Hi all, I know it's been ages since I last wrote in this blog. I have been really busy with a lot of different things. I wanted to drop all of you a note that I have created a new martial arts blog. It is still very empty, but within a week or two, it will be fleshed out a bit and have more substance. My new blog isn't going to be your typical martial arts blog. In contrast, my blog will allow me to mesh two passions that I have: martial arts and business. I will be writing about training, business, and a whole lot of other topics.
PinoyMMA.com has relaunched its forum recently and the new front end website should be up within a month. MMA Shirt Shop has also recently gone live. The online community store will be up and running in June 2009.
I am in the process of launching a few other websites. Things are going real well. Been very busy but in a good way. This will be my last post in this blog. I hope to 'see' you guys on my new blog and on my new sites.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
New Websites Are Up! More to Come.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Manny Pacquiao versus Miguel Torres???
No, this match isn't going to happen, but some people have been fantasizing about this match. I came across the thread on the PinoyMMA forum. Apparently people around the world have posted about this in international forums. In any case, I thought I'd add my two cents to the mix.
Who would win in an MMA match? Miguel. Hands down. MMA isn't boxing. Who would win in a boxing match? Manny. Hands down. Boxing isn't MMA. Get the point? I think Manny is a superb athlete. He's proven it many times in the ring. He's a great boxer. However, for him to enter the MMA world and be successful would take some time. Personally, I say 2-3 years of solid MMA training. He would have to devote most of his time learning MMA and would not be able to work on his boxing as much as he does right now.
I don't think a year would be long enough. I think 2-3 years would give him a very good foundation and he could start fighting against some decent MMA fighters. I don't think he could face top competitors like Miguel Torres. (Coincidentally, Miguel and I used to train with Carlson Gracie Sr. in Chicago before Carlson passed away.) Just like any sport or art, it takes some time to get good. Who knows? Maybe Pacquiao is a natural in MMA and picks everything up real quick. Conversely, he might be a natural in boxing, but for some reason, MMA might not come easy to him. It happens to a lot of people. They are good at one sport, and aweful at another.
It would definitely be interesting to see a match up between Pacquiao and a noted MMA flyweight. I think he could do good if he devoted a couple of years to MMA, but I don't think that's going to happen any time soon.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Thoughts on Brandon Vera's Recent Fight, Anderson Silva, and Affliction Banned
Brandon Vera fought on Ultimate Fight Night tonight against Reese Andy. Brandon moved down in weight and looked leaner, but I think cutting weight negatively affected his performance. Reese didn't perform like you would expect a UFC fighter to, yet, Brandon had difficulty finishing Reese off. After Reese threw several kicks, it was clear Brandon's stand up was much better. In fact, I didn't think this was a good match up. I thought Brandon was going to murder Reese. However, the fact that Brandon cut weight probably was what made the match go the distance. Dehydration and a lack of energy are common side effects of cutting weight. Some people can do it well, some people can't. It will be interesting to see what weight class Brandon continues to compete at. If he decides to stay at the light heavy division, I'm sure he'll have to change his eating/training habits.
Anderson Silva. Textbook counter. The punch was perfectly placed. The first punch is what started it all, and the second punch that landed flush on Irvin's face was the nail in the coffin. I was curious to see the match and thought the match might have some good exchanges. Well, there was one very good, very quick exchange. Silva is awesome.
Affliction Banned had some great fights tonight, too - 3 KOs, 1 TKO, 3 submissions...I thought the match ups were good overall, but I had my favorites. All of the people I thought would win did win. I had no doubt that Fedor was going to win, and win he did (rear naked choke in round 1). Barnett versus Rizzo was one match I was excited about. I think Barnett is a great fighter - a great balance between power and technique. I thought he was going to win and he didn't disappoint (KO round 2). Barnett has been in the game for a long time, but I still hope to see much more of him. Curious to know what Affliction has in store for their next event.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Respect & Training Etiquette
When people talk about mixed martial arts, it's usually about training, competitions, motivation, techniques, and even nutrition and supplementation. You don't hear many people talk about proper training etiquette or respect. Well, I decided to write about that today. Here's why. . .
