ARBJJ Girls | I see a sea of Blue.

Its a sea of BLUE!
Congratulations to Beth, Kay, Caroline and Nat for getting your Blue Belts!!!

Congratulations to Helen for receiving her first stripe on her Blue!

Grading Day | Blue Belt

Good Evening!!

Im so sorry I am such a bad blogger but I just couldn't find the time to get anything written down! Its been very busy with Christmas coming round the corner, not to mention Birthdays and work.
So I thought I would wait a while to see if there was anything worthy of writing about and the wait was worth it!

On 13th December 2014, I received my Blue Belt under Black Belt Andy Roberts.
Words could no describe just how amazing the moment felt... purely because I don't remember any of it! I remember cheering my team mates on for getting there new stripes and belts.

Not until Andy called out for, and I quote 'Team Oestrogen' ( That names not going to stick!)
He called me up and I just didn't know what to do! So I did what everyone else I saw did, walk up and receive my belt.

It was an amazing moment which will stay with me forever and another mark in my journey. 

My goal was for my Blue and mission accomplished! 

My new goal is to enjoy my journey towards my next stripe.

I just want to thank everyone who I have met within this past year and thank you so much for everything. 2014 has been one of the best thanks to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. 

Thank you!

Kerry xoxo

Profile 1 - Bethany Thomas.

Beth getting her STRIPES!!!!
And me... looking like a goober.

I started BJJ because I was going through a difficult time and needed an escape. I had done martial arts before but my class had shut down so I figured I would go for something completely different.
I heard about ARBJJ when I was looking for a new place to train. I did an internet search and spoke to a few instructors but ARBJJ seemed like the best fit. So I started training in January and have been here for 10 months now.

Beth (Left)

I haven't trained BJJ before but I have done karate, kickboxing and tai jitsu in the past. Right now I also do muay thai. So I usually split my time at the gym between BJJ, wrestling, muay thai and mma classes.
What motivates me to continue is that I want to be the best I can be, not just in terms of competing but also being the best version of myself and I feel that this environment does that.
One big difference between BJJ and other martial arts/forms of exercise is the people I train with. There is  a genuine friendship and concern for your training partners, its not all me, me, me.
I love to pull guard and work from there. I just think there are so many options in terms of submission and sweeps, whereas the person in my guard can only work to pass so it's predictable. 
In terms of submissions I usually like to go for an arm triangle or an ezekiel.

I would love to use BJJ as a platform to compete in mma so my aspirations are; to improve, be the best I can be, compete in mma and hopefully inspire others to do the same.

Beth representing ARBJJ

In 5 years time I would love to be competing in mma, hopefully at pro level. I would also like to be at a level where I can do a minimum of 4-5 BJJ competitions per year. But most importantly I would like to still be friends with the people I train with and to have taken this journey with them.

Surrey Open 

After weeks of preparation and training I can, without a doubt, say it was well worth it to compete at Surrey. The competition was run by Andy Roberts so there were a lot of people from ARBJJ there, which was great because we could all support each other. I will say that at ARBJJ there is a real family feel and we all celebrate each others successes and help overcome the losses.

I went into Surrey with a plan of what I was going to do and this turned out to be a big  mistake. As soon as one part didn't work I just froze and had no backup plan, so I did panic. In the end I got caught in an ezekiel . Not a great performance but one that I'm glad about because I learnt from it, and never made the mistake of going in with a set plan/strategy again. I realised that I can have some rough idea of what I want to do, but I need to be able to adapt that to suit the situation.

After this I decided to make the most of the day and compete on mat 5, which is an open mat where you can challenge anyone. I competed 4 times on mat 5 at Surrey, 2 wins and 2 losses and it was a great experience. 

My first fight was against Kerry and it was very backwards and forwards. We were both level on points and it was a very tough match but I managed to win via ezekial. It is strange though when you compete against a training partner and friend and, although its hard, you kinda have to put that aside for the 5 minutes. 

My other win was against Nigar Setihesh who was Kerry's opponent and won bronze in our weight division and the absolute. I won on points but, with 90 left of the match she managed to escape and get back to her feet so the rest of the match was grip fighting. Its always hard with an opponent you don't know, there's a period of the fight where you're testing the water and trying to figure out the opponent. But it was a great feeling to have won that match.

