Loose...(Day Class)

At The End Of Class

Coach Jon and Me

Me One Mo 'Gin

Coach Allen Mohler and I After Class (Great Instructor and Friend)

The Problem A Lot Of Folks Seem To Have That Have Issue With Me....
If You Ain't Around For Good, Then Why are You Here?

Went in to day class today at lunchtime with the intent of working some new things I've added to my game...also to gauge where my cardio/arm and back problems/mental focus issues are...

Soon as I walk in..one of the guys (he will be out at Pan Ams too), a good buddy named Dallas, says "Didn't I read someplace the other night about over-training?" lol..so some more folks are reading this...lol good to know...Anyways I laugh and shrug it off and go get changed...

When I come out Coach is showing an arm bar to oma plata reversal...I warm up a bit with jumping jacks, sprawls, and push ups...then get in...

By the way, I love this class as there are always a couple of black belts, purples and a brown or two sprinkled in, so the rolling is great, as a general rule it's safe, and it gives me different and more difficult looks at opponents as I don't roll with the day crew often...

anyway...I get in and immediately went to work...started on my left side as it is my retarded side (oops..can i say that? is that PC? eff it if it ain't)...and for some reason each time I can get it correctly but the little scoop and lift hip-wise wasn't tight enough to my partner's body so when the reversal happened I wasn't close enough to move smoothly to a triangle or arm bar set up...something i will have to work harder on....had coach Jon (He will be competing in th Black Belt division at Pan Ams!) working with me so little pointers were passed along constantly....another reason i like to come to day class ....

next we worked a specific guard break (not saying which b/c I have gotten really good at it, as well as transitioning to the pass and will probably use it at Pan Ams)....because I have this one down..worked with coach allen and jon on different modifications of it depending upon the opponents movements and hand placements, as well as shutting this particular guard break/pass down...

since I was late to class, this was the last technique we had before rolling....so i get paired up with coach jon....i have a good weight advantage on him but he is so crafty and good at pretty much everything it's hard to handle the constant pressure he presents in his attacks....
We start standing...i work on my judo throws and leg sweeps, which need WORK...they are good but not good enough for black belt level stand up and the amount of take down/wrestling experience he has...he sets me up for a couple of single leg shots...and i keep my balance and actually see and react to counter them ahead of time...so these are something I can put in my tool box...i end up pulling guard and try to work an open guard butterfly over the head sweep, but we get stopped as coach Allen wanted me to work on not allowing grips on my wrists...i learn a new way to do this that's so simple it's silly...jon and i start standing again..i alllllllmost get him with a hip toss...but i telegraphed it just enough he countered and went to my back...b/c i was standing straight up...he couldn't hop up and i worked my standing back escape...back to neutral..so i decide to fake an inside leg trip and go to pull guard again...i get it and we start to work...i go to inside out guard (one leg in as in butterfly guard and one out) and he goes to the pass which i've been working on the counter to...it works...but i end up making a mistake and going flat for jsut a second and end up scrambling for my life as coach jon transitions from attempting kneebar to ankle lock to toe hold in about five seconds...good thing is i remembered the counters and executed without thinking...bad thing is even though i escaped we ended up both on our backs (dunno how) and we end up standing as round ends....

We work again from standing and I work a really slick new set up to get from someone with knee in the middle to high guard and i actually get it...but when i extended to shoot the high guard holding the arm, jon torqued his torso to get the arm back and postured causing a rib to pop out of place for a sec...sorry coach jon..he is a warrior though so he wil be fine soon..just want him to be ok to compete...

Next i work with one of our purples who's been there for a long time...he probably outweighs me by about 15-20 lbs and while he doesn't attack a whole lot he has such solid and strong defense that a lot of what he catches folks with, he gets because hid defense is frustrating...this is a good test because his experience level (he has a few years on me) and weight is what I will be competing against at Pan Ams...As we start he wants to start in my guard...i say ok as I needed to work a variation to the high guard set up i described above which goes to triangle..and he says "i want to see if i can keep from getting triangled"....if you know me, that's like chum in the water...so we work and he goes for lapel control after i keep stuffing his attempts to control my belt/pants for spacing my guard....and i use the set up to perfection....(mind you this is after quite a bit of in-fighting for grips and attempts on breaking his base down which had me really tired and my arms going dead finally...)i shoot the triangle really fast and had to still maneuver him back to a position I could tighten it as I could not reach my shin, because of him being as big as he is and basing backward from me...but I pull the knees in...and grab his belt and pull until i can grab the shin and his far leg, and roll him into the tap...


by now, my cardio itself is ok...i feel like my body could go another 7 to 8 full matches (the ones today were 8 min)...but my arms now are dead...and im getting cramps in my damned foot...

