Rolling, Rolling, Rolling...

Weight: 205.2

Training has gone well, but the fatigue is just overbearing now. I am hoping to make the Abu Dhabi Pro GI Trials in Florida this weekend. I am hoping if I do, that I can at least give a decent performance. Even though when I've done my competitions style and situational rolling, I've been successful, I've also noticed that the physical fatigue has been having my mental game a step or so slow. Had someone I respected tell me I needed to take a good break. The way I feel, I probably need a long one. Had a chair massage for about 20 min, and had them tell me afterward, that I needed at least an hour and a half to two hours to work my problems out! LOL...There is a tournament I have to ref and perhaps compete in March 7, and Pan Ams coming up at the end of March. On top of that, belting me has been discussed if I can win at Pan Ams and at Masters/Seniors (July). I've never done well with that kind of pressure on me, and it sits in the back of my mind:(. I don't know how I have the time to take a break and be able to perform as I wish, as I have so much I need work on. On top of that, even as much as I am fatigued, I feel like I do not work hard enough nor work out in sufficient quantity to do well. Not too talkative right now, but will write more throughout the weekend! Oh, and make sure you check out my boy Marcus Hicks on the WEC telecast live this Sunday. He fights Rob McCullough...Can't wait to see Marcus take him out and get back on the track to the Championship belt!

Thought For The Day: A time comes, when silence, is betrayal.

Rambling Wreck...Warning: Old Man Falling Apart...

Weight: 203.4

Tonight made my 14th session of training in the last seven days...I feel it...Bad...Tryna act like I did when I first committed to attempting to work enough to make the improvements I wish to make in the time I wish to make them...Only was a few years back, but it seems like it was 20 years ago...The mind is willing but the body is weakening it seems...More on this later...
Tonight, Coach Allen left me in charge of class so I got to teach. I taught some spider guard counters after warm ups, then moved on to King Of The Hill drills...I ended up jumping in and getting work on a guard pass I'm trying to incorporate into my game....Well not really the pass itself as I have several variations on the knee up the middle pass...But more the transition from different guards to getting the knee and body position correctly to control the pass beginning...also to work on closing off all avenues to the opponent to be able to counter once I've started...This worked well but I have some more refinement to do...Once I got down into guard, my aim was to submit everyone with the elbow push to high guard to arm bar with the collar grab which allows for four options off it (cross choke/arm bar/triangle/omoplata)...Actually the Terminator Choke is something I've played with which can be done from here as well...But tonight the finish of the arm bar from high guard was the aim...I think out of about 10 or 11 rounds I got it 8 times...One that I didn't finish, I got the set up and got careless....Anyways...It's coming along it seems but I need to try it in some competitions and will see if it can be added to the tool box...
All that said, the fatigue is starting to show...On top of not getting enough sleep/rest, the wear of seven days straight doing two work outs per day got to me, as at the end of the rounds my forearms and legs were getting numb...The toe is feeling better but it still hurts like hell when I walk and I can't push off the ball of my right foot, so some of my game is limited...I had planned on keeping up this pace for another two weeks before dropping to 7-9 training sessions per week up until the week before Pan Ams if I can not find a sponsor for next weeks Abu Dhabi Pro Gi Trials in Florida! I'd really like to be able to go to that tournament as the division I'd be in would be filled with black belts most likely...Would be a great test with a chance to win $ and all expenses paid trip to Abu Dhabi...But, With all that's gone on, I just can't swing the ticket...That said, if I can't go, I still don't think I can keep up this schedule of training...I am really just fatigued...These ole bones just don't seem to take it like they used to...I need to look into some kind of supplements and clean up even further my diet, as even though I am fatigued, I feel that the results and rewards that will come from it will be good...Reason being, I am feeling like the more I am in the gym, the easier it is for me to make progress....Captain Obvious is who I am right? lol...It's just so hard to walk through hurting all day...Beside the toe, the shoulders and my neck still giveme problems all day as well....Well, pain is only temporary...No matter how long it lasts right? Will see what I can do....I fight on...

Thought For The Day: Pain is weakness leaving the body. Endure.

