One week until ADCC trials.

Friday, rest is coming soon. It's a good thing, because with the amount of oddly-placed bruises on my very pale body makes the entire beach look at me like I'm a domestic abuse case in some Miami based witness protection program. I was all set to rest in the morning--crawling off the futon mattress I realized that I had completely stiffened up from the week's training. Alas, a very tough purple belt named Leanna had come to train with me, so I reluctantly put on some shorts and headed downstairs for the 10 AM-noon session. Robertinho has been really pushing scissor half guard passes lately, and it shows. I just need to use my damn head more! Leanna and I did two ten-minute rolls after, but both of us were in competition mode that they were two very exhausting, static matches.

I hopped upstairs and showered quite efficiently (when you share a shower with 4 people, you really can't take your time), quickly enough to catch a raspberry something-or-other from Smoothie King before my ride to Delray Beach got here. As soon as I got there I was back in my gi, where I gave a guard private to two brothers, Jared and Dillon. Adorable little yellow belts, I quickly found myself caught up in jealousy that those kids have so much time ahead of them to learn. I'm counting the time to when I'll be getting good at BJJ worrying, "Oh crap! I'll be old!"

After that, I worked a little with the kids' father, Paul. I love attacking with the lapel from guard and it's always a pleasure to pass this on to others. After about a ten minute roll with him, I grabbed a tuna fillet with some broccoli. Yum yum, and no better way to top that off than with a nice Starbucks coffee. Plain brewed for me, Rodrigo got some vanilla soy latte concoction that his purple belt promptly declared very gay.

Back to Rodrigo Mendes' school in Delray and it was time for gi class. Rodrigo asked me to teach one of the techniques I taught Paul, and from there I worked a series with the class. I love teaching, really. I get stoked when Roli and Matt ask me to teach a class, because it really reinforces your technique. At the same time, jiu jitsu is such a global sport. Everyone's good because we teach each other, pushing everyone's game to get better and better. If I don't continue this cycle, well, that would just be selfish! Rolled with two purple belts, a blue, and then rolled with Rodrigo for about 12 minutes.

Afterward was nogi training, and I swear it's just unfair that big guys can learn jiu jitsu. Rolled with Rodrigo for another 10-15 minutes, took a break, another 10-15, then rolled with two of his sixteen year old white belt students. I cracked up--I was working with one (didn't even tap the kids, was just being nice working positions because they were about my size) and one goes, "Okay, I gotta rest. Rodrigo, she's too strong for me!" I don't think I've ever heard that in my life.

Back to Miami straight after class and I was off to watch Wolverine with Alejo and Jake. Jake flipped out because Wolverine is Canadian, and the two giggly "bi-curious" gentlemen behind us went nuts over Hugh Jackman's quite amazing nude body. Came back to the gym to find out Leanna had decided to stay for Saturday training so we kicked the boys on the ground and crashed on the futon.

Saturday was MUCH better rolling. After a couple positions, Robertinho set us to roll and after day one jitters, Leanna and I had a great roll, starting light at 10:30 but we both put more and more pressure on the other as minutes passed. After a back and forth roll for what seemed like forever, the two of us agreed on a break. "How long did we train?" I looked up at the clock and it said 11:10. Jeez. Rolled afterward with Tony Sweeps, having completely lost any gas or grips I may have had, and called it a day. Spent most of the afternoon on the beach and ate good Latin food.

Sunday was supposed to be rest but Peter showed up at 10 AM, banging on the gym door and demanding to train. I was the only one silly enough to agree, despite the fact that my body was killing me. Oh well, he'd promised to give me a ride to Smoothie King afterward. After showing him a couple arm bar setups Peter said, "Okay, now resist." That was just re-freaking-donk-ulous. A 250 pound ex-weight lifter with a death grip on my gi telling me to resist is like Lyoto Machida going, "Okay, hit me."

Oh well. Smoothie King was WORTH IT. And sleep was even better after.