Looking Back on 2 Years at CR

With some of the current CR crew down at Tropa Thai. photo by D. Asche

This past weekend marked a milestone in Nicole and I's time in Rio---two years in the Ciudade Marvelosa! For this weeks post I am going to look back and describe what it has been like to work here at Connection Rio, the world's first true BJJ hostel.

Shadow boxing after training.

First and foremost I have to talk about all the great people that have come and stayed at Connection Rio. Over 1000 juijiteiros have come down to the cradle of jiujitsu to train and experience the BJJ lifestyle with us. One thing that stands out is that there is no particular mold that BJJ practitioners fit into. We have had guests ranging from middle aged white belts with little to no experience to seasoned blackbelt competitors in their young 20's. Our BJJ hostel literally brings people together from all walks of life, and from all corners of the world. I have people I am happy to call friends in multiple countries. Here is just a quick list of only SOME of the countries where I have friends and training partners, whom I otherwise would not have met if it weren't for CR. The UK, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Malaysia, Jordan, Australia, Thailand, Finland, Germany, Chile, Columbia, Mexico, The U.S.A, Canada, Russia, Korea, Poland, and Bahrain. Not only have I had a chance to get to know these people, but I have also had the privilege to see many peoples jiujitsu grow and dreams get realized. I've heard the phrase (or something similar) many times- "I never thought I would actually be in Rio" or "I've always dreamed/wanted to come down to train". I know these phrases first hand because I myself said something similar my first time in Rio back in 2010. For me that's the greatest part of working for CR, helping people to enjoy their time in Rio.

Besides just the awesome people, let me tell you about the amazing training partners I have had living and working at a BJJ hostel. We have mats here at CR, and I have put a ton of time drilling, rolling, discussing the finer points of technique on them. I have had the "lightbulb" moment with multiple techniques from having a previously unknown detail revealed during a session on our mats. There has not been one person come through that has not been willing to kick off their shoes and step on the mat to help another guest figure out a position. With having so many people from so man
y different BJJ lineages nearly ever person can offer a different insight to training. There aren't to many places in the world where you can lay mats down under a palm tree and drill or roll with an amazing view of a mountain above you. If that isn't the definition of paradise, I don't know what is. Through CR I have trained with legends such as Ze Mario Sperry, Felipe Costa, Braga Neto, and Babalu---and that's just here on the mats of CR! I have surfed (unsuccessfully) with Coral Belt Master Silvio Behring, and toured Rio's Favela's with the elite BOPE-- there is NOWHERE else this would have happened. Not to mention I have stepped onto some of the most revered mats in the world. I've rolled at De La Riva, Carlson Gracie's, BTT, Nova Uniao, X-gym, Gracie Barra Matrix, Rio Fighters, RFT, Gordo's, and academia Strauch and this is just off the top of my head. All gyms and instructors have welcomed me and the other members of CR openly as if we had been training there since day one.

After my UD victory at MFL 4. Big thank you to my
sponsores Connection Rio and Senki Kimonos.
photo by D. Asche

Lastly I want to mention how working/living at CR has created a change in my lifestyle. We like to say Connection Rio is a BJJ Hostel, because its about more than just  accommodation. It is about embracing the BJJ Lifestyle. Time spent both on and of the mat is about enjoying life's journey and continually learning and growing on a personal level. Whether its longboarding through the city beach, swimming in the ocean, or cutting a coconut off the tree and watching the wind blowing through trees on Pedra de Gavea I have the opportunity to tune out any stress and solely focus on the present beauty of life. To be able to wake up, enjoy some fresh fruit and coffee and then work on what I love doing is such an amazing thing. Some people search their whole lives for this, and I am thankful that I am here experiencing it now. Every day here is at CR is a chance to learn something new about myself, the arte sauve, and about life---what more can a person ask for?

Be like water- Relearning the water cycle of training.

Training stand up. photo by Cristiano Justinio

There was a thunderous crack and then bright lights of fireworks fading into black. Everything seems muffled for a minute, everything feels rubbery and stuck in mud. In the distance I see a light coming towards me, bigger and bigger. Finally I'm back to reality in the cage. My sparring partner looks at me unsure of if I am going down after the headkick landed flush. I smile, clap my hands and then land a right straight down the pipe, following it up with a hook and another straight before shooting a double, lifting him off the mat, and finishing the takedown. The rest of the round is a flurry of strikes, scrambles, and working to dominate each other.  Milton yells  out we have 10 seconds left and I quickly move to take knee on belly and finish the round landing strikes.

I am fighting again on Team Nogueira TV December 4th, and I am in the middle of my training camp. Training is going well, and as you can see from the above training is hard. The week before a fight, Milton put the guys with fights through a grueling conditioning circuit after sparring, which pushes us to the brink mentally. But that's what it is all about, breaking you down and building you up again stronger. Come fight time, all the hard work is done and the fight is the easiest part  (and the funnest as well).

Post nogi mma training.

The above part is from a half finished blog from a week ago. It is one of several unfinished blog entries I have been struggling to write. I have been suffering from a MASSIVE case of writers block---scratch that, more like an complete lack of creativity and rhythm.  Unfortunately I felt like this lack of rhythm and creativity carry over to my training. While I have been working hard, always on the grind and having good sessions I have just felt in a funk. I am a huge fan of Bruce Lee, one of my favorite quotes of his is the following:

  “You must be shapeless, formless, like water. When you pour water in a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water in a bottle, it becomes the bottle. When you pour water in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can drip and it can crash. Become like water my friend.” 

See the issue I was facing was it felt like there was no water. So while I've been getting told I'm looking good and having good training sessions, I have been feeling dry. Day after day of going in and doing "good" but feeling like your just taking ass whoopings is frustrating, in fact for me it boarders on heartbreaking. I'd lost sleep, my appetite, focus and my normally joking personality over it.  Overall I've probably been a pretty miserable person to be around (sorry Nicole)

BUT I had a revelation this week. While I have been feeling dry, I've been missing things. I barely noticed that I managed to effortlessly transition to a bicep slicer off a scramble; that perfectly timed straight dart to a counter double, well it ever happened, etc. See, I was only thinking of being like water in terms of a liquid, I completely forgot that water exists both as a solid and as a gas (dropping some science on you this week). So that while I felt completely dry and lacking of fluidity, there was still water there, it may have seemed to have disappeared, it had changed states, evaporating but still ever present. With this realization, and as happens when it is really dry, it began to rain; and when it rains it pours. This weeks training I hit my stride. My transitions felt good, submissions seemed to open up out of nowhere, and I began reading things on the feet much better. The biggest thing is if something wasn't working for me, I changed my form, molding to the situation and overcoming it. I have realized even if it feels like there is no water, it is ever present, you just have to recognize and discover what state its in.

