So after another Yoga class this afternoon (I accidentally walked into an advanced class which is literally the same as a someone who is on their free 2 day trial walking into our blue belt class) I was feeling really good and loose so I knew it would be a day I could go train.

That's the first lesson I have learned from Yoga. And on Sunday as I was all set to go to the academy I had to admit it was the wrong day to go back so I sat back and iced a swollen shoulder and watched the Jiu Jitsu World Finals.

Which, thanks to Budovideos provided the global community a totally free 2 days stream of all the action complete with guest interviews, commentators and superb coverage of all the mats.

I happily covered the event from Toronto BJJ's point of view for 3 days keeping the txt messages going to facebook but now I don't feel the need to keep banging the drum now online with event coverage. Gracie Mag and Tatame etc can feed you if you want more of the Mundials. Or check this great retrospective on the Fightworks Podcast

So after another Yoga class this afternoon (I accidentally walked into an advanced class which is literally the same as a someone who is on their free 2 day trial walking into our blue belt class) I was feeling really good and loose so I knew it would be a day I could go train. It was a good day to go back...just a small class with some light guys. The class was drilling then rolling. My awesome strapping lasted about 5 minutes so I am going to invest in a should tensor. My plan tonight was just see what happens and everything went well..I could do all the warm up, drills and rolling with no pain...I didn't gas my breathing was OK...but I was a bit jiu jitsu stupid. Correct technique was coming a bit slower.

And also my new trick is going into a roll - I have the Harlem globe trotter music in my head in the hopes of tapping into this Andre Galvao flow sort of roll. Apparently that's one of my problems is I am too stiff and I need to flow more so with that in mind I had 5 or 6 good rolls. Everytime ..I started with the whistle going in my head..and there was no problems. Except I got knee'd in my b4ll5 tonight harder than I can remember so that took a while to shake off. 

A few of the guys are talking about this weekends tournament but due to being off for the month I want to return slowly. My shoulder is still pretty inflammed after class.

On the yoga front - all I can say is if you have not tried it - you should (if you are looking for all ways to enhance your jiu jitsu). At the very least you are really tuned into your own body and discovering brand new things about it...new limitations...new postures...new ways to connect your breathing and how to breath with your diaphragm. I am doing 'hot girls yoga' which is in a heated room. I cannot yet really put anything into words with any great depth of meaning as I am so utterly new but today I was clearly pushed to my limit...I was shocking my body with positions that require great balance...and then allowing to to relax over and over again in very high humidity. I wanted it to stop so much. Imagine. Almost quitting a Yoga class. More running outside to gulp some good air. It's really HOT in the room. And after you feel in a new zone too. It's pretty cool.

There are worse ways to spend your lunch hour. Learn more about my Moksha Yoga classes here - Moksha Yoga Uptown

Moksha Posture Video: Triangle

Next on the blog:
The Road to Rio continues. Gracie Tijuca is calling! My plan to head to Rio over the Summer comes closer. Some questions remain as to when I can make this happen but right now I'm still waving the flag for the Rio Sports Tour Vini Aieta / Jorge Britto Camp as I think this will be a truly great experience which would include competing at the Rio Open or Masters tournament. That would be my 1st international competition. And in Brazil! Get all the details here. But I will admit...another camp has caught my eye later on in the summer that is more affordable and of the nomadic experience I was originally after. Stay Tuned

Articles in the darft folder:

- Swimming for Jiu Jitsu. Exploring the similarities of between being in the water and being on the mats and how being a better swimmer may help you train jiu jitsu more efficiently.

- The Road to Grapplers Quest Canada. This is going to be showdown and a war. There is simply no other way to put it. Toronto BJJ is going to have a huge target on it's back but our army is going to be the largest. And it's going to be all over the internet.


...and finally 

I just wanted to again say thanks for the support in reading the journal of being part of the facebook/ twitter community. I've had some encouraging emails recently from visitors to the site and it means alot to me that you take the time to stop by and check out what this simple  blue belt is writing. I don't know much about BJJ really but I hope the references I make on this blog are useful and somewhat entertaining. ...I'm working on the entertaining part.

Scott

• World Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2010 - Schedule (2010-06-01)
• W.O.W - BudoVideos Stream (2010-05-31)
• Week of World's (2010-05-31)
• MMA Day or Mini MMA Expo (2010-05-20)
• The Gracies audition for Oprah (2010-05-19)
• MMA Day! (2010-05-12)
• Where we at? (2010-05-11)
• Tererê Returns (2010-05-07)
• Xande vs Roger 3? (2010-05-05)
• Abu Dhabi Tournaments in Toronto in June (2010-04-30)