BJJ DVD Review: Rafael Lovato JR Guard Mastery

Rafael Lovato JR Guard Mastery DVDs Review:

Short Review: This is a sport gi jiujitsu set. This is not universal for no gi, self defence or MMA. Having said that, it is an excellent one at that. If you are brand new beginner, this set will be overwhelming. I personally think this is a great set for the competition oriented purple or brown belt or even higher but not necessarily the first set to buy as a white / blue belt grappler.

Disc 1: 1hour, 25 minutes

The DVD starts with Rafael explaining how he morphed from a strong guard player to the pressure guard passer, raised under the prodigees Saulo and Xande Ribiero, that we now know him to be. This is a much appreciated segment as viewers get to see a different side of the black belt and not just technique after technique. We get a sneak peak into the mind and the evolutionary journey of this jiujitsuka.

1. Xande Sweep: Xande used this flower sweep to defeat Marcelo Garcia at the 2004 worlds. Rafael does a good job of sharing all the grip-hip-move-timing details that are so vital to jiujitsu.

2. Follow-up: Rafael acknowledges that posting isn't always enough to stop the sweep, but nonetheless shows how to take advantage of the post and shows a very smooth back take and a bonus mount technique. The grip he uses is not NoGi friendly, but adjusting it shouldn't be too difficult. The instruction is, ala Saulo, very detail rich.

3. Arm bar: Building off the opponent's natural reactions to the danger of the back take, Rafael shows how to isolate and lock the opponent's nearside arm. Again, I'm very impressed with Rafael's ability to articulate everything he's doing. Jiujitsu instruction extraordinaire.


4. Pendulum Sweep: 2008 Pan Ams. Rafael Lovato Jr v Roberto Tussa Alencar. If you haven't seen it yet, watch it:

BJJ Gi review: Flow Kimonos Pro Series

Flow Kimonos is an innovative Jiujitsu gi manufacturer based out of Chicago, USA. Their slick, clean and well marketed products caught my eye on https://www.instagram.com/flowkimonos/. The management behind the company is very friendly and their product is of a high quality with some nice and unique ideas. They sent me the Pro Model to road test.

BJJ Gi Review: Globetrotters Competition Gi - New Release!

Short BJJ Gi Review

BJJ Globetrotters is a world spanning, yet accidental, Brazilian jiujitsu team. I say accidental because the founder Christian Graugart describes it like that and while indeed you can register for IBJJF and UAEJJF competitions through the BJJ Globetrotters, they represent far more than just another BJJ team. They’re a movement:

I reviewed the BJJ Globetrotter’s travel gi not too long ago and it’s still one of my favourite gis to train in. Understandably, the super light, ripstop gi is not competition legal so when I heard that they’d released a competition legal one, I jumped at the opportunity to review it. 

They real seem to have done their homework as the gi is both beautiful, aesthetically designed and tailored to the tooth. It's light enough to train in regularly and do local, national and international comps in.

 

Simple and aesthetically pleasing reminders of the general ethos of the BJJ Globetrotters are strewn throughout this project.

Disclosure and cost:

Christian sent me this gi to review. BJJ Globetrotters normally sell the BJJ Globetrotters Competition gi for $199 which works out to around £150 (€180) but they're currently offering it for $175 (£132 / €158). Did I mention free shipping worldwide?!

Submission grappling / MMA gear: Joint Guardian

Just a quick post to highlight a NoGi MMA brand that was kind enough to send me a sample of their products. Joint Guardian are a relative newcomer on the MMA Nogi gear scene but are indeed unique in their message:

"We produce innovative, socially responsible fightwear that allows our customers to wear the armor they need, while contributing to making this world a better place"

Making the world a better place how, I hear you ask. 

They strive to use organic and / or fairtrade cotton

They strive to use recycled polyester to reduce their environmental footprint

They are members of the 1% for the planet movement. Read more about it here: http://onepercentfortheplanet.org

But what really makes this Start-Up unique in my eyes from a social-responsibility POV is their take on fighter sponsorship:

"Just like other fightwearcompanies, Joint Guardian also sponsors fighters. What makes our sponsoring deals different from everyone else is that we ask our fighters to choose a good cause and to give something back! Fighters can choose any cause they consider worth supporting! Once Joint Guardian has decided to sponsor a fighter and his/her cause, Joint Guardian will do everything in its power to raise money for your cause and support you on your way to the top."