anyways...coach puts me with another of our purple belts..a guy that is fairly new to the school but his technique is really good, and he is a former Pan American champion...so, coach allen wants me to work on passing his guard..here's where the title of this post comes in...even though i have size and have worked very efficiently to do my grind/under/over pass on him before..today...i can't hold and keep him close enough to even get to his lapel...can't give up though..so i keep working and discipline my mind to make my body move correctly..but in addition to him being very flexible and working really hard to keep me at a distance...me not being able to control my grips and bring my weight to bear in a close fashion just shut everything down so no matter where i went..i was too loose to pass effectively...he ends up trying to reverse to a take down which i stuffed a few times and we ended up rolling into a stalemate...i wasn't happy with my performance here...he is a very good opponent and fights hard as hell...but my technique was off..way off, and i have to correct that mentally so i can overcome my physical limitations if i can't rid myself of them...only good thing is...i do know there are places i could have fallen into my set ups and transitions to submissions and had them work without my arms ...but i did not get the job accomplished which was to pass...will correct that...

After class...I got one of the best compliments I could ever have...I normally talk to the new people who come to class..especially those who are especially small, or not as coordinated, or who seem to have problems up front, as the first year or so of jiu-jitsu beats you down physically, but much more so mentally...So the other day while watching class I was talking to a couple guys and two of the girls in class...one of which is very new...telling them what to expect and trying to encourage them (and i wasn't b.s.ing them...from watching them they do have promise...they just have to see it) on sticking to it through the hard times to come....blah blah...y'all see i'm longwinded as hell huh? lol
Anyways...at the end of class...she tells me thank you for the talk i gave her, as it kept her motivated and made her believe more that she could do it! That meant a LOT to me...Hopefully she does stick to it, along with a couple other new folks I try to help out, and they become as good as they can!...Felt good to make a difference positively to someone...So even though i was very frustrated with being so loose in my own travels...I helped tighten up someone else's...God is good you know:)...


Thought Of the Day: Psalms 27:2

Overdoing It Ain't Doing It Right

The Physique At Present (Need To Add 10 More lbs of Muscle Before March 15)

2 Pics Of Me and Jacob....Damn Good Brown Belt/Training Partner/Friend

Robert and I...He Will Be Out At Pan Ams Too...Real Good People!

The Grip Drill...I Talk About It In The Post...Pics Don't Explain It Well

Some Tournament Pics And Something Funny

Hadn't been feeling too well as of late (includes a bit of a stay in the hospital) in the past couple weeks...And have some internal issues emotionally and just in life in general that been weighing heavy on my mind as well...So, feeling like I need to "catch up" in my preparations for the Pan American Games, I decide to do a lil bit more than normal today...

Woke up at crack of dawn weighing 205.2...Hit the push ups (5 sets of 10-15)...Stairs (10 times 3 flights)...crunches (350)...Triceps dips (3 sets 12 reps)...box jumps (5 sets 45 seconds)...pull ups (3 sets hard grips 10 reps)...100 sprawls...

didn't eat...dummy move...

Went to work...didn't go eat breakfast as usual...was having a light day, and one of my coworkers who aggravates the hell out of me wasn't in today so work was ok...left and had what-a-burger chicken strips for lunch ...came back to work and still was waiting on some network traces to come back so I went to our gym...hit weights...100 more sprawls...15min rowing...curls(3sets 12 reps)...50 push ups...15 min on stair-climber...went back to the desk..finished one task and started work on the next...got a hunger pain...went to get some more food to eat at dickeys right next door...

