Kids Train with 'The Pitbull'

This week the kids had the opportunity to train with Ralph Gracie! Here are some pictures and videos of the class.

 

PICTURES

 

VIDEOS

Drilling under Ralph Gracie's watch

Some light rolling

Getting striped

 

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Sunday Training

I need to get into the habbit of posting my notes immediately after training. It's hard enough to remember all the details when collecting my thoughts after class. 

Note to self: post training notes no more than a 3 hours after training.

Sunday was my first day training with Rob Ables, a local black-belt in the DFW area. I was advised by my current instructor Chris Story, to branch out and explore other formats to help push my game to the next level. It was an eye-opener. First off, Rob's style of instruction was excellent. Rather then going through a list of mechanical steps, we started off with the end game objective and concept building working backwards. This really helped solidify the "reasons" for each step.

This session we covered the following:

1. basic x-guard concepts
2. x-guard entry options

It was an excellent session because I love to play half-guard and naturally transition to a different form of the x-guard in my current game. I usually transition to the x-guard by uncrossing my oustide leg and inserting the hook on the inside of my partners thigh. The x-guard entry and position Rob covered was not what I'm accustomed to. 

Things that stuck:

1. x-guard entry - the interesting thing about what I took away from this part of the lesson was not the actual x-guard entry. Rob explained how to square up when playing open guard and proper hand position to defend the pass. This alone was worth the entire day!
2. The x-guard feel - Although I don't remember all technical details (as I drill more I'll remember) I do remember what it feels like to have the correct control. Rob said "once you understand where you need to be, you can be inventive on how to get there." Good stuff.
3. The Box- Entry to the x-guard is not about forcing. It's about engaging when you are ready to by keeping squared up with your partner and engaging/disengaging when you to. Then when the grips and position are available you transition.

Things that didn't stick:

1. All the details on set up. I'll need to drill this a few thousand times before it makes sense :)
2. x-guard reversal details. I'm able to execute an x-guard reversal in live grappling but I just don't remember all the details.

Mat Log:

1. Cardio absolutely sucks. 10 minutes of live rolling and I gassed.
   
2. Rob was going easy on me but still made it a point to make me see where he could have finished. 
3. The one good thing I did that I do remember (amidst all the fleeing) was a good base out on an attempted reversal. I felt my body lifting off the ground and I literally straightened out my two legs as a counter weight to stop the reversal and it worked. I definitely paid for that for the next 5 minutes but it's the small victories that get you through it!

Next time....

Kids Up for Belt test

My kids are coming up on 5 years of BJJ training. It is amazing to see how they've grown both in technical knowledge and sensitivity. My daughter Dayna is already training with the adults in her class and is holding her own with women twice her age. Devon is also doing well in the kids class.

Next week Thursday Ralph Gracie will be visiting the academy for belt testing and promotions. Dayna and Devon were invited and will probably get bumped up a rank. They are going to be a solid blue belts one day.

(they've grown some since this picture was taken - 3 yrs ago)

The power of fatigue

I remember having lunch with my first BJJ instructor Orlando Waugh (2nd degree black-belt) at a local Chili's about a year ago. We were talking about the importance of physical fitness and its relationship to my level of performance on the mat. The bottom line was that my physical fitness level would not support the performance level I was hoping for at the time. I'll never forget what he told me - "fatigue makes cowards of all men." Wow! What a revelation. A simple concept yet not so simple. I've always felt relatively mobile and sensitive on the mat but 4, 5, 10 minutes into a roll, my ability to perform escapes under a higher ranked student would go out the window. Being less skilled than the guy on top of you also adds to the helpless, exhausting and fearful feeling [fear is another post all together]

This will change over the next few months. To support my 2009 goals, I'm purchasing a treadmill to add some cardio to my training. In addition to rolling 3 times per week, I'll run and work basic lifts to help me survive a little longer while rolling with guys like my current instructor Chris Story. 

Mat Log - No mat time this week. Still in California visiting my kids. Planning.

My kids inspire me to try harder

Here are a few competition and highlight videos of my two children:

Dayna San Nicolas (current age - 14)

Devon San Nicolas (current age - 10)

Round 2 - A New Beginning

This isn't the first time I've started to blog about my experiences as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. The truth is it is my second time. Through the course of my short 4.5 years of training, the one universal truth I've learned about myself is how inconsistent I've been with my training and representation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in my life. With 2009 upon me, I've recommitted myself to the journey to black belt and have enlisted the help of some very close friends and training partners. I've realized the mental commitment for me stands to be the greatest challenge as I live a busy life. This blog represents my desire to hold myself accountable to my renewed commitment to achieve the rank of black belt in a martial art I enjoy with my children. t does black belt mean to me?

The first step in a long journey to know myself. Facing fear head on. Learning and evolving.

Mat Log - Today I have two stripes on my blue belt. Here we go.