Taking on the CCIE: My Journey

SysAdmin4066

It's time to start my official CCIE thread. I think it's a great way to chronicle your journey, while helping others along the way. I'll first start by introducing myself for those that dont know me. My name is Henry. I started in IT professionally in 2000 as a small computer systems specialist for the Marine Corps. I have progressively grown since then, taking on more and more responsibility, gaining further experience on a broader range of IT products and services.

I am currently an systems administrator for the County of Riverside (California) Community Health Agency, the second largest agency in one of the largest counties in the country.

We support Riverside County's Depts of Environmental and Public Health as well as Animal Services. All in all, the county employs over 20,000 people and spans a good portion of the southern California area. I am a systems guy with an emphasis on network engineering, as I am a member of the systems engineering team. I am also focused on security management and regularly attend countywide security meetings and conferences.

My current education includes a BS in Computer Sciences from the University of California, as well as an MS in Computer Sciences from the same. I hold a few industry entry and professional level certifications as well. I'm actually the youngest sys admin the county has ever employed. I was 26 when I started, I'm now 27 (I'll be 28 in June). The youngest before me was 27.

I am married, coming up on 4 years now. We have a 1 year and a baby on the way, just 8 weeks in. I would like to be pretty far into this journey by the time the new child comes so that when I take time off for bonding and helping my wife, I wont be losing too much in studies.

I know that this is going to be hard, along with juggling family time, work, and my budding martial arts hobby (I am a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu/submission wrestling fighter, looking to compete often in the future), but anything worth doing is never easy.

At any rate, I am up to the challenge. I've got a home lab and I am modeling the INE topology. It consists of the following equipment;

R1 = 3640
R2 = 2620XM
R3 = 2611XM
R4 = 2620XM
R5 = 2620XM
R6 = 2610XM
SW1 - SW4 = 3550 EMI
BB1/FRS = 3620
BB2 = 2610
BB3 = 2610
All core routers (R1-R6) are running the latest IOS mainline. For any 3560 specific topics, I'll have to rent rackspace.

I plan on working the Vol I INE workbook while studying for the written. I am looking at scheduling the written for June 5th tentatively. After I complete the written, I plan on taking Narbiks 5 day bootcamp in Pasadena. This will hopefully give me a solid base to begin full time study for the lab. I'll be finishing up the Vol I workbook between June and October, possibly November. I'll start working the Vol II workbook then, working on putting all of the knowledge together.

I might also start working the Vol III at this point as well, I havent decided yet. I have the Vol IV workbook and I intend on working this during the last 4 to 6 months of my studies. This would be around March 2011. I would be looking to take the Narbik bootcamp again 2 weeks before my first attempt, sometime in June or July 2011. This will hopefully help to solidify my studies and help me to figure out my weak points. I plan on also running a few of the mock labs from INE, possibly 2, maybe 3 before running the actual lab to see where I stand at that point.

So all in all, from start to finish, I'm looking at completion or at least a first attempt in about a year and 3 months to a year and a half possibly. Obviously things change and dates can and most likely do slip, but you have to start with some sort of plan and that's mine.

I like the fact that it's written down, so that months from now when I'm all beat down and bloodied, I can see how naive I really was lol. At any rate, I'll be using this thread to keep track of my daily, weekly, and monthly progress. I plan on putting in approximately 3 hours daily weekdays and 5 hours daily weekends during the study period. That's about 2106 hours give or take. That's not counting the bootcamps. I dont know yet if that is adequate, but I will find out soon enough. Well, let the games begin

I also want to wish all of the new guys that are studying for the CCIE in the 2010 year good luck and God speed. All the guys I shared my CCNP journey with, I look forward to sharing the CCIE journey with you as well.

Essendon

Nice write-up there Henry. Anyone on here preparing for the CCIE is a major source of inspiration for me. I'll be reading your progress for sure. It sure will be hard juggling study, job and more imprtantly the family. I wish you well on your journey.

