OCTOBER SEMINAR WITH BRUNO BASTOS

1.5 HR GI AND 1.5 HR NO-GI . SEMINAR WILL RUN FROM APPROXIMATELY 12-3(3:30)

WHY COMPETE? by KENNY BOND

DSTRYRsg: Destroyer Submission Grappling and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: BEST OF DSTRYR/SG: WHY COMPETE? by KENNY BOND: "Forward :  DSTRYR/SG has been going strong for over 2 years now and we're only getting better.  A lot of our newer readership missed out on ..."

DANIEL "JACARE" ALMEIDA teaching in Midland TX for 2 days!

This training is free for all local Nova Uniao students. $10 mat fee for non-members. Privates for $100 (spots still available)

HOW TO BE A JERK WHILE GRAPPLING

1.Make every roll feel like the finals at Mundial. ALWAYS bring your A game. Unless you roll hard all the time you aren’t progressing.

2.Don’t bother washing your gi. In fact, keep it in a ball in your bag. That way when you put it on it’s already wet. Nothing like grabbing a guy with a cold wet gi.

3.Always leave your gi pants at home. Grapple in your top and shorts. Sambo style! When you do that don’t forget to grab the other guys pants legs for all your passes.

4.Always beat down new guys. That way they know the power of BJJ right away. They need to know how effective it is.

5.If you know a cool counter to what the teacher is showing be sure to show it RIGHT AWAY. Especially when the instructor is talking. That way you can look cool. By the way, every technique has a counter.

6.Always use full resistance in class. Especially when in learning stage. If your partner is learning an armbar for the first time you need to give them full resistance so that they know how that feels. Don’t let them get it!

7.If you are about to get subbed switch into coach mode. Coach your partner through the rest of the technique. That way you get credit for HIS sub.

8.If you get tired in a roll wait until you are in a bad position to stop.

9.When you get tapped by a bigger guy always tell them after the roll “Dang, you are strong!” That way you can blame their win on their strength instead of their technique.

10.Keep track of everyone you’ve tapped, what you used to tap them, and when it happened. Relive those moment with your classmates before every class.

11.Gun after everyone who is higher rank than you. That way you can put a notch on your belt for tapping out a higher belt.

12.When you get a tap immediately jump up and do a victory dance. Make sure everyone in the room knows.

13.Drop in and out of class as you see fit. Don’t bother to do the warm ups. If the material doesn’t look cool to you be sure to pull your buddy out of class and grapple on the side of the mat while class is going on. ALWAYS do this if class is covering something you’ve learned already. Review is for white belts.

14.Along those same lines, always show up late. That way you don’t have to even bother with warm ups.

15.When you have a visitor in from another gym you MUST put a beat down on them. That’s the only way they will know how good your gym is. It is your job to uphold the reputation of your gym.

16.Nobody minds if you roll with open sores. Go ahead and grind that scab in my face. I don’t mind at all.

17.Long fingernails are a great sparring weapon. Don’t cut them. Toenails either.

18.Small joint locks are your secret weapon. Grab and twist fingers. Do it hard and fast.

19.Don’t tap! Doesn’t matter that the arm is totally straight and you can hear the tendons ripping. You might still get out! Your pride is worth it.

20.Slam on all submissions hard and fast! That way you get twice as many. Doesn’t matter that your partner won’t have time to tap until it’s too late. This is BJJ. If you don’t want to get hurt then take up yoga or TKD.

Midland's Brad Barnes ends MMA career with win

Ruben Ochoa
Midland Reporter-Telegram

In front of a hometown crowd, Midland's Brad Barnes ended his Mixed Martial Arts' cage fighting career exactly the way he wanted -- with a win.

Barnes beat Matt Holland with an armbar submission of Matt Holland at the 2:45 mark of the first round at the Horseshoe Arena on Friday night.

"No better way to go out than in front of the hometown. Everybody says I want to see you but not everybody can travel," Barnes said. "I'm glad to go out with a win, most don't go out with a win. Chuck Liddell didn't go out with a win."

Barnes added that even though he's still young enough to compete he's still competed for a long time and has seen plenty of changes in the sport during that time.

"I'm 29, it's not that old but I've been doing it for 10 years," Barnes said. "Back then, I told people I was doing cage fighting and most people thought it was WWF."

He also added that this is definitely his final match unless a dream match came up against somebody he grew up idolizing.

"I will not fight MMA again," Barnes said. "I would only fight if a long shot match with somebody I grew up watching like Ken Shamrock came up, but that's probably a long shot.

In Friday's other fights, Seminole's Luis Luna won a decision, 30-27, 29-28, 29-28 over Cody Pfister.

Former Midland Christian football player Clay Hantz defeated Edwynn Jones with a rear-naked choke at 2:22 of the first round.

Russell Brewer delivered an impressive knockout in five seconds to start the event.

Friday's results

William Campuzano def. Randy Hinds with a rear-naked choke at 2:28 of the first round.

George Picariu def. (?) with arm-bar in 2nd Rnd.

Daniel Almeida def. James Gray with a Kamura submission at 54 seconds of the first round.

Matt Hobar def. Dusty Mason at TKO (referee stoppage) at 53 seconds of the first round.

Russell Brewer def. Chris Golden by KO at 5 seconds of the first round.

Brad Barnes def. Matt Holland by armbar submission at 2:45 of the first round.

Clay Hantz def. Edwynn Jones by rear-naked choke at 2:22 of the first round.

Luis Luna def. Cody Pfister by decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28).

Chase Watson def. Alejandro Siller by DQ (knee to head).

Brad Barnes to Retire from Bar Fights in the Land of Enchantment

Brad Barnes to Retire from Bar Fights in the Land of Enchantment
By:Dominic Velando05 April 2011

"It was like going into 'Thunderdome'," Brad Barnes reminisces. "It was like having to fight Master Blaster."

Some like to say that MMA is in its "infancy." If so, then Barnes hails from a time when the sport was in the fetal position. When it was barely even a sport, but more of a thrill-seeking exercise for tough guys with a couple screws loose.

