Mizblog

I’ve been practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at UCLA for the last few months. I’m so new I don’t even have the funny pajamas. And I always hurt after class. Today is no exception. I feel like I was hit by a truck.

Last night we were taught the twister roll! That should have been exciting, but my knee popped the first time my partner rolled me and I think that put a damper on the rest of my evening. It doesn’t hurt, and I can walk on it just fine, so I have no idea what happened in there.

The class meets in Wooden Training Center at UCLA, in the blue room. The mat (floor padding) in that room is covered with some very rough vinyl, so whenever you rub your skin against it, some of that skin is going to stay on the mat. I have a chunk of skin missing out of my right foot. Scraped off by the mat. Stingy!

This summer there are about 50 people in the class, and the room can only handle about 20 people comfortably. That means for most of the class, we’re standing around watching others do drills, or we’re trying to practice techniques in a tiny area while keeping a constant eye out for neighboring groups.

We’re two classes into the first summer session now, and I don’t feel like I’ve improved at anything. I’m up against vastly more experienced partners than in my beginner class last Spring, so they’re illustrating my lack of experience and technique. Hopefully some of theirs will rub off on me over the next couple months.