Dre Armeda

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Promotion

Another Step Along the Way as a Blue Belt

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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

DreJitsu Blue Turns Two

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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!!

One Stripe Blue – The Jiu Jitsu Journey is Real

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It is a long journey, and sometimes life happens! Of course, life always happens, it’s just that sometimes you have to adjust priorities. Your every day routine shifts.

I earned my first blue belt stripe at Carlson Gracie Menifee in December, and I couldn’t be more excited. Not excited about the stripe per se, but about what it means to see forward movement in my journey.

DreJitsu Blue Belt Stripe

Over the last year life has led me in various directions. Some good, some great, and some painful. I have been through some nagging injuries which quite honestly are getting a bit annoying. If you ask, I’ll continue to blame old age. I also made various life changes that included some very involved career moves which took focus and dedication, and a bit more travel than I had seen over the previous 12 months.

Needless to say, these variables have slowed my mat time, and training has not been consistent. From November through December my training increased only to be slowed by more travel and injuries come the new year.

The purpose of this post was really to remind myself that life will continue to happen, and that’s OK. I am a 37-year-old businessman and father of 5 beautiful daughters. Curve balls are going to be part of my being on this earth 🙂

That said, I love Jiu Jitsu. It has truly changed my life, and I can’t ever see a day where it isn’t somehow a part of my life. I still study through videos and read about techniques every day, even when I know I can’t train for whatever reason. The journey continues, and always will.

My commitment to my journey has not weakened, in fact I would argue that it strengthens by the day. I am committed to my team and couldn’t ask for better folks to train with. This is the month leading into the IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship which is the next tournament I will be competing at. I am not prepared as I should be, but I am doing it anyway. I am not a medal chaser (although reaching the podium rocks) but rather a practitioner that believes that competition elevates your training which ultimately helps improve your game. Improving is my focus, and competing will give me the opportunity to win and learn, or learn and learn, there is no losing.

To close, I’d like to point out that I know for a fact there are a lot of players out there dealing with these same events, constraints, blocks, whatever you want to call them. All I can personally say is it sure feels good when I am on the mat, and even though it’s tough for me to consistently train sometimes, I always go back. Can you honestly tell me you don’t feel a bit of a void or an emptiness when you’re not training? Don’t let it get to you! Just do it, go train. Find a way. Life will continue, and so will your Jiu Jitsu journey as long as you get back on the mat as often as you can!

~Oss

DreJitsu Goes Blue

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A lot has changed in the last couple months. I have a lot to write about. I need to catch up, and I will. I will start with the latest news first, and work my way back over the coming weeks.

I am excited to announce that I was awarded my blue belt last night by Master Carlson Gracie Jr. and my coach, Orlando Alonso!

Dre Blue Belt

I am beyond excited about this new stage in my Jiu Jitsu journey, and can’t wait to get on the mats!
[Read more…] about DreJitsu Goes Blue

I Earned My 4th White Belt Stripe

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Tonight was a great training night, and at the end of our nightly advanced class, I was striped up by Coach Orlando.

Jiu Jitsu White Belt

For those that train know that advancement through the Jiu-Jitsu ranks is very different from any other martial art. It takes a lot of hard work, motivation, and not just physical or technical growth, but mental growth.

There isn’t a set rule book as to how you advance, you just go get your mat time in, learn, and apply what you learn. Your Jiu-Jitsu game improves, and over time you advance.

I don’t have expectations to advance on a given time scale, it comes with time, and everyone’s journey is different. I do have expectations of learning, and getting better as a mat player. What advancement shows me personally is that I am doing just that. However, if I put all the expectation discussions aside for a second, I will say it’s a treat when you are recognized for your hard work and improvement. It certainly doesn’t suck 🙂

I am very excited about earning my 4th stripe, but more importantly, I can’t wait to get back on the mat to get in more work!

#OSS