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.