BLOG NEWS: HOLIDAYS

The holidays are now in full effect so regular posting won't begin till the first week of January. I'm still working on my musings for the past several months that this blog has been in existance but I want to thank everyone who's contributed. It really wouldn't be much without your guys' help. Thank you.

-Luke

JAPAN OPEN: DEC. 24, 2007

Daisuke 'Amazon' Sugie (Alive) defeats Mike Fowler (Purebred Omiya) by points: 3-0

TIPS FOR COMPETING/TRAINING IN BRAZIL

by: Stephen Kamphius
If you love Brazilian Jiu Jitsu there’s no better place to train than in Brazil where new techniques and skills are being developed everyday. Having the opportunity to train and compete in Brazil is an experience not to be missed. Brazil still has the highest number of winning competitors in worldwide tournaments. At the Mundials, nearly 90% of all the medalists come from Brazil. For the past five years, I have been fortunate enough to go to Brazil for competition and training, this has giving me a first-hand look at the way Brazilians train and compete and a better appreciation of the Sport.

Training with Brazilians

Having both trained and competed I thought it may be of interest to pass on some of tips to others who also may also decide to train and compete in Brazil.

To start with, unless you are moving around, my advice is to find just one school to train with while in Brazil. Building up a relationship with the other students and the instructor is the best way to learn, you will make many new friends and have a great support group while you stay in Brazil. If you compete it is a big help to have a group of guys looking out for you. If your school has an affiliated school in Brazil go to this school they will be very happy to have you train with them.

Many schools will charge you a flat monthly fee; it does not matter if you train for just a night or for the whole month. Private classes with the Black Belt instructor are also available, and highly recommended if you can spare some cash. However, do not expect the instructors to show you their latest game plans unless you are connected with the school.

Unlike BJJ schools outside of Brazil most of the guys on the mats are high belts you will find it is the reverse of what you are used to, there may be more Black belts than White and Blues belts on the mat combined.

Another thing that is different about training in Brazil although a few guys are out to prove a point, many of the guys train hard but train quite light, it is more about learning as you roll, perfecting techniques, experimenting and working positions, quite the reverse of training in the States where I have been a couple of times.

New techniques: you will learn a lot from all belt levels, training and watching. Many guys are specialist and their Teammates know their games so well you see some good contests and counters. The fun part is when you jump in and do not know how any of the guys fight; it will be a great learning experience as you may end up being in many unfamiliar positions.

Teaching; most classes are taught by the Black belt students while the Instructor teach’s now and again and focus on private classes. I have found all the classes to be a great way to learn from a variety of people.
If you want to perfect your techniques or learn about what’s new the privates are best way to go, but as I mentioned loyalty to the school counts.

Accommodation / Travel Expenses

If you intend to stay for more than one week, it is best to book an apartment. I have been staying in Copacabana on my past visits to Brazil. Although it is not the safest place at night, it is the closest to the school I train at. Late night strolls at the beach are not recommended as it can get dangerous after 10pm. On one occasions I had street kids who distracted me from the front while some another tried to grab my pockets from behind.

Below is a summary of the expenses you should anticipate when staying in Brazil:

Accommodation
Rates vary from about US$35++ depending on the location and the size of the apartment.
You can book online, or book a hotel for a couple of days and find a cheaper accommodation when you arrive.
The guys at the gym will often know someone who can help out
Airport Taxi
Getting around
I just go out side and get my own taxi, but if you are not confident about this just book at the airport (it is a little more expensive though).
Buses are great and very cheap only 2 Real or so, There are private busses as well which are more expensive but more comfortable. Be aware public buses get held up.
Transit Vans are more expensive than a bus but makes fewer stops and you get a seat.

Food
Food can be quite cheap at the small take away shops, and they have great fruit salads and Acai drinks. Many restaurants base their prices on a per kilo basis so you are charged by the weight of the food on your plate. The supermarkets are everywhere; it may also be convenient to cook your own food if you have time.
Money Exchange
I find using a credit card to get money from an ATM the best way to get cash while traveling. Withdraw from the ATM’s during the day for your own safety. I was there a few months ago and the exchange rate was 1.7 Real to the US dollar, which has dropped from 2.8 Real over the last few years.

Laundry
In Copacabana there are plenty of Laundromats, as most apartments do not have their own washing machines. Take at least a couple of Gis’s or buy one there.

Shopping
In Rio there is quite a few places that sell BJJ/ MMA gear. The best way to find them is to ask the guys at the club, some of the gyms may have special relationships with a certain store or Gi manufacturer so you may get items at a discount.

Competing on Brazilian Soil
Sign up early on the net or ask the gym to sign you in. You can also make the trip by bus or Taxi to Gracie Barra and signed yourself in. You may have to do this as to compete in a CBJJ comp you may need to have your grades registered in Brazil especially at the Brown / Black belt level. Make sure you recheck your division and the fight schedule online a couple of days before the comp, look for the time and day of your division.

Joining tournaments in Brazil has given me a first-hand experience of the competition scene on Brazilian soil. As a foreigner, there is always a sense of anticipation when you compete in Brazil.

You will get the chance to see some of the latest techniques and variations of old favorites. The comp has a great atmosphere and you will see some great matches at all belt levels. There is always a few big names competing or supporting their teammates.

The area in refereeing which I have observed as the most inconsistent is the awarding of penalties to competitors. One referee may restart the match while another may award a penalty.

Make sure you bring some spare pants in case they get ripped and make sure your Gi complies with the International standards. If it does not meet the criteria you will be disqualified. Weigh in will be just as you go onto the mat to fight.

How foreigners get caught?

If you are fighting a close match it is quite easy to be penalized for minor infringements like stepping out of the mat area. This can sometimes make all the difference to winning or losing.

Any perceived stalling will cost you and I find sometimes the spectators seem to influence the reffs. Even in positions like half guard in both positions if it appears you are stalling you will be penalized. It can be difficult to stay tight and make small adjustments, as you must be aware that the referee may penalize you at any moment. With a lack of international competition experience and exposure from different referees, players that compete Internationally for the first time in Brazil can do so with a false sense of the rules and their application.
It may help if all local comps mirrored the application of the rules in Brazil, the point system may be the same but the awarding of penalties and advantages may not be as strict. It can be confusing for players who compete locally under different rules and then go to Brazil not quite sure of the way things are done at International comps.

The higher you go up the belt level in international competitions, the less submissions you may see. Many fights are won by advantages and penalties. The rules play an intricate part in determining the outcome of the match. In this situation a good referee is vital for a true and fair outcome.
Communication
You spend most of your pre-fight time trying to listen for your name, division and your team name, which are called in Portuguese through an almost inaudible sound system. Once on the mat the referee may give you some instructions, which are in Portuguese, so you just nod your head and act like a local. If he is warning you of a penalty it will also be in Portuguese, which makes it difficult to be aware of what is going on. You are not allowed any coaches in the competition area but they can be close by outside of the barriers.
Mat size
I often wondered why the mat area is so small, being only 6 x 6 meters of mats, as a competition area. Once you are out of the green area, any techniques executed on the yellow area are not counted. In fact, I have been penalized for attacking in this area. Once you see the Tijuca tennis centre you will understand, as this seems to be the only size that can fit into the facility.

