Where's the other sock?

Open mat on Sunday was unusually busy. We had about 7-8 guys we don't normally train with. This is in addition to Corey, Donny, Peter, Myself, and Ashley. We started off by lining up against the wall and giving the visitors the opportunity to call us out.

My first fight was against a guy who's name escapes me (actually I'd pretty much forgotten their names immediately after they told me, sorry.) This guy was wearing gi pants and a tank top. I figured this guy might have some experience and though I couldn't be sure, I though I had rolled with him before. Anyway, so we set up I'm on my knees and he comes walking over. I notice he only has one sock on. I quickly think of some funny joke to account for his missing sock until I realized, he's not missing a sock, he's only wearing one sock! Now let this simmer a minute, what I'm getting at is that he intentionally is only wearing one sock for a reason. His lack of foot coverings is not due to some wacky series of events that would hilariously unfold over a cold beer, but due to a jock itch, athlete's foot, ringworm causing fungus. The first and only reason I can fathom at this point is that he has a case of athlete's foot and feels "It's okay...I put on a sock." Now perhaps he didn't have any problem like that. However, even if he pulled off his sock to expose a golden foot with diamond toenails and carried on to explain that he didn't want to have to polish it again I couldn't believe it. As far as the match goes, nothing eventful happened. He couldn't gain position on me and I submitted him with a choke.

The next match I was paired up with "Bear." I remember thinking this guy may not have any experience but due to his size he probably has done some wrestling in his day. Well, we started and immediately he passes to side. I thought to myself, "This dude is going to hurt me if I lay her and play possum." I seemed to be able to turn it on with him. He tried to hold side but ended up getting swept. He couldn't hold me in his guard and I spent most of my time in side control. I couldn't submit him but that wasn't my focus at the time. I was more worried that him not being my normal training partner that he would attempt to beat me at all costs. After that match Corey and I spoke and he said I was a different person rolling with him. He went on to say he wished he could be like me and that I was extremely good looking (I am paraphrasing a bit).

I rolled a couple more times once with a guy who had some experience but after getting swept three times with the same move I think he got pissed. There was another guy who was about Ashley's size who after his first roll seemed to gas out really bad. I rolled with him for about 45 seconds until he gave up.

We ended the night with the shark tank. I was paired up with the "Bear" again. We started on the knees. They called start and this dude rushed me elbowed the holy hell out of my head and went on to spend most of the two minutes in my half guard. I was pretty dizzy after the elbow and if I would have had the extra three minutes that I'm used to I could have done something (I was working an armbar when they called time) instead of losing by points.

All in all a good day. I hope a few of the guys who said they were going to start actually show up. Though once they end up with Ashley mounted on them they may not want to come back, but that's a whole other can of worms.

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