CRAZY MONTH

February is shaping up to be a super mad month for Jiu-Jitsu.

I was in Sydney over the Chinese New Year holidays to visit family in Sydney, and I managed to drop by Roger Gracie Academy (Sydney) for some classes with the always cool Nicolas Gregoriades.

In 2 weeks it's off to Bangkok for some training with my coach, Professor Adam Kayoom at Bangkok BJJ.

And a week after that, who else but Roger Gracie will be in Singapore for a seminar at Evolve MMA. It was limited to 50 spots and when I called to book my spot there were only 2 left. Yikes.

This. Is. Going. To. Be. SWEET.

5 YEARS IN

Really? Huh.

TOURNAMENT REPORT: BANGKOK

Edited for massively misremembered names.

In Bangkok now with a few minutes of free time. It's Monday morning and I've just spent the weekend at the awesome FBT Thailand Open, competing in gi and (for the first ever time) no-gi.

It's also the first time I've ever brought students to compete. There were times when I was more stressed about them than myself! Did they get on the flight, did they make weight, how are they doing, etc etc etc.

This year's competition was held in Lumpini Hall, which IMHO is a totally rocking venue. Someone told me that it looks like it was MADE for this event. Which, if you look at the setup, is true!

DAY 1: Blue Belt, >70kg & Absolute

Match 1: Division 1st Round, v. Katsuhiko Hibino from Alive Academy (Nagoya).

The match starts with him going for a tomoe nage. He doesn't get it as I'm able to handstand and drop to my knees. He immediately gets up before I can stop him, grabs my lapel and dives for a rolling loop choke. He's pulling with everything he's got and I felt a lot of pressure. Fortunately the lapel was on my chin.

He abandons it as I get up to my knees. It gets a bit fuzzy here as I'm writing without my camera present so I can't look at the video. I remember it went like this: he tries to kneeride but I bump his knee off, I can't move because he's still controlling me. We scramble and somehow he mounts me. I try to flip him off but no success and he's got 4 points.

I dig for both underhooks as I buck him forward, scooping him off me. We're scrambling again but he's still on top, I can't get him off. I manage to create enough space to pull halfguard. He tries to pop my legs open but I grab an arm and he can't. He stands at one point and I start grabbing his leg in a koala guard. I start standing, and he's pushing my head down but manage to get up. As he turns and pulls his leg out I jump for his back and lock my hands round his waist.

I feel him going for a kimura on my right arm so I fall to the side and try to secure my hooks. He blocks one of my feet so I just barely miss out on the 4 points. He blocks my lapel choke attempt and is able to spin and face me. Time is running out and I'm trying everything but he postures really well up. Wristlock, no good. Ezequiel, no good. Cross lapel choke, no good. Time is called.

Result: Loss via Points. Me: 0 points. Katsuhiko: 4 points. Think he had a couple of advantages and I had 1, not sure for what.

So I'm out of the division. Disappointed but what can you say really, he was really good. I never felt like I couldn't win, and there were opportunities for me but I couldn't make the most of them.

Match 2: Absolute 1st Round, v. Tom Woodfin from MMA Chiang Mai.

The match starts with us playing more of a standup game, with him getting the better of it. I'm holding my own for about a minute but he rushes in and double legs me. I'm in halfguard, but he gets a deep crossface with very intense shoulder pressure on the right side of my face, that I am unable to get off.

I'm underneath the whole match. I defended a kimura attempt, I manage to escape the crossface briefly but am unable to go to deep half. He replaces the crossface and I am shut down for the rest of the time.

Result: Loss via Points. Me: 0 points. Tom: 2 points.


DAY 2: No-gi Intermediate >70kg & Absolute.

Before matches start I see that in the absolute seedings my first match is with Murase Yoichi, who on day 1, won his purple belt divison, and the purple absolute. Yay! I'm looking forward to testing myself against him but of course, there's a saying about wishing for things, isn't there.

Match 1: Division 1st Round, v. Major Overall, from Team Taiwan/Tough MMA

The match starts with us going some gripfighting. We're both trying to tie up with a clinch. He drops and rolls me with an armbar attempt but I base and stack him to escape. I immediately try to pass his guard but we are scrambling until he pulls guard. He tries a triangle which I posture out of, and an omoplata which I posture out of.

When I escape the omplata we are back to scrambling and at one point I pass his guard. From there I get to mount. He was baiting it to try and roll me off, but I secure the position. I can't finish him and he does get me off with a buck and push. We go back and forth but I end up passing again. He baits another mount and when I go for it he does get me off.

He's way behind and his corner is yelling that he needs to finish me. During the next few exchanges he starts going for my legs. He tries a kneebar and a toehold but can't finish either one. The referee stands us up and he starts pushing the pace. He dives for my legs and is trying to finish both a toehold and a reverse triangle but I defend both and time is called.

