WolverineGuy

We're committed. Neither of us are going anywhere. When she got pregnant, it was a rather new relationship...so we decided that getting married JUST because she was pregnant was foolish, which it was. Now, we're just too darned poor to afford a wedding. However, I do plan on it. It has nothing to do with our child, its simply the fact that I love her. That's what it should be anyways.

I'm umarried with a child and live-in girlfriend...I'm definitely not one to give advice on this one.

I think the entire belt system is messed up. I do believe that that is this years april fools joke...last year was the knitting forum.

BJJ was used on the street well before the advent of mixed martial arts systems. It has proven itself to be combat effective. The shortcomings you mention have been addressed by Gracies themselves. They know that multiple attackers completely negates BJJ. And for the record, if I was in Africa and someone was chasing me down with a machete, the only system I'd care about is Track and Field.

"The fact that when you become a blackbelt ninjas jump you allll the time." Stupid ninjas.

Belt tests can range from 20-30 bucks a piece. It sounds a bit expensive still, if you ask me.

BJJ was proven in actual combat. Please don't start the "this art can whoop that art" argument. You have no basis for any argument in this, there are too many variables.

...crap. Just finishing the last post.

Awesome. That kind of situation is always scary, but good for her for getting out of it on top!

All the belt color is for is to represent post count.

Thank god for old farts. Awesome story man.

Ok, I'm guessing you need about 2100 calories to maintain. Do count those calories, but make sure that the calories you take in COUNT! No empty cals like pop or candy. Stick to water and skim milk. If you want to lose the layer of fat (at 38-25-36, I hardly see how you could have a layer of fat), go down to 1600-1700 cals per day. Make sure you eat HEALTHY! Lean meat such as chicken, tuna, or turkey (some cuts of steak are ok, but watch out for fat!). Lots of veggies. Whole grain carbs (simple carbs turn to sugar which turns to fat). Protein...hoo boy. There are lots of different takes on this. As a body builder, protein is your best friend. I get about a gram per lb of bodyweight. That's hard for me (weighing almost 200 lbs), but should be easier for you. Supplement with protein shakes if you want, some of them are REALLY good. If you have any questions, feel free to post them or pm me.

Losing weight is all about keeping your calories below the level you need to maintain body weight. If I may ask, what is your height and weight? I'm 5'10 and weigh 185, and am moderately active. I need 2895 calories per day to maintain my weight. My strategy for losing is to do more aerobic exercise, while cutting my calories to 2395 per day (that's a loss of five hundred calories per day). I try to keep my protien intake at one gram per lbs of total bodyweight, so I get DOUBLE of what your taking in. I think it's fairly safe to say that when you're worried about maintaining or gaining muscle, you can not get enough protein (however, you do get just a tad gassy, if you know what I mean). Hope that helped.

Grad school has my vote...post grad experience always looks good, even though it has no bearing on what you can do in the real world. Employers don't always understand that.

If I'm sick, I stick to resting. It's harder to get well if your'e training, especially since I refuse to go below 100%.

Hmm...interesting...

Your joints take a lot of damage from the impact of strikes as well. As long as you practice safely, its no more dangerous. Personally, I think that to be a complete fighter, you have to incorporate both striking and grappling...jiu jitsu rocks.

That actually makes sense. I know that in full contact I'm a lot less apt to try something stupid.

Okeedokee...thanks for all your responses!

I just looked at your belt level progression...she should NOT have been fighting in your division to begin with. Second, that kind of remark should have gotten her disqualified. Oy veh.

Kalkinodo: White Yellow Orange Green Purple Blue Red Black

My point exactly. I tend to get worked up over style bashing, so forgive me if my tone has been a little less civil than normal. Thanks for being the voice of reason, chen.

No, common sense teaches you that. Dude, all I was saying was that's BJJ's philosophy. Not that I learned that from BJJ. Sheesh.

Heh, trust me, I'm proficient in armbars...probably a little too much so, I win 90% of my matches with armbars. I don't know if its my positioning, or maybe I'm missing bracing the opponent's body some way. It's just very difficult to keep the leg in the correct position. Bah...stupid leglocks.

Tree, BJJ was proven on the streets of Brazil LONG before MMA was even thought of in the USA. Judo did the same thing before Carlos Gracie was introduced to Maeda way back in the 30s. The arts both do fine in real combat...better than most. I know that the marines are taught BJJ as part of their h2h training. I'm not knocking your style, please quit knocking one of my favorites. BJJ doesn't claim, nor has it ever, that it can fight off multiple opponents. Is that a weak point...perhaps, but if you're going to tell me that your style has the solution to that scenario, you're living in a fantasy world. You can train and prepare all you want, but there are too many variables in a multiple attacker situation for any style to completely prepare you. BJJ teaches you the best way to handle that situation: don't get in it in the first place.