Another week down, another week of
great memories. Training is picking up and I feel like I am starting
to hit a new level. Everyday I am thankful for all the great coaches
and instructors (not to mention training partners) I have here in
Rio. The city is busy with the approaching World Youth Day and the
Popes visit to Brazil. Nicole and I have gotten a good laugh from
some of the obvious gringos around, although I'm sure we looked just
as out of place when we first arrived.
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| Post boxing training. |
Week in Training
This past week I was finally able to
get back into MMA training. Since injuring my ankle it was painful to
cut angles and put my feet down to land good punches so I haven't
been doing much striking work. What little I have been doing is small
technique work to make sure I throw long punches using my hips, from
a stationary position. This week I was finally able to get back in
and do some good boxing training. In addition to foot work drills I
was able to do some lighter sparring work. We did four or five rounds
of light punches to the shoulders and hard shots to the body. With no
strikes to the head we were able to focus on slipping and shoulder
rolls to evade strikes; it also helped us focus on getting into the
pocket landing a couple of shots and getting back out again. The
first couple of rounds my timing and distance was off but by the end
I was flowing and moving much better, and most importantly my ankle
felt good (I could feel it a couple of times but nothing really hurt
it).
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| Getting some open guard work in during Dennis's Class. Photo by bjjpix.com |
Wrestling training went good as well.
In addition to the normal two days of wrestling that I coach and
train at ATT, I also went to the FILA Training center and got some
great work in. Antoine held a small training with some of the coaches
from the UPP youth wrestling programs and also a member of the BOPE.
We worked a series of attacks and counter attacks from the clinch
position. It was great technique, covering (in new detail) some
positions I had worked before along with a few I had never seen. We
then switched gears and did a little wrestling for MMA out of the
clinch and discussed methodology of wrestling for MMA. It really
helped shed some new light on how to use my wrestling game.
Afterwords the two of the UPP coaches, whom of both active in bjj and
luta livre, took the time to correct and give technique advice on an
arm-bar series I was drilling on a dummy that was on the mat. Each
guy explained some concepts and made little adjustments and then
watched me rep out a few more armbars. It was something they didn't
have to do, they just did it to help me grow in the art, which is
really what grappling and other combat sports are about.
I didn't roll in the gi a ton this
week, but when I did the training was excellent. Dennis covered several
gi chokes in his class (which is a part of my game I lack). The
chokes were vicious and came on fast, with a few added details to
hopefully help me use them more. During the rolling I felt great, the
extra focus on guard work has really helped me feel comfortable in
all positions and has helped me in my scrambles. I don't feel like I
have to continually have and maintain top control to be effective,
which has caused me to open up my attacks more and push for the
submission.
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| The Cabaret Lounge in Botafogo is definatley worth checking out when in Rio. |
A Night out at the Cabaret Lounge
This past Thursday Nicole and I went
out for the Internation's Bastille Day Party at the Cabaret Lounge in
Botafogo. Internation's is an international group that offer's events
for expats and natives to go out have a fun and meet new people.
Going as a part of Internation's we got a discounted cover and drink
specials throughout the night. The Cabaret Lounge is a unique
champagne lounge with a with a lively atmosphere that includes
can-can dancers. Everyone was friendly and dancing to music ranging
from classics of the 60-90's as well as current hits. Nicole and I
don't go out to clubs very often, and it was a fun new experience. We
met several cool new people spent most of the evening dancing. The
Cabaret Lounge has a different atmosphere than most bars/clubs in Rio
and if anyone happens to go out in Botafogo I highly recommend
checking it out. When we got off the bus back in Barra we past a
bunch of the guys from HQ everyone looked at us shocked, because
Nicole and I were all dressed up--everyone here is used to seeing me
in boardshorts and a t-shirt or in a gi. It was great to get out and
see more of what Ciudade Maravillosa has to offer.
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| Nicole and I out at the Cabaret Lounge. Photo by vitophotography.com |
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