The Mungry Soldier

• 2013-04-03

  Reminders out of Nowhere

  For a while I struggled through my training and sluggishly crawled into training. I had amounted great momentum earlier this year and had hoped to compete. But instead, I made too many excuses and shifted my mental energy elsewhere.

  So after a competition that I skipped, I stopped drilling moves from Andre Galvao’s book and my enthusiasm for BJJ dropped when my mind shifted towards priorities towards other relationships: moving out, career, people.

  The shopping cart gets full before you realize all you needed were your veggies, meat, and eggs.

  I rolled with a training partner today who was significantly a larger level than I was. He had great experience and his advise wasn’t one to be ignored.

  Quite simply I needed to ATTACK, SIEZE OPPORTUNITIES  and TAKE RISKS TO FINISH STRONG.

  At least that’s what my brain is processing at the moment. Our roll was playful but he certainly waited for me to finish my armbars, chokes, and sweeps. For a while the act of “rolling lightly and playfully” has it’s drawbacks. Of course it makes BJJ fun and it makes me train longer as much as I can, but this made me neglect my size and strength for a fluid, quick, and tricky game. Nothing wrong with both but with a thinking roll I’ve gotten used to leaving windows for my opponent to figure out their position. This led to me sitting too long in my choke and arm bar attempts. Meanwhile other people at my level take the opportunity to finish strong the moment they take those grips.

  Like all lessons on the mat this translates to the lessons off the mat. QUIT LOLLYGAGGING AND GET IT DONE.

• 2013-03-17

  Red vs. Black. Paquet vs Vieira. Experience. This is why most of us won’t be switching to lawn bowling in our golden years.

• 2013-02-19

  In my lifetime of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training I’m pretty sure I will catch this man getting his red belt. A pioneer that takes the game to the next level, the level that shows that BJJ is for everyone. I would love and perhaps someday, do what I can to contribute to the notion that almost everyone of any body type can roll on the mat. Sure most of us aren’t cut out for competition but again Kyle proves that wrong by competing not only in Wresting and BJJ tournaments, but also trying out MMA.

  I hope this sport teaches people that what they think they might not have, might exist on the mats. OSSSSSS

• 2013-01-20

  Another post on Vice documentaries. Label me a hipster. An omoplata-transition-to-armbar hipster. This time is a two parter on a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school in Jordan. Part 2 brings an amazing story about Jordan’s first female BJJ champ.

  The gritty approach and style Vice compliments the HD quality of their documentaries. I’m seeing more and more of hi-def BJJ films shot and I could spend hours watching them on YouTube and hours reposting on this Blog. A lot of thanks goes to every warrior off the mat that works hard to bring this lifestyle worldwide.

  side note: I really really want to get an HD camera now…

• 2013-01-07

  Vice Doc: Underground MMA in CUBA.

  I’m excited to see what Vice will bring to Fightland. The promo vid alone showed a lot of shots with Vice visiting various MMA gyms. A lot of Bones Jones.

  I can only imagine Vice linking up with some top BJJ gyms. Vice documentaries in Brazil? Catch Wrestling? Amateur? Ahbu Dhabi? The list goes on…

• 2012-12-26

  

  2012: BJJ Journey

  A white stripe promotion is a perfect way to wrap up my first full year of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. When this year began I was coming off with three stripes on my white belt. I started the year with only one competition under my belt and ended up doing it three times. I always told myself that showing up already means my game will improve but learned that preparation is the most important aspect. The effort I put into preparation reflected on my performance, ergo those beers and candy bars can really drag a guy down the podium. In 2013 I’m hoping to improve my results better and hopefully reach a few 1st place medals.

  This year wraps up with a new interesting goal, to make myself a better teacher and advocate for the game. This means effectively communicating ideas and taking away the things the limit me like doubt, pride, and dependance on outcomes. A good friend told me that teaching was a great way to grow and looking back I see our Prof as a great example: he strives to teach his best techniques with no secrets held back in order to see us improve and develop them through our own training.

  When I received my blue belt in June I realized how much this hobby has elevated into a passion. How much of the lessons I learned on the mat affected the principles I use to guide my day-to-day living. Looking back, I could go on and on but now it seems that thought and talk should take the next step towards action. In 2013, I don’t expect to reach the next belt level but I’m certainly going to make every minute on the mat count to make sure I feel my growth not only in my skill on the mat, but see the growth in myself as a person.

• 2012-12-24

  Diffuse. Evade. Attack.

  Ever since I started training, it has always come accross my mind how my training can apply on the streets. Gracie Breakdown assess the strategy of self-defense and taking on multiple opponents  Most people don’t realize the importance of diffusing a situation. Effective conflict resolution occurs when conflict doesn’t occur at all.

  Great video from GracieBreakdown as always

• 2012-12-17

  

  Children and bullying and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

  (taken from Reddit)

• 2012-12-13

  

  purposefulmusings:

  trianglejake:

  “Pedro Valente: The white bar is the first level of the black belt. After teaching for a couple of years with the white bar, the coach can be awarded the red bar based on his teaching skills. Most academies stopped awarding the white bar, but Royce Gracie and the Valente Brothers still preserve the original system. So people wearing the white bar are almost surely legit black belts directly under the HG lineage.”

  Old school. Machados don’t do white bars :)

  I got all LIFE to do this.

  (via newaza-dan)

  Source: trianglejake

• 2012-12-11

  Finally, a video that doesn’t address specific techniques, but rather explores the movements involved with maintaining position. Stephan Kesting and Emily Kwok gave me a few things to work on next time on the mat. Yes I know Marcelo would have a plethora of videos on butterfly, unfortunately I don’t have access to MGinaction.com :(

  I always tell frustrated white belts that when they start playing guard, the first thing they want to work on is re-guarding. Gain confidence that you’ll be playing guard, then you’ll be less anxious in trying out sweeps and submissions. Stephan Kesting and Emily Kwok gave me a few things to work on next time on the mat.