SysAdmin4066

Read through to the start of chapter 1 in the exam guide, watched the advanced LAN config video (CBT Nuggets) part 2 video this morning. This evening, I am finishing up configuring BB1/FRS and BB2. I am having some problems with the features matching up to what I actually have. For instance, while I have 12.3-18 running on the BB switches, on BB2 I cant input the interface configuration command IPv6 ospf 1 area 0. I was also unable to configure the commands after ipv6 router ospf 1, namely "router-id 192.10.1.254" and "redistribute connected route-map OSPFv3_LOOPBACK" for those of you following the INE Vol I configs. I'm not sure why, I actually have the enterprise IOS version, so I should have the feature set to run what I'm trying to do. I moved ahead with the rest of the config and everything else is fine. So I think I'll have to contact some tech support and see what they say unless someone here has any insight. Its basically just setting the router id for OSPFv3 right? and redistributing a connected route-map. My brains are fried about now, so it's probably not a good time for my to try and troubleshoot this. I'm headed to bed. Early morning studying ahead...

SysAdmin4066

Essendon wrote: »

Nice write-up there Henry. Anyone on here preparing for the CCIE is a major source of inspiration for me. I'll be reading your progress for sure. It sure will be hard juggling study, job and more imprtantly the family. I wish you well on your journey.

Thanks bro, I appreciate it.

ColbyG

Are you strictly a sysadmin or do you also work with Cisco gear?

Mrock4

First things first..you bastard! I was contemplating on whether or not I should create mine for the last 2-3 days..now if I do it, I'll be a copycat

Glad to see you're posting up your thoughts/progress there. I think it'd be really cool to read, start to finish, about a guy passing..

gpitts85

Hey Henry,

This was a great write up. I hope to be able to do the same in a few years. I must say being able to juggle all those roles and study for argubly the most difficult cert in the game is very ashtonishing. I just want to commend you on this and I will definitley be following your progress. Once you receive your CCIE (I know you will) I would love to get some help and direction on it. You have accomplished alot with me going into being 25 this year that definitley inspires me. GOD bless you and keep you and give you the wisdom and strength to be successful in all that you do from here on out.

SysAdmin4066

Lol, First to Fight right? But you beat me to the punch where it counted though, the CCNP finish was impressive my friend. Hopefully i'll be able to beat you this time on the written. So you've got a real win in your column so far, you and Jason.

Thanks G-Money, I hope you do follow along, add some advice when you feel the urge and let me know about what you're working on, tips and tricks you know. I like to aggregate all sources of inspiration, knowledge, hope and I also like that you're young. God has definitely blessed me, and I look towards the footprints in the sand as inspiration, cause I know at some point in this journey, I'm gonna need to be carried lol. I spent a little time in Stillwater by the way, I loved it there. I was a music major early in my bachelors studies and I played a little with OSUs band. Very nice part of the country.

I've been waking up early, about an hour, so I can get some time in for videos but I ended up sleeping late this morning. I dont know what happened, although I was up till about 11 last night trying to finish configuring BB2. So not only did I not get to watch the last nugget in the advanced LAN configurations video, I didnt get to eat breakfast I will be shooting to read through chapter 1 during the course of the day today, possibly even chapter 2 tonight. I am also lightly going through the soup to nuts as a refresher from the CCNP. It's got some good in between info.

Mrock4

Hey man, what IOS are you running exactly on BB2? I'm running the same as INE ran, 12.2(15)T17, and was able to run everything OK. I'm using C2500-IS-L, for what it's worth. Let us know. If it makes you feel better I had trouble with BB2 also, but it was essentially because it kept crashing and not booting properly etc. Now all of a sudden it seems OK. Think it may have been a flash issue..