2 Iz Better'n One

204 Between Rolls

Weight: 204.2

Well yesterday was another 2-A-Day workout day. I ended up teaching the day class, as one of our other assistant instructors is out of town. I taught the terminator choke, and came up with a no-gi variation of it (still trying to see if anyone has done it this way...once I find out, I will make a video of it and post), and taught a combination attack from guard, from cross choke to armbar...After teaching technique, we went on to King Of The Hill drills...This is basically a live guard passing exercise where you have two minutes to pass guard and/or submit your partner, while the king, who is playing guard, is attempting to sweep and/or submit you...I worked between lines (200 and under...200 and over) in passing but when I'd pass I'd allow the person I'd passed to stay in the drill.I passed smoothly and transitioned easily between passes in doing so. I think the longest time in anyone's guard was one minute...This part of my game is actually starting to come into it's own as I intend it to though I have much to improve upon before it is where I wish it to be...But against one of the really good guard players and escape artists as well as against one of the big guys at the gym who's defense to passing is to wait until you pass then power throw you over, I made efficient and crushing passes...that said, my doggone toe was and is now killing me because of it...I'm too old to be pushing it but I gotta get ready..Pain is only temporary right?...well in rolling, I was a bit limited as I could not play much open guard for fear of using my foot and getting that toe hurt more...That said, I worked on my flower sweep from closed guard and worked on setting up sweeps directly to leg locks...I got a few of these so it's becoming more natural...i do need work on defending leg locks from sitting/open guard as one of my rolls with one of our black belts who is a leg-biter, he just kept setting me up for them, and i was not defending well at all.
The night class, coach Allen was showing X-Guard entries again and he worked with me on some problems in standing opponents outside that during technique work...when we went from technique to the next drill, it was guard pass wars again..This time I worked my guard game...I was never passed, and had some good recoveries, but when my opponent stands to break, I am not attacking. That needs to be worked on and coach drilled some of those with me. That said, not getting passed was a highlight, especially with my foot as it is...It is KILLING me in these hard toed shoes today (Had to look presentable as I am interviewing a person today...Funny the looks I get with my official dress clothes with my arm sleeves showing! lol)...Anyways...The two-a-day practices are doing well as I can concentrate on one side of the game int he morning, and if I do well with it I can concentrate on the other..if not, I have another opportunity to work..The best way to defend something is to understand how it needs to be worked...that said, a brotha is getting old! The body isn't bouncing back like it used to, and more practices means more chances to see imperfections and things I don't do well...In the light of coming tournaments, that's sometimes a little bit of a blow to the psyche and confidence...
As for tournaments, I am still hoping hard for a sponsor for both the Abu Dhabi Pro GI Trials next week and Pan Ams....No movement yet but I am hopeful...Anyone hear of anything, let me know! :)
As for my body weight, My body fat is dropping significantly, and my weight is staying consistent, and even gaining a pound or two per week..Problem is, with losing the body fat, I'm looking a lot smaller than I'd like:( (as you can see above in the pictures)...I am working much harder to get up to about 210-215...We shall see how it is...I need to work better on recovery though as the work is really getting to me, and I need to put more in...That said, this is what I want...To be professional and a viable competitor on the highest level...I have a LONG LONG way to go as I do not yet work hard enough to make the gains I wish...I fight on...

Thought For The Day: Learn the principle, abide by the principle, and dissolve the principle. In short, enter a mold without being caged in it. Obey the principle without being bound by it. LEARN, MASTER AND ACHIEVE!!!

