On Friday I had the opportunity to take part in my first Fight-Sim class. There were only about 6 of us, on a wet, windy, winters evening, but the lessons I learned were some of the most profound in my (short) jiu-jitsu experience. As much as we train the Gracie Combatives for street readiness and [...]

Last night I got to roll with one of my instructors, James. This is always a humbling experience and I’m quietly (unless he reads this) convinced that he chooses to spar with me right at the point that I am starting to regularly get submissions on others, just to remind me that I am still [...]

Lately Gary and James have been focusing on some of the more basic elements of jiu-jitsu. Getting back to basics, as it were. Revisiting elements of the Gracie combatives, working on basic things like maintaining position and not being to attached to a technique or submission. Sometimes in the heat of sparring and day to [...]

I am physically bigger than most people and it is often a simple thing to merely power out of a hold than to use pure technique. I try as much as possible to avoid this and therefore if I find someone I am rolling with is putting on a hold and the only way out [...]