Barnes, 28, will end his fighting career at Friday's "24/7 Entertainment Pro MMA Event" in Midland, Texas, where he lives and works as a police officer. Most of his fights are undocumented (he estimates his record to be "a bunch/less") and took place two hours from Midland in Carlsbad, New Mexico from around 2002 to 2005,.

It was a much smaller world then. These days, Barnes prepares for his match against Matt Holland with his team, Rhino BJJ as well as Bruno Bastos and Nova Uniao in Dallas. Most recently, he made the 350 mile journey in style, on a flight paid for by his sponsors. A few years ago, such luxuries were out of the question.

Training partners in football-crazed West Texas were in short supply. Barnes recalls even having to explain to most people just what MMA is. Listeners either equated it to pro wrestling or gay sex.

Few fighters made any money to speak of and shows were mainly happening in Houston, over eight hours away. at the time, promoters were definitely not in the business of paying anyone to travel that far.

So to New Mexico he went.

"It's a two-hour drive, but really it's an hour, because there's a time change right there," Barnes explained. "Which is funny because you're like, 'Alright, we gotta be there when? We got plenty of time. Holy crap! No, we don't!'

On the way, he would pass a sign beaming: New Mexico: Land of Enchantment.

"Bulls**t," Barnes says. "It should say: New Mexico: Thanks for not leaving immediately."

Once in Carlsbad is when the real fun began. "[The event] in a freakin' bar in the open-patio area," Barnes recalled. "The Post Time Saloon. Before your fight, you're trying to keep yourself from getting in a barfight with thirty, drunk New Mexico dudes that you're fighting their buddy. There was no special area for the fighters or anything. Nothing."

"Then, after that, it was, 'Hey! We're hangin' out!' So you get out of the cage and you're standing around the cousins, uncles and brothers of the guy you just beat on, and you're like, "What's goin' on, guys? "

Barnes, or "Lunchbox," as he is sometimes known, remembers one fight in particular against a regular patron at the saloon. "I fought this dude, who, everybody in town knew him," Barnes said. "He was just a fat barfly named "Butters."

"I tapped 'Butters' with a rear naked choke in round one. But it was like fighting a tornado of violence and bacon grease."

But Barnes' favorite fight is one that comes up whenever he speaks with friend and matchmaker for the fights in Carlsbad, Jason Leigh.

"I can't punch for nothin'," Barnes admits. "But I can kick really good...So, I was warming up leg-kicking and we were in this room that made it echo really loud. So, whatever bit of skill and power I had, it made it exponentially more powerful-sounding. And I seen the guy's head kind of lean outside the doorframe, and 'whack', [I would] hit the bag, and then I seen his head dart back in."

When the referee asked the fighters if they were ready, Barnes' opponent shook his head 'no'. Some confusion ensued as the referee deliberated with Barnes' cowardly opponent.

"Jason [Leigh] is looking up at the guy like, 'Dude, you at least get a green name on mma.tv! Come on!' The guy was like, 'I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm outta here.'"

"Jason says thats the quickest win in MMA history," Barnes jokes.

With popularity, growth and money, the sport now favors athletes over barflies like "Butters" or self-professed "fat boys" like Barnes. Though he intends to compete in grappling tournaments, he's done fighting . The decision comes from a number of factors.

One reason is his passion for teaching. Promoter and trainer Saul Soliz once simply told Barnes that, as a fighter, he "sucks". In contrast, the feedback he receives when participating in the Gracie Combatives Instructor Courses as part of his law enforcement training is encouraging and fuels his love of teaching jiu jitsu to his students and his son.

Barnes would also like to retire to make way for the young and hungry up-and-comers.

"I'd love to go on for the next ten years and be like Dan Severn or Travis Fulton and just fight cans and make a couple hundred bucks," Barnes admitted. "That would be awesome. But is that really doing anybody any good?"

As for this upcoming fight: "I'm doing it because I'm in my hometown, I might as well," Barnes said. "Everybody here knows I've fought, they've just never seen it because they obviously don't want to drive to New Mexico, the 'Land of Enchantment' (whoo!)"

"It's kind of serving its own purpose and after that, I kind of feel like it would be a disservice to other people in the MMA community to have a fat, has-been, never-was guy on a card.

Perhaps this is confusing to anyone who has seen the poster for this Friday's event with Barnes' image super-imposed many times larger than the other fighters depicted, similar to the first time the Genie emerged from his lamp in Disney's Aladdin.

"I'm thinking I'm gonna be little-bitty along the bottom [of the poster]," Barnes said. "Clay [Hantz] said it looks like the 'Puppet Master' and his minions on there.

"But, that's cool. I've got that poster sitting up in my man-cave, and I can show my kid. He's five years old right now. When he's ten years old [I can say], 'Hey! Daddy used to fight professionally. I'll knock your ass out...Brush your f*ckin' teeth."

In top shape, Barnes has shed 30 lbs since January. "I just want to lose weight, be happy and do jiu jitsu, because I've got everything I need."

Well, there is one other thing.

"I just want a little bit of freaking credit where credit is do because, damn, I was the only guy championing MMA in West Texas. There's people [now] that own gyms that make money off of the sport that they said was freakin' gay and stupid."

As Barnes tells it, he would then see those same people who dismissed MMA as "gay" training six weeks later.

"And then their meathead buddies are in a ring six weeks later, and you're like 'Hey dude.' [They replied] "Oh, we started our own team. It's called, 'Team Awesome.'"

For now, he'll just have to enjoy his face on a poster and a fight in front of a hometown crowd. And against a guy who didn't just do some shots at the bar or was picked from the crowd.

"Thank God that stuff doesn't happen anymore," Barnes says. "Because it sure as heck used to happen."

DSTRYR/SG EXCLUSIVE: THE QUICK AND DIRTY BJJ BEGINNER'S PRIMER by MATT KIRTLEY.

Time to take your first class. Wear shorts with no pockets that tie off with a good draw string and a t-shirt you don't mind getting ruined. You may be given a loaner gi to wear.

Show up a little early to meet the instructor, sign a waiver and check out the space.

When class starts, pay attention, follow instructions and just try to do whatever everyone else is doing.

