On a jam-packed work trip to provide marketing support for the Mark Morris Dance Group's performances of Layla and Majnun with the Silkroad Ensemble at Sadler's Wells AND pre-plan for our return in the spring with Pepperland, I finally found some time for jiujitsu the day before I was leaving. No matter where I'm travelling, I always map out the closest jiujitsu academies to my hotel (thank you Google - and a note to academies - if you haven't claimed your Google Places account, I'd highly recommend that you do.). This time London Fight Factory (LFF) in nearby Shoreditch was perfect for my needs.
LFF's website is very clear, with a very easy-to-navigate schedule (timetable for the Brits out there). And their 7.15am class worked perfectly for me to get it in.. and still make it to my first meeting of the day. I was very conveniently located at the Doubletree by Hilton - Islington, just 15 minutes (just one stop on the Northern line) away.
London is one of my childhood homes and I will always love it... but this time I wanted to stay just to take more of LFF's extensive array of classes. The class I took Friday was no joke. It was affectionately dubbed "Takedown Friday" and let's just say it's been a long time since I've almost thrown up in a class. I wish I could say it was just because I was off my normal eating schedule, but the training was high level and fantastically intense. I was pushed to my limit combining 3 different takedowns in a round robin style with other members of the team. I perfected quite a few things that day in addition to learning a brilliant new takedown that I've been able to use consistently and effectively ever since. I wanted so badly to return the following morning and take the Women's only class (the class I was in just happened to be all men, which as the consummate tomboy doesn't bother me at all, but I also don't get a lot of chances to work with women in the sport, and it's a completely different experience to be able to have), but I'm simply not one to risk missing my plane, plus packing a wet, sweaty gi in suitcase didn't ultimately seem like a great plan either.
I'll have to await the next time I'm able to return to London again.
Date(s) visited: 16 November 2018
Class taken: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – Gi Inter/Advanced
Instructor: Professor Luiz
Head instructor: Professor Luiz
Affiliation: Checkmat
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