Donald Bowerman: Blue Belt

10 Comments, Posted by: Roy Dean in: Academy

Last night, Donald Bowerman received his blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu!  Well deserved, Donald has shown his dedication to the art, and the Academy, with his regular attendance, intelligent questions, and open attitude in sharing knowledge.  Donald has already discovered the secret of advancement- just getting on the mat.  Consistently coming to the dojo, watching the lesson, observing how different body types adapt to the techniques, and simply listening are the keys to gaining skill, not trying to win in all in one night, or raging hard while offensive and tapping out when on the defense.  That’s not learning.  Real learning is being both the nail and the hammer, and appreciating the lessons each perspective gives you.  Donald’s enthusiasm is infectious and the inspiring to others on the mat.

Congratulations Donald!  Very well deserved!

Training Log: September 2007

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Music by our very own TJ Brodeur.  Many of those white belts are getting very close to blue. Click here for a higher quality version.

Interesting Post on the Basics

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Originally posted by chickenfeet on the BJJ Forum at MMA.tv

I feel lucky that I started at a school where the coaches emphasized the fundamental positions, concepts, and most basic techniques in their teaching, and emphasized drilling those things over and over and over.There were no different or “more advanced” techniques taught to the guys who had been training longer—those guys just worked the fundamentals like everyone else. And they had better fundamentals than everyone else because of that.

Since I moved to a different city, I’ve trained at several different schools, and they all have the same teaching methodology: show 3 techniques and then spar. And it seems like the teacher never shows a fundamental technique. It’s always something like x-guard to kneebar to toehold, or a helicopter armbar, or something even more complicated. I find myself constantly telling the guy I am paired up with, “I know it’s your first day and I wanted to let you know that the reverse spinunder delariva sweep is a very complicated technique so don’t feel bad if you don’t get it right away.”

Here are some examples of the things that are almost NEVER taught: base and posture in the closed guard. opening the closed guard from the knees. margarida pass. single or double underpass. how to maintain side control. upa escape from mount. elbow knee escape from mount.

In my first school we constantly reviewed these techniques (and other fundamental techniques) and added details and drilled them to death. In my new schools, I’ve seen maybe one of these things taught in a period of over a YEAR.

I’m not trying to rip on any particular school or instructor. I’m just saying that as a not particularly talented bjj player, there’s no way I could have learned the game enough to want to stick with it had I started at a school where they expected me to do, say, an armbar to omoplata to triangle sequence on my first day of training (without explaining the basic mechanics of any of those individual techniques). Hell, the triangle itself was the first technique I learned and that was hard enough all by itself! And I’m sure that I’m still missing lots of details on the triangle!

It’s all about the basics.  Everything else will stem from there…

Sandan Sword

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Sword in hand during my sandan (third degree blackbelt) demonstration in Seibukan Jujutsu.  Circa 1999.

E-Journal of Jujutsu: Fall 2007

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The E-Journal of Jujutsu is set for release on October 15th!  This issue includes:

Roy Dean on the strengths of adaptation, both on and off the mat.

KoKoDo Jujutsu master Shihan Ivo Belmans grants an interview before his annual Monterey, California seminar.

Emmanuel Manolakakis goes deep in revealing his path to Systema, it’s appeal, and practical applications.

Phillip Palmejar interviews Baret “The Finisher” Yoshida, and discusses how the small can overcome the large.

Sheila Haddad reflections on her recent trip to Kabul, Afghanistan, to impart self defense skills to the women of that country.

Roy Dean on wristlocks for groundfighting.

This will be the last issue in this magazine format.  Look for big changes to be coming soon!

 

 

 

The Real Monterey Seminar

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Hello gentle readers, the new date of the Monterey seminar is November 10th at Yosokan Dojo.  2 hours in the morning, and 2 hours in the afternoon.  Only 24 spaces are available, so if you’re in the Bay area, definitely reserve your spot now!  Some are even making the trip from afar:  Rick and TJ will be road tripping with me from Bend, Big Al will be coming up from San Diego, and Jeff Prough will be flying out from the East Coast.  So if you’re local, you’re lucky.  Pre-registration is required, so download the registration form here and send it in ASAP.

Aikido Nidan Demonstration

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Here is a second degree black belt demonstration by my instructor, Julio Toribio, in the art of Aikido. 

There’s a who’s who of Aikido in the Northern California Scene in this video.  Sensei Toribio, his uke Dennis Evans, Danielle Evans with the jo kata, Pat Hendricks taking ukemi for randori, under the auspices of Frank Doran at his Redwood City Dojo.

The quality is second generation, but that’s why it’s all the more necessary to save this performance in a more permanent medium.  This test has endlessly inspired me.  The fake out at the end of the randori (causing the two ukes to collide) is something you don’t get to see everyday.  That’s a little bit of martial genius slyly tucked in.

The Art of the Sword

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I worked on a new video this weekend, something a little bit different that straight tai jitsu.  My good friend James Campbell was one of the Academy instructors during my uchideshi experience at Seibukan Jujutsu Hombu Dojo in Monterey.  Later, Jamie opened his own dojo, Yosokan, and currently teaches KoKoDo jujutsu under Yasuhiro Irie.  He is also a devoted sword practitioner, with high ranks in several sword styles, but primarily teaches Muso Shinden Fudo Ikken Ryu Battojutsu founded by Machida Kenshinsai of Nodashi, Japan. 

We actually have two videos to see:  Jamie’s Rokudan in Seibukan Jujutsu, and his sword demonstration during the 60th Obon Festival.  New music for the Iaido segment.  I hope you enjoy!

New Location!

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As many of you already know, we will be moving to new a dojo on Saturday, September 1!  We will be sharing space with Bend Aiki Martial Arts and High Desert Aikido, with essentially the same schedule.  The only change is Monday lunch classes will be switching to Wednesdays.  924 SE Wilson Avenue, at the corner of 9th and Wilson, in the East Bend Plaza.  Easily seen on the left, take the second entrance in after the railroad tracks. Click here for directions. 

Several New Videos Up!

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I’ve been fairly busy getting 3 new videos ready for the site.  Soon, I’ll be switching my mindset to writing, and getting the next EJJ prepped for October 1.

Click here for the 30 minute Alaska BJJ Seminar.

Click here for the video I put together for the Women’s Ground Defense seminar.

Click here for the August progress report.  We have a new purple belt, and we’re looking forward to Kevin sharing his skills with the Academy!