Yes, I know it's been a very long time. I did myself a favor and committed myself to a lot of projects. I've wanted to write but I've either had no time or if I did, I was dead tired. Instead of writing a half-assed blog entry that's forced, I rather hold off and write something with more substance.
A lot has happened since I last blogged - personally and in the Philippine and International MMA scene. I don't even know where to start. So, I'm not going to. lol I've been keeping updated with what's going on in MMA in the Philippines and it's great to hear that the FFC and URCC had events recently. I still wish more skilled fighters would compete...hopefully sooner than later. I also heard about an incident at Embassy that involved one of my friends, an old student, and a number of other people. When I think about these kinds of occurrences back home, I always wonder when, and if, it will ever end. I guess that's just the way it is.
Taught today, but didn't train. I think I'm coming down with something, so I took things easy. My head hasn't really been focused on training lately. Too many things to do. The past several weeks, it seems like I've just been going through the motions. I haven't been going hard at all or trying any new moves. It's one of those times where I have to get a number of things off my plate then I can place more attention on training.
My shoulder is still not well. It makes me sick, but I don't want to put myself out for a long time by getting surgery. I've started to do some weight training again, and am going real slow, babying my shoulder. Hopefully the pain doesn't get to the point where I have to stop again. We'll see what happens.
Anyway, been keeping busy doing a lot of stuff and surfing more and more. My classes are starting up again so who knows what my schedule is going to be like then. I will get back to writing regularly on this blog, however, I am extremely busy these days. A lot of things I want to do. I can't make any promises, but I will do my best to write at least 5 times a week. I don't think I can manage 7 days a week anymore. As long as you guys are getting some value through my blog and I can give some added insight to you, I'll keep writing.
I'll end with this for today...Damn, can you believe what Rampage did??? That's crazy!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
I'm back!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
UFC 84 and 85; WEC and Pinoy Mark Munoz
I don't know about you guys, but I'm looking forward to the next few weeks. There are going to be a lot of great fights and I'm looking forward to watching BJ and Mark Munoz fight. UFC 84 is this weekend with a good fight card. I see BJ dominating the fight and don't think Sherk has anything on BJ. The only way I see BJ losing is if he isn't his "normal self." June 1 is WEC which also has a good fight card. I'm looking forward to watching Uriah and Mark Munoz. Mark is definitely someone to reckon with and I hope he goes far in the sport. I think he will do very well in his upcoming match. He has a solid background in wrestling and is training with a great fight camp. June 7, UFC 85, we'll get to see Brandon fight. I think he'll take the fight and can inflict the most damage striking. If the fight goes to the ground, then Fabricio has a better chance.
For those of you who do not know much about Mark Munoz, check out these YouTube clips I found.
Lots of other great fights will be on the three cards. I am definitely not going to miss any of them.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Interested in Training with Zach Light and "Razor" Rob McCullough?
In the past, I've talked with a number of professional MMA fighters about going to the Philippines to help train some of the locals--not simple seminars, but something more like a week or more of intense training. One of Rampage's coaches, Zach Light (who also fought in the Philippines at the Ring of Fire event) and Rob McCullough (former WEC Champion), are both interested in coming over and helping our fighters. I've been in touch with Zach and we'll see what we can possibly do. I would love to bring the guys over and will have to make sure that my schedule permits. Right now, I'm not 100% about my plans for the next few months. I'll be talking to Zach in the coming days and will get a better idea of how long they could stay, when they could go, etc.
If you guys might be interested in some good and hard MMA training with the two, drop me an email or leave a comment.
Tomorrow's going to be a pretty busy day. I have a 11am BJJ class to teach and am planning to get in a little training before then. In the afternoon, I'll be heading to Mexico for the fights. That's going to take up the rest of the day/evening. I'll be lugging around my camera all day, so I'll take some pics, and maybe some video, of the place I'm teaching and of the fights.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
How to Get Better When You Can't Train Often
About a week ago, I got an email from a blog reader who asked for some advice. The reader (a Pinoy) is living abroad and working at an investment bank. As any banker knows, that line of work is time consuming and leaves little spare time to train. He was seeking my opinion on how to approach his training and "get good" with the limited training time that he has. I've had more time to think about his question, and below is the answer I gave to him with additional thoughts I've come up with since I was originally asked.
We've all been in similar situations. If you work, projects and deadlines take priority, and if you're in school, training time might need to be replaced with studying time. In the Philippines, it's not out of the ordinary to hear students complain about missing training because of traffic, too. Training time can be severely limited if or when we get injured.