A few weeks ago, I was teaching a class and a "sandbagger" (i.e. someone who pretends to be a beginner) came to train. We talked before class a bit and he said he's trained for a couple months. It took me only a few seconds to realize this guy was full of it (which I honestly didn't care much about him lying to me). When I explained a technique, the guy wouldn't listen and gave the impression that he knew it all. When he partnered up to do technique, he didn't listen to me call out the steps and used a lot of resistance when beginners were trying to do their reps on him. When it came to sparring time, this guy was toying with all the beginners and basically disrespecting them.
Now, it takes a lot to get me truly pissed off, about anything. I hardly get angry and I rarely am "violent." But certain things at certain times put me over the edge. This guy, well, he pushed all the right buttons. I don't care if people disrespect me by not sticking to the technique I teach or if they don't continue to do reps like I instruct. I don't mind because if they think they know a technique enough to not practice, then that's up to them - even though I know they aren't "masters" at the technique. However, when someone disrespects other students, especially beginners, the way this guy did, it's another story.
To my delight, the guy called me out to spar. I've been telling people for the past few years that since I started my law and mba studies, I haven't been able to turn on that "killer instinct" when I train. I've even told people that they have to get me pissed off and angry or else I'll just be on cruise control when training. I used to be able to turn "it" on whenever I wanted to and always did my best in that zone. But these days, my brain is busy working on other things. Anyway, for the first time in almost 3 years, I found myself extremely pumped to train. In a nutshell, I tried to rip off the guys limbs off. After our round, he stopped sparring, wouldn't talk to anyone, and sat to the side by himself. He no longer was disrespecting the other students and me.
Fast forward to this week. Someone very close to me tells me that this same "sandbagger" went to another school to train. Same story. He was disrespectful. What did the instructor do to the guy? Let's say he did something I wanted to do but couldn't at that time (there were a number of older women watching while waiting to take a boxing class).
What's the whole moral of the story? Learn to show some respect and use proper training etiquette. This is not an exhaustive list and merely reflects some of the more common things I encounter, in no particular order.
1. When someone is teaching, listen. It's simple. Show respect and be polite. Even if it's the most basic technique in the world and you know it like the back of your hand.
2. If an instructor tells you to do a certain technique a certain way, do it. You can experiment and that's often encouraged, but first put in a good amount of time doing the technique as explained.
3. Keep doing reps until you're told to move on - again, it's about being respectful of others. This happens a lot, especially with the arrogant students in class. They do a technique a few times, then either stop, or worse, start to play instructor themselves. As I mentioned above, I usually let them be. I will tell them to keep doing the reps a couple of times, but if they persist, they won't hear from me again.
4. Use control in all of your techniques. First, this will increase your performance because if you can execute techniques without a lot of strength and speed, imagine what you can do when you add all of your physical attributes to your technique. Second, you won't injure your training partners. Third, other students will be more willing to spar with you.
5. If a lot of you are training on a mat, ring, or cage, the area can get cramped quickly as partners get near each other. In these situations, it's normally the lower ranking or less experienced students who have to move and find space. The senior guys normally can stay where they are. Now, I believe that everyone should be treated equally, but this process actually makes sparring and drilling run smoother.
6. If you are rolling, doing take downs, etc. and you accidentally hit or bump the pair next to you, be polite. Say sorry. You won't believe how many people fail to do this. In my experience, I'd say less that 20%.
7. Keep you, your equipment, and the gym clean. For instance, I can't understand how people can go walk barefoot into the restroom, then out to the street, then all over a gym floor, then start sparring on the mats. Ringworm or staph anyone?
