End Week 4

For my first two weeks here at the Gracie Academy we worked on submissions from the guard. Every single thing we did seemed well above my level.

The next two weeks were counters to submissions. Every sequence in this area started at a much lower level, and many didn't proceed beyond what I learned to earn a single lowly stripe on my Blue Belt.

Interestingly, the Purple and Brown belts were asking a lot of questions. It was as if some of this stuff that I consider low-level to be new to them.

Don't get me wrong, I learned plenty from these lower level techniques. The Gracies pack them with abundant, incredible detail.

Soon we move away from counters into sweeps.

Another interesting facet is that the two main instructors, Rener and Ryron Gracie, sometimes teach the material quite differently.

Take omoplata. There is a point in that technique where one needs to sit up very quickly while controlling the opponent's hips. Ryron teaches it with a leg snapdown while Rener details a rapid arm separation.

Against a triangle choke, Ryron works the inside, while Rener prefers to move back.

Rener seems to have everything preplanned, while Ryron goes more with the flow. With Rener, I know exactly what the point of each instruction is, but with Ryron we sometimes do pretty wild stuff.

A great pair.

Wizardry

Yesterday was quite the "famous people" day. At the mid-day class, I chatted with Ed like we were old chums. I also got to speak briefly with Rorion Gracie.

At the evening class the famous people theme continued.

It was very crowded, and mixed in amongst all the gis were four people wearing no-gi gear. On the sideline there were several more watching.

Among the little knot of visiting spectators was Edmond Tarverdyan. He is a very big name mma striking coach. Sitting near him was Jessamyn Duke. On the mat was Shayna Baszler. Both of these women are top mma fighters, and competed on the last season of The Ultimate Fighter.

There were a couple of other women who are clearly fighters, but that I did not recognize.

Also on the mat was the undefeated UFC Women Champion Ronda Rousey.

She was on the mat briefly about a week or two ago, but this time she was present to train.

Both of our top instructors, Rener and Ryron, were there to lead the class. They took the difficulty up a notch, likely for our visitors.

Eventually, it became sparring time. I rolled around with the guy I'd been working with all class. After that, I got changed and took up a spot on the spectator bench. How often does one get to see Ronda Rousey spar?

She was paired with mma fighter and Gracie Black Belt Brian Ortez, with Rener Gracie acting as coach. They were very intense and moving very fast.

How can I describe it? Half of what they did looked like normal, top-level rolling, and the other half was wizardry. Ronda was popping out of positions by moving in impossible ways.

After about 15 minutes, Brian was sent off, and Ronda rolled with Rener Gracie. Suddenly, half of what she was doing to Brian no longer worked. It was more instructional and remained light years above any grappling I've ever seen anywhere.

Then the time ran out, and the class ended.

Ed

There were about thirty or forty of us paired up, working on the mat, when the class was interrupted.

The Grandmaster of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Rorion Gracie, was there. He wanted a group photo taken with all of us, himself, and Ed O'Neill.

In case you don't know, Ed O'Neill is not only a Gracie Black Belt, he's a star in the TV series Modern Family. Before that he starred in Married With Children.

The photo taking took a couple of minutes and then the class resumed. We were right at the part when we switch from training to sparring. We were dismissed to grab a drink, or get our mouthpieces, or whatever.

I don't stay for all the sparring sections, and so headed for the change room. I changed, alone, and in came Rorion Gracie and Ed O'Neill.

Ed looked at me, and came forward with his hand extended. He was sure we'd met, and I assured him we had not. He then asked if I was one of the visiting out of town instructors. I briefly explained that I was in LA for two months to train. About then, Rorion had to leave to attend to something.

My conversation with Ed went on. He talked about his injured rib, and a bit about his training. He mentioned that his Black Belt was his proudest achievement. He talked a lot about Jiu-Jitsu in general.

Throughout, he was smiling. I played the roll of the polite listener. After about ten or fifteen minutes, I said my goodbye and left to let the man get changed.

Into week 4

Three weeks of perfect attendance at the Gracie Academy so far. That works out to 38 Master Cycle classes.

Today I head into week four.

It will also be the last week of free training, although I do get two days next week as well. This is one of the perks of being a registered member of one of the outlying Certified Training Centres.