Having said all of the above, the experience is well worth it. You will enjoy the training and find many new friends who love this sport.

If you are going to compete in Brazil, try and get a respected coach who speaks Portuguese and English to corner for you. It will help keep the referee on their toes. And most of all, HAVE FUN! You will find that Brazilians very friendly and the trip as enjoyable as expected.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

JAPAN OPEN RESULTS: DEC. 23, 2007

I just got partial results from the Japan Open for Dec. 23, 2007. They are still competing today and will post updates as soon as I can secure them. -Luke

MEN'S BLACK-BELT
LEVI:
1. Daisuke 'Amazon' Sugie (Alive) by Gi-Choke
2. Takashi Oouchi (Paraestra Koiwa)

MESIO:
1. Mike Fowler (Purebred Omiya) by Arm-Bar
2. Akira Uemura (Paraestra Tokyo)

PENA:
1. Takayuki Hirose (Paraestra Kasai) by points 6-4
2. Makoto Aramaki (Academia Az)

WOMEN'S BLACK/BROWN/PURPLE MIX
PENA:
1. Sayaka (AACC) by Ankle-Lock
2. Nahoko Sekiguchi (TriForce)

GALO:
1. Takako Sekiya (Paraestra Furukawa)

MEN'S BROWN-BELT
GARO: Takuya Kitade (Paraestra Chiba)
PLUMA: Tadashi Murakami (Purebred Kyoto)
PENA: Kouji Tsutazaki (Club Barbarian)
LEVI: Takeyuki Kakizawa (Purebred Oomiya)
MESIO: Tooru Nakayama (TriForce)
MEIO PESADO: Tsuneaki Sato (Team Legnum)
PESADO: Kooichiro Oka (KO Kyoto BJJ)

3 BJJ MATCHES, 3 DISQUALIFICATIONS, 4 LESSONS

by: The Geeza
You could spend a good deal of time watching BJJ and never see a match that ends in disqualification. The reason is simple. Out of every 1,000 BJJ matches, in less than 10 a player is disqualified. Further, you have probably never read an explanation of why a referee disqualified a player. In this email there are links to 3 matches that end in disqualification and an explanation of why the referee (me) did it.

There are 4 lessons that I want you take away from this email.

1. Your reputation precedes you.
2. Take any comments the referee makes seriously.
3. Do not follow your base instincts.
4. Grapple in silence.

Lesson #1 – your reputation precedes you
Your reputation is what people think about you and it is held in different constituencies. You have a reputation with people in your belt rank, people below your belt rank and people above your belt rank. You have a reputation with people in your weight class, people above your weight class and people below your weight class. You have a reputation with all your training partners. You have a reputation with your coaches. You have a reputation with grappling fans and a reputation with the general public (including the people helping out at tournaments). Finally, you have a reputation with referees.

The best time to give coaching advice is as soon as someone steps off the mat. The tide going out on all that adrenalin makes their brain highly receptive to ideas and feedback. So if I am a referee, I make a point of giving people detailed observations straight after their match to help them become better grapplers. I learned to do this from a referee at the Pan American games who made a big impression on me. When I give coaching advice to a grappler after a match and they tell me that they do not care what I think, nor care what other people think about what they have just done, I know that I will have to keep a close eye on that player if I have to referee a match of theirs in future and I tell them as much. Remember this - your reputation precedes you.

Lesson #2 - Take any comments the referee makes seriously.
As a referee, I expect not to have to talk to the players during a match. But if a referee does talk, it is really important that players understand that referee comments must be taken seriously. Dean Thompson vs Cipriano Madayag; this was an important match; it was the finals of the super-heavyweight no-gi division. At 18 seconds (on the video), I warned Dean about eye gouging as he had his right hand fingers over the left eye of Cipriano; not in itself dangerous, but inappropriate and carrying the potential to be dangerous. At around 42 seconds Dean’s right hand comes into contact with Cipriano’s right eye socket and I give a further verbal warning and take a point away (once I feel that Cipriano is temporarily safe). Dean is verbally abusive at 46 seconds and some referees would have disqualified at that point. Watch the match to see the final outcome. Remember this - take any comments the referee makes seriously.


Lesson #3 - do not follow your base instincts
There are two kinds of submission – a tap from pain and a tap from panic. Chokes are almost always panic taps. A choke well done does not hurt; it simply cuts the blood off to your brain. An instinctual adrenalin fuelled response is immediately initiated as the oxygen available for your brain decreases and your body does a kind of fight or flight last second scramble. Experienced grapplers just tap when they know they are about to go out. Less experienced grapplers can go nuts and eye gouge, bitch slap or slam. If an opponent has a good choke on you, there is no escape and you are about to go out, there is only one course of action; tap. So remember this - do not follow your base instincts.

Frederic Martinoli vs Burt Sunico; this too was an important match; it was the finals of the absolute intermediate no-gi division.


Lesson #4 – Grapple in Silence
I feel it is really important for players to firmly believe that the referee will step in and stop the fight if they are in danger of being injured. When I referee, each time a new player steps onto the mat I always say the same thing (in the second round I just get the players to shake hands). This is what I say:

Do your best to win the match.
And I will do my best to make sure you do not get injured.
Listen to my instructions carefully.
Follow my instructions.
If I say – stop don’t move; then stop and don’t move.
Fight in the middle.
Shake hands.
Fight.

After they hear that, it should be crystal clear that I will stop a match if injury seems likely or possible.

This third match was also an important match; it was the finals of the masters division. Mark (white Kimono) attempts an arm bar on Wilson. If you listen carefully at 2.20 you can hear Wilson make a yelp/Aaargh noise and the arm bar attempt ends. I immediately step in and tell the players to stop fighting. The match is over. Mark released the arm bar at the moment Wilson yelped. Wilson yelped because he was using that extra bit of power to free his arm that comes with vocalising. But from a referee standpoint we have to look after the safety of the fighters and when a submission is being attempted, a yelp is equivalent to a submission. Mark was a good sportsman about the incident and offered to just keep going. But a referee decision is final. So remember this – grapple in silence.



As an aside, there were 3 totally different reactions from each of the disqualified players and I leave it to you to guess which one did what.

Reaction #1: His coach later sent me an email saying the DQed player was now totally cool about the DQ as he did not know the rules at the time of the match.

Reaction #2: He was immediately remorseful and asked me to help him analyse what went wrong by sending him the video.

