• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Dre Armeda

and I love tacos

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • Show Search
Hide Search
You are here: Home / Archives for jiu jitsu

jiu jitsu

A Rollercoaster of Mind and Body

Dre Armeda · Apr 29, 2016 ·

Thank you for all the texts and messages wishing me luck with the neurosurgeon visit yesterday. A lot of you have asked status and I haven’t shared with many as I am trying to wrap my head around it all.

What the hell is going on?

After a ton of tests and doctors visits, yesterday I received a prognosis from a neurosurgeon that came recommended by my Godparents, Dr. Abshire of Temecula Valley Neurosurgery. This is my second neurosurgeon opinion after countless MRI’s, nerve studies, chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture and cupping treatments, sports medicine and orthopedic surgeon visits, physical therapy and so on.

Dre MRI Neck Cervical

During my visit yesterday, Dr. Abshire recommended a level 2 Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) on discs C4/5 – C6/7. ACDF is a surgery to remove a herniated or degenerative disc in the neck area of the spine. The incision is made in the front of the spine through the throat area. After the disc is removed, a bone graft is inserted to fuse together the bones above and below the disc space. Level 2 means I would be getting two done at once which is not awesome. Here’s a good simulation of what happens during an ACDF:

Looks pretty nasty, doesn’t it?

Symptoms and lack there of.

Now, for context. Anyone who has seen me or trained with me over the last 6-7 months knows that my left arm has completely atrophied (Hard to tell in the picture with these tiny guns of mine).

Left Arm Atrophy

What has most likely happened is C5 has bulged enough that it is sitting on the main nerve root that controls signals to parts of my arm. I have lost deltoid and bicep strength and range of motion to a point where I couldn’t lift my arm to hold a toothbrush or pour a cup of coffee. I had to learn how to protect that vulnerable arm on the mat. I have spent a tremendous amount of energy and countless hours on the mat retooling my Jiu Jitsu game in an effort to work around the dead arm. It was painstaking and saddening to feel like I was starting over again, but I did it. I never quit and I feel like a monster right now.

One Arm Bandit
Took 2nd at the Jiu Jitsu World League 2016 Las Vegas Super Championship with one dangling arm ๐Ÿ™‚

It has been a huge challenge. The arm has certainly started improving over the last 3 months which has helped, but not considerably. I still get the sensation of pins and needles down the shoulder and to the bicep with certain neck/head movements. This is a symptom that shows that the nerve is still alive but still being impinged. My arm and shoulder still become extremely fatigued during training or when I work movements that use the Bicep and Deltoid. It’s super annoying!

The thing that really puzzles me the most about all of this is that I don’t have consistent pain, and have not since the last impactful episode occurred last summer. The first signs of neck issues started in March of 2014 where I kinked my neck warming up for Jiu Jitsu NoGi. I couldn’t move it hurt so bad. That kept recurring randomly every few months until June of last year when I started losing strength and motion.

Physical Therapy

Since then, I get sore but it’s not continual pain. It’s discomfort, soreness, and a ton of pins and needles. It is knots along my shoulder-blade and a crackling sensation when moving my neck left or right. However, no consistent pain, and that really concerns me. This lack of pain leaves me in a place not knowing what the right solution is, and the neurosurgeon’s don’t seem 100% confident in their prognosis due to there being no consistent pain.

So what’s next?

I am not quite sure. I know I have a lot of unanswered questions that I need to consult with Dr. Abshire about. In our initial discussions it doesn’t seem like there are a lot of options. Another viable direction with no long-term impact studies, especially when correlated with combat sports, is complete disc replacement. There have been short-term studies with good results but not enough data to make a determination that this direction is a long-term solution.

It is likely that if the ACDF surgery is the only answer, it won’t be something I am willing to do until after summer. Again, I am not in pain, I am just living with one functional arm and discomfort. I will keep researching and hunting for viable alternatives, and most certainly I will keep training for the time being. This may be the end of my Jiu Jitsu road, at least the paved road I have become accustomed to walking upon. I will enjoy every last roll until the bitter end.

