Charity Go-kart, my strong BJJ kids, TV / anime shows, movies, training, Meerkatsu
These past few weeks have been packed with activity, accomplishments, new things, successes, and stress.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
On Friday October 20th, I rushed home from teaching kids classes to PPV Fusion Fight League in Montana and watch my friend Jessica Borga fight in the main event. It was a tough, back and forth fight that I thought she might win if it went to decision, but she got overwhelmed in the last few seconds and the ref stopped the fight. I’m sad, and my heart goes out to her, but it was a good fight and I’m proud of how hard she trained and prepared for the fight. She even came out to Vegas to train with us at Syndicate! <3
On Sunday the 22nd, I participated in Comedian Mike Hammer’s Celebrity Go-Kart racing event. Various Celebrities would compete against the public (who would donate). Donations went to Wounded Warriors and other Veteran charities.
click here for article and more pics
I had to reschedule my day for it and it turned out to be detrimental to my only weekly recovery day, but I’m really glad I had this experience. I’ve always wanted to do charity work, but figured it would have to be when I got rich and could AFFORD to do it. I’m so honored to have been invited! I’m not sure how much of me actually being there contributed to dollars earned but oh well. I think the event made $5,600. It was a new experience for me! I’d never ridden a go-kart before and I was super nervous. I met a new friend! The lady who helped me sign up, Kenzy, was really nice. I signed up, went and got pictures taken on the red carpet, and then had nothing else to do, so I loitered by the table and chatted with Kenzy for like 3 hours. LOL
She is amazing. Working as a school teacher now, she and her husband both used to serve in the military. She has a large family, and I can’t imagine the time and energy it takes to do all that she does! I met a few of her kids and they were super nice.
Nobody else told me anything, so she helped me find out where to go, how to put on the helmet, etc. 😀 Thank you, Kenzy!
So finally it was my turn.
Everybody told me it was just like Mario Kart.
Alrighty then.
When I stepped on the gas to go to the starting line, it was a little scary. Was it like car where I could crash and burn? Probably not since kids were playing. But I witnessed people crash, get whiplash, get spun around, start going backwards and have to wait for staff to turn their car around. I didn’t want to be one of those guys.
Usually, when I’m playing a racing video game, I do practice rounds so I can get a feel for the car, course, and handling. No such luck then. But I have played a lot of car games…they’re my favorite, actually. Twisted Metal (all of them), Top Gear, Mario Kart, Chocobo Racing, etc….
The staff guy with the flags lined us up and said, “Ready?”
A little voice in my brain said, “I am SO NOT READY.”
“GO!”
(Pic from Kenzy)
Vrooooooooom! Everybody floored it. My car shot forward. Suddenly there was a really sharp turn. I stepped on the break. Everybody passed me as I took the turn slowly.
“Alright, Roxy, you have 5 laps. The goal of lap 1 is to not crash into any walls.”
Achieved it.
“Okay, goal of lap 2 is to figure out how fast you can take these turns.”
Achieved. I was still 10th place out of 10 cars, but I started getting closer to the #9 guy.
“Okay, Rox, now start passing people!”
I did! It was scary! LOL I realized I was holding my breath as I was going around curves, clutching the wheel and turning as hard as I could, so I had to force myself to breath. It was crazy. My arms were getting a workout from holding onto the wheel so hard. By the 5th lap, I had passed 4 people, and took 6th out of 10. Not too horrible for my first race ever! 😀 I was very pleased, since my initial goal was to not be last.
Then I went home, exhausted from my week. lol
The previous day I had done a private, the whole BJJ class, and kickboxing sparring. That morning I had run stairs and did yoga. I pretty much watched TV on my computer for the rest of the day.
These past few weeks, I watched ID-0 on NETFLIX, a twelve-episode anime about how humans can transfer their consciousnesses into robots to do work and space exploration. I give it a 7 out of 10 rating.