Family in Rio and Competing in RISC

It's been awhile since my last blog, not because I haven't been doing much, but rather I have been on the go for the last few weeks and this is the first time I have had a chance to sit and type up some of the happenings here in Rio. Between family visiting, competing, and the UFC it's been a great few weeks here.

First my dad, mom, and aunt arrived in Rio for close to two weeks. It had been close to two years since I last saw them and it's hard to put into words how great it was to have them here. In addition to my normal training schedule, having them here gave me a chance to enjoy some more of the touristy parts of Rio. We spent an afternoon checking out the Lapa Arches, the Serlarone steps, and Santa Teresa. For those who don't know, Santa Teresa is a more Bohemian area of the city, filled with great restaurants, bars, and art galleries. We also ate lunch and hiked the grounds of Parque de Lage, a huge mansion in part of the Tijuca National Forest. We even made a trip to Rio's Jockey Club and laid a few bets on some of the horse races, my dad was able to give me some good pointers on picking some winners.


During my families trip to Rio I decided to compete in the Rio International Submission Cup, which is a submission grappling tournament held every year in Rio. The competition has a unique set of rules blending together luta livre esportiva and BJJ. Competitors where penalized for pulling guard and there were no advantages, but at lower belt levels all other standard ibjjf rules applied. Since my family was here and I was eating MASSIVE quantities of food I went up from lightweight to middleweight because there was no way I was going to keep my weight down. When the tournament rolled around I had 16 guys from various BJJ and Luta Livre academies in my bracket. In my first match I submitted my opponent in around 4 minutes with an arm triangle. My second opponent, a short stocky guy, spent most of the match battling in halfguard after I took him down. I managed and secure a pass later in the match and won the fight 5-0. In my semifinals match I battled a tough guy from Soul Fighters. There were a few fast scrambles, and my opponent was attacking for submissions. I kept up my pressure and working to pass. He started to slow down and I kept hammering the pace. In the last minute and I half I broke the match open and won 9-0. I was able to watch the guy I had in the finals and watched over and over on how he tied up with his opponent on his feet and made a mental note of it. When the match started, he went to tie up, but I was already countering his tie and shooting in on a single leg. I finished the takedown with a lift and trip, and landed outside of his guard. When he tried to hip escape and reguard I locked in an anaconda choke, made the adjustments Milton was telling me, and got the submission in 40 seconds. I was pretty pumped up after the win, I expected to win, but having my team, coaches, and family there (not to mention finishing the finals with the submission that Milton is accredited with mastering) really made it special.

So it came time for the medal awards, I get up on the podium with the other competitors and Milton put the gold medal on my neck and I look up for the photos. I glance back down at Milton who was still standing there now with a purple belt in his hands! I was completely and totally shocked. It was an amazing moment for me to have him award me with my purple belt, especially with having my family there to witness it. There have been, and continue to be a ton of people who have helped me so far on my journey. First I would like to thank Milton Vieira, who has shown me keys to adopting his unique and technical game of grappling, and who has welcomed me with open arms into his academy Rio Fighters. Next I would like to thank Dennis Asche, who has not only had the biggest influence on my kimono game, but if he hadn't started Connection Rio I most likely would have never ventured to Brazil in 2010--the trip that showed me what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I have been fortunate to have other great instructors who have helped me embrace BJJ, Clint Crabtree of GRBJJ, Jim Burchfield, and Jason Fox all come to mind. I wouldn't have made the journey without great training partners, which thanks to CR I have had a near endless supply, Mike Tlalka, Christian Pierce, Andrew Morse and Nabas are a few of the standout; of course all thank you to all my teamates as Rio Fighters. Finally I would like to thank Senki Kimonos, who has never left in want for quality kimonos, shorts, or rashguards, without there support I would be much worse for wear training gear wise (not to mention not as stylish) on the mats.

As I said above this last few weeks have been a busy, so much so it's difficult to get it all into one blog. So for my next blog I will be talking  about watching UFC 179 live and some of my experiences of UFC fight week in Rio.

The Theory of Evolution

After a great training session at Rio Fighters.

It's a breezy lazy Sunday here in Rio. Right now I am lazily rocking in a hammock in the CR garden listening to music and and reflecting on this past week. Besides writing up this blog todays only major task is to go to one of the local restaurant/bar and listen to some reggae. Relaxing days like this are what recharges me for the upcoming grind of training.

As I have been thinking about my training this week a saying that is on the wall of where I trained boxing in Michigan (Trigger Boxing) keeps coming to mind--It's not the strongest that survives, but the most adaptable. In order to succeed the world of bjj/mma a person needs to constantly evolve into the best possible version of themselves. This evolution and adaptation is what will carry you through an unforeseen situation and to new heights.

Just like there is in the biological sense, I believe there are two types of evolution in marital art-- Macro (large scale) and Micro (small scale). When I am thinking of the macro level I think along the lines of how your overall game evolves over time. It's the adding in of new techniques and theories that will transform and bring you to another level. A prime example is the work I have been putting on on refining my BJJ. I have been working on adding new passes into my top game and fine tuning the details of some of the passes I have been familiar with. The new techniques are making me approach positions with a different mentality that opens my game. Where I may have before been content to solely secure a dominate position or stopped thinking offensively, I now approach with the intent of constantly moving to a more dominate position and getting the finish. Speaking of evolution on a large scale, I am now even sometimes committing to playing guard. I even went so far as to choose working from guard with a 100 kilo 4th degree black belt while at the CR academy visit to De La Riva's. My thought was if I can get used to defending passes and working escapes, sweeps, or submissions against a large stronger and more technical opponent when I go against someone my own size and strength I'll feel even more comfortable. Well, in short I spent most of the round getting pummeled, passed, and submitted by this black belt. I never said macroevolution was a quick process.

With Professor De La Riva, at the CR academy visit.

Microevolution of your game involves how you make changes in you game in a given situation. It's how you adapt to a given situation in the moment. Say during a roll your partner keeps burning you with a certain pass, what changes are you going to make in your positioning to stop or counter the pass. A great example would be from my MMA sparring this week. During the spar I noticed that after throwing an inside leg kick he would back out at the same angle and keep his hands a little low. Knowing he would do this, I took the center of the cage and walked him back. After he threw his kick, he had nowhere to back up and I was able to cut him off, land a counter, and then work a takedown off the cage. After a couple of times countering him, he adapted his game and made adjustments, now instead of backing up, he stepped in with punches, catching me good and I had to adapt to his new strategy. Sometimes in competition you can take control from the start, but other times (especially at high levels) this won't work. In these cases you can't keep trying to fit a square beg in a round hole, you have to try something new; you have to adapt.  

