Monday 28 June 2010

Have Gi Will Travel - Munster Open

Big thanks first off to the Pedro guys from Cork for putting on a cracking comp. This has to be one of the best run and kept on schedule comps I've been to.

I mean, to get 3 belt divisions, Absolute and 6 no gi divisions all done on one day before 5pm, is just an amazing feat.

I would just say don't meet up with the Pedro bessa guys from wales the night before a comp. This is how the conversation went in the first bar;

Neil: What do you want to drink?

Me: Pint of Bud

Neil: (to the barman) four pints of Murphys

Me: Speachless.

Great night, met up with the Fokai guys, Toni and Roman. Good night chatting and drinking unitl the silly hours. Mark Tucker turned up while we where in some random German bar with his leopard skin hair style which amazingly got a lot of attension from the ladies. There was a fair bit more drinking.

The next day we where all a lot worse for wear than any of us had hoped.

Off to the comp, it started a little late and I watched some really good white belts. One doing a really nice flying armbar, the same guywon his first match in No gi with a standing guilotine.

My division went from 4 to 2, and my opponent was a guy who beat me with a paint brush at the seni in 2008. After four minutes of neither of us being able to take the other down. I thought I'd try a suicide sweep and almost pulled it off. More practice is needed on this I think. I ended up on the bottom and we where both on one advantage each as I tap out on 5:59.5 out of 6:00. I tapped to a paint brush as I was trying to wrist lock the guy and heared time. So gutted. Would have much rather seen what the ref would have decided.

My First No gi match was against a very tall chap, Phil Fox. We got the rules off Mark, No reaping of the knee from either side. I had to check the inside to out as I've been working some mean leg compresions. I manages to end up getting a single leg takedown, but still ended up in Phil's guard. as I was trying to pass, I got swept into a perfect leg lock, I crank it on, Mark Says Don't reap..... and Phil taps as my face instantly realises I've just lost with a awesome leg lock. My first submision in a comp since I've become a blue belt. Gutted it got me my first DQ.

I then watched the guy who beat me to go on and win the No Gi over 76KG advanced cat tapping out purple belts. I don't feel as bad about my loss. but kept the thought I should have kept it standing for 5:30 seconds. :D

I thought the day was over, I asked about the absolute thinking I'd be told that it would be not on. Great news, it's on and time to get a gi on again. first Match against Rory from Pedro's in Cork, he jumps guard, tries to X-Guard me I pass, he turtles I play around trying to get a grip of his colar and go for a clock chock varient. I can feel him trying to escape from behind me, I just pull harder on the colar and wait for the tap which comes quickly.

Then on to Vince from Carlson Gracies in London who had travelled across for the comp too. Great fight. he jumps guard, I pass I knee mount him, I can see he's not comfy there, he get's me back in half guard and almost taps me with a loop choke, there was no panic from me, I looked down saw enough space to get my hand to my colar and snached it out of his grip and pass to mount and tap him with a sort of drop choke. 145KG's dropping it's forearm across your neck is not where you want to be.

Lukas, a big polish guy manages to take me down and get on top of me, he dominates me from side control. I managed to get him back to half guard but he just powers through to side control. He gets the victory. I was gutted.

Wednesday 9 June 2010

The Jits progression

Well, I've had a couple of lessons recently where no one else has turned up, most of the people who train at my gym are married or with kids and we're a relativly small gym. I'm cheap and don't like to pay for privates, which I think I really should, but then it's getting them to fit in with my life. Not the easiest thing to do, especially with the number of free private slots at my gym. (not many as all the guys who fight MMA seem to steal them in advance). So getting privats for a fiver is a bargain in my eyes. We've worked on the bits of my game I know are the weakest, the bottom as thats where I don't want to be.

I've also been given the concept of attacking for a reaction. When I roll I am not thinking too much about if I attack this, this will happen, and thats what I need to be. I read something the other day that said Roger Gracie was always thinking 2 or 3 moves ahead. I'd be happy at the moment to be thinking the 1 move ahead and then worry about the 2 and 3 moves after that.

This is not a new concept, it's been told to me since I started as I rememeber, but it's now I'm thinking I need to change how I think when I roll, be less instinctive and more cerebal aboout my game.

Pain, is it all in the mind?

I don't know if anyone else gets this, I know a lot of guys train with the odd injury. So here is what I'm finding, most days I have the odd ache here and there, whether it's the shoulder I landed on funny or the ankle I went over when I was on holiday. when I step onto the mat, all is forgotten, no real aches or pains. Just the urge to get better.

Don't get me wrong, when someone bangs my heels and jolts the ankle, there is a sudden realisation that I have a bad ankle and it suddenly hurts again.

the things we do for the love of our sport :)

Thursday 4 February 2010

My First Euro's Comp

It's been a long while since I decided to go to the Euro's. I think it's got to be a good 8 months. Now a lot changes in that amount of time. But I still kept my eyes on the goal of getting a medal at the Eruo's.

So my flight was booked early October, and I think if I had not done this, I would not have gone, especially with the cost of the comp. £75!!!! That's one expensive comp.