Po Lil Tink Tink

Win In The Gym
Po Lil Tink Tink After Workin' Out

Strength and Courage

Weight: 203.6

(Update: Yep, the toe is broken! :( Second one on my right foot. Same one that was dislocated and broken last year! The one that you use for balance and pushing off when walking/running/etc!...The one I'd use if I was in guard or working passes! Damn this sucks! Hurts like a $%&*@#!)
I've said for some time, that if, in preparation for a big tournament, I was not hurt in some way, that things weren't normal. That said, tonight's practice was pretty good. I've learned to like the feeling when I've had a good training session. Normally that means everything is sore, a few bumps and bruises, and some fatigue, but it's also a feeling of accomplishment. Coach Allen is fond of saying, sometimes your are the hammer, and sometimes you are the nail. Even when you are the nail, there is often much learned and gained. Tonight, we worked on X-Guard set up from butterfly guard. This is something I normally don't use as a staple in my game. I use it opportunistically, but then one of the set ups we learned is a problem because of the length of my legs. I can adapt it but the hip switch required to get my leg around to trap my opponent's leg puts me at risk of a pass. So I will drill it a bit more as the other set up where I pass the opponent's arm over, I do pretty well. After we went through the drilling(this is of course after calisthenics and jiu-jitsu specific movement warm ups), we moved on to King Of Take Downs. This is where you have 2minutes to take down your opponent. This is an all out take down battle. Winner stays on as the king. All draws go to the king. No pulling guard, though you may finish with flying triangles/arm bars, guillotines etc...My first round, I go against probably the best wrestling/take down guy in our gym. He is a collegiate wrestling champ and very athletic with great balance. I was the nail at the end, but he told me I gave him problems with my set ups and defense to offense moves. That means a lot as I've worked hard to get my take downs up to par. My judo is much better than my wrestling, but the excellent wrestlers we have in and through the gym are helping to raise my level there as well. That said, the next time through, I go through four or five opponents and get each take down I try while defending very well against their attempts. The last is against a VERY tough guy who is more than solid in everything he does, and is very aggressive. I worked my attempts while defending his, and ended up using momentum to carry myself to the top position off a throw attempt. That said, while defending his throw attempt I catch one of his feet to the top of my foot, right across my toes...it was right across the same ones broke and dislocated last year at Mundials. :( I hear and feel the crack at the time, but only thought it was minor. So I kept up practice. On my last round I could feel I wasn't getting enough push when I would try to step in for throws or when defending, but time was called so moved on to rolling. I guess I was still warm and didn't feel it...But...I started to be able to tell when rolling when I would use my feet to block knees or hips when my opponents were trying to pass. Tonight I worked on a few sweeps I do not normally do, and only allowed myself submissions other than those I normally try. I worked on derivatives of pendulum sweeps and the Terminator choke. Also worked on my hip control in passing. I felt really good about my control and now need to ramp up my work on sweep defense and elbow control preventing under-hooks in passing, as well as hip switching in passing to control the opponent's legs. That said, in rolling I felt like I got everything Iw anted with the exception of not moving my hips back and getting the transition right for the Terminator choke. Well that said, it is very rare that I achieve everything I set out to work in a session, but tonight I got about 95%. I am happy with the exception that when I cooled down, when I push off my foot, the toes hurt like hell. Po Lil Tink Tink. I am sure it's gonna hurt worse tomorrow as it is killing me to walk now...So, I will have to figure out a way to get around it.
I was to have participated in the Abu Dhabi Pro Jiu-Jitsu Trials in Florida, February 28th, but no sponsor, my truck being broken and costing more than they said, and some regular bills due through that time, keeps me from being able to go unless something drastic happens and I come up with some $ or a sponsor before mid next week. I was really looking forward to it for a few reasons. One big one is the ability to compete against Black belts my own size as Purple/Brown/Black belts are all in the same division. Also, the prizes are $ instead of the normal medals. They are trying to make competition in the gentle art, a profession capable of generating a decent income for those who pursue it. Lastly, winning a division and/or the absolute, gets you a free ticket/free six-star hotel accommodations/meals/etc to Abu Dhabi for the Pro Jiu-Jitsu World Championships. There the prizes are much higher( I think 1st place in divisions is $5,000 and the absolute is another $5K with a $100 per submission bonus!). Ah well, maybe next year. Sucks that I just don't have what it takes to find sponsors. Anyways. The training is going well, so hopefully wherever I turn up next, especially if something happens and I can make Pan Ams, I will be at or at least close to the level I wish to be. Pain is only weakness leaving the body, and is only temporary....no matter how long it lasts...Through it all...Emotional and physical...I fight on....


Though For The Day: Cry in the gym. Laugh on the battlefield.

A Pimp Named Slickback (Yes! You Say It All Together!)

After Training Tonight

A Pimp Named Slickback!