Again, there's a lot more. The basic point is to make sure you're respectful and practice a decent degree of training etiquette. Everyone will like you more for doing so.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
I'm back!
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!
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Great Fights at WEC; Heading to San Francisco, Las Vegas, and New York
I finished watching the fights a few hours ago, and I really liked the Torres v. Maeda fight, and the Faber v. Pulver match. Torres and Maeda was an entertaining striking match. Maeda had some really nice takedowns but didn't want to have anything to do with Torres's guard. Maeda seemed to be playing it safe while inside of the guard. Unfortunately, his right eye was swollen shut and the fight had to be stopped. Torres won all rounds in my opinion, but it would have been fun to see the fight continue. It was an awesome match--at one point they had each other in toe holds and neither would tap.
The Faber v. Pulver fight was quite a surprise. I chose Faber to win. What I didn't expect was that the match would go to a decision. Faber clearly out fought Pulver and it seemed like Faber wasn't even tired at the end of the fight. Pulver, who showed clear signs of fatigue (i.e. he was moving slow, had no power in his punches, etc.), still managed to finish the fight and not get tapped or knocked out! Pulver did a good job of defending takedowns and getting out of bad positions. I liked how Pulver was able to defend well while on his back. Usually, Uriah messes up all his opponents from within the guard. Another awesome fight.
Mark Munoz won his match by TKO. His opponent was playing guard and attempting a leglock. Mark was able to pin his opponent down in a bad position and threw down some heavy blows. The ref had to stop the match. I was a little worried Mark was going to have a rough time dealing with his opponent, Chuck Grigsby, because Mark had some difficulty with his initial takedown attempts. But after Mark managed to get in deep and secure a leg to takedown Chuck, it was pretty clear that Mark had the advantage on the ground. Chuck didn't really have a good guard and was just taking blows. I was surprised he didn't even try to stand back up on his feet. I think Mark has great takedown/grappling skills, and after working on his striking more, he will be a major threat. He has some creative moves by the way: cart-wheel passing but leading in with a punch (guess you have to watch the match to know what I mean).
If you guys have a chance to check out the two title fights, Torres v. Maeda, and Faber v. Pulver, check them out. Good action.
I'll be heading out of town for a little while and am not sure how busy I'll be, but I will definitely post some entries when I get the time. Ali Sulit, Ralph Go, and Carlos Bergante from New Breed Philippines are coming over to Cali for the Mundials. I was originally planning to go to LA to watch the matches. I'll be in Las Vegas during the competition, but will try to go. I hope they all do well and show that Pinoys have good jiu jitsu.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Training When Injured - Revisited
UFC 84 was a great card. I loved Silva's match a lot, especially when he was holding Jardine down by the throat in a "where's my money" posture. Awesome. I didn't expect the match to end so soon. I did think it was going to be an exciting stand up fight, but thought Jardine would land some solid blows. He didn't even get to turn on the entire fight! BJ's fight. I guess no one was surprised. I was pretty shocked that only 55% of the people who voted in, thought BJ was going to win. I was expecting much more votes for BJ. Machida, great strategy and continues his winning streak. (For those of you who may not remember, Machida beat BJ in Japan in 2005. Of course, he outweighed BJ by a ton back then and BJ did very well, taking the match all the way to a decision.) Anyway, this weekend should be good, too. Uriah, Jens, Munoz...good fights.
So I received an email from a blog reader who was asking about training while injured, and I thought I'd go into more detail in my answer. I touched up on this subject before, but here's another go.
We all know how it feels to get injured. It sucks. Besides the pain, injuries prevent us from training. Knowing how to train around injuries is an important part of getting better at any sport. For minor injuries, a little bit of ice, some rest, tape and/or braces, and easing back into training often do the trick. However, major injuries are more tricky.
