finally getting around to posting stuff!

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So it's been a while since I've blogged at all. I've had alot of stuff on my mind, but when it comes to writing it down, I kinda get lazy.

Let's start with recent events. But first, a funny story:
Recently, while still at school, I crashed at Annie's place because it was late. As I slept, I dreamt that I had shot someone (I knew this person) in the face. And I was like, "Oh shit," but I didn't feel too bad. But then..that person CAME BACK TO FUCKING LIFE. And grabbed my leg. And I was like YIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII and let out a decidedly unmanly yelp. And woke up. And I was still yelping.

And then Annie laughed at me. And all was right with the world.
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This past Saturday, I competed at Grappler's Quest "Beast of the East." Together with John and Adam, we made up Team CUBJJ (or Cornell University BJJ, or Cornell BJJ, or Cornell...we all wrote different team names down). We got to Caldwell College at around 12:30, got our free t-shirts, and then settled in to watch some of the events. We even got to watch Rafael Lovato Jr, one of the most decorated BJJ guys in the US, fight; I ran into him a few times later, it was really cool to see one of the best closeup IRL.

As usual, all events were running late; I was supposed to fight no-gi at 3:30..we started at 8ish. After my round got stalled because the judge wandered off to judge another ring, I finally faced off with my opponent. I shot in for a single leg, and got guillotined on the way in. I spent a big chunk of time mostly defending it, I remember jumping on the guy and pulling guard to try and pry my head out. When I finally managed to get my head out, I was half unconscious and my entire right arm was numb. I knew I didn't have much time left and I was probably down on points, so I think I tried to pull guard; I'm not sure, everything suddenly turned into a blur. One minute I was on the bottom trying to sink an unsuccessful ankle lock, another minute the ref was yelling at me, another minute I had his back, then he escaped, and he got me in one more guillotine. I didn't have the strength to fight him; waiting around for 5 hours to fight really drains you, so I tapped.

My gi fight went much better, even though I lost. I circled the guy, and we clinched. Just as I went to snap him down and go for the single leg, he pulled guard and we plopped down on the mat. I started working to pass guard, but he kept breaking my posture, so I tried to pass using the standing pass Danny Ives taught me the first year of college. I think I got it, but then the guy swept me and started moving to side control. I looked at the scoreboard and saw that I was down by two, so I knew I couldn't let him keep me in side for too long, so I managed to get halfguard and sweep him. Again, everything was a blur, but I think then I managed to get him in an armbar. I actually went RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWR and cranked the shit out of the armbar (I felt something crack), but the dude was a trooper and got out and we were scrambling again. Right before the bell sounded I had another armbar but it wasn't any good.

I guess that pretty much sums up the meat of my tournament experience; of course, I left out alot of the stuff--flooded bathrooms, waiting around, seeing old friends, weighing in. But I think if I were too look back in a few years, that's all that would really stick out.

Anyways, things I learned this tournament:
1. I need to improve my conditioning
2. I need to improve my strength
3. I need to improve my shots/takedowns
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So this is the first day of spring break. I haven't done all that much, and I am nursing a gin & tonic as I write this. Delicious.