Initial impressions: Today is my last day of Women in Charge. I'm excited and sad at the same time. I really like Jiu-Jitsu. Well, today was a fun day. We worked on how to escape if someone is straddled on top of you. Andrea and I took today's class very seriously. I'm not saying that she and I didn't take the other classes seriously, but we really wanted to get these moves right. We started class with a review of everything we learned throughout the class. After reviewing everything, Professor Rafael and Coach Rene showed us how to escape when someone is straddled on top of you while choking you. Guys this move involves a flip! Andrea and I practiced this move three times each. Then we regrouped and Professor Rafael and Coach Sara showed us how to prevent someone from punching you when they are straddled on top of you then flip them over. Andrea and I paid close attention to this move, but when it came down to actually trying it we completely spaced on what to do. Professor Russel guided us verbally and we executed the move perfectly! That was the final move of the course. (Sad Drea). After class ended Professors Rafael, Russel and Coach Rene talked to us and expressed how they were proud of us for completing the course. Coach Rene's words were genuine and heartfelt. They even made me get a little teary eyes. I may be the 1 out of 6 women who was raped but this class has taught me that I am more than a statistic. I learned I am strong and now know how to prevent something like that from happening again. I really enjoyed this class and want to continue training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but as for now, I'll wait for part two of Women in Charge! I believe every woman should take this class it's very beneficial and a lot of fun! Let's see what is to come of my Jiu-Jitsu journey. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed my rants and raves about the Women in Charge course. Maybe next time I'll see some of you there! XOXO Drea Here are a couple of YouTube videos so you can get a visual of what I am talking about. **Note** the first video is more what we learned today. The second video is what we learned during Day Three and Day Four.
2 Comments
Initial impressions: I'm excited to continue learning today. We are supposed to learn how to escape while being pinned down.
Well, the class was amazing! When we arrived we had to sign a video release because they were recording our class! Andrea came today and I was so excited to see her. I loved working with Marvel and Kristina but I missed Andrea. I'm actually glad I got to train with other women as well. It gave me an opportunity to see if Andrea was just being nice and just letting me escape. Today, we started class with a warm-up similar to day one. I don't remember how many of each exercise we did but I know it was similar to day one so if you are curious just reread day one's warm up again. Then we got to business. Professors Amber and Rafael first presented us with how to do power kicks. We then had two minutes to practice the kicks with our partner. Poor Andrea I kicked hard. After our two minutes were up Professors Amber and Rafael shared with us a basic pin escape. We practiced, then they moved onto a choking pin escape. We practiced and Professor Rafael saw me struggling and guided me through the movements so I could escape properly. During my hip escape, I was using the wrong leg to hold my partner back and was forgetting to straighten out my body before kicking. I need more practice on the choking pin escape but our time ran out and we moved onto how to escape when our wrists are pinned down. I must admit today is my favorite day so far! I can’t wait to see what day five has in store! Initial impressions: Wow I have even more bruises than I did yesterday morning! I must be doing things correctly.
So today we practiced using our voices to set boundaries. We also learned that if that doesn't work out how to escape a chokehold and an unwanted hug from behind. This class never ceases to amaze me on how these simple moves (if executed properly) can cause some serious damage. I never thought I would be able to escape a chokehold. Accomplishing this made me very proud. Andrea was absent today, so I worked with a lovely lady named Kristina. I also worked with a woman named Marvel. (Yes, that's her real name!) Guys, Marvel is 77 years old and apart from this class, she currently trains in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu! When they say, "Jiu-Jitsu for everyone" they mean EVERYONE! Ladies, you have to try this amazing program! It's only my 3rd day and I've learned so much! Yesterday I may have felt discouraged but that completely changed today! Initial impressions: Yesterday was amazing! I'm so excited to see what we learn today! I also have battle scars from yesterday. Today we learned to break someone's grip when they are pulling you. We learned 7 grip releases. Each of these grip releases consists of using your own leverage to escape. We were also introduced to a new professor, Professor Fabio. He walked around helping us and showing us how to execute each move properly. However, when we practiced our inverted low grip release, Professor Fabio showed Andrea and me how to escape differently from how Professors Amber and Rafael originally showed the class. Coach Sara saw Andrea and I struggling and she corrected the error we were making and made the grip release a lot easier to understand. I'm not saying Professor Fabio didn't teach us properly I just needed more clarification for that particular grip release. I'm not going to lie, I was a bit discouraged today, but I refuse to give up! I just need practice with these grip releases. Anthony agreed to help me practice so that's a plus! I want to master each of these grip releases. I struggled with the last two so those are the ones I will focus on. Tomorrow we are working on how to avoid/escape an unwanted hug. I'm excited and ready! Since I do not know the grip releases by name except inverted low, here is a short video of what we learned in class today. Maybe seeing what I learned today will inspire some of you ladies (and gentlemen) to join a class like this! This mini-series is about my experience during my Women in Charge Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu self-defense class. This course is five days and each day you learn new techniques to protect yourself in the world we live in. I hope enjoy my rants and raves about the course and maybe some of you will join Gracie Barra for the next Women in Charge class. Initial impressions: I’m nervous but excited! I don’t know what to expect. I hope I don’t get my ass kicked.
Today is the first day of my Women in Charge self-defense class. We had to show up half an hour early to sign a waiver before the class. After signing, I received a pink shirt and info on the course. About ¾ of the class is already training in Jiu-Jitsu. It was a bit intimidating, I’m not going to lie. We started class with introductions by rank, Professor Tussa (highest rank), Professor Rafael (second highest), Professor Russel (third highest), Professor Amber (fourth highest), and coaches Rene and Sara. We then proceeded to warm-ups. We did 20 jumping jacks, 10 squats, 10 extended leg curl-ups, 10 crossbody sit-ups on each side. After the warm-up, we started learning techniques. Professors Amber and Rafael demonstrated how to do the technical stand up. We then partnered up and practiced. I (conveniently) partnered up with a woman named Andrea. We practiced the technical stand up 3 times each then moved onto what to do when someone is pushing/pulling you. Professor Rafael tested my base and rebase while pulling and pushing me. He said I was strong and he was impressed. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings! |
dreaAlways remember to love yourself. Categories |