So what can be done? If your training time is limited, let's say you only training once or twice a week, what's the best way to progress in BJJ, MMA or Muay Thai. First, I think that a person should really focus on technique and timing. If you're only training a couple times a week and have no time for exercise or training, it's unlikely that you can build the endurance and conditioning required to hang with your school's "top dogs." When you train with your team members, they may always get the best of you because you gas early. This is simply something you have to accept. Think of it this way, they are only beating you because they have the luxury of training more. However, you can become very technical by focusing on the many variations and details to different positions and moves. You can also develop good timing, again by focusing on technique, while you spar at 25%-50% intensity with a partner. It's easier to build your cardio than it is to learn the details of many different fighting arts. As long as you focus on technique, you'll be able to catch up to your peers by training your cardio when you have more time.
Second, if you want to get good at BJJ, MMA, or whatever fighting art you're concerned about, then make sure you focus only on that art. You only have a limited amount of time to train, so focus on what you want to improve. I notice it many times in the Philippines. For example, some people want to get good at Muay Thai, but they spend a lot of their time doing BJJ. With limited training time, it's very important to "master" one area before moving on to something else. Essentially, if you want to "get good" at a martial art, make sure you are training that martial art.
Now I'm not saying that rapid progress can be made training only 1-2 times a week. It's just a fact of life--if you want to get good at something fast, you have to make sacrifices and focus a lot of time and effort to one particular activity. But, progress can be made even if your training time is limited. Just remember to make technique and timing your priority, and focus on the art you want to improve at.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Filipino Martial Arts Schools in the Philippines
I remember when I first visited the Philippines and looked for a good Filipino martial arts school to train at, it was really difficult, and known options were limited and not necessarily the best choices. I looked in the Yellow Pages, checked the Internet, kept my eye open while driving the streets, and asked a ton of people. Yet, it was real difficult to find the "top" schools. In the end, I had to rely on my network of martial arts friends to get more information.
Many years have passed, and more Filipino martial arts schools and clubs have opened, but there hasn't been much improvement in regards to exposure. A lot of foreigners want to go to the Philippines to train, but when they try to get more information, their choices are limited. The Internet has helped people all over the world find many different things easily; however, when it comes to finding a complete list of the "top" schools in the Philippines, it's still difficult.
It's nice to know that their are FMA associations people can call to get school addresses, but finding these associations is not an easy task--especially for a foreign visitor. As MMA and BJJ is growing in the Philippines, more and more schools and clubs are popping up that need more exposure. A great way to get your school's name out in the public is to have your team compete in different competitions. If your team puts on a show and displays good skill, people will ask about your team and through the grapevine, others will hear about your team. Also, list your school with an official association (e.g. if you are into Filipino Martial Arts, make sure Arnis Philippines has your information). If your art has a local, Filipino site that lists school, make sure your school is on there even if you have your own website. Sites like PinoyMMA probably get a lot more visits and have international and local visitors. Ultimately, it still seems that the best way to find out about the "best" schools in the Philippines is through contacts. With that said, if you're looking for a school and need some help, feel free to contact me. You can also ask about schools in the forums. There are a lot of people who are kind enough to help.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Correction on My Opinion of Banayad Vs. Lozada Fight
After watching the video again, I noticed that Lozada knocked down Banayad at the end of round 2. So under GAB's scoring, the knockdown would give Lozada the round. Anyway you look at it, it was a good match up.
Mike Banayad Versus Alcer Lozada: Who Do You Think Won?
I visited some friends from Manila who were in LA yesterday. I didn't plan on hanging out the entire day, but one thing lead to another and I had no time to get online. But, I'm back online now. I've been sitting at my desk all day valuing stocks and bonds. Fun stuff.
It's time for a break so I want to write a quick entry about some video clips I came across today. The videos are from the latest Fearless Fighting Championship event at Metrowalk. The fight between Mike Banayad and Alcer Lozada. I thought the match was entertaining. The first 2-3 minutes of the match were the best because both fighters displayed intensity-- I felt like I was watching a Tim Sylvia fight the second and third rounds.
