Hello from the Runkles

Just posting to say hi and give the link to our blog (Click on the title of this posting and it will take you to our website). I think this counts as my post.

BJJ Tourny

A few weeks ago, on Dec 1st, I had another BJJ tournament. This one took place right in Portland so lots of family and friends could come to watch. My friend Lee even came up from Mass to watch my matches.

Team Mofut -My instructor Andy, Michelle and myself

Overall I did very well and was happy with myself. In my weight class for Gi there were only 2 of us so we only got to fight one match, and Jill (my opponent) won. I was very frustrated after the fight cause the only points she got were for taking me down once.

Warming up with Michelle

In BJJ you get points for taking someone down to the ground and you get various points from 2-5 for different body positions. For example, if you are holding someone from the side (side control) it's 2 points; if you get on top of them and are sitting on their belly (mount) it's 5 points. You can also get advantage points which are just reminders for the ref that you were being more aggressive trying to get points or a submission. (When you manipulate the person's body so that they are in such pain that they must "tap" or give up-ending the fight.) Advantage points only matter in the event of a tie. Then the ref looks at the advantage points and whomever has more is declared the winner.

Going for Jill's back (4 points)

My next 2 matches were also Gi matches but they were in the Absolute division. The Absolute division is where weight class and belt/rank don't matter. I was fighting people bigger and better than me. Also the matches in the absolute division are 10 minutes instead of the standard 5 minutes. I won my first match by a submission. I choked the girl using my legs in a position called a triangle. My second match was against Liz- the girl that I had lost to in the previous tournament. It was a very good match and I was happy with my fight, but she won by submission. She got me in a Kamora, which is a type of joint lock on my arm.

This video is of the end of my first Absolute Gi match when I triangled the girl.

Lee and I after my Absolute Gi fights
Liz and I- 1st and 2nd in Woman's Absolute Gi division

My next matches were immediately after my 2 ten minute matches and they were No-Gi. First I went against Heather, whom I beat in the last tournament. Our match went the full 5 minutes and I won based on points. My next match was against Jill- the girl who beat me in our Gi division. Our fight went the full 5 minutes again; with me on her back attempting to choke her for most of the match. I was winning 2-4 when in the final seconds she got another take down on me giving her 2 more points so we were tied at the end of the match. But since I had gotten advantage points for all the attempted chokes, I won the match and took first place in our division for No-Gi. I was completely EXHAUSTED by the end of my last match because I fought 4 matches in 30 minutes and 2 of the matches were 10 minutes each!!!

Heather, 3rd, Jill 2nd, and Me, 1st

My instructor, Andy, my roommate, Randy, and another of Andy's students, Michelle also fought in the tournament. Andy only had one match which he won due to a submission- though it didn't really matter because he was winning 22-0!!!! Randy had 4 Gi matches and won his first 2 by arm bar. The first fight was 15 seconds and the second was 25!!!! I think they were the fastest fights of the day!!! This was Michelle's first tournament, and she has only been training for a few months, but she had an excellent and entertaining fight against Jill.

My instructor, Andy, going for a choke.

Christmas List

Seth has proved himself to be a trendsetter this year posting his Christmas list on the family blog, and he's asked us to do the same.

Both Greg and I would appreciate anything around the theme of hiking. I'm providing a couple of ideas here, but you can also go the gift card route if you'd like.

Wool Cresta Hiking Socks (midwieght) TA48328 1 pr = $13.50; 2 pr = $21.50
Greg wears size 8 1/2 shoe; Meg is size 6

Leki Ultralite Treking Poles TA 50343 $109

Power Dry Underwear (midweight)
Men's: Zip-Ts: TA51252 size XL $36 Storm Blue or Grey are preferred
Pants: TA51256 size XL $29.50

Women's: Zip-Ts: TA51253 Size L $36 Nautral or Blue for the top
Pants: TA51257 Size L $29.50 Black or Natural for bottom

Timberledge Hiking Shirts
Men's: Long Sleeve: TA54956 XL $39
Shirt Sleeve: TA55716 XL $29
Women's: Long Sleeve: TA54858 L $39
Shirt Sleeve: TA55716 L $29

Timberledge Hiking Shorts and Pants - XL for Greg; L for Meg; Ash or any dark color
Men's: TA53757, 53756, 54937
Women's: TA53768, 53767

Thanks! We can't wait to see you all very, very soon!