Came to class after work...did the warm up and everything seemed ok....coach assigned me to teach the no-gi portion of the class tonight once the warm ups and technique drills were done...I taught the forced arm bar from mount and the side variation of it...then we played king of the mountain...Will post some video of it sometime tomorrow...This is one of my favorite games because not only does it test your stamina but it allows me to work my best part of my game...the guard....and eve now because i've gotten much more adept at passing guard...i'm loving it either way...so we start...and because there are a lot of beginners I reverse the first two guys...then for the next five it goes triangle, triangle, arm bar, triangle, arm bar ...had to do so as the guys all seemed to outweigh and or out strength me, and I needed to work on throwing my submissions faster since it's getting closer to tourney time...next guy up, is one of our white belts named Sam...he is strong as a damned Ox and has cardio for days and i'm blowed...(he is going to Pan Ams too...hope he does well as I am helping to prepare him..this is first year they are having white belt divisions at the Pan)..well once we start, i'm noticing that not only are my arms going dead as usual, but my vision is narrowing, sort of like when you are getting choked out...but i'm fighting through it to maintain what it would be like in a tournament situation...he presses on in his usual fashion...and eventually it's like my body just said..."eff it" and he passes......when i get up i am happy because he was using correct technique but i knew something was wrong...soon as i stand im dizzy as hell...i go to the back door and had to crouch and bend over ...felt like i was going out...coach comes over and opens the door to get me some air...eventually i get my breath back but not shaking the cobwebs...i don't make it back to the drills because of the long line (was a huge class tonight)...so i sit for a minute as it is time to grapple...Well...Jacob..the brown belt is here and I feel kinda obligated so he can have a good workout, as well as want to push through the feeling i'm having in preparation..so we roll...i think i did ok but i was tired as all hell...i think i started in bad positions both times..no submissions but i did get a pass and a reversal and he was up on me by a reversal in the first roll and the second he eventually got the same pass he always gets on me:(...I defended it better but not for long enough and not well enough at the end..though he did show me something else to try that i think works...Afterwards I couldn't do any of my customary post-workout cardio as i was feeling light headed but I got a few push ups, pull ups and some grip exercises...sort of like rows with a partner to strengthen your grip...u can see those above in the pictures...

Thing is..i feel horrible now...and dunno how my recovery time will be...I got to learn to throttle back...not sure what's going on with me health-wise but i have to figure that out too..today I will chalk up to overwork/over-training...I noticed that I was not mentally sharp at all during class nor rolling...hopefully I can get some good out of it, that is retained...

Instructor Learning

I know I know...I'm late with this one....(Ain't like y'all out there waiting on me anyways! lol)

As of today, I am 207.4 but I am starting a new diet and hopefully my tournament preparation workload should help me hit and stay at my target weight of 215 by the second week of March...


This is the second training session of the day as I'd trained earlier in the day at Marcus' Gym...See Previous post....

Last Wednesday, I was asked to teach class. I'm always honored to do so, so I went in in pretty decent spirits considering I was having not so nice of a day personally...

Started off by the normal cardio/calisthenic warm up exercises for about 20 min, and then started the knee on belly and transition game drills...Everyone (even those who's cardio isn't that good yet) stuck it out..which made me feel better as it seems folks are getting in better shape and trying harder to stick to the entire script...

We broke the class into beginners and upper belts, and I taught the upper belts while another of our purple belts was given the beginners to take and teach fundamentals...This was kind of weird, because in the class that night two of our really good brown belts showed up (including the guy who helps me get ready for tournaments that is really technical and is one of the measuring sticks for my game), as well as a purple belt drop in (he came form the Paraestra school in Tokyo...was hereon business, as well as a couple other really good guys...so I felt a little pressure to make certain I taught things thoroughly, and that I did well enough to have them feel fulfilled in being there...First I taught a side-control set up for a close-lapel choke to the Gi part of the class, and a back-control arm bar dive to the no-gi guys...then I taught a new variation on the Omo Plata, which is set up from sitting guard (one of the browns had not seen it, and because he plays sitting/open guard a lot he was really interested)...I learned a lot about this position because I got asked a lot of questions in detail, and I'd been playing with it in rolling and it turns out the theory of it, as well as in-action adjustments, I knew because I could answer their questions to a point I got them all actually doing it (it is a fairly complex move) competently, and the brown belt that helps me work on my game asked questions and i actually came up with different scenarios and options off things on the fly that were correct without having seen the instructional video on it...This was based off just the feel and my own experience...That made me feel good being able to answer sufficiently the questions of someone so advanced...the visiting purple gave me a high compliment on the teaching as well!!! :)


On to rolling...
First round I had to supervise so I placed the visitor with one of our brown belts (he just won his division in Golden Gloves by the way!...congrats!)...
Second round I placed him with one of our other purple belts and I rolled with Jacob, the brown belt that helps me out with my game...
Normally, he dominates me positionally, and slips in a submission every so often...tonight though, we battled back and forth with me getting several sweeps, and three good submission attempts (triangle, cross collar choke, and inverted arm bar)...He worked out of them but all were very good and would have been advantages for me in a match...The thing that made me feel best about it, was that I worked in this reversal to my pressure guard pass that I've been trying to perfect, and got it...not once but twice!...Passing his guard in such a directed manner more than once had me ecstatic..so much so that I didn't remember what I was trying to do once I got to side control! lol....Anyway, I seem to be getting a bit better....Working with him, listening to Marcus, and Coach Allen has been getting my game together...hopefully I can eliminate these arm issues and get my game where it needs to be to win Pan Ams....

