It is a turning point for Shark Girl.
I haven’t written in a while. When I was
a white belt, everything was new and curious. And being a woman on the mat was
challenging. I needed help and support, and you, faithful Internet readers,
were there for me. You helped and guided me.
Now, as a purple belt and then some, I
have drifted into stasis. My game doesn’t change so rapidly anymore. The huge
strides I used to make in a month are now incremental improvements over months
and months. I used to practice how to escape; now I work on shifting moves
slightly to the left to see if that will help, or moving my center of gravity
*here* and seeing what that will do.
Likewise, in being the lone woman at my
gym (still), I have fallen into a pattern, a habit if you will. Some of the
same problems remain, but after this many years, you either put up or get out,
and I have chosen the former. I believe I made the right decision.
So at this point in my jiu jitsu career,
change is slow. Glacially slow. And to write about that on a regular basis
seemed, well, boring.
Now its global warming time, my friends.
My gym just announced that it is closing. I don’t have many options. But one
thing is certain: Change is coming, and it is coming fast.