The class will likely go like this:


1.warm-ups,
2.learn and drill 2-3 techniques (you may get your own special first lesson at this point),
3.live drilling
4.and maybe sparring (not all gyms let people spar day one.)

If you get paired up with someone for drilling, don't worry about "wasting their time" because you're a white belt. Everyone has to help everyone and if you're eager to practice and drill, no matter how awful you are, then you aren't wasting their time.

Sparring time. Watching MMA might make you feel like you've got half a clue but there is an ocean of difference between watching and doing.

If you ever saw someone tap to a "lucky" choke or armbar in MMA and thought "Why did he tap!? I wouldn't have tapped!", now is your time to find out why yes, he really did need to tap to that.

If you "almost get" a move on a colored belt, they let you and they are just being nice to the new white belt.

How to not make enemies on your first day:


•Don't pick anyone up and slam them.
•Don't try any leglocks you saw on Youtube.
•Don't just crank on necks.
•Try not to spaz too hard.
•Don't brag about anything.

You are allowed to spaz a little because you are a white belt and no one expects any better out of you. But you should work to replace spazzing with real technique as you train more.

This class will be a blur and you will likely forget everything you learned. That's normal. It takes learning and drilling techniques many times over many years to really get them.

You are likely now aware of muscles in your body that you never knew existed before as they scream at you as you roll out of bed the following morning. That means you did it right.

The best way to deal with anxiety, feeling stupid, being out of shape: realize that everyone (except genetic freaks) went through this too and stop worrying about it. You don't know this stuff yet and that's why you are here to learn.

Claustrophobic? Prepare to take confront your fears head on. This phobia will go away as you get exposed to it and learn what to do.

If you smoke, quit now. It's bad for you, it's bad for your BJJ and you smell awful to your training partners who can't avoid breathing in your musk.

Finishing your first month. Most people don't even take a second class, so you're doing better than most people. But most people also don't finish 6 months to a year, so you're not better than them by much.

Time to get into a rhythm. Keep coming to classes, be eager to learn and drill and don't be afraid of asking questions.

How many times a week should you train? Work up to at least 3 times per week as soon as your body can handle it. Here's a rough guide to classes per week:

1: You will be a white belt forever and barely learn anything.
2: This will barely maintain your skill level and progress slowly.
3: You will make headway and still have recovery days.
4: Now you're getting serious. You are becoming a fixture in the gym.
5: You will see big improvements but get more injuries.
6: You probably don't have a job.
7+: You probably don't have a job or girlfriend. But your BJJ is going great!

Finishing the first 6 months. Your body is probably getting into much better shape than when you started. You should take a look at your diet and sleep habits and try to improve them. This is good for you, good for your BJJ and will even help prevent injuries.

Ready for your first tournament? Of course not. But do one anyway. Everyone should try it at least once. You will probably be very nervous. That is normal. The only way to overcome this anxiety is to compete so much you get over it. Unfortunately that's not a possible solution for your first competition.

Competing as a white belt is good too because the pressure to perform and "prove your belt" is much worse once your belt has a color. No one expects anything impressive out of a white belt so you are free suck and no one will hold it against you (except Youtube comments on your tournament video.)

I would tell you to not worry too much about getting your blue belt and you will likely say you don't really care about your belt. But I also know you're probably secretly coveting it anyway.

What you should be working on as a white belt:


•Regular attendance. This is the most important skill you can have because I could leave the rest of this list empty and you'd still get better by going to the gym.
•Getting in shape. You need to be able to handle a whole class from start to finish and never quit sparring because you're tired.
•Remembering techniques. Drill a lot and maybe keep a written journal.
•Defense and escapes. As a beginner you will spend most of your time in bad spots so naturally this is the main area to improve your technical performance.

Keep that up and you'll get better and eventually earn your blue belt.

How much time does it take to reach your training goals?

I just read this from Scott Sonnen's Facebook.

When asked by a young man to certify him because "there's nothing you do that I havent already learned, so you should certify me to teach", Sonnen, a Sambo black belt said this:

"My teacher in Russia told me it takes about 10 years to master the basics. Twice as long if you're in a hurry. Twice more if you already feel you know the material. Eyes on the road. Focus on the next step. You can't shortcut the journey but you can certainly make it MUCH longer."

When you get discouraged, and/or feel like you know it all and you are getting so much better now and you feel that you are well on your way to a world championship, just remember that quote. BJJ, just like any other learned skill is parishable. You need to constantly be working JUST TO MAINTAIN your skills, and then keep trying to find incremental improvements in your game to keep evolving.

Times they are a changin' !

It has been a long 10 yrs training, and this is just the beginning.

When I first began, it was under the tutelage of Chris Martin (white tiger martial arts) and Clint Watts (Lion's Den). The training was intense as far as contact, and extremely basic, but you were immediately hooked. We spent all our time just doing trips and ankle picks for takedowns, and went for the standard RNC and key-locks for the top, and the ugliest arm bars from the bottom that you have ever seen....but it worked.

The game was different then, and those things worked. The only other place that had quality BJJ anywhere near Midland/Odessa was Pittman's BJJ in Lubbock, which we traveled to frequently for seminars.

After a couple of years of this, (spent sparring full-speed, doing the wrong techniques at the wrong times, but having a great time while doing it) our group now consisted mostly of myself, Jaime Lara, Jackson Burcham, John Bargas, and Tanner Hayes. We eventually sought out the help of Judo Black Belt, KC Windham, who came in and helped with takedowns and began to train BJJ as well with us.

This new group proved to be pretty successful. With the help of Clint as our main "MMA" coach, I won more MMA fights than I lost, and we won alot of grappling tournaments. I spent more time on MMA with the addition of Joe Wesley and David Lee, plus random appearances of various "aspiring cage-fighters" that came to training.

By this time Jaime had asked a co-worker to bring his brother, Juan Perez, to town to help us start training to get belted in BJJ. Juan was a purple belt under Klay Pittman, who had trained for about 13 yrs, so he had alot of experience with the Gi, and had some knowledge of formal classes that we never had. This seemed like a decent fit and Juan began to teach us in 2005 at a spot I had secured for us at a local gym. I continued to go fight in unsanctioned MMA events in New Mexico (by this time having scored the fastest victory in history by verbal submission win at 0:00 of Rnd 1 - if you don’t believe it, ask Jason Leigh on Facebook!). The high point of this time was my 1st place in the Intermediate (I was only a white belt) heavyweight at the Smack-down in H-Town in Houston Texas, followed by a 2nd place showing at the same tournament in the absolute division against brown and purple belts (all no-gi). I lost on a judges decision in triple overtime because my opponent, a Team Caique fighter, pulled half guard, which I guess showed aggression. (??)

