I so appreciate the time Mark – West Side Jiu Jitsu – Johnson takes to snap pics during class. Here are some of me drilling this evening with a couple Blue belts.
Tonight we had a new guy in class trying BJJ out for the first time. At one point someone made the comment to him to not get frustrated, that BJJ takes time.
I got thinking about that after getting tapped over and over and over this evening. I don’t get frustrated, half the time I laugh (which seems to annoy the crap out of some, which makes me want to do it more). But I started wondering as we went from drilling to training if I’m really making any progress. My answer came quickly enough. A couple weeks ago Mark spent a good portion of our time going over breathing. That’s been my biggest hangup til now. Getting gassed out quick when someone gets me in mount or side control or mostly any time I’m on bottom.
Tonight I was able to keep going and going and going. I was still rolling when class ended and it was time to hang it up. I might not be tapping guys out much yet, but there is a noticeable difference from when I started.
I also got to experience what happens when the carotid arteries get shut off for a period of time. When the lights came back on my body was doing the funky chicken. I thought it was kinda funny.
And I’m still going home with a smile on my face. Just another happy evening in West Side land.