Gassed n Smashed

In training tonight I got pretty gassed. When class ended it was time for open mat, aka sparring time. I figured I would do one round of sparring then head home. So after my second round of sparring I was simply exhausted. I sat down to catch my breath and was ready to go home. And then Professor Lorenzo called me out to spar with him. I tried to say no, but really, you can't tell a black belt no. So there I went for a third round of sparring expecting to get smashed and submitted like a long-limbed rag-doll. But it didn't quite go that way...

Professor could tell I was reluctant to spar. He made some comment about being tired and I made some comment about how that doesn't matter because of the color of his belt. With a smile, he offered to trade belts. He told me how belt color really doesn't matter and then went on and told me about how when he was a blue belt he was able to control one of his Professors. And I'm thinking, “That's great, and that's definitely not gonna to happen here.”

Then he said something I never heard a higher level belt say to me. He said, “It's all good. I'm a higher belt so try everything you can imagine or have ever wanted to try.”

Hearing that changed my whole mindset. I was no longer facing an inevitable defeat (and likely a healthy dose of pain). It turned into fun. Hey, it's training, we're all just trying to get better so have a good time with it.

Rolling with Professor Lorenzo was certainly a lesson. He let me try a few things but he was in control the whole time. At one point he was able to pin my arms by using his body weight alone. Yes, that means he pinned my arms without using his hands. But he motivated me to keep moving and work to get out no matter how exhausted I was. “Keep moving, keep moving” he would urge in the moments I would stop to take a breath. So every time he smashed me I squirmed and bridged in hopes of getting to a better spot.

It didn't work. Every time I felt I was making progress he effortlessly responded to my movements and reestablished total control in a new position. He got side-control on my left, then on my right, then full mount, then back to side-control. It was amazing to watch and feel how he maneuvered from one position to another.

At the end, I was smashed, gassed, utterly defeated, and I felt awesome. It was one of the rare sparring sessions when I feel great about losing. Probably because I learned from it. In that way, it doesn't even feel like I lost. After all, it's training. I had fun and I'm better for it. Kind of sounds like a win win...kinda. Now I'm going to drink some water, go to sleep, and hope to be able to walk in the morning.