Christmas Break. Reflection time. Game changes.

Well its time to take a few days to rest the body and enjoy time with family and friends. Training has been vary productive in the last 2 months since I returned from injury. I have finally decided to open up my mind and my guard. It has been very liberating. Its as if I have been fighting against myself for so long, trying to play a game that was not suited for me. I feel like my Jiu Jitsu has been striped down and I am rebuilding from the bottom up. Of course we have tons of moves, transitions, and experiences that still make our games what they are but I am refining all of that one day at a time. The only regret I have in my training is that I have not been able to train at night much. My boys are both in Wrestling and that takes up most of my evenings. At the same time its been awesome to watch Wrestling. Its like Jiu Jitsus hyper strong brother. Just being at their training sessions has allowed me the watch how dynamic the take downs and top control are in Wrestling. I hope to build upon this part of my game in due time. Hopefully as my boys age I can teach them some BJJ, they can teach me some wresting, and we can grow as grapplers all around! ;) Sorry for the lack of updates. I hope to write more in the coming year. I will be putting together some goals for 2011 soon.

Until then...check out this great instructional from www.mginaction.com on how to defend your opponents attempt to pass your open guard. A game changer if you ask me!

http://www.mginaction.com/VideoDetails.aspx?VideoId=738

"Jitz". Did he just say that???

The term "Jitz" is quickly taking over the Jiu Jitsu world. Whether your watching an MMA broadcast, reading facebook updates, trolling forums, or talking amongst friends, the term is THERE! Sure Americans are known for making things their own and for making things as simple as possible, but is this a good thing?

I can see both sides of the coin. Its a lot easier to text or type "Jitz" than "Jiu-Jitsu". The abbreviation "BJJ" could mean something different (or nothing) to lots of others we interact with as well. Side Note: The term "Jitz" originated from the italian word "gitoni" which meant foosball or table soccer. People called it gitz for short and spelled it "jitz" for style (to add even more confusion).
On the other hand Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art and something that is held in high respect to thousands of people. Why would anyone want to cheapen the art/sport with a cleaver nickname?

The jury is still out on this one. If I had to guess I would say that people newer to the art would be more accepting of the term "Jitz" (Especially Americans). Those who have been around the art longer and who treasure its deep history would be more likely to take offense to the term. I'm not gonna get caught caught up in the debate but wanted to bring the subject to light.

We have too much in common as people and a love for Jiu Jitsu that runs deeper than any term could destroy. But don't be surprised if someone is reading or hearing you use the term "Jitz" and are rolling their eyes as you do. ;)

Now if we could just agree on the term Guillotine...is it Gilla or Guia?

"The Art of Learning" - By Josh Waitzkin

I just picked up "The Art of Learning" by Marcelo Garcia brown belt Josh Waitzkin. Josh seems like a really cool guy and runs my obsession www.mginaction.com. Im really excited to dive into this book and see what Josh has to say about the art of learning. As a world champion in chess and martial arts Im sure he has at least something to say that I would benefit from hearing. Understanding Josh and his way of learning should aide me in life and on the mat. READ!

hmmmmm??

Lots of stuff running through my head at the current time. Gonna stay focused on the big picture, train when I can, and slowly grow at my own pace. Its not about trophies, medals, or belts to me. There is no race. There should be no ego. Lots of outside things and or people try to make it seem as if I should put some type of importance on these things. I will not! No one will ever be like me. Learning everyday. Taking it all in and filtering out the negative and or bullshit. Till next time...train Jiu Jitsu!

Random MGINACTION Forum Advice.

Getting your Closed Guard broken is something you must accept.

Opening the Closed Guard before the break will give you the advantage of choosing the next offensive move for a split second. (Because the opponent is focusing on breaking your guard.)

Continuing to force your guard closed after a break leads to the opponent having the influence of the next offensive move. ( Because you are focusing only on continuing a Closed Guard.)

www.mginaction.com

Baret Yoshida RNC

This Baret Yoshida RNC seems like a very good option for attacking the turtle position.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Wo-RA-HB_I&feature=related
He does the face/nose-rake constantly, and there have been a lot of discussions on whether it's in good spirit to do it or not. Regardless, this is the position.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOZ4nQDPzrU
This has a good view of the leg thread

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kr_37imTF-o&feature=related
This has a good view of the peg pinch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG_Fdp6U1Ow&feature=related

Credit goes to AAFoster on the mginaction.com forum. THANK YOU!

