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.