The Space Between

Piano 21 Cover Art

Blue Belt Memories

Kimberly Souza, Master Francisco Mansur, and myself with utterly ridiculous hair.

I received my blue belt under Claudio Franca, one of Francisco Mansur’s top students.  Even after moving to San Diego and training with Roy Harris, I would occasionally end up back in Northern California and hang with my old crew.

At Claudio’s San Jose academy, Garth Taylor and I rapped out about my upcoming promotion to purple belt.  I also mentioned that 2 others were going to be promoted around the same time, Kevin and Luke.  Garth was Luke’s wrestling coach in high school, and the one who got him involved in jiu jitsu.  Luke and I moved down to attend UCSD at the same time, and we both began training under Mr. Harris.

Garth, having known Luke as an undersized kid who was often whooped on, voiced his opinion that Luke probably shouldn’t be promoted just yet.  Let him dominate at the blue belt ranks for awhile was his reasoning.  Garth was a black belt, and I had no reason to disagree. 

Back in San Diego, Mr. Harris and I were chatting after class and I relayed Garth’s opinion that Luke shouldn’t be promoted.  I will never forget how his face changed, not into an expression of anger, but simply a stone cold visage.  Then, I generously volunteered “I’m not in any rush to be promoted.  Take your time.”

“Don’t worry,” he replied.  “I will.” 

I cringe when I think about that conversation.  Me, a blue belt with a couple years of experience, telling my instructor who and when to promote.  The man who taught, coached, and encouraged me, who knew my BJJ inside and out, who could shut me down at any time, with a depth to his game that I really could not even conceive of, was the man I was giving advice to.  Unbelievable.  I needed to trust more and realize that he was growing me, and others, at the right rate for long term success and a true understanding of BJJ.

Mr. Harris did take his time in promoting me, receiving my purple belt after 5 years of training.  Luke morphed into a total and complete stud, with a superhero like physique and a slew of the hottest girlfriends San Diego had to offer.  I’ve never forgotten that conversation, and keep it in mind as I have now become the professor, and continue to grow my students and friends, one at a time, in the way that serves them best.

Meditations on 2010

Off and running in a new year, and I have list going, of course.  Not necessarily goals, but meditations on where I’d like focus my energy.  In no particular order:

RDA Clubs and Affiliates

Affiliated schools launch in 2010, either as a club (led by blue belts) or an official affiliate (purple belt and above).  I want to help others create this kind of training environment in their own hometowns.

Junior BJJ Program 

Another kids class is in the works!  Led by Neil and Becky, materials are being finalized for a standardized class structure, skills, rank and testing requirements. 

No Gi Essentials 

Already filming this new set.  The look is unlike anything out there, and anything I’ve done before.  The rewatchability factor will be high.  Can’t say too much more…

New Music

I have 2 albums ready to go.  “The Space Between” will soon be mastered in Seattle, and the other album is a piano solo project that’s waited many years for release.

Yoga

My Ashtanga Yoga practice is just starting to get good.  My body has never felt more loose, or structurally balanced.  And I’m still not flexible, at least by yogic standards.

Judo

Dr. Jim Allen, Nidan (second degree black belt) will be leading traditional Judo classes every other Friday, 5:30-7:00 p.m. (starting January 15 and 29th).  Be there!

Female Blues 

Caryn, Becky, Trish, and Kirsty are all expected to do blue belt demos this year.  I’d also like to bring up Nadija Anderson, one of my earliest students, to test during Jiu Jitsu Fest. It would be dynamite to see her spar against 3 female blue belts.  People would be inspired.  Trust me.

More Purples

James, Rick, Steve Greenaway, and Sensei Brian Sortor are all on schedule to receive their purple belts in 2010.  Depending on how people train, and their level of motivation, there could be more… 

RDA Gear

I would like to take RDA gear to the next level, with official gi’s, shorts, rashguards, and T-shirts.  Manufactured abroad, but worn worldwide.  The revolution has begun!

Winter Break Schedule

Winter Break has arrived, and the Academy will be closed from December 24th through January 1, 2010.  The first class of the new year will be Saturday, January 2 at 2 p.m.  See you there!

Fred Perl:  BJJ Blue Belt

Please join me in congratulating Fred Perl on a solid blue belt demonstration!  Fred’s techniques were crisp and well paced.  The rolling showed tremendous heart and tenacity.  Well done!

TJ Brodeur: BJJ Purple Belt

Please join me in congratulating TJ Brodeur on a fantastic purple belt demonstration.  As you will see, the bar is high.  Filmed by the keen eye of Steven Burke, this is bound to be a classic.  Bravo!

TJ’s Purple Belt Demonstration

Our very own TJ Brodeur will be doing his purple belt demonstration this Saturday at 2 p.m.  There will also be a post demo celebration at Casa de Ellis later that night, with refreshments and UFC on the big screen.  Be there!

