This just in!
Click on the Tatami link above for more information!
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Tatami Fightwear Release the Mens Zero G - in Black!
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Just a quick photo!
I saw this at Waterstone's and had to share it with you guys and gals:
I hope you agree!
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I hope you agree!
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Fedor v Fabricio breakdown by the Gracie Academy
The Gracie Academy in Torrance, California went a step further and made a small video presenting their analysis of what went down. You can find that here.
I really enjoy these analysis vids and it would be awesome if more instructors did similar ones.
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Fabricio Werdum Armbars Fedor!
As you all know, I'm not a huge follower of MMA, but when legends meet, you gotta watch it!
I love Fedor for many reasons, but Werdum is just of such a high caliber and he went in with a BJJ / Grappling mindset and caught him. It doesn't take away from Fedor, but it really did warm my heart to see a very technically tight submission win the day.
It's also worth mentioning that Werdum moved away from Brazil as kid with nothing but a blue belt in BJJ training-wise. He moved with his mom to Madrid, Spain and ended up training with Judo. Yes he went back to Brazil every year and worked some BJJ / Grappling there but that's hardly regular training. It just gives us a lot of hope. It also goes to show you don't need a Black Belt world champion instructor all the time to achieve greatness. You need to train smart and to have high work ethics.
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I love Fedor for many reasons, but Werdum is just of such a high caliber and he went in with a BJJ / Grappling mindset and caught him. It doesn't take away from Fedor, but it really did warm my heart to see a very technically tight submission win the day.
It's also worth mentioning that Werdum moved away from Brazil as kid with nothing but a blue belt in BJJ training-wise. He moved with his mom to Madrid, Spain and ended up training with Judo. Yes he went back to Brazil every year and worked some BJJ / Grappling there but that's hardly regular training. It just gives us a lot of hope. It also goes to show you don't need a Black Belt world champion instructor all the time to achieve greatness. You need to train smart and to have high work ethics.
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Interview with Hywel Teague: Editor of Fighters Only and the Original Part Time Grappler - Part two
Yesterday I presented to you the first half of my interview with Mr Hywel Teague, the editor of Fighters Only - the UK's leading MMA and lifestyle magazine. I knew a lot of people would be interested in what someone in Hywel's shoes has to say (both due to his position but also his experience in the sport and the fact that he still fits it around a hectically busy schedule) but I wasn't really ready for the massive influx of messages here, on Facebook and via emails.
I was actually planning on posting the 2nd half on Monday but I suppose my exclusive footage of Rickson Gracie fighting Fedor will just have to wait (Just joking! Who'd want to see that?!)
Ladies and Gents, here is part 2 of my interview with Mr Hywel Teague - The Original Part Time Grappler!
What is the greatest thrill you have got out of practicing your sport?
I don’t do it for the thrill – I do it for the deep satisfaction it can provide. The thrill of tapping somebody out, of pulling off a flash move, or of winning a competition – that kind of thrill fades before you know it.
For me, the journey is about the satisfaction you get from knowing that your game is improving, your health and fitness is better as result of taking regular exercise, and most importantly, the self-confidence. Jiu-jitsu is a great leveller. I’ve been tested in many ways on the mat, and I know I can handle a lot more than I might otherwise have believed. You learn a lot about your capabilities and resolve when you’ve got a 200lb meathead trying to smash pass through your guard.
Give us your top 5 tips for time-management (to fit exercise around life)
1: Don’t spare time – make time. I read a great interview with Bruno Fernandes – he’s a 31-year-old BJJ black belt, a doctor, speaks four languages... all in all, a terrific over-achiever – and he said, “If you can’t spare one hour of your day to do something you love, there really is something wrong in your life”. Nobody else is going to give you that time, so make it. We’ve all got 24 hours in the day, it’s up to you how you use them.
2: Recognise the importance of scheduling activity into your life, and the rest will fit around it. I stay active for many reasons – health, fitness, stress relief, enjoyment – and I particularly notice a drop in my mood, temperament and performance in work if I haven’t exercised. For me, getting some form of exercise is like eating breakfast or taking a shower – it’s something you do because you have to, you don’t elect to.
3: Say no to things that aren’t as important as you’d like to think they are. This mostly applies to work demands, but can apply to expectations of friends or family, too. If your boss tries to drop a last minute bunch of work on you or routinely expects you to work late and miss the gym, politely say no – don’t allow your work to encroach upon your personal time. If family or friends try to guilt you into missing the gym, be firm with them and make them realise how important it is to you. The gym should never get in the way of our relationships with others, but at the same time why should we allow relationships to unreasonably dictate what we can and can’t do with our time?