After that, one has to pay. The cost per month here for unlimited access is $295. That's nothing for this kind of instruction. That works out to between 5 and 6 bucks per class. Woohoo.

So far I've gotten two weeks focused on submissions, and one week on submission defence. This week and next will be defence as well. My last three weeks will be on guard sweeps.

After that, we head back north. Right now Helen is leaning towards a leasurely return via Monterey and San Francisco. That would be very pleasant, but nothing is carved in stone.

Once home, I'm sure my Jiu-Jitsu friends will want to try everything I've learned. The problem will be that a great deal of my training has been far above my level, and has faded fast. Just about the only weakness at the Gracie Academy is that they have absolutely no free mat time just for people to practise. Back home that is one of the mainstays of my training.

I'll probably has a couple of flashy submissions to show them.

At least I hope so.

Snazzy

I've been hiding out.

I earned a Jiu-Jitsu promotion before Christmas from Gracie University, and should be wearing a stripe on my Blue Belt. I have been without my stripe as it was headed north to Canada at the same time I was driving south to California.

My instructor has been holding it for me.

Luckily, he is in LA right now to attend an instructors' seminar, and delivered it to me this morning.

Helen sewed it on right away.

Tonight I will be wearing it to class.

By luck, today they also received a shipment of the uniform I have been waiting for. I snapped one right up and will be wearing it tonight as well.

This should all really snazz up the place.

Worlds

Today I will be completing my third week of training at the Gracie Academy in Los Angeles. There will have been 38 Master Cycle classes in that time, and I will have attended every one.

Not bad for a guy in his late 50s.

Last night I kinda hit the wall. It was a three-class day with 4 hours at Disneyland in the middle. Slept in a bit today, as the first class isn't until noon.

Helen wants to be dropped at the beach with her bike when I go. It's weird that our time here has so much that we can't share. She knows the waterfront really well, and I've only seen a tiny slice of it. She came to the Gracie school once, and watched one class which is sort of the same thing.

Maybe after class today I'll assemble my bike and get her to show me her beach.

Bargain

Ever get yourself all ready to pay a hefty price for something, and then find out you've got the price all wrong. That can either be a kick in the jaw, or be like winning money with a lottery ticket.

Today, that happened to me.

As a member of a Gracie Certified Training Centre I knew I was entitled to 30 days of training at the Gracie Academy with no charge. I had no reliable way to know how much the remainder of my 8 weeks here would cost. The very best that I could estimate was about $20 per class.

At that rate, training would cost me $940. Today I asked the helpful front-desk people what the fee would be. Get this: they have a rate for unlimited access of $295 per month. That is less than 1/3 the price I was braced for.

Yahoo!

This makes me feel like I have over $600 of found money to spend.

I could buy me five private lessons with a Black Belt instructor, or pick up a wrestling dummy, or get me four new uniforms.

I suppose the money could remain unspent.

I suppose.

Tapped

I do fine in rolling.

Purple, Brown, and Black Belts make good partners, and I learn a lot from them. I'm really at their mercy, but as we both know that there is no problem.

In a way it's the other Blue Belts that are more interesting. Against each other it is more ernest, as we try and really submit and defend. I am better than some, and weaker than others, but it's aways competitive. It is close either way.

Last night I only rolled once. My partner was Blue, and very big. Not tall big, as he was only had a couple of inches on me, but rather muscle big. His arms were easily twice the diameter of mine. It wasn't body builder mass, but just how he is.

We rolled, and he could get nothing on me. At one point I caught him in exactly the move we'd just spent an hour learning to defend. He instantly used the most appropriate defense, did it right,and did it with strength. Didn't matter, I made him tap anyhow. We kept going.

When time was up, he asked me how long I'd been training. I answered, "Two and a half years." He responded, "I could tell."

That made me feel pretty good.

Pulled

While waiting for our class to start a Purple Belt I'd worked with before asked me to be his partner. He's great to work with, and very fun. I always learn a lot when from him, and he seems to like me.

Class started, and we grabbed each other. It didn't last long. There were two Blues who were last to partner up. Alex, the instructor, broke my pair apart dictating who he wanted with whom.

So my new, Blue partner and I exchanged names. He added that this was his very first Master Cycle class. The last day he trained was his last day as a White Belt.

