The Texas Open, a BJJ tournament in two parts.

Three weeks ago I sauntered into my regular BJJ class after having taken a couple days off to heal (tattoo related), and to travel (work related). While trying to loosen my stiff joints, and dodging the standard goodnatured insults, we started talking about the upcoming JiuJitsu tournament. It had been close to a year since I had competed, and with no prep (well very little in any case) I decided to jump in.

Based on my lack of working out (traveling, healing, etc) I decided I didn't want to try and cut weight. When I stepped on the scale I was about 237 and the cut off was 230. I probably *could* have cut that extra couple of pounds, but frankly just didn't have the energy. That lack of energy was a theme for me this event. I went into this event not really expecting much, I just wanted to get out and roll competitively.

Like most tournies they were a bit disorganized to begin with. I registered same day (probably didn't help that most people did this), and when I checked in they decided to collapse some of the experience levels. That meant I would be fighting beginner division no-gi and White belt in Gi. They also said we wouldn't have a Masters division (30+ years of age). I found my mat and started looking for people I knew.

Even for people who practice BJJ, tournaments are 6 hours of complete boredom interrupted by 20 minutes of extreme excursion. Since I got there early, I waited, and waited, and waited. Three hours later I had my first match. I got a bye since I was the lightest in my group, but my opponent had a 10 second match. Joy. I called my coach over, and the ref has us shake hands. The call "fight" rings out. We circled, and both tried to setup a "shot". Each of us changed levels several times, but no opportunities for a takedown. I tried a different approach and tied up with him trying for a Judo throw, but the guy was too big. I grabbed an arm and pulled to guard trying for an armbar, but it didn't happen. When I went up, he passed my guard. Immediately he tried for a Brabo choke. He slapped it on and it was tight, but I could still breathe. Some. Dave immediately had me grab my leg and execute the Brabo Sweep he invented. Success. I went from being under side control to having him underneath. Here is my biggest mistake. Instead of a good hard cross face, I pushed my elbow across his jaw. He locked up a crappy hammer lock and cranked the shit out of it. Since he was stronger then me and caught me by surprise I didn't have much choice. I felt my arm pop slightly, and I tapped. Game over I lose. Three hours of waiting for a 3 minute loss. Dang.

Next week ... redemption ... kinda.

Leaving Las Vegas ... a couple weeks ago.

Vegas was Vegas. The show was slower then usual, but we still made some good connections. I did gamble a bit, but nothing crazy. I should have quit after the first night, but Vegas lights don't run on folks quitting early.

Based on the amount of money I saw lost the news of a bad economy are vastly over rated. Multiple times I would sit down at a table and have strangers join shortly after. The siren song for pit bosses floating through the air "Changing One Thousand". I didn't take any pictures, honestly I didn't even bring my camera. I imagine the portraits would have been interesting, but I don't think security would have liked me using the long lens.

As I mentioned before, I'm a sucker for trashy SciFi. It doesn't have to be trashy, but lets face it, 99% of the stuff coming out today isn't Heinlein. I have a particular weakness for Vampire novels. Shocking I know. I just finished the latest from Laurell Hamilton, Skin Trade. Her Anita Blake series started off great, but went downhill fast. I kept reading only because I felt it had promise, but was frankly embarrassed to be seen reading it. Over the years the series had degenerated into barely concealed hatred for her ex, and several times an all out pseudo-SM orgy of short, muscular, longhaired, tripods. While some of that is still present in the new book, she tones it down immensely. I think she might have finally discovered a good editor, but we shall see.

July should bring us a re-release of Larry Correia's Monster Hunter International. MHI is going to be a fantastic series, and is really a great idea. I own one of the original MHI novels from when he did a self published release, and will purchase several of the new books when available. He might be the anti-Laurell Hamilton. Larry's protagonist was a mild mannered accountant turn Monster Hunter. I'm fairly certain he hasn't ever been in an orgy of Vampires and Lycanthropes.

Competed in a JiuJitsu tournament this weekend. Since I'm going to start trying to blog more regularly I will post more about that later. I also finished my left chest panel and start the right panel in July.