As for the products, I found them of a very high quality. My only gripe, which is more with me and my appetite for good food than with them, is that they were tight in my body frame. I'm 177cm and 85kg and the size medium spats, shorts and rash guard were..ehm.... Snug! 

Initially I didn't like the (removable) EVA knee protectors during ground grappling but I wasn't too bothered as I soon removed them. I have, however, found them more useful if you incorporate a lot of wrestling shots (or on my case, judo) into your training.  

I'd like to extent my thanks to Dhani and team at Joint Guardian again for the opportunity. Keep up the great work. 

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ZHOO ZHITSU IS FOR EVERYONE!

Check for more resources on Amazon.com:

BJJ gi review: Scramble - The Godfather

The Godfather BJJ Kimono from Scramble.

Officially licensed, this gi features a 550gsm pearl weave top and 12oz cotton twill pants. Prints of The Godfather himself, Don Vito Corleone, adorn the inside of the gi.

BJJ / Grappling Soap review: The Athlete Bar

Disclosure: I know the people behind The Athlete Bar. I have no business connections with the brand.


I have used this soap on and off for several weeks. The Athlete Bar is a SLS free soap bar whose benefits are primarily derived from all natural ingredients, all of which are detailed on the practical, see-though packaging. Being a SLS free product, it won't quite lather up as much as most commercial soap, nor should it. In commercial soap the lather is added and doesn't enhance skin cleaning. In fact, it will dry your skin so if possible, do avoid. The Athlete Bar, on the other hand, carries a range of essential oils that cleanse and moisturise naturally and you will feel that post shower.

BJJ academy visit: Elements martial arts - Brighton & Hove

BJJ back belts Yousuf Nabi and Miad Najafi (CFS BJJ / De La Riva International) run a very smooth operation down in Brighton and Hove. The academy offers a range of martial arts that reflects the two competent black belts' own rich background and breadth and depth of knowledge:

 

I was recently in Brighton, a seaside city in the very south end of England, to celebrate a friend's birthday but I couldn't face coming all the way down here and not hook up with these guys for a session, so I packed the uber light "Globetrotters Travel Gi" that Christian Graugart sent me along with my Sunday best. 

BJJ / Grappling / MMA DVD review: UFC coach Nathan Leverton Super Grappling Seminar - The Turtle

Nathan Leverton is a great grappling and MMA coach with several fighters from his team, Leicester Shootfighters representing on a scale of MMA shows from local events to the UFC.

I was recently contacted by Nathan to review his latest product:  A DVD instructional on the turtle position, which is a huge part of grappling, jiujitsu and MMA so I was more than happy to oblige. As I am very busy with school at the moment, I told Nate it'd go in the queue and I finally got an hour or two free so here it goes.

You can download Nathan's Turtle Top MMA curriculum here.

Here is a great example of Nathan's MMA / grappling coaching skills: Here he is teaching the Front Headlock - 3/4 Nelson - Darce Choke chain.

BJJ DVD Review: Nic Gregoriades & Kit Dale Concepts.

Review Nic Gregoriades and Kit Dale Concepts DVD

Two funny guys presenting concepts and techniques that will turbocharge your jiujitsu. Nic and Kit are both very comfortable with the camera and with working with each other. The sound quality is crystal clear and the two black belts wear white and black gis respectively, working on light and dark grey mats so the HD quality of the picture is very high.

Where to buy this DVD:

In DVD format ($59.99) or digital download ($49.99) at: http://www.gobeyondtechnique.com/

Disclosure

I have never met these gentlemen but I have known Nic online for a few years. This review is based solely on my own opinions.

Here are a few words from Nic himself:



You can purchase the BJJ Concepts DVD here.

The DVD starts with the two black belts discussing how the contents will become tools for the learners to develop their own jiujitsu, with technique examples of course.

BJJ / Grappling DVD Review: Dean Lister - leg locks in the K.A.T.C.H. System

I honestly can't remember
who's foot this is

Dean Lister is the man. He's one of the most accomplished grapplers out there, but he's also much more, more on that in a future post.

