All Thanks To God For Giving Me This Gift
Pesadelo In Progress
The 800 LB. Jiu-Jitsu Gorilla
Well, the Copa Alliance tournament was calling, but the funds weren't answering. LOL in other words my money was very Chris Rock-ish....(For you non-ebonic comprehending people that means my money was funny...ok dammit put simply I was BROKE!)...Anyways, with the assortment of aches and pains (my knee is STILL jacked up...doc said a slight tear and bad sprain of the mcl) and fears of not being able to get out of any unforeseen jams with my limited funds being alone, I boarded the plane anyway. I've been blessed with friends who have been supportive in every way when it comes to helping me train and follow this path...God has allowed me such blessing in this that I am overwhelmed...Not only do I intend to pay back with interest that which I have been given, but to attempt to pay forward those blessings so someone else can enjoy what I do to this extent....
Anyways... I get on the plane to MIA and immediately after takeoff something seems wrong...just doesn't smell right...I mean it is like eye watering bad...turns out someone has had too much buttermilk and beans ...I think they try to let em out silently, but they let one rip that I can hear...Damn...and the recirculation of air on planes ain't sh#t!....anyways, I don't get much rest on this flight, but I feel ok still...On to the plane to Sao Paulo...I pop a sominex and actually get a few hours rest...Wake up about 2 hours out from landing, and watch some of Pe De Pano's ultimate guard videos on my ipod...There's a LOT of things here that I notice now that I hadn't before and need to work on...Details I see now that I never knew existed...This makes me feel at once encouraged and disheartened...Encouraged that I can see them to work on, but kind of down that I know I have so much to do to get to Black Belt level...During landing I am getting a bit nervous as I don't think I prepared very well for this tournament...I get to the airport and clear customs...Once all this happens It is about 7 am or so local time...The tournament is to begin at 10am...I ate before I left home, but kinda conserving money so all I had was the lil beef and mashed potato dinner and some peanuts on the plane to eat...My neck is killing me so before I get to a taxi I do some stretching....Head is hurting too..not sure if from lack of food, or the neck or both...Anyways...I'm here...
I get int he car from GRU airport to the Esporte Club Pinheiros....
One thing to say...Sao Paulo is HUGE!!!!!..I mean New York ain't got SHIT in Sao Paulo...It takes me literally about an hour of driving through the city on Highways, to get there...I have no idea how the taxi driver knows how to get anywhere, and Claudio, my cabbie...He seems to be lost as the ark of the covenant! Eventually we make it there...I get out and (glad I kept my luggage as carry-ons so no lost GI this time! lol) into play comes my lack of Portuguese! I get to the gate and after about 10 minutes of wrangling, finally get directed to the entrance which is around the corner from this particular gate to the complex! I walk around this huge block to that entrance and then have another 10 minutes of trying to understand and be understood before being granted entrance...It seems they knew nothing of jiu-jitsu! lol...Well I get in and the actual complex is really nice...many different gymnasiums for different sports...I get to the one where the tournament is to be held...And there are no mats, no nothing...So I go in and sit and wait...A few workers come in and say hello and look at the tatame mats int he corner but don't do anything so now I am worrying that I am in the wrong place or perhaps I came all this way for nothing...But, after a while, i just decide to lay on the bleachers and sleep....I am awakened to my friend "Batista"...Antonio Peinado...Newly Black Belted by Professor Gurgel..He is Really surprised to see me and we catch up a bit event hough we both have limited command of each others language...
