Still hanging in....just!

Well four weeks in now and only missed one, which is good for me!  Training going well, could always do with more time on the mat but that goes without saying!
Good news though finally got a better fitting Gi!  Picked up a Battle Gear Soldier Kimono in A3, currently hanging dry now so here is a photo from the Battle Gear website:

The Gi is a much better fit at A3 though I was used to squeezing into my Strike Fightwear A2 so this felt big.  The quality is great and the value amazing at just £50!!!!  Worth noting that Battle Gear is an official sponsor of GF Team UK.

Battle gear website

This week in training we went through berimbolo and it's variations, I had never practised this but had heard the term quite a bit.  I enjoyed the drills though I am still in the clumsy stage when attempting rolling over my shoulders and look like drunken ape!!
Here is a video of Rafael Mendes executing many a 'bolo:

Back on the mats! 1st session done :)

Last night was my first BJJ  session for some time, I knew it would bring me considerable joy so no surprise to get that buzz on the drive home!
As I expected I was rusty and very clumsy but still managed to defend a little and work on position.  The session had heavy emphasis on grip and breaking grip so cannot feel my fingertips today!

Anyway just made up to be back training and just have to keep it up now, oh and definitely need a new bigger gi, felt like I was rolling in skinny jeans and a waistcoat!

In celebration of me stepping back into training here is a deep and spiritual video featuring quotes from top BJJ players/coaches, nice and motivational!

Best of 2013 post on DSTRYRsg website!

 Here is a link to a list of the best grappling and BJJ peformances of 2013 as picked by DSTRYRSG.com a cracking website to everything grappling related, some good clips on there especially the Galvao v Buchecha match from the Pan's, enjoy!

DSTRYRsg: Destroyer Submission Grappling and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: WE ARE IMPRESSED BY YOUR PERFORMANCE 2013.: What is old is new and what is new is old. We have all heard that time honored quote, but I cannot think of a more appropriate saying to...

ADCC 2013 Highlight Vid!

I know this is quite a few months old now but was checking out BJJ/Grappling on Youtube and remembered this.  It is an amazing highlight video of the 2013 ADCC (Abu Dhabi Combat Club) tournament that took place in October 2013 in Beijing, China and featured the worlds best BJJ and grappling players!

The video was made by Stuart Cooper who makes, in my opinion, the best BJJ and grappling related videos on the internet, check out more of his on his Youtube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/stuartcooperfilms?feature=watch

BJJ Book: BJJ Globetrotter

I decided to treat myself to a book on my Kindle for Christmas and got the "BJJ Globetrotter" by Christian Graugart, a black belt from Denmark who went on a four month long tour around the world to train and teach BJJ.  I had previously visited his website/blog which had loads of pictures and humerous stories about the places he had visited so was looking forward to more in the book.  I am only about a quarter into the book and it is really good, I will update once finished reading but would recommend just from the exploits i've read so far!

http://www.bjjglobetrotter.com/

Back from a mixed bag of a year!

I have not posted for some time on the blog this was due to inactivity in BJJ and training in general.  2013 has been a mixed year for me as in May I lost my Father to cancer after a nearly 20 year long fight, my Dad was truly the strongest person I ever knew and I will miss him for the rest of my life though I know he is at peace now.  I competed in Merseysides Strongest Man competition (90kg) in memory of him and raised money for the wonderful Marie Curie Hospice.

  A couple of months later my daughter was born!  Little Emilia has brightened up our world and has changed my life forever!

So now she is nearly 6 months old and we have just had the first Christmas without my Dad I want to do the pair of them proud and achieve the things that I want to do.  I want to make sure that I am an active healthy Father for my daughter and family and getting back on the mats is surely a positive step in the right direction!  Of course my time is devoted to my family now but making a little time to train should not be too much of a challenge especially with the benefits to mind and body it will bring.

So, hopefully this is the start of many more posts on the blog...thanks to anyone who checks it out!!

BJJ Goodies!!

Just wanted to share a couple of items I received this week.  First I finally picked up a "man size" white belt as the belt I was using was off my old 170 size Judo gi and when tied looked like a little bow tie round my waist!!  So I ordered an A2 size belt to go with my gi of the same size from searching through Ebay and found this Tuff Fightwear belt for around £4.99 excluding postage.  I am happy with the quality as it's thick and feels secure once tied also, and most importantly, it has a nice black patch ready to accept all the stripes!!

I also got hold of an issue of Jits magazine.  You may have seen Jits before via their Youtube channel , they produce some great videos and their website has loads of BJJ goodness.  You can veiw their magazines free by registering on the website or order a print version with paying a small postage fee.  The magazine is great with, unlike a lot of commercial magazines, minimal advertising and maximum useful content.  This includes; drills (from Robert Drysdale), feature on Rodolfo Vieira (see elsewhere in my blog for more on him), training / nutritional advice and even a random article on scuba diving, all makes for a good read whether done online or in your hand.

Surely to be the first of many post showing what is available out there...BJJ related of course!!