Cobrinha Training Camp, Post 1

I have finally got some time, or perhaps some oxygen back into my brain, to think about writing an update on the training camp. Ironically it's while I'm washing my Gi's, which are sodden and heavy with sweat after this mornings class, which consisted of about twenty five minutes of capoeira (ridiculously hard but great conditioning) and then 10 minute rounds for the next ninety minutes.

Cobrinha is a master at creating a conducive competition environment. Obviously, look at his success, which has its own by-products, those namely being (in this instance) phenomenally talented sparring partners. Walking into the gym you feel like a junior, and by all means my blue belt is a lower rank but you are supremely aware of the talent surrounding you.

So you can imagine the grin on my face, after grudgingly handing over a huge fistful of green bills to the lady at the front counter, only to be greeted on the mat by forty five or so (probably closer to fifty) other competitors at a lunch class. Twelve of which were black belts, a further ten or eleven browns, maybe thirteen or so high purples and the rest being blues. I need to make it clear that (with the exception of the four or five world champion black belts) those purples, browns and early blacks mould into one colour.  In this case the belt is seriously, little more than wardrobe piece.

So, going back to my point about Cobrinha being a master at creating a competitive environment. He does this with a friendly but focused lesson structure. Enforcing through example, simple rules like the maintenance of your attire through out the session. These rules create a really aligned space, everyone is on the same page about what is expected from the word go. This is then paired with routine motivational acknowledgements at the beginning, throughout and at the end from Cobrinha and surely enough mimicked by everyone in the room, ensuring a quick team moulding. A simple "good training man" before each roll suddenly puts you in a place where you are fighting your hardest with the other guy, not so you can win, but so you can help prepare and support each other toward better Jiu Jitsu.

So class starts and i'm lining up, shaking hands with the likes of Lucas Lepri, Bruno Malfacine, Fabio Passo, Mario Reis and obviously Cobrinha, along with many others!  The technique is shown and we drill it for a total of fourteen minutes, seven for me and seven for my partner. Then a few positional rounds and we finish (or really start) with a lot of sparring. The techniques shown are brilliant. Intricate and thoughtful, but not so hard to apply into your own game. A lot of what we have done has led on  from some of the positions we have been training in class, which is very handy. I am writing them down to bring them back and show..After I have caught a few of you out (hopefully) with them!

The sparring is a really high intensity and takes up a large majority of the class time. No where to hide, rests are limited to maybe a minute at the tops and the class room quickly fills with hot air. The level...Jesus it challenges you, mentally and physically to the point where you have to just find something extra, and consciously pull yourself out of a "I give up" mentality. And I definitely have found myself at that place, feeling like I have nothing left at all, like my BJJ is little more than childlike flailing, while whoever sits on top and tries to submit! But its good because its forcing me to confront and evaluate how I use and set up the techniques I use, and more importantly some of the mental defences that I have put in place over the last six months. I am also getting the opportunity to deliberately decide to fight and find the most efficient way to a position or submission, or not give up until I have landed in a place that I am happy with. I can't find the words to describe how different this training intensity is, its like nothing I have ever experienced.Perhaps 'fierce' is the adjective that comes closest to doing it justice. Caulf would often comment on it from his return training trips and I thought I could imagine it, but really until you do it you only have an idea of how it might be.

Spider guard, berimbolo, leg drags and Torrianders are favourites as well among most here. And we are all pretzels. All happy with our legs about our heads, spinning around inverted. Which is perfect for the challenge ahead. I'm figuring a lot of people are going to pull guard at the comp so this is a good opportunity to work my passing. We have been given a rest day for tomorrow. We've had about eight to ten hours of mat time in two days and my body is feeling it. The Jet lag hasn't really got me, I've been sleeping well, but am struggling with a bit of a cold and trying to keep it out of my lungs, so I'm planning on taking tomorrow to really knock it from my body so I can work hard over the next three days. Mind you i spent the afternoon looking up Rodolfo passing technique and I'm raring to try some of them out all ready.

I'm having heaps of fun, even though its tough. The coconut waters and Acai bowls are going down a treat! Saving my skin in-between classes :).Its hard to find a good coffee here in 'Merica but I shall persevere! Gi's are washed. Time to hang them up. I'll post again soon.

Osu.....