Yesterday was my last Jiu-Jitsu class at the dojo, and almost no one else showed up! I guess they're all saving themselves for the grand opening of LBJJ tonight. Besides myself, there was just Conan, Arcane, and Rolin...so maybe only people with super cool names were allowed to be there! I suppose "Gina" isn't really that cool, but most people just call me "G". That's a lie, no one calls me that, at least not anymore. Now some people call me "Gingersnaps" (because they don't seem to understand that "Ginger" is my
name, and "Snaps" is what I
do! ;).
I know Arcane, and of course, Conan, but I don't remember ever training with Rolin before, apparently he had been at the dojo awhile ago. He said he was an MMA fighter, and he was wearing a Team Viper shirt, then I realized that I'm pretty sure I've seen him fight. I assume it was him, because I don't think there are very many MMA fighters in the area named "Rolin".
 |
| Rawr! |
Conan asked Arcane what he wanted to work on for class, and he chose guard passing, which was perfectly fine with me. I worked with Arcane the whole time, and since he's a white belt we focused on basic passes, so I had enough confidence to be able to help him with the details, and reinforce them for myself. I think it was good practice for both of us. At the end of class Conan had Arcane, Rolin, and I do guard king of the mat, and I was not terribly disappointed with my performance. I had a little trouble with Rolin, partially due to the fact that he wasn't wearing a gi and many of my favorite guard techniques are somewhat gi-dependant, but I think I adapted fairly well.
All in all, it was a pretty quiet ending to my Jiu-Jitsu journey at Roseberry's. It sure was a lot different than my first day four years ago, when the mat was full of dudes I didn't know, and I was completely overwhelmed! It was actually kind of nice that I was the senior student yesterday, because I got to bow the class in and out for the last time.
It really set my heart and mind at ease when I talked to Shihan after class, and he told me that I should
not feel bad about leaving the Jiu-Jitsu program at the dojo, and he wishes us well. Now I expect that I will be feeling even more of a happy excitement at the start of the next step on my path at Lincoln Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Center tonight!
"I may not come out alive, but I'm going in there." -The Cowardly Lion
