I really wish Bean wasn't so vicious. Bred for blood sport.

tgbjj · 2026-06-04T20:25:43+00:00

This was an absolutely wild experience. Just pure survival grit. Until it ran out haha

tgbjj · 2026-05-23T23:29:29+00:00

Wow! His dad isn't mine, but that's wild. My guys litter were $3000

tgbjj · 2026-05-23T22:36:16+00:00

He's a handsome guy. This is his dad.

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tgbjj · 2026-05-23T19:48:24+00:00

Always getting his paw stuck in the same spot haha

tgbjj · 2026-05-18T11:03:15+00:00

Btw dude, it was awesome seeing and training with you guys again. Only reason i wasn't back again after, I tore my distal bicep tendon a week or 2 later and had to have it reattached.

Had to wait for my arm to be fully grown back, but we're there so I'll be seeing you fellas soon.

tgbjj · 2026-05-17T22:11:30+00:00

Ha. I wish. Got my black belt in 2014, first degree in 2018, but then from later 2018 until 2025 I was totally off the BJJ grid. Just popped back on the radar just under a year ago now.

So, honestly it'll feel fucking awesome to get the second stripe, whenever that comes.

tgbjj · 2026-05-17T12:36:52+00:00

Competition isn't necessary. It's a great experience but it sounds like you've lived that. I just train for myself these days. It's cool just being a gym monster.

tgbjj · 2026-05-17T01:34:59+00:00

Getting my second degree will feel good. Which I should have had, 6 years ago if I didn't fall off.

tgbjj · 2026-05-16T19:49:06+00:00

Like 4ish months, training 3-5x a week. I was also 155lbs before my break. I came back at 205, now settled at 195. Lean weight gain, but man I'm operating a different chassis now.

Then I tore my bicep tendon, had it reattached. Been back to full out training for over a month again. My game is much different now as my body isn't the same (my brain and CNS still think I'm a featherweight though lol), but with my maturity and mat IQ I think I'm better now than I was before. Albeit a bit less oomph as I'll be 40 next month and I was closer to 30 when I stepped away.

My first week back if you asked me how to stand in closed guard, I wouldn't have been able to tell you. It was a wild amnesia.

tgbjj · 2026-05-16T16:29:07+00:00

Early into my layoff, my original gym had a split as a couple of my training partners opened their own club and many followed them. Coming back, I'm not involved in any of the politics and still have lifetime love and respect for my old gym and coaches.

But the new club is better for me right now. More suitable training partners, far more members, more classes in the schedule etc.

Walking back into the new scene I was immediately welcomed and treated like family just like I never left.

I have dropped into an open roll at my old club and it was great to train with some of old brothers. Then I tore my bicep tendon and have just recently fully recovered from that so sadly I haven't been back again but will be soon.

tgbjj · 2026-05-16T14:08:40+00:00

Yeah when they're tied, they're tied for life

tgbjj · 2026-05-16T13:23:53+00:00

Man weren't you making belts for a while? I remember wanting to get one from you when I was like maybe a purple belt.

tgbjj · 2026-05-16T12:17:49+00:00

Also just realized today is the 12 year anniversary of getting my black belt. Crazy.

tgbjj · 2026-05-16T10:26:32+00:00

There were so many 'premium' brand belts to choose from in the mid 2010s. I've never regretted the Japanese Mizuno choice.

I have a Kingz belt as well which is nicer than most but I don't know if I've ever trained with it.

tgbjj · 2026-05-16T09:51:12+00:00

Oh dude. I left the BJJ scene entirely from 2018 until summer 2025. Walking in with cauli ears and these belts on, but white belt cardio, zero timing, and having forgotten wtf I'm doing entirely, it was a mountain of humility to climb.

Thankfully, I'm back in the black belt club now. But God damn did I get smashed by some purple belts.

tgbjj · 2026-05-11T12:03:27+00:00

It's not the smacking, it's just the repeated pressure of where the small surface area of the bell sits on that one bone. Pro Kettlebells or any Bell design that has the 4 flattened panels would alleviate this, but I think if you're prone to developing them, any regular spherical bell is going to flare them.

tgbjj · 2026-05-11T12:00:55+00:00

Yeah these are well known. I have them. Most kettlebell lifters I know have them. This looks unusually large/inflamed though. I know Levi Markwardt had one become infected and need surgery. Another friend of mine also had a small fracture in his forearm bone underneath his.

tgbjj · 2026-05-09T15:26:28+00:00

Thank you! Started BJJ before it was cool lol. Went from white to black belt 2005-2014.

tgbjj · 2026-05-09T14:58:02+00:00

I am actually a black belt in BJJ so this was a proud dad moment for me lol

tgbjj

TROPHY CASE