Medal haul for Combat Base UK!!

Had a great day at Jim Mc Sherry's BJJ comp today, with Combat Base UK racking up three gold, three silver and five bronze medals between the individual clubs, namely CB Bolton, AVT, Ng Gar Tien and Factory BJJ.

Victory for Joe Matta

My guys collected one gold, one silver and four bronze medals, with two guys competing for the first time, namely Joe Matta (bronze) and Ike Ogbo (two bronze).

Lee 'Judas' Jones - #1

It was a well run event as always and great to see the usual faces and had the pleasure of making some new friends; special mention goes to Thomas Rix from Norwich Kickstop, who competed, despite suffering from cerebal diplegia, a mild form of cerebal palsy Thomas told me.  Thomas had to walk with a stick and a partner for support onto the mats and with twenty years of Judo under his belt, he gave his opponents a tough time and went home with a bronze medal.  I managed a quick chat with Thomas, who was a really nice guy with a cheeky personality and it was humbling to see a guy like Thomas, sharing the mats with more able bodied guys and getting stuck in. 

One very proud coach and his students!

Jiu Jitsu really is for everyone!!

UMA BJJ comp tomorrow!

Taking half a dozen lads down to Jim Mc Sherry's BJJ fest tomorrow in Burton Upon Trent, keep you posted on the results...............

Beware the Crucifix!

Black belt Jeff Rockwell shows a neat way of getting into the crucifix position from the sitting up guard...................

5 Reasons Why Girls Should Date Guys That Train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Can't really argue with this article.............................

http://blog.gameness.com/5-reasons-why-girls-should-date-guys-that-train-brazilian-jiu-jitsu/#axzz2dHDId08F

Back 2 Basics with Marcelo Garcia!

It's all about the basics and who better than Marcelo Garcia showing an escape from side control, in a video packed with tips and advice.  Study on this, as Roy Dean likes to say :)

Jiu Jitsu Style magazine - front cover sneak preview!

The guys over at JJS are giving the readers a cheeky preview of their latest issue of the magazine on Twitter, so I thought I'd share the link here with you guys; the magazine is available all over the UK in all the best shops and online at www.bjjstyle.com/subscriptions.php 

The cover preview can be found at pic.twitter.com/vaKKVSUgNn
 

BANNED in BJJ!

Here's a video nasty of all things illegal in BJJ and please spare a thought for the poor dude at 2:06 who gets slammed into the mats and the poor woman at 2:25...............OUCH!!

Keenan Cornelius and Andre Galvao!

Awesome video of Andre Galvao rolling with brown belt phenom Keenan Cornelius (starts after the Matrix intro).  Enjoy and who knows you might learn a few things :)

Draculino in da house!

As always, protect the neck when Draculino's in town, as he demonstrates a sweep to bow and arrow choke, two of my all time favourite moves; I also own the DVD that this clip is taken from, which also comes with a book with all the techniques in, check them out and drill them in class and become a neck hunter!

 

 

Helen 'Hellraiser' Harper!

I posted up on here a month ago about two of my female BJJ buddies getting their blue belts, one of them being Helen 'Hellraiser' Harper; Helen lives in Phuket and trains at Phuket Top Team and she is now training for an upcoming MMA fight at Ultimate Beatdown, against Filipino fighter Liezel Lumidas on August 31st.

 

Best of luck Helen (not that you'll need it) train hard fight easy!!

 

 

Super sneaky choke with AJ Agazam!

Here's a really cool and super sneaky lapel choke from the Lasso guard, from two times Pan Ams champion and brown belt AJ Agazam, with Budo Jake!

Like everything else, drill the back out of it and imagine the feeling of pulling this off in a comp - AWESOME!

Monday morning inspiration!

Nothing in life worth having ever comes easy, so many excuses stand in our way every single day to miss class and have an easy night on the sofa; there are nights when I have to drag myself to class, my body aching and beaten up, the last thing I wanna do is train.  Once I get there and get warmed up, the blood is flowing and I'm firing on all cylinders and the aches and pain are forgotten for the time being.  Until the following day, when they return with a vengeance and all the excuses start to worm their way into my head and the internal battle starts again.