Result: Win via Points. Me: 11(?) points. Major: 0 points.

After this match I find out that 1) Yoichi is in my division. 2) Yoichi is in my bracket. 3) Yoichi has to win one fight before he goes with me. 4) Yoichi's opponent is a no-show. When I say hi to him, his friends are there. Katsuhiko is among them and when I tell him about my next match he starts laughing and shouts, "good luck!"

Match 2: Division 2nd Round, v. Murase Yoichi, from Axis Japan.

The match starts with us gripfighting. He's trying to go for my legs but is unsuccessful. He also goes for a couple of guillotines that he can't get. He ends up pulling guard. He unbalances me and sweeps me, I think it was from halfguard. He goes to pass my guard with a knee cut across, but I block it. We're struggling and he goes for my back. He's trying to choke but I block his hooks and he's not able to get enough leverage for the submission.

I spin around and am in his guard. I push forward into his halfguard and he can't get me off. However, I don't take enough time to secure the position. I try to mount him BUT he takes advantage of a lapse in my balance and sweeps me. He's trying to finish me with a choke but I don't let him get it, and the match ends soon after.

Result: Loss via Points. Me: 0 points. Yoichi: 4 points. Not bad for me having just went with the worst possible guy!

I was getting ready for round 2 with Yoichi, because I felt like I would have a really good chance to beat him on points at least. However, a lot of guys ended up pulling out of the absolute due to time, other commitments or injury. Unfortunately Yoichi decided to bow out. That's alright though because I got another tough guy.

Match 3: Absolute 1st Round, v. Martin Persson, from Tiger Muay Thai.

He starts the match pulling guard. I knew he was going to do that. Just like I knew he was going to try a kimura. I thought I would be fine until at one point I try to get my attacked arm to a good position and he pulls it out. He is going for it but I manage to reach behind me and grab my hand to stop the submission.

After a minute of him going for it, he lets it go and I'm unable to stop his sweep. He ends up on top with me in halfguard, he has a deep crossface with very intense shoulder pressure on the right side of my face, that I'm not able to break. It felt pretty painfully familiar. The match ends almost exactly like my absolute match yesterday.

Result: Loss via Points. Me: 0 points. Martin: 2 points.

So that's it and I'm done for the weekend. Speaking strictly in terms of results, yes I'm disappointed, especially because I think I could have won my division matches, and would have fared better in the absolute with a different strategy. However, in terms of the experience, I can't complain. I got to test myself against some really good guys. Most of my losses were against the worst possible guy, or arguably so.

I feel my performances were respectable. My losses were by small point margins against very high quality opponents and I was not submitted. I have a lot of stuff to work on, and I'll make sure to shore up those weak spots before the next competition.

I'm also VERY proud of my guys! Ivan and Tony both went undefeated on the Gi day, closing out the White Belt >80kg division, and Ivan also took gold in the Absolute! All the hard work paid off, and they thoroughly deserve this. I felt like a complete mother hen the whole weekend. Especially since Tony finished at least 2 of his fights with the Ezequiel :)

Studio 23 Jiu-Jitsu Team went for a combined 20 matches over 2 days without anybody losing by submission. Every loss was either by a 2 or 4 point margin, or referee decision.

To sum it up: I thank God for an awesome time. Adam, Luke and their whole team did a really great job of putting this event together. The T-shirts were fantastic. I'm going to go back and work hard to come back here and win another of those beautiful gold medals!

I thank God for awesome opponents. I could not have asked for a tougher bunch of guys and I really learned a whole lot. I'm sure my game will improve as a result of this, both physically and mentally.

I thank God for Jiu-Jitsu. Without it I would never have met such completely cool people like the BKKBJJ team, the Taiwan BJJ team, and Stephen Kamphuis, who came in just to referee. Of course I'm not forgetting all my friends in the small but now definitely greatly improving Malaysian BJJ scene! It was definitely great to catch up with my friends in the Check Mat Malaysia team, who also brought back some serious metal.

Later today Adam and Dan Simmler (who had one of the greatest matches I've ever seen yesterday, beating Rodrigo Caporal on points) will be doing a seminar at Bangkok BJJ. Time to go get ready for that.

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT

When I first started training, nobody would have guessed that I'd amount to anything as far as BJJ competition. I know I wouldn't have given myself great odds. Nobody would have guessed that out of all the potential and talent in the gym, I'd turn out to be the only one regularly competing. 

I certainly wasn't the biggest, strongest, fastest or most gifted guy, or even halfway flexible. I was just hard to submit and that's about it. 

Having a reasonably tough chin helped me out a little.

Nobody would have imagined that one day I'd be running a studio of my own, let alone bringing students to compete with me, but that's what's happening now.

The FBT Thailand BJJ Open is just over a week away and the butterflies have again returned to settle in my stomach. They're quite comfortable, but every now and then they have a little dance battle or something. 