4: Get in, get it done, get out. The gym is a great social hub for many and I love the atmosphere of being in the gym, but it’s easy to waste most of a day there or spend hours chit-chatting when you could get in, get the work done, and get out. Shorter workouts, structured sessions, not simply doing endless rounds because the mat is free – use your time wisely and don’t allow exercise to encroach upon time you could spend doing other stuff.
5: Go with the flow. It’s all well and good to have an idea or a weekly plan of how many technical, sparring and strength and conditioning sessions you’re going to have, but other factors invariably come into play. Don’t get hung up on missing a session or switching things up. Time management for me doesn’t mean sticking to a military schedule – it means managing your time effectively, so if you get to the gym and you’re too tired to train, should you waste your time by doing so or would you be better off resting or doing something else?
Now let's balance that with what you consider the top time-thieves.
Internet, TV, and work, work, work. All three should be carefully controlled so as not to get in the way of getting stuff done.
You are the original inspiration to the PTG concept. Do you remember a turning point in your training that lead you to realise you are a PTG?
Ha, thanks! It’s nice to know I had an influence in creating this awesome website. I’ve always known I was only ever going to be a part-time grappler. I never had any illusions of an athletic career, even on a small scale – I started late, wasn’t that good for a long time, and haven’t got the right combination of mentality or athleticism to be a competitor. I’ve always sought to fit my grappling into and around my life, rather than the other way around, and I don’t see anything wrong with that. Not all of us can be Mundial winners or ADCC champs.
Do you have any regrets?
I wish I’d paid more attention to correct injury management, rehab and recovery earlier in my career. There is an endemic macho culture in combat sports which prevent people from listening to their bodies and properly looking after themselves. I’ve got a fair amount of wear and tear on my body and it threatens my involvement with the sport, so it’s now a big priority for me. If I’d been a bit more clued up and open minded a few years ago, I probably wouldn’t be in quite such bad shape.
Finally, why do you train? What drives you?
I could wax lyrical about the Zen-like nature of rolling, about how day-to-day problems melt away in the flow state of exercise. I could describe the personal journey of self-discovery, but there is a very simple answer:
I do it because I enjoy it.
I hope you enjoyed this my friends and my sincere thanks go to my friend Hywel for taking a few moments from his ultra busy schedule to give us this interview.
----Did You Like This Article?--- Click here to add The Part Time Grappler to your Favourites / Bookmarks ---------------------------------
I was actually planning on posting the 2nd half on Monday but I suppose my exclusive footage of Rickson Gracie fighting Fedor will just have to wait (Just joking! Who'd want to see that?!)
Ladies and Gents, here is part 2 of my interview with Mr Hywel Teague - The Original Part Time Grappler!
What is the greatest thrill you have got out of practicing your sport?
I don’t do it for the thrill – I do it for the deep satisfaction it can provide. The thrill of tapping somebody out, of pulling off a flash move, or of winning a competition – that kind of thrill fades before you know it.
For me, the journey is about the satisfaction you get from knowing that your game is improving, your health and fitness is better as result of taking regular exercise, and most importantly, the self-confidence. Jiu-jitsu is a great leveller. I’ve been tested in many ways on the mat, and I know I can handle a lot more than I might otherwise have believed. You learn a lot about your capabilities and resolve when you’ve got a 200lb meathead trying to smash pass through your guard.
Give us your top 5 tips for time-management (to fit exercise around life)
1: Don’t spare time – make time. I read a great interview with Bruno Fernandes – he’s a 31-year-old BJJ black belt, a doctor, speaks four languages... all in all, a terrific over-achiever – and he said, “If you can’t spare one hour of your day to do something you love, there really is something wrong in your life”. Nobody else is going to give you that time, so make it. We’ve all got 24 hours in the day, it’s up to you how you use them.
2: Recognise the importance of scheduling activity into your life, and the rest will fit around it. I stay active for many reasons – health, fitness, stress relief, enjoyment – and I particularly notice a drop in my mood, temperament and performance in work if I haven’t exercised. For me, getting some form of exercise is like eating breakfast or taking a shower – it’s something you do because you have to, you don’t elect to.