When I saw the opportunity to review his latest DVD set centering around his system of leg attacks I jumped at it. I loved the content, which was expected, but I also believed that it had nothing to do with where I am in my grappling journey. In other words, I didn't think I liked it because I'm a brown belt, but rather because it was good. To prove a point, I asked my good friend and training partner Mr Don Barr to do the review. Don is a blue belt with a great game but, in his own words, is no foot locker. The result was a very thorough and beautifully written BJJ / grappling DVD review:

Dean Lister’s K.A.T.C.H Leg Lock System - review by Don Barr

When Liam suggested I review this DVD set I initially told him to get stuffed. Although we’ve covered basic foot locks in class plenty of times, I’ve never really took to them. I patiently explained that I was probably one of the least qualified people to review this as I can count the number of people I’ve submitted with a foot lock this year on one hand, and under IBJJF rules I can’t even use most of the techniques Lister shows in competition anyway (at the time of writing I’ve been a blue belt for just over two years). Right now it makes sense to concentrate more on guard passing, I said. However, he insisted that it’s aimed at people like me so I relented because it’s Dean Lister.

You can buy the K.A.T.C.H. system DVDs here.

MMA review: Gloves, Shin guard & Bad Girls

BadBoy are a huge name in the martial arts industry. I was very happy to hear they are launching their BadGirl range here in Europe so I asked my friend Marie to review their Muay Thai gloves and shin pads. Marie, aside from practicing jiujitsu and judo, is a seasoned Muay Thai competitor and coach so I knew the review would be in great hands, full pun intended!

Marie's Bad Girl Review

I've been aware of the Bad Girl range for a while so I was absolutely thrilled to be asked to try out their gloves and shin guards. The reality is, especially when it comes to striking kit there is very little in the market for women. You may get some token pink in a range but the women's market tends to be very much an after thought. This is certainly not the case with the Bad Girl range. First impressions show that a lot of thought has gone into the branding and design, the Bad Girl logo is a twist on the unmistakable Bad Boy brand. With the usage of some distinctively sassy female eyes. I was sent the blue version of the kit (it's also available in purple). The blue branding and stitching is a great contrast with the black base colour and the result is two pieces of kit that a woman can proudly wear to the gym. Although looking good is obviously only part of the story!

Starting with the shin guards; I currently use very traditional muay thai style leather shin guards which whilst offering fantastic protection are very heavy and definitely can limit mobility from an MMA perspective. So I was curious to see how these would compare and how well they would work me.

BJJ DVD review Von Flu Choke by The Fight Hub

I was very pleased with the Leg Drag DVD that my friend Mr Tim Sledd sent me to review and soon after I published that review, I came in contact with the man behind that production company The Fight Hub: Mario Roberto Black Belt Mr James Clingerman. We got talking and I really liked his work ethics and he liked the thorough job I did on Tim's DVD so he sent me three volumes to review for the Part Time Grappler readers. I reviewed the first (The Peruvian Dozen 2.0) back in October but since then, university happened and I've had to do the work, if you can call it that, piecemeal by piecemeal. Here is my review of the second one:

Mastering the Von Flu Choke

This is a good production and well worth the humble price ($39). More importantly, James is one of the good guys with a lot of great jiujitsu to teach so support him and his community. Why do I know this? Because he's been gracious enough a LOT of material on YouTube. 

Here's a taster of what you expect to learn (not actual DVD footage):

You can buy Mastering the Von Flu DVD here.

BJJ DVD Review: Roy Dean Black Belt Requirements

Roy Dean: Black Belt Requirements:

Please purchase this volume here.

Disc 1

What does it mean to be a black belt?: 
A beautiful and very poetic expression of how Roy sees the art of jiujitsu and the black belt milestone of it. (3min28sec)

Stand up: 
Here Roy demonstrates a few expressions of the principles of jiujitsu in the standup phase. This is modern jiujitsu with grip fighting, armdrags and throws / takedowns transitioning straight into submissions on the ground. It's not judo as the new rules of judo have moved away from the method of grip fighting Roy advocates nor is it wrestling as Roy uses the gi to connect his weight to the opponent's spine in most techniques. Very interesting segment and the focus on ending with a submission is, in my opinion, what earmarks this as a black belt DVD. (7min14sec)

Tripod Sweep:
Roy alluded to the idea of taking a technique then building a sequence of techniques / scenarios around it and he starts us off with the tripod sweep building all the way to the top position and finishing with an array of submissions. As usual, Roy's articulate explanation makes these sequences useful to anyone from white all the way to black belt. A nice bonus, Roy looks at counters to the tripod sweep and a tight bow and arrow entry that I've not seen before. (7min38sec)

BadBoy Sphere Compression Shirt Review: BJJ / Grappling Gear

Rash guards are a huge part of both jiujitsu and nogi grappling attire, but also subculture. We have all seen countless interviews and articles linking Brazilian jiujitsu and surf cultures and, indeed, practitioners so it is no stranger to see rash guards and boardshorts in a grappler's gym bag than to see a gi and a belt*. 