Closing out this weeks blog (I have to get going to listen to those irie beats), I am happy to say I am getting back into competition in the coming weeks. Next weekend I will be competing in the kimono at the SJJSAF Sul Americano Championships, and plan on competing in the Rio International Submission Cup. I am also hoping on closing out 2015 with another MMA fight. I really have the competitive drive that I had with wrestling, and I am looking forward to representing Rio Fighters, Connection Rio, Senki Kimonos, and most importantly myself in competition.

Enjoying the Process

Working for the double. photo by mma4ever.

So it's been awhile since my last blog, sorry about that. I have been having a few issues with my laptop which I believe is in its final stages of life. When it takes you well over an hour just to to start up, plug in a spare keyboard, upload, add photos, and post a blog it saps your motivation to do so. Add to that the amazing Brazilian spring and that motivation goes to zero. BUT i figured out a solution (one that didn't include me using Nicole's most prized possession, her macbook) and I am back at it. I am sure most all of you know I won my MMA debut a few weeks ago. Leading up to the fight I had trained so hard and had done visualization work twice a day everyday that when the fight came I was totally relaxed and in another place mentally. Instead of feeling like it was my first fight it felt as if it were my 100th because I had done it all before so many times in my mind. I truly cannot thank my coaches/trainers Dennis and Milton, my teammates at Rio Fighters, my sponsors Senki Kimonos and Connection Rio, and Nicole enough.

It was great to throw on my Senki Kimono and get
some excellent work in with Dennis. Photo by D. Asche

The week after my fight I trained very relaxed and enjoyed eating just about whatever sounded good. It was a great way to rejuvenate my body and mind. Over the last couple of weeks we have had many guys fight both in amateur and professional MMA bouts and we have had a great showing. Win or lose everyone is showcasing great techniques and mental toughness. I think after the month we have had a lot of people have taken notice of Rio Fighters many good things are to come. On a personal note is was great to see many of the guys who fought either show excellent takedowns or takedown defense during their fights. It is a definite reaffirmation that what I have been teaching is working and that the guys are grasping things both technically and conceptually. I got back to 2 training sessions a day this week, but the focus is more on  improving technique and enjoying training. Don't get me wrong I am training hard, but I am working on adding new skills into all areas. During my training camp it was about improving what skills I had and working towards the single goal of winning, so I wasn't working on brand new concepts and ideas. Now I can open up my game, try new things and drill new techniques. Right now is very much a "time spend in the laboratory"  trying to discover new aspects of martial arts. Included in this is a return to training in the kimono. Four of the 11 sessions I got in this week were on the mat with the kimono on. After about 8 weeks of training without a kimono the grip game felt foreign to me, and I frustratingly got my butt kicked most of the week during specific positional training. That said by the end of the week things began to click a bit more.

photo by mma4ever

As I said above I have been making sure that I have just been having fun with my training. I am trying new things and enjoying the process of making improvements. If something doesn't work or I get in a bad position/submitted, it's not a "I have to close up this weakness or avoid doing this because in a few weeks I can't make that mistake" moment but now I have time to reflect on what I did wrong and what I can do in the future. There is no immediate rush, at this point I can just enjoy the process and carry on down the path. Which in my opinion is what being a martial artist is all about.

Embracing the Grind

After a great sparring session at Rio Fighter. Looking forward
to Representing RF, Senki Kimonos, and Connection Rio in
my upcoming fight.

Closing out another relaxing Sunday afternoon here in Rio. The past few days have been rainy and cool, but today the sun finally decided to show back up. Nicole and I spent the day outdoors relaxing and reading in the CR garden area. I found an old hammock somebody had left here at CR and got it hung up between two trees in the yard. While she tanned and studied Portuguese, I gently rocked in the shade. After a grinding week of training it was a nice way to recover and get the mind (and body) set to start it all over again on Monday.

Sunday, a day to rest and relax.

Thinking about it, it is actually one of the best things about being here in Rio and training. With world class training that is extremely competitive it becomes even more important to recover in between sessions. Rio is a place where you can truly relax in between sessions, especially on the weekends where nobody is in a rush to do anything. This relaxed pace helps recharge the mind more than anything. Sitting there in the hammock today I didn't have a care in the world, all I did was lay back, look at the trees, and listen to the birds. At the end of the day you can't ask for anything better.

In wrestling there is a saying that gets used a lot, embrace the grind. Believe me in prepping for my fight nothing is more applicable than that. In fight camp you're the center of focus, teammates and coaches are there to push you and raise you to the highest possible level before your fight. The workload and volume increased greatly this week. In my morning striking trainings the number of rounds of mitt work and total volume have jumped up. Added to that, many of the rounds I hit pads I have on 2kg ankle weights on each leg. It feels like I am in mud, if I stop to think, I falter. So I very much have turn my mind off and instead react on an instinctual level. I've began to feel the slips, the counters, and the angle changes. Each training integrates a little bit more conceptually and my technique seems sharper.

Pad work with Dennis

After a shower, snack, and a quick coffee I am back at it again at Rio Fighters. I have been working on dominate grinding top control to create the openings I need to advance position and finish the fight. With the aggressive rolling style of many of the athletes there, if I make one mistake I can very easily find myself either swept or caught in a submission. Rolling against this style hasn't made me cautious or fearful to advance, but rather it has made me more alert and observant in positions. Because I may have such a short time to react I have to recognize an attack as soon as it begins and be prepared to stop or counter it. Part of the way I have been doing this is by embracing the gray areas of grappling, or rather scrambles. Rather than trying to avoid these areas I am working on them and using them to my advantage. I am using the scrambles to get ahead of their counters and remain on the offensive. If my opponent is reacting to everything I am doing then he isn't thinking about his offense. In down time (or rather lighter drill sessions in between training) I am working these positions either with a partner or alone. It's a constant practice in movement, changing angles, and recognizing opportunities to attack.

