So little (okay, that may be a lie) known fact is that I am a but of a gear whore. If it is new or exciting, I NEED it. However I'm also decently sensible and realize I can't afford everything I want, no matter how burning the craving for it is.
But every once in a while, I will catch a break.
A piece of kit I have lusted after since before I had ever donned a gi was the Gameness Elite. It's flashy style, red contrast stitching, and custom-print rashguard lining left my heart pining for more. But it comes with a suggest MSRP of $260, which is more than half of what I pay for rent every month, and that is a tough pill to swallow. So I drooled from afar.
And then it went on sale.
Even at 40% off it was an expensive item, but stomachable as a Christmas and birthday present to myself.
Regardless of the debacle I had with Century and holiday shipping, I was still pacing the floor waiting for the UPS truck today, and I think my Aphex Twin-esque grin when answering the door made the delivery guy a bit uncomfortable.
I promptly unboxed that bitch and threw it on.
initial thoughts are that I hope what I hear is wrong, and it is not shrinkproof. It will fit perfect if the sleeves come in about an inch. The ripstop pants are beautiful, soundly stitched, and very comfortable. No waxy yet stiff feel of BDU bottoms here. The jacket... well, I can see why people whine about the shape, because it fits me great and I'm shaped weird. It is very much cut for someone with a much larger chest circumference than waist size. Excellent for me, haha. The lining makes the top feel like a robe, seriously.
Rolling in this thing is also a pleasure. So far I have loved my True Comp Goldweave (review to follow) and this felt even better. The collar is decently thick and bought me time to work out of a pretty nasty bow-and-arrow choke, which I appreciated.
However, I couldn't roll hard. And why not?
Well, I broke something last night. Doing lat raises and feeling beast, when something just pinged in my neck/shoulder area. Didn't think much of it, went home, ate, changed, then came to MMA (which I ended up teaching) and by the end of class, I was hurting. My left arm was spasming and I could find no spot to relieve the pressure. Hot shower, heating pad, ice pack... I was up all night trying to find some relief. I finally sucked it up and went to the base ER for the first time ever. They sent me home, I caught sleep before my MRI for my knee (god, am I really only about to turn 23 with all these problems?) and came back for jujitsu. While Kickboxing was finishing up I worked my wall warmup, and then snagged a couple light rolls and drills with Rich. It was obvious to me I had a problem when I went to get some water after showing him how to finish the bow-and-aarow and could just barely raise my bottle with my left hand.
I hope this gets better soon. Being a converted southpaw, this is my power side in striking, and with no grip strength I was pretty embarrassed during rolling* and pass/sweep/submit drills. I most just used it as omoplata drill time because you finish those with no grip strength.
Here is hoping for a speedy recovery.
*jiujitsu/submission wrestling version of sparring. Typically start on the knees and show you are ready by slapping hands and bumping knucks, and work at about 60% intensity
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