One Game at a Time. Matt Hern

is less real than what happens in it.

      Today I’ve convinced him to work with me a little, just for fun. I think I’m strong enough and I like to fight, but I have no idea what I am doing. I have no wrestling or grappling skills, but I’m game and excited to learn some jiu jitsu.

      Roy also brings along a student of his: Emma Lynds, a thirty-six-year-old mother of two who is the only woman owner of a martial arts gym in Vancouver. She also has a black-belt in Hapkido and trains extensively in muay thai, boxing, judo, and jiu jitsu. The three of us take turns fighting over the next couple of hours. Roy and Emma are beautiful to watch: spinning, rolling, leaping over each other, countering, counter-countering, and countering again. Roy has a lot more jiu jitsu experience and is far bigger than Emma so he wears her down every time, but there’s no charity going on, he has to fight hard.

      I love fighting with Emma. She’s 135 pounds and I can muscle her around, but she is so smart and skilled that I am constantly getting caught in holds that are very difficult for me to negotiate out of. Because I am fifty pounds heavier, Emma works from her back keeping me in full-guard most of the time. In our first bout, she just fends me off patiently for a few minutes, then locks in a triangle choke that finishes things. In our next few rounds, I figure out a couple of moves so I have some offense. Emma is really helpful, waiting as Roy pauses us and explains what I should be doing, and letting me try stuff out. It feels like I am in a fight, even though I know Emma could submit me pretty easily. Her conditioning is awesome, while I wear down quickly, which clouds my thinking. It’s really Emma’s quick reactions and strategic manoeuvring that impresses me most.