Traps and T-shirts

I went down an Amazon T-shirt rabbit hole. Throughout this post are pics of the two shirts you overwhelmingly voted for last time (immediately below) and several more for your consideration and entertainment. Let me know which are your faves. I will purchase one of them, but know that my vote counts triple. 😉

1. Art of folding clothes.

2. First lesson free.

I received this email recently.

Aww. My JJ family misses me. I also got a text. Probably The System recognized that classes hadn’t been logged for me in a while.

Remember Drake? The dude who smashed me a couple weeks back? Sometime during that class I pulled the trapezius muscle in my back, better known as “trap” muscle (hence that part of the post title). This happened with Savage Teen Girl, too. Does my body tense up when I’m being pummeled or something? No idea. I’m new to exercise.

3. Coffee Then Jiu Jitsu.

Anyway, the Drake Damage wasn’t so bad that I didn’t attend the next class. There I was fortunate enough to partner with Jack the Black… Belt. He’s the best. Super considerate and helpful. Despite that, however, not far into class, the back called it quits. Or wanted to, but I still had to get through class.

I knew I would have to miss Wednesday’s class.

Then I also missed Saturday’s.

And the following Monday’s.

Sighhhhh……..

But last night the physical pain no longer outweighed the emotional pain, so I was BACK!

4. Some people just need a hug.

There was a new guy whom I will call, well, Big Guy.

The guy was BIG.

Fortunately I was partnered with someone shorter than I. That went fine. Nice guy, as always. Then near the end Instructor called, “Freeze! If you’re above 5’11” go to this wall. Below, stay over there.”

Ah, crud. Does this mean…

“It’s time for wall drills!”

Big Guy was in line behind me, which meant I’d be on bottom, he’d be on top. Uh, no. I casually walked over to get a drink from my water bottle then lined up at the end next to Li’l Trejo. I side whispered to him what I had done. He laughed and added, “Yeah, uh, I need to use the restroom.”

5. Like a normal girl, but cooler.

On my first drill, I was thrown in seconds.

Typical.

Next I had Li’l Trejo and managed to throw him in seconds! Huzzah!

6. JJ against a bear. I added this one for fun. I won’t wear a shirt that would require people to stare at me for, like, half a minute. (But it is pretty funny if you’re able to read it.)

Then Instructor had us go back to one-on-one with our original partners and do 60-second drills. Shorty got me a couple of times, but I got him right back utilizing a knee-push trick Jack the Black had taught me in my previous class.

I had just successfully flipped Shorty and gotten on top when Instructor started counting down from ten to end the class. I threw my arms up in victory, as is my new thing.

I glanced over at Instructor across the room. “Count faster,” I said with mock urgency and smiled down at Shorty. He could easily have thrown me back off, but he smiled, said, “Good work” or something, and let me have the win until Instructor got to zero.

7. Importanter. This one cracks me up, especially since my primary occupation is writing and editing.

One other thing of particular note from this class.

Second stripe for 40 classes! And, of course, the kitty shirt. I need to find a shirt with a cat wearing a gi and belt!

When Instructor called me up (after two others received their first stripe), we got to have a quiet moment as he wrapped the white tape around my belt.

“Are you having fun?”

“Of course!”

“You’re doing really really well.” He looked up from the tape for a moment to look me in the eye as he said this. “Your ground control is solid. Your technique is great. You’re really doing well.”

“Thank you, sir.”

8. Murder Yoga. Also not a viable option, but funny.

9. Tactical Hugging. Super cool but doesn’t come in women’s. (Tom, maybe you should get this one!)

As I walked back to the wall, the two guys on either side, Older Gentleman and Li’l Trejo, fist bumped me.

I’ve missed this.

10. First lesson free but girly.

Okay, this is the last time I’ll make you vote before I announce my decision. Choose wisely, my friends. 🙂