And it doesn't matter about me making the NP first..slow and steady wins the race. I'm trying hard to tell myself that, but it's hard. I'm competitive by nature (mostly against myself, I mean), so if I set a deadline I try hard to beat it. In the case of the CCIE I have to remind myself to just stay consistent and I'll be OK. I'll be throwing a thread up here soon, but it's just for the benefit of those reading it..at the end of the day I hope we both pass the written and labs successfully, first try.

SysAdmin4066

I hope so too bro.

Colby, I work with anything and everything these days. I was a sr network engineer before coming here for a large consulting company in my area, serviced the hospitality sector mainly. They were MS and Cisco partners amoung other vendors. So I deal with pretty much anything and everything. My network environment right now is pretty mixxed, with some enterasys gear, cisco gear and misc other gear. I work with one other guy on the team and together we make up the network guys. My greatest strengths lie with MS products though, directory services and Exchange, mostly implementation and administration.

SysAdmin4066

I am running c2600-j1s3-mz.123-21.bin, enterprise. Should have everything 12.2t has right? Or should I be looking for 12.2T? From what I understand the t train is the next level of IOS right? So 12.2T is what 12.3 is based on, 12.3T is what 12.4 is based on, etc. So wouldnt 12.3 at least have everything the latest 12.2T train had? The commands that I'm unable to complete were in interface configuration mode (ethernet interface, the connection from BB2 to SW2) the statement "ipv6 ospf 1 area 0" and in global configuration mode the statement "redistribute connected route-map OSPFv3_LOOPBACK". That's it. I will most likely wipe and start over, see if that helps, maybe install the 12.2T train, but any suggestions?

As for study today, unfortunately I lost some time this morning as I slept in late. I got through most of the Chapter 1, Ethernet basics like pinouts, cabling, speed, duplex etc. SPAN and RSPAN were the last topics of the chapter, which I didnt get a chance to finish. I expect I'll finish it tomorrow morning and then watch the last video in the Advanced LAN Configuration portion. Looking to possibly finish BB3s config tomorrow morning too. But for now, I'm going to take the first practice exam, got the Boson written practice exams today. Then I'm going to bed.

gpitts85

Yea stillwater isnt to bad they are building up down there making it a more liveable city unlike back in the day. Norman is really nice and I guess they got tired of losing recruits to them because of the city living. You will do fine just take it one step at a time

Mrock4

SysAdmin4066 wrote: »

any suggestions?

We're pretty much going at the same rate. I JUST read the SPAN/RSPAN stuff earlier yesterday. I'm working on STP but I will begin bogging down as I try to make sure I know it cold.

As far as the IOS goes, you have the enterprise base, not advanced enterprise services, which there is definitely a difference. Either way, to save headache, I would just upgrade your IOS. I had the same problem briefly, and in my case, was lucky- I just threw on the same image INE uses. Thankfully I had to upgrade the images on several other routers, so I was getting pretty proficient at it

SysAdmin4066

Enterprise base eh? I couldnt go with the same as INE because I dont have the same equipment. IP Plus is not really an option on the 2600 non XMs. If it were an XM I would have just used advanced ent services like on all my core routers. You know offhand what the advanced ent services for 2610 non xm, either 12.2T or 12.3? I checked the feature navigator and didnt see any real differences IPv6 wise. What's also weird is I couldnt find the exact IOS version INE uses in the feature nav. It only goes up to 12.2T 16, not 17 which is really weird.

Mrock4

SysAdmin4066 wrote: »

It only goes up to 12.2T 16, not 17 which is really weird.

I noticed the same thing..it only happens when I try to compare the 12.2 17 image with another. If I just look it up, works fine. Strange.

Yeah, I didn't see any huge differences between the two versions, but I would just upgrade to the most feature packed IOS you have, and see how it goes. Surely there's an image that'll run IPv6 OSPF (with all the commands) for the 2610. I'm convinced if my 2503 will do it anything will..

SysAdmin4066

That's what I thought, that's why I thought I would be safe with even the enterprise basic. Can someone help me out, what is the most feature rich IOS version for the 2600 non xm?