£34.99 well invested!

Personally, I like rash guards and compression clothing for the following reasons:

1. Added layer of fabric between me and my training partner. Let's face it: grappling with sweaty partners / opponents is disgusting business. The more layers of clothing you put between us, the happier I will be. Reduce the spread of bacteria: wear a rash or a compression shirt (and spats too!)
2. Better grips during NoGi training. This is another reason why I've always preferred long sleeve rashies to short sleeve ones.  Friction is good. I realise that it slows me down as much as it slows down my opponent, but being primarily a gi practitioner, I don't mind working against my own friction, at the benefit of making my attacks tighter.
3. Living and training in the UK, the academy can get pretty cold during the winter so another layer of fabric helps keep me warm.
4. They are cool. I feel cool wearing them. There's no point denying the vanity factor!

This picture is totally unrelated, but c'mon!
Look how cool the fella looks!!!

BJJ / Grappling / MMA review: Green Tea - LiveWire Matcha Tea.

I received a jar of this stuff just over a month back and I have been very impressed with the results. I really don't have anything negative to say about it and a ton of great stuff.

LiveWire Tea was started by two health and BJJ enthusiasts, Lee and Peter, who wanted to enhance their performance, concentration and quality of life in general. You can read the details of their story here. Their product is high quality matcha tea, which is superior to standard black tea or even green tea. Superior how and why? Let me tell you:

Research the following two substances:

L-theanine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theanine) and catechin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catechin) but let me give you a quick run down:


L-theanine is an amino acid (from the glutamine family) that's great for enhancing your cognitive performance, reduce stress and increase concentration.

Catechins are a family of flavenols and they act as antioxidants. They will protect your body from the oxidative effects of exercise and stress, combat fatigue, enhance recovery (mental and physical), raise your glucose uptake and insulin sensitivity (which is a good thing) and your basal metabolism and help with fat loss!

The best thing is these effects are all enhanced by combining these substances with just enough caffeine, which green tea will also give you.

And it's not me saying this. The scientific research into these three substances is extensive. However, do do your own research and verify.

Matcha green tea by LiveWire is delicious and very easy to mix with both hot and cold liquids. I like to add it smoothies, juices and even sweetened yogurt. I drink it hot (with hot water) or as a latte (with heated milk). If you're not sure what a green tea latte tastes like, I believe several cafes sell them nowadays so go give it a try.


Why LiveWire? Well, it's by members of the jiujitsu community so let's support them and the fact that they're a small company warms my heart. The product is top notch and the prices are very reasonable.

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ZHOO ZHITSU IS FOR EVERYONE!

Liam "The Part Time Grappler" Wandi

Proudly sponsored by Predator Fightwear: Built for the kill and Brutal TShirt: Made By Grapplers For Fighters

BJJ DVD Review: Peruvian Dozen 2.0 by James Clingerman

What a great DVD! I was very pleased with the Leg Drag DVD that my friend Mr Tim Sledd sent me to review and soon after I published that review, I came in contact with the man behind that production company The Fight Hub: Mario Roberto Black Belt Mr James Clingerman. We got talking and I really liked his work ethics and he liked the thorough job I did on Tim's DVD so he sent me three volumes to review for the Part Time Grappler readers. Since then, university happened and I've had to do the work, if you can call it that, piecemeal by piecemeal. Here is my review of the first one:

The Peruvian Dozen 2.0

James builds this DVD in segments:

1. The Peruvian Necktie as a finishing attack and how it sits with other finishes.
2. The Peruvian Necktie as a defined positional strategy and your position and submission options from there.
3. The Peruvian Necktie as a quick, transitional position and where you can go from there.

The Peruvian Dozen 2.0 is a great production and well worth the humble price ($39). More importantly, James is one of the good guys with a lot of great jiujitsu to teach so support him and his community. Why do I know this? Because he's been gracious enough a LOT of material on YouTube:



You can get the Peruvian Dozen from here.

