]]>
]]>
Finally, after going back and forth with the mastering engineers in Seattle seven times, my latest album is finally ready for release! End of Days is a much darker and driving album than my previous work (Sound of the Way, Second Sound, and The Space Between). But I think you’ll like it. Give a listen and tell me your thoughts…
]]>
This Labor Day Day weekend, on Saturday, September 4th, RDA will host another Jiu Jitsu Fest celebration!
Friday, September 3rd will have Jeff Sass testing for his blue belt during the afternoon class, and the I will lead the evening class where Academy members, Affiliates, and out of town guests can train, mingle, and roll.
My instructor, Roy Harris will be the main attraction on Saturday. 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. will be a short seminar. 11 to noon will be my second degree black belt exam. We’ll break for a 2 hour lunch and regroup at 2 p.m. Mr. Harris will then lead another 2 hour seminar, finishing at 4.
Cost of the seminar is $100. You can register at the Academy, or by contacting Becky at contact@roydeanacademy.com.
See you there!
]]>
August 28: Jeremy Loomis- Blue Belt
September 3: Jeff Sass- Blue Belt
September 11: Neil Thompson- Purple Belt
September 18: Steve Greenaway- Purple Belt
September 22: Kirsty Geoghegan- Blue Belt
September 25: Big Jim- Blue Belt
October 11: Steve Kaneda- Blue Belt
October 16: Sean Stoopman- Purple Belt
October 23: Robert Romo- Blue Belt
November 13: Brian Sorter- Purple Belt
]]>
Huge thanks to Seymour Yang for the beautiful article in this month’s Martial Arts Illustrated (MAI), Britain’s largest martial arts magazine. The UK crew will be bringing several copies over on their next trip!
]]>
It wasn’t my intention to buy a yoga studio this weekend, but that’s exactly what happened. My instructor, David Miliotis, pounced on another yogic job opportunity in San Diego, and was about to shut down the shala at the end of the month. I love the space and the environment he’s created, and would hate to see it shut down so unceremoniously, so I made an offer to buy the studio in effort to keep it open. Not only was David happy with our transaction, but I’m excited about making some changes that will make running the shala effortless. I’ve already renegotiated the lease, talked to several members of the instructional staff, and have a subletting yogi lined up. Busy week, but I’m honored to have the opportunity to keep Ashtanga alive in Bend.
Slick technique from Abmar Barbosa via BJJWeekly.com. Study on this!
]]>
Gracie Barra Alaska hosted me for a seminar this last weekend, and as usual, it was a fantastic experience. The seminar itself focused on a few concepts, several techniques that were linked together into a flow, and even some Q & A in the last 30 minutes.
My good friend Bob Grunder also asked me to evaluate the Academy’s top brown belts for promotion to black belt. Both Pat and Jarvis impressed me with their very technical games, skillful use of their weight, solid grips, and excellent passing. Each evaluation took about an hour and rolled out like a spirited debate. Reflecting on training with them both, I realized that I had probably learned more from them than they had learned from me. In the end, I recommended both of them for black belt and look forward to the day they receive it from Professor Nelson Monteiro.
]]>
Joint Lock BJJ, an RDA affiliate, brought the “Armhunter” himself, Daniel Camarillo, to share his skills in a 4 hour seminar this weekend. In a word, it was awesome. Daniel was methodical, easy to follow, well spoken, and fierce in his demonstration of armlock techniques from all angles. Particularly useful to me were his details on the elevator sweep, converting a horizontal pull into a vertical push with the arms, and the subsequent options of sweeping to mount, helicopter armbar, or taking the back. Brilliant stuff!
Huge thanks to Casey and Neil from Joint Lock BJJ, Dan Camarillo, and his talented uke Jerome Basilio. We look forward to next time!
]]>
I am pleased to announce that the first BJJ app for the iPad has been released! No Gi Essentials is now available for download, and I must say it came out better than I thought. Optimized for the iPad, the compression is excellent, and the iPad is a much more convenient way to watch it than a DVD player. Click here if you’d like to check it out yourself!
[left to right] Adam Munzing, myself, and Sean Stoopman in Washington, D.C. at the World World II Memorial.
Congratulations to Sean Stoopman becoming the latest RDA Affiliate! Sean is the head BJJ instructor of Silverback Academy in Fairfax, Virginia, and a very talented jiu jitsu player.
Sean, his business partner Michael Fath, and Adam Munzing will be coming out in October for purple belt and blue belt demonstrations! I taught a seminar on Saturday on passing the guard that was well received, and enjoyed the energy and vitality of the DC/VA area.
I’m happy to continue attracting such intelligent and motivated afilliates. It inspires me to do all that I can to help them on their path.
]]>
“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
“Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war.”
“We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that the nation might live.”
“It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.”
“But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground.”
World War 2 Memorial at night, with the Lincoln Memorial behind.
“The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.”
A moving memorial for our beloved Abraham. A powerful place, in which I felt reverential.
It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
]]>
Please help me in congratulating Rick Ellis on his recent promotion to purple belt. Rick showcased a wide palette of techniques, and tremendous heart against some skilled players during the live portion. Bravo!
]]>