Major injuries do not go away quickly and it's important to not let an injury get worse. Hence, you have to be very smart about how you train, if you are even capable of doing anything physical. For hand, arm and shoulder injuries, for example, you probably won't be able to strike effectively, but you might be able to grapple lightly if you tuck your arm into your belt and work your open guard using just your legs and one arm. If your opponent passes your guard then stop; let your opponent go back into your guard; and then start again. I've done this countless times when I've jacked up my arms in the past, and it helped me really improve my open guard game.
Athletes are stubborn and usually train despite injuries. Smart athletes, however, will train smart when their injured and know how to control their training sessions. Here are some things to keep in mind if you plan to train while healing an injury:
- Only roll or strike lightly. I think any takedowns are a bad idea when injured.
- Roll or spar with people who are more advanced and know how to control their power, speed, etc. Stay away from beginners who can injure you.
- Avoid positions that will place your injured body part in dangerous situations. (e.g. If you have a shoulder injury, don't even bother resisting when someone tries to go for an american/figure four lock on your arm--immediately tap).
- Tap right away if you even think you are near a position where your injured body part will be affected
If you keep up with a similar program while you're injured, when you've recovered, you'll still be in the game mentally and ought to still have decent conditioning. Hope this helps.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Using the Right Kinds of Protein and Carbohydrates
I'm back. I was planning to write entries daily after school ended, but I took some well deserved time off to "clean the saw." I figured that I've been so busy with school and everything else, that I needed some time to really relax. I believe one can't push him or herself hard mentally, physically, and even spiritually, for too long or you will burn yourself out--it's always good to recharge your batteries.
I bought a new surf board and have been hitting the beach early mornings to surf. I got up early this morning and was in the water by about 5:30am. I've been teaching regularly, but I haven't been training hard. I've decided to take things easy until the middle of June. I will be out of town the first and second week of June, so I don't want to get into a good training rhythm than have to break it. Also, I will be working with a new company starting next week and it will probably take a week or two to get ramped up and normalize my schedule. Other than that, I've still been working on one of my own business projects, and I've been reading a lot. I've gone through 3 good books (only read non-fiction) in the past few days. I was planning to buy more books tonight, but decided to write this blog entry instead. . .
I received an email yesterday from a reader who was asking questions about using the right kind of protein and supplementing with carbs such as dextrose. One area where I think a lot of our Pinoy brothers lack knowledge of is in proper nutrition/supplementation - particularly for people who train a lot. So, I thought it would be a good topic to write about. Now, I'm not a nutritionist, but I have studied nutrition for years, tried many different programs and supplements, and have made myself a guinea pig to a lot of "training experiments." Here's my take on using the right kinds of protein and carbohydrates (again, I'm not a nutritionist, but believe someone who is certified in the field could and would confirm much of what I'm going to write).
Protein
I don't plan to discuss every single kind of protein and/or amino acid in existence. First, there are so many different kinds that it would take forever to right about them all. Second, I'm sure you guys can find the information easily in a bookstore or on the Internet. What I do what to share are some insights as to what kind of protein to use, depending on the time of the day or your goals.
Here are some tips you can use to assess what kind of protein in right for you:
- Pre-workout
- Whey or a blended protein supplement
- Do not overload on the protein because you do not want to feel bloated before a training session
- Avoid protein with a lot of fat
- Post-workout
- Primarily whey, but a blended protein formula will work well, too
- Take it within 30 minutes from the end of your training session
- Avoid protien with a lot of fat
- Increase body weight
- I wish I had the problem of needing to increase weight! Anyway, use a lot of casein protein instead of whey because casein tends not to decrease hunger the way whey protein does
- Meal Replacements
- Mixed protein blends with whey and casein, or milk protein and carbs
- Avoid casein protein because they are low in calories and do not provide a lot of energy and won't satisfy your hunger
- Late at Night
- Any kind of "slow release" protein like milk protein
- Fat and fiber will help slow down the digestion of the protein as well
- Dieting
- Whey protein because it tends to decrease hunger more than the other kinds of protein
- Use fiber to also help slow digestion and decrease hunger
- Strength/Power
- A mixed protein blend with whey and casein is best
- Keep eating! Strength and power increase more effectively when you provided your body with the energy/food it needs
- When I go through these phases, I eat anywhere from 6-8x a day.
