Ok, Now I'm panicking.

[TonyU]

So I go train today.
There are 3 white belts including myself, except the other 2 only started about a month ago, and 2 blue belts.

Sensei places us white belts together and the blue belts together. We start working on udi garami from the guard.
No problem so far.

As I'm working I happen to glance up and noticed that the blue belts were working on something else. No problem I keep working.
Sensei then grabs me and has me start working with the blue belts.
We start working an escape from yoko shiho gatame.

As I'm working sensei advises me that if I continue training as I am, that he'll test me by th end of the year.
Greaaaaaat!

We'll between the blue belts and sensei they all turned it on. We started doing 2 people rolls back to back, non-stop. In other words I'll roll with one blue belt, after 4 minutes I get a fresh blue belt.
Man, I came close to going to the side to heave on several occasions.
Then he had me defend against the two simultaneously. Wow! Was that hard. The object was to get up on my feet while the two were attacking

The gave me a small taste of what to exepct for my test.

In case your wondering my sensei started in Judo, so he's little more traditional and holds actual testing which includes throws.

So now I'm panicking.

[TIRAGION]

Tony congratz....
I know at the moment it may seem a bit scary, but if your sensei is telling you: "You are ready", that means you are. I'm sure the test will not be easy, but then again if it was would it be worth it? We value most, what we had to work hard to get. I'm sure you will kick ***. Once again good luck and congratz wish you the best.


______________
Alexander Rakita

[TonyU]

Thanks Alex.

I also forgot to mention as I sit here on the computor, sore as hell, icing an elbow, full of ibuprophen.
I loved every minute of it!

Maybe my wife is right. Something's wrong with me, I'm not all there.

[TIRAGION]

LOL, something is wrong with all of us. Because that is exactly how I feel this morning. Like a guy who decided to get in front of a moving bus.
Hell but I second you for sure , I love every moment of it! Wish I had more time in Gym less time at work.

___________________________
Alexander Rakita

[Erik]

First day and you're blue already?!?!? I've spent years black and blue, but it's not the same, huh?

Congrats, Tony! You're a natural!

[TonyU]

Lets not get ahead of ourselves here. I still have a ways to go yet.
The reason I post stuff like this is not for kudos, but because I can come here after a dynamite training and share with like minded people.
I just tried to lay down for a small nap before I go to work, but I'm so amped that I couldn't.
For many years I would come home from many training sessions wanting to talk about it but didn't really have someone to share it with.
While my wife is very supported, she has no interest in the martial arts.
She was my biggest and loudest fan when I used to compete, though.

I'm just excited and nervous at the same time.

I should also know better, but I can't help but compare myself to the blue belts and saying to myself, "Damn, I'm nowhere near that smooth or good'.

[Jeff C.]

Good job, Tony! I know exactly how you feel. My instructor told me he was going to test me for purple belt. He did test me for blue belt, and it was what you would expect: Lots of throws, sweeps, escapes, subs, combinations. Last year he told me to buy Royce's self-defense book, learn it on my own from cover-to-cover, and he would test me. And he told me not to do the techniques "my" way (he knows I teach classical jujitsu). Gah!!!

Turns out I just had to fight a bunch of people while remaining relaxed (and while injured - it sucked!) I did not know I was being "tested." Best to just assume that every second you are on the mat you are being "tested."

Good luck brother!

Jeff Cook

[Erik]

Tony - one skill you'll learn on the mat is how to stay relaxed and not burn all your energy while rolling. It's a mental/finesse skill.

I would imagine that you're already used to this idea from karate and from SWAT. Now you get to apply it to BJJ.

You're going to do great! I'm really stoked that you took to the mat so naturally.

[Bad Karma]

TonyU, the only thing I personally dislike about multi-opponent rolls are the stress points of "If I could only do this or that" to gain some control - LOL! I don't wanna advocate or advise we start nailing the people we roll with, but that's what swells in me when we do that type training. The "dirty & naughty" comes out, you know?

All that aside and I'm feeling every word you type. My wife is touch-n-go regarding my MA training. It boils down to how much time it takes away from HER. Anyway, I have to be careful with my training because I turn into a crack 'ho-ish person if I get too much mat time. Like you, I have to vent and express the stimulation using BudoSeek! as my vessel. There is a shortage of people I mingle with who train in MA's in the real world.

I'm happy to know that you're progressing enough to be noticed for advancement AND you still get the pump from success. That's awesome! The comparison to blue's is normal and it's a convenient measuring stick of ability. If you find motivation by chasing the next level, then great. This is simply because they are (maybe) doing the same thing and everyone moves forward. Just know that everytime they miss a class, you just gained on more experience point towards catching up to them.

Peace

[Erik]

You guys roll against multiple opponents in parallel? Not just one match, then another, then another, in series?

[TonyU]

We've always rolled in series. Today was the first time we did it in parallel. I actually enjoyed it and found some value to it, like what if I'm on the street and two get on top of me or try to over power me. Of course I understand what Tony stated because I instinictly started looking for my weapons, but of course I didn't have them on the mat.

[Bad Karma]

That's one of the reasons I made a comment in another thread...in another forum far, far away...about losing your awareness in a roll. It's a constant battle for me to not get so wrapped up (pun intended) in the ground game that I'm unable to "see" opportunities that would be available to me off the mat. That instinct you spoke of is not something you want to go away or subside. I think my roll would improve ten-fold if I could trust myself to let go of that idea. How do you deal? Where's the medium?

Edit: Apologies if I'm jacking the thread.

Peace

[MarcoPolo]

Tony,

Congrats.. again, if your instructor/sensei says you're ready.. you're ready.

(Brings something to mind, i'm like you, I hold a BB rank in another art and know what *I* would tell someone else, but when it's time to test in another art (even for LOOOOW level belts in my case) I get butterflies! LOL!)

Besides, no need to be nervous now.. wait until you get your Blue and every beheamoth white belt wants to try to "tap a BLUE belt!"

Congrats, sounds like you're a natural.

[dao]

Congradulations Tony, I'm sure your do great

[Mikey Triangles]

He he, you've still got 3 months... don't panic, practice

The reason you think they look smoother then you is because they already have their Blue Belts... I heard from an inside source that there's magic in the BJJ belt system, when you get a new belt you do 10 times better

Congratz, I'm sure you'll do fine.

[TonyU]

Natural my butt!
Since I've been training most of my attendance has been in the daytime classes.
I've attended night classes only a handful of times.

So I go last night and got my butt handed to me by everyone I rolled with.
Almost got a purple belt in an ankle lock, but almost doesn't count.
I kept dreaming last night about all the mistakes I've done.

Tony - one skill you'll learn on the mat is how to stay relaxed and not burn all your energy while rolling. It's a mental/finesse skill.

That right there is one of my biggest weakness. Also the fact I feel what I call landlocked.


I'm going to have to make night classes more often, since there are more variety of students including more advanced students.
That's the only way I'm going to get better, I guess.

But damm how I love it!

[Erik]

You'll do great, Tony. Just keep working out, learning what you can, and devloping good, competitive yet friendly rapport with your teammates so you guys can learn while talking shop, and you'll do briliantly.

Don't go nuts and get yourself injured. That will end the fun really quickly.

Just relax, flow with the go, so to speak, and keep your ego off the mat for a month or two.

Sounds like you're born for this, you lucky guy.