SysAdmin4066

Just sent off an email to tech support at INE, maybe they can point me in the right direction. I dont want to go wasting a lot of time I dont have putting this IOS version or that on these routers only to find out they could have given me the answer and I can be done. Those routers are not going to change and are not configured by me during the labs anyway.

I finished the first chapter this morning, early. I am moving on to Chapter 2, I believe I have a pretty good understanding of the topics discussed, I can refresh if need be. I've dialed the practice exams for the written in to follow along with the topics I'm studying currently. So I'll only get questions based on the current topics I should have read about or be currently reading. That way i'll know what topics i'm retaining so far and which ones I'm not. I plan on hopefully getting my first Layer 2 labs in tonight, since my BBs/FRS routers for the most part are configured. I basically have two commands to input once I figure out what IOS version I need, upgrade BB2 (havent decided yet if I want to do the same for BB1/ and BB3. I've also asked my boss could I grab some of the ears on the routers we're surplusing before we surplus them. That'll save me on the few ears I needed to buy, which is good. Moving right along here. Did my first practice exam, just a 10 question quicky. 70%, so not too bad, but as I said above, it's only based on questions from the section I'm currently studying, which is the bridging and LAN switching section. No gym tonight, so I'll be trying to finish Chapter 2 tonight. Amazing how much easier studying late and early is when you enjoy the topics discussed. That ONT stuff was brutal, not because of ease or difficulty, but because I was just not interested in it.

SysAdmin4066

So why is INE tech support telling me that the commands i'm missing are of no consequence, so I dont need them. I call bullshit...

Mrock4

I don't see the router-id being of much importance (being that it's on a BB router), but ipv6 ospf 1 area 0 SEEMS to be important, but I'm not really sure, since I haven't touched the volume 2 WB yet.

SysAdmin4066

I'm using Vol I bro. I agree on the router-id but what about the redistribute command, I'm thinking that one might be important as well. And putting ethernet 0/0 into ospf 1 area 0 seems important to me too. I just emailed Brian Dennis to confirm.

SysAdmin4066

I must just be tired, but I'm not really seeing how the diagram matches up with the VLANs configured in the Vol I lab I. The config step 1.1 says to reference the diagram, which I assume is the logical topology diagram, and I am noticing that at least to me, the assignments dont really make a whole lot of sense. Or they arent evident immediately, which seems kind of odd that the diagram with be so cryptic. Or maybe i'm just really freaking sleepy and I'm ready for bed.

I started chapter 2 today, VLANs and VTP. I'm probably about halfway through and obviously I've managed to crack open the labs only to be stopped immediately by the first step. I'm gonna go a bit further and then i'm heading off to bed. Live to fight another day eh...

SysAdmin4066

Started over after resting and still didnt really get how the solution was coming up with the VLANs that should be configured on each switch based on the diagram, but it was a little less fuzzy after getting some sleep. I was able to explain most, but some of them I was still like, WTF, how would I have known that based on this diagram alone lol. Coupled with the physical topology it all makes sense, but without that document, which the instructions dont reference, you would be pretty much either lost or doing a whole lot more work to figure out and seriously risking configuring more than you should.

Anyway, once I got past that part, I was able to run through dynamic switchports, ISL trunking, dot1Q trunking, dot1q native vlan, disabling DTP, and router on a stick. Nothing I wasnt already familiar with, and nothing that gave me too much trouble. Took me a little while though, as I was also reading, just really immersing myself in the configurations, trying to thoroughly learn as much about it as possible. Of course this is just my first pass, there will be many more to come.

