When I stopped training back in February I did not expect I would go back. I felt I should, but somehow lacked the motivation. Work had been hell for a while, and I contemplated getting the fuck out of there one way or another. One way to get the fuck out of Virginia. I was missing hikes in Alaska, I was pining for different type of work, and various ideas of what else I could be doing with my life entered my mind. Then I went to Japan and my whole view on things changed.
I saw
Japan as an obligatory trip and was somewhat stressed about going. The trip actually turned out great, and I think it was because I spent so much time with friends and family during the week. My take away from the trip was, I
need my
family and friends. While I would have that in Tokyo, moving there wasn't an option for me now with my beloved Millie. Where I am now is actually the best place for me. I have many friends in the area, and my brothers are in driving distance. Work is actually not so bad, despite the two months of hell. My home is affordable and is perfect for living with Millie. I have just about everything I need within a 15-20 minute drive. Drive a little further and I have even more - H-mart, Spa World, DC, more hikes, etc. If I wanted something completely different, I could travel. Hell, I get four weeks of vacation and 10 holidays. My decision to stay put wavered over the last two years, but after my Japan trip I all the sudden felt content where I was. Once my focus was back on building a life here, going back to
Tony Passos BJJ was an option again. At the beginning of May I decided to go back to a class to see how it goes, and rest is history.
Even before I went back I knew the benefits of training. Working out with others is more motivating and more fun. I thought I could keep up the work outs on my own, but I didn't even come close. The classes I took at Sports Pavilion didn't make me work as hard as Jiu-Jitsu did. I didn't have the discipline to push myself on my own. As sad as that is, it was the reality. After I stopped Jiu-Jitsu, I could feel myself getting weaker, and eventually fatter!! (Eating so much in Japan didn't help... ha ha.) I also started to feel something was lacking. I needed a hobby, but didn't find anything to replace BJJ. I knew the longer I waited the harder it would be for me to get back, so I said "just do it", and braved my first class back.
The plan was to go back and stick with it, but I honestly did not know how I would feel after my first class back. Turned out, it felt great. Oh, the rush and stress relief and just the general awesome feeling you get after a good work out! Ok, so I can back into this. And I will take it easy so that I won't burn myself out and leave myself energy for things on weekends. Or so I thought. While I was gone couple of new girls had started training there. That changed everything. Up until now, I was usually the only girl in class. And the Monday/Wednesday classes I go to usually had all the big guys there. That meant I most of the time getting crushed... literally. It got old after a while. Now though... mwah ha ha... there's fresh meat.
Not only were there two new girls when I started, within two weeks, there were three more new girls!!! And they are all roughly about my size! (Though one girl is much much smaller.) With one full year of experience and three stripes under my belt, I had no excuse not to have the advantage over them. Sure enough, for the first time ever, I felt that advantage. I got my first real tap (when I tap the guys or upper belts I assume they 'let' me have it)... and then another... and then another. And all in between I mostly held the upper hand in my positions. Granted, I won't say it was easy. Most of these girls were athletic and strong and put up a good fight. Some also did the white belt spaz thing. I held my own in the face of the crazy moves. This meant that the training was working. It felt really good to finally be able to spend more time on the offense rather than defense. Until now I was limited in my ability to practice moves during rolling, but now I have that opportunity. This is a total game changer for me. If BJJ was fun before, it is even more fun now.
I feel again the motivation and passion for the sport... well at least at Tony's gym. Not only is it nice to see these new girls, but it was nice to see all the guys too. Everyone at the school is just awesome. Training there is not just a work out but a social outlet for me. It's my happy place. Now, I must keep training hard to stay one step ahead of these girls :P
