My second “quarter” of jujitsu started yesterday. I’d never seen the class so full. Half were new students. It was really, really cool to hang out w/the regulars again. I congratulated Gerardo for winning gold at the Okana competition in Arizona last weekend. Everyone harassed me for not going. It sounded like a lot of fun, maybe I’ll go next year. Got my usual wink from the blackbelt. This class started better, I felt. After the initial warmups and stretches and toning exercises, they began the jujitsu training by breaking down and drilling blocks and kicks. Then the class was split into 3 groups to work on various falls and take-downs, just to get new people acclimated to jujitsu in general.

Unfortunately, because half the class was new people who didn’t have gis, I couldn’t work out my aggression on them. Until Gerardo came up to me as I was doing the take-downs. “You can throw me,” he offered. “Really? I really can?” “Yeah! Go for it!” I threw him across the room. He did a dramatic airborn roll. Sometimes it’s nice having people who can read me and my antsiness, especially if they can do something about it.