Mysterious Newaza … I love this move!

Jew-Jitsu

Brown Belt

After four and half years of training in Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu I received my brown belt!

2009 Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championships

Here are some highlights from the tournament.  I’m the guy with the red circle and the white G on my back.  I put this video together on my new Macbook using iMovie so enjoy.

So Close …

Well, last night I competed in the Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championships. This event bring jiu-jitsu players  from around the world (Japan, Brazil, Germany, and all over the US – Alaska, Texas, New York, etc.). I competed in the Adult Masters Purple Belt division.

In my weight class (167.5) I had a sad defeat. I was beating last year’s Pan-Am, World, and North American champion by six points. In the last 30 seconds I failed to grab his leg and he clock choked me. My bad.

After that I had to wait for 3 hours for the next division – absolute. In this division there are no weight classes. There were 54 competitors and I lost by one point in the 3rd-4th place fight.

While I didn’t walk away with any medals I was very pleased with my improved performance; not to mention I got to slam some guys with beautiful judo throws! I don’t know what it is but I have a hard time competing in jiu-jitsu tournaments. Hopefully I’ll get past it and be ready for the World’s in July!

I’ll post some video of my fights soon.

X Guard and Comfort Zones

We all have comfort zones.  Some of us are brave enough to venture out into new territory sometimes but sooner or later we all come back to what we know works.  For example, I love sushi and whenever I go to Sushi Nori I usually order the Rainbow Roll.  Why?  Because I like it!  I’ve tried a few other rolls, but I know I like … err, scratch that … love the Rainbow Roll so why try anything else?  We’re probably like this in most areas of our lives.  I know I am in jiu-jitsu.

My comfort zone is the spider guard.  I love this position and I do really well from there.  I have lots of options for sweeps and submissions.  I will probably move into this position 98% of the time I roll.

 

Lately though, I’ve been working on the X Guard.  It’s pretty easy to get into and and there are lots of options once you get there.  I’ve been working on transitioning from the spider guard to the x guard and back.  I work for the spider guard about 60% of the time, the x gaurd about 35% of the time and the other 5% of the time I’m just trying not to get choked!  Making the change has made jiu-jitsu more enjoyable as well as making me a more dangerous fighter.

 I wonder what areas of our lives we need to make similar changes in.  Where are we stuck doing the same thing?  Where do we need to venture out and try something new?  Think about it.

Purple Belt

After two years as a blue belt I have been promoted to purple belt.  I am Magid’s third student (the first two no longer train) and I am the first to earn purple belt.  I train 2-3 times per week, help with the kids class, help with the adults beginners class, and I teach the judo classes.  Jiu-jitsu and judo are amazing sports that reward not only the athletic but the intelligent – it is like chess on the mat.  I enjoy learning something new every time I tie my belt and step onto the mat.

Change Elevation or Direction

This weekend I attended an all day judo seminar in order to obtain my coach’s certificate.  I was reminded of a piece of advice I had received from my highschool  wrestling coach and only today did I understand its importance for my spiritual life.  The advice is simply this, “When you get stuck change elevation or direction.”

In wrestling, jiu-jitsu or judo, for example, you may find yourself attempting a throw, sweep, or what-have-you and discover that your opponent stops your move.  Instead of giving up and starting over you simply change your elevation (get lower or higher, but usually lower) or your direction (switch from a forward throw to a rear throw).  This change in elevtaion and/or direction usually solves all your problems.  Of course you have to practice it often enough.

This morning the thought came to me as I was reading from a devtional, Jesus Calling, that this same piece of advice is probably useful in my everyday life.  As I go throughout my day and I get “stopped” or “stuck” I need to change elevation (down on my knees in prayer) and/or direction (respond to whatever the Holy Spirit says).  Maybe with quite a bit of practice changing elevation and direction will come as naturally for me throughout the day as it does on the mat.

Escondido Judo Club

I have started a judo club.  I wanted to name the club “Hidden Valley Judo” but decided to go with Escondido Judo instead for two reasons: (1) the Japanese was way too long for hidden valley and (2) it sounds like some kind of salad dressing.

Anyway, I have about 15 kids (ages 5-9) and about 10 adults.  I am partnering with my jiu-jitsu instructor offering high quality judo (bragging about myself here) to the jiu-jitsu students.  I think the two arts need to be learned together.

If you get a chance check out the school’s site … Escondido Judo.

We had a tournament on Sunday, which we didn’t compete in for obvious reasons, but one of our students did and he placed 3rd.  Congratulations Isaac!  This even after only five practices.

Jiu-Jitsu Promotions

Hannah received her 2nd stripe on her Yellow-White Belt.  Good job Hannah!

Zaccai received his 3rd stripe on his Yellow belt.  Good job Zaccai!