This week brought the closing out of March and almost the 4th month of being here in Rio. As always the training was great and the week brought lots of fun new experiences. After spending the day on the beach thinking about the past week, I am again reminded of how blessed I am to be down here with Nicole living out our dreams.
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| Some of the guys after boxing training. |
On Monday morning we started off with wrestling. We worked takedowns off defending leg kicks from various ranges and set ups. One guy would throw a combo ending in a leg kick and the other guy would step in to close the distance and work to the takedown. We then worked re-shot, first stopping our opponents attack and then countering with our own attack. During live wrestling I felt good but I realized where I need to work. My counter offense is good but I need to work on my initial attacks and chain wrestling off of my offense.
Tuesday morning was boxing. After warming up and shadow boxing, we did various boxing style foot work drills to help us flow and create angles with our attacks. I then hit mitts with Jean Pierre, who stresses quickly stepping in, firing off your shots, getting out, and changing angles. While there is a bit of a language barrier I can understand the concepts and tips he is trying to give (it just might take him repeating a time or two). In the afternoon was luta livre training. The techniques were great as always but it was the rolling that really stands out in my mind. It was intense and fast paced, and I felt great. I was constantly on the offensive and working hard to scramble. This isn’t to say I didn’t get my ass handed to me by the Nogueira’s. It is a truly humbling feeling rolling hard and great (I really feel like I made a jump in my game) but still get it handed to you repeatedly. It can be frustrating, but I can tell I am making improvements. Instead of reacting I am forcing guys to react to me and building my game. After training I went down for the beach and took a nice long run. I am not the biggest fan of running but there is something about being able to run along the ocean, the sand under your feet, the waves crashing in right along side you that is calming even if your are running.
On Wednesday was sparring. Some of the guys with fights in the next few weeks performed hard sparring rounds, while others did a more technical sparring session, throwing combos into shots with the other guys used head movement and positioning to defend. The high caliber of fighters in this training camp created some great sparring rounds, it was like watching Bellator or UFC level action right in front of you. The techniques and fighting spirit put on display were awe inspiring.
Thursday morning's wrestling training was fast paced and drill filled. Since a lot of the fighters have a basic understanding and good technique with wrestling it allows for more intense drilling and positional work. We drilled heavily on go behinds, stand ups, and res-shooting off of escapes. We then drilled various slips and counters into attacks. The live portion of class was filled with various positional sparring as well as live goes for takedowns. As I have said all these guys have been around the fight game a long time and it has made them crafty. Multiple times they would try to hit a move, that I would rarely see outside of a good wrestling room. This is what I love because not only is it making their games better but it is forcing me to improve and have more mat awareness. It feels great being pushed and I honestly feel like I am making a jump in my game. Thursday night I threw on the gi and trained at ATT. It was the first time in about a month that I trained in the kimono, and while it felt weird at first, it also felt good and slow down the pace and work on solid technique. Reyzinho showed some nice chokes from side control, which I am excited to add to my game. Two of the guys who train at ATT are the Manager of 399 (Thiago) and manager/owner? of Alves (Ricardo). Both are great guys and when you go out for a drink or some food its great to see friends and training partners. Even if we are only walking buy both guys are quick to wave and shout out a hello.
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| Ricardo, Myself, Thiago, and Reyzinho in front after training in the gi. |
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| Emiliano (from Uruguay) and I after a hard Luta Livre session |
Holidays in Brazil
The adjustment of moving to (or staying for an extended period of time) can, at times, be difficult. Overall getting used to Brazil and adjusting to the lifestyle has been a fairly easy transition. The times that it can be difficult is around the holidays. I come from a very large family that celebrates any (and all) holidays, so living so far away can make a person feel a bit homesick. One thing that has proven nice is every person in the CR houses is in the same boat as you. So as the holidays come, the people in the houses come together as well. Typically this happens in the form of lighting up some coals and barbequing in the CRHQ garden. On the day of a BBQ (or the day before if the store will be closed) everyone heads to the local Mundial (large grocery) and picks up supplies. Everyone chips in, so the food itself is communal, with everyone who grills cooking their ‘specialty’. Having so many people from all over the world brings great culinary diversity into the house. This weekend there was grilled flank steak, pork tenderloin, a mint basil chicken, balsamic veggie salad, thinly sliced juicy steak, and Hawaiian pineapple burgers. Add to this tons of dipping sauces, and lots of beverages and you have yourself a great holiday feast. So while I was not home with family this past Christmas, or for this weekends Easter celebrations, I was here in Brazil celebrating with a very different ‘family’, but one that still made me feel at home.
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