Rolling Thursday

I got to class, just in time only to discover the class had already started. I fell in behind and caught the last bit of plank. I felt the push-ups were getting a lot easier and I believe it’s since I started the elevated feet push-ups. As we started to stretch, I noticed that the senior Sensei wasn’t there. This could only mean one thing. We were going to wrestle. I made sure I stretched properly.

Soon the mats were out and the Sensei showed us the standard positions, Top-mount, side-Mount, Open and closed Guard. As I was watching him demonstrating the escapes and chokes on the mat, I couldn’t help but wonder how much better my groundwork can get if I focused my energy on an art such as Brazilian Jujutsu. I try and watch videos now and then on the net on different moves and escapes, but I hardly get a chance to try them out on the mat.

Since my old partner left the Dojo, I haven’t really had a match on the mat and I didn’t want to flex my muscles too much and cause my mates to feel that I am a bully on the mat and so when the real wresting started I hung back a bit. The Sensei wrestled on the mat for quite some time. The match swung this way then that and no clear winning move were in sight. Then another two students took the mat. It was exciting to try and see where the next move could be and how the two fighters fought for dominance

I couldn’t contain myself any longer so I called out the new MMA student. I was anticipating this match for quite some time and since we boxed before with no clear outcome, we both wanted to assert dominance early. I knew he used his aggression as a scaring tactic so I grabbed his head and pushed him down. Soon he was on his back and I overpower him into a paint-brush hold. The match was over way to quick with my friend even asking me if he tapped. I was satisfied with the match, but after watching a couple of matches on the mat I was once again hungry for more.

I challenged the Sempai but he wrestled with the Sensei and he seemed quite spent. I set my sights on one of the bigger students... He also had quite a relaxed evening and I rated that we were both on the same weight and strength level. He accepted. He fooled around a little pretending to cower away from me. I stopped and asked him what was wrong. He tried to grab me and the match was on. He got me in a neck vice and cut off my air supply. Like before, I felt my breath stuck in my nostrils and I heard the death snarl of a choking man. Time slowed down. I have been here before, but last time I was too tired to fight out. I knew the escape. His elbow was exposed and as I pushed it up to re-establish my breathing his grip weakened slightly and I could twist my head out.

I wanted to play more so I dove into his midsection and we rolled over a couple of times, I got behind him, but he rolled out and grabbed my neck again. Much weaker this time, I thought, he’s getting tired. I saw his anaconda like bicep and with his brain on its last bit of oxygen I got on his back and pushed his arm around his neck like a hangman’s noose. He still had a bit of fight in him, but I was on top now. I rolled him around a bit more and then his neck presented itself. It was like the sun broke through the clouds. My right arm shot in around his neck and connected with my left. No obstructions. With his head trapped between his body and my waist all I needed to do was squeeze and lean back. He tapped out and as I let go a stream of appeal protruded from his mouth.

I didn’t want to hurt him and I apologised profusely. Eventually he calmed down and conceded that he expected the guillotine, but not the speed that I executed it with. We parted as friends, but I still feel bad, at least I had a wrestling match that lasted for longer than a few seconds. I am getting better and more confident.

Embrace the shadows.