I’ve had a couple more elbow escape classes. You know, that one move I’m good at? In one of these classes, Instructor told me I was “on fire,” and said, “No point deductions,” which are my three favorite words.
Surfer Dude said, “That was so quick, I didn’t have a chance to commentate.” Poor guy.
In a slightly different elbow escape class, my partner said, “She’s got that down.”
“Yes. She. Does,” Instructor said as he walked away to watch another pairing.
“Those four stripes aren’t just for show,” Surfer Dude said.
I don’t know what it is with me and this particular move. Not only did I do it with my eyes closed, but I was even humming! Not intentionally to be a punk, mind you. It was just… happening.
Meanwhile, I hate to break this to you, but in the most recent triangle choke class, Instructor told us to lift our head and smile at our partner if they forgot to keep head control.
My partner smiled at me a lot.
After telling you all about finally having a triangle choke class in which I maintained head control, I yet again lost my metaphorical balloons. I mean, how hard is it to remember to cup your hand around the back of your opponent’s neck? Yet elbow escape, with it’s roughly 12 steps, is easy-peasy?
The weird thing is, I don’t even know how I do the escape so fluidly.
Instructor gave the class a mini speech about not going too fast, conserving your energy, pausing between the steps, and I felt like he was directing that at me.
I’m like, “So you want me to think? That’s too big of a challenge.”
If I were to do so, I’d probably mess the moves up. But this technique doesn’t tire me out anyway. It’s like breathing.
So what gives?
If only all the moves could be so easy for me. (Blasted triangle choke. What did I ever do to you?)
If not the triangle, at least I have the rear naked choke (RNC) down.
At the end of an RNC class, we were told to avoid getting choked at all costs. I was up first to do the choking, and though my partner at that time (different from the one above) definitely made me work for it, I ultimately sunk the choke in. On her turn, we rolled over, which was fun, but she had to give up.
“Nice job tonight, Betsy. Very well done,” Instructor said. Will I ever tire of hearing those words?
No, people. The answer is no.
Then there was the time I was walking back to the wall to line up with everyone else and crossed Instructor’s path.
So, of course, he grabbed me in a guillotine choke.
“Ach!” I said and panicked to do the defense for this quickly.
“Break my posture,” he said. I complied and finished the move. “Wasn’t that easier that way?” he asked, as I walked the rest of the way to the wall, where everybody else was standing, watching. Judging.
“Yes,” I said.
Maybe just once when I’m on display in front of the whole class, I’ll do something correctly? Maybe?
But until I figure that out…
Trivia Time!
THE QUESTION: Freezing, sinking, or smacking are three ways to separate the edible seeds from the inedible pulp of this fruit.
My random commentary: I had no idea there were multiple methods to, presumably, easily extract these seeds. The only way I know is by staining your fingers and swearing. If anyone is good at any of the above proper techniques, please share details!
One you must do by muscle memory and the other you have to think about perhaps? As for the fruit – pomegranate? Random guess but first I thought of
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You are most certainly correct, Beth, on all counts (including the fruit)! I just don’t understand how my muscle can’t “memory” one simple
move, but the harder things…. I guess I should be grateful it’s not the other way around.
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At our house we use “The Mighty Spoon of Whacking” to loosen the seeds from…pomegranites!
(Then we drown them in a bowl of water while we free them from the skin–the water traps the squirts so the kitchen doesn’t look like I’ve been slaughtering hogs.)
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Signed, GiGi
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Thank you for telling me. Always great to see you on here, GiGi. 😊
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Interesting! They’ve always seemed so tasty but more work than they’re worth to me. I love that you have a dedicated spoon for this purpose. 😆
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Pomegranate?
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Indeed! Those little buggers! 🙂
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Learning can be like that, sometimes. Keep at it and do what it takes without smacking yourself in the face.
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T. W., smacking myself in the face is totally something I would do. 😝
Thanks. 🙂
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I’m more of a hard palm to the forehead, hence my nickname, Flat Forehead. 😆
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Haha. Maybe you should go by F. F. Dittmer from now on. 🙂
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😉
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I love the look of absolute peace as you’re choking your partner. My kind of gal!
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Haha! Right? When you know how to choke, you know how to choke. 😝 Thanks, Jacqui. 🙂
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Now I’m confused: Elbow escape? I wouldn’t have thought that you’d want your elbow to leave your body. I always thought it was kind of important to keep it where it is on your arm …
Just like I’ve never understood pomegranates. People actually like to eat those? weird. Here’s a trivia answer for you: Did you know that pomegranate is the root word that gives us the word, grenade — as in hand grenade. Apparently in the 16th Century some French dude created a hand sized bomb that looked a bit like a pomegranate and shortened the name. It’s also where you get the military person name, grenadier, as in one who throws grenades. Although I’m sure that an elbow escape won’t help if someone throws one at you.
