Rise from the ashes

Rise from the ashes

Friday, June 5, 2009

Worlds 2009: Day 2

What an amazingly epic day. Everyone medaled. 2 bronzes and 2 golds. Not bad for a small academy from Toronto. Our coach is the best. So many of the competitors didn't have anyone in their corner, or just their friends... And our coach was shouting and cheering everyone on in every match. Jorge loves jiu jitsu and he loves us. [And clearly, being that kind of coach pays off].
It was amazing to see how happy everyone was when Nicole took the bronze and Melissa won gold. I was shouting and screaming myself hoarse. I told Melissa for the past month that this was her year, day, and that she would win. I believed in her, and as she won each match, you could see that she began to believe in herself and her jiu jitsu. She relaxed listened to Jorge and beat 4 tough competitors. I am so proud to say that I train with a world champion. She is my friend and training partner and we plan to repeat this process next year, both winning.
It was emotional. Jorge's first world champion student, I cried I was so moved, Josh cried... it was an amazing moment to watch Melissa as the realization that she won the world championships sunk in. And it was priceless to see her on the top of the podium.
Mikey fought like a champion, a warrior. He quickly finished his first 3 fights with submissions. He had some real battles and in the quarter final he got caught in an armbar. He was up on points, and rather than tap, he popped his elbow, twice, before escaping and winning the match. He arm was fucked. Already swollen, we applied ice, electro-stim, tiger balm, and then wrapped his arm and he went out there to fight in the semi-finals. He brought a war, but lost the fight-his arm the culprit. That gold medal had his name on it this year, and the guy who did win the gold medal Mikey beat recently at the New York open. So, for him, even though he medaled and fought valiantly with a damaged arm, there is this lingering sense of what could have (and should have been). But, that's jiu jitsu.
Tommy won gold. He needed to win 6 fights to get to the final. He won his first match 18-0, and his next 2 fights 6-0. Next was the quarterfinals and Tommy was saying to Mikey that he just wanted to win this fight and get a bronze like Mikey. And I heard Mikey giving Tommy the peptalk of a lifetime, telling him he wasn't going to get bronze but that he was going to win!!! He won the quarterfinals. In the semifinal he fought a wrestler who took him down a few times, but kept getting penalties for stalling the fight. After 3 penalties the competitor is disqualified. And it was a huge upset when this wrestler got 3 penalties and the ref didn't DQ him. This ref seemed new and was hesitant (and debatable in his calls all day). Anyway, after consulting with another ref he did DQ the wrestler. But it was a big uproar. Then, they realized they had mixed up the brackets (something that has never, and should never happen at this level of competition). So these two guys who were in different weight classes and has a massive war ended up having to have another semifinal match (making it take 7 fights to win). Tommy was angry and in his semifinal match because he'd just fought and extra and unnecessary fight; he quickly submitted the guy. He was on fire. His final was legendary. A tough fight. But he stayed cool and ended up winning 12-4. .

I can't wait to do this all again tomorrow. Rui and Josh (our purple belts) are competing. And Melissa can compete in the absolute class if she wants, and she may do it... why not make it two gold medals!?!?!

Notes for me to work on (for 2010):
-improve grip strength and grip cardio (everyone forearms were burning after the matches)
-work on sports psychology to know how to get my head in the game and prepare mentally
-learn the rules and how points and advantages are awarded so I can fight smart
-practice fighting 6 minutes on (full force) and then 6 minutes break.... 6 on, 6 off...

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