"Don't Break His Arm!"

Finally, a post about Jiu-Jitsu. Yesterday we got our new Gis. I thought mine was a bit big but Ashley's was perfect. We didn't know it but the Kyra Gracie Gi from Atama is only a single weave. We were a bit upset at that but it is really light. I called Atama and asked about the shrinkage on my Mundial #5 and she said it was pre-shrunk but I could pop it in the dryer. I really don't think it's pre-shrunk. I let it soak for about 30 min in water with two cups vinegar then I washed with warm, not hot, water. I then popped it in the dryer on medium heat. That was last night at 1:30 so I'll try it on later today.

In class last night we started with a warm up. Jogging, push ups, bear crawl, crab crawl, 50 muay thai knees per leg, 50 1-2 kick combos with each side, 200 crunches, 50 squats, 50 leg lifts, 50 scissors, and 10 leap frogs.

We reviewed the sit up sweep, kimura from fake sit up sweep, guillotine from defended sit up sweep. We learned a submission if the person tries to push your elbow with their hand to defend the guillotine. Reach up behind their neck with the arm they're pushing on and clasp with your other hand. This seemed to work best when your hips were under them, not to the side.

From side top. Spin as if you are going to north-south. Continue to the other side. Sweep the hand closest to their head over their face and behind their neck, trapping their arm, clasp with other hand and choke.

From side top. reach hand closest to their head thumb first into their collar across their throat. Pop to knee on belly, when they defend by pushing the knee or foot etc. grab collar with free hand and choke. To increase pressure, come to side and move toward their head.

Awesome class. There was a new guy there, Joe, who seemed to have wrestled in the past. I rolled with him and he wasn't too much of a challenge. I had him in a nice arm bar but he wouldn't tap. Ashley started yelling at me "Don't break his arm!" I wasn't trying to hurt him I just didn't know if I had him. Finally he tapped with no broken limbs. It was nice to see that I'm improving and dominating these newbies like I was dominated. I hope he comes back he'd be a good training partner. Note to self, we love the Ezequiel.

My neck is still a little sore so I'm going to skip class tonight. It would probably be okay but I don't want to risk anything.

In Pain

I'm still pretty sore from last Wednesday. We ordered our Gis today. They should be here on the 30th and I cant wait. I'm looking forward to class tomorrow.

I think I may have made a revelation with Ashley. She's been having some trouble lately noticing the submission "triggers." I'm thinking of making a song or some other mnemonic device to help.

Not tonight

Ashley, for some strange reason really did not want to go to class tonight. I really wanted to since Daniel was teaching. She claims I could have gone but we all know how that is. I have a feeling we missed something important tonight. We'll see if I'm right.

Also we've decided to get new Gis. I'm going to get the Atama Mundial #5 for $113 and she's getting the Kyra Gracie pink Gi for $150 and free shipping. Awesome deal!

Sunday

This Sunday headed to open mat. We were a bit unsure if anyone would show up but we made the drive anyway (30 min). Luckily everyone showed up. Ashley and I started with a bit of light rolling to warm up. When were were done I asked one of the kids Tony brought to class. These kids wrestle at the local high school.

The kid I asked was about 15-16 and weighed about 120. I respect wrestlers for their awesome control on the ground but I still figured I would be able to beat him with submissions.

Let me tell you...this kid controlled my 180 lb butt. He couldn't stop me from getting to half guard and he didn't know any submissions but he did what he did very well. I think my problem is that I'm used to rolling with people bigger and stronger than me. That usually translates to slower paced rolling. I can deal with some one muscling me around but I can't yet deal with fast little guys. I did at one point get to full guard and from there I was in total control. I went for a straight armbar (with his arm pinned between my shoulder and head, both hands on his elbow) and he wouldn't tap. I thought I had it wrong. I also rolled him when he had me in north-south. I later learned that he and his buddies didn't like to tap ( read dont tap when they should and risk injury) I think that I had the armbar but let it go because I'm used to people tapping BEFORE their arm breaks.

Either way the dude did control me and if it were a five minute round he would have won by points. I ended up tapping because he was stretching my neck and I had injured it last class. I tapped to avoid some future injury to it.

After rolling with him I was dog tired. I never get that tired rolling. I've only thrown up twice, once after the first day of class and once after a Donny warm up. Never after rolling. I didn't puke but I was close. Ashley and I left and got smoothies after class.

Now I'm caught up. Every post from here on out should be recent.

Almost there

So after getting my stripe from Daniel I decided it was time for a new belt. A longer belt. I ordered a new white belt from budovideos.com. It's just a cheap Bjj belt but it's longer than my Padilla and Sons. I ordered it on a Thursday and it took untill the next thursday to come in.

Lately all of us white belts have decided that we are going to compete in the jacksonville Bjj open April 25. Peter brought us the registration forms so now there's no excuse.

Feeling Stripey

So on March 9th Me, Ashley, Peter, Tonja, and Donny went to Gracie Jacksonville for a Relson Gracie seminar. Ashley and I filmed and took pictures of everything and should be getting a disc together soon.

Relson was awesome. He's not a really big guy but you can tell he'd mess one up if he had to. He demonstrated techniques (which I'll post when I get them) and told stories. Next time I will most definately participate.

The following class(March 11, 2009) Daniel taught. That night Ashley, Peter, Corey and myself each got our first stripe. It took 7 months but we earned it.