3: Say no to things that aren’t as important as you’d like to think they are. This mostly applies to work demands, but can apply to expectations of friends or family, too. If your boss tries to drop a last minute bunch of work on you or routinely expects you to work late and miss the gym, politely say no – don’t allow your work to encroach upon your personal time. If family or friends try to guilt you into missing the gym, be firm with them and make them realise how important it is to you. The gym should never get in the way of our relationships with others, but at the same time why should we allow relationships to unreasonably dictate what we can and can’t do with our time?
4: Get in, get it done, get out. The gym is a great social hub for many and I love the atmosphere of being in the gym, but it’s easy to waste most of a day there or spend hours chit-chatting when you could get in, get the work done, and get out. Shorter workouts, structured sessions, not simply doing endless rounds because the mat is free – use your time wisely and don’t allow exercise to encroach upon time you could spend doing other stuff.
5: Go with the flow. It’s all well and good to have an idea or a weekly plan of how many technical, sparring and strength and conditioning sessions you’re going to have, but other factors invariably come into play. Don’t get hung up on missing a session or switching things up. Time management for me doesn’t mean sticking to a military schedule – it means managing your time effectively, so if you get to the gym and you’re too tired to train, should you waste your time by doing so or would you be better off resting or doing something else?
Now let's balance that with what you consider the top time-thieves.
Internet, TV, and work, work, work. All three should be carefully controlled so as not to get in the way of getting stuff done.
You are the original inspiration to the PTG concept. Do you remember a turning point in your training that lead you to realise you are a PTG?
Ha, thanks! It’s nice to know I had an influence in creating this awesome website. I’ve always known I was only ever going to be a part-time grappler. I never had any illusions of an athletic career, even on a small scale – I started late, wasn’t that good for a long time, and haven’t got the right combination of mentality or athleticism to be a competitor. I’ve always sought to fit my grappling into and around my life, rather than the other way around, and I don’t see anything wrong with that. Not all of us can be Mundial winners or ADCC champs.
Do you have any regrets?
I wish I’d paid more attention to correct injury management, rehab and recovery earlier in my career. There is an endemic macho culture in combat sports which prevent people from listening to their bodies and properly looking after themselves. I’ve got a fair amount of wear and tear on my body and it threatens my involvement with the sport, so it’s now a big priority for me. If I’d been a bit more clued up and open minded a few years ago, I probably wouldn’t be in quite such bad shape.
Finally, why do you train? What drives you?
I could wax lyrical about the Zen-like nature of rolling, about how day-to-day problems melt away in the flow state of exercise. I could describe the personal journey of self-discovery, but there is a very simple answer:
I do it because I enjoy it.
I hope you enjoyed this my friends and my sincere thanks go to my friend Hywel for taking a few moments from his ultra busy schedule to give us this interview.
----Did You Like This Article?--- Click here to add The Part Time Grappler to your Favourites / Bookmarks ---------------------------------
Interview with Hywel Teague: Editor of Fighters Only and the Original Part Time Grappler - Part One
"Hywel Teague is the editor of Fighters Only, the UK’s leading MMA and lifestyle magazine. He has been actively involved in the MMA scene since 2002, rapidly establishing himself as one of the industry’s leading reporters. He assumed the position of editor of Fighters Only in 2005 after working with them as a freelance reporter since their inception."
The above text (and pics) is copied from the "About Me" tab from Hywel's blog "Notes from The Ringside" which is sadly no longer active due to work and life commitments.
That's not how I was introduced to Hywel.
The first time I stepped on the mat at the old SBG-UK location on Spear Street about 5 years ago, Hywel was one of the BJJ blue belts then. I remember looking at him doing his usual 12-Knee-on-Belly-transitions-in-3-seconds and thinking: "Yeaaaaah, I'll never be able to pull that shit off!" Anyone who's ever rolled with him will tell you that he's very hard to get hold of. Dude's slippery and can never be accused of low work ethics on the BJJ / Grappling mats.
That same night after the session, as I was leaving the gym, Hywel was walking out as well. I asked the question every beginner asks:
"How long have you been doing this?"
Of course, I have forgotten the answer since but I'll never forget his follow up questions:
"So, I heard you're Swedish. What brings you to this country?"
Now you have to understand that Spear Street is your typical dark alley and Hywel, who is a much more physically fit and better fighter than I'll ever be, standing there across from me with a shaved head & tattoos asking me why I was in this country could've made a lesser man nervous.
But I knew what he meant. Hywel is a curious man. A journalist by heart. He is curious about life and living, something which will become very apparent in the interview. He simply wanted to know.
