tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77957940703920824232024-03-13T19:34:16.526-07:00Know Your Go!Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850224662393198323noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7795794070392082423.post-67027179915237068912015-01-02T22:17:00.001-08:002015-01-04T18:23:49.146-08:00<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear Friends of JamminBJJ and Give the Gift of a Gi,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The start of a new year provides us an opportunity to
reflect on the year gone by – to celebrate our successes and learn from our
challenges.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">JamminBJJ has much to reflect on from 2014, many people to
thank, and more projects on the horizon. This is a bit long, but we got a lot done!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our biggest undertaking in 2014 was bringing Top Brother
athlete, <i>Luciano Mariano</i>, to the US from Japeri, RDJ, Brazil to compete at the
World Championships. <i>Luciano</i> is a blue belt, double-arm amputee and fierce BJJ
fighter. [There are other blog stories about <i>Luciano</i> and the details of this
endeavor] <i>Luciano’s</i> life-changing experience was made possible through the
assistance of many people and organizations; we received a travel grant from <i>The</i> <i>Challenged Athlete Foundation</i>; a new gi, gear, housing and tournament
registration provided by <i>Kerstin Pakter and Hyperfly</i>; training and generous
support from coach J<i>ames Foster, Foster Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu</i> (FBJJ), and <i>Giva Santana, Lotus Club Irvine</i>; and coaching, training and supervision by coach
J<i>ean Carlos Freitas</i>. <i>Javier Villalpando at Revolver MMA</i> designed an impressive
and popular commemorative tee-shirt. We would also like to thank <i>Gracie
Magazine, BJJ Legends magazine</i> and <i>BJJPaperweight </i>for the wonderful interviews,
stories and publicity about Luciano’s trip. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since we began in October 2012, JamminBJJ has delivered over
1500 pounds of donated gis to Brazilian athletes of all ages who have limited
resources. While a few of these gis have made their way to Brazil via the
postal service, the majority have been taken to Brazil by myself, teammates
(<i>Ian Wood</i>, FBJJ) and athletes who have traveled to the US to compete and who
are associated with favela gyms we have served. One of the successes of 2014 was the
fine-tuning of this distribution network. <i>Jean Carlos Freitas</i> deserves an extra
shout-out here as our international liaison and chief translator. There are
still glitches to work out and unreliable communication is a big hindrance.
Most athletes traveling from Brazil do not have cell phone or internet access
in the US. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2014 brought us a steady flow of gi donations and some new
collaborations. <i>FBJJ, Straight Blast Gym Seattle, Madeline Holden</i> and <i>Kris Shaw</i>
were all active donor-collectors of gis. We also continued to receive gis in
the mail from all over the US. For those of you who use a mail service or don’t
include a return address – Thank you – your donations are appreciated and we
would send a card to you if we could. One of largest and most surprising
donations of gis came in October from <i>Submission Fight Co.</i> They donated 100 new
gis and most of them are already in Brazil. The gyms that received these gis
were overwhelmed and very thankful. Most of the recipients never owned a gi,
let alone a new one. There are photos
and video from athletes and coaches who benefited on the JamminBJJ website and
Facebook page.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In November <i>DeuS Fight Co</i> assisted us in sponsoring five Top
Brother athletes with limitations to participate in the CBPJJ (para-jiu-jitsu)
tournament in Sao Paulo. One of these athletes was Luciano – who medaled in his
division and the open [photos at JamminBJJ.org and on Facebook]. <i>DeuS Fight </i>wrote
a lovely and informative blog story about this collaboration. You can find it
at DeuSFight.com. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What’s in store for 2015? Of course we will continue to
collect and distribute gi donations and sponsor young athletes in Brazil and
the US to compete. We hope to continue providing monetary contributions that
make food and simple gifts available to children at Easter and Christmas in
Brazil. We are always open to new ideas and collaborations – talk to us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have to personally acknowledge and thank a gentleman,
<i>Abdulkader Ahmed </i>for a gift that will make a tremendous positive impact on my
ability to do the work of JamminBJJ this year. I met <i>Abdulkader</i> in 2013 at the
United Airlines ticket counter when my son, Carson, and I were headed to Brazil
with a cart full of large bags full of donated gis. <i>Abdulkader</i> asked what we
were up to and I shared with him a flyer about Give the Gift of a Gi and we
talked about JamminBJJ’s mission. <i>Abdulkader</i> waived our baggage fees which
would have been several hundred dollars. An angel at check-in, that could have
been the end of it, but he contacted me through the JamminBJJ website and kept
in touch, always interested in the work we were doing. Starting January 1st,
2015, <i>Abdulkader </i>added me to his “friends and family” benefit to fly United so
that I can fly virtually free – anywhere. I’m still overwhelmed at this
generous gesture. He is a true example
of the kindness that exists in all people if we just take the time to smile,
share and believe in the positive energy that is available to all of us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’ll close by telling you of my current project. This year I
am the advisor of the Interact Club at Kentwood High School where I teach.
Interact is the high school version of Rotary International, the largest
service organization in the world. Throughout the year the students work on a
community and an international service project. As their international project,
my students have taken on the reformation of an abandoned building that has
become the gymnasium/community center for a team assisted by JamminBJJ in Campo Grande, RDJ. 250+ children a week find their way through this
building by participating in various activities, including BJJ. This abandoned
building currently has no bathrooms, just alcoves of broken pipes and garbage,
faulty wiring that hangs from the walls, a leaky roof and only well-worn puzzle
mats to sit on. The people of the neighborhood are ready to provide endless
hours of labor (most are unemployed), but there are no financial resources to
make the needed improvements. KW Interact has already concluded one successful
fundraiser and has another planned for this January! I hope to connect with a
Rotary Club close to Campo Grande and pursue cost-effective ways to get the
building materials. Now that I can travel easily to Brazil, I plan to go once
school is out and bring the raised monies and help with some of the rebuilding.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Great thanks as well to my helpers who remain mostly behind
the scenes – <i>Mike Baltierra,</i> webmaster
extraordinaire and Rick Geist, <i>post-booster and cheerleader. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I went to the Bay Area for the holidays to see my family. My
parents are both healthy and active. My dad, who turned 78, took me out for a
four mile run the day I arrived. My mom does yoga, walks and paints every week
along the Peninsula with a group of other artists. My youngest son will
graduate from high school this year and my husband will retire. To keep myself
together I plan to take things one day, one project, at a time. Reflecting on a
year gone by reminds us to treasure every moment with friends and family
because time goes by too fast. I am also reminded to constantly look into my
heart and focus on what is most important. Thank you Carly for the spirit and energy
to live your legacy.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850224662393198323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7795794070392082423.post-42770817302239185682014-06-10T13:52:00.002-07:002014-06-10T13:54:13.354-07:00Luciano - Advancing Others<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Advancing Others<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PURv5R9d3jU/U5dvxcySHzI/AAAAAAAADf8/NR79t04l7GQ/s1600/P1000531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PURv5R9d3jU/U5dvxcySHzI/AAAAAAAADf8/NR79t04l7GQ/s1600/P1000531.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last month’s BQB blog theme was “Advancing Others”.
Unintentionally, I waited until the end of the month to get my thoughts out of
my head and on to paper. Perhaps that is because I was, both consciously and
unconsciously, gathering data up until this point. May was a series of events
that have shaped attitudes and aspects of the world. May was about recognizing
something that is actual and true; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“It is in forgetting ourselves that we are found.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>St. Francis of Assisi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Luciano had a dream; get out of Japeri, go to America, and
compete in the IBJJF World Championships. To this point Luciano’s happiness was
rooted in family, friends and jiu-jitsu.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He lived a simple, humble life. Selling fruits and vegetables at the
neighborhood market helped his family get by, but the resources necessary to
make his dream come true were not likely to ever be within reach.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uh-fZVYq5T0/U5duxoiI8cI/AAAAAAAADfs/NDmAh5suTrY/s1600/P1000338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uh-fZVYq5T0/U5duxoiI8cI/AAAAAAAADfs/NDmAh5suTrY/s1600/P1000338.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Luciano lived with acceptance and aspiration. He accepted
long ago that life was not going to make things easy for him, yet he lived with
aspiration. He lived with an inner-peacefulness that comes with accepting that
“this is the way things are, whether I like it or not.” That attitude, combined
with some outer effort, made his journey itself, the reward. He continued to
work diligently, keeping his dream in mind without getting hung up on the
result. He was able to stretch and grow and not worry about looking bad, or
different. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stayed centered in
aspiration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.”
Native American saying<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now his dream is a reality. Luciano is out of Japeri and in
America. Thursday May 29<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> he competed in the IBJJF World
Championships as a blue belt in the rooster weight division. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He hadn’t even stepped on the on the mat and
his life had been changed – and he in turn, changed the lives of others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cbcKt7_rMy0/U5duVYp1LDI/AAAAAAAADfc/CIEVQmY_TKY/s1600/P1000131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cbcKt7_rMy0/U5duVYp1LDI/AAAAAAAADfc/CIEVQmY_TKY/s1600/P1000131.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Luciano has seen things and had experiences he’d only seen
on TV. I was amazed at his ability to shout out the make and model of a
multitude of cars as we drove down the freeway. His family does not own a car.
Most of the people in his barrio do not own a car. “Estas casas são como em um
filme.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“These are houses like in a
movie,” he said as we drove through suburban Kent. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told me how different the produce [in
Trader Joe’s] looked compared to the produce he sold in Japeri. “Muito
diferente.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the language
barrier, being a part of a family is universal. Luciano fit right in. He made
my husband and sons feel comfortable with his smile, greetings and willingness
to learn and try new things. He played “mini-hoop” with Carson, walked Elmo,
and had Eason help him download American music to his tablet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ClXOYmx_THI/U5du_3nWc6I/AAAAAAAADf0/CavxtK3_iMI/s1600/P1000570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ClXOYmx_THI/U5du_3nWc6I/AAAAAAAADf0/CavxtK3_iMI/s1600/P1000570.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In helping to advance Luciano, he unknowingly advanced many
more people. In Irvine he trained and shared stories of growing up in the favelas
with Giva Santana. Giva told me what a joy it was to help someone in ways that
others had helped him when he first came to the United States. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luciano advanced the attitudes of strangers;
first at Foster Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu where he didn’t hesitate to introduce himself
to every person in the gym, joined right into the training and showed people
that they should not be uncomfortable that he has limitations because we are
all the same on the mat; and he advanced people he didn’t even know, comrades
of BJJ, people who came up to him telling him that he was inspirational and
that his efforts motivated them. After viewing some training pictures and video
people posted, “Tell me again why you say you CAN’T do something”; <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You make me proud to be a member of this
community,”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and “Thank you for showing
me that my excuses of being too tired or busy to train don’t mean anything.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sure, I helped advance Luciano, but I learned that it is in advancing
others that we advance ourselves. He has touched many lives since coming to the
United States and I know that his influence will continue to make a difference.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850224662393198323noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7795794070392082423.post-794490250729152282014-05-26T09:02:00.001-07:002014-05-26T09:02:25.138-07:00THANKS to you for helping!
