I have an addiction and I am happy about it.

I have been doing BJJ for 28 months and I can say that it is a total addiction for me.

Look at the facts.

I am writing this blog right now instead of working on a Project.

I blew off a dinner meeting and extended my stay in Denver by 6 hours so I could train for two days.

I trained in Vegas early, and had my daughter drop off my other daughter at a swim  meet for Warm Ups.  ( I did make it to the swim meet in time to see my daughter swim)

I schedule most of my meetings, conference calls etc around my BJJ Schedule.  I know where I am going to be M, W, F from 11:00-1:00 and T, TH evening from 7:00 - 8;30 and Saturday AM from 11:00-1:00.

I even have worked my Vacation around being near a BJJ Academy and a training schedule.  I must be crazy.

Now for some meat with these Potatoes.

Training as often as a I do has some upside.  As I was driving back to So Cal from Vegas in lots of traffic on Memorial Day I counted how many Black Belts I have rolled with since I started 28 months ago.  I counted 26 different Black Belts I have rolled with at the different academies, my home academy, grapplethons, and Open Mats.  I can remember each one of the 26 and the different lessons they taught me.  (If there is more then 26 then the others must not have been very memorable).

I remember rolling with Young Guys like Gianni Grippo and just how smooth he was.  I rolled with some beasts like Xande who even though they could have just picked me up and thrown me across the gym were very technical with me.  I rolled with a lot of guys in their 30's and 40's some let me work on stuff and just defended, some opposed their will on me.  I have to say I was impressed with all of them and would not question the skills of any of them.  I knew in most cases when I was able to complete a sweep, pass or even submission it is because they let me get to far on a move before they started to counter.

The reason I bring this up is because I rolled with Don Charley last weekend,  Usually I am able to rationalize a roll by thinking that I am older, or lighter, then the guy I rolled with who just kicked my butt.  The problem with Don is that he was older then me (one year) and lighter then me (15 lbs) and was still light years better then me.  This was the first time that I actually felt that  I could become something more then just an old guy that was past his prime and was on the downhill side of life in realtion to my BJJ.  If I can develop a game like Don then I will be able to defend myself against those agressive Blue and Purple Belts in the Future and just wait until they wear down and then work my game on them.

I am so happy that I found BJJ.  It has really given me a new outlook on life and I have met so many friends while visiting and also at my local places.  Guys I would never have even thought about associating with before our now texting me coming over to the house and are truly valued friends.

Here is a picture of 3 of the places I trained last week.  That makes 14 work outs in 14 days.