SEABJJ T-SHIRT

OK, I just got back to town and will be heading out again tomorrow afternoon for another biz trip. Don't feel sorry for me, I am not suffering any hardships, it's just part of my job. The only thing I miss is regular training. So here is the final final final layout of the team logos. There was a last minute entry and since my computer crashed at home, I didn't get them out as I had planned before this weekend. The files are going out today and the shirts will materialize shortly thereafter.

I know there have been some concerns with pricing but if you write me an e-mail, we may be able to figure out how to beat the shipping issue and quantity-discount. I will most likely be competing at the tournament in Taipei this August and of course at our own tournament here in Bangkok September 27-28. If I do not make it to Manila this December, I know that at least one or two of my teammates will be there. I will bring shirts to these events for sale but if you are looking to purchase on behalf of your team, please let me know in advance so that I bring enough.

My aim is to get these shirts on your backs.

Luke

QUICK

More last minute traveling has kept me away from the computer. A last minute addition to the shirt. Will be posting that up soon. Some comments on shipping and prices have come up. If there's a concern, just e-mail me. Thanks, Luke

SEABJJ T-SHIRT: FINAL LAYOUT

OK, so it's been a long time coming and with my recent travel schedule I've not been able to put everything together. I really appreciate everybodys participation and I promise I've done all I can to reach out to everyone. So if your team is not represented it will have to wait till the next project. But kudos to all of you who did participate. It's all in alphabetical order unless I've become dyslexic without my knowing. I'm open to comments or suggestions but outside of any major changes, this is more or less it. I plan to send these out to the printers by Friday afternoon.

As of now, the I believe the shirts will cost $18 USD per. If you buy them as a team with orders of 25+, there will be a discount. The final price for each order will also include shipping so that will depend on where you're ordering from.

Payment can be made to paypal (http://www.paypal.com/) account to this address: smultron_sato@hotmail.com

Thanks, Luke

Here are some clips from the recent event, King of Fighters, here in Bangkok Thailand. The semi-finals have been set and will conclude in the coming month. BJJ was well represented in what was an informal match up of style versus style. I really hope this can help the promotion of both BJJ and MMA here in Thailand. -Luke

video from EMAC:

DOUGH-BOY

I am seriously cracked-out from all the long flights but am now sitting comfortably, surfing the web for all things jiu-jitsu. I do have other interests of course but that's not what this blog is about. I've been thinking about how I can keep myself focused even though I unable to train consistently like at home. I've mentioned before the practice of watching tournament footage, visualizing techniques, dissecting my recent matches and creating plans for when I can return to the mats. More than anything, I try to focus on the aspects of jiu-jitsu that make it so much fun. I can't get bent out of shape for not training as much as I'd like because these are my circumstances. I just want to be sure that when I do return, I really appreciate how good it feels to put on my gi, smell that funky dojo-aroma and get that edge back from training regularly.

These days I am feeling a little doughy, haha. Will try to fit in some training this trip before heading back to Bangkok. -Luke

JIU-JITSU PARADISE

Check out the link from Gracie Magazine on Niko Han's new spot in Bali:

Dojo Aora
Jl. Laksmana, Gang Aora No.44
Oberoi – Seminyak

http://www.graciemag.com/news/144/ARTICLE/10969/2008-06-24.html

BACK BUT NOT REALLY

Oh, man just got back from one trip and looks as though I will be back out as soon as tomorrow night for another. I was able to watch some tournament footage while traveling to curb my frustrations of not being on the mat with a lot of down time to think about my game and approach to competition. A friend of mine recently asked me who my favorites were in regards to BJJ fighters. It was tough for me to reply since there's a number of guys that I really enjoy watching but doesn't mean their game influences what I can/try to do.

With a few individuals I've been able to collect a number of their fights from purple to black-belt. In these clips it's pretty clear that the person has already established their game but is just one point of development. From purple to black I can see the same sweep, the same pass and setups but that they are being refined as time passes. I'm sure new things are added to the mix but the core is basically there. I'll admit I probably don't see everything yet when watching tournament footage but it's adding up and when I revisit certain fights I may catch something new here and there.

