Still moving. Slowly, but still showing up.

This past Saturday we had a We Defy fundraiser, so a larger than usual crowd, including old friends JR and Corey from Alliance. Had a round with each, plus Popsicle, Nick, Ryan (a new-to-me blue) and a couple of others.

Would have probably been any other Saturday, except for the group I had. Trevor, Rob and Herby. Drill was 3 mins on top/3 on bottom. Sweep/submit, or pass. Starting in whatever guard you wanted, but once you picked one, you had to stick with it. I went with Spider. Rob had closed, and Trevor and Herby when with collar/sleeve.

Rough day. I did manage to sweep and pass Trevor once. Rob, I got a basket choke at one point, and Herby, I kimura swept him late in the day. But yeah, rough over all.

Tough day today. Tough week actually, mentally.

I knew that I was going to be running in low gear as soon as I woke up this morning. And making it through open mat was going to be a grind. And boy, was it.

Started with Nick and it was 60/40 in his favor. That was to be my high point. Next had Cheng, then Tim, then Silver Fox Tom, a break with Sid, then Popsicle to round out the day. 8 minute rounds each.

Good warm up, and then off to the races. I had Nick, Cheng, Popsicle, a break, then Hejay, Syd (twice), and others.

That, combined with too much yard work, made for a sore boy on Sunday.

Or at least it felt like it. Warmed up with Brie, then a a full round with her, Alex, Popsicle, Aria, a break and then Meli, Tom, Sid and some coaching from the sideline because I was dead.

Group of 3, I had Nick and Marcus. 10 minutes in, then 5 out. Solid rounds, including a nice armlock sequence into a triangle I nearly finished with Nick. Marcus did well with us, and got his blue after class was over too.

In posting. Not in Saturday training. At least that’s something. I’ve been going as I can. Mostly training with the new, the old, and the broken. I’ve enjoyed embracing letting others work, answering questions, and yelling coaching cues at people during my off rounds.

I realize that this really throws off my “all time rounds” list that I have stashed somewhere.

Last Saturday was a bit of an exception. I had Nick and Trevor, in for 6 out for 3. Long joined us for a couple before we pawned him off on another group. Tough rounds. I felt it later that day and Sunday for sure!

“It doesn’t run” in Spanish. Or, how I felt on Saturday.

It started during the warm up. We were doing lunges, and my left side hip flexor/aductor/some other muscle, just felt “off”. We did 3 person groups, 10 in, 5 out. I had Tom and Nick, and was mostly defensive the entire day. That hip complained on every shrimp, bump, or extension, which was a lot.

Even today, still tenderish, especially when standing up. Keeping an eye on it.

Another Saturday, another Chipper. Starting with DLR and a strange lapel guard grip. It was awkward to work against, I always felt tied up. Lots of cycling through for most people too.

Wrapped the day up with a couple of rounds with Nick.

I’m still moving. Just…slowly.

Past couple of Saturdays have both been chippers staring in DLR. Some victories, many failures.

Highlight of the week was being in on top of Aric. I collapsed his DLR guard to end up on top in half, and he got careless with his top arm, so I kimura gripped it, rolled to his back and wing choked him. He was laughing the whole time because he’d never seen anyone do that before, let alone me. “Cool shit”, he said. :)