Holy cow. Back home a person's first Blue Belt class is no big deal. The rookie would be learning a single technique of the appropriate level. Here, they are facing several varied moves, ranging anywhere from easy to extremely advanced.

During the warmup period I hurriedly showed him a few things he'd need for the day's lesson. There were going to be a bunch of high-level collar chokes, and my guy had never done or seen a collar choke of any kind.

Then came the lessons. After every explanation and demo I'd go first, and my partner after. It all went well, and by the end his worried expression was  gone and he was having fun. I always have fun.

And I got to work with my Purple Belt in the very next class.

Shopping Stuff

Los Angeles is designed much like a giant mall. There is stuff to buy everywhere.

So just what have I bought, or might buy.

Turns out I didn't bring enough underwear. That is always an exciting purchase. While on that errand at Target, I discovered top quality compression shirts for $14. That's less than a third the price I've been paying at home. I grabbed three, and will likely get several more.

I also like to collect tshirts. I picked up three I liked at the Gracie Academy and another at Disneyland.

I need official Gracie mma shorts and shirts for monday and thursday training, so picked up two sets of those.

At Venice Beach I picked up a wall-hanging sculpture thing for $25. It looks Aztec-ie.

That's it so far. Some shirts and shorts and art and underpants.

What might I pick up in future?

Today we're off to a New Balance store. I have a pair of runners in mind. I can get them at home, but in the States they carry more fancy colour choices.

I also want another gi or two. I've wanted to get some fancy Gracie uniforms for a while, but the cool ones have been out of stock. They still are, but they expect them soon. This would not only lighten up my uniform shortage while we're here, but also make me look snazzy back home.

The last thing that is sort of on the shopping list is a thing called a bubba. These are practice dummies with arms and legs and are built much like people. They are expensive at $650, although I get a 10% discount. The school where I teach the Jiu-Jitsu club might be coming up with the money. If they do, we'll drive home with a bubba stretched out in the back amongst the bikes. If the school doesn't, I just can't justify the price.

So if I go nuts, the pile of loot I'll be bringing back over the border will be; a bunch of clothing, including uniforms; a pair of shoes; a little clay sculpture and; a thing that looks like a dead body.

Or much less.

Exactly what?

So just what have I been learning at the Gracie Academy?

Well, the first week was all the triangle choke, or things leading up to it, or the triangle as a control position, or other submissions off of the triangle choke.

This week it has been harder for me.

Back home we closely follow the Gracie University lesson sequence. Here they do not. A lot of the stuff we've been up to recently is brand spanking new to me.

Omaplata I've known of, but hadn't done until now.

Same for arm triangles, and certainly not from the bottom.

There have also been some very unconventional collar chokes.

One technique variation ended with an anaconda choke. I did it, but couldn't show you now for the life of me.

There was even a momentary x-guard. I'd never even heard of an x-guard.

I didn't know it was possible to do a guillotine from the guard. The things they've thought of.

Last week I was trying to learn entire sequences. This week I'm hoping to glean single movements from within sequences, and make them part of my repertoire.

After Saturday, there is one more week of guard submissions before we move on.

Then it's counter moves to all of the above.

The List Grows

In an earlier blog I listed all the celebrities I'd run across at the Gracie Academy. That was about a week into our visit, and I was pretty sure that would be all of the biggies I see.

Oh, sure, maybe I'd see a few more minor mma/UFC fighters, but nobody as big as Lyoto Machida.

Turns out I was premature.

Tonight, warming up on the main mat before a private lesson with Rener Gracie was another famous person.

This time it was Ronda Rousey. She is the undefeated UFC women's champion.

I knew she has trained here in the past, but didn't know she still did. This is very smart of her. She is as good a grappler as anyone on earth. In order to get any better she needs trainers just as good as herself, but who have different angles and ideas and variations.

Anyhow, my celebrity list continues to grow.

Busy

Today is monday, and at noon I'll be starting my second week of training here at the Gracie Academy in Los Angeles.

Last week it was not too rough on my body, but very draining. My brain kept getting filled up and tired, too.

It would be no problem, except we are pretty intent on having fun whenever I'm not on the mat.

