This blog is my perspective on Gracie Jiujitsu. I have practiced Gracie Jiujitsu for nearly five years. My ride on the Gracie Jiujitsu wave has been a bumpy one. I want to share my growth through Gracie Jiujitsu with you, my family and friends. I guess this will be an opportunity for me to allow you into a part of my world, which has been closed for those five long years. Come on in and enjoy!!
This past week has been very boring and ultra-painful. My wife needs to receive "The Greatest Wife Award" for putting up with me. I went and got the stitches out and did a little therapy with my doctor. He is keeping me off work for another week.
While sitting around the house trying to deal with this pain, I've had ideas and concepts float through my mind about a business opportunity I really think can be my way to self-employment. "No!" I'm not telling you guys yet, but I'll be researching and developing the idea. This will be super-cool!!!!
I think that’s a good description on how I feel
about this current issue. In my other blog (www.pinehillrddiaries.blogspot.com),
I posted yesterday a short entry about my doctor’s appointment this past
Thursday. During my Pre-Op Check Up with my Diabetic and Primary Physician, Dr.
Hartluab, I found out I lost nearly thirteen pounds. I went from 268 lbs. down
to 255 lbs. in two to three months. Although, I’m still 5 lbs. away from my
goal weight (250 lbs.) and two months over the target time limit, I feel good
overall. Everything seemed to start follow well. My coach, Red Schafer, is
behind me. My team is very supportive. My family has always been supportive.
I’m focused and serious about my Diabetes and getting it under control. My
plans and goals to compete in 2012 were well-enforced and ready underway. Even
my work schedule was becoming a non-factor. Great, right? Wrong!
During training, I reinjured my shoulder and now need
surgery to rebuild my right Rotator Cuff. Surgery is scheduled for Monday,
September 26th, which is two days away. All of my plans for training
are now on the shelf. Even my weight loss is in jeopardy because I’ll be
restricted to train for 6-to-8 weeks. I’m nervous because, I feel lost and not
knowing how to stay healthy and maintain my weight and strength during this
“down” time bothers me.
Over the years, I’ve found Jiujitsu to be just as
mental as it is physical. I hope during this time, I can get my mental game up
and study the philosophies of Jiujitsu. Many people train, but few train to
understand Jiujitsu. That’s my focus during the time between surgery and
training. During this down time, I'll be going through therapy getting the shoulder strong and ready for training again. I hope to get started at therapy quick so I can put the philosophies of Jiujitsu into practice.
I guess I'll be on the Injured Reserve squad for awhile!!!
When I first saw Nick Diaz fight, I was amazed by the fashion he dispatched Robbie Lawler. He was getting tagged, but threw a bomb and knocked Lawler out. Then I started seeing a cockiness from Diaz, which left a nasty taste in my mouth. I jumped the "Hate Diaz" Bandwagon like so many others had. As the years past and Diaz left the UFC, I didn't think about him too much until I saw his younger brother, Nate Diaz on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF). Nate was/is very cocky as well, which made me put him in the same barrel, I put his brother in. Then something happened!Something, I didn't expect. I heard their story.
When I learned about the brothers and where they come from, I began changing my opinion of them. Soon, I began looking at their team under Ceasar Gracie. This team maybe the tightest and most forged team in mixed martial arts.
A team is a group of individuals, which motivate and push one another to improve and better themselves in hopes to grow the team. The team sees individual improvement as the goal. The individual sees team grow and recognition as the goal. The team then becomes family.
This video is funny. I meet guys everyday who claim
to be professional fighters, black belts in ancient arts, or even were students
of Bruce Lee. “WoW!!!” How amazing is that? This video is a true depiction of
trained verses untrained in martial arts or combat sports.
My shoulder was killing me today. I have to go to my doctor tomorrow for my Pre-Op Check Up.
I found this
video on one of my You Tube contacts. It's pretty cool and shows what Prof.
Sauer would bring to Wisconsin in October.