A lot has changed from even the last competition in June and it's like everything old is new again. It looks like this year will be huge, and there are a whole lot of good guys attending. I'm really excited to see what's going to happen. I'm really excited to see how my guys do. I'm really excited to meet old friends and make new ones.

I think it's going to be a completely awesome time and I'm looking forward to it.

ONE MAN'S MEMORY LANE

I find it really interesting to listen to stories of how - for example - Braulio Estima's coach was a blue belt when he first started, because they were so far removed from centres of Jiu-Jitsu activity, and how they had to travel for hours to compete. In the latest Fightworks Podcast, Sergio Penha goes on about how back in the day, he only had a mere handful of training partners, and that there were maybe only one or two chances in a year for people to compete.

I think the main reason I find it interesting is this is so far in the past for many, but living in Malaysia (and East Malaysia at that) this is my reality. I am myself a blue belt coach, because if I didn't do it, then there would just be no Jiu-Jitsu here at all. Over in the next state on this island, the (note the singular) BJJ coach is also a blue belt. I remember in Korea, they were shocked to learn there were only 5 (or 6, I'm not sure) Jiu-Jitsu gyms in the whole of Malaysia - which is itself a recent "phenomenon".

There are no competitions in Malaysia. If you want to test yourself, you've got to leave the country. Never mind the anxiety, planning and financial commitment - the time that you have to devote to this is enough to stop many from competing. The closest destination that offers regular (read: once a year) competition is Thailand. For me, that's roughly an 8-hour journey, one way from home to hotel if I do the whole thing in one go.

Rather than this just being a whinge post, I actually quite like it like this. People leave me to my own devices here and I'm free to explore and discover things by myself. Thanks to the internet, I don't have to reinvent the wheel, and at my belt level I feel I'm doing a fairly OK job. I'm at least so-so. Um, yeah.

TOURNAMENT REPORT: SEOUL

Edited to correct some names, among other things.

Just back in Kuching now. Spent the weekend in Seoul, where I competed in the 2nd Korean National Jiu-Jitsu Open.

Pre-competition

Started the day with a spot of stress: I woke up at around 6:30 or so, put my gi on and weighed myself in at 70.2 kilos. For a few seconds I almost considered the wisdom of trying to spit out 300 grams' worth of water before dismissing the idea as unnaturally desperate. If my experience at the last 2 competitions was any indication, I would definitely lose that weight in time just from doing nothing.

We got to the venue - the Mapo Arts Centre - by 8:30. It's really easy to find as there are very clear signs (in english, for us poor tourists) pointing you in the right direction (provided you take the correct exit, of course). The mats were already good to go and the organising crew was busy putting the finishing touches on the whole setup.

My wife and I got settled and then I went to say hi to the main organiser, Marc Lee. Really nice fellow - very soft-spoken but an accomplished competitor himself, he's also the owner of M.A.R.C., one of the BJJ studios in Seoul. I checked the seedings and found that there was only one other person in my division. It all came down to a bit of bad timing really: because of scheduling conflicts, there were two (maybe even three) BJJ competitions within a month of each other, so many had opted for other tournaments.

There was a little bit of confusion before everything got started, as a few people (myself included) were unaware that we had to bring already completed waivers with us. Fortunately there were a good number of waivers on standby and that got taken care of with minimal fuss (it was completely in Korean but I was lucky enough to find some gentlemen to help with translation).

I weighed in at approximately 69.8 or 9, I'm not sure because it was a digital scale but kept jumping. Got comfortable and tucked into a sandwich featuring the first piece of glorious processed cheese that I had allowed myself to touch in 2 weeks. I had a chat with some expat english teachers, Michael and Tommy. Both nice guys, easy to talk to. There was a kids' division and a ladies' division, then the white belts got going.

About an hour or two into the whole thing, the blue belts were notified to start warming up. When I got to the matside area, Marc informed us that there was a late addition to our division, so being that there were three people, it would play out like this: first two guys go. Winner goes to finals and loser gets to have a second match, with the third guy, and the person who wins this match goes to finals. Everyone agrees and we're off to the races.

Competition

Note: got my opponents' names off BJJ Asia's results page. If there is any mistake please let me know and I'll fix it.

Match 1: Pena Division, v. Cha Minha, from Action Reaction Jiu-Jitsu

The match started with us squaring up briefly. He jumped guard almost right away and tried to set up a triangle. I turned away from the angle he needed so the sub was never tight, but his legs were locked so well that I couldn't free myself.

It was literally like this the whole match: he'd try to unbalance me and lock in the triangle, and I would base out and posture. Eventually I got a bit tired of this and started stacking him. I could hear his breathing becoming progressively ragged as the match wore on, so I thought I'd try a lapel choke. I dragged his collar across and pushed down, but he defended it. I tried again, this time pulling his other lapel up towards me, but that got blocked as well.