I help him and one of Professor Gurgel's brown belts...Monstro...put down the mats anmd try to stretch out while doing so...As we are finishing up, Professor Gurgel comes in and greets me and the teams start coming in...I see a LOT of old friends and catch up with them as best I can...Not knowing that I have a long wait ahead of e, I start preparing in my mind to fight early....Bad idea...The tournament starts on time actually and goes from lower belts to upper...As here in the states, White belts are PLENTIFUL to say the least...as are the blue belts...the kids as everywhere else are very cute and enthusiastic...The level of technical skill in the white belts is incredible as compared to back home it seems...I will also say I was shocked to see that in the kids divisions, they really let submissions be held and finished...and not ONE kid that I saw ended up hurt or crying...This is a big difference from home where we jump in quick on submissions with kids....
anyways, the tournament moves along quite nicely, and I find out from Professor Gurgel that I have been moved up to Pessadissimo as the guy who was in my own age bracket at Super Pesado (Which I was just barely in anyway) was older and he said had no chance against me...even with the guy being as he said, this was still a good feeling...I would also be competing in the open division...which the prize money was 1000 Reis ...So I was to go against good younger really big guys...Now I am kind of second guessing myself as with each increase in belt level the technique and ferocity increase exponentially it seems...this could be due to the fact that this tournament would be kind of a weeding out process as the Brazilian Team Championships will be held in two weeks..so this being the Alliance championships from all the affiliated teams, the winners would compete for the team against all the others at that tournament...a big honor....As such..there were NO third places...You either win or get second..period...
That said...It was still a long wait...I met a couple of friends (Paulinho and Natalia) who sat and tried to talk to me all day...Neither having much if ANY English...and I not being much better at Portuguese made for passing the time with a lot of confused looks between us, but they were nice and kept me company as they figured I was not from there I guess...the people in Brazil have always been unfailingly nice ....A VERY welcome thing...Anyways...Here comes my division...at about 430pm!!!!...
My first match, my opponent attempts to pull guard, and I pass to half guard...we jockey several times as I attempt my Marcelo pass but I keep having issues with keeping shoulder pressure...He attempts to throw a shoulder lock at me very quickly and surprises me due to his large size (about 250 I'd say) and as I see it coming I block and jump through to side mount...I get the points and work from side to 50/50 and back several times but as it is hard to contain his movement I do not chance submission attempts and almost get a warning for stalling...That said, I attempt to go to knee up on stomach and put my hand in the back side of his collar..He attempts to move away but I slide to his back and because I had the collar I use the other hand to form a triangle and choke with his lapel...I hold for so long that I do not know how he doesn't go out...But he taps eventually as my forearms start burning...Good win, but My top game and passing need WORK!...
Second Match...I work to grab the sleeve and the collar and throw a flying triangle...Dude is like..uh uh...him, being a good 240-260...Basically flicks me away with one hand and I fall..Hard....He tries to get to half or side control but my scrambling (one of my strengths) allows me to feint a kneebar and have him react by placing his weight on that foot, which allows me the reversal/takedown...He quickly takes me and presses me into the air and turns me over and works for side control which gives him 2 points but I recompose closed guard....My wheelhouse...I work for high guard but he shrugs his shoulders back through...I take advantage at that moment to switch hips and work for the pendulum sweep which he blocks...I take my hand deep into his lapel and widen the elbow....Shoot the other hand in and pull the knees into my chest and squeeze..this time I only try to use about 60-70% as prescribed for the cross choke and it works...
Gold in my division...
I go to sit down but the absolute is called...Come to find out all Roxa, Marrom, and Preta are lumped together, and the matches are 10 minutes...Everything goes pretty much....My first opponent is about 195lbs....We go back and forth and he gets a single leg as I attempt to pull guard...He works feverishly for a pass but I scramble...I work and eventually get a set up for a Gordo Halfguard sweep I have been working and teaching for a while now...pts tied 2 to 2...I keep working mainly just to avoid being swept and eventually work allllllllmost to side control...I get an advantage as he eventually regained guard...he shot lots of subs at me but I defended well...I could break but not make any headway against his guard....My passing needs WORK!!!!!!!....Time is up..I win....guess what...the opponent was Faixa Preta!!!! I was very happy but still...need a LOT of work...