The black belt
exam for Gracie Jiu Jitsu requires the student to show all 75 self defense
techniques (standing) from the master text by Helio Gracie. At this level, the
student is proficient in grappling but the self defense (stand up) is what is
required at this level.
I love how
Professor Sauer focuses on self-defense rather than competitive Jiu Jitsu.
This next video is of a Professor Sauer technique called The Fog Choke.
Keep posted, I'll be bringing you more super-techniques.
I’m watching the recorded Bellator Middle Weight
Tournament on MTV2. They’re having a few good fights.
Yesterday, Saturday morning, my wife and I took our
three older children to a program at North Division High School. The program is
focused on getting youth to make healthy eating choices and to get them
exercising. The program is through Milwaukee Recreational Program. The head of
the program is a professional Boxer named Alberto. Alberto trains at the Union
Community Center (UCC) here in Milwaukee.
The program runs for six weeks and they meet once
each week on Saturdays from 9 am-to-12 PM. There needs to be many more programs
focused on getting youth to make healthier eating choices and to get them
physically active. I appreciate this opportunity to get my children to think
about a healthier we of living. Alberto told the parents that it’s important
for parents to be examples to their children and reinforce making a healthier
environment at home.
My wife and I try to keep our children in physically
active programs because she and I struggle with our weight and we have made an
unhealthy culture in our home. This program has cause us to look in the mirror
and think about changing our lives and our family culture.
Tonight was a huge night of Mixed Martial Arts and
Boxing. Tonight there were two MMA events and a monster clash in Boxing. In MMA
there is UFC Fight Night and then there’s Bellator 50. First we’ll talk about
Victor Ortiz v. Floyd Mayweather.
From the on set of the fight, Mayweather’s speed was
too much for Ortiz. Ortiz was no slouch though. He continued to march towards
Mayweather, but that darned speed ate at him. In the forth round, Ortiz got
frustrated and gave Mayweather a stiff Head-butt. The referee broke the
fighters up to take a point away from Ortiz. After taking the point, the
referee walked the fighters to the center of the ring. Ortiz opened his arms as
a gesture of apology. Floyd walked to him and the two embraced. Floyd stepped
back and put his hands up. With the referee standing right there, Floyd threw a
Left Hook and Straight Right. Ortiz dropped to the canvas.
In Boxing and “ALL” combat sports, fighters are
taught and told to protect themselves at all times. I really would have liked
to see the fight go further, but it was what it was. If it would have been
deemed “Illegal” they would have given him a disqualification. They didn’t and
gave him the win.
Was it legal? Yes.
Was it sportsmanship? Maybe not.
Mayweather has an arrogance, which causes people to
dislike him. Hell, I really don’t care for him, but people understand this.
Ortiz didn’t dispute the lost, he defended “HIS” throughing that head-butt.
This is why I love Mixed Martial Arts. That wouldn’t have happened in the cage.
Jake Shields fell to a faster and stronger Ellenberger.
I felt sorry for Shields. Jake Shields seemed not to have any idea what hit
him. I’ll tell him, “It was Ellenberger!”
I’m watching the Bellator Tournament right now. I’ll
touch bases later.
I had the
opportunity to meet and train with one of Jiujitsu's greatest players and
instructors, Professor Draculino They recently moved and have a larger and
great new academy. See below...
Texas is awesome. There just no jobs, but I love it there!!! Thanks to GB Professor Ulpiano Malachias @ GB Westchase in Houston for the welcoming invite to train when I go on vacation there.
I’m watching M-1
Challenge on DVR. Vinny Magalhaes from TUF Season 8 is fighting. Yeah, he’s a
Jiujitsu guy and that’s why I’m watching it.
Recap: Magalhaes, rushed his opponent and secured
top position. After throwing a few punches, Magalhaes got mount then into back.
Vinny Magalhaes wins by TKO. Now his record is 7-5, wow!!
This weekend
there’s a UFC Event and a Bellator Event. Sounds like it’s going to be a heated
up weekend.