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Luciano is on his way to Santa Ana airport in preparation for
his competition on Thursday. He will train and be hosted by Giva Santana and
his wife Erica for a couple of days and then by Kerstin Pakter and Team
Hyperfly. Making this experience possible is the culmination of support and positive
energy from a great many people. I would like to acknowledge them here:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For Carly’s generous spirit that inspires me every
day to be a better person, and my family who has endured several months of
couch-surfers, piles of gis, giving rides, not enough snacks – ever, and has
kept smiles on their faces the entire time … at least when I’m around. Love you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Jean Carlos Freitas</u>: It was his idea to
try and bring Luciano here<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>The Challenged Athlete Foundation</u>: For
making funding available for such endeavors<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The <u>CarlyStowellFoundation</u> and <u>JamminBJJ</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Kerstin Pakter and Hyperfly</u>: for
providing Luciano’s first gi, his new gi and gear, and for a loving place to
stay<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Rick Geist</u>, <u>Mike Baltierra</u>, <u>Kris Shaw</u> and
<u>BJJ Legends</u>, <u>Maple Valley Reporter</u>, <u>Gracie Mag</u> and <u>BQB Publishing</u>, for the
publicity, social media updates and website changes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>James Foster</u> and <u>Team Foster</u>: For
the never-ending encouragement and sharing of goodwill; <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for being role models of the Jiu-Jitsu
lifestyle and always having my back<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Giva and Erica Santana</u>: for hosting
Luciano before the tournament and providing training<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Debbie Foster</u> and <u>Sam Geist</u>: for tailoring
and patch-putting-on-ing on Luciano’s new gi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Javier </u>and <u>Revolver MMA</u> for
designing Luciano’s commemorative t-shirt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Devin Bauman</u> for the shirts and printing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All of you who have purchased a shirt to help
the cause!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Cashquinha Guimaraes</u>, <u>Paulo Marcio</u>
and <u>Top Brother</u> in Brazil<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Ian Wood </u>for communication resources<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Hellem</u> for giving me confidence with my
Portuguese<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And THANK YOU to all of you out
there whose names I might not know, but who I know are supporting this quest.
It is a life changing experience for an inspiring young man. We can all learn
something from him. If you see us at Worlds, be sure to come up and say hi. Don’t
be surprised if he wants a picture with you </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J </span></span></div>
Check out an album of pictures from his trip so far on the JamminBJJ FaceBook page. Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850224662393198323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7795794070392082423.post-61862546094722035892014-05-25T10:37:00.000-07:002014-05-26T22:04:42.259-07:00<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Luciano is here!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Luciano arrived Thursday at SeaTac airport after his
first-ever plane flight. In my effort to be helpful I told the agents at Delta
that he might need some assistance because he didn’t speak English and was a double-arm
amputee. I was concerned mostly that his plane-change in Atlanta and the walk through
customs go smoothly. I met him at the exit area of the gate – he was being
escorted in a wheelchair … apparently most people requesting “special
assistance” receive this courtesy. I think he was embarrassed. I later learned
that someone on the plane tried to feed him, thinking he couldn’t do that
himself. I’m glad he had a good laugh over it and didn’t start his trip off
thinking Americans are helpful, but presumptuous and maybe a little dumb. (Wait
a minute… we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are</i> all of those
things…)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sz6GhhZ_iXo/U4IoysUxivI/AAAAAAAAAVM/ODUl6XdOXS0/s1600/Luciano+day1&2+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sz6GhhZ_iXo/U4IoysUxivI/AAAAAAAAAVM/ODUl6XdOXS0/s1600/Luciano+day1&2+006.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After spending three days with him, let me tell you, he
needs very little “special assistance”. My teenage sons can learn a lesson from
him. His bed is made every morning without a wrinkle anywhere. His things are
tidy, he buses his dishes and offers to wash them each time. (”Thanks, but I
got it. In America we are lazy – I just put them in the dishwasher – you have
about 20 plates to choose from each day.” UGH, overabundance is another
American trait.) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before his arrival the
question I was most asked was, “How does he eat?” I didn’t know. I had only
trained jiu-jitsu with him in Brazil. Well, he eats with a fork; not exactly
like you and I, but neatly and efficiently. His left arm is able to bend a
little at the elbow and that afforded angle is the key to most things. He uses
a toothbrush, carries all of his own things and takes pictures with his new
tablet (courtesy of Professor Foster). He holds the tablet with is arms and
pushes the button with his chin. His shoulders are also incredibly flexible. He
can write and is a maniac for a computer keyboard. Most of his downtime is
spent on “Faceebookee” where he keeps his family and friends up to date on his
trip. He’s amazing and I feel blessed to be learning from him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gdjI1XhW5P0/U4IpXMiGRKI/AAAAAAAAAVc/d0ZiKPtuDrY/s1600/Luciano+day1&2+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gdjI1XhW5P0/U4IpXMiGRKI/AAAAAAAAAVc/d0ZiKPtuDrY/s1600/Luciano+day1&2+019.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We trained the first day he arrived. He proudly wore his new
Hyperfly gi. Debbie Foster – seamstress extraordinaire – had altered the
sleeves for him and put on patches. (I was off a little on one sleeve length,
which by IBJJF rules must be a “finished seam” and no less than 5 cm from the
[wrist]. More sewing gratitude to Sam Geist for shortening the sleeve and
adding his team patches.) After I introduced him to Coach Foster, Luciano bowed
onto the mat and introduced himself to every team member there. He joined right
in; A fine example that BJJ is for everyone and we are all one on the mat. He
needs someone to tie his belt for him, but other than that, his game is
incredible and he trains “duro” (hard) – preparing himself for Worlds. *Side
note – today I told him he could train for five hours if he wanted to and his
grin went from ear to ear. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yesterday we did not train, but we got a lot of exercise
walking the hills and stairs of the Seattle Waterfront. We went on the new Big
Wheel. It was a gorgeous day and we could see the Olympic peninsula, Space
Needle, ferries, barges and sailboats. At one time I thought I lost him when I
was waiting in line for the Big Wheel tickets and I told him to go look around.
I’d gotten the tickets and he still hadn’t returned. I wandered a bit looking
for him, but then used the good Scout rule of staying put when you (or someone
else in your party) is lost. Eventually he returned with photos of himself with
a variety of Seattleites; people in Mariners shirts and SeaHawks jerseys,
himself by the carousel and with street performers. Good job Seattle!! Way to
welcome a visitor. I was proud of my city. That morning he and I met my
Portuguese tutor so that he could speak freely and I’d learned that one thing
he was shocked by was how everyone just left their stuff around, doors unlocked
and women put their purses on the ground. We were in a Starbucks and a
gentleman near us got up and left his laptop on his chair to go outside and
make a phone call; both Hellem and I plopped our purses on the floor when we sat
down. I was scolded many times in Rio for my naiveté. But, we were in suburban
Maple Valley. I know downtown Seattle is not Maple Valley, but neither is Rio
de Janeiro.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AK-Jr61YsD0/U4IpAgXBASI/AAAAAAAAAVU/_utGXFUkzQc/s1600/Luciano+day1&2+029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AK-Jr61YsD0/U4IpAgXBASI/AAAAAAAAAVU/_utGXFUkzQc/s1600/Luciano+day1&2+029.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thank you to all who helped make his trip possible. I did
not do this alone. A “thank you” list will be up soon. Tomorrow he will fly to
Irvine to stay with Master Giva Santana and his wife Erica. He will train and
prepare for the tournament. I arrive Wednesday and he competes on Thursday. I
will keep you posted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Obrigada e vai com Deus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<br />Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850224662393198323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7795794070392082423.post-36566917971801630002014-05-14T20:01:00.002-07:002014-05-14T20:01:33.880-07:00"And they're off..." Luciano gets his visa
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uo_JuFfm8n0/U3Qr8gxTymI/AAAAAAAAAUY/zw7EL8Z9vw4/s1600/images%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uo_JuFfm8n0/U3Qr8gxTymI/AAAAAAAAAUY/zw7EL8Z9vw4/s1600/images%5B1%5D.jpg" height="200" width="154" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“And they’re off…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Who said “bad news comes in threes?“ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m here to argue that “good news comes in
threes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ll be honest that last week I was getting a little
discouraged about Luciano’s trip. It was Friday and he still didn’t have his
visa. I had written to a couple of newspapers and Jiu-Jitsu magazines and heard
nothing back. The artist I was trying to get to design a t-shirt for Luciano
said he was too busy with other projects at this time. There were a multitude
of loose ends I couldn’t pull together without more time, information and help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And on Saturday I got the disturbing news
that Luciano had been robbed at gunpoint and the new tablet-camera he bought
for his trip was stolen. Maybe this endeavor wasn’t nearly as cool and inspiring
as I seemed to think it was. No. I knew that it was. Sometime during my journey
through grief I began to recognize the flame in Carly’s spirit that glowed with
“do good, and good will come back to you.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believed that to be true.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JB2qmyTurmU/U3Qr0gfQDJI/AAAAAAAAAUI/AZfSg7KpOUI/s1600/3_1%5B1%5D.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JB2qmyTurmU/U3Qr0gfQDJI/AAAAAAAAAUI/AZfSg7KpOUI/s1600/3_1%5B1%5D.png" height="200" width="140" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Maybe the part I didn’t recognize was the underpinning “you
have to be patient” part. I’m learning that part now. Monday good news
came in a threesome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First I got a
message from Jean telling me that Luciano got his visa. (Hear my big sigh of
relief?) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I opened an email from
Caroline Gracie telling me that Gracie Mag wanted to cover Luciano’s story and
his participation at Worlds. What? I got goosebumps. (For the uninitiated,
Gracie Mag is like the biggest name in Jiu-Jitsu publications; international,
half is written in Portuguese.) They posted this story online already: </span><a href="http://www.graciemag.com/2014/05/disabilities-are-no-match-for-jiu-jitsu-how-one-blue-belt-has-gone-beyond-his-limitations/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.graciemag.com/2014/05/disabilities-are-no-match-for-jiu-jitsu-how-one-blue-belt-has-gone-beyond-his-limitations/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And for a threesie: I made a connection with an artist to
design the t-shirt. When I was getting the feeling that the other prospect wasn’t
going to work out, I sent a message to Albert. I call Albert my “fighter-friend.”
Not to diminish calling him just a “friend-friend”, because he is definitely that
too, but Albert was one of my students who later came to train at FosterBJJ and
now fights MMA. He made his professional debut last month and won. </span><a href="http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Albert-Tadevosyan-84326"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Albert-Tadevosyan-84326</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could write a story about him, I’m very
proud, but later. The artist is the same guy who designed Albert’s banner and
walk-out shirt, Javier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NJEhhNNxYsg/U3Qr_WcTK9I/AAAAAAAAAUg/uKnpNs9CTlQ/s1600/imagesCA73JRA8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NJEhhNNxYsg/U3Qr_WcTK9I/AAAAAAAAAUg/uKnpNs9CTlQ/s1600/imagesCA73JRA8.jpg" height="156" width="200" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So about the tee. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Javier
and I connected via messenger and I described my idea. He was very interested
in being a part of the project and was very upbeat; As much as you can be
upbeat typing in messenger – a splash of emoticons helps. When we got to talk
by phone (I know, how antiquated) it become obvious this was meant to be.
Javier had designed a graphic a while ago with a Brazilian vibe, but one he never
did much with. At the same moment he opened the file to look at it, I messaged
him. Throughout my description of what I
thought I wanted, he knew his graphic belonged on <span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">this
t-shirt. I don’t want to be a spoiler and show everyone the design now, but
very soon.</span> It
commemorates Luciano’s heritage, his courage and his motto, “Difficult does not
mean impossible.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qX1QAYKlLHc/U3Qr4wvi3uI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/fx-73KAGFtU/s1600/3%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qX1QAYKlLHc/U3Qr4wvi3uI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/fx-73KAGFtU/s1600/3%5B1%5D.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You will love it and I expect you all to pick one up.
