Ask A Black Belt- Episode 4
Cool video series by Chris Martinet. Study on this. A certain someone may be featured in an upcoming episode.
Brian Sortor: BJJ Purple Belt
Filmed by James Malone
Edited by Becky Creswell
Music: “Silverback,” “Metal Malone,” and “Piano Ring” by Roy Dean
Uke: Joseph Chapman
Match 1: Neil Thompson
Match 2: Dan Macias
Match 3: Richard Ponti-Smith
Match 4: Roy Dean
Congratulations Sensei Brian!
August Wallen: BJJ Black Belt
Recent footage of fellow Harris International Black Belt August Wallen winning The Zone FC MMA belt. Congratulations August on a very dominant performance!
Thanksgiving 2010
There will be no class on Thanksgiving Day or on Friday, November 26th. Classes resume on Saturday. In the meantime, give thanks for family and friends, and check out Ryron Gracie describing a friendly, explorative roll from BJJ Weekly.com. This is a form of rolling that is incredibly valuable, yet is under utilized and often misunderstood. It’s all about giving. Study on this.
Shevlin Park Meditation
One day composition project with pics taken from my iPhone. Music: “Piano Ring”.
The Death of An Uchideshi Experience
Everything evolves. Things that you were once pleased with, perhaps even proud of, may be things you don’t like later on. So it is with my first book “An Uchideshi Experience,” or as it’s titled on Amazon.com, “A Year With the Master.”
That chronicle of living in a dojo, discovering the truth in martial arts, and incrementally discovering who I am, has been taken down, both from the articles section of this website, and the Amazon store. It was time. That was an accurate reflection of who I was 10 years ago, but I’m ready to create a new narrative of that time, and the journey to black belt in BJJ.
While not ready to divulge the title, I am finally in the process of creating The Great Novel (TGN) on jiu jitsu. Not a technical manual, but a philosophical guide, sharing honest reflections of the journey as both a student and teacher of the art, showing jiu jitsu as a way of life. Writing about the battles, injuries, friendships formed and lessons learned will hopefully save a few steps for new students and illuminate their way.
The writing has begun, but the project will not be finished until 2011.
Excerpts will be forthcoming on this blog.
Alaska State Submission Grappling Championship™
It was a great weekend in Alaska, and I was pleased to assist with the first annual Alaska State Submission Grappling Championship™. I spent most of the day refereeing matches in the no gi tournament, which was very friendly and well organized, especially for an inaugural event.
My friend Pat Applegate, a Gracie Barra brown belt, has his opponent pull out at the last minute due to an injury, and I was asked to do an exhibition match with him. Borrowing a pair of vale tudo shorts, I stepped on the mat to have a little fun. Pat’s X-Guard is off the hook, and I even played a little 50/50 myself. Pat is one of the two brown belts at Gracie Barra Alaska that I recommended for black belt, with the other (Jarvis Edwards) having recently received his from Professor Nelson Monteiro.
It was an honor to help grow the sport of BJJ in the state I grew up in. It was a weekend of service to family, friends, and the art. Looking forward to next year…
Arc & Shadow Trailer
New trailer for Arc & Shadow. A compilation of songs featuring the videos each was placed in…
Seminar: TNT Martial Arts
Huge thanks to Alan and Demitra Shade of TNT Martial Arts for hosting me this weekend as I journeyed to my first seminar in the South. The seminar itself was well received, with plenty of good people and great training all weekend. Brian Baker (brown belt under Allen Hopkins) served nobly as uke, and I was also able to meet Robby Beard, an accomplished martial artist and successful businessman and business consultant.
Alan is a Level I RDA Affiliate and capable martial artist. He has talent, but he also has dedication and a very open mind to learning from multiple sources. What I ask him to work on, he works on, and his game is coming along very well. He will be here in December, so it will be helpful to be able to gauge his level in relation to the other purples and blues in the home Academy.
I look forward to returning to Southaven, Mississippi next year and observing the progress of their skill and the growth of their school!
BJJ Blue: Richard Ponti-Smith
Filmed and edited by Becky Creswell
Music: “Jonesy Blue,” “Futura,” and “Pinnacle” by Roy Dean
Uke: Robert Romo
Match 1: Dan Macias
Match 2: Brendan Bigos
Match 3: James Malone
Match 4: Roy Dean
Congratulations Richard!