Jay Gaulard

July 16, 2025 / 0 Comments

Is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) Difficult to Learn?

I actually haven’t come across this question all too much in real life, but from what I understand and can see on the internet, the question is very popular. Is BJJ hard to learn? I get it. There are tons of people out there who might want to learn the sport or fighting style or self-defense framework – whatever you want to call it. And walking into a gym for the very first time to find answers can be fairly intimidating. I remember when I did that. I knew nothing about jiu-jitsu and I knew nothing about martial arts in general. I still made the call though and now, I can’t even count how many years later, I’m still going strong. None of this helps you though. You still want to know if Brazilian jiu-jitsu is hard to learn. I’ll answer that question below.

July 6, 2025 / 0 Comments

What’s Maine Like in July?

It really depends on what type of person you are and where you plan on finding yourself in July in Maine. Do you enjoy winter activities while having few people around? If so, Maine (especially the coast) definitely wouldn’t be the best location for you (it can be hot and crowded). But if you have an affinity for the warmth and if you like to swim in the ocean, camp, and sail, yes – I’d say Maine during mid-summer would be right up your alley.

June 15, 2025 / 0 Comments

What’s Maine Like in June?

Living in Maine is like listening to a tale of two peoples. Half of Maine’s residents despise the cold, yet they continue to live in the state, and the other half deplore the heat, yet they continue to live in the state. Granted, Maine’s “heat” is much less hot than the heat found in other states. I’ll tell you though, it sure feels hot when a guy is trying to sleep while stuck to his bed sheets. Sweat. That’s all I can say. And lots of humidity.

May 26, 2025 / 0 Comments

Does BJJ Become Boring the More You Train?

If you’ve read any of my other Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu related posts, you already know that I’ve been training for what seems like ever. And since I’ve hung around for as long as I have, you’d think that the conversation about being bored with the sport has come up once or twice. The thing is, it actually hasn’t. It’s never come up. I’ve never heard one person during all the years of my training say, “Hey, this is actually becoming a bit played out. I mean, how many times are we going to do the same things over and over again?”

May 23, 2025 / 0 Comments

What’s Maine Like in May?

Three things come to mind when I think of May in Maine – black flies, heat, and mowing the lawn. In that order, or pretty much that order.

April 20, 2025 / 0 Comments

Firewood Season in Maine

If a homeowner expects to burn firewood that’s at least semi-dry come winter, that homeowner better start cutting and splitting their wood as early as they’re able to during the spring. And by spring, I mean early to mid-April. That’s for Maine. The more southerly a person lives, the earlier they can begin cutting and splitting.

April 15, 2025 / 0 Comments

What’s Maine Like in April?

The weather begins to break in April. While there’s a lot of variation during the month between the multitude of locations in Maine, a person can be sure of two truths; the air warms and the light becomes plentiful.

March 28, 2025 / 0 Comments

‘Tis Albert Camus, Existentialism, & Bubkes

I’m reading a book right now that’s titled, ‘Tis. It’s written by an Irish author named Frank McCourt. I’m not sure why I’m finding myself reading so many books authored by the Irish as of late, but interestingly, I am. First it was Maeve Binchy’s Quentins and then it was Sharon Owens’ The Tavern on Maple Street and now it’s ‘Tis. Funny how that happens. I think it’s because I’ve been visiting the free book giveaway in Farmington at the end of each month. A non-profit in town offers hundreds of books at no cost to the public and I end up taking a few home each time. Books with interesting titles that just happen to be of the Irish persuasion, not that the Irish need to be persuaded one way or the other.

March 21, 2025 / 0 Comments

Kvothe Plays for the Eolian

Two of my favorite books are The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man’s Fear, written by Patrick Rothfuss. Both books are beautifully written and if I was forced to keep only two on my shelf, it’d be these two. By the way, if you’ve ever been interested in what Patrick Rothfuss’ favorite fantasy books are (that he’s enjoyed reading, himself), please visit my post on the topic. Yes, this is something I’ve looked into. I’m always curious about what other fantasy genre aficionados have found themselves toiling with. Some of his list I agree with, some I don’t. I have a feeling he listed a few books in there that are so common that it would be strange not to include them. Yet, I doubt he’s even read them. But alas, I may be wrong.

March 20, 2025 / 0 Comments

What’s Maine Like in March?

If I had to describe the month of March in Maine by using just two words, the words would be light and mud. There are no other words that describe the month so succinctly. The sun sits much higher in the sky than it did during the months of December, January, and February and the snow and ice truly begin to melt in earnest.