On the belt

So last night Tom Barlow held a seminar at the club reviewing the past months teachings. It was all about Side control, keeping it, defending it, transitions to the other side. As usual Tom taught these techniques very well and repeated them as many times as people asked. After a rather sweaty two hours the seminar finished with tags being handed out. It is my understanding that no two tag systems are the same, ha ha, and Tom's confused me at first but now its pretty clear. Lets look at the White belt to Blue belt. So with Toms system we usually get a red tag on our belts at the end of a month after being tested during class. And when you get to four red tags you get a blue tag. This goes on until you have four red and four blue and by this time you should be generally ready for Blue belt testing. Sometimes a tag is issued without being tested as happened last night with one of our lads that had competed at the Hereford open just passed. Adam claimed bronze there. This is testament to their growing skill. I read in JJS mag this month that some teachers even put in an extra belt to ease the transition from White to Blue, like a green or striped belt. me personally would rather wait for the belt, but each to their own. Some people are motivated by different things. So a few red tags were handed out, there I was waiting for a red tag. my name was called, up I went only to be told I was getting a Blue! Huge smile plastered on my face, I went and got my tag knowing for certain that my hard work is paying off!

Just before the class started one of the lads that had gone to the ADCC to watch Tom compete,  handed me one of the Mighty Barlow t-shirts. For those that haven't seen it, it was designed by none other than Meerkatsu and made by BJJ lifestyle brand Scramble. The front is dominated by a mighty mouse-esque picture, Kabuki Mouse , due to Tom's small stature and emblazoned with The Mighty Barlow. On the reverse is a Team No Love logo and lettering with Scramble underneath. I was told that TNL comprises of Tom Barlow and Kenny Baker another local and talented grappler. Im not sure if I actually want to wear this as i know in years to come it might be of some worth to a grappling fan. Especially as I know Tom will be going from strength to strength with his grappling and I really do see him winning a medal at any major competition in the future.