I am a BJJ Purple Belt!

On September 24th I earned my purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from black belts Chris McCune and Mike Ellefson. It is more of an honor to have earned the belt then an achievement. As is the case with most belt upgrades I dont feel "good enough" to be one, but I respect and honor the fact that my coaches think I am! I have many people to thank along this journey. You know who you are. Specifically I need to thank my family for their support and sacrifice, my coaches for their patience and guidance, and my teamates for their time, blood, sweat, and tears. Walking into the Midwest Center for Movement in the Spring of 2007 I had no idea what this would become. Walking out that day I puked. I actually puked like the first two times I trained. Anyway..Now I feel confident, fitter, and think I can handle myself in a fight against most people (minus you crazy bastards better than me at BJJ and those crazy MMA people who enjoy pain ;)). More importantly I have met great people, friends, and adapted a new culture. Sure the culture involves choking people, attacking their limbs, and the washing of bloodly/sweaty gis. But it also includes the invisible things that only other students of Jiu Jitsu would understand. I'm not gonna fool myself and make lots of competition based goals going forward. I can only promise myself and the rest of youz guys that I will always give my best, continue to learn, and share these teachings that have been given to me to others. The "target" is on my back (waist). Bring it on! Thank you...now go do Jiu Jitsu!

I'm a Bi-Polar Blogger

It appears that I am a Bi-Polar Blogger. I'm either writing all the time or not at all. I would venture to guess that my obsession with BJJ works the same way. Lately I have just been doing my thing but not putting 100% into it. I had a 2.5 week injury break in early August. I just tweeked my previously injured knee enough that I was reminded of how quick an injury can take you out of everything. Being a working man and dad...these brushes with injury always scare me and pull my reigns back. At the same time I have been asked to test for my Purple Belt on September 24th. It is an honor to be asked by my coaches to do this and can only be a reflection of all the hard work I have been putting in up to this time. As most people, I dont feel like am worthy of this promotion but I trust that my coaches know where I stand better than I do. I'm digging for the killer in me that wants to control and submit everyone in my way. Let me know if you see him. ;)

I hope to post here more often in the coming months. Stay tuned!

Oh yeah...I was in the Hudson Star Observer in May. Check out the article!

http://www.hudsonstarobserver.com/event/article/id/42871/group/Sports/http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

2011 Goals...6 month UPDATE.

Here is my 6 month update/review of my BJJ goals for 2011!

Updates are in *CAPS!

1. STAY HEALTHY and get 12 months of training in this year!
*SO FAR SO GOOD. KNEE IS FEELING GREAT AND NO CURRENT INJURIES. KNOCK ON WOOD.

2. Compete in 4 tournaments.
*COMPETED IN 1 TOURNAMENT (2ND-195 BLUE BELT) AND 1 COMP TEAM TOURNAMENT (1-2).
*2 MORE TOURNAMENTS AND A COUPLE MORE COMP TEAMS TOURNAMENTS SOUNDS GOOD!

3. Get away from closed guard and make my guard game 80% open.
*I WOULD THINK THIS IS THE CASE. HOPEFULLY MY TEAMMATES AND OPPONENTS CAN ATTEST.

4. Get a North South Choke in a tournament.
*NOT YET...STILL COMING FOR YOUR NECKS!!

5. Work on takedowns and get a single or double leg takedown in a tournament.
*THINK I GOT POINTS FOR ONE? MAY HAVE RUN OUT OF BOUNDS. LETS GET ANOTHER ONE!!

6. Win my first 1st place medal.
*JUST ANOTHER NUMBER 2...

7. Get my left knee back to 100%.
*FEELING GREAT!! LETS SAY 93.3%

8. Eat more healthy and get to 185 walk around weight (179 Competition Weight).
*WORST PROGRESS. AT 197 WALK AROUND. 193 IS THE LIGHTEST IVE BEEN THIS YEAR. 190 BY DECEMBER SEEMS ATTAINABLE.

