Well look who decided to show up!

I finally returned after a month layoff. That is the longest voluntary lay-off I’ve had since I began in 2004. I can’t explain it well, but I just lost motivation to train. I know people who follow the blog will probably say, “I’d probably lose motivation too if I had been slammed on my face [...]

Sometimes it’s the Simple Things….

Recently, I have been analyzing a lot of videos to learn more intricate techniques. However, watching this clip of Marcelo Garcia reminded me that often simple techniques is all it takes to be dominant in BJJ. 
At the 42 second mark of the video he captures his student in a rudimentary wrist [...]

Working from Positions & a little bit of Boxing After BJJ (17)

I didn’t write up my last class, but that day Carlos had us work on the baseball bat choke and a couple of variations. I realized that the baseball choke is what Smiley has submitted me with a few times (and a random purple belt who came to class once). The subs were so quick [...]

Success as an Unconscious Process: Level 2 and Revisiting “Blink”

Quick Post.
In my Psychology of Success Blog I shared one of my Jiujitsu tales. Here’s the link: http://psychologyofsuccess.wordpress.com/2009/06/27/success-as-an-unconscious-process-level-2-and-revisiting-blink/
Thanks,
Bakari

Book Knowledge translated to Mat Knowledge

My efforts to record what I practice from books has borne fruit. I was able to tap 2 people (albeit new guys) today using new techniques. I have been working on the Closed Guard Overwrap and Overwrap to Back techniques from “Jiu-Jitsu University.” Today I was able to use both with a little variation during [...]

Rumina Sato – This guy’s a Monster!

Rumina Sato is the guy  in the blue shorts and he is ‘eating up’ his competitors in this video. I posted another one of his videos earlier in my blog where he ripped through about 10 unsuspecting grapplers in a tournament. None lasted more than a minute. I don’t know if [...]

Butterfly Guard & Involuntary Newbie Slam Defense

Before I begin, I attempted a guillotine choke today. I didn’t get it but I can”t remember (since 2004) ever using it during rolling. Even though it is a very effective technique I’ve always viewed it as an easy ’sub.’ Plus, in my first academy we used to have this guy who studied Hapkido who [...]

Jimmy DaSilva’s Brown Belt Demonstration

You guys know I raved about the Blue Belt Requirements DVD put out by Roy Dean. I also talked about the Purple Belt Demonstration by Jimmy DaSilva. This demonstration provided a real clear picture of the skill level, timing and basic overall aptitude a blue belt should have before he or [...]

Pass, Pass, Pass!!!

Yesterday we worked on guard passes during drill. Smiley had us us work on our favorite guard pass for the first half of class and then we had to choose another pass for the second half. I was able to work out a lot of kinks out of two guard passes that I have been [...]

Last Class – Points and Submissions

Last Thursday’s class was all about working from different positions. After the warm-up we took turns holding guard, being placed in side control, the mount and being mounted from the back. The person in the defensive position had to work their way out or reverse their partner while the person on top went for the [...]