I drove to London on the wed before the comp to fly out from Gatwick. I'm glad I did in the end. As I walked around the airport, I bumped into the GB Milton Keynes gang, and chatted and chilled with them. Upon passing security, thats where I started to spot the masses of fighters, The Carlson guys, The BJJ School, Oli and the RGA guys, John Keeley from up north (one of my opponents at a ground control) and many more.

The flight must have been 90% fighters at least. It was a good flight and one can't argue when I can walk off the other end. Had a good chat with John about random stuff, competing and training.

The comp, this is the biggest event I've been to. I was with the GB Milton Keynes guys, we where in the same hotal and we all fight under Braulio. I was looking forward to the day, lots of fights, my fights, and I had my trusty black eagle gi with me. The GB MK guys where all losing there first fights, not a good show for UK BJJ, but it's a learning experience.

As my time was coming, I changed, I went to the holding pen, it was chaos, the names where being called but you where lucky if you could hear them. I was focused, I wanted to smash, smash and smash. I was called up, my Gi was checked, I was weighed, we walked to our mat and waited for battle. we make grips on eash other and my opponent, pulls guard. there is a little tussle and I stand up. The ref is pointing at my pants, the opponent is pointing at my pants. This is where international language barriers come into play, I had no idea that my pants where ripped. I was told to go change my pants. I did not bring a spare pair (lesson now learned) so, after spending a lot of money to come to the Euro's, I had a choice, New Gi or give up. €140 Euro's later and 5 mins, I was back on the mat in a new Keiko Gi, confusing the Gi checker entirely. The game was back on. My opponent jumps guard again, I lock in a box choke, and the ref makes us get up and move to the centre, at this point I'm told to remove the box choke and put my arm under his head. from here, I just dominate him on positions and keep moving and scoring. the match ends with him in a brabo choke. But not finished. I want to finish him. But a win is a win.

round 2, was a fighter who trains in London. We engaged, he tries to throw me, I step over his leg and down he goes. We battle back up. He goes for a single leg, I grap his belt and can sprawl. As we get up there is a clash of heads (I'm now sporting a fetching black eye) and as we engage again, he jumps guard and my first reaction is to try an Ezikiel choke, and game over. Win 2 by submision.

Round 3 the final, I was up for this, the final battle of the day, everything is to be left on the battle field. We make grips, he then goes for double underhook, not something I'm used to really. I walk out of the area so we get reset. He does the same again but takes me down, gets side control and a kimura grip. the ref resets us in the middle. I escaped using something I'd learned the week before, regained guard and tried to play my game from there. I opened my guard to early and he passes, he gets my back and rear nakeds my face and tries to remove my head. Not my idea of fun and to protect my good looks and keep my head on my shouolders, I tap. Gutted, but Silver is good for my first showing at the euro's.

Day 2 I get promoted to Blue by Braulio and given my belt by Victor, I put my name down for the UK Team over 76Kg's Blue and continue to watch some awesome fights.

Day 3 is the team event. There is 5 of us and 5 of the under 76KG guys, we feel good and look forward to the battle. We're told that we have to fight in the order that we where put down when the list went through, very gutted especially as I'm fighter 4 and we lost 3 - 0 to finland. a bit gutted, but everyone put up a valient fight.

For the rest of the weekend I got to watch a lot of good fights, Especially Team Uk Purple over and under 76 KG, Oli geddes appearing on both and putting in a great effort. The Black /brown team pulling brazil and 4 brown belts vs 5 world class champion black belts.

I know it was an expensive weekend, but it was worth the money, lots of new friends made, appart from the Gi ripping, I can't think of a bad time there. If you've not done it, you should do it.

Monday 7 December 2009

Ze Radioa seminar

I have been to a Ze Radiola seminar before, they're usually quite advanced on the techniques shown from what I remember. I was looking forward to the challenge and the excitement of training at GB Brum, which I don't do enough. (but I plan to change next year)

Sanwiches made, drinks purchased, Gi packed, I was happy the one I wanted was clean and that reminds me, I have gi's to wash tonight. I jumped in my car for a 100 miles drive on my own. the drive was quite nice, the sun was out and blinding at times.

When I turned up I was greated by Victor, a quick change, and I was ready.

I chatted with some familier faces. which is always good.

We where shown some positions, and sweeps, these where to say the least complex and strange. I can see how they're effective, I just need to try and practice and rememeber them. I was pulling them off with limited success, then Ze points out how wrong we where doing it, ha ha. Life then becomes easier, a couple of minor adjustments to knee placements and sweeps work easier. I was part of a three due to odd numbers. Then onto more complex moves, I'm not a big user of Dela Hiva Guard so when offered the chance to practice this rather than learning the next sweep I took it. I was happy with that, so I joined back with the others I was paired with and tried to get to grasps with the contortionist rutine that was set us as a task. We then did another variation of this sweep, which was equally as twisty and I can feel it in my back this morning.

I think the thing that I took most note of was the Q&A section, some good topics where covered. One being stacked up, which I liked the results.

then, we got onto a bit of sparring, which I love, I ended up with the chap who won the absolute at the british nogi open last month, so I knew it would not be easy, there was a bit of grip play, I'm not a lover of starting from the knee's. I end up ontop in a deep half guard. He could not sweep me, but not for his lack of trying, I try to get a gi choke in place and he does something with my leg which has it almost pop at the hip. We have a few more little rolls with no subs appearing anywhere.