Second match was against a Brown belt...really uneventful as he pulled guard before me...I fought off a lot of halfguard sweeps and we fought to a tie for about 3 or 4 minutes....He ends up working De La Riva against me and half due to frustration at my inability to pass...and half due to this is one sweep I have a hole in my game for...I allow the sweep and get to guard...I do not let him set and work the push pull set up and get the triangle...he works to strong arm counter but this only lets me lock it in deeper..I get the tap...
Next was against a 3 stripe purple belt about my size...I am REALLY nervous b/c I do not wish to lose in front of so many to a lower belt...also b/c Id seen him and his guard was extremely good...
He used a different set up to pull guard on me and I was damn near helpless to stop it...He could never compose guard and worked back and forth from open to De La Riva...I worked furiously back and forth between my passes but he fought them all off...All at the last minute..again..I need WORK! My passing game is not where I wish it to be, but I have to attribute my problems also to some very VERY tough opponents...Honestly the level I faced here was higher than even the Pans and near to Mundials as far as determination and talent...He stands a few times and each time I work a single and get the take down to the tune of 6 pts....I finally work to get the bullfighter/X-pass and work to the side...As I am controlling the legs and leaning in on my shoulder..something pops!...I guess I screamed as I fell to my back off my opponent and he comes up on top...So as the referee is coming in I do not notice and try to defend but my arm is NOT moving...As I lay there they come out to check on me...And as they lay me down I hear and feel another pop...and I can move it again but it is sore as hell...As I sit and type this it is VERY sore right now but not bad....Anyways I lose that match...I would have faced Batista in the next round had I won...He went on to defeat that guy and moved on to the next couple matches...
Mark my words...Antonio "Batista" Peinado will be the next big thing in 2009, just as Sergio Moraes burst onto the scene in 2008!!!!
I sit and watch as Monstro Faces Gabriel Vella ....One word of caution..do NOT anger Vella the Destroyer...Monstro is about 235-240...and looks like a Brazilian He-Man clone...He fights grips and works takedowns back and forth to a tie for about 5 minutes or so... with Vella which is very good...Until he dips his head as Grabriel is head snapping him and lunges forward..He headbutts Vella and opens up a cut above Gabriel's eye...The match is stopped and Gabriel gets taped up...He comes back and is visibly pissed...He has a muy thai clinch and basically balls up Monstro taking him down...He works heavily passing to the side and then works to mount ....He takes hold of the lapel and brutally crushes down with the other hand for the cross choke with so much force that it seems he will crush Monstro's face...he works for the tap...
Meanwhile Batista just cruises...basically walking through a really tough brown belt and another black belt I do not know...He meets Vella in the final...
Everyone expects, that as Batista is so newly belted, that this will be one-sided...well it is, but not in Vella's favor...Batista works and gets to foot trip takedowns and then works knee up on passing and really dominates the match from top control and eventually working to mount...It is an eye-opening and surprising result as he wins be a convincing decision....Vella is more than world class, so it is shown through that match and all his other matches, that Batista is a force to be reckoned with at Faixa Preta...it is good to see someone with about my exact build and weight, work to be such dominating and heavy as well as fluid...It is good that I am friends with him and will get to work with him before the major championships next year as His game is where I am trying to elevate mine...With him in the fold, a few of the new brown belts and old ones like Monstro....as well as purples like Paulinho among others coming next year into the major championships....We will have more than a stranglehold on the top spots next year for teams! Just watch..It feels great to be a part of this....