That was my introduction to Hywel Teague. Someone I'm proud to call a friend and it is my absolute pleasure to give you this interview (in two parts):
Why don't we start by you telling us a little about yourself?
I’m just an average guy, really – a true part-time grappler. I’m a recreational jiu-jitsu player, nothing special. I consider myself ‘just’ a club purple belt. I’m lucky though that I work full-time within the combat sports industry.
Are you currently working / studying? Is that Full time / Part time?
I am the editor of Fighters Only, which is the world’s leading MMA and lifestyle magazine. It’s a very, very full time position. In an average week I’ll work anywhere between 40-60 hours a week – 10 hour days are the norm, with a couple more hours of work at night for good measure.
You also set aside time to practice a sport. Which sport(s)?
I’ve had a go at all of the various styles that make up MMA – BJJ, submission grappling, judo, wrestling, boxing, Muay Thai, and of course I did MMA itself. Now, due to injuries, I focus exclusively on BJJ and submission grappling.
How long have you done that?
I first stepped on the mat in 2002. That makes eight years of semi-consistent training. The longest (enforced) break I’ve had in that time is about two months.
Do you follow any special diet? Do you use any Dietary Supplements?
Is Ben & Jerry’s considered a supplement? ;)
Diet wasn’t something I really understood until possibly last year. I had always eaten healthily compared to your average Joe – plenty of fluids, fruit and veg, limited refined carbs, limited sugars, moderate alcohol– but my diet was lacking for someone involved in consistent physical activity.
My current diet is loosely based on the Paleo or ‘caveman’ diet. No bread or pasta or starchy carbs – basically loads of fruit and vegetables and good quality sources of protein (such as salmon, turkey and beef). I’d say about 70% of my meals are Paleo, but I’m not anal about it. One thing I know though is that my energy levels, mood and performance are all directly as a result of what I put in my body. The better I eat, the better I feel.
I do use supplements, although not excessively. I try to get the good quality calories and nutrients from my diet, but sports supplements can be quite useful depending on your goals. I take Omega 3 fish oil daily, and ZMA most nights (but mostly after hard training).
I’m fortunate in my position with the magazine that I’ve been able to sample most of the major supplements companies here in the UK. As such, through personal experience I’ve found the following to be very, very useful and reliable.
My Protein Recover XS: I believe a good quality recovery shake is extremely important after training. Unlike a lot of propaganda surrounding supplements, the science supporting post-workout nutrition is there to see. I’ve tried a few and along with CNP’s pro-recover, find this to be the best.
Sci-MX protein flapjacks: Because once in a while we all crave sugar, and these bad boys are the best-tasting protein flapjacks I’ve ever had.
Maximuscle Cyclone: If you’re going through a strength-training cycle, this is gold. I used this last year and the gains were evident within about a fortnight. It’s got creatine in it so maybe it’s not suited for everyone, but if you’re not worried about putting a few kgs on then it’s great.
How do you manage to fit your training around work, study and family time?
It’s tough – really tough – and it’s become increasingly so over the last year or two. I think as people reach a certain stage in their life and careers, their level of responsibility and workload increases substantially, and this means that the work-life balance can tip toward work rather than life.
I had to make some tough choices, although these were also necessitated by my current state of health (I have recently been diagnosed with bulging discs in my neck). I’ve scaled back my grappling to one session a week until I’ve recovered enough to the point where my body can handle more frequent training. To compensate, I’ve upped the level of physical conditioning I do – namely Crossfit – which helps keep me fit and active and also aids my performance on the mat. Crossfit’s emphasis on short, intense workouts means I don’t have to spend hours in the gym and can easily fit them in around work. The intense, competitive nature of their approach also fills the big, gaping void BJJ has left.
When it comes to ‘special time’ with my partner, we’re lucky in that we both practice BJJ, and though we’re based in different clubs, we’re able to train together once every couple of weeks – it’s like a mat date!
Do you compete in your sport(s)? Have you won any competitions?
I competed in BJJ, judo and submission wrestling, and fought MMA in both ring and cage. I probably lost or drew more than I won, but I was never really bothered about performance – I knew my limitations and had realistic expectations. That was a long time ago though – now I’m just a recreational (as opposed to competitive) athlete.
