An amazing thing occurred last night. It was a typical training night and I was anxious to get to class. I read about some concepts that I wanted to test. Trying things out on my son helps, but I want to try and execute it during a roll. But this isn’t what has me excited. I rolled with an upper belt (Not gonna mention names or rank), and I admire this individual. He’s very technical and methodical, but can move like a spider monkey and he’s very agile. It has been a long while since I’ve rolled with him. During our roll, it was a battle for small nuances.  A hook here or grip there. Neither he or I didn’t want to give an advantage. Then I saw an opportunity and planted a fast arm bar for the tap!

Now, the thing that has me excited is not the tap, or whom I tapped, or the technique I used. It was the moment. What I mean is, for a brief moment, I saw an opportunity. Without time to think about the steps to execute the arm bar technique, I just did it…and did it well. I did a fast spin and was tight while keeping pressure. I wonder if this is how black belts feel all the time. It was like hitting a trick on my snowboard without even thinking. It felt effortless and my body just went through the motions. Whenever I’m rolling and have to think about the move, forget it, my window passed. And for times I see the window, my technique is horrible and fail to execute. However, that moment felt perfect! As if that was my only window and I nailed it. This is what I look forward to. Triggering techniques at the moment my awareness sees the opportunity.

I had more rolls after that session and today at lunch, but I couldn’t repeat it. Perhaps because I was in a different scenario. This is why BJJ is so hard and takes so long to become proficient. Forget about the belts. When I was doing Cuong Nhu and Judo, I thought getting the next belt would mean I would get better. Mostly because I would learn more techniques and this ultimately makes me better. NOPE. In BJJ, there’s no belt curriculum. With the exception of leg locks, you can begin learning all of it. (Damn, I really want to do leg locks. I wish there wasn’t restriction in this regard with white belts. I’d be fine wearing that white belt the rest of my life if those limits were lifted.

So it’s a matter of drilling these techniques and making as many scenarios I know automatic. Conditioning my body so it’s used to it. I can’t wait until my string of attacks flow like a well rehearsed kata. I realize that this is just one milestone of many.  Next will be baiting and actually luring my opponents. To be able to have an ability to read and anticipate my opponents strategy. How every long it takes, all of this is fun as fuck!