Reaction #3: He consistently denied any and all wrongdoing and later sent me an email saying he thought I was a prick.

And here is a resend – just in case you missed it.

Do you think the referees should allow matches like these to continue?

ANDREAS HESSELBACK: MMA BALI

Interview By: James Franchise












Swedish MMA Fighter Andreas Hesselback is set to face Fransino Tirta December 27th in Bali, Indonesia. Tirta will be looking to build upon his 9-0-1 unbeaten record. Fransino gained international attention recently by fighting Top Chinese fighter Dai Shuang Hai in Art of War 8 to a 15 minute Draw.
1. Q:For the readers who don’t know about you, give us a lil’ background info about yourself.

HB: I’m 26 years old, I’ve been training in different Martial Arts since ‘94. I started fighting Shooto style fights nearly 8 years ago while in living in Sweden. My career was put on hold in 2001, when I interested in body building. Eventually I found my way back to MMA in 04, when I faced USA-Art of War contender Klas Akesson. I lost the fight via armbar. The loss motivated me to make changes in my training. I found new techniques, cross trained with other fighters, and eventually moved to Thailand pursuing my fighting career. I had my first “Return fight” in October when I beat UK grappler Lawrence Neele during an MMA fight held in Thailand. After beating him up on the feet and landing a high light slam, I secured the Guillotine choke early in the 2nd round.

*Video of fight*

2. Q: What do you know about Fransino Tirta?

HB: I know he is an Indonesian MMA Icon, having a perfect 9-0 record. I also know those wins came against some weak competition. I watched him struggle against another top fighter in South East Asia, Dai Shuang Hai of China. Thanks to YouTube I’ve had an opportunity to watch over an hour of grappling and MMA footage of Tirta. He is a BJJ purple belt, but doesn’t seem to transition his ranking very well when he is forced to fight without the gi. I think the technique he lacks in striking he compensates with his power, and warrior spirit. I am looking to turn this into a shotgun shoot-out on the feet. (Laughing) I want him to realize I’m here to take his undefeated record.

3. Q: Fransino has a ton of fight experience, do you think that will play a factor in the fight?

HB: Fight records are illusive. Fransino has experience with performing in front of the crowds and the lights, but he has never really been in a war. Most of his fights were over in the first round against opponents I could have beaten just as easily. He has never faced a fighter bigger and more powerful than him. His fight in China showed he had cardio and heart, but Dai Shuang Hai didn’t fight with the same intensity and explosivness my style offers.

I have a lot of experience on my side as well. I’ve got professional fighters who know how to cut weight and who understand plyometric conditioning. I have an instructor who has actually competed, and knows the differences between submission grappling and fighting. Besides having fought on PPV himself, Ray has been a training partner for fighters getting ready for big UFC and PRIDE fights. I know he understands what it takes to be the best. Fransino isn’t getting to train with the same level of competition I am getting pushed by every at practice. I am getting to train with KOTC, TKO, and Cage Rage veterans. Our camp has BJJ Purple, Brown, and Black Belts visiting almost every month from various locations in the world.

4. Q: Tell us about your training leading up to this fight?

HB: At the beginning of my move to Thailand I set a goal of becoming the best fighter possible. I’ve dedicated my entire life from top to bottom with preparing myself to compete. I live a clean life. My diet is balanced, I don’t smoke or drink, and I train twice a day. This is my shot at doing what I love, in order to make this dream a reality Fransino is the next step. I know Fransino doesn’t get the opportunity to train full-time. I make sure every night when I go to bed, I know that I did the best I could for that day. One day at a time, one fight at a time, I’m training to make this a career.

5. Q: Living in Thailand do you find it difficult to find qualified MMA training partners?

HB: No, not at all. Tiger Muay Thai has a great MMA instructor who trains along side his students. Ray Elbe is a BJJ Purple Belt under Juliano Prado. He has fought some of the biggest names in MMA and has over 30 professional fights. I actually helped Ray prepare for his recent 1st round KO victory in Khabarovsk, Russia. Since returning from that victory Ray has dedicated 100% of his training attention on getting me ready for this fight. We have been reviewing video footage of Fransino, and training specifically for him. Ray is a smart guy with a ton of experience. He has trained with some of the best in the sport, and I have no doubt we are well prepared for a tough battle.

6. Q: You took 2nd place in your division at the last SEA Grappling games. The Finals match was against a teammate Allan Harvey, did you find it difficult to compete against a teammate, and do you have to listen to the guys at the gym talk smack about the loss?

HB: Knowing he was a teammate relieved a lot of the anxiety a fighter can get from competing. I still didn’t like taking home the silver medal though. (Laughing) I don’t have to listen to the guys too bad. I was satisfied with my performance. Allan is a Judo brown belt and has almost 10 years of Sambo experience. He is actually fighting in AOW 10. That match has motivated me to train harder. If you watch the end of the fight, you can see that regulation expires with me attempting a single leg takedown. If I would have just committed sooner to the takedown I would have won. That feeling makes the silver medal motivate me that much more.

7. Q: Battle in Bali is going to be 3 rounds of 5 minutes. The Rules include PRIDE’S Knees and Kicks to a downed opponent as well as the UFC’s use of elbows. What do you think about the rules?

HB: They are Great. The Rules are one of the things that I get excited during my daily visualizations of the fight. Mentally I’ve played out face stomps, and soccer kicks so many times that I wake up in the morning to find that I’ve punted pillows across the room like it was a football during my sleep. (Laughing) MMA should be fought with these rules. I like the 3 rounds of 5 minutes. Art Of War uses 2 rounds, one lasting 10 minutes, and the second is 5 mintues. I think the extended round causes a slow down in the action. Being able to break every five minutes will allow me to push the pace from start to finish giving the crowd the action they pay to see.

8. Q: You have mentioned Art of War in Beijing China several times, are you looking to compete for that organization?

HB: Yeah, Of Course. They have a huge TV deal and an expanding audience. Andy Pi is currently the best promoter in Asia. I see that show feeling the void felt by the departure of PRIDE FC. Fighting is my job, I want to fight and showcase my talents, if Art of War wants me to beat up their poster boy, I’d do it for them. (laughing)


9. Q: What are your predictions for the fight in Bali?

HB:First of all I’m looking forward to the experience. Fighting is fun and I view this as my first real opportunity to showcase my skills against a promising opponent. I see Fransino is one of the biggest names on the MMA scene in South East Asia. Now that I am living in Thailand I want my name mentioned with the same reputation as the other top fighters living/competing in the region. Mentally I’m preparing myself for a war. I believe in my training and skills. Going into this fight I would have myself as the favorite.