Proceeds from the sale of this shirt will help fund the remainder of his stay
in the US and Give the Gift of a Gi. Luciano steps on terra firma USA next
week, May 22<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span></sup>. He will be in the states until July 3<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">rd</span></sup>.
My first task will be to keep him from getting overwhelmed. I’m glad that I
have been studying Portuguese, but have the feeling that my “it’s fun to learn
new things” attitude will be tested. I will have to use my Portuguese to REALLY
communicate. The next 40 days will, no doubt, serve as two years of tutorial. O
que você vai fazer?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850224662393198323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7795794070392082423.post-77429148369875379402014-05-05T18:27:00.001-07:002014-05-05T18:27:18.164-07:00
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Inland Empire Latino Book and Family Festival<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On Saturday I had the privilege of attending the Inland
Empire Latino Book and Family Festival in San Bernardino, CA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>LBFF is an annual event, but this was the
first time it was held at the University in San Bernardino. It was also the
first time I ever attended or participated in a Latino book festival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was told the event had been growing each
year and needed a larger space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At one
point I heard that 6,000 people attended. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Upon arrival I checked in to get my author’s badge and was
shown the space I could use to display my book. It was a space shared by other
“Award Winner Authors” of the International Latino Book Awards, part of Latino
Literacy Now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was at this book
festival because the Portuguese version of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Flowing
with the Go</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Indo com o Fluxo</i>,
won an award in the Non-fiction Books in Portuguese category. It was a small
category in comparison to the number of non-Portuguese books. Most of the books
were written in Spanish, were translated into or from Spanish to English, were
written by authors of Latino heritage or were about topics related to Latino
culture. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The event was held on May 3<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">rd</span></sup>; close enough to
May 5<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> to be publicized as having a Cinco de Mayo flair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Billed also as a family festival there were
booths for kids – face painting, crafts and balloons. The center stage, surrounded
by the author booths and booths of Latino art, was active all day with cultural
dancers and musicians as well as children receiving awards for art, poetry and
story entries they had written.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of
the reasons I chose to attend the LBFF was that I had the opportunity to sit on
a panel. I joined two other women speaking on The Writing Process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t standing room only by any means,
but it was a nice addition to being at the festival. My two favorite moments
were first when the moderator asked each of us to share how our Latina heritage
played a role in the creation of our books – I’m not a Latina, and I can’t
speak Spanish OR Portuguese, so I played that one off with humor, and secondly
when the moderator and an audience member got in a disagreement about “labeling”.
The audience member did not like the term Latino, or Hispanic, but preferred
Chicano.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He quite confidently explained
why despite eye-rolling from the moderator who himself had an impressive resume
and his own opinion on the topic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(The
audience member went so far as to declare that the event should be called the
Chicano Book and Family Festival.) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not
having any label to defend, I found the confrontation entertaining and
educational. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zOb6XpDsjkQ/U2g6TmGbD5I/AAAAAAAAATU/PuumE3RaoGE/s1600/LBFF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zOb6XpDsjkQ/U2g6TmGbD5I/AAAAAAAAATU/PuumE3RaoGE/s1600/LBFF.jpg" height="248" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I actually had a third favorite moment and that was having
two of my best southern California girlfriends at the event to support and
heckle me. They had never been to a book festival before, but that didn’t stop
them from posing as my entourage so they could get the free food in the author’s
lounge. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure the day was enough
to have them become book festival groupies, but I loved that they were there
and that we could post-function in Temecula (which is wine country in case you
don’t know the place).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850224662393198323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7795794070392082423.post-86280222944759999962014-05-05T11:13:00.003-07:002014-05-05T17:08:05.305-07:00Still Waiting for His Visa<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I dislike that I have to make a correction already, but my
enthusiasm misled me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luciano does not
yet have his visa. The paperwork I saw last week was the receipt for the visa
application. Luciano still needs to go to the embassy for an interview to get
the visa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is so different than the
visa process I use here in the United States where I just get a money order and
mail it to Travisa in San Francisco and they do it all for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, I remain happy and optimistic that I
will get word of his visa finalization any day now. Once we have the visa we
can decide when Luciano will arrive. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Luciano will have more than the issue of competing at Worlds
to deal with. At least I think these are issues of concern:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(1)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Culture shock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This trip will present a multitude of “firsts” for Luciano. First plane
ride, first time in America where everything is bigger, faster, and in greater
abundance. Different food (and more food available than he has ever known) and
the language barrier. I am reminded of my first trip to Brazil where the
language barrier was a big shock. I plan to have someone more fluent in
Portuguese than myself available to make him more comfortable. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Brazil having less food available and food
that was fresh and unprocessed was a huge bonus for me! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(2)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jet lag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I want him on the west coast, at minimum, a few days before the
tournament. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My issues – come on, they are of no-less importance than
his, right?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(1)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fly into Seattle or Southern California? Flying
Luciano into Seattle makes things a lot easier on me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can pick him up, he can train at my
gym<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(FosterBJJ), and then we go to
Worlds later in the week. As a blue belt he won’t compete until Thursday or
Friday according to the schedule.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AND if
I fly him back to Brazil from Seattle then I can send a couple of bags of
donated gis with him. [It is always my intention to send donated gis with
people I know traveling to Brazil. In fact I may time my trip to Brazil so that
I depart with him so I can also bring gis and get a car to bring him home and
deliver gis.]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(2)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am still working when Worlds rolls around.
This will really cramp my style. Our school year does not finish until June 18.
However, I have already told myself that this is a meaningful occasion and
certainly worthy of missing work for. Right? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I already have many people to thank as these preparations
continue; Jean, for handling all of the details in Brazil. I could not do this
without him;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kerstin Pakter and Hyperfly
(</span><a href="http://www.doordie.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.doordie.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">) who has not hesitated to
be of assistance. Hyperfly will donate a new gi to Luciano to wear in
competition as well as Hyperfly gear to look swag in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hyperfly will also pay his registration fee; Kris
Shaw and BJJ Legends magazine who is helping promote this endeavor and is a
great sounding board for me; Giva Santana who has offered to coach Luciano at
the tournament and offered training space at Lotus Club Irvine; Team Foster who
eagerly awaits Luciano’s arrival and the opportunity to introduce him to some
Pacific Northwest BJJ. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Keepa you fingas crossed about da visa! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850224662393198323noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7795794070392082423.post-70335834752530358152014-05-01T11:28:00.001-07:002014-05-01T11:28:40.046-07:00A Cuppla Steps Closer to His Dream
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A Chance to Compete<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Luciano, the young Jiu-Jitsu fighter from Japeri, Rio de
Janeiro will get to fulfill a life’s dream: to come to the United States and
compete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>JamminBJJ is thrilled to be a
part of this endeavor, although it has been a bit of a bumpy ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me tell you how all of this started. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J_3H-O51fPI/U2J-SOxLt-I/AAAAAAAAASc/5qBCYHFrbaU/s1600/pic1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J_3H-O51fPI/U2J-SOxLt-I/AAAAAAAAASc/5qBCYHFrbaU/s1600/pic1.jpeg" height="320" width="202" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You met Luciano in a previous blog where I introduced him as
an inspiration and symbol of resiliency. He is twenty-seven, a blue belt, a
tenacious competitor (I rolled with him) <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i>
a double-arm amputee. Those are the characteristics you see. What you may not
know is that Luciano is soft-spoken, kind, determined and generous. He is
comfortable being a role model for the children at the Japeri gym whose lives
may not be as physically challenging as his, but are no less challenged with
the hardships of poverty. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My friend Jean, who has
been reaching out to assist Luciano for quite some time, suggested that I try
to find a way to help Luciano come to the United States. I mulled it over and
eventually did what I always do when I need answers, I went web surfing. I felt
confident that at the right time I would find a combination of key words that
would take me where I needed to go. Sure enough, I found The Challenged Athlete
Foundation (CAF). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>The mission of CAF </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">to provide opportunities and support to
people with physical disabilities to pursue an active lifestyle through
physical fitness and competitive athletics. The CAF believes that involvement
in sports at any level increases self-esteem, </i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">encourages
independence and enhances quality of life</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">. (</span><cite><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://www.challengedathletes.org/">www.<b>challengedathletes</b>.org/</a>) </span></cite></div>
<cite><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_O81KYM64DU/U2KRmPKDwKI/AAAAAAAAASw/3si-kJVG_IQ/s1600/CAF_ID_PremierColorLogoswRTM2inch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_O81KYM64DU/U2KRmPKDwKI/AAAAAAAAASw/3si-kJVG_IQ/s1600/CAF_ID_PremierColorLogoswRTM2inch.jpg" height="292" width="320" /></a></div>
</cite><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">CAF makes grants available in three categories one of which
is competition and travel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wrote to
CAF to ask if I could write a grant on Luciano’s behalf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For obvious reasons, he is not capable of
writing it himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add, limited
internet and phone access and does not speak English and you can see why they
agreed that this was a unique circumstance and allowed me to write the grant. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The writing process involved gathering information from
Luciano about various aspects of his life; details of sport participation,
financial situation, proof of disability (a picture was not enough, this
required a doctor’s note), volunteer work, coach’s letter and his goals and
dreams. I have to acknowledge the assistance of Jean here. Without his tireless
efforts to find and communicate with Luciano – which included translating all
the questions I needed answered, hounding Luciano to gather the necessary
paperwork, scan the paperwork and send it to me - the grant would never have
gotten completed. Jean also insisted that Luciano get a passport, just in case
– good idea. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last week I found out that Luciano received a grant of
$1,500 to travel to the United States and compete at the BJJ World
Championships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Celebrate here) The
tournament starts May 28<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>. Let the scrambling begin! The grant
awards were to be announced in early April. I tried to not think about it, but
as the middle of April arrived I was wondering why I hadn’t heard anything and
thought that perhaps he would not receive a grant. As it turned out, the
recipient letter and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the check</i> were
mailed to Brazil. ** I must interject here that mailing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">anything</i> to Brazil bears a 50% chance that it will (a) never arrive
or (b) arrive months after it was sent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That these papers made into a favela in Japeri can only mean that Carly
is again guiding these efforts. (Thanks, babe.)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p5ah43A2E94/U2J8ttvSwFI/AAAAAAAAASQ/r2_tWaVrcLc/s1600/logo%5B1%5D.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p5ah43A2E94/U2J8ttvSwFI/AAAAAAAAASQ/r2_tWaVrcLc/s1600/logo%5B1%5D.png" height="118" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thrilled that Luciano got the grant, I was now pressed to
figure out how someone without a bank account was going to deposit a check and
then buy an airline ticket without a bank card. After a few complex ideas were
tossed back and forth with Brazil, I wrote CAF and asked if they would be able
to cancel the check and then make it out to me. The people at CAF completely
understood and agreed that the idea made sense. The drawback? Cancelling and
reissuing a check involves the finance department, two signatures and two weeks
to arrive. Yikes. Fortunately I had some funds from a JamminBJJ fundraiser (Thank
you, FosterBJJ) to cover the costs until the check arrives. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today I found out that Luciano got his visa so I am
breathing easier. Next major step is deciding when to have him arrive and
purchasing a ticket. Minor steps? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>….