~One Arm Bandit

Another Step Along the Way as a Blue Belt

Dre Armeda · Dec 23, 2015 ·

I had a rough year with injuries and it has made me stronger than ever mentally. When anyone else would have quit, I pushed on. I’ve even given myself the moniker of One Arm Bandit.

One Arm Bandit

Earlier this year I had a hernia surgery which kept me off the mat for about a month. Then, as I was prepping for the Chicago Open my neck issues showed up again, this time with lasting implications. As most of you know I have lost signification arm movement and strength in my left arm due to a pinched nerve at my cervical spine. I also have a full SLAP tear in my left shoulder. It’s been a tough year. With all the physical issues, I have to say though, it’s been harder mentally. I have had to relearn to do many common things like brush my teeth and even eat. For those that don’t know, I’m left handed. Although even I’m amused when I spill a drink because of my busted arm, It has been very challenging. Even more so on the mat.

On the mat I have had to retool my game. I have a huge vulnerability and my concentration has been on protecting that weakness. Inherently it seems that people attack the left side a lot, and I am known for loving my half guard, especially deep half guard. My left side underhook gets dominated with a simple pummel, I can’t stop it, so I just needed to find a way. In NoGi it has been extremely challenging as there is no lapel or blouse to grab. So the answer? Don’t get stuck there. Only if life were so easy, right? This is where extra mat time with Professor Orlando and the entire team came into the picture. I have worked hard to find alternatives and transitions out of problematic situations. It’s always going to be a work in progress, but I have built a strong foundation to work my game from.

Today I feel confident in my ability to kick your ass even if it’s with one arm. I have worked my ass off. Yeah, I complain and chat about my injuries, a lot in fact. But what I want you and everyone else to take away is if I can do it with one arm, you have no damn excuse. If I can train 4-5 days a week with one arm, you should also be on the mat. When I am giving higher belts a run for their money because I want it more, I hope it motivates you! I no longer want to live in a world where I make excuses, and I expect the same out of my teammates and training partners. I thank God every day for being on the best team in the world. I am a Bulldog.

I am not one to dwell too much on stripes or promotions really. It’s a great marker of where your progress is. It’s based on your school and your Professor and at least with belts, they will be used to classify you in competition. Real talk? I’m not in Jiu Jitsu for a belt. That said, this has been the longest gap in my time training without earning that marker and it has certainly weighed on me. What can I do better? What am I not doing to get better? How can I improve my game? I search for answers and really it’s right in front of me. The answer’s always there. Train more, learn more. Stay on the mat and you will continue improving.

I earned my 3rd stripe this week along with some well deserving teammates who got their belts and stripes. I am proud of my team and our continual improvement. Lets all continue getting better and stop making excuses. The answer is right in front of us and it all starts with stepping onto the mat.

Blue Belt Three

Merry Christmas to you all. See you on the mat.

With love,
One Arm Bandit
#OSS

Something Doesn’t Feel Right? Trust Your Gut!

Dre Armeda · May 21, 2015 ·

It has been a rough month with an injury causing me pain in my lower abdomen. I have been in and out of the doctor’s office the last 4 weeks or so running labs, ultrasounds and being checked for various things. Finally, this week I got some closure.

I reviewed my ultrasound with the doc yesterday and they found an inguinal hernia. In layman’s terms:

An inguinal hernia occurs when soft tissue โ€” usually part of the membrane lining the abdominal cavity (omentum) or part of the intestine โ€” protrudes through a weak point in the abdominal muscles.

This is something that could have been there for years and I just started feeling symptoms. It could have been that my journey to better health opened the door to preexisting issues from my lets say more “husky” days. I am sure my ab strength wasn’t doing great at the point I weighed the most. ๐Ÿ™‚

In any event, I went and saw the surgeon this afternoon, and I will indeed need surgery to correct the hernia. They will be fixing me via a laparoscopic surgical procedure that includes some camera action to find the tear(s). I hope the footage is good!

