Wednesday, October 16, 2013

The taste of water

Just a few more drills before we start to grapple with each other to end the class with an exhausting 30 minutes roll. The drill allows only 30-second-breaks between the five-minute-rounds while switching partners after every of them.

During the short break before the final part of the training starts, when you are supposed to put your mouthpiece in, I use the chance to get my water bottle again. It is almost empty before I even open it – maybe the water simply disappeared or evaporated magically inside the bottle. But I definitely do not feel like I drank it. The small sip I am able to take is like a mere drop in the ocean.

We start to roll and whatever kind of hold we try, our fingers keep slipping from the dripping wet arms of our training partners. One of the guys is in my guard when he stands up and tries to put pressure on my shoulders – if I would not wear a rashguard, he could
just push me across the slippery mats. He places his forearm on my throat and I have to shake him off his balance to get my neck free. From doing this, my throat is even drier and I want water.

Despite my parching thirst I do well in this class and catch a few submissions (of course not without getting submitted too). "Maybe it works in the same way as spurs for horses", I think while dying of thirst while pulling a rear naked choke tight.
After six rounds of intense rolls I am exhausted. "Thanks for the training guys!" Dylan shouts and starting to clap his hands and everybody does the same. Finally it is time for what I have waited for so long today: Drinking as much water as I want to. The mere thought of it makes me feel refreshed already.

When I put the bottle to my lips I gulp down the ice-cold water in one swallow and refill it immediately. After drinking the first half liter in just a few seconds, to satisfy the strongest need for water, I start to really enjoy the second bottle. When you hang out on your couch watching movies or sitting in front of your laptop for hours you get bored by water. It tastes insipid. It is tasteless. You want to have sugary drinks or coffee or a beer. Water seems to be anything other than a delight.



After having easily lost 1 1/2 liters of water during the hard class at Team Quest Thailand today, water is the best drink ever.
It fills my mouth and runs down my throat, it does not only bring a pleasant cool to the mouth and body but it tastes sweet. There is neither a salty taste nor this boring taste of "nothing". The taste buds are satisfied to its fullest and any other drink, like coke or lemonade, would be too sweet now. Somehow I feel like my body is more sensitive after a hard workout (Do you share this experience? I am interested to hear your opinion on that in the comments!)

I spend 15 minutes just sitting next to the water dispenser and drinking a total of two liters before I get up and go having a shower. An ice cold one. The harder the class was the more likely I am to have a cold shower. After technique sessions my body usually does not have that need to be cooled down – but today it must. And I feel great after this internal- and external cool down.

Basically I feel great all the time since I am here.

Did I already recommend doing such a Thailand trip? It is simply awesome. If you are not convinced yet: Go into your kitchen, grab some water and listen to your body. Does it tell you that you are having the greatest drink ever? No?

Now you have a reason to come here!

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