Both my losses came against blue belts and I was glad I managed to do these fights because there was no pressure. I was the white belt so it was  expected that they should win so I could just relax and enjoy the match. So my first loss was to Helen Harper via arm bar. I definitely learnt a lot from that loss, mainly that if a higher grade is leaving an obvious gap its a trap. I fell into it and got caught in an arm bar, lesson learnt. 

The other loss was to Tim Hallas via bow and arrow after I gave up my back to easily and that is something that I needed to improve on. Tim got a lot of stick for fighting a girl but it's always good to fight people of different sizes, genders and experience levels because that's how you learn. 

At Surrey the respect I had for the people I train with, and especially those I fought on mat 5, shot through  he roof. Sure you can learn a lot in sparring, but its not until I actually competed against these people that I realised just how good they are and just how much I have to learn.

Brighton Open

2 weeks after the Surrey open I competed at Brighton. Only a few people from ARBJJ were there but we all cheered each other on and supported each other which was nice.

The categories were much smaller than at Surrey, I was one of three in my gi category and the nogi were merged so there was five of us. This time round I was a lot more nervous than I was at Surrey, before my first fight I was literally shaking. The nerves all disappeared after my first match though.

So the nogi category was first up and the first match I narrowly won on points after securing side control, although I was a bit surprised to hear some heckling from the crowd. 

I then lost my second match via armbar, after getting caught in an armbar at Surrey and then Brighton I decided I definitely needed to do some work on armbar defence. It does seem to have paid off though because I get caught in fewer now than before. 

For the bronze medal I had to fight one of my training partners Nat. It was a very strange experience, at Surrey I never fought a team mate for a medal so this was completely different. I did have to go in with the mindset that, for 5 minutes were not training partners but competitors and she wanted to win just as much as I did. I got the takedown straight into side control then worked to secure mount and had a couple of submission attempts, but she managed to hand on and I won on points.

Next up was the gi category and my first match I won on points, she jumped guard but I managed to pass. One thing I tried to do for this competition was not to rush anything, I decided it was better to control the position and work from there than to rush to get a submission and get caught. So I learnt patience from this competition.

The final fight was for the gold or silver and the girl I faced wad very good. She controlled the match and I was tired after having fought 4 times already and couldn't really get anything going and I ended up getting caught in a choke. I did find that I learnt more from the losses than the wins though, so losing is an important step on the road to success.

So I came away with a silver and bronze, my first medals from a competition and it has spurred me on to want to compete again.

Beth

My Profile Series

As I am blessed to be around such amazing female fighters I have decided I am going to write a profile about each of them. Not giving away too much body stats unless they give it to me as they are fighters and I don't want to risk anyone googling them. (Very serious stuff)


Hope you enjoy them

Kerry 

xoxo

Best Class for a while?

So last night I went to my class and I did the beginners class which was chokes using the Gi which was always a joyful occasion because I've been wanting to learn these because I was caught out all the time and I hadn't done them before, so after doing them a few times this week they are slightly plastered in my head and I shall be attempting to use them during sparring.

During the advance class is when the fun started.

So we done a sequence which started from the mount position.

Using yourself in mount, coming up onto one leg and then using it to submit someone with a kimora. (I can't spell it)
THEN going on to doing aa GOGOPLATA. I was like what is a gogoplata and well this is a photo of me doing one on Karl.
Afterwards we sparred and Jay said to me I need to submit some blue belts, I was like no, he was like yes so I literally went full speed ahead and I rolled like I had never done this before.

As I was the only girl in the class, it was difficult because some the men don't enjoy rolling with girls... or me! Not sure but most of the time they don't want to hurt us or don't think they can roll properly with strength. IF WE DIDNT LIKE IT WE WOULDN'T BE DOING THIS!!!

But I surprised a few of the guys and had a great time rolling with them, then Jay called me to have a roll and I have never been so nervous. EVER. Maybe if I rolled with Andy I will be the same... And James as they are three of the best men in the BJJ world I think... I was just in shock! But very honoured. 

