OK so I’m pretty sure most of us out there knew that Damian Maia was going to have a tough fight on his hands at UFC 112 against Anderson Silva. I knew in fact that Maia was going to get beat up on the feet and that taking Silva to the ground was going to be hard. What I was not expecting was to have Silva show such disrespect for his opponent and then refuse to engage for 3 rounds. I by no means thought Anderson was going to just flop into Maia’s guard, I knew he would play it safe and keep the fight standing. What really bothered me was the things he was screaming at Damian and the disrespect a Jiu Jitsu blackbelt would show the art. Here are a few links to different stories about some of the things that Silva was screaming during their fight. Here and here I know Anderson doesn’t really use his Jiu Jitsu much, but for someone to hold a black belt in the art and then trash talk someone saying things like “why don’t you use your Jiu Jitsu now?” makes me think he doesn’t take his BJJ Black Belt seriously. I lost a lot of respect for him this last fight, but this is what bothered me the most. What are your thoughts not only on the fight, but his disrespect towards Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?
If any of you are like me, you spend time on Youtube looking at Jiu Jitsu videos. I would like to create this post as a place where everyone can send links to their favorite Bjj highlight videos. Some of these videos are so well done they give me such a rush to get on the mats and train. So lets try and motivate each other and at the same time spread some great videos at the same time. I’ll start with a few of mine- Braulio Estima, Marcelo Garcia, and of course Cobrinha.
Earning rank in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is easy right? That’s why we have tons of 7 year old black belts running around everywhere kicking people in the knees like mini pajama ninjas. Oh wait no, that’s other martial arts. Jiu Jitsu is far more hardcore then that. It truly does take a lifetime to master averaging 10 years to get a Jiu Jitsu black belt. Personally this is just another reason why I love Bjj. Rank means something! When a single stripe on your blue belt counts for literally months of training 3-4 times a week, achieving it is an awesome feeling. I do see the other side of the coin though. Some people can get discouraged and give up because they are not progressing fast enough. Or at least they think they aren’t because they don’t get the quick rank they are looking for. Lets face it a very small number of white belts that start out even make it to purple belt. So lets hear it, how do you feel about the way rank works in bjj? Do you think it’s a good thing and keeps the art from being watered down? Or do you think the opposite?
This past Wednesday I had the chance to train with BJJ black belt Alexey Cruz down in Portland Maine. He teaches out of the Choi Institute of Martial Arts and Science. Alexey is a 3rd degree Jiu Jitsu black belt under De La Riva. He also is the one who puts on the Freestyle Grappling Open Tournaments every year. I was super excited to get a chance to train with him and his guys. I think we had a total of 6 people from The Foundry make the almost 2 hour drive. Call it a Foundry field trip if you will. Alexey showed some sweet half guard stuff, mostly passing it, but also a few submissions thrown in. I rolled with 3 of his blue belts, all of them were really skilled and seemed like all around nice guys. At first I was playing super defensive, feeling like if I went for submissions it would not be respectful. I’m not sure where that feeling came from, but I think my logic was, well this is their house and I am just a guest. No one likes to tap to a guest. After a few mins though this feeling passed and it was really awesome to roll with new people. I think we will be making more trips down there to visit from time to time and I am looking forward to it. Do any of you make trips to visit others schools regularly? If so do you see a jump in your game?
A friend of mine, we will call him “Chief” has started up a podcast and I was lucky enough to make it on episode one as a guest. We talk about video games, movies, Valentines Day, and of course Jiu Jitsu came up. Be sure and show some support and check out my sexy voice! The Weekend Pregame
Alright it’s that time again. Last time I posted a move I had been working on, I got great responses back from everyone. Thanks to all of you because you have really made that move so much tighter with all of your pointers. This time I would like to share a guard pass that I have been working on. So far it is my number 2 guard pass I use in Jiu Jitsu. I would like to ask everyone to again comment with their tips or on anything that I could add or should be careful of. If there are any Youtube videos out there that are the same as this pass, please send them my way for me to study. Thanks again everyone and I hope you enjoy.
Lately I have come to an understanding. Now first let me remind you all, that I’m not a big guy. I’m about 155 and 5’8 at the most. With that said, I have come to a realization lately when rolling with bigger people. It’s a battle of inches in Jiu Jitsu, but even more so when your opponent has some extra pounds over you. Let me explain a bit more. A perfect example of this was a while back when I was a white belt there was a bigger person that would always give me troubles when we would roll. He would get a hold of one of my sleeves and I would find myself trying to play my guard with only one arm for the entire match. I realize now with a bigger person sometimes I don’t get the chance to regain that inch that was taken from me, or in that case a limb. Now when I roll with bigger opponents I really try to focus on not allowing them to get that inch to begin with, and I roll with the mind set that I won’t have a chance to regain anything that has been taken from me. Now don’t get this confused, I don’t mean in any way that I roll harder or more aggressive. That couldn’t be farther from what I am trying to say. If anything it forces me to think about what my opponent is doing and not just what I am trying to do. Why are they going for that grip? What are they going to do if they get it. How am I going to keep them from getting it? I guess this is something to think about next time you roll if this concept is new to anyone out there. This really helps me deal with a bigger more aggressive opponent in Jiu Jitsu.
Today as I was surfing around, like I do all the time on the weekends and I had an idea. I’m sure there are others out there that have their own places to go to catch up on Jiu Jitsu news, and I thought it would be a good idea to share mine in hopes others would share theirs. So here are my favorite places to go and get Jiu Jitsu news or info.