My "local" MMA Experience. Ben "The Baker" Neumann by Choke!

I had the privilege of attending an MMA event called "Combat on Capital Hill 3" last Friday in St. Paul, Minnesota. This is the first time I have attended a "local" MMA event (Note: I have attended countless boxing events and UFC 87) and I wanted to put some of my random thoughts on the experience together. The main thing I want to say is congratulations to my friend and training partner Ben "The Baker" Neumann who won by Rear Naked Choke only 30 seconds into the first round. Ben is an amazing grappling competitor, evidently an awesome MMA competitor, but most importantly a world class person. This is Ben's second victory in the cage and for that I salute him!

This is him with a serious face. ;)

http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/f/DF5E3F2912D683F6/Benjamin-Neumann/

Random Thoughts on My "local" MMA Experience.

1. Lots of Tapout, Affliction, and "fight" shirts. Glad Chris Browning and I decided to dress as opposite as possible (Collared Shirts and Sweater Vests).

2. Lots of thousand mile stares and squared shoulders. No dude, I dont need to put on a front to prove I am tough. Actually I came here to watch fights, not be in one.

3. Amateur bouts are sloppy and absent of much technique. If you can wrestle, you can win an amateur mma bout.

4. Not enough seating. They must have over sold the "general admission" three times over. Its ok though, we looked tougher standing. ;)

5. I know a lot of people at these things. Who knew?! Refs, Commissioners, Fighters, Coaches, Spectators, etc.

6. More women and fan boys than I expected. I even saw kids running around. MMA must really be "mainstream" as they say.

7. I am as good at arm chair MMA'ing at live events as I am at home with a gut full of pizza. Shut up Jason! Until you can learn to enjoy getting punched in the face you are not an MMA fighter.

8. Submissions are orgasmic. Thank you Ben and some other dude who got an Anaconda Choke for fulfilling my needs. ;)

9. Chris Browning is an amazing friend. Thanks for getting me out of the house and into the event.

10. Ben Neumann by Choke! Keep it up kid!!

I could go on but I will cut it off here. All in all it was a good time. I miss the old days when MMA felt smaller and more special, but it was cool to have that many people in the St. Paul Armory who might know what an omoplata or kimura are. Tough guy syndrome will always exist so I need to look past that. Next time I will go with the same intent...to cheer for my friends and the possibility of seeing Jiu Jitsu in MMA!

Teddy Rosevelts Jiu Jitsu Experience.

This is an exert from Roosevelt's letters to his children on wrestling and Jiu-jitsu.

White House, Feb. 24, 1905.

Darling Kermit: "... I still box with Grant, who has now become the champion middleweight wrestler of the United States. Yesterday afternoon we had Professor Yamashita (Yamashita was Roosevelt's Jiu-jitsu instructor before Meada and Tomita had arrived there in the U.S.) up here to wrestle with Grant. It was very interesting, but of course jiu jitsu and our wrestling are so far apart that it is difficult to make any comparison between them. Wrestling is simply a sport with rules almost as conventional as those of tennis, while jiu jitsu is really meant for practice in killing or disabling our adversary. In consequence, Grant did not know what to do except to put Yamashita on his back, and Yamashita was perfectly content to be on his back. Inside of a minute Yamashita had choked Grant, and inside of two minutes more he got an elbow hold on him that would have enabled him to break his arm; so that there is no question but that he could have put Grant out. So far this made it evident that the jiu jitsu man could handle the ordinary wrestler. But Grant, in the actual wrestling and throwing was about as good as the Japanese, and he was so much stronger that he evidently hurt and wore out the Japanese. With a little practice in the art I am sure that one of our big wrestlers or boxers, simply because of his greatly superior strength, would be able to kill any of those Japanese, who though very good men for their inches and pounds are altogether too small to hold their own against big, powerful, quick men who are as well trained."

Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) (Theodore Roosevelt's Letters to His Children. 1919. NEW YORK: CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS, 1919 NEW YORK: BARTLEBY.COM, 1999)

Great quote from Robson Moura's Facebook!

Robson Moura Nova Uniao Jiu Jitsu Association

‎"Even if the water falls drop by drop, it will fill the pot." - The Dhammapada \./

BJJ is a sport of small improvements and changes. Rushing to earn a belt, land a submission, make the perfect sweep - won't work. You must work step by step, sweat drop by sweat drop along the path. Train for today, not for the next belt. RMNU!