For some unforeseen reason, Juan said that my focus on MMA was dishonorable and that was not the direction that KC, Jack, and Jaime wanted to go, so I was kicked out of my own training facility and left to go my own way. SO I gathered a random group of tough guys and wanna-be's and trained on the wrestling mats at Midland College. This wasn’t too bad for me, as I still continued to win more than I lost at shows and always placed top 2 at regional grappling tournaments in Texas.

During this time I got ALOT of now "famous" local guys their start in MMA. I began to convince guys like Brian Pierce and his buddy DJ Hayes to get involved in MMA. It took alot of convincing, because they weren’t great at it to start, but I told them they had potential and needed to stick with it. Now Pierce is a successful coach for Ruffhouse MMA in Odessa, with a couple amateur champions to his credit. Along with these guys, I also got submission ace Rick Salazar his start.

Another guy I had to fight to convince to get into the sport was Maurice Jackson. Maurice was 6'8 260 lbs of super athlete, who already kick boxed. I stuck on him and really got him to give it an honest try and he got alot better in our training.....now he trains in Vegas and won the IFL tryout (now defunct MMA org) and was on a K-1 under card.

While I was doing this, Jackson, KC, and Jaime decided to take a trip to Brazil to a Brasa camp to train. When they came back, they were ranked under Felipe Costa and Comprido. They came back with a ton of technique and quickly left Juan Perez to start their own program. Since he was already in town, Juan then started up his BJJ school and quickly went from purple to black belt in 2 yrs under Klay Pittman and now has a school in Midland.

In May of 2005 I moved to Houston with my wife JoAnn to really give fighting a chance and re-connect with some family. I spent days with Saul Soliz, Yves Edwards, Leonardo Xavier, and a majority of time with Mike Altman and his fighters - Randy Hauer, Lee King, Sarah Ponce, Terrol Dees, and others at Tx Kickboxing Gym. After all this training I realized that I would not be a high level guy, and that with Braeden on the way and those old family ties being officially messed up, we moved back to Midland, where I reconnected with Tanner Hayes.

As soon as I got back, Tanner and myself started West Texas MMA. This also started my association with Joao Crus and the Carlson Gracie Team. Joao gave me my blue belt, and we began an association and trained a small group of guys in Midland. Although he was a great guy, I never got the "family" vibe from Joao and we ended the association, just as I then reconnected with Jackson and KC to pull our 2 groups together and start one big West Texas MMA gym. This time also signaled the arrival of Rex Richards, a BJJ brown belt whom I started to coach and got him, with the help of Mike Altman, into Strikeforce where he went 2-0.

After a while of teaching I had the pleasure of managing more fighters including Clay Hantz and Jarret Jones locally. Also during this time Rex moved to Abilene for work and started his association with Draculino and Jeremy Henderson under Gracie Barra. Rex eventually was awarded his black belt under Drac and Pittman, and then one day surprised me saying I was ready to be a purple belt after talking with Draculino.

After a long time of moving around, I finally felt like something was a good fit.

Due to my work schedule as a police officer, and having a son, my time at West Texas MMA just wasn’t fitting my day to day plans, so I left the gym and just rolled at the MPD range. Eventually I began to teach at Stonegate Fellowship as part of the men's fitness classes.

The Stonegate group has been a blessing as they have all grown tremendously in such a short period of time. These guys only get a few times a month of actual class time, but they are devoted to it and are constantly improving.

Now that I have this consistent group and the help of fellow purple belt, and long time best friend, Tanner Hayes, as well as my own blue belt, Caleb Hudson, things are moving forward. Rex is still one of my instructors, but due to the constraints of his job, and his own training being limited, he is encouraging me to find as much help and support as I can from quality people.

So now, here we are. Myself, along with Jarret Jones (who runs J Jones Strength Gym in Odessa) are now affiliated under Bruno Bastos (Nova Uniao 3rd degree BB) out of Octagon. Our 2 facilities will be the West Texas affiliate of Bruno Bastos Team through Rhino BJJ. Bruno has proven himself to not only be an outstanding instructor and competitor, but genuinely cares that all his students become better people. He believes that a student learns real life lessons from the time spent on the mat. Bruno is notorious for saying "WAAARRRR" on his Facebook. He told me that it gets people excited because they think he means competition and battle in MMA/BJJ, but Bruno said it means more than that...."War means my family. I will fight for all my students" as he told me the other day.

So this is where I am at now. I welcome all newcomers to join me on this journey and make a story of your own.....but hopefully one that learns from my mistakes and "trial by error" ways, and that you can be a part of a family.

RHINO! BRUNO BASTOS! NOVA UNIAO!!!

Some good training rules to follow

1. Execute your movements with speed, relaxation and technique, never try for power. As far as speed is concerned, smooth=fast

2. You don't have to always see the opening for a specific move. Just throw you technique smoothly and quick and often the opening comes in the middle of your combo.

3. After your done attacking, move away to either side. Your even better to stand your ground than backing straight up.

4. When you think your using your hips enough, use them twice as much. 

5. If you get into trouble, place both hands on your chest, palms up and shrimp, shrimp, shrimp. 

6. When defending submissions, try not to tense your body. Simply relax your body. This is easier said then done.

7. Keep you hands off the mat at all times.

8. Mix up your attacks, try to be as unpredictable as you can with your combinations.

9. Pace yourself.  Use your defensive and offensive techniques instead of just attacking the entire time.

10. Focus on keeping yourself in a good balanced position before attacking, while attacking, and after your attack. This is very important!

11. Never give up. Taking a bit of a beating in the beginning is all part of the learning process. Stick with it and you will slowly become more like a hammer instead of the nail.

