Another weekend came and went. Time seems to fly down here - of course there are moments when it seems like it is standing still. This usually happens in between training sessions and weekends. It's hard to believe I'll have been here for 5 weeks this Friday. I remember when I got here and was a bit awe struck and thinking that time will never go forward and that I just wanted to go home.
Lot's of things have gone in the past week or so.
1. I attended an MMA show in a large stadium in another part of Rio on Saturday night. There were some big names like Jeff Monson, Pedro Rizzo, Ricardo Arona, Paulo Fihlo. It cost R$50,00 ($50.00 Brazlian dollars) for the tickets and another R$25,00 for the bus ride there and back. Dennis was able to arrange a bus ride for us. The bus driver arrived about 2hrs late and as a result we had to just go straight there - no time to pick up a quick supper or anything. Got there, found the entrance in, found out seats and waited for the fights to begin. Overall, they were not bad but not super great either. The bus ride home was interesting. The fights did not end till about 2am - the bus driver - we had paid for the whole night - had gotten there at about 12am. so he had a little bit of a wait. Anyhow, i think he was pissed off or something and he proceeded to take a long route home then decided to speed through this winding mountain road. Did not say bye to anyone - dropped us off at Camacha's restaurant - a 24hr bar and grill that has some cheap food and usually bad service...but i guess that's part of the charm- then sped off. Overall, a pretty good experience and only my second time out of Barra da Tijuca. The other being the time i got lost on the busses.
2. I'm finally starting to see some little improvements in my Jiu Jitsu. I say this because I am finally starting to hold my own against the blue belts in the academy and depending on who it is - I can survive some of the Purple belts. I'm not getting many subs but not getting subbed as easy as before and getting more and more dominant positions. This is really a good feeling as I was starting to get frustrated and a bit discouraged. I've been told that it usually takes about a month to catch up to the guys that are in you're belt and skill range. The skill level down here is amazing - not that there are not just as skilled guys back home - but the blue belts down here and pretty much every other belt get to roll with browns and blacks on a daily basis. So it's just a lot more skilled guys for the lower belts to learn from. I hope that I can go back home with a profound rise in skill.
3. People are coming and going here at the house. Tomorrow the 2 Irish guys(Paul and Mark) will be leaving. A new guy from Quebec Canada arrived yesterday. Jordan will be leaving in about 2 weeks. Phillip in about 2 and a half, not sure about Alpar - he stays with his girlfriend and is in and out of the house. I'm not sure if any other guys are coming in to the house in the next few weeks. Jason from Australia will be here till November. I just found out the guy from Quebec will be leaving the same day as I am. December 15. It seems so far away but the way that time flies down here. It will be here.
4. I would like to start working on coming back here next June or July. I think that spending time here is good for the soul. Depending on my Parents health I would like to stay for another 4-5 months.
5. I did my first Private lesson today with Rommel Cardozza - a black belt from the guy. We worked on my guard passing. Just some very basic stuff that I was lacking and needed(was not aware of). It was by far the hardest training session I had during my stay here. It occured at about 1pm this afternoon. We ended up in the upper part of the gym and i think all the heat was rising up there. Privates are one hour in length - and it was worth it as Rommel helped me with a lot of little details.
I was completely spent afterwards - came home, showered, walked down with the rest of the guys to grab some lunch, grabbed a coconut and had them chop off the top and I drank the milk inside as Dennis told me it's a good natural way to replenish my electrolytes - kinda like gatorade but with out all the sugar. Which is good because the gatorade down here tastes odd as heck.
I hope to do a few more privates - not as many as I had hoped and initially thought I'd be able to take but a few is better than none.
6. My money situation is still up in the air. I'm waiting on some funding sources as well as the sale of my jeep. Neither of which have come through for me as of yet. I hope that I can get this resolved soon.
7. I'm glad that we are free to roam and leave the house without much trouble. There is a certain individual that is just an annoying, complaining baby. thank god he does not stay here much.
8. I've met a couple of gals but nothing went anywhere. not sure why - just not giving out the right vibe i guess. But hey things will happen when they happen.
9. my dad got put back in the Emergency earlier this week so once again I'm having a hard time dealing with the stress and thoughts that arise from this situation. I'm praying and trying to stay focused and hope that when I return he is back to full health.
i wanted to write more but most days I'm just so tired after evening training - its shower, eat, watch a movie till i fall asleep.
just added a few pics for viewing pleasure..ha ha...
so anyhow, if you read this thanx for taking the time and all the best to you. Will try to keep up as much as possible.