:)

Weight: 200.4

Sometimes things have to be put all together to be understood...A piece here or there only gives you mastery over the pieces, but not the objective of the pieces put together...Tonight at practice it was difficult to focus as the day I've had, together with no transportation, together with finding out my father has to battle the same monster I did (and still do every day), on top of really just being unable to sleep well or at all just made for a tough to focus day....On top of all that, I finally figured out why when I was laying in bed to sleep, I couldn't get comfortable...I think I pulled some rib muscle or cartilage. :( Damn...Anyways, I went in tonight wanting to work on sweep defense and balance when passing and aggressively placing and controlling my weight on my opponent to be able to steer them where I wish them to be and move them into submission position...Coach Allen taught foot-over pass-control when someone is doing the leg between guard pass, and then he taught the single leg sweep off the knee up the middle pass ending in a knee bar as well as the body positioning and weight on the resulting pass after you finish the sweep....He also showed me some variations to sweep from the first defense technique he showed, and on the second this gave me opportunities to work on what I wanted to, as it gave me a better understanding of the sweeps and what was to be achieved to make them successful, so I got a greater understanding of how to render them ineffective against me...Before rolling, Coach promoted two guys from the class: Omar to Blue Belt and Corey to Purple Belt! Congrats guys! They both work REALLY hard and are definitions of "student of the game". Corey has come a long way and is really showing it not only through his own technique, but in his teaching of others and of the kids when helping out with them!...When we got to rolling I ended up being able to work on my no hand body control a few times once I got guard passes (where you work to maintain side control and/or transition without using your hands, just body positioning) and it worked great...My control is coming a long very well though it is far from where I want it to be. The other thing that is getting much better and I feel much more natural and at level about is my transitioning naturally and intuitively while making certain that every transition is a pressure transition (i.e. you put the opponent on the defensive each time you transition to a different position or technique) . I still suck at my sweep defense from a couple half guard sweeps and on one when I stand as I do not place the proper pressure and weight in some, in the latter I do not move away enough and place my opponent at the proper angle to disarm their attack/sweep attempt...I'm ok with it, but for my level(more like for those above my level where i wish to be), i do not defend it well enough. :( I will continue work on it...I put in a lot more work on my grip strength and hip movement after rolling and worked cardio...I do not think financially I will be able to make Pan Ams in March (That puts the Abu Dhabi Pro BJJ Trials at the end of this month in Florida out of reach as well.). The sponsors I thought would be in hand by now as they said have not been heard from, so my limit hads been pretty much reached....That said, I will make certain that I am ready physically and mentally at the level I feel I should be by then. At least that is a goal to reach that I can pretty much measure myself since I know what the holes are. Anyways...I'm sleepe so....I fight on...

Thought For The Day: The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive!


Tell the people you love that you love them....EVERY CHANCE YOU GET! You know not when the chance will be gone.

Fightworks!

