GrapplerFL's blog

it was Saturday mornin' bout 11AM and we'd been WRESTLING for a lil over an hour. Square cuts for both of us, sweat POURING off. we were circling each other in my opponent's matroom, a great space with just mats - perfect for us to go at it - trying to submit each other with tough holds and body strikes.
as we circled each other, he spoke, "you really pursued this match man... how'd you know we'd match up so well?" His muscles and mine were super pumped with that pump ya only get from WRESTLING and combat.
'Wanted to find someone into it like i am, who's my fuckin' size - but can legit GRAPPLE N FIGHT. i want to fight the best, so i'll give up 30 or 40 lbs to fight the guys who are top rated - but weight is legit - i'll fight em but if they're trained like i am, the power wins, but in fighting you... cause we got same size on each other, and are both trained and skilled - bout same age... i knew i'd find what i was lookin' for. which is a legit rival",
and we stepped up to each other.. grabbed back of neck n wrist and continued to push each around for position.
"well, you found him bud..." he said. And we resumed our clash...

We were dead even in our epic "First to 10 submissions" grappling competition (that included body shots) and this was an INCREDIBLY even match, what i'd been craving. Lately i either dom the tough smaller dudes who can fight or go up against giants who are skilled like me and win on size. But a guy my ht/wt who can legit post a challenge to me - who'll battle as i like, submission wrestling, with body shots, for braggin' rights and the glory of private recreational combat - that's the fuckin' best. And this awesome lil fight room was great too. Beating his ass on his home turf was gonna make me hard as steel. We were both really enjoying this fight. After i took the next sub, in one my fave dominant holds, a fig 4 headscissor securing his head in my brutal legs, while i worked his arm in a kimura/keylock. we both rolled off. resting. Now i was up 8-7 as we lay our backs breathing, both our muscles with a great fight pump. we spoke a bit from our backs and sat for a sec talking before going into the final falls.