I am not the only one uncomfortable with competing...so was this guy.

I took a lot longer than is normal to be comfortable with competing.
– Marcelo Garcia

20 Tips to Improve your Jiu Jitsu

http://www.grapplearts.com/Gracie-Mag-Jiu-jitsu-Manual.htm

Great stuff! Courtesy of grapplearts.com and graciemag.com.

No Jiu Jitsu = Know Madness

Its football season here in Wisconsin and with that my traditional Jiu Jitsu nights have become kids football nights. That coupled with the fact that I work such a strange work schedule leaves me with zero mat time. Arrrrrrrrrr!!! Logically I know that I am not on any time frame and that I could use some more healing time anyway. Deep down in my chaotic brain I am going mad. Jiu Jitsu is my therapy. My release from stress and the drain of everyday life. Where else can you go to "lose yourself" and just "live in the moment"? Only a practitioner of Jiu Jitsu will understand this. To everyone else I am just that dude obsessed with Jiu Jitsu who they need to "hide" on Facebook. ;) Maybe in 10 years my area will have the all day training schedules that I read about on the East and West Coast?! Then again, in 10 years I'll probably only need the evening classes (When I finally work a 9-5pm). So in my current world of no Jiu Jitsu, I chose to put my thoughts here. Just like all those pathetic folks in history who chose to write on paper what they were truly thinking. I'd rather be choking you than having you read about my insecurities. For the time being though, know that I am dreaming of all the ways I will become a better Jiu Jitsu player. I hope that counts for something. Thanks for taking the time to read this...and if you have more time, swing by and lets roll in my backyard! Till next time...

Friday Night Side Control Escapes.

Had a good night working side control escapes with my coach Mike and a few brothers in gis. Since side control escaping is a very important part of Jiu Jitsu I thought I would leave some of my notes on here for future reference. Options 1 and 2 seem like the highest percentage moves but options 3-5 end in submission attempts. ALL good weapons.

Review:

1. Control your opponents hip by gripping the pants near the hip, use your other arm to reach up over your opponents back and cup their armpit. While controlling your opponent by holding him tight to you, shrimp away and bring your knee in to regain guard. Guard will be achieved once you stretch your opponent out (while controlling their posture) and a square back up.

2. If your opponent switches their control from the "shoulder of justice" to an "over and under" control you will immediately grab the sleeve of the arm they are controlling your hip with and shrimp away. They will most likely drop their weight on you. At that point you will shrimp back into them and sweep them over the top of you (shrimp, shrimp, shrimp until they go over). Now you have escaped into side control.

3. If the pressure is great while they are using the shoulder of justice, swim the top arm under their chin and make them uncomfortable (make space). Be aware of the head and arm choke at this point. While bridging/upa-ing into them to create space, swim the hip controlling arm under them and shrimp underneath them. Continue to control the head and (swing) get all the away underneath so your head and shoulders are behind their shoulder. Grab a gable grip and finish the head and arm choke.

4. Pop the opponents collar open behind their head with the top arm (thumb in), bridge and shrimp while swimming the hip controlling arm underneath them and grab control of the back of their collar, swim the top hand back down and underneath their chin and grab their collar for the baseball choke.

5. While on the bottom, control the opposite lapel low on their gi (hip controlling arm), swim top arm underneath the chin and obtain a deep collar grip, THEN BAIT the opponent to go into mount. As they mount they will sink the collar choke even deeper. Lights out or tap out.

Random Ramblings

Worked the half guard tonight and I was instantly taken back to my last tournament where I was ineffective while working the bottom half guard. It is frustrating to see the holes in your game! Its a good thing to know where they exist, but god it sucks to know this part of your game needs work. Do you play the traditional half guard, use the lockdown, or venture in the newer stuff (ie: deep half guard)? I was grateful to my coach Tim for working top and bottom half guard with me after class. Reps are whats needed!!! Its not like I haven't studied or drilled the half guard in the past 2.5 years. The reality of it is that I haven't drilled it enough to be comfortable and effective using it. What works for you guys? Seriously. I wanna hear from others.

My biggest problems.
1. Staling in the lockdown.
2. Being flat WAY too much (especially cross bodied).
3. Getting my knee shield smashed and fold passed.
4. Getting my under hook whizzerd.


Help a brother out with information and I will hit the mats and rep it out!!