BJJ Review: Magazine: GiFreak

There are very few magazine catering for the BJJ community at the moment so when a new one comes out, it's immediately compared to the big names like Gracie Mag, Jiujitsu Magazine and JiuJitsu Style. For a new magazine to carve a niche for itself it must distinguish itself as different and GiFreak does just that. Built on the foundation laid by megasite GiFreak.com, this quarterly magazine is a true work of the community:

"The purpose of this publication is to facilitate a conversation around Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. We aim to bring you helpful, informative content that both serves and is produced by the BJJ community." from Our Mission.

"This publication is about the corners of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu that set it apart…It's about creating something you can hand to your friend, girlfriend, husband, coworker or even a complete stranger, and help them understand just a little bit better, why you train." from To Our Readers.

It is this second quote that really struck me and explained what marketing gurus refer to as "position". 

GiFreak is a great little quarterly magazine to read, but above all, it is a great Jiu Jitsu pamphlet to share with friends or even strangers stepping into the reception of your BJJ academy. No one will read or page thru GiFreak magazine without getting at least a little inspired by the great articles and beautiful quality of production and layout, to find out more about the great art of BJJ.

For some time now, mr friend Don and I have been thinking about the best way to introduce a complete outsider to what Brazilian or Gracie Jiu Jitsu is and so far, we've agreed on simply showing them this awesome video of Rickson and Royler Gracie demonstrating techniques and sparring:



When it comes to printed material, I feel GiFreak fills this void.

BJJ DVD Review: Leg Drag Seminar with Andre Galvao black belt Mr Tim Sledd

"The sooner you learn that jiujitsu is mechanics, not magic, the better your study of it will be" Tim Sledd, Head instructor at Andre Galvao's first American Affiliate: Small Axe Jiujitsu.

The first thing that strikes me about this BJJ DVD is how professional this whole package is. The Fight Hub really did a great job on this one. I first heard of Mr Tim Sledd thru an BJJ interview about changing affiliation with the Fightworks podcast (listen to it here) and I contacted him on Facebook and we've been in touch since. He's a very approachable and knowledgeable jiujitsu practitioner with a lot passion for the sport and the community.

You can buy the DVD here.

The DVD starts with a short 2 minute introduction by Tim himself and then we are treated to 3 sections: Seminar I at IU, Seminar II at GZ and Bonus Material.

BadBoy and The Part Time Grappler join forces

http://www.badboy-uk.com/blog/2013/07/liam-wandi-how-i-started-in-gracie-jiu-jitsu-the-part-time-grapplers-story/

The Part Time Grappler will be a monthly feature on BJJ, MMA and Surf sport super-brand BadBoy's european / UK website. Here's their introduction of the collaboration:

Bad Boy provides martial arts athletes with the most innovative, high quality, performance products designed to benefit the athlete in both training and competition. We support the dedicated athlete in the pursuit of his passion and the full realization of his abilities. We support the sport of MMA and the lifestyle associated with MMA so that the world can appreciate the skill, intelligence, desire and dedication demonstrated by these world-class athletes.

Bad Boy began in Jiu Jitsu in the early nineties by sponsoring Rickson Gracie, son of the legendary founder of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Helio Gracie, for a seminar that he was giving in Rio de Janeiro. That seminar made the cover story in a national magazine and the cover photo featured Rickson Gracie wearing a Bad Boy Kimono. As Jiu Jitsu continued to grow in Brazil, attracting athletes from around the world to the no-nonsense academies peppering the Brazilian coastal cities, Bad Boy continued to sponsor both the Gracies and Jiu Jitsu tournaments.

BJJ DVD Review: How to defeat bigger, stronger opponents II? Brandon Mullins shows the way

So How DO YOU defeat a bigger, stronger opponent?! Stephan Kesting teams up with Brandon “Wolverine” Mullins (BJJ world champion) and bring us a great sequel to "How to defeat the bigger, stronger opponent" but this is not any old sequel. These 5 DVDs (4 instructional plus 1 bonus) are a turbo charged BJJ set that should guide any blue belt and above through the treacherous world of surviving (and perhaps defeating) the big grappling bullies.

In the first DVD (1hr 40min) Brandon covers the top game from every position: How to survive in the guard, how to grip fight from standing and (my favourite) how to work with an opponent who has the opposite lead (orthodox vs. south paw!). We are introduced to takedowns; guard passes and mount stabilisation tactics. I was also happy to see that there was no overlap with the brilliant first series which featured Emily Kwok.