I'm about halfway through Chapter 2, VLANs and VTP related topics, I think it's really more of a refresher. BCMSN it turns out seems to have gone more in depth than the CCIE written material. That's just my opinion so far of course, seeing as I have never taken the exam. But if the Boson practice exams are any indication, I have been preparing quite well for the exam for about a year now, because at least as far as the layer 2 info is concerned, the BCMSN was very thorough. Good news I think, though I am very cognizant of underestimation. I have heard this exam is difficult. And while I never underestimate an opponent, or possible opponent in a combat situation, I would never underestimate an exam, especially one with such a lofty reputation. Preparation, proper planning, is going to bring this beast to it's knees when it's time and I'm prepared to put up the effort. Worse case scenario, I overprep and end up completely dominating it. Doesnt sound too bad to me

SysAdmin4066

Finished up chapter 2, finished a few more lab steps for VTP configs, and took a practice exam. Not much time today, took my daughter to the park, wife had to work so I was mr mom today. Great day overall, I will be right back at it tomorrow morning, either starting with chapter 3, or finishing more in the bridging and switching lab. Probably some reading with a practice exam at the end.

SysAdmin4066

Finished reading last chapter of layer 2 section in exam guide, plan on running through at least a first run through of layer 2 labs in the INE workbook vol I before moving on to IP Addressing sections. I feel pretty solid on layer 2 topics however, STP and all of it's various flavors, VTP, DTP, EtherChannel, etc. I will probably read through the entire exam guide again after the first pass through before taking the written, so I will hopefully be very solid by that time.

I need to look at the dates for the Narbik bootcamp and start planning to take that time off during the month of June or close to. I plan on taking the Narbik bootcamp as the first 100% full effort towards conquering the lab.

In non CCIE related news, I got a new laptop to replace the one that was stolen. It's the new HP Envy 15. This thing is serious folks, i7 processor, 6 GBs of RAM, upgradable to 16! Beautiful 15.6 inch led screen, full HD, premium speakers and sound system, aluminum body coated in magnesium, two batterys, a small initial OS (linux based) that allows for quick web browsing or music or file access without booting into full Windows 7. It is an awesome machine. Just what I needed. Well i'm going to run through the lab from where I left off (VTP pruning) tomorrow morning. Right now i'm headed to bed, good night

Mrock4

SysAdmin4066 wrote: »

Finished reading last chapter of layer 2 section in exam guide, plan on running through at least a first run through of layer 2 labs in the INE workbook vol I before moving on to IP Addressing sections. I feel pretty solid on layer 2 topics however, STP and all of it's various flavors, VTP, DTP, EtherChannel, etc. I will probably read through the entire exam guide again after the first pass through before taking the written, so I will hopefully be very solid by that time.

Sounds like you're moving full steam ahead as well. I found that cross-referencing whenever reading on STP was a huge help for me. I gathered my information from probably 4-6 sources, and I feel I would have left quite a gap if I had just read the exam cert guide.

I'd also like to do the INE bootcamp a little after you take the Narbik, but I don't think money is going to be there unfortunately. Maybe I'll just take 5 days off work and torture myself with IPexpert Vol II labs

jason_lunde

Hey, let me know when solidify a date to take the Narbik BC. I might try to get in there with you if the funding is available.

SysAdmin4066

Mrock4 wrote: »

Sounds like you're moving full steam ahead as well. I found that cross-referencing whenever reading on STP was a huge help for me. I gathered my information from probably 4-6 sources, and I feel I would have left quite a gap if I had just read the exam cert guide.

I'd also like to do the INE bootcamp a little after you take the Narbik, but I don't think money is going to be there unfortunately. Maybe I'll just take 5 days off work and torture myself with IPexpert Vol II labs

Yeah, the bootcamps are pricey, but from what I understand very well worth the money. I'll probably try and get some assistance from work, but if not, i'm still doing it. The money is there, although I'd like it to stay in my bank account. But again, it is an investment, no different than my stock portfolio. I expect returns when this is all said and done.

Jason, man you been quiet on the CCIE front, hows your studying coming along? What are your plans, fill us in, inquiring minds are curious Yeah, that would be cool, you looking at the burbank class?

