Arriving At The Pyramid On Competition Day
At The Medal Podium
Royler Gracie
Rickson Gracie
Ronaldo Jacare'Well today was the day. I got to the tournament venue on time after not sleeping pretty much at all the night before...Had dreams of standing on the podium after straight submission wins all night...Also was running through my head all the scenarios of things that could go wrong, and how to counter them...
Well I got myself there and started to warm up pretty well, and for once, I got the warm up right...I felt GOOD...Only thing was I was still nervous about having the step up in level of competition, and living up to the expectations of everyone...
I get my call, and step up for my first match...I promised I would get my judo throw (even though that was outside my game plan) which is a variation on the kataguruma...And for some odd reason, the guy set himself up for it perfectly...I get it and it's beautiful...I get to side mount and work from there to 50/50 back and forth for the next few minutes...Tried for a paper cutter, cross choke, and a step over lapel choke...could not finish any but got advantages...Ended up winning 2-0 with 3 advantages...
Next match is against a guy who gave Chris Moriarty problems int he first round of the Brown open the night before...He outweighed me by about 20 lbs and was strong as hell but his game is really loose...I pull guard but only get to De La Riva guard...I start working from there to spider guard and back, and eventually secure a triangle...I think it is over but he just pulls his head back out..I try to go to uma plata but miss and go back to De La Riva...I get both sleeves then work spider guard...I get his left arm extended and feel like I am just on the verge of the sweep...As I am pushing him over he drops his hips ...HARD to that side...(i have no idea how the hell he did so with me pushing him over ...chalk it up to a LOT of strength on his part)...As he does this I feel a sharp pain in my foot and ankle and let the foot off his arm, to which he promptly moves to side mount...As he is really loose I don't feel like I am in trouble so I stretch my leg to get my foot feeling ok...When I do, I look up to see my second toe pointing back at me...Literally more than 90 degrees up from where it is supposed to be...It takes the ref a few more seconds to come around to the other side as he was watching my face thinking the guy had a choke judging from my facial expression of pain...When he does..his reaction to how my toe was is funny now (though it wasn't then...)...He calls time, and the paramedics come out..they tell me to look the other way while they re-set it...They pull and put it back in place and I scream!...That shit HURT!...Anyways the ref wants to cancel the match b/c I screamed (verbal submission) but I asked them to buddy tape it and let me continue...He does...
We restart, and I get my self to the side, them my knees and grab for a single leg reversal...I go to push off on my foot to finish and it's the foot with the effed up toes!!! It gives, he gets my back, and moves in for the lapel choke...:( After I finish I go to the medics to get it iced and taped, and find the third toe is broken, and the second is dislocated to the point it stretched the ligaments...:(
So I went one and one...Had I won that one I would have gone on to the semi-finals...Sucks ass...:(I have a LOT to work to do. I understand the pacing of a high level Brown belt match now and must work to get myself accustomed to it...I also need to work harder. I did not prepare as well or as hard as I could/should have...On top of that, I was not tough enough...Not focused enough to make it through the pain to stay focused on the task at hand...That can not happen again...Had I focused on keeping my foot placement, I would have given myself the upper hand b/c he could not pass the guard...Anyways...He ended up placing second to my teammate so it was pretty good!...I must work harder and more focused...My toughness needs to be increased...Do not know how I will do that but it will be done...
By the way...Antonio "Batista" Peinado who is a teammate competing at Heavyweight had his pants rip and had t find a replacement...Since we are approx. the same height, he borrowed my Gi pants and went on to win th Wrold title at Brown Heavy...So at least my pants got a medal! LOL
To all the people who supported me, encouraged me, instructed me, trained with me, sponsored me, and looked to me to produce today, I let you down and I am truly sorry. I will not be found lacking again, nor will I let pain or anything else keep my focus form where it should be...I apologize for letting you all down, but I promise I will work never to do so again...I was not prepared enough nor tough enough this time, but the work to change that begins now...I fight on!
Oh and the Alliance team is kickin ass..I think we have a great chance to win the team title...We will see tomorrow! Oh, and I have video of Kron's first match at Black Belt (he lost to an Alliance BB by submission) as well as Roger vs. Galvao and Vella vs. Xande in the semi-finals of the BB absolute...Will post these when I can dump and upload the video!
Thought For The Day: If you move one grain of sand, you have changed the world!
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