next roll is with the visiting purple belt...He was lighter than me but not sure by how much, but dude was strong a shell and VERY technical...We started knee to knee...he moved in and did a sideways sweep which would have netted him a two pt take down in competition and i recovered to an in and out guard...he attempts the same guard pass Albert Hughes got me with at the last tournament...(As this seems to be the one way my guard has been passed, if at all in the past year or so...Got two different counters for this one from coach Allen and a couple from Marcus hicks...this is NOT gonna happen to me again...)...I picked one Marcus showed me and it worked like a charm...collapsed his base and went to his side, working towards the back, but he rolled to his side and I worked from half-guard...he had both knees in and was defending the cross face very well so I instinctively (i note that because it now feels like I know when to do it naturally w/o thinking) moved to one of my favorite pass variations and passed directly to side control then to knee on stomach... :-D from there I worked to set a same side arm bar, but lost grip because of my rapidly deadening arms...no matter though, I move to what he thought was mount, and when he went to turn, I rolled to my in and out guard but having his arm trapped and locked it down using his Gi...he worked to free it while I worked my hips out to that side and worked his wrist until I got my favorite...Triangle...Set it, grabbed the leg..Tap...Next, we start knee to knee again...and I'm ready for his take down attempt so I pull butterfly guard, and he stands...I try the new Omo Plata set up I taught, but since he's seen it he was ready and I transitioned it to the Omo Plata reversal...ended up in side control and went for the far side lapel choke...had to fight it harshly b/c of my arms being dead, but ended up getting it at the end of the round...

Last round, I worked with one of our blue belts who has been hitting "the wall" lately and thinking waaaay too much...i pretty much used the session to punish him when he just stayed in one position, and hopefully it got through to him, because he is too good to be hesitating so much. I feel for him because I wen through the same thing a few times...Felt kind of bad afterward for submitting him so much and grinding out passes/chokes..but I think he will be better off for it this week..I always am after rolling with Marcus, so I hope he responds the same way...

Afterward I hadn't lost too much weight so I did the normal cardio session I have laid out for training sans arm workouts...I sure hope I can find out what's wrong...


Lesson of the day though is you can learn by teaching.


Thought of the day: Let go, and Let God.






Someone told me last week: "Steve, you ain't built for no small sh#t! Get about doing what you were made to do."

Thank you... I appreciate that a lot more than you know!

...the person doesn't know me personally per se...but they feel this about me, and I don't want to let anyone down....Arms or not, bad health or not, bullshit in my life or not...I WILL be a champion this year and I WILL be a brown belt...or die trying.


also, dunno if I said this b4...but I got invited to participate in the Alliance (the team of my instructor's instructor that we fight under at the major tournaments) Pan Am games training camp in Atlanta, the week before Pan Ams(19th[My Birthday!!!] - 26th) ...Trying to figure out whether or not to go there, or to compete in Louisiana state Championships or Naga in Florida (both of which are the weekend of March 15th)...Really don't know.

Steel Hands...Dead Arms...

Me And "Ratinho" (He Refereed One Of My Matches At Mundials Last Year And Remembered Me When He Saw Me At This Tournament In Houston!)

Me And Tyler of GOMGI...Great Guy...Great Jiu-Jitsu Player...and My Equipment Sponsor...Best GIs and Gear Around... Take A Look And BUY Sumn! http://www.gomgi.com

Me At A Few Months Old Already Practicing My Shrimp-Out Drill In My Sleep! LOL

Me Getting Surprised Bath Tub Swimmin'...Look At Them Manly Muscled Arms Even For A Kid Of a Few Months! lol

Woke up today at 205.2...As I type this, I am 205.6...This is both heartening and disappointing in that I had gotten up to 209.8 over the weekend. (Still have a goal of carrying between 212-218 before Pan Ams.)


Today at lunch time, I went up to Marcus' school (If you are in the Lewisville area or anywhere in the metroplex, make sure you check him out, he is a first class teacher, fighter, and person!!! One of my best friends as well... http://www.marcushicks.com Be sure to catch him fighting in the WEC on Versus Network March 26th!!!) I walked in a little late to a full class doing cardio rounds...The guys there really push themselves hard! Got into my Gi and initially only went to roll with one of Marcus' new Purple Belts and to make it through without my arm fatigue and muscle cramping problem I've been having, but got put into the full mix and first, got thrown to a HUGE guy that trains there..when i say huge, I mean he was 270 and says he is down to 240 but uhhh...can't be...I doubt he's below 260 and dude is YOKED!

