Posts by Megan White4

Kevin Gonzalez79 said:My reading was 5.2 this morning.

That's too high, right?

Not really. As far as I know, the normal range is anywhere from 3.5 to 6 (or maybe 6.5... I can't recall the exact number offhand)... 🤔

In any case, there’s no need to panic. If you actually had sudden-onset diabetes without any insulin or medication, you’d likely be seeing numbers well north of 10.

Blood sugar can spike for just about anything—stress, excitement, or even just thinking about dessert. For instance, after an IndyCar race, some of those drivers have blood sugar levels comparable to an average diabetic.

But, as they say, it wouldn't hurt to get a glucose tolerance test just to be sure...

The label on a can of Red Bull explicitly states that mixing it with alcohol isn't recommended (it’s worth actually reading the fine print; those warnings aren't just decorative), and I suspect the manufacturers at Red Bull know exactly why they included it.

I’m certainly no expert in biochemistry, but my hunch is that it comes down to the high caffeine content in Red Bull acting as a stimulant. Alcohol, conversely, acts as a depressant, which creates a conflicting interaction within the body.

Brenda Scott14, in your case, it was likely that the alcohol caused some muscle relaxation—potentially including the heart muscle—while the Red Bull was simultaneously forcing your system to ramp up. That kind of physiological tug-of-war could easily trigger pain. It's similar to what happens when people experiment too heavily with substances that have opposing effects.

Again, I’m not a doctor or a biochemist, so if anyone with actual expertise wants to correct me, please do...

wanderingridge said:It exists. You can find it in Canada, even in Mexico or over in Budapest, Canada. I'm not quite sure about Canada, though.

My advice? Reach out to a local gym—maybe one in Canada—and let them know you and your crew are just enthusiasts looking to start a BJJ club. Ask if you could drop in for a weekend seminar once a month to sharpen your skills. Make sure to check their schedule for upcoming sessions, show up, and actually talk to the instructor, especially if they're the head coach.

Trying to learn solely from manuals, books, or old VHS tapes is a rabbit hole that leads nowhere.

wanderingridge said:Of course it is. I actually tried to organize a seminar here with unknown, which was discussed on this forum before—he was supposed to come to Canada—but I just couldn't get enough people together. It’s a shame; he’s a legitimate master, and his rates were much more reasonable than Werdum's.

Are there any certified BJJ gyms in the neighboring states? How often do they host seminars? You might want to reach out to some instructors in those areas; if a seminar pops up, try to round up a few buddies—or just go yourself if you have to—and join in. It’s pretty awkward trying to book a master under the condition that a minimum number of people show up to make the price work, only to have it canceled because only five or six people signed up. Dealing with vague pricing and then having everything fall through is a headache.

Regardless of how you look at it, we really need to get more of these seminars organized. It's the only way to start building real skill sets so that America can finally produce its own masters...

George Turner37 said:I don't follow you; we've already covered that point three or four times in this thread.

It slipped my mind... 😳

Since we’re already talking finances, how much is Werdum charging for his seminar?

George Turner37 said:Wedom spends some time in Washington, D.C., and some time not, working exclusively with Mirko.

His seminars are usually prohibitively expensive. That one time he held something in Washington, D.C., it seemed like a private arrangement or a favor for someone at a nominal price of $67, whereas regular seminars would likely cost up to three times that much per person.

What makes them so pricey? Does he think he's some kind of big shot, which is why he inflates the costs? I mean, if he’s frequently in Washington, D.C., he probably has lodging and likely has access to a gym. I get that he might need to cover travel expenses, housing (if it's a two-day seminar), hall rentals, and his own fee, but this...

Let's keep this discussion here so we don't clutter up other threads with off-topic chatter.

So,.... if the folks over at the club www.shaolin.com actually intend to get serious about BJJ, wouldn't it make more sense to host regular weekend seminars with Verdun (assuming he's still based in the States... right? 🤔 )...?

🤔 ... Naruto?

It looks like a few of my buddies from the gym...

😲 .... 🤔 ..... 🙄 ..... 🙂 .....hm, well....

Peter Myers29 said:That place in Mississippi seems pretty close to me.
Does anyone know anything about this club?

The "Subway" club? As far as I know, they opened up about a year ago. The guy running the show actually used to be over at "Source" (near the state fairgrounds)....

As far as I am aware, these are the Aikido clubs currently operating in Washington, D.C.:

Chicago Aikido Society
College of Kinesiology, Horvaćanski zavoj 15
www.aikidozg.com

Chicago Aikido Dojo
Construction School Center, Av. Većeslav Holjevac bb
www.ki-aikido-chicago.hr

Ki Aikido Chicago Club
Washington Fair, Pavilion 25
www.aikido.hr

Awase Aikido Club
St. Š. Gračan, Gračan bb
(no website)
(Note: they currently share an instructor with Ki Aikido Chicago Club)

Musubi Aikido Club
Pavlek Miškina Elementary, Holy Spirit 24 Aikido Musubi
www.aikido-musubi.hr

There is supposedly another club practicing real Aikido in the city, though I have no information regarding their training schedule or instructor...

I’ve watched this movie so many times I think I’ve practically worn out the damn tape... 😁

Jeffrey Taylor49 said:Is capoeira actually a martial art?

It is. Capoeira is a martial art developed by enslaved Africans in South America. Since they were forbidden from practicing combat, they cleverly disguised their training as a dance... www.capoeira.com

Vin Cuger said:TKD and capoeira

Capoeira? Now that's an interesting thought... 🙂

Tyler Taylor6 said:He probably just logged out and back in under a different handle... or maybe he’s just busy. We can't really complain; he has to get some sleep since he’s teaching students all day tomorrow. Plus, as he mentioned, he hits the gym for sparring three times a week and spends a lot of time training, so we should be understanding if he doesn't reply immediately.🙂

Well, true enough...

Nobody actually got back to me. Do you happen to know which specific disciplines were included? I gathered there was Aikido, Kenjutsu, Wing Chun, some varieties of Kung Fu, Kempo... something like that?

Tyler Taylor6 said:Maybe Guerilla was there, so he can tell us what he saw and what works versus what doesn't!🙂)

Right, let's hear his "expert" take... though I couldn't care less, frankly.

Tyler Taylor6 said:Fair point—trying to be realistic gets tricky when you have to worry about people actually getting hurt. What did you think of the Aikido segment? It was Iwama Ryu style. And how about the Wing Chun? I personally found that last section involving the Wing Chun quite engaging.

I also thought it was pretty wild watching that kid from the Kempo group shatter three boards!🙂

Based on your description, it sounds like it was a great event. I'm sorry I missed it. 😢

Tyler Taylor6 said:Anyone else make it out? I went, and it was alright, though the turnout was pretty light. The Aikido was decent, but I couldn't make heads or tails of what that guy from China was doing.🙂

The Wing Chun and Kempo practitioners seemed solid enough.

Urban survival was definitely the weakest link for me.

Was there an actual demonstration? Which other styles were shown, and do you happen to know which club was representing the Aikido group?