It's pretty unbelieveable how fate brings me across to find new friends. I could say it was an opportune moment when I saw that street sign that bore the name, 'King George's Avenue' two days ago.
I remembered having read I-S magazine a couple of weeks back during work and it just so happened that therein lay a comprehensive article on the various combat sports available in the commercial circuit, as well as the combat academies that were around. For some reason or another, the only one I bothered to remember was the Budo Academy addressed at none other than King George's Avenue.
By the time I chanced my eyes upon that sign, bells were already ringing in that little Notre Dame up in my head and I knew I had to keep my eyes peeled or miss out on the opportunity to observe how people run these academies as well as to observe how the athletes train.
When I had eventually ended up next to an old warehouse of a building, my eyes began to do what they did best yet again- To home in on specific targets.
Which meant that before I knew it, I was looking at the logo of the Budo Academy itself. And there began my quest to master the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
For those of you who have NO CLUE about what BJJ is, it is essentially a highly technical and effective form of ground combat (or ground fighting) in which a much lighter and smaller opponent can submit a bigger, more powerful assailant through the use of leverage and submissions (joint locks and chokes).
The origins and history of BJJ however, I shall not touch, lest you'd be looking for a cure to that insomnia of yours.
So three bloody flights of stairs later, I come across a door with absolutely no clue about what's behind it but since I had already gone that far,I told myself, "This is it. If you don't step through, you're stupid."
Swarmed with courage and a potential for embarrassment, I open the door hoping to make a silent entry but nooooo...The door just had to have a silly chime attached to it that went, 'DING DONG!'.
This was a bell designed to announce the Queen's arrival anytime anyone stepped through. But when I did, I saw a guy and a girl getting it on on the mat. (What are you dirty people POSSIBLY thinking of?)
A guy and a girl were practicing their jiu jitsu on the floor. I later found out that the girl was the chief Judo instructor at the academy, as well as the administrative manager and the guy was her student. Both were Judo-kas or Judo players as one would say and it just so happened that they were awaiting the start of a class.
Lucky me eh? First the street sign, then the academy, then the unknowing couple, you would think they'd invite me to join them for a training session next right? If you did, kudos for being spot on. Before I even know it, I'm decked out in a Judo gi (the uniform they use), white belt and all and these school boys suddenly march through the door as if on cue and the next thing I know, I'm throwing (and being thrown by) people around.
What a way to spend the afternoon..so during the break, I seize the time to ask Mel, the chief instructor, how I could start learning BJJ, when the class dates were, the class times and most importantly, how much. As soon as I heard how organized things were, I told her, "I've got to join this. I know I'll have alot of fun here, I'll look forward to returning AND I'd definitely be back tomorrow."
Well, I did return the next day, but I didn't expect to wake up in the morning sore and unable to move momentarily because I had been using my muscles in a way I had never done before- Dynamically.
I've always been interested in combat sports such as Wrestling (greco-roman & freestyle), Judo, Karate, Sambo, Muay Thai and of course, Jiu Jitsu. And alot of these sports give people the impression that they'd die in the course of learning it or that alot of people get killed but if that really was the case, you wouldn't even hear of them in the Olympic Program, let alone being practiced in this country. Correct?
If anyone's interested in coming to take a look at the Budo Academy, come look for me! We can have a great time!
The people there are great, the training environment's extremely conducive, you'll have a great workout and have a lot of fun (all while getting in shape and burning fat!). Or you could just go to www.jagsport.com and get in touch with Mel!
Hahahaha..Free Publicity!
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Thursday, August 31, 2006
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yenskie
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