The match does show how "home grown" MMA fighters still have a long way ahead of them if they want to do well against international competition. But, the two fighters showed a lot of heart, and with the right guidance and training, I think both fighters can only improve. I was really surprised with Lozada, and liked his intensity in the first half of round one. I also liked how Banayad seemed calm throughout the match and worked counter punching. I did see a number of holes and opportunities that both fighters should know about (this will be their trainers' job). One example: while Mike worked good counter punching, he seemed to be anticipating Lozada's right leg kick too early. Mike was dropping his left hand to grab the kick and counter with a right cross/hay maker. He timed some attempts well, but on other occasions, Lozada would simply make a slight movement with his write hip/shoulder or throw a light right kick, and without fail, Banayad would drop the left hand. I think Lozada could have, and should have, capitalized on this. It seemed like Lozada wanted a one-punch knock out, and this might have been his only opportunity.
The match was declared a majority draw (i.e. two judges decided on a draw while the other judge gave the match to Banayad). Apparently, a good number of people disagree with the judges. If the fight were based solely on round one, I would have given Lozada the match. Lozada showed little offense and kept backing away in rounds 2 and 3 which probably didn't look good to the audience, etc. Although, Banayad didn't overwhelm Lozada. Technically, based on GAB scoring, I would give Banayad the win. However, I can understand how the two judges decided on a draw.
Here are rounds 1 to 3. Who do you think won? (Note: The video is unclear and shaky at some points, so if you felt like throwing up when you watched Cloverfield, you might not be able to watch this. j/k)
Monday, March 31, 2008
Passing the Guard in Mixed Martial Arts
Nowadays I train all no gi and it's always interesting to notice the differences among sport bjj, no gi, and MMA training, techniques, and strategy. One area that has been standing out in my mind is passing the guard. Fighters who train a lot in Brazilian jiu jitsu or submission wrestling have to remember that what works in the grappling arena does not necessarily work in MMA. I want to cover some points that should be, in my opinion, fundamental knowledge when it comes to passing the guard in MMA.
Guard passing is not simple as many of you already know--especially when you face someone with a great guard. Passing requires a number of basic steps. If your opponent has you in closed guard, then you first have to open his legs. When your opponent's legs are open, you usually have to establish some sort of hip or leg control. Once this is done, then you fight to pass over, under or around a person's legs.
A simple and effective way to open an opponent's guard is to punch, either on your knees or on your feet. Most guard fighters who are getting hit will open their legs to push you away or reposition themselves so they can better defend against strikes. Another way to open a person's guard is to pry an opponent's legs open using your hands, elbows or knees (any typical BJJ guard opening technique). However, this method is usually difficult in MMA because there aren’t many secure grips available without a gi.
Once your opponent's legs are open you don’t want to give him any offensive options. Standing up is a great way to prevent the person from getting you in closed guard again and protects you from arm bars and chokes. If you do stand, you have to pay attention to the distance between you and your opponent--too far away and you give him the opportunity to stand up, too close and you may get kicked in the face. Securing your opponent's feet or shins with your hands after opening the guard, while standing, is a good way to limit your opponent's movement and protect yourself from kicks. Make sure to always watch out for leg or foot locks when you're passing, too.
When you have established control over the legs or hips you can start your guard pass. Basically, there are three ways to pass: over, under or around his legs. In MMA, fighters generally pass over or around the legs. Passing under a person's legs works well in grappling but hardly happens is MMA because these passes are typically slow and require a lot forward pressure and secure grips. When you and/or your opponent are slippery and striking each other, passing under the legs can be difficult. The passes can and still do work, but it's good to know that over and around the leg passes seem to be more effective.
Remember that MMA is not grappling. When you pass, don't forget to mix in some solid strikes. This will keep your opponent on the "defensive" and can keep him guessing. When it's time to pass, make sure you put 100% of your energy into it because speed and strength are vital for most MMA guard passes.
Once you've passed your opponent's guard, don't be too eager to strike or submit your opponent because you will probably make a mistake that allows your opponent to escape. Make sure you've secured your guard pass and the top position. When you have stabilized your position, now you can work your offense.
When you're training MMA, try to keep these few points in mind when passing the guard.
On another note, taught class last night and took some footage of the sparring. Shoulder is still painful and feeling real "heavy." It's beginning to really mess with all my training routines. Anyway, here's a short clip from sparring last night.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Best Featherweight Fighters in the Philippines?
Ok, although the title mentions featherweights, a lot of what I'm about to write about applies to other weight divisions. I mention featherweight because Pequeno is returning to the ring and I was thinking of how he will do (he's been away from competition for a while).