After this I got to see Emanoeala who speaks great english and helped me translate a lot when I was in Rio of the championships in July...we sit and catch up a lot and she offers to help me to the hospital but I am afraid of missing my flight so I just ask for her to help me get a taxi...She does and I keep my wrapped up arm (in a belt slice with ice) and my things on the other arm and we walk the blocks to the taxi...We also are talking with Professor "Gigi" Paiva on the way and all vow to keep in touch and I work on my Portuguese as they work on their English...That should help me a lot...Perhaps will talk to them and Batista and Gabriel Goulart by Skype...We will see...Anyways...I get a taxi and Emanoela tells him to take me to the airport and not to delay...he agrees, and we are off...It ends up taking like 20 min which throws me off as it was like an hour to get in from the airport..I chalk it up to maybe my first cabbie did not know where he was going, but realize my error when I get inside and there is no American Airlines desk to be found...It seems I am at the wrong one...so now I am worried that I have an hour to go and dont know if the $ I have left, will get me to the other airport...I go outside and a gringo hawk(they ask to "help" u get a taxi and take a percentage off the cab ride...which means u get charged a lot more for it)...Dude tries to charge me like 200Reis...Hell naw I tell him...He doesn't get it so I just walk off...He curses me in Portuguese and I give him a "Porra" and a few other choice phrases which reaises his eybrows...LOL he thought I didn't understand...Anyways I catch a cab and we get caught in Sao Paulo gridlock...I end up making it to GRU just in time and get a surprise as the lady at the desk asks what my medal is for...I tell her jiu-jitsu, she says she does Tae Kwon Do and likes jiu-jitsu but can't find a spot to study....Go Figure!!!! In Brazil!?!...any way I tell her about Fabio's academy and she thanks me by giving me a whole row to myself which allows me to stretch out fully and lay down to sleep on the way back as the flight is not full...This was GREAT...but there is an asshole, that instead of moving to an open seat...decides to sit in the middle seat in front of mine...and recline al the way back, which bumps into my knees...so every time I am on that side, he attempts to lean back...and i knee the seat repeatedly...Honestly by the time we r about to get breakfast served, I am SOOOOO close to rear naked choking this bastard it's not funny...We eventually get off the plane and his punk ass looks at me sideways like he's pissed...I get a tad bit of revenge at customs though...b/c while i slide right through, he gets caught up into an immense line of foreigners entering the country...I give the italian under the chin brush off and keep steppin....My knees are hurting as was my shoulder which made me have to stay on that side...Punk ass....
anyways..I end up back home early as when I hit MIA they allowed me to hop an early flight...This one was great as I slept from taxi to the gate...Get home...put my things in the car..and went off to teach class...
Only had like four folks show up for this Sunday....don't know if i am pressing too hard on the students or if it is the time change or if it is the new location...But I have to figure something out as the attendance is dwindling...
Had coach tell me that this travel and competition schedule is going to catch up to me...I hate to say it, but haven't been letting on much but it is....During class, I picked a few techniques to show, that I've explained a hundred times...I know them in much detail, but in explaining them to the students that day, I could not help but to keep missing very important, though small, details that made the techniques almost impossible for them to pull off, and it took me almost until the end of drilling to realize! :( Travel is a bitch, but this year, in addition to the things I am going through in my personal life just have taken so much of a toll on me it's ridiculous...
Everything hurts...Knee is injured...Shoulder is sore...arms are extremely tired...my mind is wandering...the stuttering is getting worse and it's hard sometimes even to form the thoughts to get the words out instead of just the inability to speak them...I wanted to compete this coming weekend at the Atama Open and in Dec. for Naga but I think I need to shut that portion down and break my game down as well as work harder in Yoga and conditioning to get myself where I want to be for next year...I do not know what or how I need to do this particularly, but I need a break while maintaining my workload as I have many things that are in dire need of repair as my performance this weekend and recently just in rolling have shown me...
No matter what though, I will die before I break...I fight on...
Thought For The Day: Forget about winning and losing; forget about pride and pain. Let your opponent graze your skin and you smash into his flesh; let him smash into your flesh and you fracture his bones; let him fracture your bones and you take his life. Do not be concerned with escaping safely - lay your life before him.
Other Thought For The Day: When one has reached maturity in the art, one will have a formless form. It is like ice dissolving in water. When one has no form, one can be all forms; when one has no style, he can fit in with any style. <---This Is Where I Strive To Be By Mid Next Year
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