Just like proteins, you should understand the different kinds of carbs out there and how and/or when to take which kinds and when. Know more about the types of carbs can help you make better choices.
- Simple carbs: They're commonly known as sugars and without getting detailed, they have a more pronounced effect on your insulin levels, making them better before (right before) and after workouts when the body seeks to build and repair muscle.
- Dextrose is a type of simple carb that can be found in any Mercury drug in the Philippines. It's "quick" energy, but not "quality/long term" energy. You can use it pre-workout but take only a little because you will crash hard and fast if you use too much. It's best taken with protein after training or a workout.
- Sucrose is the another common simple carb. It's regular table sugar. If you have to choose between dextrose and sucrose, I would go with dextrose.
- Complex carbs: Complex carbs provide an advantage over simple carbs because they deliver energy with a less dramatic insulin response (less likely to crash), making them good choices as meal replacements an hour or so before training.
- Maltodextrin is probably one of the most popular. You can buy it alone, but it's normally included in good protein powders or meal replacement drinks. It's a good source of energy without having to take in sugar.
- Oat bran (or similar) are good complex carbs from oats that provide a longer lasting form of energy, making them good for pre-workout meals/shakes.
- Fiber is another carbohydrate that is nondigestible. It's great to use when you are trying to slow down digestion. It can make you feel "fuller" so you won't eat as much, too.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Quick Update!
My finals are almost over! My last two are tomorrow and after, I will have more time to write blog entries. For the people who have emailed me with questions and comments, I apologize for not getting back to you soon. I have been very busy and will make sure to reply to each one of your emails.
On another note, I'm looking forward to the UFC on May 24. Seems like it's going to be a great fight card! I doubt I will be heading to Vegas then because I will be busy, but I will be traveling around in a couple weeks: San Fran, LA, Vegas and NYC. I'm going to try and get some training in at each city.
Friday, May 9, 2008
I've Said It Before, and I'll Say It Again. . .Focus.
Focus. If you want to get really good at something, you have to focus a lot of your time and effort on that certain thing. The more you put in, the better the results. . .
As I said in my last entry, finals are next week and I will probably miss a few days here and there. I went to LA Boxing today to train and didn't feel like I performed well. I got tired very fast and my movement seemed sluggish.
My mind has been all over the place: thinking about several new job opportunities I have, studying for finals, working on my own business project, training, teaching, etc. etc. Honestly, my mind has been "awake" even while I'm sleeping--I've been waking up constantly the last few nights because of a thought that pops into my head. Clearly, I haven't been sleeping well.
Normally, I can balance everything pretty well, but there are times (like now) where things aren't in perfect harmony. I haven't had the time to really think through my training sessions and devote time to working specific moves or drills. Hopefully, after this crazy weekend of studying, and next week's finals, everything will go back to normal.
I can't emphasize it enough; if you guys want to improve your game, make sure you're working specific areas instead of spreading yourself too thinly. Right now, I feel my training is suffering a bit because of everything else I have to do. I guess it doesn't help that I'm passionate about everything I'm doing and will not give-up one thing for another. (As a side note, I don't believe in the saying "do what you love" because it assumes you can choose one thing over another and your "passion" doesn't change.) However, after exams I'll have more time on my hands and will make sure I'm "focusing."
Hope everyone's training is going well.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
A Busy Week
Today was pretty much my last day of class for the semester, so I'm glad. But next week are finals and I'll be studying pretty much throughout the weekend and all of next week. During this time, I will try to write a blog entry each day, but it will depend on my schedule. Hopefully I'm not too busy.