I felt his legs really weakening, and he confirms this by abandoning the triangle and trying to armbar me. I blocked it, got my knee over his leg and started to move into halfguard, when time is called. The ref stands us up and raises his hand.

Result: Loss via points. Me: 0 points, 2 advantages. Minha: 0 points, 3 advantages.

A very disappointing result, but honestly the loss was simply my fault, end of story. I wasn't active enough in his triangle and he spent more time trying to submit me. Oh well, live and learn. I still had one more chance though, so that was consolation enough. I was still completely fresh and spent the next few minutes staying warm.

Match 2: Pena Division, v. Baek Doo Hyeon, from John Frankl BJJ

This match started off the same as the first, though he was a bit more aggressive. I remember him trying to unbalance me really vigorously, before jumping guard. Almost immediately he attempts a flower sweep but he doesn't block my arm, so I post with it. He's unable to capitalise immediately and after a little more of me trying unsuccessfully to pop his guard open he attempts a triangle.

I didn't actually see it coming, but dove into it all the same, getting on the angle I needed to defend. He counters right away with an omoplata attempt, but I based out and didn't let him flatten me. I squared up with him and he slaps on another triangle. This attempt is much tighter and even though I didn't really feel threatened, there was a marked increase in pressure. All the same, I'm able to get my arm wrapped around his leg.

He attempts another omoplata but I block it - this time he's not able to pull me off balance. I'm now in his closed guard and he's blocking one of my arms. I have no idea what the time is but started feeling like I had better do something. I reach forward, get a crossface and attempt an ezequiel.

I manage to catch him unprepared, and lock it in. He's really fighting it, and tries to get his legs over my face to armbar me, but I keep my face down and it's over quite soon afterwards.

Result: Win via Submission (Ezequiel).

I still felt pretty fresh after this match. Little bit drained but nothing I couldn't deal with. I'm in the finals now, against the same guy from my first match. I decided that it would be a bad idea to drastically change the way I play for the finals.

Match 3: Pena Division, Finals v. Cha Minha from Action Reaction Jiu-Jitsu

Note: I'm using video of the match to write this portion of the blog post. If I didn't, I promise it would make for very unsatisfying reading.

Because of the stagnant nature of our last match, I was not that concerned about playing the same guy again, because he wouldn't have had that much of a chance to know about my game, beyond: A) I'm reasonably strong for my weight, B) I'm hard to submit and C) I have good stamina. He looked like he had one awesome pep talk before the match started though, because he walked up bursting with energy and ready to play.

He started the match by really keeping his distance though, and I was following him around the mat. After a few attempts I get him to grab my sleeve and he jumps guard. He's not able to get closed guard, as I immediately drop to combat base and overhook one of his legs. He has his other leg trying to set up a De La Riva guard but I don't let him get on the angle.

He sets up a triangle, but I don't let him close his legs and try to push my knee over his leg to pass his guard. He doesn't let me, and tries to sweep but I don't lose my balance. He then tries to set up something to do with my lapels, I get an arm under his legs and try to pass under, and he changes his angle to maintain his position. I'm now in a position where I could maybe attempt a double under pass, but his body language and posture suggest he's prepared for that, so I sit tight.

He moves to halfguard and I try to flatten him out but he does a great job of keeping his knee on my chest to push me away. Suddenly though, he pulls me forward and when I go to post my arm, he gets the underhook he needs. I was pretty impressed by this, it was so sneaky I should like to appropriate it for my own game :)

I balance out but he's shifting me off him. I get a whizzer but too late, he's on his feet and pulls me off mine, securing a takedown and 2 points. Now he's in side control (but no extra points because there was no guard pass) and I know I have to reset this position. He starts setting up a kneeride. I roll away to show him my back. He goes for it and I block his hooks and get him off me.

We're back to standing, and he's looking a little wary of reengaging. The ref has a word with us, I'm not completely sure but I think it was a warning for stalling. He grips up and pulls me into his open guard. I think he was trying to armbar me. That didn't work and he attempts another triangle. This felt painfully familiar, right down to me trying the same lapel choke.

I went to stack him right away this time and have him pretty well folded. I could feel the triangle wasn't all that tight and he lets go after a little while. I try to push his leg off my head to pass, but he defends that by rolling to upside down guard. I trap his legs before he can create some distance, but he pushes me away, continuing his roll and I'm in his halfguard again.

I keep trying to roll him over but he's defending everything I throw at him and rolling every which way. My break comes when he turtles with me in side-back control. I stick my knee in between his arm and leg. I wasn't intending for this to be bait of any kind, but he changes tack, faces me and tries to shoot for a double leg.