 

It's the internal battles with your self that are the hardest to fight, way harder than rolling with the shit hot blue belt and psycho purple belt at the gym. 

 

Sounds familiar?  You are not alone my friend, there are many others fighting the internal battles every day and sadly there are many more that lose this battle and end up sat at home missing out on some great training and even worse, are on the rocky road to giving up training once and for all.

Don't become that person, with their gi stuffed at the back of their wardrobe gathering dust; fight the good fight and drag yourself to class.  In the long run, you'll be glad you did!

 

 

Omoplata Seminario @ Voodo Gym, Macclesfield

Had an awesome afternoon of Jiu Jitsu today over in sunny Macclesfield at Dave Kari's gym, with Darren and Helen Currie coming over from Pontefract, to deliver an outstanding seminar on the omoplata.

 

Regular readers will know I've been drilling the omoplata in class the last few months, so having three hours going over the omoplata with a fine tooth comb, with two black belts was too much to resist. 

 

Sadly, we all missed out on Helen Currie's infamous warm ups, as we were all rolling light to warm up (thank you Darren) so after a few rolls we went straight on with the good stuff.  Darren quickly recapped on an earlier seminar he had with Dave, covering the kimura and showed how to get to the omoplata from the kimura.  From the omoplata position, Darren showed a handful of ways of finishing the submission, as well as a few 'what if?' scenarios.

 

After a water break, more omoplata goodness was to follow, with some really funky shit from when your opponent tries to defend the submission by rolling out, ending up with an arm bar, foot lock and Achilles lock.  Awesome!

 

After some rolling the session was over and two blue belts were awarded to Sam Archer and Sergiusz Pawlowski and Dave Kari was given his purple belt, awesome achievements all round.

James, Helen, Dave, Sam, Serge, Darren and YT

Highlight of the day was Aggie's world famous chilli and rice and the large bowl of jelly babies that kept me going throughout the afternoon, cheers guys!

Aggie's chilli - mmmmmmmmmmm!!

Darren and Helen will be at Combat Base Bolton on September 22nd, delivering kimura based mayhem and madness; looking forward to seeing all the Combat Base UK guys and gals there.

 

Now go hit the mats!!

Liverpool BJJ Open!

 

From Gus Oliveira..........

 

'The first Liverpool Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Open Gi & No Gi event will take place on the 28th of September 2013 at the Jubilee Sports Bank in Liverpool, UK.  The competition format will be Gi & No Gi following IBJJF rules, and IBJJF categories for Males and Females, Adults, Masters and all Seniors.

 

Registration closes on the 25th of september 2013 at 11:59pm. Cost for GI & NOGI will be £30 for all categories. If you wish to compete on both GI&NOGI combo price is £45.00.'

 

http://www.strongvon.com/LBJJO/m_tournament_main.jsp?mod=ts&tournament_id=1359

 

 

Powerpoint and Base Concept with Nic Gregoriades

The latest video offering from black belt Nic Gregoriades - enjoy!

Kimura Seminar @ Combat Base Bolton!

I have great pleasure in announcing that Darren and Helen Currie will be gracing the mats at Combat Base Bolton, Sunday September 22nd; from 12-3pm, they will be delivering a masterclass on one of my all time favourite submissions, the kimura, covering this deadly move from every conceivable position.

With Darren and Helen Currie

This comes as an early birthday present for yours truly, as the week after it's my birthday, so what more can one ask for??

Lucky old me!!

The Omoplata Game!

As you know from an earlier post that I've been drilling the omoplata a lot in class with the students, through a number of flow drills and the results are beginning to show when the lads roll in the sparring classes. 

All that's needed now is for the lads to start hitting the submission in comps and I know it's been a worthwhile venture over the last few months.

With this in mind, sit down, take your gi off, put ya feet up and enjoy this neat little HL reel, showcasing the omoplata being hit by some of the biggest names in the BJJ universe.

Enjoy!

Kimura from triangle counter - with Caio Terra!

Study on this great little video from Caio Terra!

More Robson Moura Awesomeness!!

Another really cool video with Robson demonstrating a neat little drill, starting with a sweep from the De le Riva guard, ending with a far arm submission.

As always guys and gals - drill to win!!