Because I'll have a bit more time on my hands when finals are over, I've been doing a little research on "high performance" cardiovascular training. The training method calls for different cardio routines and the use of some pretty high tech equipment. I'm planning to make myself a guinea pig and try everything out for 2-3 months. I'll also have more time to focus on my new power and strength program (which I've started because I can no longer do power lifts because of my shoulder injury). I'll give some updates on my progress once in a while.
I'll be teaching tomorrow at LA Boxing and plan on training at Undisputed on Thursday. I'm pretty sure John (War Machine) will be training for his UFC fight on May 24, so I'll probably help out and train after. Anyway, that's it for now. It's been a long day.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Back to the Basics
(LA Boxing in Rancho Penasquitos)I spent pretty much the entire morning today at LA Boxing. It was their grand opening. They have a good number of students who've enrolled and it's going to be interesting to see how crowded the place gets during weekday evenings.
I taught group classes yesterday and today, and also a private lesson. The students were beginners, but I hear there are a good number of experienced people who joined. They will probably start training during the week. Because most of the students will be beginners, it's going to be a great way for me to review and train basic techniques. I plan to limit the number of moves I use and focus primarily on one fundamental movement or position every night or week. It's been a long while since I've had a chance to dedicate a good amount of time simply focusing on particular techniques and timing (because of school), so teaching at LA Boxing will give me that opportunity.
So far everything is looking good. The facility is nice and the people are great. Ali, the owner is a a great guy and really wants to provide a solid program for people who want to compete or those who just want a good workout. Chris, Donovan--the staff--and the trainers all bring a lot of energy to the gym and it will be fun seeing them regularly. After giving our comments to Ali, there will be a few "improvements" to the gym to provide a better training environment (e.g. the mat area will have a padded wall or cage).
I noticed there are a lot of Filipinos in the area. There's even a Filipino restaurant a few doors down from LA Boxing. I saw huge signs with "Lumpia" and "Pancit." I have a feeling there will be a lot of Pinoys who enroll. It was cool to hear that some of the Pinoy students I taught this weekend have been reading my training blog, even before they knew I was going to teach at LA Boxing. Anyway, it will be nice to have a good number of Pinoys training hard in the gym.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Teaching Schedule at LA Boxing in Rancho Penasquitos
I've set up my final teaching schedule at LA Boxing. I will start teaching this Saturday morning and will also be there Sunday morning for the grand opening. My regular teaching schedule will start on Monday.
Mondays
- 4:15pm Kids Program (12-16)
- 5:30pm BJJ
- 6:30pm BJJ
- 4:15pm Kids Program (12-16)
- 5:30pm BJJ
- 7:00pm Muay Thai
- 10:00am BJJ
- 11:00am BJJ
I'll be heading to Mexico on Saturday evening to check out a MMA competition. A number of fighters from Undisputed will be competing. I'm sure they'll all put on a good show. I'll make sure to take some pics.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
MMA Apparel Brands
I have a lot of work to catch up on so I can't write much. I did want to quickly rant about how it seems like there are so many new MMA brands coming out in the apparel market. I'm amazed at how many new companies are trying to enter the market but do not realize they have little value to offer consumers. No real benefits. No differentiation. It's getting pretty ridiculous. There are new brand names that are just plain horrible, but I'll refrain from stating names because I don't want to step on any toes. I'm not really sure what the people behind these companies are thinking. I hope they didn't invest that much in their clothing ideas because I think they are wasting their time, money and effort.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Back to San Diego
(Beluga Whale Exibit at the Shedd Aquarium)Last night was fun, although the "bar" we went to seemed more like a club in the Philippines, rather than a Chicago, or even, Hawaiian bar. There were a ton of Filipinos at the place. My friend even sported a Philippine jacket! He had no clue that the majority of the people would be Pinoy. I was surprised to see a girl (Janet) I knew from 6th to 8th grade working at the bar (I dated one of her friends for a while). When I walked into the place, we looked at each other a number of times and she looked really familiar. When my brother mentioned her name, it all came back to me. I knew it in Jr. High. I knew she was going to be a very "talented" woman.
