Prep Session 1

This is another entry that should have been finished and posted a long time ago, but at this point I think it is funny reading this after the tournament results. This entry was supposed to come right after the post titled "Hoosier Open BJJ Tourney".

So I am over the stuff that I was venting about earlier. It is going to happen again in the future anyway, and I think I am learning to not let it bum me out so much. But anyways, I really like JKD/BJJ these days. I liked it before, but recently I have been thinking about how I can fit it into my daily schedule. I talked to LV about this earlier today and she was even more excited. I guess bouncing back from my incident in the previous post got me a little more enthused, but I think that yesterday's "Tourney Prep Session" with LV and Finnizle put it over the top.

We decided to do 5 minute rounds, counting points, starting from standing. This is a little different from what we are used to because we typically start from our knees or from a position that someone wants to improve. I am unaccustomed to working from standing so my strategy was nonexistent initially, and I don't have many "techniques" in muscle memory. I kind of like to wait for people to attack me, but so did whoever I was rolling with. So eventually I just tried to keep the pressure on and not get myself choked,locked,thrown, or swept in the process. I had some takedowns but not enough goodones to feel like I know anything. We eventually sort of all agreed to work on this part to hammer this stuff out.

I never actually finished it and see no reason to do so.
Lata B's

EDIT: Well whatddya know...Blogger is smarter than I thought.

The Hoosier Open BJJ Tourney

LV and I have decided to compete in this year's Hoosier Open BJJ Tourney on June 10th. More Info

But before I go any further, I need to get some grappling related rambling off my manpatchless chest. The last time I grappled (Tuesday, May 9th) I got my ass handed to me. Okay that is little exaggerated, but that is how it felt. I didn't get tapped, but if someone was counting points the numbers would have spoken for themselves. I couldn't keep/improve positions, and most things that I tried in terms of techniques did not work. The worst part of it was that I was super tired and sore, which tells me I did too much work (I am lazy). My guard and guard defense sukkkkked (and still do probably). How many times do I need to almost get triangled/armbarred before I learn? Eh whatever...I don't really care at this point...it's the nature of BJJ/MA growth, it was fun, and it definitely motivates me to fix those problems. I am gonna need the bdonbuttkickers and all their advocates to help me prepare for the Hoosier Open, which I am very much excited about, BTW.

So anyways...
My first BJJ competition. My first time in Indy. Good times with LV and Fam, Feanil (he better show up), as well as Team McVicker. Can I ask for more? I would like better guard defense, please :) . A comprehensive list of things that I need to work on will be up soon. Not that you care, but I need it to help me train.

That reminds me. I also need to buy Team McVicker patches.
Until next time,
-B

Let the studying begin!

I plan on taking the GRE in July. Exact date - TBA. It's up in the air at least until I accumulate my $100+ in exam fees or whenever Feanil gives me his schedule for that month.

I am excited because it gives me some long needed direction and sort of forces me to make important decisions about my future. About damn time.

I am now up to 5 (including one that has not been given to me yet) GRE practice books, all loaners from people that have taken or bummed around and ended up not taking this lovable test. Although I know I don't need most of them, I want to see how many GRE books that I can accumulate before the test day. I know that I am lucky to not have to pay for them, but I am almost afraid to mention that I am taking the test out of fear of a practice book magically appearing and smacking me in the face.

Anyways, I started studying the verbal section today and just like before, I struggled with the analogy section the most. It kicked me in the grouch (I was gonna tack on "hard" at the end but any level of grouch kicking -even of the gentle and feathery type- hurts. It's a grouch kick! It just hurts thinking about it.). Fortunately, my practice book added a few tips that I had never considered. So... if you say my average on analogy sections was 50%, it is now 60% after my time spent with the practice book. Regardless, I still have not clue what most of the words mean, but I am better at elimating choices, which makes me optimistic. As long as I no longer have the uncontrollable urge to rip a dictionary to shreds with my teeth or to shake the shit out of an english teacher by my test day, I am confident the verbal section will go well.

Oh yeah, I need index cards.
-B