There's two guys from Japan that have gotten my interest: Yusuke Honma and Dai Yoshioka. Dai in particular has been one of the early black-belts to come out from the Purebred Japan camp. Nowadays he sports a super-loose judo gi with no patches which probably means he's unaffiliated. Both took silver in their weight at the last mundials and represent the growing number of high-level of competitors outside of Brazil and United States. Just some food for thought as it helps me better understand how I want to progress and find my own voice in all of this.

Renan Borges vs. Dai Yoshioka

OUT OF TOWN

I will be away for another week on business so posts will be few.

Thanks again to all the teams who've submitted their team logo for the shirt. My plans are to finalize the shirt layout and have things printed this coming July. I'll be sure to post a final pic so everyone can have a look but so far the response has been positive.

I'm always down to hear your suggestions or any bit of news that relates to the community. -Luke

NAGOYA: CICERO COSTHA SEMINAR

Another installment from our friend Kaori Kaneko. Be sure to check out the rest of her pics HERE. -Luke

CAN'T GET ENOUGH

It's just raining cats and dogs with the amount of media on Andre Galvao but just got these from our good friend Kei. These are from the week of Copa De Hong Kong 2 (April 26-27) where Telles & Galvao took time to train at KLN BJJ. Check out Kei's blog from time to time for updates on the Hong Kong scene and the boys at Kowloon BJJ. -Luke

SAMULIME BLOG
KOWLOON BJJ






vids taken from: samulimu

SYNERGY JIU-JITSU'S NEW LOCATION: BALI

Just thought I'd post notice of Niko Han's new spot in Bali. They've got some great events in Indonesia with no-gi submission tournaments and MMA events. For more info, check out their site: SYNERGY JIU-JITSU or contact Niko: nikohan@gmail.com

CLASSIFIEDS: TIGER GYM INDIA

www.tigersgym.com is looking for a part time webmaster , the work requires 2 hours daily of online work 5 days a week , responsibilities inculde updates , designing , working with images and video embeds contact tigersgym@gmail.com. -DANIEL

MUNDIAL REFERENCES

Fulfilling my bjj-geekiness I've been following the mundials as best I can by checking on a number of sites, most of which I have referenced on this blog already. So below is a list of links for you guys to check out if you haven't already on what's been going on this past weekend. -Luke

THE FIGHTWORKS PODCAST
-In the last two posts Caleb gives a live report on the matches along with an audio recap.

BULL TERRIER 'BRAZIL BLOG' by Kinya Hashimoto
-While this is in Japanese, he's got some great pics from the mundials of noted Japanese competitors like Yukinori Sasa and Dai Yoshioka.

GRACIE MAG
-While not as detailed, hilights and pictures can be found here.

ADCOMBAT
-I check here for updates by Kid Peligro.

SEABJJ T-SHIRT: TEAM LOGOS

***note: click on the image for full-scale view.So these are the logos that I have so far and I've made the appropriate changes for a single-color print. I'm thinking blue on white but haven't decided just yet. I've also made them all proportionate to each other. The order is random and doesn't reflect the final layout. Let me know what you guys think. -Luke

TRAVEL PICS

This past week I got to train at a number of academies while in Los Angeles, California and Las Vegas, Nevada. It's one of the many blessings I have to be able to travel for work and still make some time to train here and there, making new friends along the way. I thought I'd share some of the pictures taken and a short recap of each spot. -Luke

LEO VIEIRA Located in La Habra, California it's a relatively new spot from what the website tells me. I got train here twice and on both occassions, Leo's youngest brother Leandro was heading the class. Everyone was really chill and very open to help me out with the technique at hand. Learned an awesome drill for defending the guard. My trip was just a few days short of the mundials but what hurt even more was that I just missed the weekend seminar with Ricardo who was coming in the weekend that I would be in Vegas.

TINGUINHALocated in Anaheim, California this would be my second visit to the academy. For those who haven't read, I got to interview Tinguinha via e-mail so check it out HERE. You'd think that I'd be prepared to deal with the sweeps from open/spider-guard but no, I got myself swept over and over again. On both occasions there was a nice focus from stand-up to ground that I don't deal with so much personally but should. A real pleasure to train here.