We start knee to knee, and I try a side take down but he as so strong he flung me to the side and ended up on top of my knee (what i call 3/4 guard)...I lock down his shoulder and roll him...I locks down my leg but i use my normal half guard pass, and clear to side control...I transition back and forth diggin at his arms, and decide for a paper cutter choke...i dig it in but don't put my head down, and because of his strength he extends his arms and regains half guard...I use the knee inside pass and pass to fifty fifty....start working for a side control arm bar variation and had it set up (which was hard as hell to control him and try to set up the arm with him being as strong as he is) but time expired then...I feel really good to have been able to maintain dominant position and pass guard as easily and fluidly as I did with him as he'd been tossing folks (literally) prior to me rolling with him...If I can adapt my positioning to smaller guys as well as remember the lessons learned with him and guys like Brad at my Coach Allen's then I should be much better off against some folks I would like to beat later in competitions this year.

Next roll I roll with the guy I went to roll with...he is a really good guy, and been looking forward to rolling with him for a while...We start knee to knee, and i went for a thigh pick but decided to sit to guard, as I'd seen him work before and knew his guard passing was pretty decent...I worked to my sides and even went to inverted guard once but held him off and even managed to work a side sweep in...though i let him back to stand as I didn't advance forward when i should have...hesitation is a killer...we work back to knee to knee as he couldn't pass me when standing...Happy that I've worked enough on my hooks and scooting to be able to hold him off...He attempts to come through the middle and I control his lapel, and work him into my closed guard....We hand fight for a bit and I feign working for a sweep to have him give up his hands....He keeps good posture while doing this (because I am not moving my hips out as I should), but even so, he ends up giving me the hand control and placement I need and I shoot the triangle....I felt good abut this, as he was really high but I still got it locked (sometimes having long legs is a great thing...)...He is strong as hell and he kept position for a while, so I had to work my knees in a few times till I caught my shin...once I did I shifted my hips and tightened the triangle...after a bit of squeezing, I went for the triangle arm bar to get him to give up the leg....he does..i scoop it cradle him and squeeze...Tap...

Immediately I get damned foot cramp....right in my instep...I ate breakfast, took a multivitamin and drank half a gallon of water before I showed up so this has to be something else as it started giving me a calf cramp as well...


I get the cramp out, and right before we start again, I get to roll with a really good fighter from this area who is training his ground game at Marcus' gym...We start knee to knee and I go for the take down but can't wrap up so he moves to my side and ends up in my guard... I work the inside hooks in and go to the big boy reversal..I get it and work my grinding half-guard pass...I am a lot heavier than him so this is even more effective...lol...We get stopped b/c ....

Marcus puts his Gi top on and comes out...Aww Damn...

We start with him in my guard, for the first three quarters of the round, I worked his balance and did well with keeping him from passing...He ended up getting me to inverted guard after an ill-advised (I had no arm control at all) sweep attempt from me gone wrong...he folds me up and I immediately roll (as I should have, ) the wrong way(as I shouldn't have!)...I roll directly into his side control...If anyone ever has rolled with Marcus, that is exactly where you DON'T want to be...well I work to get my arms in but here's where my problems start...The arm deadness (can't call it fatigue anymore) starts setting in...he is working for a collar lapel choke..I see it coming and miss grabbing the lapel, so I ready myself for the counter (turning inward, and away from the choke when he moves to set it in) but forget the crucial part...I moved my arm and allowed the cross-face :( bad move...that allowed him to get his head down and finish the choke....I tap, right at the end of the round...Marcus toys with everyone he rolls with, and it's good that I survived that long, and made a number of good things happen, but my little mistakes end up huge with him...have to eliminate them.


I roll again with the purple belt from there, and we start in my guard, where I promptly get the cowboy reversal...(Man I was proud of that one..wanted to smile but couldn't because....) I got the cramp in my damned foot again!!!! worked it out and noticed I couldn't feel my arms...i mean not only were they dead with fatigue but I also couldn't feel my hands up to my elbows...even so, I worked in a few reversals, as well as worked and passed his guard once again with my pass...but when I got there, my arms being the way they were, I paused to think of how to proceed without giving up something crucial...that allowed him to stand...this time I can't work grips and he passes (He passed b/c his passing is good...not solely because of my arms though.)...once he gets there I roll to my side and he did a really smooth transition to mount...i didn't see it coming, nor could I block it as my arms wouldn't move...I went to work to my side and relied so much on my legs that i ended up kicking a hole straight through Marcus' wall!! lol We stop and restart in the middle of the mat, and he tries to work a rear naked as I turn to my knees (could not hold onto his arm even two on one with my arms dead...so couldn't work this properly)...I turn again to my side after breaking the rear naked but end up stuck as I can work my elbows to get my knees through...time was called then...