Hill sprints after training at Rio Fighters. Photo by M. Vieira

In finishing out this weeks blog I want to go back and cover something I mentioned above in greater detail---shutting off the mind. The mind can be a funny thing, at times it can build you up and at others it can tear you down. It's a great time when you wake up, the sun is shining, and your mind just tells you its a great day to train. But then on days when your tired, it's cold and rainy, and your mind tells you “I'd rather be sleeping” the struggle begins. A lot of times when things start to get rough this little voice starts speaking in the back of your head, telling you how tough things are, how you have worked hard enough, or how you can't do anymore. It's moments like that you need to turn your mind off and just power through. Why? Because the next time you reach that point (and you will) that voice will be smaller and you'll be stronger than you were the last time. Soon you'll be well past that point and then the voice will return and you have to shut it off yet again and continue on. Soon you will be on a level higher than you ever imagined. The last thing you want to do is get to that point, to hit the wall, and not continue on.

I know in my upcoming fight there will be challenges. But luckily, like I said above, I have coaches and teammates who are pushing me to new levels and most importantly teaching me to break through those walls.

Continuing Down the Path

After MMA training at Rio Fighters. photo by Joey Crisostomo.

I'm sitting down to write this blog on a sunny Sunday afternoon here in Rio. Between typing sentences I glance up at palm trees and pedra da gavea. There are birds chirping and I have reggae playing in the background. This is the bjj lifestyle. Sundays for me (and most of the house) is a day of rest. For me it's about recharging both the body and the mind. After getting in 10-12 training sessions throughout the week it is nice to relax, maybe swim in the ocean, ride your bike, grill, or just joke around with friends. This way when I start the week off with my morning workout, I'm freshly motivated and above all else I am hungry.

Sparring at Rio Fighters. Photo by D. Asche

Next month, on the 14^th of September, I will be making my MMA debut. The promotion is part of a three day combat sports festival featuring BJJ, Muay Thai, and both Pro and amateur MMA. I am in the full swing of my fightcamp and I am really pushing the pedal to the floor when it comes to my training. Throughout the week I get up early and head into Flamengo to do mitt work with Dennis. For much of my time spent striking I really took the Rocky Balboa approach—take a shot to give a shot and work for an eventual takedown. This approach, while sometimes effective, is not the best long term approach to things. With Dennis I have been working on movement, both defensively and offensively, and reaction. I'm working to punish people on the feet, and when I am ready, take it to the ground. Trust me it's still a work in progress (chasing perfection always is) but the results from the training are starting to show.

Learning new techniques an concepts at the CR in House Mario Sperry Seminar.
photo by Vito Photography.

After I finish training with Dennis I have a cup Add captionof coffee and a bite to eat then head over to Rio Fighters for the pro training. Both training and coaching there is going great. Everyday I am leaving training having learned something new. I don't mean I am constantly working some brand new technique, often times it's details on a technique I may have learned a while back but suddenly I am able to fully grasp how to do it. Or sometimes it's gaining a great conceptual knowledge of grappling and MMA. Working with Milton Vieira, who is someone who is technically sound and conceptually unorthodox, has allowed me to create a very unique ground game centered around my strengths. Adding to this was some thoughts that Master Mario Sperry gave during his seminar here at Connection Rio. Basically he stressed that while you need to have technique and flowing transitions as you go from position to position, BJJ is still a combat sport/ fighting art. Meaning that it is your job to frustrate and make your opponent uncomfortable. When they get uncomfortable they get tired, when they get tired they make mistakes, and when they make mistakes they get finished. If we are rolling and I'm grinding my shoulder (or elbows or knees), working to pressure pass, putting forearms across your throat, or whatever, I am not doing it to be a dick—I am not a mean guy-- but I am going to do whatever I can to advance position and eventually win. As it is with my striking, my ground game is a work in progress (it will always be), but I feel like I have a better sense of direction when it comes to my game.

Photo by Vito Photography.

I really couldn't ask for better coaches, teammates and friends to help me prepare for my fight. They push me, teach me, and pick me up when I stumble. They are helping me to be the best possible version of myself I can be.

I am going to stop writing now, it's time to fire up the BBQ, with my wonderful girlfirend Nicole and my many friends here at CR, enjoy some food, share some laughs, and relax; because tomorrow the grind starts up again, and I will embrace it with open arms.

Updates on Training and Filming for Comabate

So it has been a while since my last blog update, sometimes you just get busy with life and don`t get a chance to sit and write down all the details. Over the course of the month there was a big change in the house as well. A lot of old faces left and a lot of new people arrived. It`s always sad to see friends head back home, but it is also nice to know that I have life long friends all over the world. Currently there are people here at CR from Russia, U.S., U.K., Scotland, Ireland , Canada, New Zealand, Germany, France, and Sweden. Needless to say its a diverse crowd--but its also a fun one. It’s never a dull moment, and at the end of the day there is almost always an amazing or hilarious story to tell.

We are in the middle of the Rio “winter”. Basically here winter is a more rainy time of year, we will have 2-3 days that it rains and then a week to 10 days of beautiful warm sunny weather. It's not blazing hot like it is in the summertime, but it is still perfect temperatures to head to the beach, longboard, or hike. The nights here get cooler you may needc to throw on a long sleeve shirt, but for me it means a great nights sleep. Being used to feet of snow back home it's still weird to think of this as winter, but I'm not complaining one bit.

After the World Cup atmosphere died down, everything thing in the City went back to normal incredibly fast. This includes the tough and technical full time training schedule. While I still train a bit in the kimono, my main focus has switched over to MMA, or more importantly rather fighting/competing. I have been spending a lot of time outside of my normal training, working on my footwork, striking, and refining technique with Dennis. He is really helping push me to the next level. I am taking all of this great work and applying it at my training sessions at Rio Fighters. Combining the skills I have been working on with the awesome training and instruction from Milton Vieira and my training partners I have felt a huge step up in my game. Milton is actively looking for fights for me and I hope to have good news soon.

On the coaching side of things, again everything is going great! I am amazed at the progress some of the fighters have made in their wrestling game. Honestly it's almost a little scary at how well some of these guys have integrated takedowns and defense into their game. I am looking forward to watching more and more of the fighters I've been working with compete and finding success using the things I have been teaching them. On a cool note a couple of weeks ago a crew from the T.V. Channel Combate came in to film the wrestling class I teach at Rio fighters. One of the hosts of the show participated in the training as the crew filmed. One of the more hilarious moments came as the host was sweating and breathing heavily and Milton told him that it was only the warm up. I'm not going to lie it was weird seeing myself on T.V., but it was awesome too. It was one of those moments were you can see your hard work paying off. Bellow is a link to the footage check it out!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?index=1&list=UUaZY_c71TTugtIMKGlPtsmg&v=Tw9-XjU0F00&app=desktop

That's about it for this week, I just wanted to give people an update and to get back into the swing of writing up my blog, next week I'm sure I'll have more great experiences of living the dream here in Rio!

