The power of fatigue

I remember having lunch with my first BJJ instructor Orlando Waugh (2nd degree black-belt) at a local Chili's about a year ago. We were talking about the importance of physical fitness and its relationship to my level of performance on the mat. The bottom line was that my physical fitness level would not support the performance level I was hoping for at the time. I'll never forget what he told me - "fatigue makes cowards of all men." Wow! What a revelation. A simple concept yet not so simple. I've always felt relatively mobile and sensitive on the mat but 4, 5, 10 minutes into a roll, my ability to perform escapes under a higher ranked student would go out the window. Being less skilled than the guy on top of you also adds to the helpless, exhausting and fearful feeling [fear is another post all together]

This will change over the next few months. To support my 2009 goals, I'm purchasing a treadmill to add some cardio to my training. In addition to rolling 3 times per week, I'll run and work basic lifts to help me survive a little longer while rolling with guys like my current instructor Chris Story. 

Mat Log - No mat time this week. Still in California visiting my kids. Planning.