10. Q: Anything else you would like to mention in this interview?

HB: I want to thank everyone at Tiger Muay Thai. Ray has done a wonderful job getting me ready for this fight. The gym owner Will Mcnamara has gone out of his way to help me maximize my potential, he really recognizes the support a fighter needs in order to compete as a professional. Training for this fight I have had too many black eyes to thank everyone, but I can’t forget, Wade, Ngoo, Marko, Allan, and Apocalypse. I want to wish Fransino luck, I really respect him for accepting the fight against a bigger foreign opponent. I hope he plans on turning this into a dogfight, the crowd always recognizes a fight between two Gamebred fighters.

MMA: RUSSIA

Ray Elbe, Tiger Muay Thai's MMA coach, wins by KO in Russian MMA event.

HOW TO HANDLE THE 4 MOST DANGEROUS TYPES OF PEOPLE ON THE BJJ MAT

by: The Geeza

Two years ago I was sent a funny email that listed the different types of behaviour you encounter on the mats. The inventory included chatters, farters, sandbaggers, bullies and old goats, and was an almost endless register of the crass conduct you might come across. While it was hilarious, it was not that useful. This email is less amusing, but aims to be more useful. It describes the 4 kinds of people that will cause you huge problems on the mats if you do not handle them correctly. This email also illustrates 3 other personality types that you will definitely encounter. It details some tactics for how to handle each of the 7 behaviour styles and how to get the best out of people to accelerate your BJJ training process.

There are four key personality traits that can cause trouble on the mat. Below I have ranked them in order of their potential to cause problems for you. A BJJ player can have any combination of these traits to a greater or lesser degree in the make up of their personality.

1. Mr. Psycho - is anti-social, psychopathic, egotistical, ruthless, vengeful and dangerous.
2. Mr. Me-Me - is in love with himself and seeks power and admiration.
3. Mr. FlipFlop - is unstable and impulsive and he creates disasters
4. Mr. Emotion - can never get enough attention and will do anything to get it.

There are 3 other personality types that are much less dangerous, but need specific handling.

5. Mr. Victim - is helpless and submissive.
6. Mr. Perfect - likes to be in control.
7. Mr Shame - fears rejection and disappointment.

Mr. Psycho – is anti-social, psychopathic, egotistical and ruthless.

About 1% of people are psychopaths. I estimate that amongst BJJ players about 10% of people are psychopaths and in MMA my guess is around 50%. Mr. Psycho has no conscience. He has no regard for laws, rules, norms, rights and the interests of others. In general, Mr. Psycho is easily bored and is drawn to exciting and risky activities such as extreme sports, drug abuse and provocative behaviour. He is dishonest and untrustworthy. However, he is a master of seduction and knows how to persuade others that his intentions are honourable. This last fact makes him the most dangerous type of person you can meet in competition or in training because he will mess you up and then talk his way out of it. His creed is to hit you before you hit him. He is impulsive, reckless, fearless, and lacking in empathy. He is incapable of putting himself in another’s shoes. However, he is extremely good at pin-pointing and exploiting other people’s weaknesses. Punishing him does not lead to repentance as he feels little regret or shame. When confronted about his behaviour, Mr. Psycho reacts aggressively or turns on the charm. If you are an honest, decent, simple training partner, Mr. Psycho is your worst nightmare. But at least he is easily recognised; his reputation always precedes him.

How to handle Mr. Psycho on the mat

Mr. Psycho seeks revenge. If he thinks you have wronged him, he will do whatever he can to get you back. Be careful to ensure that you give him plenty of time to tap and make sure that you tap early when he catches you in a submission. Insist upon rigid discipline on the mat – do not EVER allow him to do anything that is against the letter and spirit of the rules. Directly confront him when he breaks the rules or does inappropriate things. Bitching about him behind his back will have ZERO effect; get in his face. Mr. Psycho will always try to get away with infractions, but tackle denial and manipulation immediately. Do not trust him. He will attempt to over-come your initial mistrust with generosity and geniality, but do not be fooled. Do not allow him to distort your own values and drag you down to his level. Do not accept any favours from him as this will be used against you later. Use Mr. Psycho mainly to practice your defence. Ask Mr. Psycho to highlight other player’s weaknesses to you and ask him to teach you how to attack. Finally, remember that Mr. Psycho is largely unaware that he IS the way he is.

Mr. Me-Me – is in love with himself and seeks power and admiration

The words most closely associated with this type of person are vanity, arrogance, pride and conceit. Their fantasy is to be noticed and admired. They are preoccupied with appearance, success and power. Mr. Me-Me tries to make himself stand out and be special by way of what he considers his exceptional talent. However, Mr. Me-Me cannot stand criticism because his vanity and smugness is fragile. Any success he feels is short-lived and transient. Some Mr. Me-Mes free themselves from what they feel is a growing burden of criticism by changing jobs, partners, academies and social scenes frequently. The successful Mr. Me-Me is easiest to spot as he has a position of power and status. An extreme Mr. Me-Me always comes to a sorry end. The mistake they make is that they start to consider themselves invulnerable. (Witness the horrible track record of some great BJJ names in their early MMA matches). In time, they can become bitter and cynical. The attractive outward appearance of Mr. Me-Me hides a restless and distrustful personality. He fears being anonymous. If adoration is withheld, or criticism voiced, Mr. Me-Me suffers a sudden loss of confidence. A key characteristic of Mr. Me-Me is that he cannot or is unwilling to take others into account. Although he may seem charming, in reality he is cold, calculating and distant. In the final analysis, everything revolves around him. His attractiveness can draw you in, even though you know you should know better. Whatever wrongs he commits, Mr. Me-Me finds forgiveness over and over again.

How to handle Mr. Me Me on the mat

Pay him compliments to make him amenable. Flattery does not mean you have to agree with everything he does. But remember - there are good reasons that Mr. Me Me is in love with himself and therefore you can learn a lot from his abilities. Ask his advice. He will be happy to show you his particular interpretation of a certain move – after all he knows, and he wants to show you, that his way is the best way! If you need him to do something for you, present him with a set of alternatives that makes the choice you want inevitable. Put up resistance if Mr. Me Me makes unreasonable demands from you; if you do not, he will lose all respect for you. Stand your ground. Never allow Mr. Me-Me to categorise you as an easily manipulated person. Be prepared for Mr. Me-Me’s mood to swing in your direction once you have stood up to him. Do not make the mistake of thinking that Mr. Me-Me’s wisdom will grow with age; their character traits grow more pronounced with the years. Be aware that Mr. Me-Me never sees himself as part of a problem; fault always lies elsewhere. It is best to go along with this vision when you are attempting to solve a problem that involves Mr. Me-Me. Do not criticize Mr. Me Me, the price he will make you pay is too high and may include injury. If you really need to give him feedback, do it through someone you know that he admires.

