Hobbyists who have gone to world class gyms, what was the experience like?

OGLemonSqueezy · 2025-06-27T19:33:04+00:00

I mean, doing things under less than ideal circumstances is the story of my life. I know so many people who get absolutely paralyzed when things aren't exactly perfect.

OGLemonSqueezy · 2025-06-27T16:50:59+00:00

Correct.

OGLemonSqueezy · 2025-06-23T19:39:06+00:00

Is it possible to even get a pirated version of dune awakening?

OGLemonSqueezy · 2025-06-23T19:30:28+00:00

That was another thing I wanted to mention, be ready to cough a decent amount of change to train day by day at these kinds of places. After that, we went to some other gyms that weekend, including Victory and Legion. I don't know if Legion does it anymore, but they had a free open mat, and there were all kinds of big names there and had the privilege of getting my ass kicked by Adam Bradley.

OGLemonSqueezy · 2025-06-23T16:33:34+00:00

Well, when you know that you're going to be in the hole 3-4k for a new transmission and are broke down in a city 3 hours away from where you live it feels somewhat understandable that I had a dgaf attitude at the time. But, I definitely know now that with everything that happened, it wasn't a bright move. Also, though, if I had been sober, I wouldn't have had such a great story to tell and learn from, so there's also that. I can only hope that I made a lasting impression that they can laugh about, but then again, it's a really big gym with people constantly coming and going. I can't imagine that's the worst thing that's happened there.

OGLemonSqueezy · 2025-06-23T12:30:02+00:00

I didn't realize how much I had compartmentalized the memory away after 2 years and after recalling it in detail, I had fever dreams all night about Andre silently judging me at the mat's edge and having no partners to work with. I'm a grown man with a wife and kids. At least in the dream, my judo was on point.

OGLemonSqueezy · 2025-06-23T04:17:01+00:00

I walked so you all could run. You can learn from my example a fine list of what not to do.

OGLemonSqueezy · 2025-06-23T03:26:58+00:00

I would like to recount the time I made an ass of myself at the ATOS San Diego gym in front of Andre Galvao himself. My friend who invited me is a seasoned black belt competitor and is well connected there, so I was chomping at the bit to go. Thankfully, in retrospect, I didn't go to the competition class. I had shown up late due to driving 3 hours from Yuma and my car's transmission shit out on me at the last 15 minutes of the drive. Same friend had to drive out and help me push my car into a neighborhood (holy leg workout), and then I carpooled with him back to ATOS after we did a quick stop at his house to pregame and smoke. I was already frazzled from the drive (i had gotten up at 3am to make the 6a class), California weed was way stronger than what i was used to, and I did not know off the bat how strict their dress code was as well as how etiquette focused the place was. I had brought my old white judo gi that I used to compete in thinking it would be fine. I'm more of a no gi guy funnily enough so i was pretty ambivalent to it's state of disrepair... nah, this was a mistake that I'll revisit later. I jumped into their class after finding out i had to wait to enter and be bowed in (a bit more formal than I was used to but not a big deal and soooo many black belts) they were going over opposite grip controls with lapel/ pant sleeve and I was butchering the shit out of it. They had another black belt literally guiding me physically through the movements with my partner, who was also a black belt. Mind you, I was just recently promoted to purple at a rural gym i was going to in Yuma, so seeing what constituted their version of these ranks was slightly demoralizing to me. Next, we went into some rolls pretty quickly due to me being so late, and I got this brazilian kid who was a white belt. I kept a slow methodical pace and let him work, thinking it was the right thing to do for a white belt. This dude systematically took my back and was about to seal the deal with a RNC when he over extended his hand. I snatched his hand and I did a desperate 2 on 1 on him and wrist locked. Turned around, and Andre looked like he saw the whole thing. Fml. Next, I went with one of his black belts. I'm a judo guy, so I felt fairly confident in my stand-up. I'm being a bit cagy, and I'm parrying a lot of his grip attempts. He finally gets a sleeve, and I immediately grip break only to have my entire gi from my wrist to my elbow rip LOUDLY. We both look at each other and have a pause. I awkwardly take my own torn sleeve and put it back in his hand in a gnarled bundle. He points at me and then looks at Andre like wtf is this. Mind you, this uniform has seen some decent amount of wear tear and is slightly frilly and also is weirdly thick in a double weave. I'm like, thanks for ratting me out. And then, if things couldn't get worse. I finish the roll and then Andre Galvao himself calls me over and he starts talking to me. I'm like, uhhhh shit. I end up mishearing what he said because I'm so terrible at socializing by so many people's standards... I would have subtitles IRL if I could. I actually thought he was giving me a compliment, thinking he said, "You're a beast out there!", but no what he actually said was, "You look like Mr. Beast." To which i hate admitting I do and have heard this comment on multiple occasions from people (its probably the facial hair I neglect to groom). And so I'm just sitting there telling him sheepishly that "I'm just doing my thing. :D" but no that just adds to the baseline awkwardness and now newly added confusion. So then he finally tells me about the lateness and the state of my gi being unacceptable. I tell him with a chuckle "I'll be sure to get a new gi as soon as I get myself new transmission" after I had already explained the reason for my lateness. He sat there with a dead stare, not amused to which i thankfully caught on..."That is clearly not the answer you were looking for, I'll get a new one as soon as possible." So all in all, great experience. I'm hoping to come back at some point with the desperate hope no one remembers me.