I sprawl with an overhook and underhook. I move my underhook to grab his cross lapel, and as I get my grip he suddenly stands. I get dragged up with him but I don't lose my grip. He sits down, pulling me into halfguard and I attempt a loop choke. My balance is too poor and I can't finish it, but I still have the lapel grip. I'm trying to push his leg down to pass into mount, when I feel him tapping. I let go in shock more than anything else, I honestly didn't think the choke was all that tight.

Result: Win via Submission (some kind of lapel choke).

This match over and my division done, it was now time for the absolute.

Match 4: Absolute Round 1, v. Kim Hyeop, from Action Reaction Jiu-Jitsu

I was aware before the match started that my opponent was actually in the division below mine. Not that this made the match any easier for me. He started by jumping guard, then trying to triangle me. He never got it tightly set, and I was always on the wrong angle for him to finish. He didn't give up on it though, which made me wonder if I was in for another long haul.

This time my immediate response to the triangle was to just base and start stacking. After a little bit, his legs pop open and I lurch forward into halfguard. He tries to unbalance me but I am able to keep steady. After a little work I manage to get a crossface. He knows the ezequiel is coming and gets a palm out to block the choke, but I find some space anyhow and lock it in.

Result: Win via Submission (Ezequiel).

After this match, a few minutes pass before I am told who my next opponent is: at a rough guess I would put him at 85 kilos (low estimate). He's pretty well built, and I know I'm in for a rough time.

Edit: It appears he was registered as a Pesadissimo, but for this competition, anyone above 88.3 kilos went into that division, so he's at least a Pesado.

Match 5: Absolute Round 2, v. Park Jeonggyo, from Jeongsim Jiu-Jitsu

The match started inauspiciously for me: I got pretty well beasted into a takedown, and in the process I jammed my toe into the mat. At the time it didn't bother me beyond the initial discomfort, so I put it out of my mind. I went to pull halfguard and got a lockdown which he was not able to break.

He then went for a head-arm choke, but that didn't work so he tried to kimura me a couple of times. The whole time I'm trying to push his knee down and pull guard, but his leg was fairly massive and I had no success on that front. At some point I'm facing him, in kind of a really loose halfguard: one leg is around him and my other foot is stuck hooking his leg.

What he does next is to grab my lapel and stand up. I grab on, close my guard as he's standing and try to ezequiel him, while he's carrying me. That doesn't work and he posts his hand on my face and pushes me away from him. He pops my legs open and tries to pass but I get my halfguard back and stop his advance.

I spent the remainder of the match getting shut down and smothered. I couldn't get him off, he closed off all angles for my attacks and that was pretty much all she wrote. He did get called for stalling if I remember correctly, but in the end it didn't matter.

Result: Loss via Points. Me: 0 points. Jeong Gyo: 2 points. I'm not sure if he had any advantages, because I don't remember being really threatened by a submission attempt.

Post-Competition

After my absolute match, my toe started to bother me a bit more. I went to the first aid booth and they gave me some kind of cooling spray. When I used it, I couldn't feel anything happening, which was a source of some concern to me. But I didn't feel any real pain. I checked out a merchandise stall and picked up some dvds, before heading back inside.

I chatted with a bunch of people, including all the guys I competed against. Everybody was so cool, it really was awesome. I got a bunch of invites to train the next time I come back to Korea, which I completely intend to do: I really like this place!

There was quite a massive haul from sponsored gifts, including a whole bunch of gis. These were all given away as part of a lottery. Doo Hyeon was very kind in coming over to tell me what my number was in Korean and I kept my ears open. I missed out on winning a free gi, but there were more prizes besides, and my number was eventually called!

I went to the front and they gave me a voucher that I could use at the store of the guys outside with the merchandise stall. However, since I was flying off, they let me use it immediately. I picked up a very nice Atama longsleeve rashguard with my voucher.

After everything was done, medals all handed out and photos taken, I made my way off - but not before a whole bunch of people came to wish me well. I was really blown away by how good everyone was. I usually have great experiences thanks to Jiu-Jitsu but this ranks among the best. There was no hint of poor sportsmanship to be seen, and everyone I met was very welcoming.

Thanks to my super awesome and beautiful wife, who came all the way to support me, video my matches and refill my water bottle.

Thanks to Marc Lee, for putting on a great competition and taking awesome care of everyone. Thanks to Doo Hyeon, and the De La Riva team, for your kindness and hospitality. I hope to train with you all again soon.

Thanks to John Newton, for writing the song "Amazing Grace" - by my third match, I was feeling the effects of an adrenaline dump, and this song was pretty much the only thing keeping me in the game mentally.

Thanks to Jesus Christ: my God and my king, my shield and my reward, my strength and my song.

ANNYEONGHASEYO!

Just submitted my registration for the Korean National BJJ Open, scheduled for June 13. Hope to see other SEABJJ players there. Later!