Mr. Flip Flop – is unstable and impulsive and he creates disasters

The key word for Mr. Flip Flop is crisis. He is unstable and impulsive, and suffers from extremely rapid mood swings. He can arrive on the mat in a great mood, lose his temper, and leave feeling depressed. This can be confusing for the people around him. He has no trust in other people and he has no trust in himself.
At his core Mr. Flip Flop thinks that the world is evil and dangerous, and that he is vulnerable, powerless and inferior. He craves love and acceptance, but often acts in a way that invites rejection. He thinks in terms of black and white, therefore his relationships with other people are subject to enormous pendulum swings. Mr. Flip Flop generates chaos and disorder. He likes conflict and if there is none, he will generate it. Of all the personality types, he is the most likely to have been the victim of violence in his childhood.

How to handle Mr. Flip Flop

Mr. Flip Flop is volatile and unstable and will keep testing your boundaries. You must maintain clear consistent limits – make it clear at the start of a roll what injuries you have and what submissions are off limits. You may even need to remind Mr. Flip Flop during the roll – for example, he may suddenly do a move that he saw on YouTube and that has popped into his head. Make sure that you never break any of the agreements you make with Mr Flip Flop because he will never forget that you broke that agreement and he will never forgive you. Ask Mr Flip Flop for his ideas on set-ups as he is an expert at setting traps for people. Ask Mr Flip Flop about his defensive strategy and escapes, his distrusting nature allows him to see the traps that others are setting for him well in advance. The good news is that Mr. Flip Flop mellows with age.

Mr. Emotion - can never get enough attention and will do anything to get it

Mr. Emotion cannot get enough attention and to get it he has a theatrical personality. He hates it when he is not the centre of attention. To stay in the spotlight he will use any means at his disposal. His main method is exaggeration – both in dress and in behaviour. He expresses strong emotions and all kinds of emotions to make an impression. He is hypersensitive to rejection. He is as hard as nails and unable to form lasting relationships. Although his emotions may seem phoney, they are being genuinely and intensely felt. His mental world is hazy, sketchy, vague, generalised, impressionistic and unarticulated. He avoids intellectual discussions. For him, just feeling something is enough for action. If he is angry he feels he has the right to express extreme fury and to vent outrage – even over small things. Sometimes he even flings his emotions into battle just to get a reaction from another person. The emotional house-keeping of Mr. Emotion is immature (think of that two year old screaming in the mall!) When he lets loose, he does not consider what the consequences might be. He sees issues in black and white terms and cannot see shades of grey. Mr. Emotion is highly macho. People quickly grow weary of a Mr. Emotion, and therefore, Mr. Emotions tend to seek each other out as they are more forgiving of each other’s lack of control over their emotions. This personality type is often combined with a dose of Mr. Me-Me.

How to handle Mr. Emotion

Mr Emotion is prone to sudden violent outbursts on the mat especially if he thinks he has been wronged. The best thing to do if you upset Mr. Emotion accidentally (such as an unintentional elbow to the face during an escape) is to immediately apologize and repeatedly ask for forgiveness before his emotions escalate. The most important rule for handling Mr. Emotion is to keep your own emotions under control. Do not let his extreme emotions lead you astray. No matter what antics he displays, behave consistently toward him. Keep your expectations low. He can have emotional outbursts over the way you are grappling, missing a turn, rule infractions (however minor), even the way you shake his hand and in countless other situations. Do not worry if one minute he gives you a lot of attention and then the next he hardly seems to notice you, it says nothing about you personally; so adopt an attitude of acceptance toward him. Mr Emotion has a natural tendency to jump from one topic to another and therefore, it will not take long before his emotional outburst resides and something else grabs his attention. So learn to duck and cover. They have exaggerated opinions about other people and therefore, discount anything they say. Be careful not to give them a chance to damage your personal reputation as they are supreme trash-talkers.

And now three much less dangerous personality types you will meet on the mat.

Mr. Victim – is helpless and submissive

Mr Victim considers himself weak, incompetent and incapable. He will make a good first impression on you as he is considerate, flexible and cooperative, and he is a good listener. On the mat, he will show a lack of determination and a reluctance to initiate attacks. Mr Victim wants to be cherished and protected and he hates criticism, but he ends up being dominated and even exploited.

How to handle Mr. Victim

Do not ask too much of Mr. Victim. You will meet strong resistance if you ignore the central fact that Mr. Victim genuinely sees himself as helpless. Ask him for advice on how to heal injuries. Ask for opinions about who to avoid on the mat and how to handle the most dominant grapplers at the academy. Mr Victim is frequently adopted as the instructors pet and therefore is a good source of useful inside information. Never forget that if Mr.Victim trains long enough he will become a black belt.

Mr. Perfect – likes to be in control

Mr Perfect loves neatness, order and perfection. He is rigid. He has the capacity to learn one new technique roughly every six months. But whatever techniques he does know, he will know them better than anyone else so try to get him to share that knowledge. Mr. Perfect pays so much attention to detail that he loses sight of the big picture. He has incredibly high standards for himself and for all those around him.

How to handle Mr. Perfect

Mr. Perfect is stubborn and he needs to do things his way. If he is showing you a technique, he will have good reasons for a doing it in a particular way – it is worth understanding all the detailed points he makes. Mr. Perfect knows all the rules and will follow them meticulously. He expects the same of you too. Mr. Perfect is mean with money and mean with his time so do not expect too much in these arenas. Try not to get bogged down in the details when Mr. Perfect is your training partner. Mr. Perfect can make you feel like you are being sloppy or thoughtless in your technique. Do not let his compulsiveness get to you.

Mr. Shame – fears rejection and disappointment

Mr. Shame fears failure. He is extremely concerned about what other people will think of him and avoids rolling and competing as a result. He has a fear being rejected and fears being made to look a fool. Mr. Shame seeks cover and avoids eye contact. He is scared of being hurt and rejected, but his greatest fear is that he will make a fool of himself.

How to handle Mr. Shame

Mr. Shame rarely ventures outside a small group of training partners, so grab your chance to train with him when it comes up. Mr. Shame rarely if ever competes. But if he does, he is the most likely personality type to get caught in a flying arm bar because that is what he fears the most. Do not throw Mr. Shame in at the deep end; do not go full on during your first few sparring sessions. If you want his particular body-type as one of your regular sparring partners then take it easy on him and do not grapple under the instructors nose; go to the far end of the mats. Do not expect him to come and chat to you – as you will need to initiate all social contact.

SO WHAT ABOUT ME AND WHAT ABOUT YOU?

Well of course, all this analysis of personality types begs the question of what kind of Mr. am I and what kind of Mr. are you? Well the truth is that when I think about all the time I have spent on the mat, I can see little bits of each of the personality types in my own behaviour at different times and in different situations. But more importantly, I know people who fit exactly into each of the personality types. What about you?

I hope this helps. Stay healthy and enjoy analysing your mat mates.