Ciudade Marvellosa-- The Marvelous City-- That`s what they call Rio, with being here for over a year and a half now experiencing great training, new things, and making new friends I can see where the nickname came from. Right now Rio is abuzz with World Cup prep. Buildings have started to hang Brazilian flags and green/gold streamers from buildings. Side walks and roads are being painted with murals the unity of all the countries coming together in Brazil for the Cup. I know there has been discussion and controversy about many Brazilians feelings towards the Cup, but as it draws closer the Brazilian people seem to be dawning their futbol jerseys with smiles a festive outlook.

This past weekend has been an incredibly relaxing one. Saturday afternoon Nicole and I went to a fashion and food expo in Leblon. The expo was in a social club along Lagoa, with the expo being on the second and third floor of one of the buildings. They had live music on the balcony (and also a bar) so we had a couple of cocktails, listened to music, and watched the sunset. From there we made our way over to Botafogo where we went to bar that is known for having great burgers. It was a really offbeat place, and reminded me of a lot of the bars in the U.S. The burgers were amazing. By far the best Nicole and I have had while living in Brazil. On Sunday Nicole and I spent the afternoon riding the endless waves in Ipanema on our Bossa Boards. We skated up and down the road along the beach only stopping to grab an agua de coco and to do some swimming. It may be late fall here, but the temperatures still hit in the mid 30s today and there wasn`t a cloud in the sky. To cap the day off we grabbed some acai before making the short trip back to Barra.

Training

On the training front things are going great. I have been made aware of and have been working on a few weak spots where I need to improve. That`s one of the great things about having so many top level training partners and coaches here in Rio; they can identify weak spots and how to correct them before bad habits form. It`s been paying off, the other day I was told by one of my training partners that my ground game is evolving into a dangerous, technical, and dynamic style. In fact I was even told my kicks suck a lot less, they are still not good, but they just suck a lot less.

For all the compliments though another thing about the training here in Rio is that it keeps you humble. The high caliber of training partners lets you know there is always somebody better than you (in some aspect) out there.

Braga Neto and I after his CR in house Seminar. 

In the last couple of weeks two different situations really stand out for me. One was an awesome opent mat at Rio Fighter. The Saturday open mat sessions are all gi rolling and you never know who will be showing up. On this particular Saturday there were several Carlson Gracie Sr. blackbelts and BTT lineage guys there. I have never felt a pressure game like I had from these guys. During one of the rolls I actually felt myself heavily gasping for breath solely from the guys halfguard top pressure. I mean I have been smashed before, but the constant pressure throughout the entire roll was something new. It wasn`t just when they were on top either. From guard they were constantly squeezing with their legs, pulling and breaking posture never allowing me to set up. It was nearly as exhausting as when they were on top. It was a light bulb moment and new appreciation for the pressure game (of which I was already a fan) I now have a basis and a goal in mind of just how much pressure I need to have on my opponent.

This past Friday there was another golden opportunity to improve my ground game. This time I didn`t have to leave the house as it was right here on the CR mats. BJJ World Champion and UFC Fighter Antonio Braga Neto came to do an in house seminar here at Connection Rio. Essentially the most of us from the house (plus a few from Gordos) got a small group lesson from a former world champ-what more could you ask for? Braga Neto did an excellent job breaking down techniques and concepts into the most minute little details so we could full understand the technique. I learned several new details on a standing pass I try often (with varied success) and also from some of the positions in guard I like to work from, I am excited to drill these techniques some more and see the difference they make in my game.

Training with Mario Sperry and Luta Livre Super Fights

Luta livre fight at ALLDERJ Championship Fight Amador 4.
photo by mma4ever.com

So it’s been a couple of weeks since my last blog. I've tired to keep things updated as much as possible, but it`s just easy to get sidetracked when you have so much going on. None the less here is this weeks blog post---I’ll work to get back into the routine of a post a week.

Thanks to Senki for all the great new gear!

Also I would like to take a quick minute to thank my sponsor Senki Kimonos. Being on the mat and training full time I put a lot of wear and tear on my gear and Senki has been right there to make sure I never lack for great kimonos, rashguards and other training gear. I highly recommend you check out there store at www.senki.com.br. Thanks again!

The past couple of weeks have really made me stop and be thankful I am in Rio. I got in awesome training, biked along the ocean coast, competed in a super fight, and got some hiking in. The crazy part is this is becoming more and more the norm for living in Rio----TALK ABOUT A GREAT LIFE!

Two weeks I was called up and asked if I wanted to compete in a luta livre superfight for the ALLDERJ Championship Fight Amador 4. The event was set up by Eugenio Tadeu Gomes, and is organized to help raise funds for martial arts programs for kids. The event features luta livre and amateur MMA fights. I readily accepted the invite and immediately ramped up my training. Milton Viera and the guys at Rio Fighters pushed me hard and got me ready for the match. At the nogi luta livre classes Milton had me drilling anaconda choke variations in between rounds of rolling so the attack would be second nature to me even if I was tired during the match. As the match got closer I felt more and more confident with my grappling abilities.

Great to have a chance to train with Mario Sperry.

Heading into the final week of training there was a potential hick-up in my training when nearly all the bus drivers in Rio went on strike. I refused to let it hold me back from training though. I hoped on Nicole's mountain bike and headed into Humaita. The first part of the trip took me over a mountain, and placed me right along Sao Conrado Beach. From there I was able to follow the coastline all the way to Leblon. Once in Leblon I headed inland until I got to the famous Lagoa. By the time I reached Rio Fighters I had a good sweat going and was ready to train. Since the bus strike was on most of the guys couldn't make it to training, but if there is one thing I've learned here in Rio it's this; you never know who is going to walk into the academy and train. I'm sitting there on the mats stretching and in walks Mario Sperry with his training gear. With the low number, six guys (four of which were black belts) we decided to just have open mat and roll. After every roll Ze Mario would take time to break down a few things he noticed his partner needed to work on, showing us all proper technique, which we would work for a couple of minutes and then move on to the next roll. Soon it was my turn and roll with Ze Mario....and I felt like a child rolling against him. He positionally dominated me and played a pressure game like I have never felt before. The thing was though you could tell all that he was doing with exerting as little energy as possible. After the roll he gave me some good pointers and adjustments to make in top half-guard. We finished out with Ze Mario and Rogerio (another tough black belt from Carlson lineage) going over a back attack position which included finishing the rear naked choke the a palm to palm grip instead of the normal way. I had never really used the palm to palm way of finishing, but the way they showed it and their reasoning made sense.

