images and postings and it just completely took me to a very dark place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It brought back a whole lot of hurt and anger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only did my sister’s life change the day she was raped, so did my life, and the lives of my two younger sisters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It changed my parents forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only did my sister put up walls, I did too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t trust people easily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t open up very easily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am guarded and sometimes controlling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most men that I meet are a suspect first until they prove otherwise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, I’ve got a teenage daughter now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I’m probably overprotective with her, and it is difficult for her to understand why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I only just recently told her what happened with my sister and that was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also had to talk to her about the rape of the woman on NYE…by her teammates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted her to understand what a horrible, horrible abuse of power that incident was, by people this woman thought she could trust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted her to understand that she has to be extremely careful and aware and prepared, sometimes even with people she thinks she can trust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hate that it has to be so different for her than for my son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been really struggling with this for the last couple of months, trying to figure out if I was going to post something or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s been building up, about to boil over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always think of my writing as therapy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find that when I write about it, it sort of releases something inside of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t just belong to me anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t have to carry the weight of it by myself anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For that I am grateful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">I believe that despite everything that has happened we are a special community of people. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think jiu jitsu was meant for everyone, especially women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My sister would definitely be stoked at the thought of the smaller, weaker person dominating a larger, stronger person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a way, she was struggling with that her entire adult life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish she could see how strong I’ve become, how jiu jitsu has changed me, how it’s changing my daughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know she would be proud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Mrs. Ibarrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01211072714681211642noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330857708061769897.post-50587243433472077412013-02-13T13:44:00.000-06:002013-02-13T13:44:30.335-06:00I have been away too long<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">You might be wondering where Mrs. Ibarra has been for the last month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth, just extremely busy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Work has decided to go a little crazy on me, but I’m trying not to let it affect my training like I usually do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve got to keep my perspective and keep things balanced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, on the jiu jitsu front, I went to another Hannette Staack seminar in San Antonio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was just as good as the first one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time around we worked on deep half guard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love half guard, but still trying to wrap my head around deep half guard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know you can make anything work for your body type in jiu jitsu; you just have to play with it until you get it right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m going to have to play with this one a bit more to find the right fit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that folks is one of the reasons why I love jiu jitsu.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Saw some really great news today – Hannette Staack and Fenom Kimonos Announce Pro-Partnership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check it out <a href="http://www.prleap.com/pr/198218/" target="_blank">here</a> folks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sometimes I am overwhelmed by all the good that jiu jitsu has brought to my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> This is one of those times. A big thank you to <a href="http://www.fenomkimonos.com/" target="_blank">Fenom Kimonos</a> for letting me share my story. </span>Here’s a <a href="http://poweredbyshe.com/2013/02/07/fenomenal-woman-debra-ibarra/" target="_blank">link</a> to my interview.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you Fenom!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Mrs. Ibarrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01211072714681211642noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6330857708061769897.post-4407543979106505742013-01-09T13:16:00.003-06:002013-01-09T13:16:37.537-06:00Milestones and Foam Rollers and LaCrosse Balls...oh my!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week we are back at our routine...me and Tasmanian Devil Girl. Truthfully, she's more tired and sore than me, probably because she skipped out on one too many classes during the holidays and I didn't. I've jumped back in full throttle with my Paleo eating...I sort of derailed myself during the holidays. I also hit a major milestone this week, six whole months without a Dr. Pepper. Now that's something I thought I'd never say! I do have a confession to make, I've been cheating on my acupuncturist with the chiropractor. I have to say that both are great for repairing all the damage I do to my neck and shoulder sitting at a desk all day...yes I said it...sitting at a desk all day. As rough and tumble as Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu are, sitting at a desk all day not moving is way more damaging to your body. So, this new chiropractor is giving me tons and tons of good stretching exercises to do. It's all great stuff, who knew the things you could do with a foam roller and a LaCrosse ball. My neck and shoulders are going to feel like a million bucks folks, and if you thought they were flexible before, look out! I'm looking forward to training tonight and then we are going to start a new jiu jitsu conditioning class after our regular class. Working on the re-creation of Mrs. Ibarra begins....NOW! :)</span>Mrs. Ibarrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01211072714681211642noreply@blogger.com0