NICOLAS GREGORIADES SEMINAR AND OTHER GOODNESS @ BANGKOK BJJ

I was in Thailand just around the CNY break to go hang out at Bangkok BJJ and attend a seminar put on by Roger Gracie black belt, Nicolas Gregoriades. I stayed at the Golden Palace Hotel, I really like that place. Super location, great restaurant, very friendly staff and a BJJ/CMD gym. What more need be said?

The seminar was for me an incredible experience. Not only is Nicolas a very knowledgeable BJJ player, he's also a really nice guy. Very laid back and chill, with a super smooth game. He talked us through some concepts and how we could apply them to our Jiu-Jitsu. A lot of what he said was particularly - is the word "reassuring"? - for me, as it reinforced much of how I already approached my training.

He also shared some great bodyweight exercises with us: awesome variations on Fizfit exercises, which are currently making the rounds and becoming very popular in the studio. Very popular indeed, particularly the leopards. I have yet to unleash the maggots but I'm looking forward to it.

When we got done, as soon as we got done actually, I had to run to catch my taxi back to the airport, but Nicolas was cool enough to roll with me before anyone else. Like I said, super smooth game. Some photos and hugs later, I was back on the highway out of the city.

This trip definitely ranks among my favourite experiences in martial arts. It was a total blast hanging out with Adam and Jem. As usual it was worth the trip to Thailand just to catch up, and as usual, I didn't stay half as long as I would have liked to.

I also really enjoyed meeting some more of the regulars at the gym. Three in particular, Lorne, Peter and Martin were excellent training partners. Thanks also to Amps, who was cool enough to bring me around town while I was searching for boxing gear - and also help me look for Thai hip hop cds.

I'm really looking forward to the next time I get to roll at Bangkok BJJ, it's a totally beautiful place. I can really see the love that went into planning the gym out and it has a very cool atmosphere. I was sitting there just trying to soak up as much as I could in the time I had.

If I have any regrets, they would be not getting to roll with Sebastien and Luke, as they weren't able to be there. Ah well. Next time!

THINGS THAT I LEARNED IN 2009

I've just finished my first year (officially, anyway) of full-time coaching. It's been a really unforgettable year. It seems like just a few days ago that I was stressing about pre-launch problems, and now I'm getting ready to go unwind and prepare for the coming year. It was definitely a year of self-discovery and I learned so much more than I would have thought possible.

I learned that God is good. Actually I already knew that, but 2009 just completely reinforced that for me.

I learned that people skills are actually pretty important. Who knew?

I learned that it's much harder to hide dirt, hair and dead bugs on lighter-coloured mats than darker ones.

I learned that isolation doesn't have to mean stagnation. If you want to improve, find a way or go do something else.

I learned that running a business with your wife can be really fun.

I learned that friendships and relationships should be prioritised far, far above who can tap who out. Actually I already knew that too, but 2009 drove it home.

I learned that eye infections really, really suck.

I learned that it's easy to create a fun, ego-free atmosphere... but only if that's what you actually want, deep down.

I learned that hypocrisy is not worth your anger. But it is worth your pity.

I learned that running a martial arts/fitness business by yourself is much, much more demanding (mentally, emotionally and physically), involved and scary than the mere sum of its parts would make it seem. Which leads me to the next point...

I learned that God is very, very good.

Finally...

I learned that you may or may not be able to go home again, but if the people there were worth your fond memories in the first place, they'll still be worth it when you visit.

4 YEARS IN

Celebrated my 4th year anniversary of the day I started BJJ 4 days ago. I say "celebrated" but really, that should read more like, "completely forgot until last night when a CMD client asked me how long I'd been training".

It feels a bit weird, me typing this, like I'm moving my fingers for the sake of doing so and little else. It's really interesting for me to go back and read my old posts. Nostalgia and memory lane and such. Doesn't do anything to make me want to write new ones. Got a lot to say and nothing I feel compelled to blog about. Except this, I suppose it's good for future reference. Ah well.

Teaching has likely been one of the best things to ever happen to my BJJ. And as it turns out, I've got everything I need to work on what I need to work on. Which is nice.

Still enjoying training, still loving Jiu-Jitsu.

NOTE TO SELF

From this link. Emphasis mine.

I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have the opportunity to train with a lot of different people and to compete a lot, but honestly what I try to do and What I really believe helps me the most is that I try to break Jiu-Jitsu down to a fundamental level and really work to understand what determines success and failure, kind of on a body mechanics level, to really understand that there are correct and incorrect ways to do things.

There are plenty of reasons that people have success with a given technique or a given strategy, yet often times they are succeeding in spite of doing things improperly. I know I was. You can win a match and still have done 10 things wrong. Maybe you’re the vastly superior athlete or maybe the other guy was hung over…or you could do almost everything right and still lose. In any event, the idea is that if you can get down to a fundamental level of body mechanics and understanding, you can kind of distill your Jiu-Jitsu down to something that’s very direct, very simple, allowing you to be able to operate on a higher level of efficiency in many, many positions, all positions really, instead of just drilling just one series or just a couple series of moves and becoming very strong [in that particular area] while neglecting other areas.

