Guerrilla Jiu Jitsu: Armlocks
David Camarillo showing how an armlock is done!
Oregon Open 2008
The 2008 Oregon Open takes place this Saturday in Portland. The RDA competition team will consist of James Malone, Anthony Treas, TJ Brodeur, and Donald Bowerman, along with Rick Ellis filming the action. I will be reffing matches throughout the day, for both the gi and no gi competitions. Rules, registration forms, and everything else can be found at the Subleague.com website. The gi competition begins at 9 a.m, so if you’d like to support the boys, you have to be there early. We’ll be staying at the Marriot the night before. Gambatte! Good luck!
Art of the Wristlock Trailer
It’s almost out! The Art of the Wristlock is a comprehensive overview of these often neglected, and misunderstood, joint locking techniques. Disc 1 covers the 7 basic techniques of Aikido (Ikkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo, Gokyo, Shihonage, and Kotegaeshi), with a dedicated module for applying these techniques during groundfighting. Disc 2 is packed with information via 3 seminars held at Yosokan dojo in Monterey, California. Viewers will not be disappointed in the quality or volume of information presented!
It’s my hope that this will expand the technical palette of Aikido, BJJ, and traditional jujutsu practitioners. A higher quality video can be seen here. The DVD should be in the hands of those who pre-ordered in 3 weeks!
This clip features new music by our very own guitar hero, TJ Brodeur.
2 Years In…
Last night, members of the Academy surprised me with a thoughtful gift to celebrate the new space. It was a shadowbox displaying the 5 belts of BJJ, all neatly tied and all HCK of course, as Howard Liu was in on it too. I was touched, and it was a beautiful marker for this stage of the journey, nearly 2 years in.
Two autumns back, I left my job at a San Diego production company to do something different. Even though San Diego had been home for seven years, I felt like I had somehow fallen off the path. Something inside me yearned for that next step, and although the way was not clearly defined, I set out on it anyway.
The first year was largely spent writing, and rediscovering the basics of jiu jitsu. The EJJ was born, the blog established, and I launched an Academy where almost everyone was fresh. What I taught then, the way I managed sparring sessions so Academy members wouldn’t maim each other in the first 2 minutes of mat time, has all changed as skill levels continue to rise. The BJJ experience evolves as a student of the art, and rolls into a new chapter as an full time instructor.
Year 2 allowed me to shift my focus from the written word to the screen image. The experience of being part of this Academy is something I wanted to share with everyone who wished to participate. Keep the process of creating this environment open and transparent, as life unscripted is generally better content than what the mind conceives. Capture and compress powerful moments and rites of passage on video, and allow those glimpses of heart and technique to inspire others. Bring in an element of storytelling, and elevate this sophisticated discipline to a new artistic level in its presentation.
I’ve learned a great deal in launching this vision. The first 2 years are never easy in any long term venture. Not every attempt was successful. Traditional game plans that work for many, may not work for you. True black belts adapt.
I would like to thank each and every Academy member, here and abroad, online and off, for allowing me the opportunity to share this art, and a part of myself, with them. Many have helped me on this path, and there is no place I would rather be than walking this road with them. Arigato.
A Note of Thanks…
Roy:
I’ve written you previously but again felt compelled to send you a note of thanks.
Your videos really unlocked several things in my game that I didn’t realize weren’t where they should be. Over the last month since I ordered your Blue Belt DVD’s, I was able to use the different angles you showed to really help understand some of the dynamics of even the simple moves that I hadn’t seen during training and didn’t realize needed improvement.
I have been traveling a lot recently and so the DVD’s and your student’s excellent BB demonstrations allowed me to fix some broken elements.
Thanks so much again for such a great product and excellent instruction. Today after an incredible journey of 14 months or so, I received my blue belt, and I think that your videos had something to do with that.
I can’t wait until I get to come to Bend and train with you and your students.
Thanks again,
Chris Hoff
Always Move You
They key to jiu jitsu has always been about moving yourself perfectly in the space your opponent provides. Study on this!
The British Invasion
Stephen Greenaway, Kirsty Geoghegan, Roy Dean, Paul Laver, and Adam Fieldhouse after the demonstration.
Not pictured is Jamie Jackson, who left a few days earlier in the trip, but the entire Academy enjoyed our United Kingdom visitors, and look forward to their return in February!
Joining us for ten days, our new friends sought not only to train, but to establish a long term relationship with RDA. Sincerely seeking guidance for the BJJ journey, I found all 5 of our friends to be attentive students serious about their jiu jitsu. They were both empty cups and top flight individuals. Many have contacted me in regards to associations, but Stephen and the crew were the first to come to Bend and make it happen. I am very pleased to have them on board.
Training at Harris International in San Diego, it was not unusual to have students visiting from abroad, that had come specifically for training. Brad Hirakawa and I hosted several grapplers, including a shootfighter from Sweden named Joakim that turned out to be a great friend. I am fortunate that Harris International has so many global connections, and am honored to be able to expand the circle even wider.
Look for Stephen’s Blue Belt demonstration tomorrow. It was very sharp!
Art of the Wristlock Cover
Here’s the cover art of the new DVD, and a new trailer. I just finished authoring the the discs, and will ship them to the replicators this week. I have been receiving quite a few e-mails asking about the project, and I think viewers will be pleased. 7 basic techniques, wristlocks for groundfighting, and demonstrations on disc 1. Disc two is all seminars, including and Aikido and BJJ discourse held at Yosokan dojo in Monterey, and a No Gi clinic held the next day. Blending the standing techniques of Aikido and Japanese Jujutsu with the groundwork of BJJ is something a little different than what’s currently out there, and may stimulate growth for practitioners of a variety of arts.
Congratulations Joseph Chapman!
As you can see, Joseph put in a crisp performance for Thursday nights Blue Belt Demonstration, displaying well honed techniques and fighting spirit. BRAVO!