As the competition season comes to an end, Jiu Jitsu is full of seminars and big events to keep us entertained and our love for the sport thriving.
In Chelmsford we were lucky enough to have one of the best Light Feather weight Black belts in the country come and teach us a few techniques.
Eduardo Goncalves from Nova Geracao and BJJ Revolution Team taught us his winning take down ankle pick. He then went on to teach a really advanced sweep. It took a while to click with me, as I was having one of those days where nothing was sinking in properly.
Our Head coach Alain taught a really kool arm bar, and then Sam Gibson taugh an Oma Plata set up.
Since Clark Gracie's seminar, I have really got back in to using the Oma Plata.
We all sparred, then lined up. A few people got stripes on their white belts, also on their blue belts, then the belts came out. Our coach does a little speech, and then each person who received their new belt, would know they really deserved it. Carlson Gracie belts are the hardest to get as they aren't given out willy nilly, you have to work hard for them.
Then the last belt came out, it was Purple. I saw Edu look at it and he said 'Oooooh'. It's quite a big deal when people get past Blue as it's so easy to give up when you get your blue belt. It hasn't happened much in Carlson Gracie Essex, but it does happen.
Alain made a speech about this person as a white belt, that they never really won in many competitions, they certainly didn't win any gold medals, then when they got their blue belt, they worked even harder and won a lot more. As soon as he said 'She has worked very hard this year' I heard a little ghasp from a few people because they had the realisation that they knew who it was.....
It was me!
I was introduced as the current European No Gi and Masters World Champion.
I went up to collect my belt and the emotions of having this huge change happening right before me, were bubbling in my throat. Josh Palmer told me once that when you get your Purple belt, you know you're never going to give up because you have come too far.
As soon as the belt was tied around my waist, Alain put out his hand, but this was more of a hug moment. Then the tears came flooding out. It's like a dream come true to get through Blue belt. You're in that stage where you know a lot, but still not enough and it can be as frustrating at times, but obviously not as much as being a white belt. Don't get me wrong, I still have a lot to learn, years and years of learning in fact and I'm going to enjoy every one of them.
Alain said to me later "You earned it Jolie". I guess I did, I've done quite a lot and learnt so much more about myself on this journey.
I wiped the tears and shook my training partners hands. Just like when you get news shoes, you can't stop looking down at them. I did it with my belt and I didn't want to take it off.
As soon as I got home, Jason gave me a hug and made me a cup of tea. "Anything for my purple belt warrior" he said. He is so proud of me.
Three weeks have now passed since the belt was tied around my waist. I had my doubts that I may be good enough to wear it, but something has changed in my jiu jitsu, a bit like it did when I was given my blue belt, I had to prove that I was good enough to wear it, to myself and to the people I train with. I went to a womens open mat 2 days after I was promoted and was the second highest level in the gym that day. That felt weird. I felt like I was some sort of pro. It was my first roll with my belt, and I just took it easy. I had hurt my leg a few days before, and every time there was a shin to shin moment, I would whine and curl up in pain. The following week was a bad week for me training. I had been working so hard and preparing Norro's for it's 3rd event, that I only managed 2 training sessions in one week. That hasn't happened since I was travelling at the beginning of the year. I was starting to wonder if people would think that I had become Poderosa (Powerful) now that I had my new belt. But I guess we all have to have these weeks when so much goes on in our regular lives.
Womens Open mat in Stevenage hosted by Sonya Marie.
Jiu Jitsu is a huge part of my life, it's the sport that has taken me 37 years to find, and realise that it's a sport that I'm actually pretty good at it..... In a non Poderosa way! haha I'm definitely in it for the long run, it's my feel good factor and no one can take that feeling away.
Now for the food.....
A Fritatta is something that you can have any time of the day. I make them for breakfast or lunch and even for dinner if nothing else is on the menu.
The cooking time is about 20-30 minutes and you can even eat it cold after making it the night before if you know you'll be in a hurry for work the next morning.
The great thing about a frittata, you can chop and change the ingredients as you please. what I made is just an idea.
Ingredients:
3 Eggs
20 g Grated cheese
4 Mushrooms
Handful of plum baby tomatoes
2 small sweet peppers
Hand full of Kale
Teaspoon of Coconut oil
Method:
Melt the coconut oil in a pan
Cut the pepper in to small chunks, halve the tomatoes and cut the mushrooms in to slices. Fry in the pan until cooked though, add the kale minus the stems.
Reduce the heat.
Turn on your grill and get it warm for the last step.
Beat the eggs and add the cheese and any seasoning that you want. Add it to the pan and let it cook for 3-4 minutes. Once you see the edges getting brown, transfer to the grill and cook until golden brown.
Enjoy hot or cold!