TIPS ON BECOMING A MORE PRODUCTIVE BJJ PRACTITIONER

#1- Be a good partner and don’t resist during repping. By acting like a “grappling dummy”, you give your partner a chance to get comfortable with the movements against a non-resisting opponent. If you resist and try to “disprove” the technique you are doing nothing but retarding the learning process, for both of you.

#2- Relax and Breathe! In through your nose, out through your mouth. Make sure you learn to control your breathing and stay relaxed. Tensed up muscles use oxygen. Without oxygen you can’t breathe. Without breath… you die. Plain and simple. Relax, use your energy in calculated spurts and you will do fine. Stay tense & go 100% at all times and you will likely gas out followed by a tap out.

#3- Leave your ego at the door. Ego does nothing but hinder your learning process. Class is not competition. There is no score being kept and no trophy at the end of the night. Use your mat time to perfect your skill set and don’t worry about who tapped who. Just remember, the more you tap, the more you learn.

#4- Go with the flow and flow with the go! Think of BJJ like water. What does water do? It finds the path of least resistance, right? So if there’s a large wall in front of water, it doesn’t try to smash it down, rather it finds the walls’ weaknesses and exploits it. Water will try to go around, over, under or through a weak spot, rather than trying to smash the wall down. If there’s a crack in the wall the water will seep through. BJJ teaches you to look at your opponents the same way. Find their weaknesses and exploit them.

#5- Repetition is the key. Think about learning a technique as making a down payment on it and every rep you do is another payment. You must make A LOT of payments on any given technique to actually “own” it. Though sparring is usually considered the “fun” part of the class, constant repetition is the key to ingraining the movements into your muscle memory. If you really want to stop having to think about what to do and start just reacting, you will need to spend the time repping the movements. Take advantage of the time given to get as many reps as you can in.


#6- COME TO CLASS!!!!!!!1

Turn Your Open Mat into a BJJ Laboratory

Posted on December 10, 2009 by Aesopian


I’m going to make a bold assumption: You want to get better at BJJ. (I must be a mind reader.) Open mat can be a secret weapon in your training if you use it right. These tips will help make sure you do.


Go in with a purpose

What makes open mat good is also what makes it bad: you can do whatever you want. Without someone running class, it’s all too easy to waste time, goof off or simply not know what to do. Go in prepared giving yourself a goal.

Examples:

– Improve move X.
– Improve my escapes.
– Improve my conditioning.
– Try out this new guard.
– Review my basics.


Try picking a topic—a certain position, submission, guard or even concept—and set your mind on exploring and learning it in depth. It’s easier to stay focused when you know what you’re focusing on.


It’s time to experiment

Now is your chance to put that encyclopedic knowledge of every BJJ instructional to use. Is there a move that’s been making waves in competition that you want to learn? You could bring a laptop or iPhone to watch instructionals then drill them.

Forget this piece of advice if it doesn’t line up with your goals. Sometimes drilling those same basics you’ve known forever is the right thing to do (at least it’s never wrong.)


Don’t get technique overload

Just because you’re free to do whatever you want doesn’t mean you should pull out every technique you’ve ever Youtubed. Get two experienced guys on the mat and it can quickly turn into technique show and tell (“Hey, check this out!” “That reminds me of this…” “You gotta see how I do it…”) Keep your goals in mind and don’t get too far off track (unless it’s really something worth checking out.)


Put in the reps

Once you’ve figured out what you want to work on, start drilling. Then keep drilling. Discipline yourself to put in a healthy number of repetitions. No skimping on your reps because you don’t have an instructor keeping his hawk eyes on you. I’m sorry if this is boring but it’s good for you.


Find the right training partner

Who you train with can make or break an open mat. If they aren’t as motivated as you, it’s a pain to force them to drill when all they want to do is talk and spar a bit. You’re better off with a white belt that has a good worth ethic and is eager to learn than a lazy purple belt that doesn’t really feel like breaking a sweat. Finding the right person to team up with can give you a serious boost and make grappling R&D really fun and rewarding.


Do live drills

Take whatever you working on and make up live drills AKA isolation sparring for it. This is an fantastic training method that a lot of people overlook. Your drills can be as simple as starting from a specific position over and over again to running a series of situational exercises that increase in complexity as they go. (Message me on Facebook if you want some example drills.)


Take sparring seriously

Nothing bugs me more than two guys rolling for 1 minute before someone taps then spending 2 minutes talking about it. Save the discussion for later. Quick bits of advice or showing someone how to stop a move they’ve got caught in a couple times is OK. But you’re there to spar. Now is a good chance to push your endurance and forget time limits and go until you are absolutely dead.


Film your sparring

If you’ve got a camera and a tripod (or a willing third person), try getting your sparring sessions on video and watching them afterward. You’ll often be surprised by the things you do (and don’t do) that you never realized.

Want more tips? Add me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.

Image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/giosp/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Posted in Headline, How To Study Jiu-Jitsu, Training Methods | Tagged bjj | 2 Comments
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Posted on November 30, 2009 by Aesopian
I’ve been posting to Facebook and Twitter lately when I have stuff that’s not worth a whole blog post but it’s still worth sharing. You can follow me here:

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How much can you learn? Part 1 - Your style

How much could you retain in high school? A class period worth? A weeks worth? How much until it basically turns into a "blah, blah" noise coming from the teacher.

In BJJ training, you have hundreds of moves. These moves have a set-up from an average of 5 different top positions and a dozen different bottom positions. For each one of these, there is a counter, and a counter to the counter.

There are gi grips with the lapel and skirt. There are no-gi grips like a monkey grip or shell hand, gable grips, underhooks, and whizzers.

So in your class, how much time do you spend on technical aspects of the game, and how many techniques do you learn in a class time?

Class time in BJJ is a chance to learn a technique or series that is pertinent to the level of learning that you have reached. Your techniques need to be carefully planned out as to where you go in your game and greatly depend on the teaching and grappling style of your teacher.

Example: I am a top game player and rely greatly on my ability to hold side mount and north south. I use this to tire an opponent enough to make any transitions to mount or the back, as fluid and dominant as possible. When I am on the bottom, I rely heavily on using guard to slow pace and set up a sweep, or I use the half guard to control and get back to a neutral position. My top finishers are mostly chokes, cranks, and kimura/key locks. As for the bottom game finishers, I use a ton of leg locks and use the a triangle/armbar/omoplata series and get the best option.