Had a talk with Marcus after class...We always have some good talks about things...I really appreciate that...as far as what i need to do from here...(oh...the steel hands part in the title refer to compliments I got on my grip and strength from the guys I rolled with, and from Marcus when talking about one time I was using the guy's lapel to sweep...)
For one I have to eliminate these little mistakes I have, but I think I am close to doing so...I am really worried about my arms and the cramping though...I honestly don't know what's going on, and I don't want to think I am getting sick again, but I don't know what to think...I feel it's something more serious and it makes me a lil more frustrated that I didn't and won't get a chance at Kron before Pan Ams...But, hopefully I will just be able to compete at a high level period there. That's all I am hoping for now...Still working on what I want my goal to be to replace that one...have to figure something out that solely depends on me...got to also eliminate the daily stress from work and the other personal issues I have...that task, is even harder to figure out...Not being happy/fulfilled in what you do, and/or your place in life, interpersonal relationships, and your personal development emotionally isn't cool, and it bleeds into everything else in your life....All that shit got to go..dunno if I'mma have to go sit on a mountain top or something but I got to figure it out...(Damn it if my damned arms ain't getting fatigued just typing this :(:(:( )


Thought for the day... People who drag up your past, only do so to drag you DOWN to where they are.

Being Humbled...

Well if you've followed the blog so far, you know what it is I want to accomplish and when...Well, I'm reminded of the phrase, we don't always get what we want...Perhaps even I am not ready for the task I'd like to accomplish...Well last night at training, one of our brown belts who is one of the most technical jiu-jitsu players I know, came to work out and it was good because it gave me someone to work with who I had to remain constantly on top of my game to stay with...The technique part of the class was good because we worked together and went through many different variations of each technique coach showed, and I got a lot of pointers on how to correct errors and how to improve each position/technique from him...Once we got to rolling, I felt good, really good, because I did get one guard pass (and he has a VERY good guard whether open or closed) and several reversals, though he had several reversals more than I did...But the experience was humbling as it seemed my problem with arm fatigue came back and badly...When it did, the mental aspect of my game went away...I got lazy, and kept getting passed with the same pass over an over (the actual pass not inserted here just in case any future competitors are rolling)...Once passed I'd just lay clueless for a time and left arms out etc...My own issues in addition to him being such a good opponent made for a very humbling time then...And the worse thing was, that my instructor wasn't watching while I was making progress and getting my reversals and sub attempts in(I did have one really close triangle attempt, but he foiled it after a LOT of struggle), but once i got passed to side control, he came and was watching then:(.

This showed me, though I felt I was at that level, that I need a lot of improvement, as if I am going to continue to have my physical problems which it seems I can't control, then I need to get tot he point, I am good enough to get the submission against people on his level, as quickly as I do against purples on mine to negate the possibility of running too long in a match and getting to my physical problems...As well as find a way to work on my mental state. All in all, with the ease he worked, knowing how hard I worked to maintain the even nature of the first 15 min or so of rolling, and do well, it was a very humbling experience...VERY.


After having my arms be reduced to uselessness, (I am happy I didn't tell him nor my instructor so as not to make it an excuse to them...only thing is, it made it seem to my instructor that I was at 100%, and just not performing correctly :( ) I had a guy (about 6'3" or 4 and 260lbs) who claimed to my coach during a class on triangle escapes as well as in my Sunday class on the same topic, that he need not worry with that as no one could triangle him. He went so far in my instructor's class as to say (when presented with me as an example of a good triangle player) that I could not triangle him! Word of this statement was passed to me ;)...Well he wished to roll with me, to attempt to prove his word I am assuming, and I'd been avoiding rolling with him because of my own health issues and because coming up on tournaments, rolling with someone who outweighs you by that much and doesn't have much restraint (dude is strong as a horse and believes exploding is the only good technique!) isn't good for remaining injury free...but, as I was so unhappy with my performance earlier, and I took as a challenge someone saying they could not be caught with my specialty (Pesadelo is my nickname...the Triangulo is added because that is what Vitor was referring to when he gave me the nickname), I unwisely accepted and started to roll with him...because I did not have the strength in my arms at all, I worked hip and leg movement as well as kept attacking and working for sweeps while he tried his normal assortment of front chokes etc that I just shrugged off with no expression (this wasn't too well received, but hey, it is what it is)...His game is normally to wait until you open control, and to explode out of whatever you try to do with power and then use heft and strength to control you and overwhelm you to get a tap...He almost got this once when he attempted to force my guard and i went for an arm bar ....very weakly I might add because I could not control his wrists...But I regained composure and frustrated him when I regained guard...long story short, I walked up to high guard, and allowed him to set for his explosion but I trapped his arm with my legs and kept hard control...pulled the knees in to my chest, and set in the triangle...i double grabbed the inside arm and reset the triangle and went for the leg to make sure he couldn't pick me up ...he obviously felt he could just power out, but uh uh...It got to tap or nap time, and though he tapped ...lightly at first (pride wouldn't let him do so earlier or with conviction it seemed) I only tightened, because I was sure he was trying to get me to think it wasn't working, only to power out at last minute....when he did start tapping hard, he was nearly out... "Você não pode escapar do triângulo do pesadelo." <---Tatted on my ribs...And with few exceptions VERY few...is true...
A humbling experience for him(he thanked me for it, and hopefully he will work more technically and listen...because with his power and strength, the technical game will make him damn near unbeatable), and me, as I realized what I needed to do mentally earlier by being able to do this in this roll...