Oh yeah,,,there's that passing from the top too. Maybe I'll fuss about that next time. ;)

Too bad we only get one lifetime to learn this stuff. I could use at least 5!

Robert Drysdale - Head and Arm Choke

Link: http://mma.atactv.com/?mediaId=637

This is an excellent video on how to do the head and arm choke from mount. I had the pleasure of working this one with Robert at a seminar last year. Enjoy!

Passing Open Guard Options

Opponent is in sitting or butterfly guard.

Push Opponents back to the mat.

1. If they stay down use the Standing Step Pass.
(One arm posted on stomach, the other on one knee. Your outside leg will be outside the knee you are controlling. Step back with the inside leg as you push the controlled leg back/down. Step around and take knee on belly or side control.)

2. If they sit right back up use the Knee Slide Pass.
(Control the head with one arm and the arm on the side you intend to pass. Then control as you slide your knee across for the pass.)

3. If they pull half guard use the Folding Pass.
(Push knees together toward the leg being controlled and sprawl back. Keep the legs smashed/folded as you circle to side control.)

4. If they pull half guard and control the other leg use the Leg Over Pass.
(Take the leg that is being controlled by their arm and bring it over their body. Sitting out in a way as you come across to the other side. Make sure to get the far under hook as you bring the leg over.)

The Over Under Half Guard Pass

According to Marcelo Garcia, "The Over Under Pass is the most efficient and safest way to pass the half guard." (mginaction.com). This is something I need to work on. Getting stuck in half guard and playing the scramble game is not conducive to gaining a dominate top position. Digging for darces/brabos or sitting out guillotine attempts didn't work well while training tonight. Fighting for the far under hook was somewhat of a battle that I will need to work on. Next Wednesday we should drill this!!!

Keys To Remember:

Use the Over Under Control for Gi and the Under hook and Head Control for Nogi.
*Approach the pass with the intent to gain these positions!!

Re-pummel using your opposite arm to force his under hook down, and swim in for the control.

If the opponent pushes away to resist your guard pass, he will create space for the Under Hook.

If you cannot pummel for the control, drop your weight behind your opponent's elbow as a substitute for the Under Hook instead.

Do not float over your opponent/Stay off the middle of his body.

Bring your knee close to your elbow to press down for the pass.

Push the knee and slide the locked leg through.

Drill, Drill, Drill...

"I fear not the man who has practiced 10000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10000 times." - Bruce Lee

These words read very true to any practitioner of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Sure we would all love to watch a youtube video, drill it for 10 minutes, and then kill with it in class and at tournaments. The truth of the reality is this does not happen. Unless you have been blessed by God himself to innately be able to pull off a certain move effortlessly you are gonna need to drill. I have been "passing guard" for over 2.5 years now and I still have not drilled the passes enough to pass guard at will. Last night we played pass the guard drill for 20 minutes and I walked away recognizing this fact. Granted my passing has been pretty one dimensional up till now, I love being smacked in the face with the reality that you just need to Drill, Drill, Drill. Being injured allowed me to look at my "game" and recognize that I try way too hard to use the plethora of moves I have been taught and seen on countless videos and dvd's. It is time to pull it together and start focusing on the few moves that make me successful. Practicing these few moves thousands of times will be way more beneficial then practicing thousands of moves hundreds of times. Thanks to this Bruce Lee Character for putting this idea into words. ;)

Midwest Center for Movement - Rigan Machado Jiu Jitsu - Hudson, WI

Just wanted to take a minute to plug the school I train at. If your in the Twin Cities, MN or Western Wisconsin area you need to come out and train with us. I will post information below and will keep a link on this page that you can click on at any time. We are not just a team but an extended family. Come out and do Jiu Jitsu with us!

Midwest Center for Movement
1830C Hanley Place
Hudson, WI 54016

715-377-1584 or 651-308-8673

www.domartialarts.net

Twitter.com/MCFMHUDSON

Losing, Making, and Maintaining a "Good" Competition Weight!

I cant put into words how hard it is for me to "try" to lose weight. I walk around anywhere from 191-195lbs at any given time. Ive competed most recently in the 180-189lb divisions at local tournaments but feel that I would be most competitive in the 170-179lb division. I work overnights, have 3 kids, and a stomach condition (I.B.S). It is soooo hard for me but I really want to be in the "right" weight division. Just venting but would appreciate any real insight into how I can get my weight down to 185lb walk around and 179lb competition weight. At least fat kids are hard to kidnap! ;)

The Fightworks Podcast

Just wanted to take the time to plug my favorite podcast "The Fightworks Podcast"! They were kind enough to tweet out the link of my blog today. There is no better source for BJJ 411 in audio form than from them. Subscribe to them on itunes or look them up online at www.thefightworkspodcast.com. Thank you Caleb and Dan for this awesome resource.