I think competition is very, very useful though, even if you haven’t got a desire to be a hardcore competitor. Everyone can benefit from doing one or two – it makes what we do ‘real’. You may only compete as a white or blue belt, but I think once you do it serves you well for the rest of your ‘career’ on the mat. It’s like running – loads of people can go out for a nice jog, but I bet everyone has had at least one race in their life, even if it was only as a kid. Why should BJJ be any different? There are many jits guy who turn up to the gym for their ‘jog’, but some of them will never have had a race, and I think that’s kind of missing the point. You should definitely do at least one – even if you lose, you can learn something from it, and you will never be left thinking “what if?”.
(Stay tuned my friends - Part Two to be published very soon)
----Did You Like This Article?--- Click here to add The Part Time Grappler to your Favourites / Bookmarks ---------------------------------
The above text (and pics) is copied from the "About Me" tab from Hywel's blog "Notes from The Ringside" which is sadly no longer active due to work and life commitments.
That's not how I was introduced to Hywel.
The first time I stepped on the mat at the old SBG-UK location on Spear Street about 5 years ago, Hywel was one of the BJJ blue belts then. I remember looking at him doing his usual 12-Knee-on-Belly-transitions-in-3-seconds and thinking: "Yeaaaaah, I'll never be able to pull that shit off!" Anyone who's ever rolled with him will tell you that he's very hard to get hold of. Dude's slippery and can never be accused of low work ethics on the BJJ / Grappling mats.
That same night after the session, as I was leaving the gym, Hywel was walking out as well. I asked the question every beginner asks:
"How long have you been doing this?"
Of course, I have forgotten the answer since but I'll never forget his follow up questions:
"So, I heard you're Swedish. What brings you to this country?"
Now you have to understand that Spear Street is your typical dark alley and Hywel, who is a much more physically fit and better fighter than I'll ever be, standing there across from me with a shaved head & tattoos asking me why I was in this country could've made a lesser man nervous.
But I knew what he meant. Hywel is a curious man. A journalist by heart. He is curious about life and living, something which will become very apparent in the interview. He simply wanted to know.
That was my introduction to Hywel Teague. Someone I'm proud to call a friend and it is my absolute pleasure to give you this interview (in two parts):
Why don't we start by you telling us a little about yourself?
I’m just an average guy, really – a true part-time grappler. I’m a recreational jiu-jitsu player, nothing special. I consider myself ‘just’ a club purple belt. I’m lucky though that I work full-time within the combat sports industry.
Are you currently working / studying? Is that Full time / Part time?
I am the editor of Fighters Only, which is the world’s leading MMA and lifestyle magazine. It’s a very, very full time position. In an average week I’ll work anywhere between 40-60 hours a week – 10 hour days are the norm, with a couple more hours of work at night for good measure.
You also set aside time to practice a sport. Which sport(s)?
I’ve had a go at all of the various styles that make up MMA – BJJ, submission grappling, judo, wrestling, boxing, Muay Thai, and of course I did MMA itself. Now, due to injuries, I focus exclusively on BJJ and submission grappling.
How long have you done that?
I first stepped on the mat in 2002. That makes eight years of semi-consistent training. The longest (enforced) break I’ve had in that time is about two months.
Do you follow any special diet? Do you use any Dietary Supplements?
Is Ben & Jerry’s considered a supplement? ;)
Diet wasn’t something I really understood until possibly last year. I had always eaten healthily compared to your average Joe – plenty of fluids, fruit and veg, limited refined carbs, limited sugars, moderate alcohol– but my diet was lacking for someone involved in consistent physical activity.
My current diet is loosely based on the Paleo or ‘caveman’ diet. No bread or pasta or starchy carbs – basically loads of fruit and vegetables and good quality sources of protein (such as salmon, turkey and beef). I’d say about 70% of my meals are Paleo, but I’m not anal about it. One thing I know though is that my energy levels, mood and performance are all directly as a result of what I put in my body. The better I eat, the better I feel.
I do use supplements, although not excessively. I try to get the good quality calories and nutrients from my diet, but sports supplements can be quite useful depending on your goals. I take Omega 3 fish oil daily, and ZMA most nights (but mostly after hard training).
I’m fortunate in my position with the magazine that I’ve been able to sample most of the major supplements companies here in the UK. As such, through personal experience I’ve found the following to be very, very useful and reliable.
My Protein Recover XS: I believe a good quality recovery shake is extremely important after training. Unlike a lot of propaganda surrounding supplements, the science supporting post-workout nutrition is there to see. I’ve tried a few and along with CNP’s pro-recover, find this to be the best.