I'm contemplating working on a PhD in either Eletrical Engineering or IT or Computer Sciences, something IT/Computer/Networking related and possibly switching gears towards teaching in the future. Maybe not now, but within the next 10 years, maybe transitioning to a major university. I always wanted to teach, but the prospect of research is calling to me. I'd love to get on a large college or university's research team. Just thinking out loud, my next opponent is the CCIE and I plan on winning a first round submission.

jason_lunde

SysAdmin4066 wrote: »

Jason, man you been quiet on the CCIE front, hows your studying coming along? What are your plans, fill us in, inquiring minds are curious Yeah, that would be cool, you looking at the burbank class?

Well, I am studying, but I have decided to study for the IE through the IP at the moment. I am ~100 pages from the end of a massive QoS book. So I will probably try it out at the end of March. Then on to the BGP/MPLS exam. I just figured if I gotta learn them anyways.... I am also in the midst of piecing together my lab. Just got a great deal on a 3640 with 4x 1FE-TX modules, and picked up two more 3640's pretty cheap. That just leaves me with around 4 or 5 pieces to pick up...plus the new rack. So by the end of the IP I should be ready (lab-wise) to pick up INE's workbooks. I also just got the IE R&S cert guide in the mail...havent cracked it yet though. Ya, looking at Burbank for Narbiks class...might be end of the year though for me.

SysAdmin4066

Well i'm off every Friday, so if you're out my way, we should head to lunch. If we're in the same class, obviously we'll see each other there. So why going through the CCIP? Just wanted that cert as well? I know it matches up to some of the topics, but was it something you wanted anyway? I hear you on the gotta learn it, but I dont have to pay 125 or more at the end of each topic I master for the CCIE. And it's expensive enough, I would rather save it for training, i.e. bootcamps, labs, etc. I'm gonna do the bootcamp at least twice, before and after. There's a free retake, anytime, and since I live in SoCal, I can easily take it twice.

SysAdmin4066

Tried to get some lab time in this morning, got about 45 mins to run through the bridging and switching labs from the beggining again. I didnt get far, but it was still good repetition. I think I'm just about ready to move on to the next topic. I plan on spending some time tomorrow morning really running through the bridging and switching lab from start to end and working through all of the steps in detail. I would imagine I would need at least 3 hours to focus on this. Practice exams put me pretty squarely at about 85% on the topic, which is good to go. I figure over the next day or so I can move that to about 90%, which is adequate to start incorporating the next topic into my studies. I'm on target as of now for June 5th.

SysAdmin4066

Finishing up my run throughs of the layer 2 labs in the Vol I workbook (INE). I'm feeling pretty good on VTP, DTP, VLAN config, EtherChannel, and trunking in general. I did have a little weird experience with the EtherChannel configurations. One thing I noticed going through the EtherChannel config portion was that when I ran through them the first time I couldnt get them to initialize without rebooting the switches involved. This was after configuring SW1 for all 3 channel ports (12, 13, and 14) at a time, then going to each switch and configuring it's respective side of the channel group. The switch would report a misconfiguration and then put the ports into err-disable status. I figured if I configured both sides immediately that maybe that wouldnt happen and sure enough, it didnt. I dont remember that being a factor or a problem when running through labs similar to this in the BCMSN, but I had mostly 2950s so maybe it wasnt a problem with them. I'm going to look deeper into that, maybe it's as designed. Has anyone else seen this?

In other news, my tournament on saturday went well. Very small, just in house, but still a lot of competitors. My division had only 1 competitor, both Gi and No-Gi, so I didnt get the actual "tournament" experience, but there is plenty of time for that. I did get a chance to showcase my skills against an opponent in a traditional tournament structure in front of a crowd of people. Ok, so I know the question is, how'd I do?

We started at about 4 pm, as we were in the finals due to there only being one fight in our division. My opponent is a current active duty Marine, so he's a tough guy, very strong, great stamina, all the things you think of when you hear "Marine". I've sparred (called "rolling" in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) with this particular guy a few times and I've been pretty successful in the past. He had a little over 6 months of experience in our club, I have about 2 and a half. Both white belts.

