Did you learn something new, and did you have fun? After training hard, party hard!

I’m always late. Story of my life.

I’m 35 and I just started in BJJ.

Makes me an OG… a dog even… a Dirty Old Grappluh.

Always been a fan of anything related to martial arts.

Back then, there were movies.

From Bruce Lee, to Jacky Chan, Chuck Norris, Steven Seagal…oh, and the Karate Kid series.

Back when I was still in school, a little of everything.

Some karate, some aikido, some judo, some stick fighting.

Then came the UFC show… though it was late in Asia, but at least now we get it free with our cable.

Then some jiu-jitsu…Japanese…

Then transferred jobs..

7 years later, some BJJ.

Stopped, but I’m back.

And I want more BJJ…

I’m not an athlete, I’m not flexible, I’m not strong, and I’m not young.

I’m not a quick learner, I’d tap out a lot, I’m not impervious to pain.

But I want more.

And I’d keep getting more.

More BJJ,
some boxing…
Later, some other martial arts.. striking, ground, combat…

Sorry for being late but I intend to stay.



(Wrote this for the Lockflow profile... was adding friends when someone asked where my profile was)

rear naked choke, rnc, the logo in tapout shirts... mata leao or the lion killer in brazil, sleeper hold in wrestling, hadaka jime in judo.

i haven't made anyone tapout with it while rolling but i plan to keep on trying.

Stephan Kesting from grapplearts shows a tutorial on how to finish the RNC.

i hope i get good at this and consistently be a monkey at my opponent's back.

had fun? yes.. yes i had fun.

two days later, my wrist still hurting from my partner’s weight on it as it was bent when i propped it on the floor… a scratch on the right side of my face drying up and covered with ointment.. and a toe on my right foot that reminds me it got stubbed every time i walk… my answer to my instructor’s question would remain the same. yes i had fun!

last tuesday, it was all about wrist locks. it’s amazing how it could be applied from so many positions with minimal effort. or, it must have looked simple since we were honored with a black belt showing how it's done =) a great technique applied to one of the least attacked yet vulnerable joint... too bad i didn’t protect my wrist during the roll. although i was not on the receiving end of a wrist lock, i was reminded how painful an attack on the wrist could be.

ok, aside from learning that i should be more careful being an old dog (so if i injure myself, i won’t heal as fast)… the night of wrist locks reminds me of another thing from the past…

steven seagal =)


i’d try to have more fun later during training.

i got caught in the north south position
and i literally had to kiss ass and balls

that's something i definitely don't want to do again!

learning how to get out of that quickly before it becomes uncomfortable in so many ways is an incentive to learn fast.

anybody who has a good escape from the position, please share your method.

i googled for escapes from this position.

here's one, an escape which involves a roll leading to his back. and as the guy says, it's a weird position to be in.



here's a similar version from submissions101, with detail on bracing your arms to get space before rolling.



another one from submissions101, scoot and spin. pushing on the hips, butt up, then spinning and turning to get opponent's side or back. if opponent tries to get side control, stick a knee in then get closed guard.



ok... next time i get caught, i would try to get out quickly... or if his parts come anywhere near my face, i would tap out =)

trained 2 days ago and my body still hurts. i walk like a guy who just got paddled. i did not hurl last training but i surely sucked.

darn, i still could not make anyone tap. worse, i think i’m making records for most taps in 5 minutes. that’s with me trying not to tap out to choke attempts until i could still manage to breathe. mental note, need to tap less, need to make someone tap.

more girls in class last training and i think, make that i’m sure, they last longer than me. they even perform the techniques better than i do. darn! mental note, focus on the techniques.

i look, i listen… but my mind goes blank. crap, this is not a good place to have attention deficit episodes. it’s not that i’m not listening or am not willing to learn. i never intend to show any disrespect so i definitely won’t do that. i’m just plain sloooow. spirit is willing, body and mind weak, and the three entities having communication problems… i know i’m old but i want to get the hang of this. oh, about being old, i’m even more than half the age of some students. knowing how i am on the mat, makes me feel even older.

instructor’s right when he said… i have to try.

but.. it’s not that i’m not trying, it’s just not showing…

mental note, get smart, try harder.

anyway, senior purple belt mentioned kosen judo, i’d try to read about it.

9 months later...i'm born? make that, i'm back, and i plan to stay.

i tried bjj last year and i was able to attend just 9 sessions. the group has very good instructors and a very healthy and supportive learning environment. i've always wanted to start training again...

i hurled. or at least i felt nauseous during the warm-up doing the rolls. i tried to barf but nothing came out and that felt worse.

that was yesterday. the room was filled with a lot of attendees. i'm always amazed with the show of fluidity and strength.

a senior purple belt who's based abroad attended and his moves were first-rate. his years or even decades of experience show... he shared a move that could make your opponent tap out by making it difficult for him to breathe by pressing your body against his stomach with your hand on his back. and he made it look soooo simple. another cool move was the faucet from the north south position with your opponent's arms getting twisted.

i could feel a good ache all over my body today. i just hope i could quit hurling when i train or at least last longer before i need to... i'm off to day 2. training starts in an hour and a half.