I had been so busy with housework and projects recently that I had been neglecting Jiu-jitsu and running. The only thing I did to keep myself active was doing burpees every day. I missed Jiu-jitsu and the feeling it brought, along with the camaraderie of friends and partners who enjoyed the same sport. So, when I got an invitation to an open mat hosted by a friend—whom I consider an older brother and look up to—at my old gym where I first started Jiu-jitsu, I couldn’t say no. It was also a chance for me to say hi to my old classmates and reconnect with myself.

It had been around two months since I last practiced Jiu-jitsu and even longer since I had put on the Gi. After the first two rounds, I was out of breath and thought I might vomit. My cardio was definitely worse than when I practiced Jiu-jitsu regularly. I used to roll five rounds in a 30-minute session. I already felt my muscles tense up and harden, just like in the early days of practicing Jiu-jitsu. I sat on the sideline, catching my breath, with sweat dripping from my chin, watching my coach Paul Virgen in action and others roll, inspecting their techniques. Later, I had three more rolls, though I definitely could have rolled harder back in the day (I sound like an old man). I would say that I was more technical, though. My friends said I had better weight distribution and pressure compared to my earlier days.

I really miss this feeling—enjoying time on the mat with friends, everyone working on getting better and helping each other improve. When rolling, nothing from outside the mat really matters at that moment. I think that’s what I missed the most, especially with all the changes in my life recently.

This open mat is a great gift for me and I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the holiday.

P/S: My body is so sore right now, remind me of the early days when I first started Jiu-jitsu.