I also finished season 2 of Transformers Prime. OMG It’s looking bleek for the autobots! 9/10 rating
I watched a bit of Dragon Ball Super. 6/10 rating It’s good but hasn’t gripped me yet.
I watched the first Kingsman to prepare for the second movie. I LOVED IT! 10/10
I watched the Tinkerbell movie “The Great Fairy Rescue.” It was sweet! I felt all warm and fuzzy inside. 9/10
Last weekend, I saw the Lego Ninjago movie in the theater with Serena. It was pretty good! I still liked the first movie and the Batman movie better. 7/10
The week before that, I saw The Foreigner with Jackie Chan with Serena and her family. It was alright…not what I expected. I thought he was going to try and get a kidnapped daughter back, not avenge her death. That’s depressing. 6/10
This past weekend, Serena and I saw Kingsman: Golden Circle. IT WAS SO FANTASTIC! 10/10 Dude! The plot! The way action was interspersed with slower plot development scenes, the camera-work, the acting, the hummor! omg I loved it! I could go see it again! The music! The fight scenes were so bad-ass! I want to learn how to use a lasso now. LOL And I haven’t seen a whip used in a fight like that since Indiana Jones. hmm there’s gotta have been another hero movie… I’m not sure. Elton John was hilarious! I didn’t know he could act. And that President of the United States………………………….
I fell asleep to One Punch Man last night. I’m on ep 7.
Moving on. The general level of my kids class has gone up, and I’m very pleased.
My little girl Aleena is able to hold her own against the toughest kids in my class – the Russian boys Eli and Artem. After drilling arm-bar escapes, I put Aleena against Eli (he’s like 5 inches taller and 2 years older) and watched closely….he always goes for it, and she successfully escaped it!! 😀 I WAS SO PROUD OMG.
(Eli vs Zachary)
I’ve been giving private lessons to Scarlett, Kyani, Griffin, and Grady. They’ve all been growing quickly thanks to that! It’s so satisfying.
Ky and Wesley! He just got promoted lately!
This past weekend I coached my students Kaiden and Preston at the FUJI BJJ tournament!
Preston:
Also Evan, who I goes to the big kids class Rick leads and I only assist, so it’s not like I can take credit for his technique like I can the other two. LOL
Evan did a mean bow-and-arrow….like, spine twister style.
But they all got first place in one division, and Kaiden and Preston got second in another division.
Kaiden!
My training has been phenomenal. I’m getting in physically better and better shape. I lost a pound or two of fat. I think I’ve gained some muscle. I’m learning a ton of jiujitsu from Captain in our private lessons.
Captain hasn’t been in the MMA class lately … he’s been focusing on his jiujitsu, which is good, but I miss him. ;_; Every dayyyyyy
Also Casey’s classes were fun. We’re focusing on X-guard, ashigarai positions, de la riva, and sweeps, in the gi.
I got a shipment of Meerkatsu stuff in! I have loved Seymour Yang’s artwork for years.
check this out! Little mini posters and stuff here:
https://www.redbubble.com/people/meerkatsu
I’ve bought posters and rash guards. This time, I got new tights, two new rashguards, T-shirts, and a gi. I’m so stoked! 😀
Here’s a pic of me with Mike Pyle, who rolled with me for like 20 minutes and gave me grappling advice. I learn very well from him and have learned a ton over the years when he made appearances in MMA class and taught us! Also in private lessons! Thanks, Mike!
And this is the Twilight Omoplata rash guard!
https://www.meerkatsu.com/product/meerkatsu-twilight-omoplata-rashguard/
John looks more tired than me. lol I just hit pads with him. John works as hard as us fighters!
This rash guard is “Red’s Revenge”
https://www.meerkatsu.com/product/meerkatsu-reds-revenge-rashguard/
I carved a pumpkin with Serena on Friday and made it Arucardo from Hellsing!
and this guy Eryk who is a UFC fighter came into the gym on the same day I did wearing a DBZ rash guard! HOW COOL!!! We did not plan this.
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