Facebook Timeline has made it very easy to look back over this past year and pick out some of the more notable things that happened for me in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 2011.

After a slow start to the year...

January

- My team mate Ronaldo breaks his thumb while rolling with me (so sorry!)




- I continue strength training with Nicole Dinn and I get angry at having to eat salad. I gave up strength training for 2011 soon after. Not because of the salad though...

- Attempted Yoga at home with Youtube instructional. That didn't last.

February

- Time for a Chest infection and swollen ear

-World Pro Trials Competition in Montreal: got to the 1/4 finals but blew my arms out trying to choke my opponent

March

- I try to stop drinking coffee and move to Tea to help me sleep. That didn't last long




- Thought grappling at work might be a good idea. I was wrong and still have a scar to prove it


This took 3 weeks to heal properly


- I discover new motivation through being introduced Dustin Denes - CHOP!



- Double time training for Grapplers Quest Toronto and the Ontario Open

April

- Bronze in the Ontario Open Masters Blue LW Division - was very disappointed with this result but went straight back to training.

"Forget about past mistakes and focus your energy on the victories of tomorrow." Carlos Gracie Snr

- Watched Professor Britto fight in Ontario's 1st MMA event

- Probably one of the most significant parts to 2011 - I had a Conversion Experience and became a Christian. I also stopped smoking pot. Started going to church and Toronto BJJ Bible Study

- Team Training!


- Started helping at Kids BJJ Classes

- Got my first Gold Medal at Grapplers Quest Toronto - Masters Blue LW Division. Huge weekend for Toronto BJJ taking home the GQ Team Trophy. Our team did amazing

- Attended UFC 129 Toronto

May

- "The boy who cried Worlds" - proclaimed I would be going to Mundials (but that didn't happen)

- After being overlooked for stripes I over reacted and stormed out of the academy and considered leaving. I did not handle my business very well but did feel I had a valid reason to be upset. After reflecting and talking with my Professor I realized I needed to 'train without expectations' and that Toronto BJJ was my home and the best place for me to train. I regretted the whole episode but grew from it.

- Met my girlfriend Amanda

- Came up with the new website logo



- Found it hard balancing work and training.. but the good was 'The Rapture' did not happen!

- Set up a new Christian community for fighters on Facebook - Fighters Share Faith

- Lost both my fights at the Kombat Classic Adult Blue LW division.

- Injured my rib during the competition. Turned out to only be bruising.

June

- Mundials did not happen for me. I moved apartment instead.

- My hips gave me issues this month...it passed..

- Amanda started training BJJ.

- Did my first NOGI class of the year. I'm a GI Player...what can I say.

So that was the first part of the year..
Check back in a few days as I look back on July-December

If you want to dig a little deeper - check my Training Diary Archive...there might be some other articles of interest buried