A couple of weeks ago I learned that Pequeno was returning to the fight scene. For those of you who don't know him, his real name is Alexandre Nogueira. He's one of my favorite fighters, and definitely one of the best featherweights out there. I loved watching his matches because he always seemed to finish his opponents with the guillotine--and I love the move. Even before the Brabo choke became popular, or even known by most of today's grapplers, Pequeno was pulling it off left and right back in the day. He also used the Anaconda a lot and started the buzz with the "10 Finger Guillotine." Pequeno recently signed with American Top Team and is set to fight some time in June at the WEC.
I thought of other top caliber fighters in world at the featherweight division, and started to think about featherweights in the Philippines. I asked myself, what can be done to make our featherweight fighters just as good. In fact, what can be done to make all our fighters much better? When I think of the top MMA fighters competing in the Philippine circuit right now, I feel, and believe many of you would agree, that our active fighters have a long road ahead of them. This is my opinion, but I may be wrong. If you disagree, please let me know which active Pinoy fighters do you think could fight in the WEC or UFC, for instance.
So I've been trying to analyze why our boxers are world class, and how boxing can be used as a model by MMA fighters, promoters, and instructors to help MMA fighters get better. There are a lot of potential "solutions" we can propose, but off the top of my head, I though of three:
1. Have more competitions
Boxing competitions happen very often in the Philippines. It gives our boxers more opportunities to test their skills in a competition setting. I'm a firm believer that people who compete learn so much about what they're doing right, what they're doing wrong, and what they can do to get better. MMA fighters would gain much more experience if they could compete more often.
2. More guidance from higher level trainers
Almost every boxing camp in the Philippines have professional or Olympic caliber boxers running the training sessions. Trainers, and their own skill level, make a world of difference. I notice in the Philippines, many MMA trainers sometimes "make things up" as they go. I think if MMA trainers do not have a lot of hands on experience competing, they should compete. Ideally, they should continue to compete and always search for the "bigger challenge."
3. Sacrifice and focus
It's just the way it is. The best fighters make sacrifices and train and compete professionally. They focus all their time and profession to fighting. It's their career. Pinoy boxers do this. World class fighters from around the world do this. Unfortunately, many of our MMA fighters, for one reason or the other, do not train full time, or simply do not train enough. To be a world class fighter, not only do you have to train like one, you have to accept that there are certain things you can't do and will miss out on, and you have to concentrate on improving.
I have no doubt that our MMA fighters will improve in the future. If we want our athletes to reach the next level faster, maybe we should model our fellow boxers and the sport of boxing in the Philippines.
To end this entry, let's quickly look at the growth of our Muay Thai fighters. There has been a tremendous improvement in our fighters' skills over the last decade. If you asked me how our kickboxers would do against international fighters 10, 12, 15 years ago, I would've probably told you to bet on the foreign fighter. Now, I'm proud to say that I think our top Muay Thai fighters have reached world class status, or, at least very close to that caliber. Let's see. Lots of competitions? Check. Experienced trainers who compete a lot? Check. Sacrifice and focus? Check.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Cross Training with Members of Different Martial Arts Schools
I've had a long day. I started my day at 7am and won't be done until about 11pm. It's around 6pm now, and I still will be heading to the gym at around 10pm for conditioning. In between my study breaks, I visit the PinoyMMA.com forums to see what's going on in the Philippines. I noticed the Open Mat session that New Breed Philippines conducts every month, inviting people from any team to train and learn. It's a great idea and recalling what Jeff said yesterday, I cannot help but encourage everyone in the Philippines to visit the open mat (or any school's open mat).
For starters, schools who conduct open mat sessions are usually very open and friendly (As for New Breed, I guarantee you'd be training with a great group). You can train without worrying that everyone is out for blood. Rather, an open mat session is about rolling to learn from everyone who is willing to share their knowledge. Second, it's a great way to learn more and experience rolling and training with others. Even simply watching will help you improve your game and pick up techniques. Third, open mats are free! You don't lose anything by going and checking them out. You only have knowledge and friendship to gain.
If you can attend open mat sessions, whether it's at a brazilian jiu jitsu, muay thai, or mixed martial arts school, I highly recommend you do so. Even the best cross train train with other team members. In fact, they need to. There will always be the issue of some instructors or teams that frown upon the idea of cross training with other teams. If you're worried about what your other team members or instructor(s) think, I suggest you talk to them about it. Visiting another school without informing your instructor might upset them.
