get my purple belt

my 3rd stripe.
I know eventually I will be a purple belt. I just have to keep putting in time. I just have to keep grinding and never stray from the way.
Thank you Carlson Gracie Guam. I will truly miss you when I leave this island. I’ve been grappling on and off for 9 years. I’ve finally found a gym that shares the same passion if not more for the love of this art.

I lost by points. Went the whole way. I want to win. I also want to finish. It takes a lot of work to win. It takes a lot of work to finish. This will take a lot of work. I know this. I will keep going. I will keep learning the things I want to learn. I will take this time to learn what I want.

I want to Armbar like Ronda Rousey.
I want to throw like Dave Camarillo.
I want to sweep like Marcelo Garcia.

Goal Double Gold!
Gold in my Weight Category.
Gold in my Belt Class.

It seems impossible. but the journey to get there will be a challenging one. I’m up for the challenge. I know when I reach this goal I feel that much better.

Ecstacy of Gold by Ennio Morricone

I got it last weekend. Do I think I deserve it? No. Did I go through a lot this past few months? Yes, but not jiu jitsu related.
I know jiu jitsu is there for me. Especially this gym in Guam. Carlson Gracie Guam. This family is there for me. I should have not have compromised my life for a girl. When I got let down. Going to jiu jitsu was the best thing for me. I have so much to learn. I have to work hard on this goal. I really want to go everyday. My half guard, close guard and open guard need to get better. Actually my entire game needs to get better. The road from Blue to Purple is a long one.

I had a tournament just last weekend. I lost by points. I hurt my left should on a failed throw attempt. I was stuck in half guard, fighting to keep my opponent from passing my guard. It was like 11-0. Just surviving isn’t good enough.
I also got Dave Camarillo’s Submit Everyone. Just flipping through it makes me rethink my game
He has terms like fire team and fire base. Pretty much they mean have a submission/guard that is yours. Your Guard is a comfortable place where you can jump off from and attack or retreat. His fire team is the armbar. He can attack with his fire team in almost every position.
I don’t really have either. That’s a big hole in my game. I’m average at about everything or maybe below average.
I need a guard to just to study and continue to study.
I need a fire team/ submission to study over and over.
I wanted x guard but its really advanced for what I trying to do.
I wanted the triangle, but it’s really not working out. I will keep at it.

I need rethink my game.

I went to promotions tonight. I went really not expecting to get a stripe. I wasn’t very consistent with my training because of work, class, duty, and just being exhausted. Being exhausted isn’t a good excuse but it was mine. I went to support my team. The stoic way. I train because I love to train. Not because of belts but because to pass on knowledge that kept me going in life.
Jiu Jitsu has been my anchor since I’ve been in the Navy. It keeps my life steady. Nothing will ever replace it. It constantly keeps inspiring me with knowledge. The people I’ve met and the things I’ve done.
Carlson Gracie Guam. Never forget where you came from. Its not the destination it’s the journey.

I will be here for two years. I don’t know how long I will be a blue belt. I know all I have is time. That is the greatest asset I have. I plan on seeing how the X Guard works. I will work Marcelo Garcias book from front to back. I will study intricacies of the guard.
I realize now that I really don’t need Jiu Jitsu anymore to protect myself. As a blue belt and through my own experiences I realize I don’t have anything to prove anymore. I used to walk around with a chip on my shoulder. I thought I had to walk around tough or else other people will think I am weak. Now I have the confidence to walk around and not be worried of what other people think of my toughness.
Purple belt is just another belt that keeps my pants up. It is a symbol to those who understand what it means. It is a symbol of strength, suffering and achieving. That what it means to me. So I will continue on this path.

I’m on Guam. No car means no Jiu Jitsu. Well my car arrived as soon as I pick it up. I’m going to Carlson Gracie Academy. There’s my two years at this duty station. I see the time here wisely spent already. Purple belt here I come.

The next five weeks of training for 5 minutes for maximum effort. I have to be clever with it. I’m in the middle of light and middle so I just went up because I hate cutting weight. I just have to gain some muscle so I can be stronger against my much heavier opponent.