What does this mean to you? That while you may need to know all the moves in BJJ, it does not mean you have to use all the moves. Find what works best for you and start developing a game from day 1. By the time you have spent a year or so, you will find that the moves you learn during class can be beneficial to you in 2 ways.

1. You develope a new skill to add to your game, this gives you another option of reversal or finishing an opponent.

2. (and this is important) You can now add knowledge of how this can be used in someone else's game.

So pay attention to everything in class, even if you do not believe that it is something that works for you....because chances are it may work for your opponent.

To Be Continued......

Next time you get a cramp or "arent feeling it" -

Police rally support for injured bomb tech, family



Midland Police Sgt. Brian Rackow, commander of EOD, examines the small package initially thought to be a pipe bomb placed in a light pole base outside Academy Sports Jan. 8 this year. Rackow was injured Thursday during an accidental explosion at a police training center. File photo by Tim Fischer 1-8-10


Related: Family fund started for injured MPD bomb tech
Related: GPS game causes bomb scare
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Midland police say they will work to surround Sgt. Brian Rackow and his family with support as he recovers from injuries he sustained while dismantling an explosive device Thursday.

“One way or another, they’ll be taken care of,” MPD Training Division Lt. Bernie Kraft said. “We’re going to make sure the family is taken care of.”

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Rackow was injured just after 11 a.m. Thursday when he was removing aluminum casing from an explosive in preparation for a future training activity, Kraft said. He remained in critical but stable condition late Thursday at University Medical Center in Lubbock, officials said.

At the time of the incident, Rackow was working alone in a shop building at the MPD Training Field, located southeast of Midland at 4500 Farm-to-Market Road 307, MPD Deputy Chief J.R. Smith said.

Rackow sustained injuries to the face, chest, arms and legs and was transported to Midland Memorial Hospital via ambulance immediately following the incident, Smith said. Kraft said at the scene Rackow may have lost his left hand and sustained injuries to his left arm.

Rackow was transferred to a hospital Lubbock during the afternoon for further treatment, Smith said.

“We’re all one big family; so anytime someone gets hurt, our heart goes out to them,” Smith said, speaking at a press conference at the police department.

Midland Fire Department Assistant Chief of Operations Fritz Niggeler said fortunately an ambulance and paramedics were nearby at the time of the explosion and were able to provide prompt care at the scene and later in the ambulance. Kraft added four officers who were going through training at the field also offered emergency medical care when the incident occurred.

They responded after hearing a loud noise, he said. Officers were unsure whether Rackow was wearing protective gear at the time of the incident.

By removing aluminum casing from the explosive, Kraft said, Rackow was ensuring there would be no shrapnel when officers later got rid of the device and with other oil field explosives they’ve collected.

After Rackow arrived at Midland Memorial Hospital’s emergency room, several MPD officers gathered at the hospital and lined the entrance to the ER as they waited for news on their colleague.

Around 12:30 p.m. an officer arrived at the hospital with Rackow’s wife and two children, who were eventually brought into the waiting room where they were surrounded by family, friends and both on- and off-duty MPD officers.

Through tears, Rackow’s wife asked those present simply to pray for her husband.

She and the couple’s children accompanied Rackow to Lubbock on Thursday, Smith said.

Rackow, who has been with the department for 13 years, serves as a bomb technician as well as a sergeant on the night shift patrol. The three-person bomb unit is part of a regional response group that responds to bomb threats and possible explosive devices that are reported to the department.

The group trains twice each month, Kraft said. Rackow also has attended classes at a federal training center in Georgia, Smith said.

“He’s in a high risk position with what he was doing,” Smith said. “He loved doing it.”

ATF officials from Lubbock arrived just after 3 p.m. Thursday to conduct an investigation, Kraft said. He said their investigation would be tedious and likely include forensic work to determine how and in what direction the explosive went off. ATF is a law enforcement group within the United States Department of Justice that protects citizens from violent crimes, the trafficking of firearms and acts of arson and bombings, according to its website.

MPD also will conduct an internal investigation, as is standard procedure when an officer is injured, Smith said.

Kraft said the last officer injured at the training field was Smith, who was shot in the leg several years ago during firearms training.

Smith said workman’s compensation will cover medical expenses for Rackow.

An account called the Brian Rackow Benefit has been set up at Community National Bank by the Midland Municipal Police Officer Association to cover other expenses the family incurs.

———

Kathleen Thurber can be reached at kthurber@mrt.com.

About Sgt. Brian Rackow:

- Night shift supervisor

- Head of bomb squad unit

- Joined the MPD in 1997

- He’s previously served as an instructor for MPD as well as the Permian Basin Law Enforcement Academy covering topics from defensive tactics, firearms, patrol procedures, explosive recognition, suicide bomber and LvIED response and resolution

- Rackow has a wife and two children

To donate:

Brian Rackow Benefit - Midland Municipal Police Officer Association

An account has been set up at Community National Bank, 685-8400. Donations can be made at any branch. Visit, https://www.cnbtx.net/locations.aspx for location sites.

Repeat Post, but seems relevant to my students

When I first got into BJJ, it was all about the submissions. Sweeps and escapes were something cool that were only necessary to know, if you ever got caught in a bad spot. If you had never been put in a bad situation, you didn't really want to spend the time preparing for it when until after it had happened.

A great majority of the time was spent scouring the internet and images in books for new submissions and the "how-to" videos on Youtube or in the newest issue of Grappling Magazine (now known as Ultimate MMA Magazine).

Forget about learning hook sweeps, or how to better control from knee on belly. Lets learn how to do the triangle to omoplata with modified toe-hold!!

Since I have gotten older, and hopefully a lot wiser, I have learned that one of the most beneficial tools to your game (second to escapes/defense), is positional control. This has become my most preached lesson, and my greatest asset in grappling practice/matches/police scenarios/and practical application in the street.

