My First BJJ Competition –Video
In November 2010 I joined my first BJJ competition. It was the 2010 Indonesian Submission Championships in Jakarta. It was a good looking event with roughly 100 fighters; some of which originated from other countries (Greece, Singapore, Brazil, USA, Poland, France). Competitors were separated by weight classes; there were no belt or age divisions.
It was an interesting experience for me as I don’t usually take part in sports competitions. Something about it turns me into a nervous over compensating trash talking idiot 
Surprisingly I was able to calm my nerves and relax. When I got nervous I ran around the venue or did some light rolling to get the energy out; which were great ways of staying warmed up. Another thing that helped my nerves was that I didn’t put any pressure on myself to win. I was mainly there for the experience.
It pains me to watch it but here is the footage of my match (warning: boring 
). I think the match was 8.5 minutes long. I lost in overtime when my opponent mounted me and I couldn’t escape within three seconds. It pains me not because I lost but because of the obvious mistakes I can see in hindsight.
Things I’m actively working on to correct:
- Finishing the arm-in guillotine. My technique was horrible, I was flat on my back and I was sending all my energy into his armpit instead of his trachea –WRONG!
- Staying on top no matter what. I shouldn’t have jumped guard on that retarded guillotine attempt. I should have just sprawled him to the ground and tried another submission that I was more familiar with. In all positions I should be more aggressive about staying on top. Fighting from the bottom sucks, eff dat yo.
- Defending from bottom side control. Work in progress for months now and still improving. I want to be nearly impossible to submit in this position.
- Escaping side control. I have a weeeak bridge and shrimp. I’m focussing on correcting this every roll. I’m doing isolation drills with full resistance to get the escape strategies and techniques down. I’d prefer to get back on top instead of getting full guard. I’m going to focus on this for the next three to six months!
Competing was a fun experience that I’d like to repeat. For now it’s back to the mat to drill drill drill. Thanks to my teammates & coach, gf & dad for their support
How to Get a Real Education at College – WSJ.com
Photos from my Recent Visa Run to KL
Jobs in Indonesia and Singapore
If you’re looking for a job in Indonesia or Singapore here are a few links recommended to me by a recruiter friend:
Happy job hunting.
The Man in the Arena
Cool excerpt I saw in a documentary movie about Renzo Gracie. The speech was made by Theodore Roosevelt and sounded really cool when Renzo was reading it.
Where the fuck have you been man?!?
I should have written this a long time ago as I went along but I was having so much fun I really couldn’t stop myself to find the time. Even if I wanted to I didn’t have internet in some of the places I was in; sometimes for days on end. When I was able to connect it was way too slow to do anything. Now that things have settled down to a predictable rhythm I can finally recap what I’ve been up to in the last year.
In 2007 after ten years of non stop work and daily grinding I took a vacation that opened my eyes. I realized there was more to life than just work, acquiring material things, and eventually racking up mortgage debt. I wanted a better lifestyle and happiness in pursuing my passions. So I vowed to take my life back bit by bit (I was a workaholic) until I was finally at the lifestyle I wanted.
My game is coming along… super slowly I started watching MMA/martial arts competitions in 2003 without missing a single event of K1, Pride, and UFC until last year. I kept on thinking “man it would be cool to learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu someday”. Someday never came until I decided to cut the bullshit and walked into Gracie Barra Vancouver… in 2009… 6 years later.
I’m super glad I did. It’s given me a better understanding of the sport I love, I’ve made a ton of friends, and I’m in way better shape. There’s something very theraputic or meditative about live sparring. If I had a bad day at work or had a bad argument, when someone is 100% committed to twisting my neck off or ripping my arm, nothing else comes into my mind except for my opponent. My mind clears and nothing else exists but the present moment… That level of clarity is very rare for me. I love it.
In 2010 I took 3 months off to travel in the Philippines and Bali. In May I started training again once I settled into Bali, my new home. My new academy is called Synergy Jiu Jitsu, run by black belt Niko Han. The first month of class was a wake up call. In GVB most of our training was based on sport BJJ competitin rules with no strikes or slams. In Niko’s classes he incorporates striking and MMA strategy. I spent 5 weeks straight with <heavier> people sitting on my chest punching me in the face and gut, and I had to learn to defend and escape to a better position. It was hard to motivate myself to come to class sometimes but I’m better because of it. Soon after those classes 3 of our fighters had professional MMA fights where those exact skills saved their asses numerous times. If you’re ever in Bali you should check out a class with Niko. Great training environment and he’s the best instructor I’ve had. Most people I’ve talked to say he’s hands down the best instructor in this region.
Anywhoways… I looove the fact that I’m learning some real shit. No BS system with internal powers or jumping 9ft to kick stupid wooden boards. Oh btw I think self defence is avoiding getting into fights in the first place: situational awareness, running away, not starting shit, letting go of your ego, adjusting your lifestyle, recognizing trouble before it pops off, etc etc. -that’s real self defence. Martial arms is leaning to fight/scrap/brawl so you can win or run away.