Many guys I know, they’re very tough at their specific areas. Like so-and-so has a great De La Riva guard; they can use this sweep to this sweep to this sweep, and they know that series in and out, but if you can drag them out of that series, they’re far less dangerous because their Jiu-Jitsu knowledge is more superficial. On a more fundamental level their movement as a whole might not be great. Rather than focusing on specific techniques, I feel what’s been able to help me and my students succeed pretty rapidly has really been trying to focus on how to move rather than a series of techniques…I’ve noticed a massive change for the positive.

-Ryan Hall

MY TURN TO FIND OUT

So I know this isn't a particularly original revelation - I've heard lots of guys talk about how they like to play Jiu-Jitsu without submissions, or just catch and release. But over the last couple of months I've come to understand that Jiu-Jitsu really is arte suave - the "gentle art" - and it's more important than, oh, say, winning.

SO, UH...

It's been business as usual for the past two weeks or so, apart from my not doing any competition training - which is fine, it's still Jiu-Jitsu and that's all good. Since the Pan Asians in May I find I've been really branching out and playing with all-new stuff on a regular basis. That's really fun in and of itself but the fact that I'm not preoccupied with a tournament looming on the horizon means I can really let go and play.

Which is not to say I'm happy I'm not going to Bangkok. I was really looking forward to not just the challenge, but seeing a lot of friends, and I'll not be sad to see the end of September. I notice Isaac's name isn't on the list anymore either, which is a bit of a bummer as since I wouldn't be there, he was my pick to win my division.

What else is new...oh, I keep getting knocks on my bad eye. Murphy's law has really zoomed in on that one, it's taken three hits in the last week from relatively freakish accidents. My glasses slipped in my hands as I put them on, poking me in the eye. I go to defend a punch that takes a weird curve and the velcro in my glove scrapes the eyeball. Most recently I was playing no-gi and when I was defending against a stack I manage to knee myself in the eye. Thank God for medicated eyedrops.

Attendance in the CMD classes has been picking up, which is pretty exciting, and I'm looking to get the BJJ program some advertising, so we'll see how that plays out.

MINDFULNESS VS. "NO-MIND"

For the lack of a better way to say it, this is something I've been trying to figure out for myself. When you play BJJ, do you stay present and mindful of yourself and the situation, or do you just go all zen, blank out and just do whatever? I can see both sides of the argument having good points. It gets a bit confusing for me, though, as each side has some really credible support.

For example, Saulo Ribeiro is one of those who advocate the no-mind-let-your-body-know-what-it-knows-to-do style of rolling. He quotes Rickson(?) by saying "if you think, you are late. If you are late, you use strength. If you use strength, you get tired. If you get tired, you die." (source: Jiu-Jitsu University - IMHO a freaking incredible resource that was worth every cent!) That says it all so I won't try to elaborate.

On the other hand, Roger Gracie prefers to stay present and think his way through matches. To paraphrase him, "it's like chess. You've got to think. If you don't use your brain, you're going to lose" (source: Arte Suave vol. 1). It's really not as though you could argue with the man, based on his results. It is of course valid to note, though, not everyone is 6 foot 4, trains with a number of the greatest sport BJJ players alive, is super-strong, and has freakish Cobrinha-level technical ability - all at once.

For myself, I've noticed big results when I don't actively try to think my way through things. In rolling in the gym, or in competition matches, some of the best stuff I've ever done came in the absence of conscious thought. And on the other side, when I lose in competition, it's because I tried to use my head and work stuff out - while my opponent is already acting.

Which is not to discount engaging the mind and applying problem-solving skills to BJJ. I get a big kick anytime I'm able to have a game plan when I roll,and then implement what I can and adapt on the fly. For me, it feels really awesome if I can go in with an actual strategy. Just being able to read the situation and use tactics to get by is something I find amazing. It doesn't happen all the time, but when it does, it's really quite cool. This must be how rock climbers feel.

BLARGH

I'm withdrawing from the Bangkok Competition in September. I'm not injured, and I didn't give up competing - there's some stuff that has to take priority over this trip. That's just how it is.

Big ups and all the best to everyone who's still in. Especially to all my friends over there in Bangkok BJJ and also the Malaysian contingent. Stay safe, don't get hurt, and have fun!