I got lot's of work to do. A few asked if I was ready for my next level, and the answer was not yet...Even though I felt god in my beginning roll time earlier in the night, my humbling experience makes me feel as if I am not, because I want to not just be on the level (as I KNOW I can compete and win on the Marrom level right now!) but I want to dominate and submit there. that will take some doing.

Those holding Faixa Roxa in my division are in trouble...Someone has to pay for me not being able to reach Kron before he gets belted. Might as well be them.

Guess I Ain't Ready Yet...

Well without too much fanfare...This one is about the Machado Winter Wars Tournament yesterday...If you didn't know, Carlos Machado is pretty much responsible from bringing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu here to Texas, and is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet...The Winter Wars series of Tournaments is pretty much the biggest one here and the unofficial Texas/Southwest championship...there were over 850 competitors yesterday, and it is supposed to be the last, but I really hope it isn't as it is truly one of my favorites...I went to coach my daughter, work as a referee, help coach some of the guys from our team, and to compete...

First off, My daughter went, and in her first match she fought really hard, but came up just a tad short, I think I'm failing her a little bit, as I need to work harder to get through to her the importance of starting fast...Mainly I say this, because, though she doesn't realize it, she is a real talent...Now that she is paying a bit more attention in class and working harder, she should be a great competitor on the mat..I just have to work on her focus...her second match she started out winning and worked really hard but made a tiny mistake and got caught in an arm bar...Her feelings were hurt a bit, but I am VERY PROUD of her as she really did try very hard and a lot of what we worked on, she did...she ended up having fun with the day and that makes me really happy as well that a loss doesn't stick with her like it does with me...

The team did very well...we had MANY first place wins and even a first place in the blue belt absolute...If it had not been for the late hour (bracketing put the tournament a bit behind schedule as did the number of competitors) I am sure we would have taken the white belt absolute as well...big Nia got hosed on a call by the ref (who seemed to have issue with my team all day, by withholding scoring/decisions for some reason), and took second in his division but should have won ...as did one of our rooster or feather weight blue belts who got DQed after some b.s....

As for me...I competed int he Super Heavy Purple Belt Adult division and Super Heavy Purple Belt Masters Division, winning both...the disappointment came in the semi-final match in the Purple Belt Absolute division...I got beat on points by a very good competitor (Albert Hughes)...the match started out, and I pulled guard both too early, and without much authority...Being on my feet refereeing, running back and forth from gym to gym coaching, and dealing with competitors in the Super Heavyweight division who were maybe 40lbs heavier just drained me...BUt, that was no excuse as Idid get to my favorite position and had my favorite submission set up...but it seems my game was studied and he had the precise pass (plus one I'd not practiced defending nor ever seen in competition) to work to get the pass and directly to mount as i attempted a sit out incorrectly...:(...I did get work to a reversal, but did not hold position as I tried to pass and gave the reversal right back to the very same pass...more pts for him...I managed one more reversal but again tried something very dumb once I was up (this is really disheartening b/c I'd been executing this pass on better and bigger opponents than him perfectly in the weeks leading up to this tournament and had a few times in the European Championships)...and I gave him the pass once more...No excuses, his study of my game, and good technique was clearly the better guy ...on that day...but it won't happen again. Just really expected to do better...tired/cramping/mental focus/etc etc...none of them an excuse as I did not execute. Period.

As for my recent post, I still have the Faixa Marrom as my goal before Pan Ams, but I have a tremendous amount of work to do before then. I'm not working as hard as I should or could to achieve what I set out to do, and as long as that's the case I can't be satisfied with doing my best but coming up short in competition. Guess I ain't ready yet. But I'm working on it.


For all who are reading this....Since I am pretty sure with that loss, my Instructor won't promote me before Pan Ams so that I have time to prepare and have a shot at Kron...What do you think I should revise my goals to? The only reason I wanted the belt then was for that, so it doesn't really matter to me when I get it if not then. Any suggestions on something else I could/should shoot for?

Breaking Through...Faixa Marrom wishes...

