Truth.
4th stripe on the blue today. (Taken with instagram)
Marquette University, my alma mater, who couldn’t sink a basket against Florida today lost in the sweet 16. However, on the bright side, my teacher, who has nicknamed me Pacquiao, because I’m the only Filipino guy in class with a beard and moppy hair, gave me my 4th stripe on my blue belt today. :) Pretty pumped and it stings less with my school losing in the Big Dance
I know that in the grand scheme of things getting a stripe, especially on a blue belt, is not really a lot. However, I’ve heard from many belts, especially the ones already at purple and up, that they all thought that purple was the toughest to get, and I agree. I think it takes some fortitude and will to keep coming as a blue belt, no matter how frustrating it may be. After blue, its just a matter of mat time, continuing to tweak your game, etc. I guess my greatest hope is that either I get my purple before the supposed end of the world in December 2012 OR that the end of the world doesn’t happen so that I can keep training and one day get my purple. Haha.
I’ve been working a lot on my half guard game… trying to desperately implement Terra’s Guard, and have had relative success against guys my size and smaller, however, against bigger guys I’ve been doing more arm drag stuff as I can’t for the life of me tornado sweep big dudes. My bible these past 6 months has been Caio’s DVD and its truly helped my game. He shows some slick transitions into 50/50 that I’ve been drilling as well.
My knee is I would say at about 90-95%, but… I am very tentative using it as I don’t want to reaggravate my injury. The worst thing for me is having to sit on the sideline. I’m just barely getting back to competition weight. Pre injury I was competing at 165. Getting injured, feeling sorry for myself, my Mom visiting for the holidays and cooking DELICIOUS food, all contributed to me putting on an embarrassing amount of weight. I think I was at 195 at one point. I’m down to 176 now and just need to keep eating healthy.
With that said, I’d like to close out the last leg of my blue to purple with more competitions. I’ve won some local tourneys, but want to really challenge myself and maybe travel to NY or CA to do an IBJJF run tourney. IF all else fails I can do the Chicago Winter Open in a few months. I’d like to continue working on my half guard, my transitions in open guard, my takedowns… I would like to set aside some time to drill more. Heavily contemplating buying a grappling dummy to just get some reps in while I’m home.
Anyway, November 2012 will mean 4 years on the mats for me. I’m definitely hoping for 4 and many more after that (please be wrong Mayan calendar).
Malfacine! I can’t tap white belts as fast as he taps this brown. Lots of slick things happening in a very short period of time.
This guy is beastly!! So quick. I love his matches with Caio.
(Source: bjjfights.com)
Beneil Dariush was a beast at the San Diego 2012 ADCC Pro Gi Trials today. Lost controversially to Kron. But he plays a guard similar to what I do. Very cool.
RESPECT the cross collar choke from closed guard…
Just saw Xande Ribeiro do this to Mike Fowler at ADCC San Diego Pro Trials. Amazing. One of the first moves you learn as a white belt…
A lesson on how to win and lose..Much RESPECT.
WPJJ Trials Gramado: Bruno Frazatto vs. Isaque Paiva (by graciemag)
Paiva was (rightly) DQ’d for leaving the competition area. Frazatto declined and gave him the win.
Respect to Frazatto for this. Could’ve easily just walked away with the win AND the prize money AND the trip to Abu Dhabi. Instead he did the right thing. Rare to see these days and should be commended!
Probably the best berimbolo explanation on YouTube right now. Really good details about what to do with your far non hooking hand as well as using your feet as hooks.
One of the funniest things I’ve seen while rolling on the mats… is a white belt that rolls with rec specs. No joke. I know people that grapple with contacts or wear glasses and then take them off when they spar, but this… this was a first. Rec specs. Straight up like James Worthy, one of the most famous rec spec wearers of sports. No joke.
God I love BJJ.