Tomorrow, I’ll be getting into the gym for the morning class. I can do technique for the next few weeks until my surgery on September 26th. This is what I can do with the exception of rolling after class technique. With my shoulder being in so much pain, I really need to focus on getting my technique tight. After my surgery, I’ll be down from training for 6-to-8 weeks. So to get it in these next couple of weeks would be great to maintain the flow!
My doctor said I should get pillows and set up my resting place in the bed. Let’s see how that turns out!
Many Jiujitsu
champions have great Judo today. These champions understand the importance of
getting your opponent to the ground. Judo creates that opportunity.
Contest (shiai) is a vitally important aspect of Judo. Early examples
include the Kodokan Monthly Tournament (Tsukinami shiai) and the biannual Red and White Tournament (Kohaku
jiai), both of which started in 1884 and continue to the
present day.
In 1899 a
committee of the Dai Nippon
Butoku Kai chaired by Jigoro Kano drew up the first formal set of
rules for Judo contests. Wins were by two ippons, awarded for throwing the
opponent onto his back or by pinning them on their back for a
"sufficient" amount of time or by submission. Submissions could be
achieved via shime-waza or kansetsu-waza. Finger, toe and ankle locks were
prohibited. Contests were set at 15 minutes long. In 1900, these rules were
adopted by the Kodokan with amendments made to prohibit all joint locks for kyu
grades and added wrist locks to the prohibited kansetsu-waza for dan grades. It
was also stated that the ratio of tachi-waza to ne-waza should be between 70%
to 80% for kyu grades and 60% to 70% for dan grades.
In 1916,
additional rulings were brought in to further limit kansetsu waza with
the prohibition of ashi garami and neck locks, as well as do jime.These were further added to in 1925, in
response to Kosen Judo (Kōsen jūdō), which concentrated on ne waza at the expense of
tachi waza. The new rules banned all remaining joint locks except those
applied to the elbow and prohibited the dragging down of an opponent to enter ne
waza.
The All-Japan
Judo Championships (Zennihon jūdō senshuken taikai?) were first held in 1930 and have been held every year,
with the exception of the wartime period between 1941 and 1948, and continue to
be the highest profile tournament in Japan.
Judo's
international profile was boosted by the introduction of the World Judo
Championships in 1956. The championships were initially a fairly
small affair, with 31 athletes attending from 21 countries in the first year.
Competitors were exclusively male until the introduction of the Women's
Championships in 1980, which took place on alternate years to the Men's
Championships. The championships were combined in 1987 to create an event that
takes place annually, except for the years in which Olympic games are held.
Participation has steadily increased such that, in the most recent
championships in 2011, 871 competitors from 132 countries took part.
The first time
judo was seen in the Olympic Games
was in an informal demonstration hosted by Kano at the 1932 Games.
In Milwaukee, the premier Judo School is Wadahachi Judo Club under Mr. Peterson.
Karl Gotch
was a catch wrestler and a student of Billy Riley's Snake Pit in
Whelley, Wigan. In the film Catch:
the hold not taken, some of those who trained with Gotch in Wigan talk of
his fascination with the traditional Lancashire style of wrestling and how he
was inspired to stay and train at Billy Riley's after experiencing its effects
first hand during a professional show in Manchester, England. After leaving
Wigan, he later went on to teach catch wrestling to Japanese professional
wrestlers in the 1970s to students including Antonio Inoki, Tatsumi Fujinami, Hiro Matsuda, Osamu Kido, Satoru Sayama (Tiger Mask) and Yoshiaki Fujiwara.
Starting from 1976, one of these professional wrestlers, Inoki, hosted a series
of mixed martial
arts bouts against the champions of other disciplines. This resulted
in unprecedented popularity of the clash-of-styles bouts in Japan. His matches
showcased catch wrestling moves like the sleeper hold,
cross arm breaker,
seated armbar,
Indian
deathlock and keylock.