Weight Update: Been fluctuating between a low of 204.6 and a high of 208.8...Trying desperately to get up to about 215...Going to try something different with my diet and ease back a tad on the cardio...

Training update...
This past week I had a couple of great practices actually...In spite of some really bad health issues, muscle fatigue, and stress in my personal life that seems to be just building...Things in training were pleasingly progressive...Did 2 a days twice...The holes I've had in my game (not saying what specifically, just in case any possible opponents read this) have been closing up or closed up nicely...Looking forward to proving this in competition soon!...Funny thing is, each time I've been corrected on something, or learned something, I've been not only able to adjust automatically to the moves and assimilate them, but to reproduce them effectively on some of the best in the class...It's kind of nice to be able to do this as I wrote before I was at a mental block somewhat when it came to making progress...Each roll I've had has been against the best guys in class, and I've been so effective that I surprised myself...the few things that Coach corrected me on, I have been able to immediately fix, and more importantly, not reproduce the errors again...I got a BIG compliment the other day, when coach told me I looked smooth, and that I was his best jiu-jitsu student now!!! :-D ...This came as I was working my top game as he watched...Felt good that nothing I did drew any criticism...My guard passing and control on the side was great...i felt like i really placed a lot of pressure on my opponents...I even got my under/over pass on big Sunia!!!(He's every bit of 320lbs and FAST for that size!)...Even though he just threw me across the room after I got to side control! lol... Hopefully over this weekend, I can perform, and do well enough that I can be belted...If so, I can find a tournament or two between now and Pan Ams to get ready for the different level of competition...Just wishing I could choke out some of the problems I got in every day life...Not sure but my body seems to be breaking down, and I can't help it...the muscle cramping/fatigue have gotten to a point where I think it's related to something else...hope not...As for the gentle art...The better I do, the more I feel like I should be doing this full time...Unfortunately, there's no money in it...:(...But I WILL be a World Champion one day soon...Just have to do it without the benefit of full time everyday training like most of the current champions do...

Right now though, I just need to work to get to Faixa Marrom so I can catch Kron at Pan Ams before he gets to Preta! I think I can do it(though just a few days back I didn't...God fills you in places to balance out where you feel empty)...Say a little prayer for me...Oh, my daughter is competing this weekend too...say one for her first!

Goals Right There But Still Far Away...Still Building...

Training update:

My guard passing and top game (submitting once I've passed) are coming along very nicely...I think I've finally closed that hole in my game...It seems that I can work this part of my game to success no matter the opponent lately...Feels good as I have seemingly improved my movement and submission game for the guard as well...Take downs are my last area, I'd like to improve on, but don't have really good judo guys to work with so not sure exactly what direction I want to work on...Last few practices have gone well in the way of working to submissions quickly...Last night's practice especially, I had an arm bar from a set up I've been perfecting work on one of our guys who has been REALLY hard to submit...As well as had a few set ups for triangle from some odd positions I came up with on my own that really work!!! (this is something really exciting to me...Only problems I have been having are physical...It seems my arms (even as I type this) are prone to extreme fatigue/exhaustion...This really worries me, as I honestly have never felt anything like this, and can't figure a reason for it...Also had (and have been having bad back problems...Last night had it lock up on me on the right side and could barely move...My cardio is great but if I can't keep the back and arms in check, I will be in serious trouble for this next tournament...

Speaking of which, I hope to get a victory in this one to prove to my coach I'm ready for the next level...In case I hadn't mentioned it, my goal of having my Brown before Pan Ams is not merely for the belt level, it's to be able to compete against Kron Gracie...I am pretty sure he is getting black belted at that tournament, and knowing that I am at least a couple to a few years at elast from black belt level, I'd like to catch him now while I feel competitive, and have a physical chance to compete evenly, because if I have to wait until I am at black belt level, hell I could be 40 by then, and not have the ability to stay with a guy almost 20 years my junior....Who knows if I will get there, but I am damn sure trying...

Weight update: Woke at 205.6 (Down from 208.2 at bed time)...Next tournament I am competing at super Heavyweight to give myself more of a test. Just hope my arms and back hold up.

Backing down off the hard training cycle now so that my body can rest...Just not having much success as lots in the personal life is stressing me out ....


As for tournaments this year, these are the major ones I am looking forward to
Pan Ams - LA - March
Mundials (GI) - LA - June
International Masters & Seniors World Championships - Brazil - July
US Open - Santa Cruz - October
American Nationals - LA - September
NAGA Nationals here in Dallas - May
No-Gi Mundials - LA - August

Don't know about Brazil though...My equipment sponsor is top notch!!! HTTP://WWW.GOMGI.COM
but it'll take a lot to get me to Brazil...Anyone know of any companies/entities that would sponsor me, please let me know...