So my roll with Jay I though hard about what to do and how to hold my positions and thought of transitions and my escapes and submissions and after the roll I was waiting for my Do's and Don'ts but to my surprise he was really happy with me! He said I did things that not even some higher grades do and I need to uncap myself and just do what I know I can do and to be told that by Jay Butler was just a dream, I had to hug him I could of cried! 

So its my last class now till after my holiday and I am going to do my best to bring the same person out who was out last night!!

Thanks

Kerry xoxo

I basically had my shin over his throat and lifted his head into my shin and choked him. It was amazing and I am so glad I learnt this move even if it is an MMA move it was very interesting and I thought the way my body is positioned is a total throw off because it just doesn't look normal!

The Womens class at Andy Roberts BJJ Is ONE YEAR OLD!!!

Andy Roberts BJJ Womens classes have been running for OVER a year by the time I am writing this!

Want to say a massive congratulations to Ceris for making it so SUCCESSFUL!
I wasn't apart of the classes when they began as I started in January 2014 but I wouldn't have it any other way now it's a Saturday morning STAPLE! A Must as I get to spend time with the most amazing women ever!!




So if there are any ladies around the area or who can travel and want to start BJJ then seriously come and check out the Womens class Saturdays 10 - 11 am (unless stated otherwise)

Thanks

Kerry xoxo 

Im Working on IT!

Hey Boys and Girls!


So the other day I was having a private and I was told that my technique was 'Solid' but my timing was off, so for the forceable future I am going to be working hard on just that! 

Its hard for me, this is something i have never done before and I wish it came more naturally than it does with other people. I love doing BJJ and I won't stop for anything (unless I had a MASSIVE REASON) but thats not happening now and I told myself I would live in the NOW not the 'What if' or 'why didn't I do that' I never go with what I know for reasons beyond my mind, I always think DO IT but then I think, Is that right, but then even if its not right at least I can say I gave it a go and its not the end of the world, I now know for next time that didn't work!


So on Saturday I worked on some pointers I was given which was to make myself less predictable. The only problem was I OVER THOUGHT pretty much everything. King of the Hill wasn't too bad because it was starting from Guard, I didn't pass but I gave it a hell of a go and was told that I had good posture and I worked hard. My only other problems I have are when I think my back becomes vulnerable and it got taken so many times and while I'm thinking of the escapes, because i haven't done much on them it takes me a while which is my downfall and I over think and BOOM... I get choked. 

Ive got my next class today and then one tomorrow but thats it for OVER a week as I am off on my HOLIBOBS!!! Turkey! So excited as I haven't been before. 

So on that note I am going to X & O and I will let you know how i get on with my new sense of BJJ and my DO IT attitude!

Kerry xoxo

MusclePharm Protein Shakes

HI EVERYONE!

So today I am going to be talking about MusclePharm! 

I aboslutley adore MusclePharm Protein Powder, I am currently using the Mint Chocolate Chip powder which tastes exactly like a mint chocolate chip milkshake and it doesn't really have the protein after taste which a lot of shakes have! 

It lasts ages also, Ive been using this since July and I am roughly half way through and I have one scoop with roughly 300ml of semi-skimmed milk (Naughty) shake it up and drink it straight after a training session! 

I apologise for the photos but these were as good as they came seeing as you can't really selfie a tub of powder... its quiet difficult!

I have also used the MusclePharm 'Cookies n Cream' which was a DREAM! It really takes away your sweetie cravings and just tastes gorgeous!

Thanks for reading

Kerry xoxo

I'M BACK!

Hey!

So I have been ultimately rubbish when it comes to blogging seeing as its been way over a month, to be perfectly honest I have had anything to blog about!
I had six weeks off of pure bliss and then back to work and something exciting is happening (hopefully in the new year) which will change my life!

So just an update, Ive been a super busy panda training my big...little butt off down at ARBJJ and been working super hard as well!

I have a few blogs in mind including:

1. What's going on in my BJJ life!
2. Favourites - Skin and Hair
3. Favourites - Food and Drink
4. Favourites - Kerry's general loves and dislikes
5. Excersises to try for different areas of YOUR body
6. Academy video - IF Andy is happy with me doing one. 

