Epi 163 Get Better Faster With Two Moves From Each Position

We are excited to talk about this great training method for everyone from white belt to black. This can be a way to quickly help you develop and find the best techniques for your game.twomoves

W e talk about:

  • The advantages of working on two techniques at the same time for each position
  • The mount from top and bottom
  • Side control both top and bottom
  • A tip for escaping side control
  • Attacks and escapes from the back
  • Why rescricting your options can make you better
  • How long you should work on the same techniques
  • Developing your game over the long term
  • Tips on developing a guard
  • Tips on learning guard passes

Quote of the week: “No pain no gain” presented by Rodrigo Pinheiro

Article of the week: How to Train When You Have No Time

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Mat Tales Episode 10 “K-Fed of MMA”

Gary is also able to demostrate his rap skills at the end of the show.

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Epi 162 Interview with Rodrigo Pinheiro

This week we have an interview with Rodrigo Pinheiro. Pinheiro is a 4th Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu he has been training BJJ for 27 years and MMA for about 10 years. He is currently running martial arts school in San Antonio, Texas. rodrigo-pinheiro

We talk about:

  • His start with martial arts
  • Training with Pete Spratt
  • Adding striking to his training
  • Fighting in Bellator
  • Expanding his school
  • The importance of having respect in his school
  • The goals he has for his team
  • Some of the changes to BJJ over the years
  • The benefit of self confidence when someone competes in BJJ
  • Doing in house tournaments
  • Why many students quit BJJ

Links:

Quote of the week: “There’s two types of people in this world: Those who are humble and those who are about to be” presented by Alex Ecklin

Article of the week: Half guard history and it’s most used variations

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Epi 161 Alex Ecklin and the Unique Concept of Masterskya

We have an interesting interview this week with Alex Ecklin. Alex is a high level black competitive black belt and he has recently opened his own BJJ school with a unique concept.alex-ecklin

We talk about:

  • Starting Jiu-Jitsu at 17 years old
  • Overcoming early obstacles in BJJ
  • Not using athleticism to do well in BJJ
  • The donation based payment system that Masterskya uses
  • Yoga to the people format
  • The advantages of having a donation based school
  • The rules he has for the school
  • How he came up with his low suggested donations
  • Some goals for his school
  • BJJ being a new martial art and having room to grow
  • How to calm your nerves when competing by preparing
  • How a tournament and the training process helps you grow
  • Mistakes made with injuries when he was younger
  • Training with a busy schedule
  • How to effectively use online resources

Links:

Quote of the week: “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals.” Henry Ford

Article of the week:The Top 3 Reasons to Sign Your Kids Up for BJJ

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Learn more about “The BjjBrick Coach of the Year” contest

This episode features Mat Tales Episode 8 “Tube Sock”

Byron also pulled off a prank on Gary involving a confusing quote of the week

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Epi 160 Advice and Lessons From Hope Uzcategui

We hare happy to bring you an interview this week with brown belt Hope Uzcategui. Hope is a two time IBJJF World Champion (2011 white belt, 2014 purple belt). She is also a manager and instructor at Alliance Fitness Center in Wilmington, North Carolina.

hope uzcategui

We talk about:

  • Winning IBJJF worlds as a white belt and purple belt
  • Her start in BJJ wanting to do MMA
  • Meal prepping for a healthy diet
  • The benefits of swimming for BJJ
  • Advice for goal setting
  • Her game plan for winning worlds as a white belt
  • How and why her game has changed over the years
  • How to find the best moves for you to work on
  • Her training schedule
  • Learning as an instructor
  • Obstacles for many women starting BJJ
  • Advice for cutting weight
  • She also shares some stories about cutting weight
  • Differences with teaching kids and adults

Links:

Article of the week: Leverage

Quote of the week: Trying to model expert behavior without walking in the experts footsteps almost certainly guarantees a poor result” John Will

Details for the coach of the year contest

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The BjjBrick Wall of Support is being constructed and you can help

