Reminders Are Always Around

It is easy to get caught up in our lives. It can be a great thing!
Living your life.
Being present.
Making conscious choices.
All things we strive to do...but every once in a while, little reminders are thrown in our face.
Maybe you haven't had a break in quite sometime and someone mentions taking a vacation, but you think there's no need...you don't have time. Then a couple of days later, you end up sick in bed.
DING DING DING...You WIN!!! ENFORCED VACATION at your own lovely casa for an undetermined number of days and nights!

Maybe you get a call with news that someone died. DING DING DING! You get reminded about life and how tenuous it can be.

Each of these are just more signs along the pathway of our journey. When driving, you always have to make those constant little re-adjustments of the wheel to keep you centered on the road...

Improvement and Competition

One of the fastest ways to improve your grappling or BJJ game is to compete. Competition is a great way to learn about your game. You get to go with people you don't know...people outside of your academy or gym that don't know you or your game and you don't know them or their game. You get to find out what is working and what isn't working, It's like a quick little road map to guide you in what you need to work on. It's a whole different experience from training at the academy and I recommend everyone do it at least once. Maybe you'll hate it and never do it again. Maybe you'll benefit from the experience and continue to do it. You also get to see other gyms, meet other people that share your same interest, make new friends and become a part of the larger BJJ/Grappling community!

Oh, and how convenient (shameless plug...but it doesn't change what I just said about competition) ...March 7 and 8, 2009 is the BJMUTA Classic Tournament in Valencia, CA.
No-Gi on Saturday, Gi on Sunday.
Double elimination for a great price.
Check the website and call the gym to register!
www.bjmuta.com
661-775-0365

Women's Grappling Camp 2009

has now come to it's conclusion :(
I think (and hope that) everyone that attended got what they needed from it. It was an amazing experience for me and (I hope) for everyone that attended. Sounds like I'm "hopeful"....lol.
What does this mean now? I suppose it's time to decompress, think a bit about the future (or at least some future plans) and the beginning of a new journey...another mountain to climb...here we go...

Being "ready" for life...

Work hard, work hard at what you love, and more hard work...opportunity comes. Be ready and willing to take it when it does. "Ready" is a result of hard work.

Search

Do we ever know what it is we are looking for? Do we ever find it? Does the search ever end? Always something new...
How could life ever get boring? Maybe exhausting, stressful, challenging, demanding...perhaps EVERCHANGING...but boring?!?!? Boring...OHMYGOD, that's like soooooooo high school.

Success is...

having the opportunity to live your life to your fullest potential.

having the courage to take opportunities that arise.

overcoming fear and having the willingness to change by taking steps forward...often into an unknown abyss.

Back in the States

Returned from Switzerland.
Won the silver medal at the FILA World Championships.
Ate a ton of pastries and croissants in Paris. Mmmmm.....stuffed.
Chocolate is yummy.