Missing BJJ

Today is May 19th 2011. I haven't rolled for about 3 weeks now and I feel miserable...

1. I injured my elbow and 2. I had to slow down on BJJ, due to, trying to taper and peak on time for the Cellcom Full Marathon. Now my legs are shot and I hope they heal fast!

I need to ROLL...

"Brazilian Jui Jitsu is my crack and the mats are my pipe..."

funny, I just made that up...HAHA (since I sound like a crackhead feening for a habit)

360 BJJ Arrival

TGIF!!!!...I'm so bored at work and read so many articles and blogs so far, that I feel tired *yawn*

So this Monday, 4/11/11, I took off 2 hours early from work and headed down to Milwaukee with some of the Green Bay Jiu Jitsu guys. It was actually a really good turnout, as 14 of us were able to head down and train with Scott Huston and his 360 BJJ guys. Wow, the drive seemed so much longer then usual and I've traveled down to Milwaukee multiple times before.

We finally arrived at 360 BJJ and was greeted by Scott. Everyone of the GBJJ guys were stoked and we all agreed that it felt like our first day in class all over again. Mainly due to the new atmosphere, new training environment and meeting the Milwaukee guys. 360 BJJ is a lot bigger then I thought it was. We didn't have a chance to warm up or stretch, just got changed into our gis and started drilling techniques. Scott was very very detailed and precise with his explanations of techniques. We drilled for about 45 minutes or so, then went into full on rolling. Rolling was fun, except I didn't get much of a chance to roll with everyone there. I rolled with Scotts blue belt, Gotto, as we started off slow, feeling each other out and both of us never going 100%, just flow with the go. I did really good against Scotts blue belt, but got caught in an armbar, he torqued it so far that my arm literally started hurting after and still hurts today. Then again, my dumb ass didn't tap and tried to fight out of it, so it's really my own fault. LOL

Next, I rolled with the assistant instructor Tom, who's a brown belt. I got mopped all over the floor by him and he wasn't even trying. It was really fun though! I sat out the rest of the night, due to my arm hurting, just observing the other guys roll and I must say, the 360 BJJ guys are very very technical and very good! They are very efficient with their spider guards.

Rolling went on for like 2 hours and it was well worth the drive on a Monday night!

The Inner Game of Jiu Jitsu

I was browsing on Blogger and stumbled upon this one blog written by Sam Y., that really caught my attention titled, "The Inner Game of Jiu Jitsu". Everything on the blog can apply to the game of BJJ and even life. It's not an instructional BJJ blog, which he states right away, and it makes his blog very different and unique. He talks about...basically what the title means, everything conceptual and in depth of the Inner Game of Jiu Jitsu.


It's one very very great and insightful blog and I love reading it! So I just had to follow it.
  

http://innerbjj.blogspot.com/

Dilemma

I really want to be as active and productive as I can this year and compete in as much BJJ tournaments as I can, if I feel I'm ready at least. I still train 3-4 days a week and feel I still have momentum from my last tournament, so that's why I haven't slowed down yet. Now, there's a couple more tournaments coming up. There's a tournament in Milwaukee, Combat Corner VII on April 16th and NAGA Chicago on April 30th. I was planning on competing and would love to do both that month, but I came to a conclusion....and it really is a bummer.

I made my final decision and will not compete in any of those BJJ tournaments. I have the Green Bay Cellcom 2011 marathon coming up and running 26.2 miles is really gonna make me take some time off of training BJJ, which will make me sad. I have to juggle work and I have to log in at least 4-5 miles a day, with more increase mileage as the weeks progress, with 1 - 2 days of rest. It's really gonna take a toll on my knees and body, which will suck! But the marathon to me, will mean more then those BJJ tournaments.

Scott Huston 360 BJJ

So a couple of weeks ago, Scott came up to introduce himself to our gym and explain our new alliance with 360 and Brasa. He really is a nice, super cool guy and can't wait to train under him and with him. He talked a lot about how he started his BJJ journey, training in Milwaukee with Matamoros, how Brasa was started and his own personal goal to become a Pan Ams Champion and the best that he can be. He explained why he changed gyms and made a transition to train under Comprido, due to his goal to pursue championships in BJJ and I clearly understand why. His goal at his school is solely based on BJJ only and bringing the best out of his students. That! I can appreciate because I want to become the best that I can and excel as far as I can in this sport.

Class was great and watching Scott roll with the other guys was really something else. His game and techniques are sooo smooth and amazing. You could tell Scott wasn't there to school anyone and make them look bad,....but was just working techniques, sweeps and position.