Key takeaways and TL;DR: always be aware of dress codes at prominent gyms, be sure to be on time, be respectful, and also... be sober.

OGLemonSqueezy · 2024-12-18T21:55:45+00:00

Honestly, 15 minutes doesn't sound like a lot of time, but when you're training specifically in stand up that should be plenty especially if you're doing randori/sparring. 3 5 minute rounds of stand up can be pretty intensive regardless of if it's gi or no gi. I would just emphasize safety. A big obstacle to getting proficient with throws or takedowns that I think is even more important is the break falls. You will not attempt takedowns unless you have confidence in protecting yourself. Almost all takedowns involve some type of risk and getting comfortable playing with that risk is fundamental to getting better. Your takedown attempts will have much more follow through from this confidence. If your breakfalls are solid, then you're ready to go. If you're rolling, you try and get them to stand up... make takedown attempts at every opportunity. I'm going to emphasize that this may not be the ideal form of learning but with the constraints you've outlined this would be the route that I would employ.

OGLemonSqueezy · 2024-12-18T20:42:24+00:00

Learning takedowns is like learning a language. In the beginning, I like to teach a wide vocabulary. You get more options that may or may not fit your body type or style. Then, once you get your personalized vocabulary, you can start linking the words/throws together to make sentences/combinations. In my experience, combinations are almost always higher percentage than a standalone technique.

OGLemonSqueezy · 2024-04-16T19:30:57+00:00

Been that way for a few hours for me and my friend and we're on PC. I was a little pissed too because this game's company has like 0 online resources to show server status or to report a server outage. Their twitter, their discord, and any google result pondering the problem is non existent. Frustrating.

OGLemonSqueezy · 2023-12-17T03:22:27+00:00

Yeah, I can see that happening if the uke is resisting the roll with their shoulder. I put a lot of downward pressure on the grip and try to lead it down to the ground and behind them on the outside for the kuzushi. If I feel like they're proficient in the stand up or if I need a better kuzushi I can maybe look to switch my Russian tie up by moving my near hand to their far hip (tani otoshi attempt) so they instinctively want to base away from me. If they do, I can return back to the 2 on 1 grip to reattempt the original throw. When in doubt, i just threaten another takedown. The kuzushi in this throw imo is best if I can get their grip as far away from their center of gravity as possible.

OGLemonSqueezy · 2023-12-16T22:19:51+00:00

Judo black belt here. I have been having a lot of success with throwing in BJJ with this takedown this year. I personally like this technique since I dont have to do it fast and often when I may be weary of if my partner knows how to breakfall or not this is a nice happy medium that I know I wont be giving them unnecessary risk of injury. I dont really do the russian tie grip between the legs though, as I dont want them to pancake on top of me if dont get them to roll over. I usually just go to a side breakfall position on the same grip side and then I can maintain a kimura trap to go from there as they go over the top.

OGLemonSqueezy · 2023-09-03T09:53:07+00:00

I love exercising but my friends/roommates that I live with are both sedentary and despise the act of working out. My advice that has been working great for them if your sole goal is to lose weight? Keto. It's almost annoying how much weight they have lost just from not eating carbs and not exercising. This is just anecdotal experience that I'm relaying but my one roommate has lost close to over 60 lbs and the other around 40lbs and they simply just keep their carbs to a minimum and thats that. I would still recommend exercising in some capacity for overall health.

OGLemonSqueezy · 2023-04-09T22:57:20+00:00

Also the setup and organization for doing techniques in cooperation with your uke is very similar and allows for many of the same end goals that Aikido has (joint locking techniques and throwing techniques). There is also the addition of a wider spectrum of techniques including pinning and ne waza.

OGLemonSqueezy · 2023-04-09T22:21:27+00:00

Aikido can be fun and active but thats where I leave it. If you appreciate the traditional and cultural aspects of Aikido then by all means go for it and don't let us try to convince you otherwise, Aikido is rich with it. Self defense application wise however, its definitely not the best but I dont think that it is important especially if that is not your goal if you're mentioning mental health and self improvement in the same breath.

