ACL Curse Strikes Again: GSP Part Deux

Well, this pretty much confirms the ACL as the Achilles heel of MMA and professional combat sports competition: GSP will now have his other ACL done. I've read the occurrence rate of ACL injury increases due to imbalances strength and/or otherwise once you've had an ACL reconstructed. Having been down this past myself, my heart goes out to just about anyone who's had this procedure. It's not the pain or the discomfort so much or the keeping your leg straight for what feels like forever, then gingerly slowly getting range of motion back that sucks....it's simply the sheer time needed for the tissue to heal and reattach itself with that always present little voice in the back of your head that it could simply happen again.

Stuart Cooper: Jiu-Jitsu - A Way of Life

On a serious note, I don't say much about my personal life on here, but I've undergone some serious changes in my personal life over the past year or so. Jiu-Jitsu was a big part of my being coachable enough to get the help I needed to change and to leave behind my old life.

When I didn't value other things, I valued Jiu-Jitsu enough to know and acknowledge that other things were negatively impacting and conflicting with what I believed to be my passion which was being on the mat and by extension becoming a better person.
You can't just try to be great at Jiu-Jitsu and be a *&^%*^ person off the mats. It's not congruent.



Jiu-Jitsu was a big part of that and if I hadn't had the truth I've found there and on the mat, I don't know that I would be in the place I am right now.

I don't know what my life would be like if I wasn't putting on a gi every time I got the chance. For that, I will always be thankful.

Upcoming Tournament Schedule: NC State Championships 04/05, IBJJF New York Open 04/12

Saturday, I'll be working with the always awesome and professional folks at US Grappling. I'll be referee interning, table working, helping set up, and competing at purple belt featherweight for the NC State Championships. They run an excellent tournament that is a blast to do and by far the best run tournament/organization I've been to. Even their submission only events run in a timely fashion.

Assuming registration is still open tomorrow and not capped, I'll also be registering for my first purple belt tournament at the IBJJF level for the New York Open next weekend.

Big kid stuff, I know.
December I moved up to purple belt and I know this New York Open will be a big step up in competition, but life is short and there's no time like the present. If you wait until you feel like you're ready, you'll never pull the trigger.

Documentary - Christian Graugart: BJJ Globetrotter

BJJ Hacks: Jackson Sousa Part II