Pan-Am Photos and Quick Recap

14 Comments, Posted by: Rick Ellis in:

Posted by Rick Ellis

Here are a few photos of Roy’s match at the Pan-Am games this weekend.  I won’t go into much detail about the fight, since I’d rather let Roy tell the story, but he looked fantastic out there.

Unfortunately Roy lost his match on points, due to his opponent passing his guard.  During the match, Roy was more aggressive at looking for submissions, making two triangle attempts, including a sweet flying one that came up a little shallow, and a guillotine attempt.  Roy was never in danger of being submitted, but in the end it came down to points. 

The overall level of Jujitsu on display all weekend was off the charts.  The black belts in particular we’re very impressive.  Roy was definitely in the hunt today, so I for one, applaud his effort.

Getting There

2 Comments, Posted by: Roy Dean in: Training

I feel better about making weight on Sunday.  A lot of positive encouragement has come in, and I’m not starving myself quite as fiercely as I was before.  I will be right on the border, but I’m doing everything in my power to make it happen.  Weight this morning is 176.6, with no gi on.  Add 6 pounds for the gi, and I’m only 2 pounds off.  Evolutionarily speaking, there are also some advantages to going into the competition a little hungry.  Hormonal responses will surge and testosterone will be high.  I’ll be quite a bit meaner than usual.  Not only did I train hard, but I suffered in the final days.  There is some benefit to that.

The Hardest Weight

3 Comments, Posted by: Roy Dean in: Training

Not a good day, overall.  I’m overweight.  Just looking at me, you may not know it, but for competing in my weight class at the Pan Ams, I’m way over the line.

It’s my fault. I should have known better.  Traditionally, I’ve always competed at middleweight, 160-173 pounds.  At the Pan Ams, with the gi on, I am allowed to weigh 181 pounds.  “Fantastic!” I thought to myself, “I’ll come in at the top of the weight class,” just as I did competing at 173, usually weighing 175, and dropping 2 pounds.  But being older, wiser, and living without a scale, I did not realize that I have packed on some muscle over the last year, and even in the past couple weeks leading up to the competition.

Last week, weighing myself at the dojo, I was 181 with my clothes on.  Spot on.  I thought it will be equivalent with my black HCK hot weather gi, which I planned on competing in.  But after placing a harried call to Mr. Liu himself, the hot weather gi is a canvas gi, and therefore not allowed.  Only single, double, and golden weave gi’s are permitted.  My competition single is my favorite gi, and the lightest alternative, but that tips me over an additional 2 pounds.  The final nail in the coffin.

I’ve always wanted to weigh more, and I finally got my wish.  But at the wrong time.  I’ve always loathed dropping weight, even 1 or 2 pounds, with my body fat being sub 10%.  Now, with my scale that I am constantly stepping onto, I realize I am about 4 pounds over.  Not a huge margin if you have time to dehydrate then rehydrate over a 24 hour period, but I only get about 20 seconds.

Weigh ins are immediately before you step on the mat.  You get one chance to make weight, or you’re immediately disqualified.  It’s likely that the latter will happen, but I’m going to show up anyway and step on the scale.  Robb Wolf counseled me on the limited tricks I have available to me, and I’ll be implementing a few.  Broccoli and an apple for breakfast.  Irritability for lunch.  Lots of water now, then none for 24 hours or so.  Life is too short to be doing this again.  Next time, I’ll take the heavier weight class…

Competition Preparations

7 Comments, Posted by: Roy Dean in: Training

Since committing to competing in the Pan American Jiu Jitsu Championships, my mental and physical focus has tightened considerably.  2 weeks ago, I shocked my body with a combination of Crossfit and deadlift/weighted pull up/weighted dips, plus hard sparring at night. Exhausting my muscles during the day, then putting myself in the worst positions possible was a method of mental preparation, being close to the hitting the wall yet not allowing myself to stop moving.  Training at that intensity has a consequence, and at the end of the week, my neck was tweaked pretty badly.  I hit the chiropractor, rested, and went into the next week with a completely different strategy.

“Don’t give anything up” was the mantra for the last 7 days.  Sparring was positional, and rather than aggressively going for the finish, my concentration was on creating pressure (on both top and bottom) and not giving up any space.  This final week will be practicing very specific techniques related to my gameplan and strategy.  Then, turn off the mind and enjoy the experience.

I realized some years ago that the less I think on the mat, the better off I do.  My body knows what to do better than my intellect, and once I tie up with the other person, everything falls into place.  My weight is spot on, conditioning is good, my body injury free, and mentally I’m in a secure, comfortable place.  In this last year of teaching, I have polished my basics like never before. I haven’t competed since purple belt, but I doubt it will be any different.  I faced some of the best players of my generation on the path- Derek DiManno, Nick Diaz, Marcos Torregrossa, Dan Camarillo, Jason Brudvik- all of which are black belts now.  I also know how I win matches: by submission.  I have never won a match on points, each has been by submission.  So I know what I have to do in order to advance in this competition.  As always, go for the tap!

Thread on Jiu Jitsu Pics

2 Comments, Posted by: Roy Dean in: Media

There’s a thread on MMA.tv, requesting awesome jiu jitsu pics.  I was surprised to see this one posted.  This was near the end of my black belt examination.  The final 12 minutes with Mr. Harris.  Good times.

The Sound Has Arrived

2 Comments, Posted by: Roy Dean in:

The Sound of the Way has finally arrived on iTunes!  10 tracks, exquisitely mastered by seasoned ears in Seattle, and fully composed to submission grappling, Aikido, Japanese and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  Perfectly suited to working out, rolling on the mats, anyone can take a piece of the Academy atmosphere into their own home environment, thanks to the beauty of digital distribution.  Download your copy today by clicking on the link below!

 

Brown Belt Days

1 Comments, Posted by: Roy Dean in: Media

From the Mat Methods DVD, here’s some light sparring footage between Mr. Harris and myself.  The setting was Saturday afternoon at Jiai Aikido, during my grappling class. Beautiful dojo, and some great memories.

“Happy” St. Patrick’s Day!

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Misunderstood Holidays: St Patrick’s Day

Blue Belt Trailer

1 Comments, Posted by: Roy Dean in: Media

Blue Belt Curriculum

1 Comments, Posted by: Roy Dean in:

I’ve been hard at work on the Blue Belt Curriculum DVD, and I think it’s coming together nicely.  Response has been very positive over at MMA.tv, and if you’re jonesing for a little more video, then click here and here.  TJ was responsible for the first clip, and the second is a not-quite-ready for the public sneak preview.  Enjoy.