UFC 84 Predictions: I think I nailed this one!

BJ Penn vs. Sean SherK:  BJ Penn of course!
Sherk had trouble with GSP and Matt Hughes because he had a shorter reach than these guys and because he couldn’t handle their strength. I believe BJ Penn has more core strength than Sherk (although they use it differently) and he has better hands than the “Muscle Shark.”
Wanderlei [...]

MMA Live on ESPN

JiuJitsu365: I watched a pretty interesting show called “MMA Live” on ESPN.com. It was pretty interesting after you get past the first three minutes where the host says “MMA Live” about a hundred times. The co-hosts were Kenny Florian and Franklin McNeil (a sports writer). Both Florian and McNeil were a little awkward at first, but [...]

Block with your hands and not your face…

When I used to box (many years ago) sometimes I would play around with the lead hand down defense.  I would use a lean and a shoulder to block or avoid incoming blows (e.g., Pernell Whitaker). I usually did this when the head trainer, Frank, would turn away for a moment. However, I would never use it [...]

Sit-throughs: One of the slickest moves ever invented..

The sit-through is a move that I love to do. When I can pull it off it feels like a magic trick. I first used it after studying a wrestling book about 3 years ago. Since I never wrestled I didn’t have the opportunity to learn it as a child or teenager, so I look at the [...]

The Upa (Bridge): Can you do it when your tired?

The upa or bridge, when properly executed is an awesome way of disrupting an opponents balance, setting them up for a sweep and helping to secure a sweep. However, in my experience of practicing BJJ and watching boatloads of submission grappling and MMA videos, it is highly underused.
Whenever I remember to use it in practice it [...]

This is why I love No Gi.

This video highlights why I love no-gi BJJ. Although they were going a little faster than I like to roll, it encapsulates why I love to practice the art.

Pendulum Sweep with Armbar

Jiujitsu365: In my last academy (I am looking forward to Jacksonville now.), the assistant instructor used to achieve this pendulum sweep as well as corresponding armbar on many people, including me. He used to do all of the motions simultaneously so it took me a while to figure out the complete move.
After a few times of [...]

Kazushi Sakuraba: Slapping on the Kimura

Kazushi Sakuraba always posed a significant threat in PRIDE and it pains me to see that he continues to fight way past his prime. But who I am I to tell someone to stop doing what they love to do and also pays the bills?
Anyway, what made him particularly scary as a fighter was his [...]

Redbelt: Possible Spoilage (If you haven’t seen it..)

I have mixed feelings about “Redbelt.”  First, I must state that my wife, who often tires of hearing me talk about Jiujitsu, said it was “really good.” My wife even waited for me to walk by her in the theater and then tried to grab me around the neck like the main character, Chiwetel Ejiofor, [...]

Ending a Chapter….Ready for a New Beginning

I just finished submitting my grades (online) for the classes I taught this semester. I officially signed out of the college yesterday and don’t have to spend another day on the campus or commuting to that small town. I am ready to move on.
We just returned from J-ville this past Monday and were able to secure [...]