And bringing some metal home with you would also be nice :)

RODNEY KING SEMINAR @ KDTA

The weekend is over and with it, the latest Rodney King seminar at KDT. I had a tremendous time as usual, it was a lot of fun to hang out with everyone from the gym again. It was also good to meet James Woodfield-Jones, who is a new CMD trainer from Perth. Rodney was back and brought with him some really top-notch material for BJJ, CMD and MMA training. Some highlights for me included:

*Rodney's Combat Intelligent Athlete (CIA) module, which is a tool to help with preparation for self-defense. He covered some very interesting insights on self-defense and how these situations affect you physiologically.
*Of course, getting to hang out with Adam. Bummer that I couldn't train with him but there'll be time for that. Oh yes. Time there will be.
*James and (belatedly) Adam got promoted to Trainer! Congratulations, guys!
*Rodney's BJJ material. He covered some guard passing stuff which he actually showed before, but I seriously appreciated this second round. Last time there was a lot of stuff to go over and I wasn't able to get everything down on paper. This time though, I think I could understand a lot more of it, having had months to let it sit. Plus he showed some cool nuances to the techniques which were very cool.
*Kon and Naresh from Kreation BJJ in Singapore made the trip up and it was really cool to see them there.

I appreciate every opportunity to go to KDT, it's just that being such a huge seminar, it really made it quite the occasion. I'm a bit bummed that it's all over (a feeling reminiscent of the post-holiday blues, actually), but there's the seminar at Studio 23 coming up, and I definitely have a load of stuff to play with until the next seminar. It should be another awesome time and I'm so looking forward to it!

EXQUISITE TORTURE...

...is being in a room full of BJJ people and NOT BEING ABLE TO ROLL BECAUSE OF YOUR EYE. Almost all the KDT regulars were there at open mats. I especially wanted to train with Rich, who I've only recently met but who is a great (and really strong and skilled) guy. The salt in this wound was that Adam was also in town for Rodney's seminar and I couldn't roll with him. At least I get to train with him in Bangkok, but that's a month away and for right now it's really killing me.

At least the eye is doing much better now and I will hopefully be able to be on the mats (as opposed to sitting at the side with a notebook) when Rodney is over at Studio 23 in a few days' time.

*SIGH*

THIS COULD HAVE BEEN TIMED BETTER, IS ALL

About 2 weeks ago I reaggravated the injury in my left eye. It wasn't so bad immediately, but a few days later when I woke up it started to feel like someone was scraping my eyeball with sandpaper. To make things even more fun, I could see a white dot on my iris. A trip to the doctor confirmed that not only did I have corneal scarring, the injury was infected. Extreme light sensitivity, sporadic pain and it honestly didn't help that I was so insistent on touching my eye. The doctor gave me some medicated eyedrops and away I went.

It's now much better, no more real pain, though there still is some irritation, which was made worse by the onset of the haze. There's nothing like waking up and smelling the faint scent of burning to start the day on the wrong foot. The odd thing is though, I started to notice that (I have required glasses to correct shortsightedness in both eyes since I was a teenager) I could clearly make out shapes and lines with my injured eye.

After the initial confusion, I went to the doctor again and was told that the scarring changed the shape of my eye. So it seems that me getting injured actually helped my vision(!!). Except, of course, for the fact that all my prescription glasses now have to be changed, including a really cool pair of sunglasses I just had made. Plus it appears that I'm now farsighted in the left eye, as things really up close are a bit blurry. Oh well, makes things more interesting, I suppose.

Anyway, I'm flying to KL tomorrow for the weekend, as Rodney King is in town for seminars at KDT. What's more, he'll be coming to Kuching for a seminar at where else, but Studio 23! I'm looking forward to seeing everyone in KL, and a fairly relaxing time since I obviously can't do any standup for the moment. Here we go!

SO. MUCH. ENVY.

On the latest Fightworks Podcast, they've got Andrew Smith from U.S. Grappling on the show. He was talking about his most recent tournament, a submissions-only, NO TIME LIMIT event. In his words, "if a match goes a couple of hours, it goes a couple of hours". Smith goes on to add "almost all the competitors walk away extremely happy with the outcome, because nobody can complain about the outcome".

Now, fair enough, maybe I'm biased. But GREAT CAESAR'S GHOST, WE NEED THESE EVENTS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA.

Anyway, it's also a really good episode. I think so, anyway. Ryan Hall is on it. So, yeah. U. S. Grappling = two thumbs up!

HERE WE GO AGAIN

Online registration for the 2009 Thailand BJJ Open is now live. I've got myself down with lots of time to spare to get a free rashguard out of it! I thought I was early enough last year to snag one but I suppose not. Ah well.

I see loads of familiar names on the list already, and I'm looking forward to a great time! I'm planning to take some time off to stay in Bangkok after the competition, so I'll also be looking to do the no-gi competition.

It'll be my first experience competing without a gi and frankly I have no idea what to expect (not to mention, going by the experience chart, I'm supposed to be in the advanced category, hah). It's all good though, at least I'll finally get to see what it's all about.

Right now I'm the only one on the list from Malaysia. Come on you slackers! ;)