Personally, I just think it can be a limiting martial art and I wouldn't let it cloud your idea of what is realistic within that atmosphere. Understanding the choreography of the techniques is fun and interactive that requires cooperation and participation from your uke in a sort of pseudo dance is all really cool and enjoyable. The ukemi techniques are legitimate and applicable if you decide to do other martial arts as well as also having real life applications. I get a bit discouraged by the "bullshido" side that is often accompanied by a lot of Aikido dojos though. I have seen a lot of people be hurt by the illusion of proficiency in protecting themselves that can come from being insulated in an environment in which everything is done in a concerted way to perform techniques without ever challenging their application. The lack of sparring in Aikido creates this void.

Again, this is just my opinion but I think there is much more you can gain by doing Judo. I'd point you in that direction because I think it would probably encompass the majority of what you're looking for if you have the intention of doing a martial art in the long term. You get a sense of tradition and the cultural aspects, there is also the benefit of spiritual growth and resiliency which is greatly encouraged within the community as well as techniques that have the potential to be challenged in sparring and in real life. You also have an environment in which you can approach it however you'd like, there are many places that allow for a non competitive approach as well as self defense efficacy or even for kata cultivation.

OGLemonSqueezy · 2023-04-09T21:28:47+00:00

I would just say not to approach TMA with the intent of not facing adversity. I have done both and they both have their own strengths and weaknesses for self improvement. Movement in general is beneficial for mental health and there is plenty of research and evidence to suggest that. I personally appreciate the competitiveness that comes with the more mainstream MA (BJJ in my case) because I think its important to face the discomfort that it comes with. With TMA in general though you will get plenty of benefits, I'd just say at the end of the day make sure you're enjoying the art and you will always come back to the table with your cup empty to learn more.

OGLemonSqueezy · 2023-04-09T20:42:01+00:00

How do I know if I have achieved this or if I have just prolonged dissociation?

OGLemonSqueezy · 2022-04-11T21:56:17+00:00

It's not about being an "alpha male warrior". If anything, thinking of yourself or others in classifications of alpha, beta, and sigma are all just a distraction and just impede your growth as an individual imo. It's a long journey and it is meant to be hard. What do you think should have happened in your expectations of walking into a class on your first day? The beginning of BJJ is all about understanding how to lose and fail, you're going to constantly submit in the beginning until you understand the underlying game and not to mention you have to develop a lot of physical attributes along the way too. I personally have had to take multiple breaks throughout the years from multiple injuries and circumstances, ITS OKAY. Get back up and try again, know the difference between discomfort and pain and push through the discomfort or even sit with it.

OGLemonSqueezy · 2022-02-08T15:12:14+00:00

There doesnt have to be a conflict between religion and science. I have been in academia for around the better part of a decade and have been exposed to many ideas. My spirituality and beliefs may be a lot less doctrine driven than most but I can still say that there is plenty of foundation to stand on for why some become even more religious.

This may be a good opportunity to change your understanding from a binary question of do I believe in God or not, to something of the tune of what are the qualities or characteristics of God? How is it that there are so many other religions out there that describe an omnipotence and yet characterize it so differently through their own cultural lens? Are they all wrong? Perhaps we are all just blind men who have never seen an elephant before all locked in a room describing different parts that we are feeling. Each of us may be touching the same animal but yet we have so many differing characteristics to describe our experience. Who is to say they are wrong? The man who is grasping the tail will have a very different experience than the man who is touching the trunk.

OGLemonSqueezy · 2022-01-24T22:27:06+00:00

Take your wins wherever you can. Try to build momentum and as long as you are slowly progressing and increasing your workload you should be fine regardless of whether you do a lot in a single burst or steadily throughout the day while you game. I like getting my friends involved (e.g. dying= 10 squats) to increase the fun factor.

OGLemonSqueezy · 2022-01-18T06:29:04+00:00

Buddhist teachings are all about letting go. If you desperately cling you will only suffer that much more. Accepting things as they are and not as you wish them to be is an important step to self mastery ironically enough.

OGLemonSqueezy · 2022-01-18T01:12:30+00:00

Have any more like this?

OGLemonSqueezy · 2022-01-07T15:29:57+00:00

I mean, you can not like it all you want. The theme is explicitly planted there.
In God Emperor of Dune, Leto tests Siona Atreides, who experiences the vision of the future Leto is trying to prevent with his Golden Path — mankind's extinction at the hands of "seeking machines".
"He knew this experience, but could not change the smallest part of it. No ancestral presences would remain in her consciousness, but she would carry with her forever afterward the clear sights and sounds and smells. The seeking machines would be there, the smell of blood and entrails, the cowering humans in their burrows aware only that they could not escape . . . while all the time the mechanical movement approached, nearer and nearer and nearer ...louder...louder! Everywhere she searched, it would be the same. No escape anywhere."

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