A.
p.s. the reason i named this blog is because a couple of bats made their way into the arena during the fights and during some of the more boring fights - they were the biggest excitement.
Lot's of things have gone in the past week or so.
1. I attended an MMA show in a large stadium in another part of Rio on Saturday night. There were some big names like Jeff Monson, Pedro Rizzo, Ricardo Arona, Paulo Fihlo. It cost R$50,00 ($50.00 Brazlian dollars) for the tickets and another R$25,00 for the bus ride there and back. Dennis was able to arrange a bus ride for us. The bus driver arrived about 2hrs late and as a result we had to just go straight there - no time to pick up a quick supper or anything. Got there, found the entrance in, found out seats and waited for the fights to begin. Overall, they were not bad but not super great either. The bus ride home was interesting. The fights did not end till about 2am - the bus driver - we had paid for the whole night - had gotten there at about 12am. so he had a little bit of a wait. Anyhow, i think he was pissed off or something and he proceeded to take a long route home then decided to speed through this winding mountain road. Did not say bye to anyone - dropped us off at Camacha's restaurant - a 24hr bar and grill that has some cheap food and usually bad service...but i guess that's part of the charm- then sped off. Overall, a pretty good experience and only my second time out of Barra da Tijuca. The other being the time i got lost on the busses.
2. I'm finally starting to see some little improvements in my Jiu Jitsu. I say this because I am finally starting to hold my own against the blue belts in the academy and depending on who it is - I can survive some of the Purple belts. I'm not getting many subs but not getting subbed as easy as before and getting more and more dominant positions. This is really a good feeling as I was starting to get frustrated and a bit discouraged. I've been told that it usually takes about a month to catch up to the guys that are in you're belt and skill range. The skill level down here is amazing - not that there are not just as skilled guys back home - but the blue belts down here and pretty much every other belt get to roll with browns and blacks on a daily basis. So it's just a lot more skilled guys for the lower belts to learn from. I hope that I can go back home with a profound rise in skill.
3. People are coming and going here at the house. Tomorrow the 2 Irish guys(Paul and Mark) will be leaving. A new guy from Quebec Canada arrived yesterday. Jordan will be leaving in about 2 weeks. Phillip in about 2 and a half, not sure about Alpar - he stays with his girlfriend and is in and out of the house. I'm not sure if any other guys are coming in to the house in the next few weeks. Jason from Australia will be here till November. I just found out the guy from Quebec will be leaving the same day as I am. December 15. It seems so far away but the way that time flies down here. It will be here.
4. I would like to start working on coming back here next June or July. I think that spending time here is good for the soul. Depending on my Parents health I would like to stay for another 4-5 months.
5. I did my first Private lesson today with Rommel Cardozza - a black belt from the guy. We worked on my guard passing. Just some very basic stuff that I was lacking and needed(was not aware of). It was by far the hardest training session I had during my stay here. It occured at about 1pm this afternoon. We ended up in the upper part of the gym and i think all the heat was rising up there. Privates are one hour in length - and it was worth it as Rommel helped me with a lot of little details.
I was completely spent afterwards - came home, showered, walked down with the rest of the guys to grab some lunch, grabbed a coconut and had them chop off the top and I drank the milk inside as Dennis told me it's a good natural way to replenish my electrolytes - kinda like gatorade but with out all the sugar. Which is good because the gatorade down here tastes odd as heck.
I hope to do a few more privates - not as many as I had hoped and initially thought I'd be able to take but a few is better than none.
6. My money situation is still up in the air. I'm waiting on some funding sources as well as the sale of my jeep. Neither of which have come through for me as of yet. I hope that I can get this resolved soon.
7. I'm glad that we are free to roam and leave the house without much trouble. There is a certain individual that is just an annoying, complaining baby. thank god he does not stay here much.
8. I've met a couple of gals but nothing went anywhere. not sure why - just not giving out the right vibe i guess. But hey things will happen when they happen.
9. my dad got put back in the Emergency earlier this week so once again I'm having a hard time dealing with the stress and thoughts that arise from this situation. I'm praying and trying to stay focused and hope that when I return he is back to full health.
i wanted to write more but most days I'm just so tired after evening training - its shower, eat, watch a movie till i fall asleep.
just added a few pics for viewing pleasure..ha ha...
so anyhow, if you read this thanx for taking the time and all the best to you. Will try to keep up as much as possible.
A.
p.s. the reason i named this blog is because a couple of bats made their way into the arena during the fights and during some of the more boring fights - they were the biggest excitement.
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