Stay tuned for the next blog</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iKYJ9V_TmUM/U2KSPE8NbfI/AAAAAAAAAS0/2Z3lwZHYLRA/s1600/JamminBJJ_Logo_white_bg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iKYJ9V_TmUM/U2KSPE8NbfI/AAAAAAAAAS0/2Z3lwZHYLRA/s1600/JamminBJJ_Logo_white_bg.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850224662393198323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7795794070392082423.post-13014432778886060152014-04-14T11:06:00.000-07:002014-04-14T11:06:14.117-07:00New Belt, New Beginning
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A New Belt, A New Beginning<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On April 9, 2014 I was awarded my purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
(BJJ). There are five belts, or ranks, in Jiu-Jitsu. You begin with white, then
blue, purple, brown and finally black. How long you stay at any one rank
depends entirely on subjective assessment from your instructor. Generally
speaking, the purple belt is the level where a student begins to refine their
technique and takes on more responsibility for assisting students of lower
rank. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The date of my promotion was just three days before the
anniversary of my daughter’s death. I had been having a rough week. I almost
didn’t go in to train that night. I was caught between those feelings of, “I
want to be alone”, and “I want to be with friends.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The gym has served as my sanctuary many times
and my teammates always have my back, so in the end I chose to go and train. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure enough, the emotional turmoil of anticipating
a day I wanted to forget subsided after rolling myself in a sweaty glow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">About six years ago, a year and a half after I lost my
daughter, BJJ found me; a broken-down, out-of-shape, grieving mother who had
given up hope of ever being happy again. I had previously never participated in
a martial art. Little did I know, but the tenets of this martial art, my
coaches and my teammates would help me navigate the debilitating and unmapped
road of my despair. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>BJJ was a new
beginning, my beginning to heal. I reflected upon this when I returned home
that night to do two things; (1) show off my brand-new belt to my family, and
(2) place my blue belt above my daughter’s picture. My blue belt sits beside my
white belt, two symbols of separate yet convergent journeys. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In my book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Flowing
with the Go: A Jiu-Jitsu Journey of the Soul</i>, my memoir ends with these
words, “My promotion to blue belt was not my goal, but when Coach tied that
belt around my waist, I knew that my journey was a worthy one. And when he took
my white belt and tied it in a knot so that it could not be worn again, I
finally had a measure of my journey. My most difficult days and my struggles to
simply survive were behind me, and I could not go back there again.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Surviving grief has taught me that every ending is a new
beginning waiting to be noticed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sWJMo-ueCLc/U0wjdl1yEVI/AAAAAAAAARE/WdvNvkdgjgc/s1600/Two+Belts+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sWJMo-ueCLc/U0wjdl1yEVI/AAAAAAAAARE/WdvNvkdgjgc/s1600/Two+Belts+pic.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850224662393198323noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7795794070392082423.post-52420585088723020922013-11-07T21:57:00.001-08:002013-11-07T21:57:18.943-08:00
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Luciano <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was introduced to Luciano by my friend Jean in 2012. At
the time, Luciano was a young man who touched Jean’s heart with his story, his
pride, and his dedication to the sport they shared, Jiu-jitsu.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I too, would be touched by these attributes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 2012 Luciano was training jiu-jitsu in a tattered karate
gi. Jean made a connection with Hyperfly (</span><a href="http://www.doordie.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.doordie.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and they donated a new gi for him to wear.
Luciano competed in this gi during the September 2012 Copa BJJ tournament. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Carly Stowell Foundation provided support
and sponsorship for this tournament. Over 350 children from the Projetos Social
in Rio were able to attend. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EE196v6On3M/Unx70rjyHrI/AAAAAAAAANQ/uACeFt54Q5Q/s1600/Luciano2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EE196v6On3M/Unx70rjyHrI/AAAAAAAAANQ/uACeFt54Q5Q/s320/Luciano2.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4109N5IqkmY/Unx7xVeoGhI/AAAAAAAAANM/qUwE4aKiiLs/s1600/Luciano1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4109N5IqkmY/Unx7xVeoGhI/AAAAAAAAANM/qUwE4aKiiLs/s320/Luciano1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></span></v:shapetype></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I returned to Rio de Janeiro in August 2013 I was
reacquainted with Luciano. We trained together at Top Brother gym in the
municipality of Meier. Here is more of his story. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: blue; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><v:shape alt="File:Brasão de Japeri.svg" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Bras%C3%A3o_de_Japeri.svg" id="Picture_x0020_2" o:button="t" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" style="height: 114.75pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 96pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<v:fill o:detectmouseclick="t">
<v:imagedata o:title="Brasão de Japeri" src="file:///C:\Users\STOWEE~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image007.png">
</v:imagedata></v:fill></span></v:shape></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Luciano hails from Japeri, a neighborhood in southeast Rio
de Janeiro. He describes his situation there as “poor, small and
difficult.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Japeri favela atmosphere
is violent and bears the unfortunate stigma, in Luciano’s words, of being “the
most miserable municipality with the most AIDS.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OfWkvXh5mo8/Unx7tGEw3RI/AAAAAAAAANE/7qjYpe8lFag/s1600/Japeri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OfWkvXh5mo8/Unx7tGEw3RI/AAAAAAAAANE/7qjYpe8lFag/s1600/Japeri.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To train at the gym in Meier, Luciano travels two and a half
hours by bus. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has been training for
four years and is currently a second degree blue belt. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luciano has one of the most ferocious guards I
have encountered. He is a tenacious grappler despite having no arms below the
elbow. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For years, Luciano’s disability
kept him from participating in the common activities that kept his peers
engaged throughout the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jiu-jitsu
found him when he went to watch a friend train. Master Cezar Guimaraes (Cashquinha)
had developed a project in Japeri to keep children and teenagers off of the
streets. Luciano, with little else to do, went along to watch his friend, but
shied from participation because he was ashamed of his scars and missing limbs.
One day his friend dragged him onto the mat and started to play-grapple with
him. His friend showed him what it felt like to train. Luciano was hooked. He
began training and never looked back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7sV4OFjgjCA/Unx6Ivyz1MI/AAAAAAAAAM4/ey5uveLggt0/s1600/Luciano+e+eu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7sV4OFjgjCA/Unx6Ivyz1MI/AAAAAAAAAM4/ey5uveLggt0/s320/Luciano+e+eu.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For a long time, Luciano didn’t look forward. He was
disabled at a very young age and he had always known life to be difficult. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luciano was four months old when his mother
left him in the care of his alcoholic grandfather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That evening there was a power failure and
his grandfather, who had been drinking, lit several candles in the home. Luciano
was sleeping on a cot when a candle fell over and started a fire. His
grandfather ran from the home and was too drunk to remember that Luciano was in
the cot. Luciano had third degree burns on his arms and serious burns on his
head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His arms were amputated at the
elbow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Luciano’s family generates a meager income reselling fruit
and vegetables in their neighborhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Brazilian government provides a small family benefit by way of the
social program <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bolsa Familia</i>; the
equivalence of $35 USD per month<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">(1)</span></sup>. In February 2011 26% of the
Brazilian population received assistance through <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bolsa Familia</i><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">(2).</span></sup><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Brazil has a program for person with disabilities, The Continuous Cash
Benefit Programme<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">(3)</span></sup> (BPC, Beneficio de Prestação Continuada),
however Luciano does not receive any funds through this program. Why he does
not receive benefits through this program is unknown to me, but dissemination
of information about this program is said to be a weak point. The number of
steps a recipient must go through to be approved also appears cumbersome. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Despite the daily challenges Luciano faces he maintains a
positive attitude. Where he once would not run shirtless in the street or go
without a hat and show his scarring, he now does many things “like a normal
person”, such as play soccer and ride a bike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He expressed his attitude this way, “Every day I have respect for
everyone, no matter who, especially for children. I want to show that people
with disabilities, there is no difficulty they cannot do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">During my visit in August 2013, Jean and I presented Luciano
with a small backpack of clothes; Jordan basketball shorts my sons had
outgrown, a pair of Nikes and some t-shirts. He was stunned and appreciative,
thanking us over and over again. The look on his face after he asked, “I can
keep the bag?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and we smiled and said,
“Yes, of course”, is one of my fondest memories of the trip. To help someone
who is genuinely grateful and who finds joy in the community of jiu-jitsu was
an honor for us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Luciano’s goals are not unlike those of any jiu-jitsu
competitor, “to be a champion.” He has already placed second and third in
tournaments. The barriers people place upon him are motivation to succeed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Many people think that I am not able to give
all my best, but I can show in the way I train that one day I can achieve my
goal to be a champion.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">[In Brazil] 30% of
persons with disabilities receive less than the minimum wage.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div align="right" style="background: white; text-align: right;">
<em><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">International Disability Rights Monitor, ‘Regional Report
of the Americas’, 2004</span></em><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">About 80-90% of persons
with disabilities are unemployed or outside the work force. Most of those who
have jobs receive little or no monetary remuneration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="right" style="background: white; text-align: right;">
<em><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">World Bank, ‘Disability and inclusive development: Latin
America and the Caribbean’, 2004</span></em><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">(1)Decree nº 5.209, de 17 de
setembro de 2004 – Regulates a Law-010.836-2004 – Bolsa Família Program.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">(2)</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> </span><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/feb/21/social-protection-innovation-un"><span lang="EN" style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/feb/21/social-protection-innovation-un</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">(3) Targeted Cash Transfer
Programmes in Brazil: BPC and Bolsa Familia. June 2008. International Poverty
Centre<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850224662393198323noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7795794070392082423.post-32973453952383211572013-10-04T10:52:00.003-07:002013-10-04T10:52:40.983-07:00Hosting BJJ Seminars for Kids<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oj-V42GiErM/Uk78WjYT23I/AAAAAAAAAMM/nKm_fAJJXWo/s1600/SeminarPosterFinal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oj-V42GiErM/Uk78WjYT23I/AAAAAAAAAMM/nKm_fAJJXWo/s320/SeminarPosterFinal.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
All proceeds benefit the non-profit Give the Gift of a Gi program. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e7D_OSwanJQ/Uk78rio--xI/AAAAAAAAAMU/ZMEDSoXpzCk/s1600/T+Shirt+Front+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e7D_OSwanJQ/Uk78rio--xI/AAAAAAAAAMU/ZMEDSoXpzCk/s320/T+Shirt+Front+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Official Limited Edition Meerkatsu t-shirts available.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
$25 each or $15 for seminar registrants. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Register at <a href="http://www.carlystowellfoundation.org/">www.carlystowellfoundation.org</a> Look Jammin BJJ under the "Clubs" button. Questions or to let me kow you will be ordering a t-shirt; <a href="mailto:contact@jamminbjj.org">contact@jamminbjj.org</a> or <a href="mailto:cdsfoundation21@gmail.com">cdsfoundation21@gmail.com</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
T-shirt purchase via Paypal will be available at JamminBjj.org next week. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Thank you Meerkatsu for the artwork, and Fenom Kimonos for making the poster.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.meerkatsu.com/">www.meerkatsu.com</a> <a href="http://www.fenomkimonos.com/">www.fenomkimonos.com</a></div>
<br />Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850224662393198323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7795794070392082423.post-91755760493602571622013-09-08T10:39:00.000-07:002013-09-08T10:39:41.717-07:00Finding a Parallel Universe in Rio<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finding a Parallel Universe in Rio<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I don’t think I’ll be able to write my meaningful stories
about altruism and kids in Brazil until I deal with what is clearly my
unresolved issue with driving and, most specifically, parking in Rio. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A few clarifications and one confession are necessary before
I begin my writing therapy session. Jean and I are the best of friends, but we
disagree like siblings or opposing zodiac signs or something. Not Lou Pinella
and Mark Wegner level, think more like Howard and Howie on America’s Got
Talent. It’s very important to learn to talk to people who disagree with you;
but the primer doesn’t cover “Learning to disagree nicely when you don’t speak
the same language.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8gxP88NdS-Y/UiypC_5BnqI/AAAAAAAAAJs/iA9I_Pn1V_c/s1600/Good+buddies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="159" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8gxP88NdS-Y/UiypC_5BnqI/AAAAAAAAAJs/iA9I_Pn1V_c/s320/Good+buddies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Jean and I on Pedra Bonita above Rio de Janeiro</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
And my confession? I confess to swearing in front of my son
on more than one occasion during the experiences I am about to describe. (Good
thing we had that, “What Mom says in Brazil stays in Brazil talk before we
left”)</div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1gyR75oWqsg/Uiypxl4mqCI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/PZ5pRQ2S7KA/s1600/Carbs+in+car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1gyR75oWqsg/Uiypxl4mqCI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/PZ5pRQ2S7KA/s320/Carbs+in+car.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Yeah, whatever you say Mom.”</span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
OK, I have another confession. I don’t like to parallel
park. I’m going to call it p-parking. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
don’t like to p-park because I’m really, really bad at it. Let’s see, I’ve been
driving for say 25 years and I’ve actually p-parked maybe 12 times. And to be
fair it takes me about 15 minutes to do it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I have spent maybe 180 minutes of my
driving life p-parking. Truthfully, I have been known to circle Seattle blocks
for up 45 minutes waiting for a space I could just pull in to. I have abandoned
outings to avoid p-parking downtown. And one time I dropped Chuck and the kids
off at Key Arena for a Storm game so I could run an errand. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my haste I forgot that I was driving the
behemoth Expedition which quadrupled my p-parking anxiety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made a lousy attempt to p-park near the
Key; one that left the car crooked and two feet from the curb. I ran into the
Key, found Chuck in the stands, handed him the keys and said, “You’re going to
have to go re-park the car before we get a ticket.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">PART I<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">So now I’m in Rio de Janeiro, in a stick shift Fiat, where
lanes, red lights and even head lights are optional. There are curb to curb
cars in the streets all day and night and I never saw a parking garage. I had to
wonder where the valet parking attendants at the big restaurants took the cars.