Sci-MX protein flapjacks: Because once in a while we all crave sugar, and these bad boys are the best-tasting protein flapjacks I’ve ever had.
Maximuscle Cyclone: If you’re going through a strength-training cycle, this is gold. I used this last year and the gains were evident within about a fortnight. It’s got creatine in it so maybe it’s not suited for everyone, but if you’re not worried about putting a few kgs on then it’s great.
How do you manage to fit your training around work, study and family time?
It’s tough – really tough – and it’s become increasingly so over the last year or two. I think as people reach a certain stage in their life and careers, their level of responsibility and workload increases substantially, and this means that the work-life balance can tip toward work rather than life.
I had to make some tough choices, although these were also necessitated by my current state of health (I have recently been diagnosed with bulging discs in my neck). I’ve scaled back my grappling to one session a week until I’ve recovered enough to the point where my body can handle more frequent training. To compensate, I’ve upped the level of physical conditioning I do – namely Crossfit – which helps keep me fit and active and also aids my performance on the mat. Crossfit’s emphasis on short, intense workouts means I don’t have to spend hours in the gym and can easily fit them in around work. The intense, competitive nature of their approach also fills the big, gaping void BJJ has left.
When it comes to ‘special time’ with my partner, we’re lucky in that we both practice BJJ, and though we’re based in different clubs, we’re able to train together once every couple of weeks – it’s like a mat date!
Do you compete in your sport(s)? Have you won any competitions?
I competed in BJJ, judo and submission wrestling, and fought MMA in both ring and cage. I probably lost or drew more than I won, but I was never really bothered about performance – I knew my limitations and had realistic expectations. That was a long time ago though – now I’m just a recreational (as opposed to competitive) athlete.
I think competition is very, very useful though, even if you haven’t got a desire to be a hardcore competitor. Everyone can benefit from doing one or two – it makes what we do ‘real’. You may only compete as a white or blue belt, but I think once you do it serves you well for the rest of your ‘career’ on the mat. It’s like running – loads of people can go out for a nice jog, but I bet everyone has had at least one race in their life, even if it was only as a kid. Why should BJJ be any different? There are many jits guy who turn up to the gym for their ‘jog’, but some of them will never have had a race, and I think that’s kind of missing the point. You should definitely do at least one – even if you lose, you can learn something from it, and you will never be left thinking “what if?”.
(Stay tuned my friends - Part Two to be published very soon)
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First Competition at Purple!
The team had a great day, winning a bunch of medals and a number of great matches. More importantly, it was a huge TEAM-EVENT. We met many old and new friendly faces and were at each other's mats shouting and supporting each other. Ian -our Le Big Boss- was tirelessly there chasing everyone with his camera and keeping the competitors updated with times and brackets. To top it all, we finished the day with a few beers (and many, many more laughs) at Odder Bar on Oxford Road.
I had the pleasure of finally meeting Mr Mark Andrew Bottom (a.k.a. Monkey) from EKBJJ North and his crew. What an awesome bunch of people. I look forward to meeting them soon on their own mats in Rotherham. I also spent some time talking about my dreams of merging Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and live music with top BJJ Purple Belt and NME Music journalist Mr Adam Adshead, chief coach at Factory BJJ.
I quickly want to thank Sam my 14 year old brother for being there all day with me, being my camera man and for laughing at my lame jokes and to Ste for helping with my warm-up roll and for just generally being an all around awesome dude.
I love my crew. I can't wait for the next opportunity to spend this much time with them.
As for my two matches, they didn't have enough in the Masters so I went with the Adults. I followed my strategy and fought really hard for the grips, especially in the first one. My goal was to not pull guard and to not get taken down. So far so good. Unfortunately, once I got the other fighter to pull guard, I took too long inside their guards and lost the first fight by armbar and the second by advantage.
Here are the links to the fight vids on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qifLj93S3y0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kYWfUTappE
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BJJ / Grappling and Weight Loss Training Tips
Above are my figures as of today, 2 days ahead of the Manchester Open.
Don’t get me wrong; I have not been loosing weight specifically for this event, but rather for the long-term health of my joints and internal systems. I don’t consider myself heavy, but I strongly believe that the less you weigh within healthy parameters the better. There is a lot of research to support that but I just think that it makes sense.
So what did I do?
-I only ate food that tasted really well.
-I stopped eating crap
-Following the Warrior Diet, I ate fruit and veg thru-out the day* and one meal at night
-I drank lots of water, tea and coffee
-I consumed lots of smoothies. Always homemade.