                                 1st place in 2009 and 2010 at the Pan Ams!

Good news!

So my gym, Green Bay Jui Jitsu is expanding and will soon be affiliated with Scott Huston, who owns and operates 360 BJJ/Brasa in Milwaukee, WI. To me, this is great news because like I mentioned earlier in one of my post. I think Scott Huston is one of the top and best BJJ players in WI. It's going to be great having an affiliation with 360 Brasa. From what I heard, Scott will be coming up to Green Bay at least 2X a month to instruct classes and teach. It'll be great having someone of his caliber teaching. At least I'm happy and stoked for this change.

Website: http://360-bjj.com/


 Some fo Scott Hustons accomplishments are:
- 2x Pan American Champion, winning gold in his category over the past two years (09’ and 10’)
- 4x North American Grappling Association (NAGA) Champion, and Arnold Gracie BJJ Classic Champion.
- Scott was voted 2008 “Grappler of Year” and is currently the #1 ranked grappler in Wisconsin.

Scott is currently a brown belt under Rodrigo “Comprido” Medeiros, who is one of the most decorated Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belts in the world.




                                          Comprido, Me and Scott Huston

Sleepy time

So, yesterday was my 1st time back into the gym after a long week off. I caught a cold and it really dragged all last week and I was pretty pissed I caught a cold, knowingly I haven't been sick for 2 years and my immune system is really good. Plus, I was out of the gym that whole week really made me feel like crap and that also kinda ticked me off. I had the urge and wanted to go in and learn techniques and even roll, but I didn't wanna risk getting anyone else sick.

So, I went to the gym yesterday feeling ok, maybe it was me or maybe it was my body recovering from being sick, but I sure performed half assed and terrible! I felt so rusty and it's weird what a week off will do to you. ughhh...We were drilling guard passing and I was paired up with my instructor. I was passing, then got caught in a triangle, but he couldn't finish it. So my instructor choked me with a fist to my throat, while still caught in the triangle lock. It felt tight, but I was defending good. Then, all of sudden I wake up like WTF?, with my instructor standing over me. I got choked out unconscious! LOL...I swear I never seen it coming, all I know was I was defending good and BAM!...I was out cold snoring. It felt like a dream, like I was in my bedroom sleeping and really really dreaming. It's a funny, odd feeling when you wake up from unconsciousness...LOL

The Brazilian Jui Jitsu language

I was on sherdog reading in the grappling forum and came upon this analogy of BJJ, and it COMPLETELY makes sense....so I had to post it!

"White belts knows words, blue belts can use the words to put sentences together, purple belts use the sentences to make a paragraph, brown belts can put make the paragraphs into a coherent argument and black belts can openly debate in jiujitsu."

A white belt rolls to survive
A blue belt rolls to win
A purple belt rolls to grow
A brown belt rolls to hone
A black belt rolls to create





BJJ Training

So yesterday at BJJ class I had the opportunity to teach the Flying Armbar...haahaha. It was pretty fun! It was a wrestling/take down class and usually Andy (which is a phenomenal state wrestler and BJJ blue belt) will coach/teach the class, but he gave me the opportunity to teach this technique. They never touched on that subject or technique before, but due to my instructor and gym members pretty happy I submitted my opponent at Combat Corner VI BJJ tournament, they were interested in learning it. I honestly wasn't taught the flying armbar by anyone but myself and youtube...LOL. But I drilled it so much in my head that I understood the technique of it. I did my best to teach it, getting into details of hand placement, where to kick your legs and swing it into the armbar. It was quite funny watching the bigger guys in the gym drill it, because they would fall on there backs and groan in pain while trying to kick the leg over to secure the armbar...hahahaa. Over all, it was a good class.

Combat Corner BJJ Tournament Results

Oh man, what a weekend...Completed my little adventure from Combat Corner VI BJJ tournament in Milwaukee, WI. A lot of great great competitors and competition. The gym was a lot cleaner and nicer then previous events I've been to and that's always a plus.