The rest of the week of training went really good and heading into Fridays weigh-ins I felt great. I made the under 70kg weight limit fairly easily and felt strong and ready to compete on Saturday. The event was held at Delfim Academy in Tijuca. All the matches and fights took place in a boxing ring, and it had an old school feel to it. I had been instructed as to what time to be there, but I decided to show up a bit earlier instead of when everyone else was arriving. When I got there the announcer came up asked me how to say my name and I casually asked when things about what time I should be up, thinking he would say an hour and a half-two hours, I was surprised when he said `You're the third fight up and we should be starting in about 10 minutes.` Crap. I quickly got on the phone and let everyone know I would be up MUCH sooner than expected, and started to warm up and hoped both of the matches went the designated 10 minutes. They did not. Either way I was warmed up and ready to go by the time I was up. Eugenio sent a Brazilian guy to corner me and after he told me a few things in Portuguese, I stepped into the ring. The crowd was loud during the intros but as soon as the match started any noise there was I was oblivious to, I was just in the zone to compete. My opponent collar tied up with me and I hit a slide by to a single. He defended well and we repeated this several times. I really didn't care, I felt calm and stayed patient. Eventually I cut him off and dropped in on a double against the ropes, and dragged him to the mat. We landed in half-guard and I worked to pass, he started to stand and with my corners encouragement I dragged him back to the mat. He managed to reguard and the ref then restarted us in the center of the ring. After a bit of grappling I went for the double underhook pass. I pulled him up high and I could feel him try to roll through. I let go of him and as he rolled through to turtle I was already on his back, with one arm around his neck. I locked up the RNC palm to palm, just like I had been shown by Ze Mario and Rogerio earlier in the week and I got the submission. I would like to say thank you to my sponsors Senki Kimonos and Connection Rio. Also a big thank you to Dennis Asche who is a mentor, coach and above all a friend. Also to Milton Viera and everyone at Rio Fighters who helped me prepare for this competition.

About 5-10 minutes after my match everybody arrived, needless to say they were all really bummed they missed the match. Regardless we settled in and enjoyed the rest of the evenings fights. As celebration we went out to Frontera, an all you can eat pizza place about 15 minutes from the house. They have about 12 different kinds of salgado /(more traditional pizzas) and 7-10 desert pizzas. I GORGED myself and by the time we left I pretty much had to be rolled home. The next day Nicole and I hiked around the trails of Pedra de Gavea to work off all the pizza we ate. We only went up to the half way point, ship rock, but we spent a ton of time checking out the different plants and animals along the way. There was a large group of monkeys, that we watched swing from tree to tree as they made their way through the forest.

After a great training session with Nabas, Dennis, and Hywel. Photo by HT

For this past week I didn’t take any time off I was back on the mats, really focusing on improving technique. It was a good way to heal up and still work to improve. Heading into this next week I am ready to put the peddle to the floor and start training hard again.

Being a Student of Your Art

This is what I get to look up and enjoy everyday.

Summer has closed out here in Rio and it is creeping towards winter in South America. That said mid-fall for Rio is a bit different than back home in Michigan. Instead of leaves changing colors/ falling off of trees and frost (maybe even snow), we have shorts and T-shirt weather during the day and a need to wear a pair of jeans if you are out at night. The days are no longer sweltering, they are comfortable and perfect to enjoy an agua de coco at a beach kiosk and enjoy Rio's beauty. I have had several chances to do just that as I rode Nicole's new bike from Flamengo to Barra, fallowing the ocean the majority of the way. I rode past Sugar Loaf, along Copacabana and Ipanema Beaches, and caught the sunset as I rode past the favela of Vidigal. To finish the ride off I rode/ran with the bike (where it was too dark and curvy for a driver to see me) over the mountain leading into Barra. Also the other day I rode around Lagoa to Humaita and back to go train. While it is somewhat taxing, it has been a great way to enjoy where I am and to spend time thinking.

Reping Senki while Sparring at Rio Fighters. Photo by M. Viera.

Since competing a month ago I have been doing a lot of thinking and envisioning what direction/path I want my BJJ and MMA training to head towards. Doing this has made me reflect on what makes successful, world class, or even masterful athletes/martial artists. Obviously you have your basic principles of hard work, dedication, and perseverance-- but I think it lies a bit beyond that. The principle I keep coming to is one I learned from one of my best friends and training partners I had in my wrestling career, Eracleo Vallejo. He preached in order to be a member of the elite in wrestling you had to become a student of the sport. So for this weeks blog I wanted to visit some ways I have tried to embrace the roll of a student in my training here in Brazil, and I hope it can help some people develop on their path.

Being a student of the sport/art is about more than just getting on the mat and training---not that there is anything wrong with just training. (To be honest when I first started BJJ/MMA it was just a way to stay in decent shape and learn something new, I had no idea it would be something I would be doing for the rest of my life.) Being a student means embracing the entire art and having it present throughout your day.

Sitting VIP at the Copa Podio.

Keep an Open Mind

One of the biggest keys to becoming a student is keeping an open mind. The moment you close off your mind is the moment you stop progressing. Staying here at Connection Rio I have seen various styles from all over the world, and no one style being better than the others. Someone may have the complete opposite game and mentality than you, but being open and realizing that their style offers value you can add new aspects to your game and strengthen existing components.

Meeting Danny Castillo at the Copa Podio.

Study

An integral part to being a student is to develop a study habit. I spend a lot of time reading, watching and listening to all things pertaining to my training. Whether it's reading articles on nutrition or sports psychology, listening to interviews with guys like Dominic Cruz to gain insights to footwork and methodology, or watching film on matches, I spend a lot of time trying to study up and gain more knowledge. Being here in Rio I have the opportunity to watch world class grapplers and fighters roll everyday, and I am able to study first hand what they are doing to make themselves the best. I seek out people with similar backgrounds who have made it to the upper level of their arts and I try to see how they have adapted what they know to form a unique style. For example, last night I went to the Copa Podio with a bunch of people from CR, and one of the matches was a submission only nogi match with Danny Castillo and Haider Rasheed. Danny Castillo, who is a talented MMA fighter, comes from a wrestling background (much like me). I spent the entire match with my eyes glued to the mat, watching to see how Danny used his wrestling with his BJJ. Everything from posture, where he put his hands, and how he wins in positions that I find myself in. Watching that match has given me some ideas for techniques I want to work on and use.