-I consumed lots of fruit juices. Always, always homemade.
-I used my lunch period at work to burn 300 kcal. 5 times a week. Every week.
-Every time I went to the gym, I recorded my weight and my Body Fat% and kept it on an Excel spreadsheet – without judging it!
I noticed that I was getting results but, as I said above, I didn’t want to judge it. Apart from running a column for the actual figures, I also ran a separate one that gave me averages. So if on day one I had 14kg of fat and on day two I had 14.9, the average would be 14.95…and so on. I did this because my training in Statistics told me that while figures can lie short-term, averages seldom do in the long term. Also, it gave me great consolation around e.g. Valentine’s day when my body fat weight got stuck (or even went up!) by thankfully the average kept creeping down. It was more forgiving and reminded me that a day or two are not the end of the world!
With the gi, I weight about 84kg, which puts me in Medium Heavy (81-87kg). Oh well. It’s all fun and games.
Have a great weekend and if you’re attending the Manchester Open, come by and say hi.
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Interview with Royler Gracie Black Belt Eddie Kone Part 3
Why he wants to see BJJ in schools
The philosophy of Gracie Jiu Jitsu
Hobbies and Supplementay activities
What made Helio Gracie so good?
The value of self-defence in GJJ
The value of tapping
What he felt like walking into Gracie Humaita the first time
I hope you enjoy it.
Part Three: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkKA0eN-gVw
For those of you who missed parts One & Two, Where Eddie talked about being in the zone, the gift and legacy of Jiu Jitsu and putting your own signature on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, you can find it here:
Part One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgYncxWFCFk
Part Two: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngz36EmX8ug
Mr Kone was nothing but a perfect gentleman and I really look forward to train with him and his team really soon. For those of you lucky enough to live near his academy: Go to the Ultimate Fitness Centre and learn from the man himself.
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Political Columnist, Bad-ass Pro-wrestler and Champion Grappler!
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BJJ / Grappling with Mr Neil Sharp
I mentioned in a past post that I really enjoy teaching BJJ / Grappling privates because they allow me to spend quality time with people who share that passion. I've had overwhelming response to that post so I thought I'd post a clip of the initial warm-up roll we usually have before we commence the first session.
The aim here is to play and converse. I'm constantly listening to the client's energy and giving simple and concise advice. It's immediate. It's alive. It's loads of fun.
I hope you enjoy it and I thank Mr Neil Sharp for letting me film and post this.
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The aim here is to play and converse. I'm constantly listening to the client's energy and giving simple and concise advice. It's immediate. It's alive. It's loads of fun.
I hope you enjoy it and I thank Mr Neil Sharp for letting me film and post this.
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Smoking sucks. BJJ / Grappling rules. Chances are you agree with me.
The three above statements are my summary of the poll that I suggested to Caleb at the Fightworks Podcast a couple of weeks ago. They were kind enough to run it and here is a table of the results
Firstly, a huge thank you to Caleb and Dan for taking this poll idea and making it happen. I know they are very keen on understanding the BJJ / Grappling community better and these polls always help.
Secondly, it’s very important to understand how to handle statistics or we would be trying to “use a ruler to measure the circumference of an orange”. We can’t really prove anything with statistics, but we can state with strong probability that something is likely or unlikely which in a lot of cases is more than enough.
Looking at the above numbers, we can state with strong probability that:
1. The hypothesis “People are likely to start smoking after they start at BJJ / Grappling” is most likely untrue
2. The hypothesis “People are likely to stop smoking after they start at BJJ / Grappling” is most likely true
3. The hypothesis “Smokers are likely to smoke less after they start at BJJ / Grappling” is most likely true
This is huge, I’m sure you agree. Not only for those who DO smoke, but for a very vulnerable demographic – young people. If the third statement isn’t a reason for people to sign their teenage boys and girls up to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes, I don’t know what is.
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Firstly, a huge thank you to Caleb and Dan for taking this poll idea and making it happen. I know they are very keen on understanding the BJJ / Grappling community better and these polls always help.
Secondly, it’s very important to understand how to handle statistics or we would be trying to “use a ruler to measure the circumference of an orange”. We can’t really prove anything with statistics, but we can state with strong probability that something is likely or unlikely which in a lot of cases is more than enough.