Geeza

CHET QUINT: CHINA

By: Stanley Tam

Professor Chet Quint is the founder of the Gracie China academy in Beijing and is also the affiliate instructor of the Shanghai BJJ club. Professor Chet visits our Shanghai club on a monthly basis for weekend seminars and last week we had the opportunity to interview him. Hope this will be an interesting read.

1. Professor Chet, for those who don't know you, can you tell us something about your background and how you got started in BJJ?

I started reading about Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in the '80's. I was already a black belt in a few different styles and I had been training other grappling systems (like wrestling, judo and Japanese Jiu-Jitsu) for some time. When I saw the video 'Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in Action' I knew I needed to train this style of Jiu-Jitsu. Unfortunately, I was living in Miami and at the time, the only place I could train Jiu-Jitsu was in California or Brazil. In 1996 I had the oppotunity to move to Salt Lake City, Utah. My father had re-located there and as fate would have it, Rickson Gracie Black Belt, Pedro Sauer owned a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy there as well. When I went there I finally had a chance to try this stuff out. Even though I was 100 kg and Pedro was 65 kg, he beat like I was a little kid. I signed up that day.

2. How long did it take for you to get your black belt?

It took me 9 years to get my black belt.

3. In what ways has training with both Pedro Sauer and Rillion Gracie influenced your game? How are their styles different?

They both have a very technical style that is based on basic Jiu-jitsu principles. My focus has always been on fighting and not so much sport. The environment we had at Pedro's school supported this kind of training. Since both Pedro and Rilion are smaller guys, they teach a Jiu-Jitsu that is accessible to everyone. Their philosophies about Jiu-Jitsu are exactly the same. The differences in their styles can only be felt when you roll with them. It can't really be discribed.

4. Would you say your BJJ is more self defense oriented or more sports oriented? And why do you train with this emphasis?

Like I said, I teach Gracie Jiu-Jitsu for defending yourself in a real fight. However, of course when we roll in class we have to make certain allowances for safety. I feel like you can use a sporting environment to hone your skills, but we should never lose sight on the real purpose of training: Preparing to defend yourself in a street fight.

5. With your law enforcement and military background, did you ever have to use your BJJ in a real situation?

I started training BJJ after I left law enforcement, but while I was in Salt Lake City I worked for a time as a professional bouncer and from time to time with a corporate body guard company. During this period, I was in countless fights but there were only a few times that the altercation ended on the ground. Twice, I was forced to break someones arm. In one situation, I had a guy in and arm-bar and was trying to get him to calm down. Instead of calming down he bit my leg. So I was forced to break his arm. When he screamed, he had to open his mouth which, obviously made him let go of the bite.




















6. What brought you to Beijing, China?

I was living in Brazil in 2004 and while I was there I met a couple of guys from Beijing. They were training a small club that was run by a blue belt. They invited me to come to Beijing to check it out and I liked it. I spoke a little Chinese, which I learned in the military, so I decided to move out there and teach Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. That was in 2005. The next year, under the direction of Pedro Sauer, I opened the first Gracie Jiu-Jitsu School in China. We also, have a world champion Muay Thai coach and offer Thai Boxing as well.

7. BJJ is obviously a very young sport/art in China, how do you see BJJ progressing and do you think it will become as popular as it has become in the US?

I think that it will one day catch up with the rest of the world. It is only a matter of time.

8. I heard you are opening up a 2nd gym. Can you tell us a little about your academy in Beijing?

We have been opened since 2005 and have been doing very well. We offer Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai seven days a week. We are also the offical China representatives of Kaewsamrit Muay Thai Gym.

9. What advice would you give to a new student when choosing a BJJ academy or teacher?

My advice is to try to find an academy that has authentic instruction and the right atmospere. Nowadays, you see all these gyms advetising that they teach 'MMA' but infact they are teaching watered down Jiu-Jitsu and incorrect Thai Boxing. Guys who have competed in a few low-level events are out there trying to teach when they are still students themselves. Make sure that the teacher's credentials are there before you sign up.

10. Can you tell us what your requirements are for students to progress form white to blue belt, blue to purple belt and all the way to black belt?

In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu only a black belt can promote a student in rank. I often hear about purple belts and even blue belts promoting students in rank. This is crazy. This is not only illigitimate, but is a great disservice to the student and to Jiu-Jitsu as an art. I promote students based on mat hours and mastery of the curricculum that was designed by Rickson Gracie and Pedro Sauer. It takes approximately 100 hours of instruction to earn a blue belt and about 10 years to get a black belt. However this is just a guideline. The ultimate decision is up to the instructor. Just train technically and consistantly, and advancement will come.

11. With BJJ gaining popularity around the world, some people are concerned that the quality of BJJ belts will become dilluted, how do you think we can maintain a high standard for BJJ belts?

The only thing one can do is make sure they are training with a legitimate black belt and train hard. There is no 'Jiu-Jitsu police' so we can only worry about ourselves. Keep a good attitude, leave your ego at home. The proof is on the mat.

12. What is your advice for students wanting to excel in BJJ?

This is the secret to getting good in Jiu-Jitsu. Find a good teacher and every day you can, come to class, put on your kimono and train. If you do this, in five years or six years you will be a killer on the mat. I guarantee it.

13. Just out of curosity, who is your favourite BJJ competitor currently active?

All those guys are great. I like Roger Gracie because his Jiu-Jitsu is so basic and precise. Marcelinho Garcia is also one of my favorite guys. He is technical and has a great defense. He of course learned from Fabio Grugel, who has always been one of my favorite guys. I also Xande Rebeiro. His has such great heart and courage on the mat. He is a pleasure to watch.

14. Any closing remarks?

Just that I owe everything I know to my teachers. Without them I wouldn't be here today. Obrigado.

THE GEEZA: DJARUM ISW CHAMPIONSHIPS

Before I post an article on the 4-most dangerous types of training partners by The Geeza, I thought I'd share the newest batch of submission videos from the Geeza's ever growing collection. Enjoy! -Luke

Here are some submissions filmed at the Djarum ISW Championship. (Any and all no-gi submissions were allowed.)101 Submissions By Geeza

Submission #44 - Vincent Mahjid02:31Geeza vs Vincent Mahjid (blue).http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4Z_MWnpZ9I

Submission #224 - Fransino Tirta vs Ryan Campbell03:45Absolute Division Finals.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey4L8AXLvZI

Submissions By Geeza - #46 - Leo Kristiady03:45http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqEDG11RRHE

Submission #223 - Fransino Tirta vs Mark Simmerman01:24http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2vTB4u2atI

Submissions By Geeza - #45 - Steve Hendarwan.03:02http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWDg_R781sY

Submission #222 - Fransino Tirta vs Bramono02:53http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH17bjbd0jU

submission #221 - Fransino Tirta vs Stephen Rahardi01:31http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5gNNH7uVgc

submission #220 - Hardian Kristiady vs Elvis Semangi01:02http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dq7m4moJrH0