This is my 1st time going into the Intermediate division, which consist of competitors with 1-3 yrs experience and from observing most of the competitors in my division, they're mostly blue belts with more experience and bigger then me. My 1st match was against a blue belt, Joseph Flores of Gracie Barra. Was I nervous?...I can honestly say a little bit, but was more excited and relaxed then anything else. I kept controlling my breathing to the best that I can and just focusing, staying relaxed because I tend to get jitters. As we both got on the mats, slapped hands and the match began. I was hopping around so I could loosen up, faking a couple of shots to throw Joseph off balance. Joseph grabbed my wrist and got low on me trying to control my posture, so I just tied up with him as well. While circling around, I just hit my switch not even thinking one bit of what the hell I just did. I attacked with a Flying Armbar! Securing his arm, squeezing and extending my legs as much as I could, I held on so tight as I could feel his arm slipping away, then he tapped. I was honestly in disbelief for a split second, thinking to myself, "holy shit, did I actually land a Flying Armbar...???" If you watch closely to the video of it, after I finish him, I get up slowly walking towards the ref. like I'm totally lost, dazed and confused. Coming into reality as I could hear my buddies screaming "Good shit!", I finished my first match. At Green Bay Jui Jitu, they never teach or taught flying armbars. I always daydreamed and visioned doing a flying armbar in my head from watching Shinya Aoki performing it on Youtube...LOL..Always thinking to myself, "Wow, that is a beautiful technique". I was pretty stoked and happy with myself, because that was 1 of my goals...to land a Flying Armbar in live competition. Now I can scratch that off my To Do List.

I made it to the finals and now I'm up against Joel Maldonado of 360 Brasa. If you know 360 Brasa, they are a legit team of BJJ fighters based out of Milwaukee, WI and I would love to train there sometime. Scott Huston is there head instructor and he is to me, the top and most technical BJJ fighter in WI. I've seen Joel around before and we've talked. He's a really cool, nice guy. It's kinda cool and funny how he told me, he had a feeling we would meet in the finals, as we did...hahaha...In the final round, we both slapped hands and it began. I was hopping around as usual trying to juke him out. I didn't wanna shoot in because he has a good guillotine and caught the previous opponents with it. Joel was tall and lanky, he grabbed me with no problem and tied me up fast. then he jumped guard and slipped a leg past my head, locking in a triangle choke. I was like, "Damn, I got caught..." but I maintained my posture, relaxed and stayed calm. It was a really deep triangle too and I was really close to tapping, but I fought hard not to tap. With 2 minutes left, I knew I was losing so I burst and broke his triangle. Now in his guard, I said to him, "Good job man"..he didn't hear me clearly the first time due to my mouthpiece, Joel responded, "What?...", I replied again, "Good job". He then stated, "Oh shit, naw man...good job defending". It's quite comical we were chatting during the finals, LOL. I was trying to pass and I was so close to passing and scoring 2 points. I got swept instead, sticking my ass too high, not controlling my posture as he controlled me and now I was on my back. I'm down 2 points now, knowing that I'm losing. I try my best to sweep him and attack with an armbar. Time expired and I knew I lost, taking 2nd place. It was OK though and it was a great learning experience. As long as I gave it my all.

My next matches were in Gi, white belt division. I'll make this one short. My first match, my opponent pulled guard, I passed, got side control, mounted him, locked in an arm triangle and choked him from full mount. 2nd match, my opponent was really really tall. He pulled guard, I almost passed, and again I got swept. Now down by 2 points, I lost in the semi finals. My 3rd match was for 3rd place. I shot in, took my opponent down, controlled him, mounted, attacked sweeps, triangles and more sweeps. I beat him by 9 points.

Overall, it was a fine fine day of Brazilian Jui Jitsu competition and I was bummed out by getting swept and losing by 2 points in the finals and semi finals. But! I was happy and surprised myself with the Flying Armbar and how well I did in this tournament under pressure with no coaching at all. I have the will and desire to fight and defend, just not the technique and skills to control my weight and keep my ass low...hahaha, but then again, I'm still and only a white belt.

Results = http://uscombatsports.com/index.php?option=com_flexicontent&view=items&cid=181&id=8295&Itemid=99

I Thank my boyz for supporting me at the tournament, it's always nice to have support.

Then me and my buddies went out and got tanked! And Xai's dick went on Zombie mode that night!...Brainzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....LOL

Combat Corner BJJ tournament

For the last couple of months, I have been training as much as I can and putting my time on the mats. I already see improvements in my BJJ game, but at the same time I have a lot of errors and gaps to fill. I have a Brazilian Jui Jitsu tournament this weekend and I'm excited! Except the only thing is, I'm also injured. Went to class this Tuesday and it was focused on takedowns/wrestling. I knew I should've sat out of class participation because I know I could get injured. But being ignorant as I am, I didn't and participated in class and got injured. Now my whole body is aching and my ribs hurt the most. I hope hope hope my body heals in 48 hours, so I'm ready to compete. If it's not healed in time, then I will have to pull out.


http://www.combatcornergc.com/