1. The hypothesis “People are likely to start smoking after they start at BJJ / Grappling” is most likely untrue
2. The hypothesis “People are likely to stop smoking after they start at BJJ / Grappling” is most likely true
3. The hypothesis “Smokers are likely to smoke less after they start at BJJ / Grappling” is most likely true
This is huge, I’m sure you agree. Not only for those who DO smoke, but for a very vulnerable demographic – young people. If the third statement isn’t a reason for people to sign their teenage boys and girls up to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes, I don’t know what is.
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Interview with Royler Gracie Black Belt Eddie Kone Part 2
Part Two: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngz36EmX8ug
For those of you who missed Part One, Where Eddie talked about being in the zone, the gift and legacy of Jiu Jitsu and putting your own signature on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, you can find it here:
Part One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgYncxWFCFk
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The Quickest Way To Improve Your BJJ / Grappling
As with every first session of the introduction pack, we spend a few minutes talking before the session to establish background in BJJ / Grappling but also general athletic background and time they can realistically dedicate to training. We follow this with a 5 minute slow roll where I'm mainly working out the client's energy and pressures. At this stage, I'm not really interested in what they can do from, for example, guard, but rather in HOW they play guard. That's where I see my contribution to be useful. Not in feeding someone new techniques, but rather in giving their existing BJJ game an M.O.T. test!
Naturally, what I discover in those first 5 minutes can vary depending on whom I rolling with but the one most common denominator is often commitment. Roy Harris talks about using your attributes to FUEL your techniques. I like thinking in terms of commitment: Commitment to the position. Commitment to the transition or sweep. Commitment to the armbar, choke or leg lock. Of course, I'm not talking about forcing your way thru muscular strength or speed or power. I'm talking about committing your directional energy and weight and sensitivity. Applying yourself wholly to each and every move. The quickest way to improve your BJJ / grappling experience is to commit your full and undivided attention to it.
Are you playing guard? Don't let your partner settle in your guard. Move their weight around. Deny them their posture or base and watch them give you the armbars, chokes and sweeps.
Are you on side control top? Let them carry your weight. Free your hands and use sensitivity and the outside of your knee to monitor their guard retrieval attempts. Don't just grab hold and squeeze, a little like an ostrich with its head in the sand, but rather apply yourself to what you are doing! Keep you jiu jitsu alive by staying committed.
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Interview with Royler Gracie Black Belt Eddie Kone Part 1
In Part One, Eddie talks about being in the zone, the gift and legacy of Jiu Jitsu and putting your own signature on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
The questions we covered in Part One were:
Greatest thrill he got out of practicing and/or teaching Jiu Jitsu?
Background in training and teaching Gracie Jiu Jitsu
What he thought makes a good student?
What he thought makes a good teacher?
What he would look for in an affiliate?
When did he decide to teach BJJ for a living?
The first part of the interview ends with us touching on what 2010 holds for Eddie Kone.
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BJJ Syllabus Structure: Have You Been Taught the Basics of BJJ / Grappling?
While there will always be a lot of talk about the basics of BJJ / Grappling and a number of overlapping opinions of what they actually contain, the bigger question on my mind is not the comprehensiveness of such list, but rather when and how these are actually taught.
By attending one BJJ/Grappling session, you already know more than the majority of the world's population. Does that mean that you can use your new knowledge on all of them successfully as they resisted? Not really. It's not that simple, is it?
It would however be fair to assume that the progressive resistance drills you most likely did will give you a somewhat higher awareness and alongside it higher likelihood of success in pulling the move(s) (e.g. armbar) off within the particular geography (e.g. mount).
What if you go for a second session? Chances are you will be doing a new set of moves, possibly in a different physical geography. How does that effect your comprehension of what BJJ Grappling is? Does it add another area or set of moves, parallel to the first, at which you have slightly higher awareness than the rest of the non-practicing population? Or is there some crossover? Is this conscious or sub-conscious? Is it long term? In that case, how long? These are all questions that really interest me.
Thanks to the recent works by Rener and Ryron Gracie in the development of the syllabus of their programme, the Gracie Combatives. I've been exposed to the potential of a linear, or as I prefer to see it: circular, syllabus in amplifying the learning
Think about it. What, if not a thought-out syllabus, guarantees that practitioners get enough exposure to a technique or position. The syllabus itself need not always be as extensive as what the Gracie Academy has done, but it needs to be there and it needs to be cyclical. An excellent example is Cane Prevost’s 20-week revolving syllabus. You'd have to be very unlucky to miss out instruction on any off his topics. Sooner or later, he gets ya!
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