Standing up from guard with Aesopian BJJ

Here's a neat video from Aesopian BJJ, aka black belt Matt Kirtley, demonstrating a number of ways of standing up from the guard position; the video reminded me of a seminar with my head coach Darren Currie on the scissor sweep last year.  From the scissor sweep position, Darren showed a way of standing up and attacking with the guillotine or loop choke, which really takes your opponent by surprise.

 

This video runs along the same lines as Darren's seminar, albeit from the guard position, but with practice, this will soon have your opponent on the back foot, giving you the upper hand, instead of having your guard passed.

 

Watch and absorb!

 

 

Robson Moura - Evolution of Jiu Jitsu

An awesome video from allthingsBJJ, about the legendary Robson Moura, talking about jiu jitsu back in the day and how jiu jitsu is developing right now.  I love watching these videos, they're all over the Internet and are packed full of tips, moves and wise words.

 

http://vimeo.com/70083298

 

www.allthingsbjj.com

@allthingsBJJ on Twitter

Leg drag drills with Rafa Mendes!

Here's a brilliant YT clip of Rafa Mendes showing no gi leg drag drills, which should be in your warm ups without delay!

Don't delay, leg drag today!!

Kurt Osiander's Move of the Week!

The infamous Move of the Week clip from Kurt Osiander, with the legendary comment, 'bro, you fucked up a long time ago!'



Wise words indeed!

Tatami Jiu Jitsu bands!

Taken from an email from my lovely sponsors...............

'Show off your BJJ rank in style with custom made Tatami Fightwear wrist bands by Jiu Jitsu bands. These Jiu Jitsu bands are made by hand to a  very high quality. The bands are secured by a high quality buckle laser engraved with the Tatami Fightwear logo.  Available in all BJJ belt ranks from White to Black belt.'

 

 

http://www.tatamifightwear.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=bands

Wear your belt colour with pride on your wrist all day long, long after your training session!

Renzo and Relson Gracie!

I have attended a number of seminars with Renzo Gracie and had the honour and privilege of interviewing Renzo at ADCC 2001; over at ADCC 2001, Renzo would have a family story to tell that always ended in laughter and Renzo's table at the hotel's dining room was always packed with the other ADCC fighters, hanging on his every word, as he told tale after tale about defending the family name and honour.

Enjoy this small clip of Renzo and Relson, as they talk about what they love doing best. 

Fighting, of course :)

Sweep to mount with Caio Terra!

Check out this video from the pint sized black belt Caio Terra, brimming with six point goodness :)

http://blog.gameness.com/caio-terra-teaches-a-butterfly-guard-sweep-to-mount/#axzz2bDuCMIwf

Injury proof yourself!

Words of wisdom from the guys from Gameness......................read and enjoy!

http://blog.gameness.com/common-jiu-jitsu-injuries-and-how-to-avoid-them/#axzz2bDuCMIwf

Martyn Cahill - black belt!

HUGE congrats to my good friend Martyn Cahill, head coach at Fighting Fit Manchester, who was recently promoted to black belt by David Onuma, with the blessing of Ricardo de la Riva. 

Miad Najafi (third left), Dave Onuma, Martyn Cahill and Nick Brooks

The promotion took place at Nick Brooks' gym, Mill Hill Academy in London, a thoroughly well deserved promotion and another black belt for the North West; both our clubs have a good friendship, regularly attending each others comps and seminars, with fellow Blogger Liam Wandi a regular visitor to my club, as well as Graeme Kidd who drops in to join in the fun at the Open Mats at the weekend.

 

From all the lads at the gym, massive congrats Martyn!

Ten More Gross Things That Happen in BJJ!!

Following on from his highly popular part 1 top ten list, Seymour Yang has compiled another top ten of nasty and filthy mat time practices, adding an extra two gross and unsavoury occurences, having had personal experience of #11 back in the day of training with wrestlers.  The mucky devils!!

Enjoy!!

http://meerkat69.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/ten-more-gross-things-that-happen-in-bjj.html

Michael Langhi HL Reel!

Check out this awesome HL reel and be inspired to go and hit the mats at the earliest opportunity!!

Arm bar defence counter with Caio Terra!

Check out this neat little video from BJJ master craftsman Caio Terra - make sure you drill this in class!!