Back To the Future

Me With Alan Do Nacimento "Finfou"
Dude Got SKILLZ

Two Is Better'n One

The Alliance Old Fellers

The Attacking Closed Guard
I AM Bringing It Back

Weight: 201.2

I haven't been up to par on keeping the blog posts regular, and I promise to do so in the coming weeks. Just have had a few things go wrong in the everyday life like having no transportation, along with some personal things so I haven't had much time to get them in. All that said, after doing MUCH MUCH better than I expected at the European Championships and fulfilling one of my goals for the year, I am in need of a LOT of work to improve my game. Also, in need of making certain I improve, get in shape, and ready to go for the Pan American games. I haven't come across any sponsors, so I honestly don't think I will make it, but I figure, closing some of the holes in my game, in preparation for it, will move me along the line further towards the beginning of my Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu travels: The Black Belt...
Speaking of sponsors, I have one of the best as far as equipment sponsors, www.gomgi.com I'd like to say thank you for the support provided for a long time now. When no one knew me (hell don't no one know me now! lol) they stepped up and allowed me to represent them, because they believed in me! This was done on a handshake and a word, and as for GIs and gear I have wanted for nothing. In addition to the gear, the friendship that came along with it means even more. That means a lot. To that end, I will not be participating in the super fight for that tournament in Houston, as is it being held to launch a GI company and they wished me to not only take advertising pictures in their GI, but to also compete in it at the tournament. Loyalty is a huge part f Jiu-Jitsu and in life. Nothing could be worked out for me to be able to compete without me breaking my word, so I will not be able to compete there. When God closes a door, He opens a window. That said, I am slated to have my first super fight in April at the Texas International Grappling Festival! So it's all good.
Speaking of open windows, I was honored greatly by being allowed to speak on my experiences at this year's European Championships for the Mighty 600,000 of The Fightworks Podcast by Caleb (God Bless and Get Better Soon on the Knee!) ...I haven't heard it yet. I hope I didn't sound ignorant! This is the second time I have been honored as such! :) If you do the podcast thing, I have said before, and will say again, make sure you subscribe to The Fightworks Podcast...It offers the biggest names in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and always covers the big and small events as well as great tips for those travelling the path of the gentle art...Even more flattering, is the fact I have one of my competition pictures up as the graphic for the article on this week's podcast! I'm all aflutter! :) lol Again: http://www.thefightworkspodcast.com is the main site...Right now my article is on the front page, but as Caleb puts them out every Sunday, if you catch this later, here is the direct link: http://thefightworkspodcast.com/2009/02/08/european-bjj-championships/ ...
Anyways...My training starts in earnest tomorrow for the Pan Ams...My guard passing needs work on becoming a lot more crushing and efficient, my sweep defense needs to be developed a bit more, and a lot of my sweeps and attacks that I do not use much from guard need to be more automatic. My take downs have taken a huge step forward. That said, I still haven't gotten the nerve to pull off a low single on some of the monsters I face lol. We will see how that goes, but, with the way people wish to pull guard on me, I am working to make that option a verydisagreeable one for my opponents. If i get it where I wish it to be, then my game will pose serious issues...On top of that, I really need to up my cardio, and work on my patience...Position before submission is a top tenet of the gentle art, and watching black belts, even when the pace is frenetic, they have a patience of postition that has them secure the position before moving on to whichever technique they are trying to implement. Patience in this manner, in fighting grips, and in setting up my submissions needs to be developed. This is not saying I am working on waiting or being more passive, but rather the opposite...I need to aggresively close off all avenues available to my opponent, quickly and effiiciently, and move until there is no option for them other than to capitulate to whatever I am attempting to make happen. My cardio needs to be worked on as well, that i may get to the point of those I watch and whose games I admire. My pressure needs to be constant, from any position, to keep my opponent on the defensive, while controlling their movements. To fight some of these guys in my divisions who are sometimes 25lbs heavier than I am, and much stronger, I must move up my cardio work...I will be starting more stretching in the mornings and evenings, and in my cardio work, i will do superset work from 8minute intervals with 3minute training using body weight exercises, jiu-jitsu specific exercises and calesthenics as well as adding fresh partner drills on specific rolling drills...I was very sloppy in my European Championships performances, and even though I achieved my objectives, the work I need to do is glaringly evident if I wish to evolve into what I aim to be....So....I fight on...


Thought For The Day: Forget about winning and losing; forget about pride and pain. Let your opponent graze your skin and you smash into his flesh; let him smash into your flesh and you fracture his bones; let him fracture your bones and you take his life. Do not be concerned with escaping safely - lay your life before him.

And So It Begins Again....(Updated w/Video)

Weight: HellifIknow

Tired, sore, and happy. Though I come back home to some uncertain and trying situations, I am still blessed. I will write in depth later, but for now, let me say:


Pesadelo

-2009 EUROPEAN Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu CHAMPIONSHIPS

Champion – Brown – Sr. 1 – Absolute

Champion – Brown – Sr. 1 – Super Heavyweight


CONGRATULATIONS To my Friend and Teammate Kelly Rundle:

Silver – Brown – Sr. 3 – Absolute
Champion – Brown – Sr. 3 – Super Heavyweight

PICTURES

Faxia Marrom - Sr.1 - Super Pesado - Final
Pesadelo vs. Giuseppe Fincatti

Faxia Marrom - Sr.1 - Super Pesado - Absoluto - Match 2
Pesadelo vs. Javier Atencia Escalante'

Faxia Marrom - Sr.1 - Super Pesado - Absoluto - Match 3
Pesadelo vs. Florentin Amorim

Faxia Marrom - Sr.1 - Super Pesado - Absoluto - Semi-Final
Pesadelo vs. Alexander Rosgovas

Thought For The Day: God Is Good!