Jay219's blog

Its been a while.

And when i say that i means its been a long time since i've been around meeting up for matches. Besides fights with a close group of friends, Geoffessex, Rangerboots, Musclneck and with absolute no surprise to anyone Markuk, i haven't put myself out there to meet up with news guys, learn some new tricks and pass on the knowledge. I couldn't tell you why thats been the case, possibly new job or falling into a lull of discontent, but what i do know is i have missed it. This month was a turning point for me. For 18 months i've been training hard. Gym 2 - 3 times a week and some intense brazilian jujitsu classes at least twice a week. It has left me physically tired for weeks and months on end but all that work has paid off!

In one of my most proudest moments i have experienced in recent years i was awarded my blue belt in BJJ, the first of many! This unexpected turn of events has rejuvenated my attitude towards where im heading and what i want to do, and with that how much long i want my recommendation list to be, haha.

I doubt i would have been able to reach this new level in BJJ if it wasnt for Markuk being there with me every step of the way. for 4 years he has taught and pushed me to get better, culminating to this moment where we both gained our new belts together. A true inspiration and it wouldn't have felt as good to do this alone, i'm glad you were there with me big man.

How ever, such great moments cant always last long without something to bring you back down and the news that Mark was leaving to start a new life in Singapore was a difficult moment to hear. For a long time we have been battling each other in a constant struggle to reign supreme over the other. When you consider that the big man was the guy that taught me my first move its very understandable that he's determined to maintain his dominance over the young buck.

Just reading our recommendation compendium, yup its that freaking long now, you get the idea that im no longer that kid he met back in the day but a real threat to his title of beast! I just hope that i have made him proud with how ive grown over the years. He has been and will always be a true inspiration to me and I couldn't let him go with out saying a public goodbye.

Mark is a great wrestler, i don't know how well that comes across in my recommendations but i can assure you he is. Its hard to say goodbye to someone that has been such an important part of my life and its almost unbearable to believe you wont be anymore. Im not gonna say that 'i care a lot about him' or 'he's such a great guy' but i will say is that i love him. i couldn't have asked for a better guy to come into my life.

Our last fight was too perfect to ask for, especially when it involves you both being brought to tears while at the same time trying to choke the hell out of each other, how else could it end? so here it goes.

(deep breath)

Goodbye Mark, wish we had more time together but i'm glad we've got a lot of amazing memories to remember each other by. Dont be gone long and for the love of god stay safe, we have a score to settle. i'll be right here waiting for it.

With that i am now back on meetfighters and more determined than ever to meet new guys and have some more incredible matches. So hit me up and we'll schedule it in!

Jay 219

p.s excuse the blured pic, haha. Me on the left, Markuk in the middle, our friend on the right.

Well, where to begin. I've never done a blog before, in fact there was a lot of stuff i hadn't done before i found this website, so i guess this would be the best place to start. There's no real reason to why i want to do this, i guess i've been inspired recently to do so.

The last couple of months have been an incredible physical experience for me, ive never been in such a great shape before and never have i met such incredible and diverse people. So im glad i decided to take a big step into all this, because its quite possibly one the best decisions ive made in my life.

I should start with the first match i had, which would come as no surprise, was with Mark Uk. ill try not to get too personal about this as i do regard Mark quite highly, but thats neither here nor there.

Now im gonna have to say one thing about this, i had never been soo nervous, excited and a little terrified all at the same time before. Mark was the first guy to message me on here, and kindly enough offered to teach me. After looking at his profile for what must have been hours looking at his pics and many, many, many recommendations, i thought 'why the hell not?'. Seriously, his pics on here REALLY do NOT do him justice.

So i was surprised at how much my hand was shaking when i opened the door to see this BEAST, his words not mine haha, standing in front of me. I really didnt know what to say at this point, 'fuck what the hell have i got myself in to?' came to mind a few times as he towered over me. So when he started talking i suddenly realised, 'shit, this guy really is the nicest guy ive met in my life. why the hell was i soo scared?'. So anyone that has yet to meet him, trust me when i say he is not as mean as he looks, but don't say that to him, i've lost a few matches against him with that line.

He started off teaching me basic moves and holds, the usual arm bars, leg locks, scissors (which if our last match was anything to go by i think he regrets showing me), some that i still use now when he forgets that i know how to use them, and then we actually wrestled. The longer the match went on for the sweatier we got, which i can safely say was the first time i had been drenched in sweat wearing only a small pair of speedos with another guy in a hotel room wrestling on a mattress, but like i said 'first time for everything'.

i forget how long we were wrestling for, maybe 2 - 2 and a half hours, but looking back now, i realise he was clearly going easy on me. Now I've done strenuous cardio and weight orientated exercise classes but i will never forget the three days that followed this match as being the most painful and exhausting of my life. Sitting in the pub after, chatting about pretty much everything from work, films, family, personal interests and wrestling (of course) and i had never felt soo relaxed in such a long time. Pretty much the perfect end to my first ever match.

It was at the point i thought 'man i need to get stronger, fitter and a hell of a lot more experience if im gonna keep this up', so now im hitting the gym 3 - 4 days a week and regularly train in mma brazilian jujitsu. And its starting to pay off, 10 matches down and starting to see the fear in the old guy. don't care if it takes another 40 to get there but i will win at some point.

Dont get me wrong, i have never had a match with anyone on here or other websites that i have not thoroughly enjoyed, and ill get round to talking about them too as each match i have just keeps getting better and better, but Mark was something else. ill forever be thankful for him introducing me to all this, but be warned, im getting better week on week and i will beat the beast!!

To everyone else i haven't met and to those i have and will meet again, bring it! i need the practice, you can beat me but it will only before for a short time, just ask Geoffessex, ha ha, but thats another story ;)