9. Train with Marcelo Garcia or Robert Drysdale. ;)
*MIGHT HAVE TO HOLD ONTO THIS GOAL/DREAM FOR NEXT YEAR.
*I HAVE TRAINED WITH EDDIE BRAVO AND RIGAN MACHADO ALREADY THIS YEAR THOUGH!!

10. Watch ADCC 2011 surrounded by other Jiu Jitsu people.
*SEPTEMBER 24TH AND 25TH. EVENT IS EVEN BIGGER NOW. ON BUDOVIDEOS.COM. CANT WAIT!!


OVERALL:
I FEEL MORE TECHNICAL AND MORE COMPETITIVE THAN EVER. MY GAME HAS REALLY GROWN IN THE LAST YEAR. I MAY NEVER BE A CHAMPION BECAUSE I HAVE SO MUCH OTHER STUFF GOING ON IN MY LIFE, BUT I HOPE TO BE THE BEST THAT I CAN BE. PUTTING IN TIME ON THE MAT AND STUDYING/REFINING MY GAME HAS TO BE THE REASON I AM GETTING BETTER. GONNA CONTINUE TO HAVE FUN AND GROW.

AS I TOLD MY BUDDY TODD, "IM ON THE 60 YEAR PLAN!"...ITS A WAY OF LIFE, NOT A RACE!

Rigan Machado seminar at McCune Martial Arts in Minnesota.

I had the chance to train with the legend Rigan Machado earlier today. The experience was amazing and the techniques covered were top notch. On top of everything was the honor of watching my coach Mike Ellefson recieve his BJJ blackbelt! I cannot think of any other place I would have rather been today. Being amongst such a high caliber group of coaches, friends, and training partners was priceless experience. Thanks to everyone who was there!

The seminar was broken up into a gi half and a no gi half.

Gi

We trained stand up techniques/takedowns.

1. Inner reap from underhook belt control and pant leg lift.

2. Far side leg sweep from overhook-collar control.

3. Inside leg sweep from overhook-collar control.

4. Double leg from straight arm post/push.

5. Bear hug outside reap from failed #1.

Did quick drills to rep these out. Good way to drill.

No Gi

1. Darce from bottom side.

2. Darce from failed single leg.

3. Darce from in half guard.

Another round of quick drills.

We rounded out the day by doing a bottom side control drill in which we had 3-4 people pile up on top of you for 1 minute. This was killer but everyone was able to do it. Really cool experience despite my hatred for being crushed on the bottom. This was followed by a few rounds of speed shrimping. Yours truely actually won this elimination competition. Who knew I could shrimp for speed?! Lol.

All and all a very fun time and great learning experience. I couldnt help but wonder I good I might be at this stuff if I was able to train like this everyday?! Having Rigan and the entire Machado Competition team in one room is an amazing thing!!

Long time...

Its been a while. Things have been going well though. Competed at the Spring St. Croix Valley Grappling Games and took 2nd in the 180-195 Blue Belt division. Didnt do anything spectacular but I did put alot of the stuff I have been working on into use. Felt better having competed despite having a sore neck. Noticed that I need to continue to polish my butterfly game and attacks from side control. I was there and did some things (including holding for points which is good) but I want to finish. Takedowns, mount control/attacks, and back defense/prevention remain tops on my "LIST" though.

Training with Rigan Machado for the first time this coming Saturday. Really excited to meet and learn from him. I hope to post some pictures and a review sometime next week.

Until next time (Sooner then later)...go do Jiu Jitsu!

Lately...

I haven't had much to say or write about. I've been training but I have been more focused on reps and rolling then b.s'ing and blogging. I hope to have more to write about in the near future.

Random Thoughts right now:

1. I need to drop 9 pounds by May.
2. I need to work submission defense.
3. I need to work takedowns.
4. Bummed I cant train this Wed and Fri (dojo has a day camp).
5. I want to roll...like right now.

Thats all folks. See you on the mat!

Jason