From Cell

A Coup

For the next few months we all met on sundays for open mat. It usually consisted of a few different people from our class and others, including Donny. This continues to this day.

It was becoming clear that Sean was getting tired of the drive from Jacksonville to fernandina just to teach four people. At the beginning of February he sold the mats and Donny took over as our instructor. We were all really upset about the possibility of not seeing Ron again but excited about the opportunities belonging to real academy.

Donny runs his classes a little differently than we were used to. We always start with a warm up. That is something we rarely did except when we would all meet early and steve would lead it.

The warm up usually lasts about 20 min and includes joggin, pushups, various ab stuff, etc. I will be the first to admit that these are rough. I'm not the most fit person and I'm sure these will change that. As much as we complain about these the truth is we need them and we're grateful to donny for making us do them.

We also have to opportunity to train under Daniel Moraes. This guy is awesome. When you're near him you can feel his greatness but he is extremely humble. I cant say enough good things about Daniel. He's an awesome guy and an amazing instructor. Everyone get's excited when Daniel comes to teach class.

I almost forgot to mention the others in our class right now. Currently we have Me(White), Ashley(White), Corey(White), Peter(White), Donny(Purple), Nate(White) ( who returned from a knee injury at one of our open mat days), Tonja(Purple), Steve(Purple), Scott(White), and Tony(Blue). Gary(White) shows up from time to time as does Katie(White), Corey's daughter.

The instructors

So our Black Belt instructor was Sean. He would teach on thursdays and Ron, a purple belt, would teach on tuesdays. Immediately we noticed a difference in teaching styles. Ron was a much more laid back teacher who would show you how do do something multiple times and personally went around and made sure everyone had it. He would answer questions and If he didn't know he said that. He didn't make stuff up as he went. If someone wasn't able to get something he would find out why. Bottom line he was and is an excellent instructor. Ashley and I tried our hardest to make his classes.

Sean had a different style of teaching. I think he was more geared toward the more experienced. He would show many different moves then let us attempt to practice it. When we would have a question he would be a little short with us. Don't get me wrong Sean has excellent jiu-jitsu but I personally just didn't like his teaching style.

We also had Steve, a purple belt, help us. Now I'm not going to lie, Steve was there from the beginning. He showed up that first day just the same as we did. For the first couple weeks Ashley and myself though Steve was a bit of a dick only interested in advancing himself. Now, I can tell you that's completely not the case. Steve is an excellent instructor and is absolutely vital to all of our progression in Bjj.

For a little while there Donny, a puple belt who is built like a Mac truck, was coming to class. He was always fun to have around and has excellent jiu-jitsu. More on him later.

Getting the Gi's

Jumping ahead about a month. Now that we were sure we were gonna stick with it (and after siging a 9 month contract) Ashley and I each ordered a Gi. She chose the Atama white with pink flags F3. She was about 5'3" and 140lbs. I went with a blue A3 Padilla and Son's mainly after reading this. It did and excellent job of comparing the Atama with the Padilla and Son's. For half the price I couldn't pass it up, especially considering that I may not get that into bjj.

From Cell

From Cell

From Cell

Well, I'm definately in to it and I love my Gi. I remember thinking I cant wait for it to get here. It fit a little big on me especially in the pants, and the belt was short but it worked. BTW I'm 5'7" and 180 lbs. made the first wash in vinegar and cold water hung dry. I made it a point to never put it in the dryer until one day I was tired of it being just a little to big. I popped it in and it did shrink a little. From then on i've had no problems drying it in the dryer.

Starting Up

I'm starting this to document my progress through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I'm using this as a tool mainly for myself but for others as well so that I can remember my journey and help others wanting to start their own. I may go off on tangents and refer to names that, if you're not part of the school, you wont know. Presently I am a white belt. I train at Relson Gracie Fernandina, a satellite school of Relson Gracie Jacksonville, located in...you guessed it Fernandina Beach, FL. We train in Elite Gym.

I started training July 31, 2008 after seeing a sign in St. Mary's, GA for BJJ. Our Black Belt instructor was Sean Beavor. The first day Ashley (my wife) and I arrived to the class in t-shirts and shorts. Neither one of us had any training. I'd seen bjj before and I'd read many books on it but as we were soon to find out nothing is a substitute for live training with people who know what they're doing.

There were quite a number of people there. Some were from Seans other school in jacksonville (First coast BJJ) and some were there for the free classes as we were. The guys from the other school were Jaylen(Blue), Ron(Purple), Eli(White), Pierre(White) and of course Sean(Black). I remember thinking after I tapped Pierre, who was a very big guy, with an omoplata that I was gonna be freaking awesome. Then I rolled with Jaylen...and got my ass handed to me. I think it was then that I realized I was not anywhere as good as I thought I was. That was the night I met who I would come to consider my close training partners, Corey and Peter.

To start off, Sean had us do 50 squats, 50 pushups, and 50 situps. I remember thinking there's no way I'll be able to do this twice a week.( for the next week I could barely walk.) That night we learned the basic arm bar from guard. Foot on their hip, raise your hips, other leg on their back swing leg over head. What I had seen so many times and even done so many times (while rough playing with the wife or friends) suddenly was more difficult. We both decided we'd show up to the next class as long as we could use our legs and we did.