Here's a list of all the stuff we've done since we arrived eight days ago:
   - three visits to Disneyland
   - two trips to the seaside at Redondo Beach including about 6km biking
   - two trips to Venice Beach including 30 bike km
   - numerous shopping trips to a variety of venues

Our non-Jiu-Jitsu pace would be enough to keep me tired. Add on my classes and it's pretty draining.

Slowing down is a theoretical option, and will be done on some days. Today, for example, my free time is about 4 hours in the afternoon. We've nothing planned, so likely we won't do very much. Maybe some light shopping or a walk somewhere. Wednesday is identical. Now that our first-week frenzy is over those might become our quiet days.

That leaves five other days each week for bike riding and sightseeing.

Nitpicks

Helen keeps trying to make me eat more. She's scared that all the training, coupled with our other high-activity stuff, will wear me down to a skeleton. Today when I got back from training she had a sausage and two pieces of peanut butter toast she'd collected from the breakfast bar. I wasn't hungry at all, but ate half.

Food here is ridiculously inexpensive, yummy, and the portions big. It's no wonder the average size of people is pretty large.

I suppose it would have been a good idea to bring my Fitbit scale along with us. If it were here, I'd be able to keep a very accurate measure going regarding any weight loss or gain. There is a scale at the academy, but it is on carpet and is a type that doesn't work well without a hard floor.

Nothing has gotten hurt training, but there must be a hundred little bruises and scrapes all over my body.

My hands get really tired, especially on the right side. It feels like I've been doing a lot of hammering or wood chopping.

My neck is pretty stiff this morning, but not from Jiu-Jitsu. We were at Disneyland watching the fireworks and things started to feel funny from all the looking upwards. Another old guy injury. Neck hurt from looking up too long.

Famous People

So here we are, virtually living in Hollywood. Surely we'll find ourselves surrounded by big movie stars every time we go to Burger King or Target.

OK, so we're staying over 30 km from Hollywood, and Greater Los Angeles has a population of over 18 million souls. Maybe there will be no movie stars in our future.

I have seen a few at the Jiu-Jitsu school. There have been Jiu-jitsu big wigs as you'd expect, such as Rener and Ryron Gracie.

There have also been a few mma/UFC guys as also seems logical. At one class Kevin Casey was on the mat. He was a competitor on one of the recent seasons of the TV series The Ultimate Fighter. His record is 6-3, and he is fighting again later this month.

Last night Brian Ortega was there. He's 7-0 in the mma world, and holds a title with a second-level organization. He holds Black Belt rank with the Gracies and is also fighting again soon. If he keeps his streak going he'll soon get snapped up by the UFC.

By far the biggest sports celebrity at the school has been Lyoto Machida. I've noticed him there on two occasions in one of the private lesson rooms. He's is a former UFC World Champion in the Light Heavyweight division. He is currently fighting at Middleweight, and is most likely a future champ at that weight.

Then, yesterday, I saw a Hollywood star. Ed O'Neill was there. He played Al Bundy on the series Married With Children, and is currently Jay Pritchett on the hit show Modern Family. He is also a Gracie Black Belt.

I noticed him sitting casually at the side in tshirt, jeans, and sunglasses. He was smiling widely as he watched the lesson. During one of the practice times he was on the mat trying the move, which looked weird with the sunglasses on. He stayed 10-15 minutes then yelled to the instructor that he had to go.

That's my famous-people list if you don't include Mickey Mouse and Buzz Lightyear.

Culture Shock

The United States is so much like Canada that it's easy to forget how different we are, and I don't mean the cute, minor things.

At my Jiu-Jitsu group back home women are totally integrated. There are more males, and females make up about 25% of the advanced class.

Here at the Gracie Academy, it's more like 10% female. Also, they act differently than the guys do. During practise time, they usually seek out other females.

During sparring time they usually do the same. When it's time to grab a partner, the men walk about trying to make eye contact with each other trying to pair up. The women either grab one another, or one of a few chosen men. If they don't get one, they move to the side and intently do NOT make eye contact with anyone. The men seem to pretend that they can't see these women and don't try to engage them. Very strange.

Twice when this was happened, I distinctly walked into their field of vision before making contact and bowing with a smile. Both times they seemed happy to roll, and smiled broadly when finished.