I moved onto another guy, he was bigger and newer, I gave him some tips about side controle and we rolled a bit, I got a couple of easy subs. but was a good roll.

Monday 9 November 2009

Grapplemania 2.0 Leeds

After winning the grapplemania 1.0 event at beginner, I was tempted to enter this as advanced. but I thought twice against it, I don't really have the skills to take on a skilled opponent. Plus there was only two people in the advanced last time, and I wanted the chance of more fights.

there where a few guys from my club who where suppost to be going, but it ended up just me and my teacher, most with valid reasons to their absence. I was happy, I knew there would be some guys from Factory BJJ there to cheer me on.

There was a whole three people in the advanced devision this time, one who was a begginer, but thought he'd gamble on the numbers in the advanced and wanted to experience the advanced fighters. He took 3rd.

I draw my fighter, he looks big, very muscled. I hear a shout from the crowd for him to throw a big right, would be an easy way to win I suppose. We clinch up a few times, he's not giving me anything, he's not raggin me about, I try to make him step, but he gives nothing, He gets me down, takes side control and I can't move, he locks up a head and arm triangle and leaps over me. I tap. Very Gutted. Ah well it happens he went on to win the division, which made me feel better.

All fighters get two fights, so I was offered the absolute or a fight against another loser, I chose the absolute. which anyone could enter, no matter size, win or lose or whether advanced or beginer. I forgot there was a cash prize for this. I checked my fight, I recognised the name of the fighter in the fight below me as the guy I'd just fought. the names are called and I all of a sudden have the guy from the next fight. O joy of joy, I'll got the same guy again. I hope he's tired and I might be able to take advantage. We tussle, he's still not giving anything, He manages to take me down again, bt this time, I fight my way back to my feet. He clinch again, I catch a headbut, I'm good, not dazed so we carry on, he I shoot for the single leg, bad idea, he sprawls on me, so I roll to my back and as I do, I catch an elbow to the face, I think one strike, could be an accident, but two? who knows? I end up losing on points. better than being subbed again I suppose.

I then found out that the organisors had matched the weights of the fighters, so they could try and get a david vs goliath final, but not everyone put there weight down. It just seems a bit dodgy with a cash prize atg the end.

Well, when I got home I thought, I'll google the guy I had to fight twice, lets see how he's done in his MMA, I was expecting maybe a couple of fights but he was Neil "oldschool" Wain, 5-1 in his MMA carer with his loss being to Shane Carwin at UFC 89. So I managed to get a pro fighter in a novice division of a local comp. Great.

Tuesday 3 November 2009

British No Gi Open 2009

Well, I've been looking forward to this day for a while now, and was a very sensible person to organise a Haloween party the night before. Who would have thoought that the 1st of November was after the 31st October.

So, I had arranged to meet up with my club and the artofjits at a trainstation at 7am Sunday morning, I'd gotten to bed by 0ne I think. My alarm was set for 6, I snoozed and slept through, so my phone rang at 7 and I rushed to meet everyone. I chose not to drive as I was a little worse for wear.

We got down there in plenty of time, I'd sobered up and felt good by then.

My first fight was called and I'd got a very tall gent called Steve from GB Swanse, I made a silly mistake giving him the easy takedown and I spent the rest of the 5 minutes going from mount to turtle to giving my back but at no time did I fear him submitting me. I was down 20 points to nil, first round loss, I may love to compete, but I hate to lose. I felt exhausted and demoralised.

being in a high weight cat, there does not tend to be many of us, five infact on this lovely day. I'd got a by in the first round so I needed to find out how the bronze was being awarded, I had to fight for it. The words I wanted to hear, I had to fight a guy wearing a Braulio shirt, but I'd seen him tap out easily in his first round to something that should not have worked. All he did was shoot for a single leg, after a while I managed to break him down to turtle where I tried to take his back and manged to sweep him over and gain mount. He left his arm in the right shape for a paintbrush, I did not think twice and attacked and he tapped quickly. The Bronze was mine. I'd brought back my hope for a chance of gold as I could now enter the absolute.

I think some shenanigans went on with the absolute bracket with the person I was fighting getting changed while I was in the toilets. I thought a musclebound super heavy weight, he got the takedown, he controled me well, but I got to my feet and I managed to take him down, and get to side controle, there is no where I feel happier on the ground. he is bridging like a bucking bronko on max, I'm being bounced about like a little girl, I try to put my weight down to stop this, I see that shape again, the same shape that had already brought me victory, victory was within my grasp, I grab the wrist, I start to slide my hand under, then I feel my legs go light and I fly onto my back, I have no idea how, I just know I am on my back and can not escape this beast of a man. my eagerness cost me victory and my chance at gold. I congratulate him and left the event very disapointed.

lessons have been learnt, training in my weaknesses will follow, but my main focus, is Gi fighting until Feb now, with the Abu Dhabbi Gi qualifiers in Dec and the European Open in Jan, they are what I want to win.