Super Mario Glover

True jiu jitsu.  Circular movement, anticipation, flexibility, and clean submissions.  Study on this!

Thanksgiving Schedule 09

I’m headed back to Alaska to spend time with family for the holidays. 

Dojo schedule will be slightly modified, as follows:

Tuesday: Donald will teach the 7:30 advanced class.

Wednesday and Thursday:  Closed!  Stuff yourself with protein and veggies.

Friday:  Day class is on with James teaching.  Evening class cancelled.

Saturday:  TJ teaching at 2 p.m.

Monday:  Neil at 7, Jimmy at 7:30

Tuesday:  I’m back!

Have fun.  Be safe.  I may do some training while up north…

Two New Interviews

I’ve been hard at work at my desk, putting out two new interviews that you may find of interest:

First, Final Round Magazine, a new online MMA publication, conducted a quick interview for their inaugural issue.  Check out page 19 for the goods.

Second, BJJInterviews.com went much farther with their curiosity, and asked several deep questions, which I was happy to answer.  Check it out here if you have a few minutes on your hands!

Sheila Bird vs. Gabrielle Garcia

In the words of her coach, Brian Bird (Harris International BJJ Black Belt):

Sheila Bird (5’ 5”, 145lb, BJJ Black Belt) vs. Gabrielle Garcia (6’ 5”, 280lb, BJJ Black Belt).

“This is Sheila’s semi final match in the Absolute Division of the 2009 No-Gi Worlds. Knowing she would be fighting this girl (and having seen her squish every girl she had fought so far), her strategy was to try and tire her out as much as she could standing (wrestling) and then when it hit the mat (with the assumption she would be on the bottom), to push with everything she could (hands, elbows, feet, knees) to make sure Gabrielle could not anchor her weight, and then try to switch to her feet and take top when she could. Sheila pulls this off once, but unfortunately Gabrielle flees the mat, and when they restart she drives back to her feet.

Sheila loses this match on points from 2 takedowns but was able to stop Gabreille from controlling her once it was on the ground. Something no other girl accomplished against her that day!”

Congratulations Sheila on receiving the silver medal in your weight division, and bronze in the absolute!

The finals of the No Gi World Championships will be replayed on Friday at NoGi.com.

Masato Uchishiba

Beautiful compilation of Masato Uchishiba’s skills on display. The repetiore of techniques he uses is impressive.  Sweeps.  Cross grip throws.  Ashi waza (leg and foot techniques).  Osae komi (pinning techniques).  Wonderful timing with the pull before the yoko tomoe nage.  True Judo.

Casey Kaiser:  BJJ Blue Belt

Congratulations to Casey Kaiser on a crisp and technical blue belt performance.  Great heart at the end, too.  Bravo!

US Open of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 2009

A small group of us headed down to compete in the 2009 US Open of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  We joined 800 other competitors in this national tournament.  The atmosphere was intense.  The skill level was unreal!

Donald was up first, on Saturday afternoon.  His opponent was very calm and methodically dealt with D’s dangerous spider guard, eventually managing to pass for the win.

TJ was first on deck Sunday morning, against last year’s champion.  He was up on points for a reversal, before his opponent swept back and managed to pass with 30 seconds.

Neil fought valiantly from his guard, and even went for a flying armlock, but eventually succumbed to a kimura late in the match.

Rick did well with several reversals, and was never in danger of submission, but eventually lost on points to the division champ.

I asked Dave Camarillo to be in my corner.  He agreed and gave me some golden advice in the bullpen while I was warming up, and spot on coaching during the match.  Check it out here on his blog.

I did my best against Mike Weaver, but was outgunned, and lost by sleeve choke from the mount.  There were a few key moments to gain the upper hand, but I felt like I lacked the explosiveness and drive to capitalize when those opportunities presented themselves.  Weaver has tremendous pressure, is very technical, and dictated the pace of the match.  I felt much more calm during this event, and think I might be getting back in the competition groove.  Mike ended up winning first place over Sergio Silva in a very close match, one advantage each, with the scales tipped toward Weaver through aggressiveness in the last 30 seconds.  Clearly, he is the man.

Everyone from RDA lost this year at the US Open, but even more importantly, everyone learned.  It was another opportunity to support the BJJ community, participate in its growth, and examine our own development, blue belt through black belt.  I also saw many old friends, including my first instructor Claudio Franca and his students Garth Taylor, Stan Kendrick, Paul Schreiner, and Daniel Thomas, each with their own BJJ academies.  Several people came up and said hi, letting me know how much they enjoy the BJJ videos produced at RDA, and it was good to know that I can contribute to the community in some small way. 

Huge thanks to Professor Claudio Franca for hosting such a well organized event, Dave Camarillo for the coaching and encouragement, and all the RDA competitors for laying it on the line and discovering more about themselves, win or lose.