Studying some great technique on the mat.

We also live in the information age. With one search or click we can get thousands of articles or posts providing you with detailed explanations of techniques, theories, and concepts. Obviously some things need to be taken with a grain of salt, but if you wade through the clutter you can find some really good stuff out there that may make you rethink things or help you step up another rung on the ladder. Beyond the internet there are books and videos in which you can learn any techniques imaginable. Things like this can help you concentrate on all the little details that techniques hold. Plus it can give you something to talk about if you ever get a chance to meet some of the great instructors who releases these instructionals. For example we have a guest, who recently returned from Sao Paulo, where he met Saulo Ribiero. Being an avid reader of Saulo's University of Jiu-Jitsu, when he met him he told him how much he enjoyed his books (even reciting the chapter's). Saulo, being impressed, took a few minutes to talk with him and answer some questions. Which brings me to my next point---

Ask Questions

There is a saying that there is no such thing as a stupid question. While that could be debated, I do feel like you are better off asking a bunch of questions at every training then someone who never asks anything. It can be difficult to speak up in the middle of a class and ask for clarifications on techniques, but I can almost guarantee that someone else in the class has the same question, and oftentimes one little detail can be the difference between a technique working or not. If you have a specific question on a certain position it's always good to ask your instructor one on one. This can be especially useful when you have someone who is credited with being an innovator of a specific move or position. For example Gordo, who is credited with really popularizing and developing the half-guard, actually teaches very little of the position in the daily classes. BUT we have had several guys come through CR who took privates with him asking questions about half-guard, who have walked away with a completely new understanding of the position. A lot of these guys aren't just mid-level belts, a good many have been blackbelts who have been around the sport for over a decade. I have found in almost all cases asking, “How can I do this?” or “How did you do that?” or “Can you explain this?” Can lead you a a better and stronger understanding of things.

Having fun doing what I love.

Have Fun

I believe, at least for me, this is the biggest piece of the puzzle. Like they said in the Shining, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” You got to have fun with things and enjoy the journey. When you put to much pressure on having to learn and get better I have found it can sometimes be more difficult to progress. Even though I said above I watch fights and competitions to study, I also make sure to take time and enjoy things. Last nights UFC fight between Matt Brown and Eric Silva is an excellent example. I ate popcorn with the guys and enjoyed it for what it was, a great fight. I may go back to try to take something away from the clinch work that was displayed, but at that moment I was screaming at the TV with everyone else. I'm not saying that everyday is going to be fun and enjoyable, the process of improving can be extremely difficult, but it is important to realize you started in your art because you enjoy it and have fun doing it. As I always tell myself before competing, go out there and have fun, your doing this because you enjoy it not because you hate it. 

SJJSAF and Easter

Reping Senki Kimonos and Connection Rio at the SJJSAF  Panamericano.
Photo provided by SJJSAF/ Maury Figueira

It's been a couple of weeks since my last blog. Last weekend I didn't get a chance to sit down and write because after competing in the SJJSAF Panamericano on Saturday I just wanted to relax for the rest of the weekend. The tournament was ran extremely well, especially considering it was the SJJSAF's first tournament. It was also really cool (and a surprise) to watch multi-time World Champ Felipe Costa compete. Everyone one from CR happened to look up to see Felipe stepping on the mats directly in front of where we were sitting. It's always great to be able to watch a renowned athlete compete. He did nothing flashy and didn't come out overly strong, but he just kept a constant grinding pace that wore down his opponent and racked up the points.

The day was so-so for me. After starting the day strong with a 10-0 win, I may a few key errors in the Semi-finals and in my third place match, and took 4th overall. While is SUCKS losing (especially when I feel like I didn't perform to the best of my ability) the lessons I learned from those loses will help me to improve more than any training session. When you loose a match or a fight by making a mistake or not executing a technique properly it really burns it into your memory. I am looking forward to competing again and most importantly continuing to improve and get better.

Drilling at CR.
Photo by bjjpix.com

I do want to give a big thank you to my sponsors Connection Rio and Senki Kimonos for all your support. I would also like to thank Professor John Machado for allowing me to compete under his team RCJ Machado, all my teamates and coaches at Rio Fighters, and to Dennis Asche for making me better both on and off the mat.

This week was a bit lighter in training due to the holiday and a case of the flu. With the flu the timing couldn't have been worse. Nicole and I went over to a friends for his wife's birthday. He had spent all day preparing a TABLE full of traditional Korean dishes, and about 20 minutes before eating I started to get horribly ill. I ended up having to go back to the house, but don't worry, Nicole stayed behind to stuff herself and came back to CR and told me how delicious it all was. I spent a lot of time this week looking back over my matches, making notes, and fine tuning some technique. I was also a good time to reflect back on some goals and have some fun. That said I can't wait for the week to start on Monday with some hard training.

Cafe du Lage.

Like I said above because of Easter weekend a lot of the gyms were closed, but we had guys training here on the mats. I even got the chance to do some mitt and pad work with Nicole. I think she kind of threw off Adriano, the handyman, when he came by and she was hammering the mitts and throwing kicks to my body. For Easter we went to breakfast at Cafe Du Lage, in Rio's Parque de Lage. When we got there the line and wait was huge. Luckily we ran into one of my friends and training partners, Daniel, who was finishing eating with his mom and girlfriend. We sat down with them and he explained to the waitress that we were late to meet them, so as they closed the bill we ordered and had the table to ourselves when they left. Sure is nice having Brazilian friends. The Cafe is situated around a large marble pool in the middle of a mansion. Looking like a scene strait out of the Great Gatsby, you are surrounded by large archways and beautiful paintings. With the cafe being open air you can look up and get a view of Christ the Redeemer while enjoying your food or coffee. We had a delicious (and huge) breakfast of fresh breads, cheeses, jams, fresh fruit and juice, mini sandwiches, coffee and yogurt with honey and granola. Afterwards we walked all through the parks grounds, which included a waterfall, a large koi pond, and a castle tower. It made for a great Easter and a relaxing day.

Gearing up for Competition

Training with Nabas on the CR mats. Getting ready to
Represent Senki on the mat next week.