Were they doing their share to reduce unemployment by hiring one driver per car
to just circle and circle until the owner was ready to leave? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Copacabana. We are going to Jean’s Grand’s apartment. It’s
a lovely place at the bottom of a hill on the crossroad of very busy street.
The spaces available for a few lucky residents are all taken so we begin our
ascent of the hill. The road is bumpy, cobblestone, and curves like a spiral
staircase behind the building at a calf-burning-Buns-of-Steel incline. There is
only parking on the right side because the road is two cars wide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our eyes are straining in the night light, “Dare
ees one,” Jean points to an area I consider more appropriate for a Smart car.
“No way,” I reply, wiping the sweat from my palms and continuing upward. Nada,
nada, nada.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We reach the dead end at the
top. “We haff to go back to dee nuther space,” Jean insists. I wanted to park
illegally, but all those spots are taken too. My head is hanging because I know
what I have to do. I get the car turned around and we head back. Remember traffic
rules are optional in Rio so it doesn’t matter that I’m facing “the wrong” way.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Jean gets out so that he can give me instructions. “I can
help joo to do. Believe it to me.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Well, I have to believe in something, so I pull alongside
the forward car and curse because I have to employ the emergency brake so I can
shift into reverse. “Ok, Ok, come back now,” he instructs. “Easy.” I’m trying
to time releasing the emergency brake with engaging the clutch, it’s humid, I’m
sweaty, I don’t have AC,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m praying
another car won’t come up the hill and I apply a really heavy foot and
overshoot my back up distance. No amount of cranking the steering wheel will
save this attempt, but the lack of power steering is giving me a good shoulder
workout.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">I hear the heavy sigh, “No, joo haff to go forward ahh-gen.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see hand gestures that beg me to turn my
wheels the other way. I comply and roll forward, emergency brake, reverse gear,
anxiety… check.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time I crank the
wheel right after I release the brake and back up onto the curb. Jean’s lips
are pursed and while I’m certain he was cursing under his breath in Portuguese,
in English he says calmly, “Ok good, good. Now turn dee wheel dis way.” Hands
are circling. I feel like a dog being taught to roll over. “Ok good, now
forward, slow…just a leetle.” “Now baaaack, back.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m getting that second set of shoulder
exercises in and I’m struggling with, “You can do this”, “you will not cry,” and
“please, can I just roll down the hill and look for another space? Please? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll sleep in the car.” The pressure!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I finally decide that I am just going to have to
use the car in front of me as a bookend despite Jean’s protestations. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve got maybe six inches of space between
their bumper and mine to not roll into before I back up. I had to tap. Yeah, I
tapped out to thinking I could do it, so I literally tapped their bumper. </span>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Jean’s reaction might lead you to believe I should have
gotten collision coverage on the rental, but it was just a Seattle parking love
tap in my book.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>We were in. I grabbed my bag and appreciated the mild pat on
the back, but due to my trauma-induced speechlessness I could not rebut our
disagreement about why such event should not have made me stressed and unfocused.
Because you know, if I would just “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">relaxe!</i>”
and “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ouça</i>!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(relax and listen) and not be so <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">teimoso</i> (stubborn) the car would
practically park itself. Who knew?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
dinner my hands were shaking and my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">feijoada</i>
kept falling off my fork. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">PART II<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My second parking experience was actually invigorating
because it did not exist in a parallel universe. Instead it allowed me to let
loose with my inner Road Warrior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are
now in Taquara on our way to the family apartment. The traffic is not as crazy
as in Copacabana, but Taquara is out where construction for the impending
Olympic Games is taking place, so there are detours and dump trucks and cones
and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">trabalhadores no rodovia</i> (road
workers) everywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The residential
roads are also spotted with “sleeping policemen” (speed bumps) that haven’t
been painted in who knows how long, and are strategically hidden in shady spots
on the road where they “wake up” by scratching the undercarriage or by causing
you to get air before you see them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is no parking lot for the apartment. Instead people
just jump the curb and park on the dirt between the security wall, the sidewalk
and the road. In order to do this I have to drive past the apartment to an
intersection where I make a wide loop to turn around so I am on the same side
as the apartment. This loop also allows me to gather up speed to jump the curb.
This is very exciting for someone who feels rogue when she cuts through empty
parking lot spaces without going all the way around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And just so you know, sometimes I had to jump
the curb <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i> squeeze in between other
cars <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i> avoid a tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m practically a stunt woman!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Too bad I don’t have pictures or video of this endeavor. I
do have this photo however. I saw this creepy symbol in several places about
the town. It was on the side of the building that marked the intersection where
I would make my wide loop back to park. “Oooh, is that a gang symbol?” I ask. “I
see it all over the town marking territory.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m thinking I’m all street smart and cool. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WT0M5XV16BI/Uiyr9pXnS9I/AAAAAAAAAKA/R9SJHO7GKb8/s1600/evil+eye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WT0M5XV16BI/Uiyr9pXnS9I/AAAAAAAAAKA/R9SJHO7GKb8/s320/evil+eye.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> "No, that is so the garbage men know where to stop.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
PART III.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Back to the parallel universe. <o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
My other significant parking story took place on the last
day before I was to leave Brazil. We are back in Copacabana. ALL the spaces on
the hill behind the apartment building are taken. I will have to park on the
street. But hey, it’s daylight and it’s flat… no problem, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wrong. The statement I heard over and over as
I got introduced to Brazil through Jean reverberates in my head, “Things are
difficult in Brazil.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6G9RFTR-MVU/UiytVLy997I/AAAAAAAAAKM/51CqyCswKHc/s1600/brazil+flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6G9RFTR-MVU/UiytVLy997I/AAAAAAAAAKM/51CqyCswKHc/s1600/brazil+flag.jpg" /></a><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>See, it says that right here on their flag.</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p></o:p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rr_xWJ36NnI/Uiyv-euv6bI/AAAAAAAAAKc/51WBYV3-3uI/s1600/small+arrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rr_xWJ36NnI/Uiyv-euv6bI/AAAAAAAAAKc/51WBYV3-3uI/s1600/small+arrow.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p>Yes, they are, and Jean seems to think I possess a strong
propensity for making them more difficult. <o:p></o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>Again, the space I am provided leaves no room for error. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, when you park on the main streets, there is another
player.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you hover near a space
deciding if you have the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">culhoes</i> to
park there, someone working covert ops will spy you and appear unknowingly at
your window to charge you a few <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">reias</i>.
Great, another witness to my incompetence. Jean and Carson exit the vehicle.
Jean again assumes the role of chief parking instructor. “Go forward, then
back.” I comply, but wait too long to turn the wheels and the car won’t fit. I
get ready to pull forward, but we are on a busy street and now I have to wait
and time the traffic and try to ignore the impatient taxi drivers and people
who would have gotten into the spot on their first try. I go forward and back and
miss again, and Jean, in between fervent gesticulations directed at me, is
talking to the parking guerilla who is laughing. All I caught was the phrase
“…Americana…” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Go ahh-gen forward, not so far.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I interpret this as not so far away from the
forward car, so I pull up and am now barely a side-mirror’s distance from the
car beside me. This was apparently not where I was supposed to be because I
have guerrilla in front of me and Jean at my window saying, “What joo do-een?
Joo too close! Joo try-een to crash dee car?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am straddling that fence between getting really pissed off (Think:
“This is your stinking country, why the F aren’t you driving?”) and having a
breakdown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I back up, slowly, turn the
wheels one way, then the other, go forward, then back, over and over. Somewhere
in the middle of all this guerilla offered to park the car for me, but I was
not let in on that deal, or I just didn’t catch the Portuguese. I would have
handed over the keys and twenty bucks in a heartbeat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finally it’s adequate. I think guerilla had other people to
intimidate and wanted to move on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
getting the silent treatment from Jean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Ok,” I say. “Let’s just not have this. It’s my last day here. I’m a
grown-up. I have accepted my deficiencies.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>[In addition to being unable to parallel park, I am directionally
impaired, cannot work our TV remote(s) and I treat my car like a mini-storage
(Chuck would say a landfill, but just because I once pulled 45 water bottles
from behind the seat – don’t judge).] <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jean is giving me the stink eye. He takes a deep breath
which I have learned is his way of bracing his patience against the error of my
ways. “Why joo trying to crash dee car? Joo want to use your money for
dat?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look...”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rear corner is sticking out a little. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Jeez,” I start to disagree with him. “I was not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">trying</i> to …”. “I’m just not good…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another deep breath from Jean, “I am go-een to haff to say dis
to joo een Portuguese.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I know I am
really in for it. During my travels I have learned that there are some things
that only have real meaning if they are said in Portuguese. They just don’t
translate well. I commence to get a Portuguese tongue lashing right there on
the sidewalk. He knows I understand way more Portuguese than I can speak. [This
is the abridged version minus the slang that is not suitable for this dialogue],
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Digo
simples , ‘frente, em seguida, de volta. Frente e volta. Gire a roda. Direita,
depois à esquerda. Facil! Frente e volta. Gire a roda. Mas você não escuta.’
Entendeu?”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sim, entendi.” </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I understand. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still don’t think I was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">trying</i> to park badly … but I’m going to let it go. We must not
personalize disagreement. I am reminded of Chapter 23 of my book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Flowing with the Go</i>, “Believe in the Goodwill
of Your Instructor”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Brazil, Jean is
my instructor. I know he has my best interests in mind. He always put the
safety of Carson and myself above all else and worked very hard to make sure
our trip went as according to plan <em>as is possible</em> in Brazil. I’m sure I cannot
possibly live a full and complete life if I remain unable to parallel park.
