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.
Hello! Just wanted to say I found your blog randomly in 2012 and first of all I read your stories just because they made me smile. I hadn't a clue what jiu jitsu was! Your blog made me curious and encouraged me to try jiu jitsu. I have now been training for a year and a half and I love it! So thank you for making me smile and thank you for writing this as I may not have found jiu jitsu without it. I'm also the only woman at the 2 clubs I train at and can relate to a lot of the things you say!
ReplyDeleteYour post means a lot to me. Thank you so much. I am happy that you found--and love!--jiu jitsu with all its ups and downs!
DeleteYeah, change is tough. I hope you manage to find a new gym, but hey, as a purple belt you could go ahead and start your own. If you can't find a local school that fits your training tastes, create your own ideal training environment. That's what I did.:D
ReplyDeleteI am always amazed, Can, at what you have achieved! Starting a gym is not for me, at least not yet. For now, I have figured out a place to keep training at. : )
DeleteYay, glad to hear you're keeping it up! Though I still want to train at Shark Girl BJJ one day. ;)
DeleteLol! I would be happy just to train with you, slidey! One day I will quietly show up to Artemis. I promise.
DeleteHa - for all I know, you already have! Considering you've done a good job of hiding where you're from, what you look like, where you train, etc. ;D #StealthSharkGirl
DeleteHaha! I would never tell! There have been times I've been tempted to send a "You've been Shark Girl'd" to a gym after I visit. But then . . . I chicken out. : )
DeleteGood luck wherever you end up training. Please keep writing, I've been following your stories for almost four years now.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I am happy to hear that you are following my journey.
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