The term no holds barred was used
originally to describe the wrestling method prevalent in catch wrestling
tournaments during the late 19th century wherein no wrestling holds were banned
from the competition, regardless of how dangerous they might be. The term was
applied to mixed martial arts matches, especially at the advent of the Ultimate
Fighting Championship.
Does anyone know about schools in Wisconsin
that teach Catch?
Today
was a very good day in the world of martial arts for me. For starters, I found
out my coach and friend, Eric “Red” Schafer won a spot back in the UFC
(Ultimate Fighting Championships) and will be fighting Aaron Simpson at UFC 136
on October 8th. Red had a victory only one week ago and the UFC have
called to invite him back. This is huge for him and the team. He found this out
only hours before Red Schafer MMA defeated Waukesha MMA at the NCGA Tournament
tonight in Waukesha. This win pits Red Schafer MMA up against 360 BJJ in the
NCGA Finals. The finals will be held October 28th in Waukesha. Great
luck guys!!!
My
friend and brother from another mother, Rob Carbajal competed in a Pankration Tournament
at Gracie Barra Wisconsin in Kenosha. Rob won 2nd Place. He’s
getting ready for next year’s competition schedule and thought about competing
last minute. “Great job with last minute notice, bro!”
Tonight,
Strikeforce was awesome! Roger Gracie went to sleep via King Mo, Rothold is the
new Middle Weight Champion, Daniel C. of AKA (American Kickboxing Academy)
knocked out Big Foot Silva, and Josh Barnett caught his opponent in a Arm
Triangle to set up his meeting Daniel C. in the Grand Prix Finals.
The most exciting to me is that Red is back in the big show!!!!
I
thought you all might enjoy this video. I found it on the tube and enjoyed it
myself. I’m a true sucker for Gracie Jiujitsu’s main purpose being
self-defense. Let me know what you guys think about this one!
I'll try to post new articles, pictures, and videos each day to give you more insight to those who I deem very important to the way I see the world of Gracie Jiujitsu around me. Below, I have added this clip of an interview done by the young Gracie Brothers who are managing things from the Gracie Academy out in Torrence, California. I hope you enjoy.
This is in no way them being cocky. It's the truth of Gracie Jiujitus's effectiveness in competition and street combat. Take a look at the Gracie Challenge. Who can deal with it? In street scenarios, when fights go to the ground, it becomes an alien world to most.
When Royce fought Art Jimmerson, Royce didn't play into Jimmerson's bread and butter. Royce took Jimmerson from his comfort zone and then finished him. What many fail to understand about this fight is, Art Jimmerson tapped, but didn't even get submitted. He tapped due to the fact he was uncomfortable and affraid. I can tell you once you're in a submission hold or someone who knows what he's doing is on top of you, it gets a tad scary.
I always said, "strikers are cool, but stikers have the ability they may knock you out. That's by chance. In Jiujitsu, everything I do is to conquer and impose my will and dominance on you. I will take you down, I will get postion on you, I will bring you to my world, and most of all, I will put you to sleep or break something. Striking is an art of prayers. Jiujitsu is an art of abilities.
This coming weekend, The Red Army will once again step into the stage and battle with a team with deep history in grappling and in Wisconsin. Red Schafer MMA will face WMMA. Quick prediction, Red Schafer MMA will dominate this battle. Not trying to think we're better than the next team, we have quality members. All of our guys are finishers. Most of these other teams are deep with members, but have few finishers. We have a small number, but everyone can finish.
In the other team competition, you have Adrian Serrano going head-to-head with Scott Huston and his team from 360 BJJ. Said to say, but Scott is a monster with quality guys. My prediction for this match up is, we'll (Red Schafer MMA) will be meeting 360 BJJ in the finals on October 28th. You have to give it to the guys/gals from 360 BJJ, they are a true competition team.
I'd love to see Red and Scott go at it in the finals. I'm trying to get my ride out to Waukesha and cheer both Red Schafer MMA and 360 BJJ on to victory so the finals will be exciting.
