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.