Last week I returned from a very successful visit to California, for the Master Seniors World Championships in Long Beach near Los Angeles.
I have only been a blue belt since February this year, but I have had a succession of competitions this year at my belt level and wanted to really test myself. I spent the summer making mistakes and learning from them. Learning new techniques and improving on the ones I already knew.
I knew in the back of my mind that I'm going to have a busy year next year as my boyfriend and I are planning a new venture, so it will take up a lot of our time. So, before that happens, I wanted to do something awesome, and to really test myself. The Masters Seniors worlds was it!
Earlier in the year I was inspired by higher grade British BJJ ladies, Vanessa English, Yas Wilson, Gret Zoeller and Anna Mayne, who all competed in the Adult worlds Championships. In BJJ the divisions are separated by belts, weight and age. For the over 30's you can fight in Masters and over 35's Seniors. I am now senior 1, which sounds ancient, but I don't feel it.
For the first time ever I could compete against people who were my age and not a 16 year old phenom who has been training for 7 years.
From reading previous blogs, you will know that my diet has been strict. I've been on holiday and hardly drunk a drop of alcohol, stayed away from sugar, made cakes for family and not indulged myself. It hasn't been easy!
I knew that I had to sacrifice a lot if I wanted to succeed.
When I arrived in LA, I was worried about the 11 hour flight and how much water I would retain on the flight. I had made some enquiries, and once I had landed, I put 10 drops of Dandelion root in my water before bed and low and behold, the next day the water I held from the flight was gone. I actually weighed myself and couldn't believe I was 55.2kg. I was so shocked I asked my uncle (who I was staying with) to check his scales to make sure they were correct. They were!!
Leading up tot he competition from the flight, I had 2 days to get in the zone. I'm lucky to have family in California to stay with and they were brilliant! My uncle Eddi was a Judo brown belt when he lived in England and didn't know much about BJJ, so I gave him the run down, showed him some of my fights online and briefed him about the scoring. I even showed some moves on my cousin Jared, who was up for being arm barred!
My auntie Stacie was just so happy to have me there visiting and was excited for the competition. I get the feeling that my other cousin Evan thought I was crazy. Haha
On competition day we arrived at the venue with plenty of time. It was such a huge venue within the California state university. The IBJJF had set out 12 mats, the most that I had ever seen at an event. All the Referees were standing on the mats in their suits ready for the first fights at 10:30am. My belly had done about a million somersaults at that point.
I had already seen a couple of guys from Carlson Gracie, so my mind was at ease that there would be someone shouting for me at the side of the mats. I warmed up, saw my first opponent (The current world Champion) and went to get checked.
My Gi that was given to me to wear, didn't pass the IBJJF standard Gi Check, so I had to rush back to where my bag was and change in to my trusty old faithful, slightly smelly Gi that has passed the IBJJF test twice before. As soon as I put it on, I felt at ease and much better.
I went to the mat, nervous, but confident. I had to win this match to put me in the final of the championships. I did! I won by an advantage. It was that close and Gina Sanchez really kept me on my toes. She was so tough, but I guess I was a little bit tougher.
Half an hour later it was the final. I was there with Vera Brown who I had already spotted earlier. We fought and she got 2 points for a sweep. She was a very tough opponent and much better than me. She was well worthy of the Gold medal and title of World Champion. I took the Silver medal.
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| The Worlds Senior 1 featherweight final |
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| An awesome lady, Vera Brown winning the final |
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| Blue belt Senior 1 feather weight finalists |
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| Silver in the Worlds Master Seniors Championships |
I did compete in the absolute, but my thumb injury was niggling and I lost another close fight by 1 advantage. I was kind of relieved that I didn't fight on as my thumb felt busted.
After the competition I indulged for a couple of days, I got the glass of red wine that I had craved and ate bread, potatoes and non paleo desserts. That's what it's all about, as long as we know when to stop and go back to the Paleo eating way, then thats fine.
My family took me to the Pumpkin patch where every kind of pumpkin could be found.
I found a spaghetti squash that we don't currently have in the UK. We bought it along with others and the day I was leaving, my uncle and I cooked it.
We cut it in half and put it on a baking tray skin side up and cooked it in the oven for 35-40 minutes.
Once cooked, I scraped the inside out of the skin and it became very spaghetti like, hence the name. I placed it in a bowl and added Black pepper, garlic salt and Parmesan cheese.
It was delicious!
I kept the seeds, brought them home and will plant in April to have my own batch of Spaghetti Squash.
I had a brilliant time in California, and I'd recommend the competition to any BJJ competitor. Life is about making things happen and having a great time doing it.