Jason

My Jiu Jitsu Goals

I have heard its easier to obtain your goals if you make them visible to others. For that reason here they are.

Long Term

1. Become known as a technical Jiu Jitsu guy/mind.
2. Compete in 50 tournaments by the time I am 50.
3. Compete and medal at NAGA, Grapplers Quest, and an IBJJF event.
4. Establish a Jiu Jitsu program within the Ramsey County Community Corrections Department.
5. Obtain the Black Belt by 2017.
6. Coach a BJJ student to a BJJ or MMA World Championship (I wanna be Mickey from Rocky).


Short Term

1. Stay healthy.
2. Roll more/become more competitive.
3. Help others learn and become better in the process.
4. Earn a 1st Place Medal at the Submission Hunt.
5. Train with Robert Drysdale and Marcelo Garcia.
6. Earn the Purple Belt in 2012.

Most Importantly

I want to be the best Husband and Father that I can be. Nothing will stand in the way of me doing this. FAMILY FIRST! Hopefully one of my kids will enjoy Jiu Jitsu as much as me!

Jason

Breaking Closed Guard to Pass

As is evident in the above photo from this past Springs Grappling Games, I have a hell of a time breaking closed guard to pass. The reasons are simple. 1. I always try the push and blade away technique. 2. Most people will just open their guard and then I pass (Ive gotten by on luck).

Last night my coach Mike Ellefson (Brown Belt under Chris McCune-Rigan Machado) worked one on one with me on this aspect of my game. He told me what I already knew (I only try the one option) but then gave me the seeds of knowledge (other options/techniques)that I need to get better.

Here are my "go to options" for breaking closed guard (If they don't just open it for me. :).

1. Push and blade (my old stand-by)
2. Double Wrap the legs and sprawl back.
(Over hook each of their legs and cup the inside of each of your own legs. Place head into their solar plexus. Sprawl and create pressure).
3. Head to the mat and kick one leg up from a failed option #2 (if opponent is able to control your head/posture).
4. Single wrap one leg gator roll(using both arms - same side arm tight below the knee and the far arm wrapped under the hamstring). > Then sprawl, dive head just below crotch/in between legs, and roll under the controlled leg.

These notes are more for my own reference but feel free to comment or give me your two cents as well.

Till next time!

Jason

Fighting back from injury.

This week was the first time I was able to train since June 3, 2010 when I sprained my left knee (LCL). Having that time away from the mat made me appreciate our art even more. It was scary to hear my knee "make noises" and have thoughts run through my head like "why?". I thought for a day or two that I was crazy to be doing this stuff and putting my health at risk. In the end my having these thoughts allowed me to really study me, my family, Jiu Jitsu, my job, etc. It was a perfect example of the old adage "that which does not kill you, only makes you stronger". I read a post by Carlos Machado on facebook the other day that said "Jiu Jitsu will always be there, the mat will be waiting!" (I'm paraphrasing). That is sooooo true. Sure Im not where I want to be or in competition shape, but I AM back on the mats that were waiting for me. So with new focus and new found respect for everything, I move forward ENJOYING Jiu Jitsu and all the good it affords me on and off the mat. Thanks to my wife, kids, family, friends, and coaches who have supported me through this.

Seminar Notes

In the coming week I plan on transferring all of my seminar notes from the past 2.5 years onto this blog. Then you will be able to pull information from them and I will be able to access them from anywhere at any time. For sure I will be posting notes from seminars with Robert Drysdale, Jeff Monson, Comprido, Marcelo Montierro, and Luiz Palhares.

UPDATE: Its been more than a week but i still plan on doing this sometime in the near future! :)

A Random Grapplers Journey

This is the future home of my thoughts and ideas pertaining to my journey in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

I am currently a 1 stripe Blue Belt under Rigan Machado Black Belt Chris McCune and train at the Midwest Center for Movement in Hudson, Wisconsin.

UPDATE: Sometime in May I earned my 2nd stripe (Dont know why, but I did. ;))