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Gary’s audio book this week is called “Leverage, How I have Leveraged My Awkwardness to My Advantage”

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The older grappler and injury avoidance

My first exposure to jiu-jitsu came at about 37 years of age, but after 1.5 years of training I moved and took over 5 years off. My current jiu-jitsu journey began when I was 44 and I’m now a few months shy of 50. As I’m often the oldest guy on the mats when training by more than a decade I consider myself to be somewhat of an authority of on the topic of “being an older grappler”.  In all this time training as an older grappler I have managed to avoid catastrophic injury and have limited my minor injuries to ones that have kept me off the mats for a few days at most. While I’m sure that this is due in part to good fortune, I don’t think that luck alone explains it. I have intentionally taken specific steps to help me train consistently and remain injury free. Here are the ones that I think are most significant.

From left to right: Joe Thomas 49, Ruben Gonzalez 53, Fernando San Miguel 47

From left to right: Joe Thomas 49, Ruben Gonzalez 53, Fernando San Miguel 47

I have developed a relationship of trust with my coaches. They know if I am opting out of a drill or a roll it is in an attempt to preserve my body and not because I am lazy or slacking. If I can’t participate in a drill I’ll usually find something else to do e.g. if I can’t do double leg shots the length of the floor because my knees hurt I’ll find a spot to do some crunches or pushups. If I can’t participate in a drill I’ll ask the coach if there is an “old man” variation. Maybe most importantly I always keep my coaches aware of my current physical condition.

I have also developed a relationship with my training partners based on respect and a mutual desire to see each other progress in our jiu-jitsu journeys. I train with some really tough young guys that could send me home battered and beaten after every class but choose not to. We haven’t gotten to this point just by chance. I have worked hard at it. I often times start a roll by asking my training partners what they’ve been working on lately. If they say “spider guard” and then pull guard I will let them get a sleeve grip and stand up and let them get a foot on my bicep. This kind of cooperative training lets them know I am not there to fight, I am there to train. I have found that if I go to class with a genuine desire to see my training partners progress in their journey the sentiment will be returned.

I tap all the time….early and often as the saying goes. Not only do I tap to any and all legitimate submissions, I also tap to anything that might jeopardize my ability to train the next day. Sometimes a new person will try an Americana from inside the guard. While it’s not a legitimate submission, I have bad shoulders, and a strong young aggressive guy can make my shoulder sore for a week. I’m having none of that, I’ll just tap. A choke that’s a neck crank? A gi choke across my face? I’m having none of that either, tap, tap, tap.

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Joe Thomas with his coach Fernando Halfield 25 year old BTT black belt.

I don’t hurt myself. I understand the mechanics of a flying arm bar. Sometimes I feel nimble enough I think I could pull one off. I will NEVER attempt a flying arm bar. I don’t try to explode or scramble my way out of submissions that are ¾ sunk in. If they’re that deep sudden and spastic movements are too risky from my point of view. Additionally, I feel any techniques I employee, my training partners should feel free to use as well. So I don’t jump guard or attempt judo throws when training as if I’m on the receiving end of these techniques and they go wrong I could be off the mats.

In conclusion, I know how old I am and I embrace my role as an elder statesman in the gym.  This has as much to do with enjoying the journey as it does with staying injury free. Not trying to keep up with the young guys will help keep you injury free, but it’s easy to get down on yourself when you’re a purple belt getting tapped by blue belts all night long and young phenoms come in the gym and give you a run for your money six months after they start bjj. You have to find your niche and embrace it.

DISCLAIMER: I’ve taken to writing articles/essays/compiled lists…. (whatever you want to call them)… as a way to organize my thoughts and share them with others. I’m not claiming or attempting to present completely new or original ideas – I’m taking known ideas, concepts, principles, and articulating how I’ve incorporated them into my life and training.

By Joe Thomas Find more articles by Joe Thomas here