Personally, I’d just avoid grenadiers altogether. Sorry, what was the question?
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Awh, Andrew. Points for giving me not only a laugh and a smile, but an amused head shake as well. Heehee. 🙂
And laughing harder still as I reach the end of your comment. 😛 You’re the best.
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I can’t help with the pomegranate since I gave them up many years ago since the reward factor was so small. It is always good to get things into the automatic mode. Tons of practice for that. You will get there.
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Yes, I’m with you on the pomegranates. More work than it’s worth. Practicing the triangle choke is worth the work, however. 🙂
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I’ll take your word for it. BTW I’m putting your handle back on the posts for X. When I post your stories on X they look naked without it. 😁
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Rear naked? Like a choke? 😉
Thank you, John! I appreciate it. 🙂
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We are never too old to be told how good we are doing, even if you are choking the other person! 🤣
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Thanks, Diane. You get me. 🙂
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No triangle choke for me, thank you, Betsy! I’ll have to steer clear when I see you walk by 😀
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I’ll just be going for a hug, Rosaliene! Honest! 😛
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😀 😀 😀
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Your elbow escape expertise (lots of “e”s there, sorry) reminds me of the first time I dragged my ten-year old to the driving range. He picked out a club, swung it, and launched the golf ball perfectly straight and long. Then he turned to me and had the audacity to say, “Was that okay, Dad?” There are countless ways the golf swing can go wrong and my son does it flawlessly the first time he tries? Kids don’t overthink things like adults do. Maybe you’re a kid inside of that Betsy gi. Or maybe you and Benjamin Button have a secret we’d all love to know about.
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“Was that okay, Dad?” Hahaha. What a cutie. Maybe that beginner’s luck thing is real, but you’re probably on to something about not overthinking things. “A kid inside of that Betsy gi.” Ha! I only act like one. But not in a good way.
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Banana. Duh!! You have to get up pretty early in the morning to get something like that past me. I KNOW MY FRUIT.
But I had no idea William Shatner was your instructor! That’s. Pretty. Cool.
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Lol! Niiiiiiiiicccceeee one, Mark! On both counts, but especially the second one.
Also, I’m still reeling from your comment to Wynne on Insta about the view with a dog. Ahhh, one of the best online comments ever.
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I was feeling very philosophical that day.
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Yes, clearly.
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It always amazes me all the things you have to keep track of in a live setting and it differs with each different sparring and practice partner. I guess practice makes perfect. And lots of smiling!
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Did you do martial arts, Ab?!
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Briefly did tae kwan do while in grade school when I wanted to be a power ranger. 😂
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Hahaha. Hilarious. 😆
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Put a pomegranate in a choke hold!
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LOL! Yep, that should do it. 😛
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Okay, now I have some more lingo to fling around next time I talk to my son! Elbow on, Betsy!
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Haha! How’d it go last time you talked to him?
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Good! But I didn’t go hard because I was not sure of the proper usage – I feel like I could work “elbow escape” into the conversation, though.
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Excellent! How did he react?
You could say you used elbow escape to get to guard position. 🙂
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I totally cheated and looked through the comments for the answer to the trivia question. I was stumped. I have frozen raisins before–in order to chop them for a recipe–because I was told that it was easier to chop frozen raisins. It wasn’t any easier, though, so I skip the freezing step and just mush my way through them.
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I’ve heard the same about cutting frozen chicken. It’s only easier to an extent, in my experience. Frozen-ish is easier. Frozen-frozen is ridiculous.
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Nice job tonight, Betsy. Very well done!! 🙂 ❤ ❤ ❤
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Haha. Thanks, Wynne! ❤ 🙂 ❤
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I was hoping the answer was pomegranate, not that I have any advice about how to remove seeds gracefully. Laughed out loud at: “Will I ever tire of hearing those words? No, people. The answer is no.” Your honesty about who you are is refreshing.
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Awh, thanks, Ally Bean. 🙂
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I think the instructor should just accept that you’re a natural at that move. 😄
just like I’m a natural at staining my fingers and then smacking that thing.
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One move I’m a natural at!
I have not learned to master the art of the pomegranate, however. And I probably never will!
Good to see you, Chel! 🙂
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Well, the sinking technique had never worked for me. I have good luck just cutting it in quarters and pushing them out. Better yet, just buy a bag of frozen ones and use as needed!
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So much more practical, Bijoux!
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