May the Fields Lay Fallow

5 Comments, Posted by: Roy Dean in: Media

I just got a call from the blogging police.  I’ve been in violation of quality updates for quite some time now.  Wimping out with pictures and embedded YouTube links over quality written words was the charge.  Gentle readers, let me assure you, it’s just the season.  The creative fields were fertile when I started this blog, and the last few weeks I’ve let the fields lay fallow, so I might make a bountiful comeback. 

It’s really the same as training.  You start off disciplined, motivated, and determined to not miss a class.  Later, once the novelty has worn off, and life has assisted you in getting out of your training groove, it can be hard to slip back in line.  If you’re prepping for a tournament, you’re mentally and physically peaking, and it’s almost impossible to maintain that degree of sharpness at all times.  There needs to be an off season to truly perform at your best.

I’m just starting to get a sense of how the peaks and valleys of enthusiasm extend through all areas of life:  career, recreation, and relationships.  I’ve noticed in myself food cycle preferences, hair style preferences, and cyclical exercise fanaticism, to name just a few areas.

Right now, my mind is on the next EJJ.  The content is fantastic, definitely the best issue yet, with a heavy emphasis on female martial artists and BJJ practitioners.  Over the past several weeks, I’ve been in more of a visual thought process:  scoring and editing Jimmy’s purple belt exam; putting together a 30 second commercial to run on the Ultimate Fighter Finale, and plotting an online show for roydean.tv.  Oh, did I say that out loud? 

 

Jeremy Williams Benefit DVD

2 Comments, Posted by: Roy Dean in: Media

A variety of black belts have made contributions for an instructional DVD to benefit the family of IFL rising star Jeremy Williams, and here is mine.  Jeremy was Chris Brennan’s first black belt, owner of Apex Jiu Jitsu, and was 2 and 0 in the IFL, coming out of retirement from MMA.  We were coming up through the ranks at the same time in Southern California, and you can even see Jeremy reffing some of my matches at the Westside Submission Championship, particularly in my match with the wrestler that I was forced to flying triangle.

Happy Birthday Rick!

4 Comments, Posted by: Roy Dean in: Academy

Rick Ellis looking studly and positioning himself for a kneebar with Nathan.  Happy Birthday Rick!  I also created a new gallery with pictures from the night of Anthony’s blue belt presentation.  Check it out.

You can also order prints directly, with a much better selection than what I’ve posted, right here.  You can then turn your favorite photo into a puzzle, mug, or mousepad, all of which are critical to advancement in BJJ!

Jimmy DaSilva: Purple Belt

8 Comments, Posted by: Roy Dean in: Academy

Click here to see the high quality version of how it all went down.

Praise for the Jimmy’s performance is coming in from all over.  You can to the BJJ forum at MMA.tv to see some of the comments.  It’s also been reposted at various forums around the net.  Hard work pays off!

Ask A Ninja

3 Comments, Posted by: Roy Dean in: Media

Sometimes, when I’m contemplating what to blog about, I seek counsel from wiser martial artists than myself.  Of course, ninja advice applies to all areas of my life.  And I’m better off for it!

New Schedule, New Class

0 Comments, Posted by: Roy Dean in: Academy

I made a recent modification to the schedule and will no longer be teaching classes on Thursday nights in Redmond.  Instead, a new basics class will be held at the Bend location at the regular time of 8:15. 

The basics class will include ukemi, mount escapes, sidemount escapes, and headlock escapes.  These are the fundamental requirements that must be known for blue belt, and will make more intermediate classes (such as Monday nights) more fun once a foundation is established.  I look forward to seeing you on the mat!

Fantastic Seminar Weekend

3 Comments, Posted by: Roy Dean in: Academy

Big thanks to Mr. Harris, Richard North, and the members of South Bay Jiu Jitsu Club for making the journey to Bend.  The seminar was a great success:  I taught for an hour and a half on reversing position from sidemount, taking the back, and some of my favorite guard attacks.  Mr. Harris gave the students a more conceptual and drill oriented lesson on open guard control, and options for dealing with vulnerable positions. 

The entire seminar was filmed, including Jimmy’s DaSilva’s purple belt test.  Jimmy, and his uke Nathan, performed a very tight, very fluid demonstration of what the purple belt requires, including basic techniques, combinations, and a lengthy rolling session (with 2 blue belts, and 2 black belts).  Everyone watching was inspired, and realized just how deep this art actually is.  Belts are earned here.  But you really wouldn’t want it any other way.  We celebrated at Staccato’s that evening.

Sunday I was able to roll with all the Southern California visitors, while Mr. Harris golfed at Pronghorn, and later, the SBJJC crew went rafting on the Deschutes river.  I hope that this trip was enticing enough to bring them back next year, and perhaps make this an annual event.

Blue Belt Presentation

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Bjorn Friedrich:  Fighter

0 Comments, Posted by: Roy Dean in: Media

As I watched this video last night, I kept thinking, “Man, this guy is good.”  Then I noticed the Harris International Shirt on his training partner.  Then I looked at his name and recognized Bjorn Friedrich, one of Mr. Harris’ German Grappling Instructors, and a fierce purple belt.  Many of Mr. Harris’ international instructors I have never met in person, but you can recognize the skills.

Napenthe

1 Comments, Posted by: Roy Dean in: Seminars

I updated the photo galleries to include both the ADCC/New York Trip and the Big Sur Drive after the KoKoDo Jujutsu seminar in Monterey.  Enjoy!