It’s all about goodwill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">EPILOGUE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The day I got back home I went to the store and fought my
instinct to find a pull-in parking space. I intentionally found a place to
parallel park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, the space was twice
the length of my car, my car is an automatic with power steering, it was flat,
daylight, and no one was watching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
only took me two tries! I celebrated this small victory by immediately
messaging Jean. I felt like I got my homework paper put on the refrigerator
door. Maybe that ditty about being life-long-learners has some merit. We shall
see. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br /></div>
</o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br /></div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br /></div>
</span></span>
<br />Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850224662393198323noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7795794070392082423.post-71411974052749156362013-09-03T12:10:00.000-07:002013-09-03T12:10:05.930-07:00<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Road to Canta Galo<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I was talking about my days in Rio with my host. Our
outlooks differed on what constituted a “good” day or a “bad” day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could not agree to disagree (I don’t think
they do that in Brazil) so I ended our discussion by telling him that in their
own way each day was a gift, but that some would take longer to unwrap than
others. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">One such gift was my work with the team at Canta Galo. The
team at Canta Galo is associated with Checkmat and Equipe VB (Vieiro Brothers).
Since this is the team I trained with last year, they were the first kids we
coordinated assistance for. I was told that there were six boys in need of our
help. The boys filled out some paperwork I had sent so I had their pictures and
gi sizes before I left for Rio. Kerstin Pakter of Hyperfly agreed to donate new
gis for these boys. I agreed to pay their registration fee to compete in the
Rio Festival Kids BJJ tournament. In what would become a familiar ending to
many acts Brazilian – our efforts did not finish the way we anticipated they
would,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but changed several times along
the way, and I seemed to be the only one who did not expect this to happen and
find it a bit disturbing. On this trip I was told on two separate occasions
that Americans have a hard time in Brazil because we are too scheduled and
believe that we have to follow the rules. Oh! Is that what it is? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">To keep myself calm through all the changes in protocol, I
would tell myself that I was there to help kids, that was all that mattered,
and whatever route to doing that was necessary, that was the acceptable
route.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somehow my sponsorship was
stretched to register ten kids and buy them lunch. This was a good deal for me
and a vivid example of the Brazilian art of negotiation. This art would come into
play on several occasions and I was glad to reap its benefits. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Two days before the tournament we met the youth assistant
coach, Kaynan, in the Copacabana Checkmat gym to hand over the gis for the
kids. He had walked for over an hour to get there and meet us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After talking and watching some training that
was going on, we were ready to get on our way. Kaynan, however, now had a very
large and heavy package to carry home. It seemed unreasonable to me that he had
to carry it all the way home. The public bus did not travel to his home so I offered
to get him a taxi. What happened next was my son’s first exposure to quasi-discrimination.
The taxi driver did not want to drive into the Canta Galo favela. A few days
later I would understand the driver’s hesitation because I would drive into
Canta Galo. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Rio Festival Kids tournament was great fun and very well
organized. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Parents and kids are similar
no matter where you go. Parents had their cameras and cell phones out to
capture the special day. Kids showed up with bed head, some forgot their belts
or couldn’t tie their belt, snacks were eaten, high fives given, the winners
puffed out their hairless chests, the youngest winners collected hardware and
quickly left their gi in a pile to takeoff chasing their friends and siblings
through the stands. I especially liked the introduction and warm up for the
littlest competitors. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tournament
coordinator gave a rousing and interactive opening speech to the children. It
was funny when I asked my friend what the guy was saying and my friend
responded to me in Portuguese.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked
at him with quizzical eyes, “That was no help you ding-dong. I heard it that
way the first time.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The little kids were going to fight first, ages<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>five and six. They sat in a long row the
width of the mats. I thought it was clever of the coordinator to call them out
by gi color to make three groups of kids. They would hop to the center of the
mats and back, bear crawl, forward roll and alligator crawl – adorable little
gi covered bottoms high in the air. The athletic ones showing off, the
not-so-athletic ones coming in last or not knowing what to do; a few needed
help, some cried. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kids are kids in any
country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fighters we sponsored, 6
with their new gis and the four others that were add-ons, all fought well. All
but one took gold. I loved getting hugs and taking pictures with them, some on
the medal stand and some in the bleachers. It felt wonderful to know that I
played a small part in their success that day. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MxJzP-ZhCyU/UiYs7YpBUOI/AAAAAAAAAIY/riIp0eI20dI/s1600/5Hyperflyguys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MxJzP-ZhCyU/UiYs7YpBUOI/AAAAAAAAAIY/riIp0eI20dI/s320/5Hyperflyguys.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Two
days after the tournament our plan was to travel to Canta Galo to see all the
boys together, competitors and their teammates, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in the gym and take some pictures. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me begin this tale by saying that I had
decided to rent a car while we were in Rio so that Carson would not have to
travel on the public bus for several hours a day. (So instead he was in a car
for a smidgen less than several hours a day. At least he did not have to
stand). I thought nothing of it until I got in the car and saw that it was a
stick shift and realized we had miscommunicated about my want of air
conditioning. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cH5MucKdQCk/UiYs5TxDpLI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/DsgW-57bJN4/s1600/Little+monster+warmup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cH5MucKdQCk/UiYs5TxDpLI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/DsgW-57bJN4/s320/Little+monster+warmup.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
In Rio there are way too many cars on the road, crappy roads
with lane lines that mean nothing, too much construction, optional traffic
rules, motorcyclists passing between cars on the left and right, buses that
think they own the road, pedestrians that cross when and where they want and
horns that never stop honking. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Driving
in Rio made the stress of a little US road rage seem juvenile. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0NmwB3CZzYU/UiYvaB96u4I/AAAAAAAAAJA/D2YxlZ0ZAsM/s1600/Canta+Galo+drawing2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0NmwB3CZzYU/UiYvaB96u4I/AAAAAAAAAJA/D2YxlZ0ZAsM/s320/Canta+Galo+drawing2.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">So, off we go to Canta Galo. I will try to describe this as
best I can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am providing an amateurish
drawing to help. The drawing is not to scale nor proper in perspective. All
scribbles that look like people, dogs, garbage or motorcycles should be
multiplied by at least five. You also need to provide your own street lamp
illumination, loud music, horns, people yelling and steep incline. Embrace your
new visual with a sense of chaos and you might be there in the car with me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d_TgSMiysME/UiYuyN8BYsI/AAAAAAAAAIw/2cK9fqaFo6E/s1600/motorcycle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d_TgSMiysME/UiYuyN8BYsI/AAAAAAAAAIw/2cK9fqaFo6E/s320/motorcycle.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">“Turn here.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where?
Up onto that narrow cobblestone road that is barely the width of my rented
Fiat? The road is narrow because there are parked cars, garbage, walls, people,
dogs, bikes and motorcycles on both sides of the street. I down shift into
first and start to turn toward the road just as another car cuts me off to
start up the hill in front of me. “Shit!” The road is very steep and now I have
to worry about the car in front of me stopping. Flashbacks of having to use my
emergency brake and ride the clutch are haunting me – it has been 15 years
since I’ve driven a stick. During a sparse moment of lucidity I did thank my
father (who taught Driver’s Ed on the side when I was growing up) for making my
brothers and I take our driving test on a stick because we lived in the SF Bay
Area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We bump along at a crawl to the crest of the hill. I stop
holding the breath I didn’t realize I was holding and stare forward at a modest
widening of the road and 6 policemen with rifles and guns. They weren’t pointed
at us, but I still found it unnerving. The police presence is to reduce the
danger from the drug trafficking. Apparently we could not park there, but I
could do what amounted to a 17 point turn to wedge our car off of the road so
some Brazilian negotiation could take place. After the police were told about
our reason for venturing to the top of the hill, they relented by saying that
we could leave the car but someone had to stay in it. Ummm, let’s go over that
again. I don’t know where the gym is and need to go and be in at least one
picture. I don’t want to stay in the car alone, but I don’t want to walk alone
with Carson to the gym either. If Jean takes me to the gym, then Carson will be
left in the car alone. We sent Jean to the gym to get a coach who we thought
would stay in the car. Well, the coach didn’t want to stay with the car either,
so more negotiations took place. I don’t know if money changed hands or not,
but the police finally moved an orange cone and I was allowed to move our car
to a semi-respectable parking space and leave it there unattended. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Whew. There is something about a gym, no matter how
decrepit, small or smelly that is comforting to an athlete. I was relieved to
walk into that shabby gym. There were mismatched puzzle mats on the floor,
padding falling off of the stained walls, water all over the floor by the
fountain, numerous flip flops to navigate between and a subtle odor of urine
creeping out from the direction of the bathroom. It was humid and crowded but
full of smiling, happy, sweaty training kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The first few mats we crossed were for the littlest fighters, up to six
years old. The coach had that exasperated tone one gets when herding cats, but
all the little monsters got to task. In the larger area were the other boys,
the boys we sponsored and the rest of the team. The coach was teaching an open
guard pass and the boys trained hard. During their break we got them together
for some pictures. It was hard to say good-bye. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The drive down the hill was a lot less stressful than my
drive to the top. Later I found myself wanting to go up there again. When you
make a connection with people, you want the connection to last. I knew I had
other gyms to visit on my trip and that I would be leaving Rio in ten more days.
I wanted those boys to know that I wouldn’t forget them and that their
jiu-jitsu joy and warrior spirits made a lasting impression on me.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span id="goog_1424411418"></span><span id="goog_1424411419"></span><br />Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850224662393198323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7795794070392082423.post-5884973530463343312013-08-28T00:35:00.000-07:002013-08-28T00:35:11.353-07:00The End of Your Arm"If you need a helping hand, there's one at the end of your arm."<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I arrived home from Brazil jet-lagged and bloated from
eating airplane snacks in another time zone. I also arrived home to my brothers
Alan and Mark, Al’s wife, Carrie, Mark’s friend, John, and Al’s friend, Vern.
There were airbeds across the living room floor, sheets on the futon and
carbohydrates all over the counter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
were in town to run the Cascade Crest 100 Ultra Marathon. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, three of them were running; Carrie,
running her first 100 miler, and Mark and John who have run Ultras but not the
Cascade Crest “Trail from Hell” Ultra. Al was going to pace for Carrie. That
means that at mile 53 he is allowed to run with her. Vern was here to “crew”
for Carrie and Al. For the uninitiated, to “crew” means that you drive ahead to
various aid stations to meet your runner and have things they might need;
different shoes, a dry shirt, their headlamp for the night part, duct tape for
blisters or personal snacks that make them happy (<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>how can these people be happy after putting in
double digit mileage?). There's a picture of Al all geared up and ready to pace.</span><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rmB8h6k1ZN0/Uh2dau5IZvI/AAAAAAAAAHM/G3zJsQHAKjw/s1600/Al.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rmB8h6k1ZN0/Uh2dau5IZvI/AAAAAAAAAHM/G3zJsQHAKjw/s200/Al.jpg" width="200" />h</a>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you did the math you figured out that Mark and John did
not have a pacer or a crew. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My son was
supposed to crew for Mark, but had to bail when he realized his school was
starting a week earlier than he thought (duh). So I said I would crew for Mark.