It's been a great week here in Rio, one full of fun both on and off the mats. Summer may be officially over but the temperatures are still in the low 30's (mid to upper 80's for those in the states) and sun filled. When not on the mat it's been perfect for relaxing at the beach or getting acai. On Saturday the entire house went to one of the various nearby beaches. Nicole and I went with several other people to Pepe Point on Barra beach. Named after a deceased hanglider, Pepe is where you find the young beautiful people in Barra on sunny days. We went down in the late afternoon stay until the sunset. On Sunday Nicole and I went to a friends house for a BBQ. There was a ton of meat and I probably ate a bit more than I should have. As we got back to the house a few of the guys were throwing on kimonos, so I threw on my Senki kimono and got a few rounds of rolling in. The first round I was still full of steak and chicken. But after a roll, a few burps and a near puke I felt good and got in a few more solid rolls. It was a great way to work off all that food.

At the beach relaxing with friends.

I have to say that having a house full of training partners is one of the great things about staying here at CR. On a relaxing Sunday night we had six or seven guys rotating in. The belt levels ranged from blue to black, and I rolled with people from all over the world. It was a great clash of styles with really entertaining rolls. Rolling on Sunday was one of four sessions I got in this week on the CR mats alone. Throughout the week I drilled with several different partners. Some of the sessions were structured with exact techniques to be drilled and others were more exploratory flow rolls where the intent was finding ways into or out of certain positions.

Nicole draining my ear.

Most of the house is gearing up for the SJJSAF Pan Americano this coming weekend, myself included. The officials of the tournament were nice enough to arrange transport for the guys who are competing to get to the tournament on Saturday. It's nice because it is just one less thing to worry about on the day of the competition. Because of the tournament this weekend my focus has shifted a bit from MMA to training in the kimono. I still got hard MMA ground training and wrestling in this week, but even then I kept the the tournament in mind. I pushed myself to attack takedowns more relentlessly and when on the ground work to smash and pass looking more for submissions than working ground and pound.

In addition Nabas, a great BJJ competitor and training partner, and I were led through training sessions by Dennis. For those of you who have never trained with Dennis, it's an intense but great training. You get stronger not only technically but mentally as well. A big focus for me over the last couple of weeks has been working my takedowns in the gi and chaining my passes together. After not training in the gi for awhile it took me a bit to get used to breaking grips and the subtle differences, but after all the hard work things are feeling smooth and crisp. On Saturday's open mat at Gordo's I had a great intense roll with one of the younger blackbelts there. It was one of those rolls that took us from one side of the mat to the other. There was face grinding, elbow in the neck and sternum, hard scrambles and harder submission attempts. In other words I absolutely loved it, at a couple of more intense moments I even smiled. To people watching it may have looked like we hated each other or had some grudge, but we just both love to roll hard. Afterwords we shook hands talked and after open mat worked a couple of positions. Having rolls like that is exactly what I need to get me ready to compete. I have to say a week out from the tournament I am feeling great and can't wait to step out onto the mat and bring home some gold!

Enjoying Sporting Events at CR and Exploring Rio

Sparring at Rio Fighters, while wearing my favorite Senki
rashguard.

It's been a busy week here in Rio, full of fun, good laughs, and great training. Last weekend we had a huge house BBQ full of steaks, burgers, sausages and different salads. Everyone chipped in about 15R and we ate like kings for hours. When the BBQ finally died down we settled around the TV to watch UFC Shogun vs Henderson 2. Watching exciting fights with a group is always a ton of fun because everyone always gets into it and there is a ton of crap talking. This was especially the case this past weekend for Metamoris 3. Everyone chipped in and ordered the live stream of Metamoris, one of our guests has a portable projector which we used to project the event on the back wall of the living room. We rearranged the couches, chairs, and made space on the mats. Guys chipped in for snacks, chips, cookies, pizza, bacon wrapped hotdogs--- you know all the stuff that would fit right in with the Gracie Diet. Kevin, a guest from 10^th planet JJ, created a very in-depth betting system and just about everyone threw in there picks, for winners, submission types, and even what position the submission was hit from. In the end the pool was 55R and Irish John had a come from behind win to get the pot of cash. The event itself was entertaining but what made it was the in house commentary from people hoping to win the cash.

  

Nicole and I also had a chance to explore a bit more of Rio. On Saturday afternoon, we went to Parque de Lage in Jardim Botanico. The park is a huge estate built in the late 1800's by a wealthy European who had immigrated to Brazil. The grounds of the estate is filled with lush green plants, huge trees and quite a few monkeys. The main house is a massive stone building, with huge archways and marble flooring. The center of the house opens into a large courtyard, with big swimming pool in the middle. The old kitchen has been converted into a cafe/restaurant and the rest of the house is used by one of the local university's art program so as you drink your coffee you can watch aspiring artists paint. We got there about 45 minutes before they closed, but we really enjoyed it. After the park closed we walked a bit to the Jockey Club and caught a couple of horse races before heading back to Barra. Even after living in Rio for well over a year, there is still a ton of great new things to experience.

The manor house in Parque de Lage

Training

Over the course of the last week or two I have really started to ramp up my training, getting two sometimes three sessions in daily. A lot of it is official classes, but I am spending more and more time on refining and drilling technique both in grappling and striking. I've been working a lot on my butterfly guard and developing ways that I can using my wrestling to aid and strengthen my submission game. It's a trial and error process on my part, some things work great, others I get burnt on and find my self in a horrible positions or caught in a submission. A lot of the time though I am seeing the potential for things, I have to refine the techniques and mold them into something that will work for me.

Rolling with Milton.

With my striking, I am finally feeling comfortable again. I went through a long period of just feeling out of rhythm when sparring. My feet might work well, but my hands wouldn't release combos. I might be throwing a lot of strikes but my distance was off and I was loosing position. Things like that. It was getting frustrating, but I have been putting in a lot of extra time shadow boxing, doing bag work, and hitting pads, and things are starting to feel good again. I still have a ton to work on, but I am making improvements. After a particularly hard sparring session, consisting of about 6 rounds of kickboxing, some grappling, and two rounds in the cage, Milton said I had sparred the best he had ever seen me spar. That's a great thing to hear after you feel exhausted from leaving it all out on the mats, it makes you hungrier and want to work harder because you know you are making the right improvements.

Lately a lot of my grappling training has been luta livre and wrestling, but in the last couple of weeks I have been making the effort to train more in the kimono. I've been drilling in the gi and on Saturday's I have been going into open mats and sparring the tough blackbelts at Gordo's. The intensity is high and I have been having a great time. I am looking to train in the kimono more and more, because I want to compete as much as possible. I feel great and I really have the competitive hunger again. I am planning on competing in two weeks in the SJJAF Pan Americano Championships. The next couple of weeks I am going to be putting in a ton of work and I can't wait to step back out on the mat and get some hardware.