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.
Monday 28 June 2010
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.
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 :)
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.
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.
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