Some people have expressed some interest in knowing how the classes are run at Gordo's so that they can get a better idea of how the training is. The tyipcal class tyipcally starts 15 minutes late, which is equivilant to on time for Brazil. By saying 15 minutes late what I mean is that most of the Gringos that are going to be attending the class are already there warming up while the locals and blackbelts meander in anytime in the first half an hour. The warm up is typical of most BJJ schools that it includes some stretches, jogging, rolls, breakfalls, shrimping drills (or scooting), jumping jacks, push ups...you know the normal stuff.
When I trained at Alliance in Charlotte sometimes the warmups were brutal and would leave you worn out by the time you got to the actual training. I am glad to report that never happens at this school. Even if you are only mildly in shape the warm ups are designed for exactly what the title says...a warm up. Rommel does a great job in this sense...perhaps better than any other instructor that I've ever seen. It is kind of odd that it doesnt really matter who you are by the end of the warm up you have a slight sweat going but you're not really tired at all...it's kind of nice.
From there sometimes we move onto a technique. Lately we've learned some good techniques that I've never seen before and that is a nice change from the way it was for the first month or so. We do each technique a few times and then people sit around the outside of the class. It's an odd feeling because I'm used to repping the heck out of a move and it appears that in general people dont like to do a lot of reps here. I feel odd when my partner decides he's got it and sits off to the side. So you're faced with either sitting there in the open like an ass, begging your partner for more reps, or joining him on the side. Tyipcally I beg for a few extra reps but then the blackbelt loses interest and moves to the side.
The real "meat and potatos" of every class is the roll time. Sometimes we dont even do technique we move stright to grappling. Tyipcally you are still feeling fresh and everyone is looking forward to rolling like you look forward to christmass morning. Everyone starts with a clean slate and everyone hopes to get that gift wrapped present/submission/sweep that you've been thinking about all day. Sometimes it's Christmass...sometimes its Brisk...sometimes Holloweeen.
The weather here has made a turn for the worst and all of my kimonos got caught out i the rain. So sadly Friday, even though I wanted to train, I could not. I went and watched the class so that maybe I could see some new transitions or maybe catch a technique or two. When I walked in the door Gordo was standing there and asked me why I wasnt training. When I told him why he didnt seem suprised, apparently this is not an uncommon problem in Brazil and he told me that he would have brought me a uniform if he had known. He asked me if I was going to train in the morning and then offered to bring one then.
I havent had a whole lot of interaction with Gordo but I must say that he is a really easy man to get along with. He is at times happy but never jubilant. He is at times upset, yet never yells. I have described him as "stoic" to other people, but the more time I spend with him I believe a more accurate description would be "well balanced". It is due to this fact that Gordo is very easy to respect. In the States there are many BJJ instructors that blur the line between friend and teacher and it can lead to a lot of problems. This is not a problem that people experience at Gordo's school and the best part is he doesnt enforce this line, it's just there. Gordo has all the characteristics of a great leader, justice, judgement, dependability, decisiveness, tact, integrity and knowlege to name few. It is an honor to train with him and for me the type of person that you want to be associated with.
The next morning Gordo was true to his word and he actually brought me a kimono to train in. I'm a rather large guy (6'3 200lbs), so it was kind of funny to put on Gordos gi bottom. I looked like I was waiting for a flood. The top fit well and it was good to be able to train when otherwise I would have been watching again. I was half heartedly hoping that the kimono would have some sorty of super powers associated with it, but unfortuneatly I got tooled that morning. Hopefully none of my infamous powers rubbed off on it. I did however half heartedly think about having a Gerbil patch put on the back of it before I give it back to him as a joke, but I'm pretty sure I'd be the only person that thought it was funny. So ultimately I decided against it.
I've really tried to start taking more pictures. I enjoy taking a lot when I'm at home, and I took a lot of pictures in Iraq but for some reason the first couple of months here I've kind of slacked off. I'm not sure if it's due to the fact that I'm afraid to take my camera out in public or if I dont want to look like that "gringo" taking a picture. It was much easier in Iraq becuase I had a rifle and I was wearing a uniform...I already stuck out like a sore thumb. But in any event there will be more pictures posted. The first random picture that I would like to post is one of Gisele. Most people are always receptive of the pictures I post so tell me what you think of this one.
Gisele and I went to a birtday party on Saturday and it was a new experience. I've never quite been to a party like this before. They described it as a "Spanish" birthday party and a lot of people were in costume (including Gisele). Some of the guests had been assigned parts to play and throughout the party they would dim the lights and little skits were performed on stage. Then inbetween skits people were drinking, eating and chatting away. It was a pretty good time and I took some pictures of this experience also.
These were mostly the people that were in costume and you can see that the range of dress was quite weird. That added to the fact that I dont understand the language at all led to me laughing at some times when other people weren't. Thankfully no one held it against me and I had a great time.
There were some conversations between the ladies that I REALLY wanted to listen to. I felt like the deaf child that everyone talks about in his presence. It's kind of frustrating becuase I can hear the words "sexo oral" and "Manage twa" but I cant understand what they are saying. It got even worse when they one woman would say something, lean in, and then they would all look at me and laugh....damnit! Some day I'll speak Portuguese and I'm not going to tell them I'm fluent. Then I'm going to sit there and enjoy the conversations with a blank look on my face...some day...some day it will all play in my advantage MUHAHHAHAHAHAH....
Sunday I went to the movies alone. Not that I particularly like going alone but there as no one else to go with. As I got to the movies I realized that there was some sort of block party going on and there were people everywhere. I went and bought my ticket (for Transformers) and then went back outside to people watch. As I walked around and enjoyed the scenerey I got an Acai`. It was at this point that I noticed all the people watching a football/soccer game. I then noticed that the game was the US vs Brazil and oddly enough I took more interest in the game. As the US started to do better and the Brazilian crowed was getting more frustrated I was happy to get up and leave for my movie before they started looking for an actual American to take out their frustration on.
it will be a great time. Maybe it's the cheap cost of labor here, or the lack of availiabilty of jobs, but I wish we could give 1/10th of the motivation these employees have here to the BK employees home. Here are some pics of the crown/store