Saturday I was up early and off to the mountains. It was a grind, but I could
find a silver lining here and there; I occasionally had cell service, I was
thrilled I only got lost once, I didn’t miss Mark at a single station and I had
remembered to bring a flashlight. I also got a workout in, hiking 3 miles
downhill to an aid station and then 3 miles back up. Best part was that I got
to walk the up part with Mark and provide some conversation. He was running
without a pacer for the first time. From mile 73 to 76 I could distract him
from his self-inflicted misery. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think
I got about 3 hours of sleep that weekend. Here's a pic of my dirt-and-muck covered car for all of you non-believers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jhWh-MCLZHo/Uh2hL7dK3fI/AAAAAAAAAHk/Ci2uT5SJ400/s1600/IMG_20130827_192856_546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jhWh-MCLZHo/Uh2hL7dK3fI/AAAAAAAAAHk/Ci2uT5SJ400/s320/IMG_20130827_192856_546.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why you ask? Why did I do it? I could have whined and
claimed jet-lag and that unpacked bags were calling my name. <strong>I did it because I know
without hesitation that they would have done it for me.</strong> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">How did it end? Carrie crossed the finish line at 29 hrs 39
minutes. Mark at 31 hours. John dropped at mile 68 with a hip flexor that
flared up. Still not too shabby in my book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As I watched them remove their shoes and limp around in their
flip-flops, saw grime in the creases of their knees and elbows, heard comments
about the hornets that went on a rampage, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was amazed by this incredible group of
people. There are numerous books written on the mental and physical fortitude
of Ultra Marathoners. I won’t be writing about that silly stuff. Instead I will
offer this – it felt great to help. Even those times when I had driven an hour
and half to a station only to spend one minute watching Mark refill his water
bottles and squirt some GU in his mouth, my just being there with a smile and
encouragement meant a great deal to him. And I thought about those times when we
don’t let people help us. We are sabotaging a win-win situation. Helping is
mutually beneficial. Otherwise we make win-lose or lose-lose situations. Those
aren’t nearly as much fun. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8kCu1Edp9Ac/Uh2hFKMjBYI/AAAAAAAAAHY/5J1jgaUsDzs/s1600/CC100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8kCu1Edp9Ac/Uh2hFKMjBYI/AAAAAAAAAHY/5J1jgaUsDzs/s320/CC100.jpg" width="320" /></a><img border="0" src="" /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lf2sUg-hmv4/Uh2hYgsPF-I/AAAAAAAAAHs/VN6GCriLSgk/s1600/CarrieCC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lf2sUg-hmv4/Uh2hYgsPF-I/AAAAAAAAAHs/VN6GCriLSgk/s320/CarrieCC.jpg" width="180" /> </a></div>
Here I am with Mark. Why am I the one who looks like I've run 100 miles? Maybe because in some way (in my own head) I worked <em>almost</em> as hard. <br />
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And here's Carrie, looking adorable as always - ready to go run again. Note: Carrie said that the Cascade Crest 100 was the hardest thing she has ever done. She may not run for a while ...we shall see.<br />
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And for those of you waiting for more tales from Brazil, they are coming. Pictures are being organized, thoughts aligned, energy restored. Thanks for reading.<br />
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Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850224662393198323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7795794070392082423.post-83562380400736275382013-08-18T15:10:00.000-07:002013-08-18T15:10:53.412-07:00Campo Grande medalists<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850224662393198323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7795794070392082423.post-31042971410606753602013-08-18T14:46:00.000-07:002013-08-18T14:46:42.606-07:00Brazil continued<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Got some pics off of Facebook! I continue to learn what every 5 year old can already do.</div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ksa="true" src="" /></a>At Campo Grande the children all signed this banner. I posted a picture earlier of coaches holding it up, but this is a close up of the signatures. I also add my thank you to Hyperfly, Kent Sport and Spine and the Carly Stowell Foundation for helping support this effort. Their logos are on the banner. </div>
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The second picture is of a future world champion, Eduardo Lima who we sponsored in the Rio Festival Kids tournament. He has so many victories that at age 8 (I think he is 11 now) his portrait was painted on the wall of the Canto Galo community Center. I have a photo that I will put up when I get access to my camera pictures. He won gold at this tournament also. You can see him in his new Hyperfly with the Carly Stowell Foundation logo patch. Really delightful kid. He tried to speak English with me and wanted a copy of my book which he had already started to read before I saw him again. This kid is going places. To the left of Eduardo is assistant coach Kaynan Matos. He was instrumental in the coordination of the sponsoring effort, getting the kids registered and organized. He is only 16 but well on his way to leading his own team one day.Too bad the gi I brought for him did not pass inspection for competition ... the kimono length was too short (it wasn't a Hyperfly btw). So I owe him one :-)</div>
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More to come... </div>
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Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850224662393198323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7795794070392082423.post-31978068578618790012013-08-12T06:20:00.001-07:002013-08-12T06:20:13.099-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, my blogging hasnt been as easy as I thought, but fortunately one of the coaches from Campo Grande sent me some pictures. While I was more prepared for this trip than I was when I came to Brazil last year, I can see now that I still didnt think of everything. I guess that is traveling for you. </div>
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Campo Grande is one of the largest favelas in Rio. Rio is quite large ...most people think only of the beautiful beaches, but most of Rio is spread out and is not beautiful beach. We were told there would be about 48 kids at the gathering, but as you can see, there were many more. Most of the people there, including the adults had never met anyone from America. And for the most part, they told me that Campo Grande seldom receives any sort of assistance - certainly not from the government ....that is all broken promises. I know that the coaches, most whom live there as well, pay out of their pockets to help the children. </div>
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I have been thoughtfully reflective and suppose that I will continue to be for quite some time. I can~t put it all into words right now. But I wanted to send some images of the work we are doing here and thank everyone for their support. </div>
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The biggest detriment to getting everything written down and posted is the intermittent availability of internet and / or a computer and the amount of time spent on the road just trying to get places. </div>
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Please know however that I want to share as much of this experience as I can and plan to do so. Some will have to happen after I return to the US. </div>
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Please share this with others. Love, E</div>
<br />Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850224662393198323noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7795794070392082423.post-24213412498738845222013-08-05T19:52:00.001-07:002013-08-05T19:52:13.626-07:00Tomorrow Part 2 of GGG begins!Tomorrow phase 2 of this project begins. <br />
Bags are packed, got the passports and visas, plane snacks, books (inlcuding <em>Portuguese Idioms</em> for some last minute cramming), got some Brazilian reais through AAA so I don't have to feel helpless about that, camera has a new memory card, activated the global phone ... what else ... sunscreen - check!<br />
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Here are 4 bags of donated gis and grappling gear. See, this project is very real. When traveling, the second part, the part beyond the planning, often doesn't seem real until you step on<em> terra firma</em>. I have my plans and my expectations, but know very well that one must be flexible and patient. Especially with internatonal travel. Anything can happen - and it can happen in another language - so keep the mind open. <br />
Thank you to everyone who has helped and who continue to help. I have to give a special shout out to Sonia Silan and West Seattle Fight and Fitness for not only a gi donation, but a recent donation of t-shirts and shorts also. <br />
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Please continue to check back and follow the progress of the first Give the Gift of a Gi program. People ahve suggested to me that this trip may provide fodder fo rmy next book. Who knows. I know that it will be meaningful and purposeful. That's a great start. <br />
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Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850224662393198323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7795794070392082423.post-44759548912005096442013-07-27T14:47:00.000-07:002013-07-27T14:47:10.943-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fOMPEQQQCe4/UfQ7YO2p4CI/AAAAAAAAAEU/VGZ1Z0HV4EA/s1600/packing+gis1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fOMPEQQQCe4/UfQ7YO2p4CI/AAAAAAAAAEU/VGZ1Z0HV4EA/s320/packing+gis1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Today I started packing up the gis for Brazil. <br />
<br />
Several people have been helping me sew logo patches on the gis and must be thanked: Sam Geist, Debbie Foster, Rita Barichievich (my mom). <br />
Rick Geist, Kerstin Pakter, Steve Zografos, Alan Barichievich and Leo O'Brien have been especially generous with donations of time, funds and gear. Love you all!<br />
<br />
I had some trouble matching tops to pants in some cases, but I needed to get started so I could have an idea of how many bags I will be bringing - extra bag fee is $80 (first 2 are free) , but you get 70# ... rolling bags a must...<br />
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Costco sells SpaceBags so I scored there and they are as good as the commercial says. <br />
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I get more excited each day because each new day is one day closer to departure and bringing the second half of the project to life. <br />
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I will continue to keep you posted.<br />
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Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850224662393198323noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7795794070392082423.post-77645404716423632482013-07-13T14:33:00.000-07:002013-07-13T14:33:31.519-07:00Curent State of and Future of Give the Gift of a Gi
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">No news HAS been good news for Give the Gift of a Gi … with
one exception. Patches for the gis have arrived (good news); <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in a flurry of unfocused enthusiasm I
actually sewed my finger trying to put one on (bad news).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I chose a painful time to try to update
everyone about the program. Letter “D” is killing me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, I want everyone to know what is going on
that I will “sofrer em silêncio”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1. The patches are in. Thank you to all you who are sewing
them on for me. I will get back in the game and help, I promise. Big Thank you
to Kerstin Pakter for making and donating the patches.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2. There are three gatherings set up for me, my son Carson ,
and my Brazilin cohort: One at <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Morro do
Canta Galo</i>, one in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Meier</i> and
another at <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Campo Grande</i>. At each place
we can train with the kids and a demonstration will be put on, and in true
Brazilian fashion we will have a barbeque. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">3. The Carly Stowell Foundation/Jammin BJJ sponsored six
children from Canta Galo so they can participate in the Festival Rio Kids
Student BJJ tournament August 10-11. I was thrilled when I learned the dates of
the tournament because it means I can watch the boys compete. Hyperfly
generously donated new gis for these six boys. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(*<u>Why these boys</u>? When the idea of sponsoring registration
costs was brought up I was working with Rico Vieira whose Checkmat team
volunteers their time in Canta Galo. These six boys show exceptional talent and
work ethic, but had been unable to compete due to financial hardship. In the
future I hope to develop a system where children from different areas can
apply. These boys did “apply”. The Carly Stowell Foundation has an application
for financial assistance which we modified for this purpose. Like the US
application, there is an area to be completed by the student that reads, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Carly Stowell was a gifted athlete and
musician. What set her apart was her ability to recognize that dreams, without
drive, hard work and determination simply remain only dreams. Success and
ability are wasted on those who forget who they are and where they came from</i>.
Describe for us your dreams, your commitment to achieving them and the role you
see the Foundation playing in assisting your pursuit.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I was
delighted to receive little paragraphs from the boys (ages 6 to 11), in
Portuguese, that described how they dream to be world champions and great fighters;
they train hard and would like to be able to compete. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">4. This trip we will travel to southern Brazil where I am
told there is as great a need for assistance as Rio has. I plan to meet the
folks I know only through cyberspace, gather information about the community
centers there, see what BJJ exists, examine the needs of the children and see what
the possibilities are. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know there is need, and I know there are infinite ways to
help, but my program has limitations too. This is, again, where the power of
positive energy came through. I was questioning whether or not Give the Gift of
a Gi could continue without assistance when….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">5. Coach Foster announced that the proceeds from the Giva
Santana seminar September 14-15 will be donated to Give the Gift of a Gi.