Tonight, I was able to train due to not having to work. It was cool other than my breaking my phone case. There were many colored belts to train with. We went over some great stuff. I did the warm up and my shoulder was good. We then worked the techniques and the last only of the night is when my shoulder shouted, "THAT'S ENOUGH, YOU FOOL!!!" I tend to be stupid about somethings and training with this injury is one.
Does size really matter? Well, most women would say so, but in terms of Jiujitsu, I'm not truly convinced it does. If you look back over the years and watch MMA and Jiujitsu competitions, you’ll learn to agree, size doesn’t really matter. My coach, Red Schafer, often competes in the Heavy Weight Divisions, which have not weight limits and pits him against some truly “Big Boys.” Initially, he seems to be shoved, pushed, and moved by these larger more powerful competitors. Something happens though, which the larger and more powerful opponent doesn’t expect. Red uses leverage against them. This leverage allows Red to sweep the opponents and ends up on top; the more dominate position.
What happens, though, when larger opponents use the laws of leverage in MMA and Jiujitsu competitions? It took me a long time to realize and understand, I’ll never be or have the Jiujitsu of Marcelo Garcia or Rapael Mendez. Being my size (5’8” and 260 lbs.), I find it very difficult to do these “BJ Penn” flexible moves. Still loving the art form, I have to use the next few years to find my Jiujitsu. Find out what works for me.
I have to ask myself what do I want from Jiujitsu. Why do I love Jiujitsu? Being a heavy boy, I want to train and develop my form of “Functional Jiujitsu,” which would be efficient and realistic for someone with my limitations and abilities. My coach is very realistic in my abilities and doesn’t push me to do something we both know, I’ll never pull off in a Jiujitsu match or in a self-defense scenario.
As a “Big Boy,” I know, I need to work on escaping the bottom positions and learn more about sweeping my opponents. For anyone in Jiujitsu, sweeps are essential. There’s a known fact about Jiujitsu, those who land on top position during competition will more than likely remain there and win due to the person on the bottom not being able to escape or sweep their opponent.
I need to work my escapes and sweeps if I’m going to be ready to compete in 2012 after my doctor clears me to train and compete again.
I was so excited! It was a very long time in the making. Many times, I thought I would give up and quit trying. Sometimes, I thought I wasn’t worthy of getting it. It was a goal unlike any others in my life. I would liken it to obtaining academic degrees. I can say without hesitation, my Blue Belt means more to me than my undergrad and my MBA. WoW!!! Really!!!
The plans were set once I was awarded my belt by my coach and friend, Black Belt Eric “Red” Schafer. I would train hard and compete at Blue Belt. I would assist red with things around the gym and use my education and experience to help develop the programming at the gym. I would be on my way towards truly being an effective part of the gym.
Unfortunately for me, I’ve been suffering from a bad shoulder injury for over a year; maybe even longer. I can remember, throwing baseballs and my shoulder feeling horrible. I had gotten accustomed to training and rolling with the pain. I chalked it up to my getting old. Well, it wasn’t that easy. After not being able to make it to train because of the pain and on top of that, I have a horrible work schedule my wife talked me into going to the emergency room to check it out. After an X-Ray showed nothing, I was directed to go get an Arthogram MRI.
A few days after going to the ER about my shoulder, my wife drove me to have the MRI. For starters, they laid me down and gave me two shots to numb the shoulder. Then with a long needle, a blue dye was pumped into my shoulder so they tendons could be seen. Never having an MRI done before, I went in willing and accepting. I laid on the table with pillows wrapped around my arm and having to stay extremely still. It lasted a little longer than needed because I keep moving. “You can’t move in an MRI.”
Once it was complete, I went back to my doctor who said I would need surgery due to having torn tendons. Man, that wasn’t what I needed to hear. He said I would be off of work for one week, but I couldn’t train for 6-to-8 weeks. This is a problem. I have to get things rolling. I have plans. It’s not going to happen. I’ll be out for that length of time.
It hurts emotionally and I have to do this to get better. My surgery is set for September 26th. I guess, I can train until then.