Needless to say I am very disappointed. I am making progress on my weight which is awesome, I am floating around 200 (competition weight) and looking now to get to 185 standing. I am registered for a couple upcoming competitions that I am sure I won’t be ready for considering recovery. My Jiu Jitsu game feels awesome, I feel confident about my technique and it seems only when I feel this way am I presented with another injury, issue, or adversity.

That’s OK though, because I’ll get through it like I do every other time, it’s just rather frustrating. Ultimately I have come to the conclusion that I can’t change my path completely, I just have to learn to better deal with the challenges that I am presented with, and keep on, keeping on! I’ll get to my finish line one way or another!

See you on that mats…..soon enough!

Oss

Technique Trumps All

Dre Armeda · Mar 31, 2015 ·

I had the opportunity of supporting my Jiu Jitsu coach, Orlando Alonsoโ€‹ this last weekend at an event where he fought in a super fight with MMA fighter and Jiu Jitsu black belt, Jamie Fletcher.

Some details for perspective. Coach is a really good brown belt, and the guy he fought is a black belt! Yes, it was a super fight and the organizers put the match-up together. Coach weighs in at roughly 160lbs. Not a super huge guy, but we love to tell him he has broad shoulders ๐Ÿ™‚ His opponent on the other hand, wasn’t a small man, weighing in over 200lbs. A slight advantage I would say. He was my size, all muscle.

It was a 10 minute match in which ended in a draw. Coach was close to a sweep in a few situations but ultimately there were no points or submissions.

Orlando Alonso Podium

Sometimes the key isn’t beating your opponent, it’s not letting them beat you. This is another great example of how impactful Jiu Jitsu can be for self-defense in mismatched situations (David & Goliath).

Technique trumps all, and if this isn’t inspiring, I don’t know what is!

Carlson Gracie Team

Props to everyone that came out to compete and support Carlson Gracie Team on the mats. Special shout out to Alfred Carling for taking a match on 10 minutes notice against a brown belt. Alfred is a purple belt for those that don’t know. That is the Carlson Gracie way. Anytime, any place!

Oss!

DreJitsu Blue Turns Two

Dre Armeda · Mar 11, 2015 ·

I have been training Jiu Jitsu for about two years now, and it only gets more intriguing every day. I have learned a lot about patience, self-control, how to become calm in pressure situations, and yet I am just scratching the surface.

There’s an inner gauge I am learning to read that enables me to slow myself almost into a state similar to a lion when it’s getting ready to attack. Poised to pounce, completely still and focused, and with an unmistakable burst of smooth movement ramping up an overpowering and aggressive attack that’s hard to escape. All the while I’m in a place where I find myself using little power and maximizing energy conservation. Sounds easy right? Yeah, no!

I am two years into this wonderful journey and I am only starting to scratch the surface, literally! I’m a newborn cub in the wild, and I’m glad to be here! It’s sometimes hard to put into words to those not familiar with Jiu Jitsu how challenging the journey is. All I can say is get on the mat and start training. You’ll immediately see how difficult it is, and quickly you’ll learn how addictive and rewarding the journey becomes!

Today I reached a new marker of progress and I am very excited about it. Coach Orlando called me up after a great night of training and striped me up. I earned my second blue stripe tonight, and I couldn’t be happier.

DreJitsu Blue Two

I’ll continue to train and continue to grow. Hopefully one day I get to grow into a lion. Not so much for the sake of promotion, but with the hope that I can one day read that inner gauge like a master!

Have a great week on the mat!

OSS!!

  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Dre Armeda, MBA, CISSP

Dre Armedaa

Sr. Director of Program Management at @GoDaddy – Partners Business, Dad to 5 girls, Navy Veteran, Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Brown Belt, Angels & Chargers loyal, Jeep head & taco lover.

Vice President of Product – Resume

Get Social with Dre

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2023 ยท Monochrome Pro on Genesis Framework ยท WordPress ยท Log in