No-Gi was first, which is basically BJJ without the traditional Kimono or Gi uniform. The match starts on the feet and you're looking to get the takedown, then progress from there. I dont really remember how we got to the ground, but it got there eventually. I believe I may have gotten the takedown, and he ended up in my guard. He passed my guard almost immediately, honestly this wasnt the same guy I had rolled with during class nights. It looked like him, but this guy was much more proficient. He easily passed to half guard, which is 2 points and puts me in a worse position. Not bad, but not good either. Then he passed half guard, which was bad, definitely no doubt about that. I was able to sweep him while in half guard and managed to get back on my feet. We both locked up, and I pulled his head down and cupped his chin setting him up for a shallow guillotine choke (basically like a headlock with your chest on top of your opponent. The choke is applied by cupping your opponents chin, barring down on their back while slightly lifting your forearm up into your opponents neck. It immediately crushes his windpipe, and causes panic as it hurts as well as chokes you). As I brought him down to his knees to initiate the choke, I heard a voice in the crowd yell "wrap the legs, go for the full guillotine". I had thought about it, but you can lose the hold when trying to transition (a full guillotine requires your legs wrapped around your opponents midsection with his head stuck in a headlock. It's strong but dangerous if the guy gets out because then they're on top of you). A voice inside me said screw it, go for it. So I went, through my legs up and into his mid section. I fell to my back, cupped my hand tight around his neck, raised my hips and squeezed his head. He fought for about 15 secs, probably longer than he should have and then he tapped on the mat. I won first round by submission.

So Gi came around after a few of the other matches went through. I predicted a lose earlier in the week in the Gi side of things, as it is where I am weaker. You can control your opponent a lot easier by grabbing and pulling the Gi, using it to set up submissions, or to stop submission attempts. For an experience practitioner, it's a gift. For me, it's good for learning and I can go either way. My strategy was not to be submitted. To fight until the end, survive and if I lost by points so be it.

So we start on the feet again, and this time I try and pull guard to get the fight to the ground. I am somewhat successful, so I get the 2 points, but cant maintain it for long. My opponent tries to circle me, but i'm controlling his collar. We're pretty much stalemated but then he manages to get down into side control in one quick movement. Bad again for me. Worse yet, he mounts me soon after, about 2 mins into the fight, for 4 points. I tell myself to stay calm, remembering I'm down but i'm not out. I realize I have to get out of this position because it's very dangerous for me, especially in Gi, the most dangerous in fact. Collar chokes, armbars, even triangle chokes can be done easily from this position.

I start my escape by controlling his arm, his left arm. I move my right leg over his left leg to make sure he cant base out when I make my move. I bridge my body up and over to the right side. With me controlling his left arm and left leg, he has no base and he goes over easily. I fall into his guard on top position. This gives me 2 points. I immediately hear the corner yell 30 seconds. I know I'm down in points, which means I'm losing. He got 3 points for passing guard into side, then 4 points for mount. I have only 2 points at this point with 30 seconds left. I have to submit, or I'll lose by points. I look to pass guard and he begins to successfully control my collar and my arms. I see an opening and pass my knee over his hip, into half guard, 3 points. It's now 5 to 7. As I look for what kind of subs I can slap on from half guard, I hear TIME!!!. We stand and my opponents arms are raised. I lose by 2 points.

So my first foray into competion ends in one gold for a win by submission and 1 lose by decision, points. I have a lot of work and study to do in BJJ, but I feel like the matches went exactly the way I imagined they would. I had a great time and look to do it again, this time on a larger scale. I would say after almost 3 months, it was a great test of what i've learned so far. My instructors congratulated me on a good performance and said that the most notable thing about my performances were that I didnt panic when I was put into bad positions. I stayed calm, and figured a way out in both situations. I'm happy with that, you cant win them all righ? Anyway, back to my CCIE studies, look for more competitions in the future