Double leg takedowns for my first day back

I've been away from Jiu-Jitsu for over two years.  I was excited to get back on the mat last Wednesday and roll with some of my old friends. 

The instructor for the evening was a collegiate level wrestler and we worked on double leg take downs.  We then went into single leg take downs.  I've never wrestled before so it was definitely out of my comfort zone. 

I feel like I learned a lot and enjoyed what we went over.  After we did drills, it was time to spar.  The guy I spared with was younger, bigger, and in better shape.  Jiu-Jitsu is still excellent at leveling the playing field.  I got in a couple sweeps and landed a north-south choke.  I was excited but extremely exhausted. 

After I sat out a round, I went back in and rolled with a guy I knew from the older days.  He's a purple belt now, has a few professional fights under him, and he's a lot faster.  He is also about 50 pounds lighter, 15 years younger, and did I mention faster?  I was completely exhausted afterwards.  It's amazing how much you lose when you're away.  

I felt I did decent and he was impressed with me able to pull guard after he swept me.  Muscle memory is a beautiful thing. 

This was on Wednesday.  Thursday, I felt like someone beat my left quad/hamstring with a bat.  It was insane how bad my leg hurt.  I don't think I stretched properly and obviously, I'm out of shape.  I can't wait to go back and get more.  I skipped Friday so I could rest my leg and not injure myself.

Jiu-Jitsu, such a great sport.  

Back! In more ways that one..

I haven't used this blog in quite a while.  I've been through a lot and then some.  Here is a small high-light of what's been going on.

When I started this blog I was in a relationship and happy.  We got married and about a year in a half into it, she decided she wanted out.  Why?  I wasn't sure at the time being but I found out about a month after our divorce when she told me she was pregnant.  Pregnant with someone else's child. 

WTF?! 

She wouldn't give me details but only said "don't worry, it's not yours".  I sank into the deepest, darkest depression I've ever seen.  I had ZERO coping skills to deal with this.  I had been out of jiu-jitsu for well over a year (I rarely attended since I broke my arm).  And my life took a terrible spiral that has landed me into a mess. 

Back to the cheater.  She stated in January of '12 she wanted a divorce.  We were divorced in April of '12.  May of '12 she tells me the pregnancy stuff and the first week of September 2012, she gives birth to a girl. 

We were still "together" and sleeping together in December of 2011 and January of 2012..  I don't think the child is mine and apparently there is another sucker who has claimed the kid. 

So, over a year later, I'm back here.  My depression is no-longer a factor but it did lead me to some things I had never experienced before.  Drugs.  Drugs that I kind of, sort of took from the hospital...  I was and am not an addict.. but I did abuse some drugs.  I self-medicated to cope with my depression.  I isolated myself from everyone around me.  I screwed up a ton of crap.. 

I'm still a nurse.. I still have friends.. and I still have Jiu-Jitsu.