The problem with this is easily evident in the opinion of some grappling enthusiasts, who, when watching a video of someone doing this on Youtube (I am namely referring to a match of myself against a much larger - 6'6 320 lb BJJ blue belt), the critic went on an on about me not capitalizing on my dominant position. His argument was that if you are in dominant position, you are not actually winning and demonstrating real BJJ skill unless you submit the person.

COME ON PEOPLE!!

Lets not forget that if you are on top of someone in side mount or mount, moving to north south or knee on belly, you are winning! Gracie Jiu-Jitsu teaches us in its basic philosophies that you must first gain dominance to be effective. From that point, your goal should be to maintain that dominant position and not let the person get on top of you. The trade of in some cases are usually the BJJ practitioner in top position giving up his dominant position in favor of a failed arm-bar or another "forced" submission, in which the bottom man has now reversed you for a better position.

Remember these main points next time you are rolling:
- Position over submission
- Use your positioning and top game to exhaust the opponent
- Let him dictate the submission i.e. don't force the submission, instead, let him work himself into a bad spot and capitalize on his mistake

Incorporate this into a drill by getting with your partner and have him work from a bad position for 1 round, and do the top 2-3 defensive counters. At each counter, change position in a "slow roll" manner. If he can sweep you or get up, then you must be on the bottom for 10 minutes. If you get where you can maintain top control during transitions and position changes, then have your opponent on bottom start to give you "submission indicators". These can be as simple as putting the arm up that gives away an arm-bar, or turning belly down to give up the back. This should help foster good reactions to these movements, which are signs that you must be able to key-off on to capitalize on the mistake of the opponent.

Please leave comments and questions. Especially if you are having a hard time identifying the "cues" that your opponent is giving that signal when to attack the submission.



-Keep on The Path

Skill Building - Back to Basics

At this point in training, today, right now, get back to basics! Whether you are a brown belt world champion, or you are a brand new grappler with 2 months experience, get back to basics.

It is so easy to get sucked into the lure of wanting to learn alot of new cool "tricks". There are literally hundreds of submissions out there to learn, but only a few basic positions. Learn those few basic positions and the principals for being successful at them now!

- Learn to prevent your guard from getting passed or replacing guard
- Get your posture better when in the guard or passing
- Improve your base to feel as dominant as possible in mount/side/north-south/back
- Improve your control and timing

To do all this, all it takes are some basic skill building exercises.

- Guard pass drill. Get a partner to get in guard and try to pass. Break down his posture, shrimp and adjust your guard to prevent his passes.

- Get in guard and improve your posture by sitting back straight, head up, torso alignment should be straight up and down with your weight over your hips, NOT I FRONT OF YOUR KNEES, with your legs apart in comfortable base. Use pressure and slow control to pass. Make it uncomfortable for your partner, so that letting you pass is a better option for him than having you stay in guard.

- Get in side mount and practice moving around from side to knee on belley, to mount, then knee on belly on the other side, then side, then north south, and back to original side. Do this by maintaining constant closeness and good body alignment. Keep weight on your partner and always block his hips and head as you move around i this circle for several reps. Be sure they check your base at the beginning of each position.

- Timing requires a partner that knows at least as much as you for whatever moves you are going to be working. Get in mount and have your partner check your base so you can get that cue to adjust hooks and control, then he should do the "bench press" to cue and armbar, or he should feed him arm across your chest to show giving up the back and you take that cue to take the back and get the RNC. these types of exercises will improve timing and recognizing threats and openings.

MMA article from Big 2 News featureing Brad and Paul

http://prod.permianbasin360.com/search-fulltext?&nxd_id=66626

An event known as Shark Fights is taking place in Odessa this weekend, and the hand-to-hand combat is sure to draw a crowd. But before stepping into the cage, one of the fighters sat down with Big 2 to explain how his fighting technique has been picked up by our local law enforcement.

Mixed martial arts, or MMA, is a full contact combat sport that involves a wide variety of fighting techniques. It's become a popular past-time for many people. Some just watch it. Others actually practice it. So, in order to stay ahead of the game, Midland police have been working with a professional fighter whose helped them incorporate mixed martial arts into their training.

"If I'm writing a report next to a suspect, I don't know if he's going to be aggressive. If I'm not looking away and he eventually attacks...I stop...short elbow," Paul Buentello, a professional MMA fighter, said Friday while demonstrating his techniques.

He's been fighting for nearly 13 years, and this weekend he'll take on the undefeated Bryan Humes as part of Shark Fights main event. This UFC legend is no stranger to the area though. Buentello's worked closely with Midland police for years.

"I met Paul at a show in Carlsbad six years ago and really hit it off. He's real approachable," Brad Barnes, a Midland police officer, said.

Barnes quickly realized that Buentello's unique fighting style could translate to law enforcement, so he pitched an idea.

"When we don't have the ability to pull a gun or use a baton or use pepper spray...when we're just standing close to people, the things that you're good at will work for this job," Barnes said.

"There's a lot of little tricks of the trade...how to fight, how to close the distance, how to keep somebody away, and I jumped right on this horse because Brad's a good friend of mine," Buentello said.

Known as “The Headhunter” in the world of cage fighting, Buentello began to train Midland police officers...teaching them how to be prepared for any kind of attack.
"On a nightly basis we're putting people in handcuffs, whether it's just to detain them or to take them to jail. And people don't like being put in handcuffs, and they're going to fight you for it. I would say on an average shift...you're going to have to do some type of defensive tactics or stop some type of resistance," Barnes said.

"I've been doing it now for 13 years in a cage, actually getting paid to do these techniques. And if I can show an officer just a few little things things to remember, a little muscle memory on defending themselves and stopping an aggressive person. And they can go home at night...I feel a lot better about that," Buentello said.

For more about the event this weekend, check out www.SharkFights.com. And for more about Buentello, head to his website...www.PaulBuentello.com.

FIGHTER PROFILE - JASON SAMPSON

Local fighter profile: Jason Sampson By Andrew Plante


Jason Sampson is an up-and-coming fighter in the local MMA scene. He recently won his first professional fight at SWC 9 in dominating fashion. He's back in action at SWC 10 on Jan. 16, facing Josh Montoya.


