- Joined
- Feb 1, 2004
- Messages
- 6,310
- Reaction score
- 2,639
I probably wouldn't even post except that it's funny I took soooo long and want to be a teeny bit of an inspiration to guys who have taken long lay offs.
I received my blue belt in 2005. Yeah, 2005. I've been lapped by a lot of guys since lol.
I took a seven year hiatus due to a number of reasons, eased back in in 2013, but didn't train as much as I would have liked.
I met my coach Gabriel Martins at the UT club in 2016, where he was coaching, and followed him as he ventured to open his own academy, Integração (IJJ) in south Austin. I'm really glad to train under such a beast. Whatever the opposite of a McDojo is, it's him. He holds very high standards. I helped him (along with a few others) to get the doors open, but neither wanted nor received a sympathy belt. The first year there I was sporadic, but have really stepped it up the past year. He promoted me and a few others this past Saturday, which was the two year anniversary of the doors opening.
I joked and was even half serious that I'd rather be a blue belt forever, as I smash most blues easily, most purples with a bit more difficulty, tap browns from time to time, and give a lot of blacks a good run. But now that I'm into the advanced belts, there is no turning back, and I appreciate the added responsibility.
It feels good.
Anyway, thanks for all the good times through the years F12.
I received my blue belt in 2005. Yeah, 2005. I've been lapped by a lot of guys since lol.
I took a seven year hiatus due to a number of reasons, eased back in in 2013, but didn't train as much as I would have liked.
I met my coach Gabriel Martins at the UT club in 2016, where he was coaching, and followed him as he ventured to open his own academy, Integração (IJJ) in south Austin. I'm really glad to train under such a beast. Whatever the opposite of a McDojo is, it's him. He holds very high standards. I helped him (along with a few others) to get the doors open, but neither wanted nor received a sympathy belt. The first year there I was sporadic, but have really stepped it up the past year. He promoted me and a few others this past Saturday, which was the two year anniversary of the doors opening.
I joked and was even half serious that I'd rather be a blue belt forever, as I smash most blues easily, most purples with a bit more difficulty, tap browns from time to time, and give a lot of blacks a good run. But now that I'm into the advanced belts, there is no turning back, and I appreciate the added responsibility.
It feels good.
Anyway, thanks for all the good times through the years F12.