So I have a lot planned and I hope everyone who read this enjoys it as I am excited to get myself into it! 

Thanks

Kerry xoxo

Update.

So, I haven't done much in the ways of blogging for a good month or so but I have been so busy with life and training the times flown by!

I have been off work for 4 weeks now, 2 more to go with my 6 week break and I have trained so much I am going to miss it when I head back into work!

I have been doing lots of BJJ, Muay Thai and started doing Bootcamp!

I will post about Bootcamp and Muay Thai run by Fighter Helen 'Hellraiser' Harper & my BJJ classes over the next week or so.


So short and sweet...
Will get back into blogging.

Thanks xox

Roger Gracie Seminar

So yesterday at Andy Roberts BJJ academy, we had a special seminar with the one and only Roger Gracie!
It was set up for the Army and Navy and then open for a few ARBJJ students and I am so HAPPY I went!

I wish I took more photos but I won't lie I was more interested in learning what Roger had to offer.

We did a few drills on take downs and side control along with triangles, Kimuras, Arm bar (which was so awesome I will be trying it out)

It was also quiet exceptional that there were 3 black belts under one roof; Roger, Andy and Nick who runs Mill Hill BJJ Academy.
Nick is a one degree black belt, he was such a lovely guy who has so much technique and understanding and has spent time with myself and Beth helping us out and using me as a body (which I haven't had done before by a blackbelt) There is a HUGE difference in how someone at a lower level teaches, seriously, he was helping us out with the Kimura and I tapped before he even put it on but because he had my arm so close and tight it was already coming on.... WAS AWESOME!
I didn't really understand how much of an honour it was yesterday to roll with someone of Nicks accomplishments. WOW. I should of grabbed a photo!


Well I already can't wait for the next seminar! I was in two minds about it but its really helped me out in my knowledge and what more can I say... I was taught by the GREAT Roger Gracie.

Thanks

Kerry xox

My 1st Gi review

I was so excited when I got home today to find the postman had come and bought me my new Gi!

I was sent home ill today, but I couldn't not put this Gi on and it cheered me up a great deal as I won't be training a lot this week which upsets me greatly, being ill is not what I needed this week...  I have 3 days left of work then 6 weeks off for summer, but sometimes it just cannot be helped.




















Anyway, My new Gi is the Black Phoenix Gi by Tatami Fight
wear.

The Gi is black with purple stitching and grey lining.

Purple Phoenix on the right shoulder

Tatami Logo on the Left shoulder

Doesn't look to bad with a belt on it. 

I can't wait for training so I can try this properly! 

Sorry its not a great review. Ill do one when I have tried it at training and I wont be looking so poorly.

Kerry xox

Grading Day & Celebrations 12/07/14

My white belt! 

So yesterday was Summer Grading Day at Andy Roberts Academy and it was a fabulous occasion!
Near enough the whole academy showed up in order to see what they would get...Could it be more stripes or a brand new shiny belt!

L-R - Helen - Blue belt, Myself 3 stripe white, Beth 2 stripe white and Becks 3 stripe white

Doing this together!

My Boyfriend and I. HE GOT IS PURPLE BELT!!! 

Happy as Larry!

After grading we had a team BBQ and here are the snaps from there! It was so much fun... And it got a bit messy!

Me and Becks

Helen, Myself and Carla

Mr ARBJJ

Beth, myself and the photobomber

He's the man!

SELFIE!

ARBJJ Girls. MISSING A FEW OF THE GIRLS
(L-R) Helen, Kay, Becks, Beth, Nat, Myself, Carla

Myself and Carla

Kay and Myself

Nat and Myself

Me and ROBBLY BOBBLY and a very long arm!

Me and Dush, Showing him the trout pout! Like a pro!

Happy Training buddies!

Myself, Rob and Dush. 

TEQUILA BREAK....Oh GOD!

Helen *Steve*

Helen *Alan*

Team Mates

Family

ARBJJ FOR LIFE!!!


Thanks for reading guys!

Kerry xox