COBRA KAI (MARC LAIMON)The final weekend of my trip I was in Las Vegas and got some time Saturday morning to attend the open-mat session. The academy is located just off the strip just behind Cheetah's (strip club). I only say this cause if you're taking a cab, it's an easy marker between Highland Blvd. & Ave. Considering it's Saturday morning, most of us would be nursing a hangover from the night before but in-spite of all that, guys come to train and train hard.

I want to thank everyone that made themselves available to train with me and help me out when I needed it. Also to everyone that kicked my ass, it's much appreciated. Best of luck to all the guys preparing for the mundials. A special thanks to Leandro, Tinguinha and Sonny. Hope to visit again in the near future. Thanks -Luke

SEABJJ T-SHIRT

Having just gotten back, I've looked over the logos that have been sent in so far. First, thank you to everyone that has already sent their logo in, I know everyone may not be so computer-graphic savvy but your efforts are much appreciated. For those who have yet to turn their logo in, please do so ASAP. I know I made the deadline June 2nd but it's more important that I include as many that want to be involved. If you're not in it's not cause I didn't do my best to get you involved. -Luke

PARTICIPATING TEAMS:

CHINA: Macau BJJ, Shanghai BJJ, Beijing BJJ
HONG KONG: Kowloon BJJ, Kylin BJJ, Gracie Barra HK
INDIA: Tiger Gym
INDONESIA: Synergy JJ
MALAYSIA: Brutal BJJ, KDTA, Borneo BJJ, Marcos Escobar
PHILIPPINES: Kamphius-Frabricio BJJ, Newbreed, Gracie Barra PH
SINGAPORE: Kreation JJ, Alive SG, Fight G, BJJ SG
TAIWAN: Taiwan BJJ, Gracie Barra Taiwan, Evolution BJJ
THAILAND: EMAC, Bangkok BJJ, Tiger Muay Thai

***IF YOU DON'T SEE YOU TEAM NAME HERE, CHANGE THAT BY SUBMITTING YOUR LOGO TO BJJASIA@GMAIL.COM

I AM MISSING: Gracie China, Impakt, HK BJJ, Universal Grappling, Will Machado SG, Bangkok Fight Club

UPDATE

I will be back in Asia this week and will post some pics that I took while training at several schools in the US. I had a great time but am looking forward to getting back home. -Luke

THE FIGHTWORKS PODCAST: ED KENNEDY

I am a regular listener to the The Fightworks Podcast for it's insightful interviews and updates on BJJ so it's no surprise that I recommend everyone to check it out. This week in particular, I really encourage everyone to take a listen to the interview with Ed Kennedy, a Romero 'Jacare ' Calvacanti black-belt (Alliance).

What makes this one such an interesting listen is that he's a regular guy like the rest of us with all the responsibilities of a fulltime career and family. He talks about what it's been like in his journey over ten years and how he's balanced everything to get where he is today and how he continues to be a student of jiu-jitsu. While the black-belt may represent a destination, it's just a part of the journey. -Luke

PODCAST #118

BLOG NEWS

I'll be traveling for the next week so posts will be few until I get back. As always, bringing my gi with me in hopes of finding time to train while abroad.

Coming this month the mundials will be taking place in Los Angeles, California (USA). I know several guys from the SEA scene are heading over to compete. I want to wish them the best of luck and wish I could be there to cheer them.

For all you teams out there that have been taking their sweet time in sending me their logo. Remember, the best is to send as an Adobe Illustrator file (.ai) or in a basic black/white format. There's no financial commitment on your part, just help support the cause and be a part of the community. Due date: JUNE 2nd

-Luke

NAGOYA: MARCOS ANTONIO BARBOSA SEMINAR

photos by: samurai-woman
I wanted to share some photos taken at the recent seminar in Nagoya, Japan @ Trust Jiu-Jitsu Academy. The photographer is the lovely Ms. Kaori the 'Samurai Woman' Kaneko. She has a great catalog of photo work that covers a number of martial arts events in and out of Japan. Below, I've included some links to tournaments that relate to the SEABJJ scene. Any photos used, please be sure to give her credit and supply links to her site. Without proper credit, you're stealing! -Luke

ANTONIO MARCOS BARBOSA SEMINAR
2005 SEA GRAPPLING GAMES (BANGKOK, THAILAND)
2006 COPA DE HONG KONG

SAMURAI WOMAN WEBSITE