(With one of my best friends in grade school, Nick .)
(Very talented...)Some reporters from ABS-CBN were covering the opening of the club. They took footage of the activities inside and also pulled people aside for interviews. While the reporters were interviewing an owner (I think), one of our friends (Kuan)--who always has too much to drink--decided to get some camera time. Btw, Kuan decided to take a leak in a trash can instead of a toilet (I have evidence!), and he pretty much got us kicked out of the next place we went to!
(Kuan showing his abs to the video camera.)
(Nick and Mark rolling before the seminar.)
(Some rolling before the seminar.)I didn't get to take the video footage that I wanted, so I won't be posting video. However, I will eventually put some video clips up that cover some of the techniques that I taught during the seminar.
To the guys in Chicago reading this, it was good seeing all of you and keep training hard. Hopefully I'll be back in Chicago again soon.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Sore Necks and Throats
The No-Gi Chokes seminar went well. I saw a number of familiar faces, including my best friends in elementary school. IFL fighter Chris Albandia, who looks like a Filipino version of Wolverine--I mean that in a good way, also attended the seminar and was very open and receptive to learning new techniques. I covered three main submissions: the guillotine, the brabo choke, and the rear naked. I taught how to transition into the chokes and showed a number of variations and positions that can help one effectively execute the techniques. I also went on to show defenses to the chokes, including the anaconda choke.
I was glad to have participants come to me after the seminar to let me know they were happy with the new techniques and details they learned. Unfortunately, no one took notes. So, I hope they remember everything.
I'm heading out in a little while so I won't be able to post pics or video right now, but I will tomorrow, hopefully. Tonight should be interesting. A bunch of the guys are getting together at a place called Tiki Terrace. From the name of the place, I like it already--hula girls, friends, drinks...good fun. If I'm not too lazy, I may carry my camera around and take some pics. If I do, I plan to get some of the guys drunk and video them hitting on girls. Haha.
New Breed Jiu Jitsu Chicago
The seminar starts in a couple hours. I'll post pics and some video later.
Friday, April 25, 2008
I'm Beginning to Dread Air Travel
I just arrived in Chicago-- it's been one long day. I was up at 3am in San Diego, and because of a pretty bad thunderstorm in Chicago, I was stuck in Salt Lake City for a long time. It's now 3:30pm in Cali (5:30pm here). I feel like I've wasted my entire day!
To my surprise, it's actually warm here. It's about 80 degrees. But, the rest of the weekend is supposed to be much cooler.
I'm waiting for my sister-in-law to pick me up, and then will probably meet up with my brother.
Sent from my iphone.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Leaving for Chicago in a Few Hours
I'm finally "done" with my day. I'm pretty much done with my packing and will be leaving for the airport in a few hours. I trained for a little bit earlier. A few of us started by helping Jon (aka War Machine) prepare for his UFC fight in May. However, the training ended after a few rounds because Jon was feeling a little pain in his body from his earlier training session. We all just started to train with one another. I rolled with Baret for 5 or 6 rounds and called it a day. I was thinking about hitting the bag or rolling longer, but wanted to make sure I had everything in order for my trip.
I'm going to try and get a couple hours of shut eye before heading to the airport, so I can't write much again. I'll be online regularly while I'm in Chicago and will write about what's going on in the Windy City.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Mark Munoz - Pinoy MMA Fighter
I have a lot of things to do tonight, so I'm going to keep this entry short. I did want to mention that I am eager to see Mark Munoz fight in the WEC in June. Mark is one of the few heavy weight Filipinos out there who excel in MMA. He has a strong background in wrestling and is a 2x NCAA Champion. That alone says he has a lot of intensity and has the potential to go far in the sport. I'm looking forward to watching him fight, and I hope he becomes successful in MMA.