"So yeah, i been looking for a legit rival - someone my height and weight who can truly push me and make me fight my best - not a pussy, not scared to fight, strong, good skill, safe but aggressive, rough - i heard about you man. i knew you fit the bill", i said.
" oh i'm glad you pursued me bud - i didn't know you how good you were... i'm glad you made this happen - but listen... know this...i'm takin next three in a row for a decisive win.i'm going to defeat you", he replied.
"aw, fuck you bud - you're gonna submit to me, and i'm gonna make you suffer."
i said as we both got to our feet - eager to establish dominance definitively in this match.
"come on man - wrestle!"
And we leapt at each other - my judo background usually gives me the edge in stand up and take down, and though he's an ex freestyle coach now obsessed by submission grappling, i had him! Nice judo throw over my hip, and i landed on him. Had his head trapped in my headlock, that's how we landed - but wanted to trap his arm in my legs, bend that arm and get my next sub - but he was fast, brutal, tough - as i hoped he'd be, we were covered in sweat, and he was out of my headlock in a sec and on me before i could react. He hit with strikes to my back and chest - he was a good technical wrestler, he should have just tried to take my back - but he wanted to prove he could hurt me with strikes, as i had done to him earlier, but body shots, though they do hurt, just get me fired up - coming to his senses, he tried to take my back and sink in an RNC, but i'm too good to give up my back, i turned my body to face his, putting my back to the mat and my forearms on his neck, as i applied a front choke. 'Submit boy!' i snarled as i bared down on the front choke.
' fuck you' he said, muffled in my muscle. His powerful leg ensnared mine, trying for a pain lock, thinking if he could bend my leg back in a painful way, i'd loosen the hold - not quite a grapevine but a one legged version of it, he had power in his quads, as he trapped my leg, but fuck that, i was too strong, we were equals in power - one of my fave things bout this match - now he tried with weaken me with body strikes again. Hard ones. Those hurt. Alot. but i wanted the sub too badly, though i was moaning involuntarily as he struck me. i was actually surprised when i heard the sound i made. it was me pouring on the choke - him striking hard to free himself, a fantastic duel. And we liked it.
i could tell he wasn't panicking. He loved being in this position as much as i did, it was that challenge - from a worthy opponent, that we both craved. He was determined to break out, but i was determined to end this round - and i'd now be up 9-7 and i'd be ready to end this with just one more fall, while he'd have to fight back from a legit deficit , especially vs a strong n skilled (n mean) brute like me.
He was mean too though... when he trapped you - you could see the delight he took in working the hold. i knew his desperate plan, even champions get desperate... he wanted to break out cause he knew with the energy i was using to keep that hold on, i'd be a little tired if he got out, and he'd use that to lock something on me. So far he'd trapped me in a fast and brutal anaconda choke, a foot lock with chin lock, a shoulder lock i couldn't get out of and a few well applied triangles. He relished those triangle. Holding me in place in his strong legs, he'd smiled at me, "you must like to suffer boi". He taunted, 'i can put you out now or i can just hold you.. whatever i wanna do".
it was nothing personal, we both got off on trash talk and dominance (and fighting for it - vs the toughest opponent possible), even our stakes were loaded with Alpha punishment. The loser of the match had to face the winner, look him in the eye, declare that the winner is a better, tougher man, and raise his arm in victory. Tough medicine for a man who fancies himself a dominant Alpha - but the risk of losing... is part of the turn on and the addictive thrill. As those of us who get off on fighting know - this is a complicated way to get your kicks.
He was too close to submitting for me to let go, no matter how hard those strikes were, or how much he was pouring on the pain to my leg, i wanted to be the dominant stud.
i had trash talked him earlier - when i had him in MY inescapable triangle. "How's that feel pussy? to be trapped by a real man? You're gonna raise my arm boi"
it was a great way to add a lil edge to things.
But at that moment - each of our laser focus was on this particular moment of the match. No matter how much you're enjoying it - vs a tough n brutal opponent, you cant lose focus for a minute. i am a smart wrestler and fighter, so i lock in and focus. but ... so is he. a champion and a guy who knows how to break another wrestler's will and punish him - the perfect rival.
Well, maybe not totally perfect - cause it wasn't 9-9 with the match on the line... i'd actually sorta edged him out, it'd all be over soon and.. boom! he popped his head out of my grip. 'Fuck!' i said outloud, again, without realizing i was saying it. He jumped to mount, on my chest and tried to bring his leg up to use as leverage for a choke while on my chest - i bumped him off and we both sprang to our feet, circling again... he had renewed energy, he'd survived my onslaught and escaped - and now the suffering i'd put him through was the furthest thing from his mind, he was a champion, like me, and all he could see was a man in front of him who needed to be submitted.

This is the winner's mindset. No matter how many falls you're down or how many you lose , you ALWAYS step up KNOWING you're gonna win, up to the other man to prove you otherwise. He was only focused on how he'd submit me in the next fall. That's how a winner thinks.

His only obstacle was i think same way - he'd escaped my submission hold, and now he'd have to be punished for it, for thinking he could beat me. In an instant we crashed together, fighting for an advantage and tryin to step in front of and behind each other for a throw or trip - arms fighting for underhooks and control. We'd been tired before but now we fought with renewed energy. As we fought for control - each man marveling at his opponents resilience and power, as we simultaneously struggled to overtake each other - i think the same thing crossed our minds briefly, very briefly, since our minds were on winning this fight - how well matched we were. It was almost a feeling of wanting to give up, cause it'd take so much to break the other man, and we both knew there was much suffering ahead in order to do it.  This deep into it we each knew the animal we were fighting was every bit as tough n strong n skilled n fit as we were. But our unyielding spirits would never allow a draw - we fought on... grunting, a battle of attrition to sink in our chokes as we lay against the wall in mutual headlocks we were trying to turn into chokes - fighting with every part of our bodies. i was content in that moment. as i believe he was as well. i'd been looking for a real rival - a man my height and weight who could take the best of what i have and hold his own - and now i'd found it. i think he was satisfied as well - happy to be fighting a man like me, who could push him.  We knew - in that moment, we both knew, this was the first of many clashes between us. The first of many Saturdays.