Training
Yesterday was an eventful day. The first half of the day I stuck to my usual schedule of eliminating the things on my to-do list–studies, writing, and any logistics for my travels. At around midday, Rhadi and I went over to American Top Team to get in my hard workout for the day before I could go see my sister down in Miami.
I had a good workout blowing through my components. When it was time to do my sprints, I started out on par with the times I had produced earlier in the week. The entire day I felt very tired and my legs were fatigued from the tough sessions on the previous days. By my second sprint I was warm, but felt like my legs didn’t have much left.
One of the better books I have read this year is called “Ultramarathon Man” by Dan Karnazes. It is a must read for every athlete. Remembering Karnazes’ wisdom, I knew I had something left in the tank, but I just had to push. I came off the line hard and started at a pace faster than my previous sprints. I was able to keep that pace and finish up with a 55 second 300m.
Lunch With Marcelinho
It just happened that while I was finishing up my workout, so were the all of the MMA fighters. I was in accord with my plan to get down to Miami at a reasonable time and miss rush hour traffic when Rhadi created the opportunity for Little Rufus, him and myself to sit and have lunch with the best pound for pound submission wrestler in the world, and the newest member of American Top Team, Marcelo Garcia.
For those of you who do not know who Marcelo Garcia is, please visit YouTube and take a look at some of his matches. At an average size of 155-170lbs, he has tapped the best BJJ practitioners in the world in every weight division. This was an opportunity I could not pass up. Before we left for lunch, I got to step on the mat and show Mr. Garcia some of my pickups. Good times.
Marcelo Garcia is one of the nicer men on the planet. Extremely jovial, patient and unassuming, he told us some of his stories, goals, downfalls, and tactics. Again, this is one of the more pleasant people you can possibly meet.
While Marcelo was living in NYC, I paid a visit to his BJJ club Alliance in order to get a roll in with him. Unfortunately that night he was doing a seminar and could not make it to practice. I still have not had the chance to roll with Marcelo, but now that he is training in ATT, it will not be long.
Late Night Warrior
This blew my schedule for the day, which left me sitting in Miami rush hour traffic, but it was a fair trade off. I was able to spend a few hours with my sister, meet some of her new friends in school, and have some good conversations. It got late very quickly. I did not get back to the Boca Raton area until 3 am, only to realize I had not done my run for the day.
I could not get in touch with Rhadi to go back to the house. Luckily, he had advised me to bring my running gear with me. So I parked his car, geared up, and hit the road. (Another flashback of “Ultramarathon Man”).
The run was tough after such a long day, but I was able to keep my pace and finish it out. At that point Rhadi had called and had been wide awake working the entire time. I started back to his house.
I got a few hours of sleep in before it was time to head to the airport to catch the flight which I am now writing this post on. It doesn’t stop.
Days like this add fuel to the fire in your training. I see some of the greatest improvements of my entire career happening now, when it matters most. When things are moving the way they are I get emotional, and feel as though that medal is already around my neck.
Taken from the writings of Taraje Williams-Murray at taraje.com
Here is an article taken from the Wakefield Observer at http://www.wickedlocal.com/wakefield/sports/x1151561458
Belgian Bronze: Rousey takes third in Judo Tournament
Tue Feb 05, 2008, 07:19 PM EST
Wakefield - World silver medalist and Wakefield resident Ronda Rousey won a bronze medal in the 70kg division on Sunday at the Belgian Ladies’ Open, a B-Level Point Judo Tournament in Arlon, Colorado, Feb. 3.
In a unique format, players had to place in the top two of a three or four-person pool in order to advance to the main draw. Unlike in most international events, a loss in the draw means that the loser only gets carried through to the repecharge if the player she loses to advances to the final.
A member of USA Judo National Team FORCE, Rousey, who turned 21 on Friday, fought Samantha Lowe (GBR) in the first round, pinning Lowe for ippon (instant win). Rousey and the 2007 Belgian Ladies’ Champion Haruka Tachimoto (JPN) fought next, tying the match at the end of the five-minute period. Due to the tournament format, the match did not go into overtime, but since Tachimoto and Rousey both beat Lowe by ippon, the two had to fight a second match to determine seeding in the main draw. This time, Tachimoto threw Rousey with an o soto gari (major outer leg throw).
In the main draw, Rousey fought 2006 Pan Am Champion Yalennis Castillo (CUB). Rousey won their last match at the 2007 Vienna World Cup, but this time Rousey went in for a sumi gaeshi (sacrifice throw), but the score was called as a yuko (quarter-point) for the Cuban. Rousey came back later in the match, but lost by a koka.
Castillo advanced to the final, pulling Rousey through to the repecharge where she threw Aya Taniguchi (JPN) with a drop o uchi gari (dropping inner leg throw) for ippon. Rousey threw 2007 European U20 Champion Linda Bolder (NED) three times to advance to the bronze medal against Gemma Gibbons (GBR). Rousey and Gibbons fought most recently at the U.S. Open in October where Rousey earned her third consecutive gold medal. Rousey dominated the match again, armbarring Gibbons to win the bronze medal.
Two years ago, Rousey became the first U.S. player ever to win the prestigious Belgian Ladies’ Open, a B-Level point tournament in Arlon. Last year, Valerie Gotay of Texas repeated the feat when she upset a former World Champion in the final.
Rousey has since moved up from 63kg to 70kg where she won a World silver medal in September. Both players were among the favorites for a medal as 21 U.S. women competed at the Belgian Ladies’ Open.
Rousey became the first U.S. player to win the Belgian Ladies Open in 2006 when she won the 63kg division. The reigning World silver medalist as a 70kg player, Rousey renewed acquaintance with some old rivals including 2006 Pan Am Champion Ylennis Castillo (CUB), who placed seventh at the World Championships, but lost her only match against Rousey when they fought at the 2007 Vienna World Cup where Rousey won her first gold medal in the new division.
Harrison adds hustle
In the 78kg division, Wakefield resident Kayla Harrison advanced to the draw, but lost in the first round to Pauline Camus (FRA).
A junior competitors, Harrison, 17, became the first U.S. player to win a U20 gold medal in Belgium when she competed in the 70kg division last year. This time around, Harrison made her 78kg debut in an attempt to match her 2007 accomplishment.
Harrison won the U20 70kg division in 2007 before moving back down to 63kg where she won the U.S. Open and placed second at the Senior Nationals. This marked the first time Harrison competed in her first event as a 78kg player fighting in both the junior and senior division.
Congratulations go out to Ronda. This is a tough tournament with lots of competitors and it is a good way for her to start the year. Ronda is still recovering from a knee injury so you can only look forward to her performances improving.
This was Kayla Harrison’s first competition at her new weight. She now has a taste of where she needs to be to compete internationally.
This is just the beginning of the European tour. The US team goes into arguably the toughest competition of the tour in Paris this weekend. It will be interesting to see where everyone finishes. This is one of the stronger female teams we have had in quite some time. I expect to see two or three top seven finishes.