Submission #219 - Hardian Kristiady vs Roy Nugroho00:42http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1UTZv3jOhM

Submission #218 - Hardian Kristiady vs Jean Bui00:37http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtVRcoKty08

Submission #217 - Hardian Kristiady vs Mastadi01:17http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itPVDHZdhPg

Submission #216 - Vincent Mahjid vs Ade Indra02:17http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLEzQ17cW4o

Submission #215 - Vincent Mahjid vs Andry02:34http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiQMFBaUbe8

Submission #214 - Vincent Mahjid vs Robert01:43http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cgt4ubmzLi0

Submission #213 - Vincents Genesius Evans vs Kecil Bundar01:24http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELsNr4nX1Vc

Submission #212 - Ncep Litis vs Steve Hendrawan00:58http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PAHjLXgWS0

Submission #211 - Putu Sativa vs Ade Indra00:35http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH9d00urcAk

Submission # 210 - Max Metino vs Ade Indra02:27http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czqo7PT3qMY

Submission #209 - Ade Indra vs Nickaco Konut03:47http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbUK1_NfzLg

Submission #208 - Andry vs Jean Bui00:33http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QygG1n1G5kg

Submission #207 - Bramono vs Teguh03:50http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPVcO0_-U-0

Submission #206 - Bramono vs Senayon07:12http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ljx0EWxzths

Submission #205 - Max Metino vs Sonny Rambing02:27http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Udrh1grlYM

Submission #204 - Roy Nugroho vs Bruce Lee00:44http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfU8GQ33H-8

Submission #203 - Ryan Campbell vs Bramono02:47http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBK0x3i6wRw

Submission #202 - Ryan Campbell vs Jansen Setiwan01:24http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmTq5PmhHM4

Submission #201 - Ryan Campbell vs Kenisius Jando02:05http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQHUgFcY2X4

Submission #200 - Vincents Genesius Evans vs Stickelback05:33http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uI6SZ2Q2E_I

Submission #199 - Ryan Campbell vs Resa02:18http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W7pfz5nE0w

Submission #198 - Stanley vs Nick Shearman03:12http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8ZYLalq-08

Submission #197 - Sonny Rambing vs Nick Shearman04:45http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvPFUjjhn-o

Submission #196 - Ryan Campbell vs Andry02:43http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3sQCUWr36w

Submission #195 - Resa vs Ade Indra02:11http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59WPLcOMTlM

Submission #194 - Patrick vs Ade Indra04:34http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx1qUI9FlE0

Submission #193 - Jean Bui vs Ivan Nugroho03:06http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg0wEI1SzsE

Submission #192 - Solihin Superstar vs Vincents Evans03:18http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibdTnN9fDIk

Submission #191 - Solihin Superstar vs Teguh01:47http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPfUrk8121o

Submission #190 - Solihin Superstar vs Satesticks00:54http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROt2FiZYOtA

Submission # 189 - Solihin Superstar vs Luhut Simanjuntak03:09http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmwq40zkRzM

ARTICLE: A REAL HERO

The Greatest Ever BJJ/Submission Grappling Match In Asia - A Real Hero!!
By: The Geeza

Of the thousands of BJJ and submission grappling matches that I have watched from all around Asia, only a few truly stand out as being genuinely great bouts. I am writing you this email to highlight without doubt Asia’s greatest ever BJJ/Submission grappling match.

Greatness is a concept heavily dependent your perspective and bias. But we can all agree that if the following ingredients were combined during a long encounter, a great BJJ/Submission grappling match would be the certain outcome;

1. Two clearly distinct grappling styles; BJJ versus Wrestling.

2. A weaker player exhibiting superior technique against a stronger more assertive and dominant opponent.

3. In one corner, a game underdog player who is a calm, smiling and noble man displaying intense personal charisma on the mat....

4. ....fighting against a defending champion who is an accomplished national athlete and an unrepentant, aggressive rule-breaker; he is the heavy favorite.

5. An inexperienced referee committing gross negligence with respect to the rules and the safety of the fighters.

6. Three consecutive offences that each should lead to disqualification followed by a strangely ironic moment when the players actually roll underneath the officials table to find no sanctuary there, moments before the match reaches its final immensely satisfying climax.

7. A winner emerging after overcoming extreme adversity using the most prestigious submission that every BJJ player dreams of achieving at least once during his competition experiences.

And here is the most amazing thing; even though I have revealed so much about the plot of the match that if it was a movie you would not go to see it, you will still be enthralled.

There are three phases in the match. Phase 1 is the period up until the moment when the first yellow card is issued for eye-gouging. At the end of phase 1 we can surmise the following:

1. The referee will not follow the rules exactly – eye gouging should have led to disqualification and instead a yellow card is issued.

2. There are serious doubts now about Noriadi’s sportsmanship as the eye-gouging seems intentional.

3. Hardian is undoubtedly the weaker player, but maintains good spirits.

The second phase of the match is the period leading up to the second eye gouging. At the end of phase 2 we can conclude the following.

1. It is now apparent that the referee does not know the rules and therefore will not apply them.

2. It has become crystal clear that Noriadi has bad intentions.

3. Hardian has placed himself in great personal danger to prove that BJJ is the greatest grappling art. He had the right to tap on the first eye gouge and claim the match, but instead he wanted to win while staying within the rules despite the fact that his opponent had stepped outside decency boundaries for a second time.

In the remainder of the match, phase 3, there is a further rule infraction that should have led to disqualification; Noriadi runs off the mat to escape a triangle. But it is now no surprise that the referee does nothing. Hardian voluntarily disengages off the mat and the players are brought back to the centre of the fight area. At the re-start the referee does not put the players back in exactly the same positions thereby allowing Noriadi to take advantage by putting his second arm inside the triangle and easily escaping the submission. Finally, the end of the match provides a sublime moment of pure joy.

I do not expect Hardian’s remarkable achievement in this match to be overshadowed for years to come for two reasons. Firstly, referees in Asia are getting better. The match is superlative because it continued despite one of the players committing three offences that should have led to instant disqualification; he eye gouged twice and then ran out of the competition area to escape a submission. If it any point he had been disqualified it would have been just another humdrum day on the mats, with one guy sent home to ponder his evil deed and the other through to the next round. But the referee was inexperienced and allowed the match to continue after each infraction. Today, Asian referees have gained more knowledge and practice; they now make fewer mistakes. Additionally coaches and players are increasingly demanding fair play and fair treatment.

The second reason that this match will stand as one of the all time greats is because in the early days of submission grappling tournaments the competitors chasing the prize money were a rag-tag bunch of Jeet Kune Do, Judo, Wrestling and Fight-Club veterans who were not particularly versed in submissions. At the latest Djarum IWS Championship in November 2007, virtually all the players were schooled and trained in BJJ. The rag-tag bunch stayed away from the contest because in previous tournaments they got tooled by those people who were regularly training in BJJ. Therefore, this particular kind of match up is increasingly rare.