1.) The Fightworks Podcast- Awesome interviews and polls. All around best place for Jiu Jitsu news in my opinion.
2.) Jiujitsushare.com- The best social network out there for Jiu Jitsu players. Cool forum and great videos.
3.) MMA.tv- The ‘Training Grounds’ forums on here have some really great threads and usually have breaking news on the sport.
4.) Bjjedge.com- This is a pretty cool site for videos. It seems like maybe it is a new site and is still getting off the ground, but it’s a great idea.
5.) Graciemag.com- The best magazine out there about bjj, so why would you not check out their website? Recently they have overhauled their website and I must say it’s pretty damn sweet now.
So there you have it. These are the places I check when I need my Jiu Jitsu fix and can’t be on the mats. I hope you all enjoy and I look forward to everyone’s input. So what are your Jiu Jitsu resources that you check regularly?
Ok, so I may be a lil’ biased on this one. Brianne’s my girlfriend and we actually met at Jiu Jitsu. As you can gather from this interview she has been into Jiu Jitsu for a while now. From my perspective it was refreshing to meet a female who had the same interest as me BEFORE she met me. This guarenteed she was actually interested in bjj and not just tagging along to hang out with me. I wanted to offer this interview for any female followers of my blog. Sometimes it’s better to hear things like this from someone who is still a beginner. It’s easier to relate to someone who is either going through the same things you are, or has recently, instead of a female black belt who may have been a beginner over 10 years ago. I hope you all find this interview interesting and entertaining. If any females want to weigh in with their thoughts they are more then welcome. I also highly recommend reading Bjj Grrl’s Blog for more of a female prospective. Also of course Hillary Williams website for more info on her goals and accomplishments. Enjoy!
TheMove- What is your name?
Pouncing Puma- Brianne Genschel
TheMove- What is your rank?
Pouncing Puma- 3 stripe Blue
TheMove- How long have you been training?
Pouncing Puma- Almost three years now
TheMove- What is your lineage?
Pouncing Puma- I began training under Noel Danforth who is a brown belt under Joe Moreira. Noel has moved south and I am currently training under Jon Lamarche who is a black belt under Joe.
TheMove- Tell us a bit about your martial arts background and history?
Pouncing Puma- I developed an interest in martial arts when I was in High School due to some friends I had met at the time. They got me involved in Japanese Jiu Jitsu at the time, but while we were training that they discovered BJJ. We began training in their back yard and on their living room floor. This was back in 1998. When I graduated High School and went on to college I gave up martial arts for a time, but the pull was too strong and before I knew it I was back training BJJ with Noel and Missy (his wife). I’ve been consistently involved for almost three years now.
TheMove- What got you into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?
Pouncing Puma- Back in ’98′ BJJ in Maine was no more than a whisper. When my buddies Matt and James discovered it we began training in the back yard. We moved to the community center in town and used to dabble before our JJJ class started. They are definitely to blame for my love and addiction to the sport. Thanks guys!
TheMove- What’s kept you invested BJJ all this time?
Pouncing Puma- The camaraderie of my team. The people I train with have become some of my closest friends. My team is something that keeps me motivated at those times when I feel my game is slipping, and push me at those times when I am excelling and on a run with my game. They are also the people I spend much of my time with off the mats. They are my BJJ team and my BJJ family.
TheMove- How long do you see yourself practicing bjj?
Pouncing Puma- Forever. That was an easy one.
TheMove- If you could use 3 words to describe your game type what would they be?
Pouncing Puma- Pressure, Pressure, Pressure.
TheMove- What is your favorite technique?
Pouncing Puma-
Favorite Submission: Ezekiel
Favorite Guard Pass: Bull Fighter Pass
Favorite Position: Full Mount
Favorite Take Down: Drop Sao-Nagi
TheMove- Training with mostly guys it must be tough, do you have any tips for a female beginner? This could be mental tips as well.
Pouncing Puma- Don’t be intimidated! This is a man’s sport in the eyes of many, but the guys in my club have learned not to under-estimate a woman. They may be bigger than we are, and naturally stronger, but this is a sport of technique, skill and brains. You have to know how to outsmart your opponent whether they are male or female.
TheMove- Do you think training with males mostly is a good thing or does it
hinder your game and growth?
Pouncing Puma- I think that training with mostly all men has forced me to rely more on my technique and ability to think through my game. There is no way I am going to out-muscle them, so I have had to develop techniques and game plans that will be effective.
TheMove- What is your biggest frustration as a female competitor in a sport
mostly run by men?
Pouncing Puma- They never have women’s sized shirts at competitions. I always have to give my competitor shirts to my boyfriend! You know women are competing. If you are going to give shirts to competitors buy ones that will fit women as well! Seriously . . . This is my biggest frustration.
TheMove- Who is your favorite female BJJ fighter and why?
Pouncing Puma- I think Hillary Williams is vicious. I watched her compete at the Pan Ams last years, and I’ve since seen some videos of her fights. This is a girl that has it together and is a kick ass BJJ fighter.
TheMove- Who is your favorite male BJJ fighter and why?
Pouncing Puma- Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza – We named our dog after him.
In this case my school is moving to a new location. We are restructuring the way things are run and turning it into more of a non-profit club. It’s a really cool concept that will allow us to not have to turn students away because of membership fees. We will also be able to sponsor a competition team with the extra money. It will help cover travel and other expenses like entry fees. I personally think this move will be a good one in my case. It gives me something to look forward to in the new year. Has anyone else gone through a club switching locations? Or for those of you who have actually left one school and went to train at another what was your experience like?
