"< start rant >"

The importance of training outside of class. Here is a topic that most people don't think about perhaps because they don't need to-- its always available. For some, the idea of having a mat space to work with a training partner on a move, a position, a submission, whatever. On your own time. At your own pace. With the ability to ask questions, experiment and drill is non-existent. GB Encino is no longer my gym due to Romulo leaving. I've been able to train elsewhere with him and although not as strict as the Encino gym, I don't have the freedom to train on any schedule other than what has been created for us. There was open mat, sure but it was rolling that was usually with assigned partners and there wasn't any real time for what I have experienced at other places. I believe the importance of training at your own pace sometimes is passed on so many times. When in school, say a math class, you learn the lesson for the day and you go home and do your homework. Jiu jitsu is full of lessons and techniques to memorize but you can't really do it on your own. You need two to tango, I mean roll. And so you go home and unless you have mats and a roommate who trains as well, you can't go over what you learned. Yes there is live rolling, open mat, and more classes to get that technique real sunk into your brain but how about some mat space and a training partner to drill it, try it with different resistance levels and really adding it into your game? I know I'm not the only one who likes to stop mid-roll and say "what the hell do I do here" or "did that sweep really get you" or "how deep was that choke?" so in order to stop annoying those who want to use sparring time for well, sparring, I'd enjoy a little time with someone to do what I want. We're not all the same, we don't all learn the same, we don't all roll the same, train the same, adapt the same or think the same. /end rant.

P.S. I had my birthday and my mom and sister both love baking so they made me a homemade jiu jitsu ice cream birthday cake. I thought I'd share!