All I think about these days is sex, BJJ, business start ups, photography, and travel. In that order. Umm… where was I… I was thinking about my girlfriend… Oh right. Below is my BJJ training log. I got the idea from reading Slideyfoot’s BJJ blog. I kept it pretty simple and just logged my hours. I’m not logging anytime I’ve spent in Judo and Muay Thai classes (those are few btw). Next week I’ll start learning some basic stand up skills. As much as I love BJJ I don’t buy into Rorion Gracie’s sales pitch of 95% of all fights end up on the ground. Plus it’ll be fun
Cheers! Hajime!
Photos – El Nido, Palawan
Fiesta
A short email sent by my new friends Ralph and Randy, whom I met in El Nido Palawan Philippines last week. Cool peeps. I had a great time hanging out with them for a week.
….Fiesta……
……in ElNido……..and a good time was had by all……..…
…..the banka races went off without a hitch…..big pesos on the line……
…..this guy was losing his bet midway…….but was all smiles by race end……
….then we walked past someone’s prize pig to the Street Dance Championship…
…….the whole town turns out to support the kids…….
…..and by then the day is spent…….what else……
…….today we lost Burt and Danika, from the Netherlands but picked up Rollan and Allen from Vancouver……..pretty good trade……..
…..our 1 TV channel is on the fritz…….not a major loss……..they seem to love monster movies here…….last 1 was The Sea Beast…….just what I want to see when I’m sleeping in a seaside resort and am going snorkeling in a day or so…….
……actually, that will have to wait………I’m now taking 1 steroid pill and 1 anti- inflammatory pill 3 x’s a day until a nerve in my back gets reduced to it’s normal size……..pain in my back and left arm finally drove me to see Dr Reyes…….nice guy……..does surgery out of a shack……..2500 pesos for the visit and pills………..the good news is my ticker is aok……
…..totals so far for the Philippines are…….
1–ripped off a toe nail……growing back
2–swimmer’s ear….4-5 weeks
3–caught a cold for 3 weeks and gave it to Randy for 2…
4–Montezuma’s Revenge….1 night
5–pinched nerve……..current
…….so RP is dealing with me…….and I’m not a great patient…….and I’ve got to cut back on beer while I’m taking these pills………
……..all in all….Thailand treated me much better physically……..
……..have been advised that the rice terraces in northern Philippines are in drought and should reconsider going……..typhoon went thru there in early Dec and now drought……..
…….. if we leave ElNido as previously planned we may spend 2 nites in Manila around March 22-24 and figure out where to go from there unless we extend a few days here ‘cause I really want to do at least 1 more snorkel excursion before we leave……..preferably 2……..…(we will let you know asap Katie and Rick…….we know your timetable…….thanks for the heads up)……….
……we made a major mistake re visitors visa’s to the Philippines……..should have done everything in Ottawa…..would have cost us a lot less and our current 59 day visa expires April 7……..our flight is April 8……..expect we’ll get hammered again……also have learned there is an exit tax……..500 or 750/pesos/person…….whatever……!
……so March 16 is in the books…….just supper and pills left………..R & R are out……
…..S & E…..happy anniversary………remembered every day but had a bad neck…….
…..Gerri…….many happy returns……….Jared………ditto
…..Mattie…….same…….
……..R & R in the small lagoon…….
….March 18…….hate fitted sheets that don’t fit…….and flat sheets that don’t tuck far enough under to stay under……….this hotel has a 4 star look and a 2.5 star performance……….just advised that brewed coffee is n/a for tomorrow, which means it won’t be available for several days min……..pool is now green………water from the tap is sometimes brown……..hotel can only receive incoming calls………internet is good but only available between 2PM and 9PM…….accountant convention starting here tomorrow, 85 of them………..but the receptionist is cute………..
…….ElNido is a special place….a doer’s place…..not a place to just lie on the beach……….
R & R are out………..again
….March 25……..time marches on……..ended up spending 16 days in ElNido…….last 9 days we did squat………RP waited for my shoulder to get better and it didn’t…….visited Dr Reyes 4 times…….found out on the 6th visit he pays me…….never got that far……unhappily decided to leave for Manila and am trying to arrange new flights home as we speak…….good news is this problem has come up at the 90% point of our trip………bad news is it happened in ElNido which was a trip hilite but could have been so much more…….managed a couple of excursions but got gyped out of at least 2 more trips…….
….so we are at Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences…….$297US ++……..but 154 Canadian, breakfast and all taxes included online thru Agoda………still way over our normal budget but I need a little comfort…….
Rick and Katie………forgive us (me)……we will not be getting together……..I don’t even like my company at this point……..in bed by 9ish……….Randy has no choice and she has seen this act before……..however, I will buy Ford next time I change vehicles to make up for my selfishness………thanks for everything……….hope we meet again soon, somewhere sunny.
…….I feel best when I’m flat on my back……….walking seems to bring on pain……..so this afternoon we walked around Intramuros…an area in Manila….it’s now or never..
…..we bought a few souvenirs from the Philippines for the house and are done……
….people here (kids and adults) love to be in pics……..
…….even the street vendors who practically open your car door……
….taxi driver on our trip back to our hotel coughed 300 times in a 40 min trip……RP said it’s prob allergies……I’m thinking I’ll arrive home with malaria or diphtheria or pneumonia or some Asian disease…..
……to all our NBF’s…….thanks for making our trip special…..
……looking forward to 12 hours on a plane….will pop a valium and wear a diaper..
R & R are out for 2010……..