In this exemplary match as each offence was committed (and not appropriately acted upon by the referee), a richer texture was added to the human drama unfolding. Drama involves a performance and roles being played. Hardian was playing the role of the hero. He was a brave man; a conqueror. And the tool he used was BJJ. A hero is someone that in the face of danger and adversity (or from a position of seemingly insurmountable weakness), displays remarkable courage and the will for self-sacrifice for some greater good. Additionally, the martial valor Hardian displayed can also be interpreted as a more general moral excellence.

The literal meaning of the word hero is protector, defender or guardian. In this match, Hardian was defending his body from an extreme and unusual attack and late in the match he dislocates his shoulder, yet fights on. But more importantly, he was also playing the role of a man defending the values of honor, courage, respect and sportsmanship that are so important in the sport of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and submission grappling.

We get our ideas of what a hero is from films, the media and books. In movies, a hero is often simply an ordinary person placed against their will into extraordinary circumstances and who then prevails despite the odds being stacked against them. In some movies the hero has some superhuman characteristic such as extraordinary strength or endurance that makes him nearly invincible. Movie heroes often have a foil, a villain; typically a charismatic evildoer who represents or embodies the struggle the hero is up against. In contrast, the media typically portrays a hero simply as someone who gives up their life in the line of their normal duties. Alternatively, post-modern fictional books foment the increased popularity of the anti-hero; someone who does not follow common conceptions of heroism.

Films, the media and books are all trying to sell something. The heroic images they promote have one big flaw. They need to attract as many people as possible to their heroic ideals. The need for this mass appeal and hero identification means that the heroes they promote are frequently just a combination of symbols rather than an actual person. In order to appeal to the widest possible range of people, movies, media and books relegate the hero to a type of person which everyone wishes themselves to be, such as a good person or a brave person or a self-sacrificing person. The problem is that characters then are created that have an appeal that is so universal we can all identify with them somewhat, but none of us can identify with them completely.

I will never try to sell you anything. And the reason this Jiu Jitsu match is so outstanding is that it is a real hero, in a real situation, acting in a way that virtually none of you reading this would be capable of. I have been eye gouged by an opponent trying to escape a submission and I lost my lid. But at no point in this match does Hardian lose his temperature. He does not force a disqualification, he does not insist on perfect position on the triangle re-start. He takes what he is given and with guts he does the right thing. He served us all a moral lesson in how to behave on the mats. Hardian Kristiady is a true sports hero and the star of the best ever BJJ/Submission Grappling match in Asia.

BLOG NEWS: NEW FORUM

As if there weren't enough things to geek-out on, I've now added a forum to BJJ-ASIA. The link can be found just above there 'catergories' in the link section on the left. I will also being added links to other forums if you ask and if they relate to the blog.

FORUM

-Luke

ART OF WAR: X 'FINAL CONFLICT'

Art of War® Fighting Championship X

Sunday, December 23, 2007

FINAL CONFLICT

#1 Anding Road, Anwai Xiao Guan

National Olympic Sports Center

Training Gymnasium

Chaoyang District, 100029

Beijing, China

Dear Art of War friends and fans,

We are pleased to announce the 10th installment of Art of War FC,

FINAL CONFLICT, in Beijing on December 23, 2007. Also billed as

"China versus the World," this stellar event will feature our

biggest international lineup yet and will have fighters from:

China, Canada, Italy, Sweden, Slovakia, India, Korea, Uzbekistan

and South Africa. We have scheduled 12 fights and each match up

will feature a top Chinese athlete against a foreign fighter!

On the fight card will be 2 former Olympians, Li Zhi Feng of

Chinese Taiwan, an Olympic Judo player from the 2000 Sydney

Olympics and Korean athlete, Kim Nam, an Olympic boxing standout

from the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Returning to the Art of War ring will be IKF World Champion and

China King of Sanda, Bao Li Gao. Also on this fightcard will be 2x

China national Sanda champion, Aotegen Bateer.

In the main event, undefeated Art of War veteran, Zhang Tie Quan of

China, takes on Scandinavian Shooto Champion, Malik Arash Malawyi

of Sweden. In the last AOW event, Malawyi was supposed to face

Zhang Tie Quan in the main event. Due to a injury while training,

Malik wasn't able to fight Zhang Tie Quan. This time, no injuries

and no excuses! The fight is on!!! Malawyi is a jiu-jitsu and

muay thai specialist but will have his hands full as he takes on

the durable and ready, Zhang Tie Quan. This fight will be one of

the best MMA fights of 2007. Don't miss it!

COMPLETE FIGHT CARD

1. Filippo Cinti (Italy) versus Fan Zhong Jie (60 kg)

2. Kim Nam (Korea) versus Wang Guan (72 kg)

3. Darren Daniel (South Africa) versus Liu Jing Wen (84 kg)

4. Vaughn Anderson (Canada) versus Zhou Xiao Tong (78 kg)

5. Alan Harvey (Canada) versus Dai Shuang Hai (72 kg)

6. Yakub Ahrorkhodja (Uzbekistan) versus Li Ji Xiang (96 kg)

INTERMISSION 20-minutes

7. Egon Racz (Slovakia) versus Yang Jian Ping (66 kg)

8. Hur Sun Jin (Korea) versus Jiang Ji Ming (90 kg)

9. Gulamov Bohodir (Uzbekistan) versus Bateer (78 kg)

10. Vishal Balkawde (India) versus Bao Li Gao (84 kg)

11. Kelvin Fitial (United States) versus Li Zhi Feng (96+ kg)

12. Malik Mawlayi (Sweden) versus Zhang Tie Quan (72 kg)

For more information and schedule, please log onto our official

website: http://www.mmachina.com

BLOG NEWS: HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

As I am sure everyone else will be taking time a way from work to spend with family and friends this holiday season, I will be no different. Family is coming to town from the US and with the last bit of work to get done before the holiday, it'll be quite hectic. Even so, there will be somethings to report before the year is out. An article: 'A guide to training & competing in Brazil' as well as an interview with black-belt, Daniel Otero are on their way.

For the coming New year, I will be in Shanghai, China visiting friends and hope to stop by Shanghai BJJ. I've been to China several times and with each visit there is something new to check out. I've been trying my best to get some tickets for the Olympic Games to watch judo this coming August 2008 but with no luck. Tickets through local agents sold out within the first month (November) and everything else is left to lottery. I wonder where I can scalp some judo tickets.

I will also be posting my thoughts on the past year along with plans for the new year in the next week or so.

Thank you everyone for your support and involvement with the blog. It's been great so far and looking to make this next year even better.

-Luke