They both seriously kicked my ass, by the way. There seems to be a set of female-preferred attacks, which I also found strange. Maybe it was a way to handle their opponents here. Back home I'm one of the bigger guys, but around here I'm one of the hobbits. The Jiu-jitsu women down here have all ranged in size from small to tiny

I get the distinct impression that if I hadn't made a point of getting female partners I would never have one. If there are an average of 3 women training at every class that means that In two months I would have shared the mat with 312 women and never partnered with any.

It's different.

Bits

My third day on the mat will be starting soon, so it might be a good time to reflect on the first bit of training.

There are a ton of students of every type, and yet the desk lady has learned my name already. That's a nice touch.

The students are polite enough, but none has actually smiled at me until after we have rolled together. I find that interesting. After that they are often all grins, and ask my name. I guess it's an outsider thing.

The school tracks attendance on sign-in cards. We pick them up at the desk and they are collected and signed by the instructors. I should complete well over three of the thirty-slot cards before my time is done.

I've been to seven classes so far. One was taught by Ryron Gracie, one by Sam DiMaggio, and another by Jordan Colins. The other four were all lead by Rener Gracie. All are fabulous and bring something different into the mix.

Today was the first time that Rener Gracie was free enough for me to introduce myself. He said that my goal of not missing any of the 104 Master Cycle classes in the next 8 weeks as very ambitious and admirable.

As expected, it is hard keeping myself supplied with clean uniforms. What is a surprise is my severe underwear shortage. On some days I run through four pair. The hotel has a coin operated washer and dryer, but it's hard to find the time with all the training and holidaying. Might go to Walmart or Target to pick up a gross of spare underpants.

My major body components are holding up well, but I'm collecting bruises and bumps with vigour. The matburns on my face look like some hideous skin rash, and my feet look like I've been kicking cactuses.

...and all fun.

Day Two

Today was a long day...more than long.

It started with getting up early to make the 7am class. It ran about an hour. We started with the giant killer setup. Then did a modification using our own collar to trap the opponent, and then variations. It ended with sparring. I even had a round with the instructor.

Time off for a bit, so I rested back at the room. Helen wanted to be dropped at the beach to stroll while I was at my second 11am until noon class. Ryron taught this one. He's very gifted athletically and it showed in everything he had us doing. Then we sparred. I wasn't off the mat until 12:30. I was very late picking Helen up. She forgave me, but was worried.

Off to Disneyland. Actually, we went to California Adventure, but it's still Disney and attached. We ate, the walked and went on rides. Still crowded  considering it's January.

Left in time for a short room rest, and then off again for my third class of the day. Rener Gracie taught it. Again, it was supposed to end after an hour, at 9:30, but the sparring was clearly going overtime. Several bowed out and left, so I did as well. I was bone weary, and need to pace my old body.

I have 54 days left.

Day One

My first day of training with the Gracies is done.

The first class went from noon until 1:30. I got there nice and early. The front desk gave me a perky welcome, and explained everything very well. As expected, my first 30 days are free.

I got changed, and watched the last part of the White Belt session. There were 16 students, which is very respectable for a daytime class. By the time my group, called Master Cycle, took to the mat the place was packed. There were 40 training.

Rener Gracie was teaching. It was all wonderful stuff about the triangle choke. It was all focused on setup and control. We didn't even get to the choke part at all. The detail was magnificent.

After class I purchased clothing and sparring gloves I'll need for the days when we don't wear gis. Rushed back to share my excitement with Helen. While I was gone she started exploring the mega mall next to our hotel. She barely scratched the surface.

We headed down to the seaside, unfolded our collapsing bikes and rode up and down on the paved paths.

Back to another hour-and-a- half starting at 6:30pm. There were even more students in attendance. It was basically the same as the morning class. This will really help me to cement what I'm learning.

The last half hour was sparring. I had 4 partners. The first two were Blue Belts, and I was very pleased to find our abilities to be comparable. The third guy wore no belt, but he is something much higher than me. The last guy I got was a Purple Belt. He took it easy, and complimented me on my control. I liked that.

A great day, and I'm very bushed.

Tomorrow there are three classes, and we're going to Disneyland.

I'll be bushed again.