Not unlike many MMA fighters, he is driven because of life experiences. His mother left him and his two brothers when Jason was 7. Since then, stepdad Greg Kimbrell has been his sole parental figure. "I consider him my dad," Sampson said. "He's been pushing me and supporting me. ... He's a blessing and inspiration in my life."


Sampson was a self-confessed troubled kid, getting in trouble for fighting in school and experimenting with drugs. He has two brothers in jail because of their involvement with crystal meth. He uses all of these experiences to maintain his focus on becoming a better person in life and a better fighter in the cage.


He began wrestling at the age of 11 as a way to stay out of trouble. He quickly found out that he was pretty talented -- even winning a Pan Am title in 2006 -- and the sport could keep him on the right path if he stuck with it.


In addition to Kimbrell's support, Sampson has numerous friends and family who are helping him to succeed, including girlfriend Monica Mendoza -- who he says "has been pushing me and encouraging me all the way" -- and grandmother Jackie Kimbrell, who "has always been there for me as both a grandmother and a mother." He is dedicating his fight to Mendoza's daughter, Victoria, who turns 14 the day of his next fight.


Coach Allen Mohler from Mohler Jiu-Jitsu probably has been the biggest influence to Sampson's MMA path.


"Coach Mohler has given me a second chance at life by letting me teach at his gym," Sampson said. "He saw things in me and allowed me to have a career. I was going down the wrong path, but Coach Mohler saw good qualities in me -- like my wrestling skills, my heart and my teaching ability -- and gave me a shot. I am the person I am because of Coach Mohler."


Sampson's ultimate goal is to make it into the WEC. Whether or not he gets to that level, Jason has a very good attitude about his life.


"I've bounced back from drug use and a troubled childhood and now have an opportunity to follow my dream," Sampson said. "Not many people get to do what they enjoy every day. I'm lucky to be able to do that."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have started to manage Jason and had the chance to have a sit-down with him and William Campuzano, as well as Jason's girlfriend (and the one who keeps him together!), Monica.

Jason is an extremely outgoing individual and has alot of drive to succeed. He looks at a goal, tackles it to the best of his ability and immediately sets another goal. His determination and work ethic have already made him a success, no matter how far he goes. His next fight is tentatively scheduled for May, with a title fight looming in the last week of June.

Guest blog- Confidence in grappling

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Confidence in Grappling
Author: Jason Scully

"Kill the snake of doubt in your soul, crush the worms of fear in your heart, and mountains will move out of your way" ~ Kate Seredy

Yesterday I was rolling with one of my students in class who has about 3 years experience and when we were rolling I noticed something, and I realized that this is actually an issue with many grapplers out there. As we were rolling I was paying attention to his movements and his facial expressions and it was clear that he was missing something very important. What was he missing? He was missing his confidence. That's right, it was his confidence that he was missing.
There's so many times when I train with someone and they don't seem confident at all in what they're doing. Even if they know a ton of techniques they hold themselves back because they don't trust themselves that they'll execute those techniques properly.

When you're in practice you should never have to worry about if something is going to work, or if your opponent is going to counter your attack. You should just go for it with 100% confidence that you are going to make something happen. That no matter what, even if your opponent counters your movements you should have 100% confidence in yourself that you can counter right back.

You see many times it's not the moves you know that makes the difference it's the trust in yourself that makes a difference. There is so many people who can execute moves perfectly when drilling, but when it comes down to performing them in a live situation they either freeze up, don't remember them, or they don't have confidence in what they know.

Have you ever rolled with someone more experienced then you and you were weary of coming forward and you had a technique or plan that you wanted to execute but you weren't sure if it was going to work? You ended up taking a second to think about what might happen and by the time you're done thinking your partner or opponent has already made his move, because they were more confident then you were. That's what can make the difference of being steps ahead of your opponent or not.

The person who is 2, 3, and even 4 steps ahead of their opponent is the same person who is completely confident in their abilities and their techniques. They don't care if they know what's going to happen or not, because regardless their going to MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. There is no waiting, pausing, or thinking about what might happen they just go and take that chance knowing that no matter what they trust in themselves that they will be the ones to come out on top every time.

Even if what you tried didn't work you still believed in yourself and you now know what would have happened because you went for it instead of just sitting back and not taking any chances at all and not even knowing.

This is also a very common when you roll with someone who is much more experienced then you or a much higher rank then you. Let's say a blue belt in BJJ pairs up with a brown belt. Many times that blue belt is already thinking of ways that the brown belt can beat him before they even started rolling. They beat themselves before the match even started. They never gave themselves a chance and counted themselves out right from the beginning instead of starting with their head high and their confidence in full affect.

When you are confident in yourself regardless of your technical ability you will:

Think clearer.
React faster.
Feel better about yourself.
Breath better.
Be less conscious.
Make things happen.
Be steps ahead of those who aren't as confident.
Attack better.
Defend better.
Trust that you can deal with any situation in the moment.

As your techniques and strategies get better and better and you mix that in with being confident in yourself you will be much more successful in your rolling sessions.

Before we finish up, I just want to clarify what being confident is not. Being confident IS NOT:

Being cocky or over confident - just because your confident doesn't mean you should be cocky. Confidence will help you improve your overall game, but it's not the only thing that will make you the best. Being lazy - being confident doesn't mean you are lazy and you shouldn't work hard. Being arrogant - A person can be confident in themselves without being arrogant and boastful. Show your confidence with respect and work to help others be confident in their grappling as well. Don't under mind your partners and look down on those less experienced or even less confident then you may be. Comparing yourself to others - Don't compare your confidence to others, and your abilities to others. Just be confident in what you know and your potential and you'll be well on your way to a successful and most importantly FUN grappling experience. Having an Ego - One can be confident and not have an ego. Always trust in what you do and regardless of what happens whether it is a positive or negative, be humble in your experience and see every opportunity as a learning experience.
To sum things up: The point is to trust yourself and what you know. Trust that even if you don't know how to do something that you will one day. If you don't have confidence in yourself, then you don't trust yourself. If you don't trust yourself, then who can you trust?

"Experience tells you what do to do, confidence allows you to do it" ~ Stan Smith

Thanks for reading!
Jason
 

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