(still makes me teary – good tears) Thank you Coach, Team Foster, seminar
participants, Giva and Erica.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope I
see YOU there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">6. I brainstormed with Kris Shaw to put on a seminar just for
kids. (We had just chosen a date, October 26<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> when Coach made his
announcement).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There will be three
sessions that differ in length appropriate to the age. During a break from noon
to one I will make a presentation about the program and show pictures and maybe
some video from this year’s trip. The kids seminar (remains to be named) will
be affordable and run through the Carly Stowell Foundation so that it is non-political
and a non-profit donation to register. The Foundation can also provide financial
aid for participants if necessary. Keep an eye out for details! In addition to
Kris Shaw, Michelle Wagner will teach and I am currently communicating with
other coaches to assist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please let me
know if you can help. I’d like to have snacks for the kids and maybe a raffle.
If you have anything to donate let me know. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wow. If you build it will they come? Yes, indeed they will.
I feel so blessed and honored to be a part of the BJJ community. Thanks to
everyone who donated a gi, sent money, sewed a patch, donated their time, sent
positive energy, gave me an idea, and thanks to all of you that will help in
the future. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Yup, Coach was right. I’m most certainly not done.” (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Flowing with the Go</i>, p.116)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850224662393198323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7795794070392082423.post-7108683389761278952013-04-11T20:15:00.000-07:002013-04-11T20:15:39.953-07:00Last Saturday my former student and current jiu-jitsu teammate Zach Baltierra helped me count and organize the gis that have been donated for the Give the Gift of a Gi program. I needed the help and he needed some community service hours for his junior project. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-heNpNpzJmoc/UWd2071bGXI/AAAAAAAAACU/dm44TK--ahU/s1600/GoG4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-heNpNpzJmoc/UWd2071bGXI/AAAAAAAAACU/dm44TK--ahU/s320/GoG4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here we are with some of the donations we have received. Zach was charged with separating them by size, which was not easy because different maufacturers use different systems and many tags were hard to read after many washings. Kids gis, especially, are all labeled differently, K1, M2, 000. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qWJCzL2D0DI/UWd44znK_wI/AAAAAAAAACg/7dfYE2PVLug/s1600/GoG3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qWJCzL2D0DI/UWd44znK_wI/AAAAAAAAACg/7dfYE2PVLug/s320/GoG3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Doing our best to get things organized!</div>
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<img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UVGXB4_Ucp0/UWd5Kpgd6gI/AAAAAAAAACo/kXZs5f89wgU/s320/GoG2.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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My meticulous record keeping looks more like a hieroglyphic version of Excel, but it makes sense to me. And in the end our total was 100 gis! I am happy to report that we have already exceeded our goal. Fabiana Borges donated two gis this week when I visited her gym in San Antonio. So we are over the top and ready for a new goal. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tcMq6NJp7Co/UWd7A23cEHI/AAAAAAAAAC0/B4B1vjNuGUE/s1600/GoG1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tcMq6NJp7Co/UWd7A23cEHI/AAAAAAAAAC0/B4B1vjNuGUE/s320/GoG1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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All done. They are sorted and boxed, or bagged; the ones in need of repair have been identified; Zach did his good deed and I just carry on! That is a picture of my daughter, Carly, in the background. I know that she is a positive force contributing to the joy this project is bringing me. </div>
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Thanks for all of the support. </div>
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Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850224662393198323noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7795794070392082423.post-13280538638857812572013-03-15T15:09:00.001-07:002013-03-15T15:09:35.231-07:00If Gis Could Talk
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Give the Gift of a Gi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My gi donation program has been both heart-warming and
eye-opening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has brought more than
the tangible gift of the [almost] one hundred gis that are in piles on my
living room floor; it has brought the intangible gift of shared memories,
growth, challenges and glory. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first I
worried that the donors telling me stories would change their minds, and in the
middle of handing the gi over, renege. Or that maybe they would suffer from
separation anxiety and would want their gi back the next day. But no one did any
of those things. Instead they gave me more than their gi, they gave me a part
of their jiu-jitsu journey. I want to share some of their stories here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This is my very
first gi. It looks more like a judo gi because when I started there were no gis
for jiu-jitsu.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“That is my first gi. When I started I wore the pants
backwards. Finally an upper belt pointed out my mistake.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“This is my very first gi. I dyed it myself [lavender]. It’s
been sitting in my closet. I don’t wear it, but I didn’t know what to do with
it. I wore this when I got my purple belt and when I had to go through the
traditional “Ironman” and roll with everyone in the gym. I feel good knowing it
is going to a good cause. This feels like the right thing to do with it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I wore this when I weighed 285. So glad to say it doesn’t
fit anymore.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“This is my son’s gi from when he first started. Wow, I
can’t believe how big he is now.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I remember when I got this first tear on the lapel. I was
so proud. To me it meant I had worked hard enough to, like, earn it … and I’m
still going.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“This is a nice gi. That’s the logo of my first sponsor
there on the leg.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Most of the gis tell stories I will never know. Some are as
soft as pillow cases from hundreds of washes and countless hours of wear. There
are torn knees and lapels; there are gis that look brand-new (some that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are</i> brand-new); some that need
drawstrings and some that came with white belts. And I can’t help but wonder
about the grips that have held them; the opponents they have viewed; the mats
they have rolled on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ahhh, if gis could talk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I wonder what mine would say. I remember my first gi, my first lapel
tear, my first team patch. I remember which ones I took where when I visited
other gyms. I remember which ones I wore in every competition. I hope my gis
would say that I took good care of them and that the detergent I chose made
them smell good. I hope they would say I treated with the respect due a suit of
armor and that I wore them with pride, that I deserved them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thanks to all who have participated and those of you who
plan to participate in Give the Gift of a Gi. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No gi shall be
discriminated against on the basis of color [I have received white, black,
blue, green, purple, brown and red]; national origin [Pakistan, Brazil, China];
gender [male and female styles]; brand [too many to name]; physical limitations
[some would not meet IBJJF standards]; team status [many still have their
patches]; for participation in any program or activity conducted by this organization.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850224662393198323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7795794070392082423.post-44593305593618314022013-02-28T21:06:00.000-08:002013-02-28T21:06:03.532-08:00CharmsThis is an older story I wrote to my friend and editor, Jan who said I should "blog it" back when I didn't even have a website ... or a book for that matter. The meaning remains the same ....<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jan is having a bad day so I'm going to tell you a story ...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A long time ago, like 4 and a half years ago I purchased
several charms with a 21 in a heart to give to Carly's friends. The company I
got them from also has a "grab bag" with unpopular, out of date and
ugly charms and I ordered a couple of those at the same time, well, because I'm
a risk taker like that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So 4.5 years ago amongst the grab bag of random zodiac
signs, malformations, arrow heads, and Y2K charms there's a charm that says
"Let's Roll". Well I'm thinking, "oh jeez, I'm not a
trucker" and I leave it with all of the other rejects and smile because I
find one that sort of looks like an angel and another that is a snowboarder I
can give my brother. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now its last Sunday and I just got back from another
thrillsville-FDA job in Indianapolis and I think of the heart-21 charms because
I want to send one to someone. And, in the sack I see the old grab bag rejects
... and I see "Let's Roll" and I'm struck first by the thought,
"Wow, what's that doing in there?" And I feel a little twinge of
guilt as I recall that 4.5 years ago (pre-BJJ) that little statement meant
nothing to me, in fact I thought it was corny and I put it in a reject pile.
And now, "Let's Roll" is an invitation to sport and friendship and
has a completely different meaning to me. I'm wearing it right now!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And I was struck by the idea of context and how things can
mean so much more or less to us depending on where we are at that time and what
we are bringing to the table.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And I was reminded of how I laugh everytime I think of James
and PTR (Jan, did you see this by his name in the ackno page?). That story goes
like this: I had sent James a text and signed off with "PTR". In the
basketball world, you might fist-bump your friend and say, "Peace Yo,
PTR" when you depart. PTR = Pound The Rock. Which means keep your dribble
low (the rock is the ball) and firm, keep the ball safe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">James texts back, "PTR?"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>then before I can respond sends a follow up
text, "Prepare To Roll?" Haha I'm laughing right now. Back then I
laughed because I thought, "what a dork" (respectfully of course) but
now that I understand the power of context and words, I get it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Story time is over, I hope your day gets better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let's Roll-PTR, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">E<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850224662393198323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7795794070392082423.post-18899759940898000372013-02-12T19:17:00.001-08:002013-02-12T19:17:55.661-08:00An Enriching WeekendBut here I am. After speaking on empowerment last Friday at PNW Grappling Women's Training Camp <a class="g-profile" href="http://plus.google.com/100549473865411169873" target="_blank">+Sonia Sillan</a> I admitted to myself that I was not "walking my talk" if I continued to avoid this blog site that I was so excited to have <a class="g-profile" href="http://plus.google.com/117367098835966667337" target="_blank">+Mike Baltierra</a> <a class="g-profile" href="http://plus.google.com/108773127187377425118" target="_blank">+Janet Green</a> and then let scare me into elusion. "<em>What can I possibly have to say that anyone would want to read</em>?" and "<em>There are so many really great bloggers out there, why add another mediocre one</em>?" But here I am. I <span style="color: red;">Know My Go</span>. My<span style="color: red;"> Go</span> is the anxiety I cause in my gut by tying my worth to an outcome... such as the quality of this post. But here I am. I am going to honor my <span style="color: red;">Go</span> and use it as the fuel of empowerment. <br />
<br />
I had an enriching weekend. On Friday at PNWG I spoke before, and with, a group of women jiu-jitsu athletes about empowerment and how to Know their Go. I shared my story and read from <em>Flowing with the Go, </em>letting them know that as women, as athletes, as mothers, daughters, sisters friends and teammates, we all struggle. We struggle with fear and disengagement. We struggle with loss and disappointment. We struggle with resentment and feeling alone. We struggle because, for a while, we let the idea that there is no escape from these feelings consume us. And we waste emotional energy on those feelings. Energy that could be spent living fully, loving authentically and accepting ourselves as the gifts we are. <br />
<br />
Each woman there had a story of WHY they practiced jiu-jitsu. A story about how jiu-jitsu gave them courage, physical strength, confidence, a healthy outlet for stress and a sanctuary of inner resolve that was unique to each personal journey. I feel fortunate to have met these women and learn from them. Sharing is a truly a reciprocal endeavor. <br />
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My enriching weekend continued. On Monday I was asked to attend a book club meeting of women who read <em>Flowing with the Go</em>. None of these women did jiu-jitsu. In fact, none of them had any interest in <em>ever</em> doing jiu-jitsu. After the buzz of having the author there died down and I showed my motif of harmlessness - wearing Converse All-Stars with my dress pants - they asked me questions and I answered them all, as best I could. And it was delightful. I said they could ask me anything, When we discussed death and loss, everyone had a relatable story and we all cried. One gal admitted that she didn't finish the book because the beginning was hard and she was too raw from having lost her father two years ago. But she said, even in those first chapters, she found relief in realization that her feelings of transparency and gut-wrenching ache were feelings that I also went through and that she was not crazy. Several women wanted to discuss a statement I wrote about how I felt entitled to my future... my plans about my family and myself - they all felt that way about their lives too. And then when life finds a way to let you know that you are not entitled, that you are not in control - you get scared. So took them to <span style="color: red;">Know Your Go</span> and empowerment, like I did with the BJJ women. <br />
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And I was enriched. I was reminded that these emotions are universal features of being human. Two very different groups of women with a common thread. Thank you Carly. Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850224662393198323noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7795794070392082423.post-75305957690198569972012-12-02T17:41:00.001-08:002012-12-02T17:41:37.969-08:00So excited to finally have a blog set up! I'll be trying to update as often as possible ..so many things happening to keep you all up-to-date on. Stay tuned.Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850224662393198323noreply@blogger.com2