This past weekend I went to support our competition team at the 2009 Gracie National Jiu Jitsu Tournament. Kids and adult all competed. I was there on Saturday for the Gi competition but I missed the No-Gi action on Sunday. Marcelo and Joey Nonaca (the Father and Son I shot for the last Gracie Mag cover) both took gold in their divisions ! Great job guys!
Archive for January, 2009
Tonight’s training was more about me learning. I was asked to teach the fundamentals class. I felt that I started off a little rocky but picked it up after teaching the first technique. Jordan recorded me so that I could review it afterward. He even offered some constructive criticism. Now, In my daily job when I speak with my prospects, I pull it off well. I have internalized the content and am concise. I can get as detailed as I need but I can convey the message in a nice tightly wrapped presentation. In teaching BJJ, I still don’t have everything fully internalized so it leads to me saying…. “um”. That is my pause-word of choice 
Jordan picked up on that and when I looked at the video, I counted 9 “um”s in the portion he was referring to. Note …um… to self …um…, silence is …um… ok sometimes….
All in all, I liked the class. We went over the guillotine choke and scape, and worked on attacking from the back with the 2-collar choke. I learn a lot when I share what I know, it is true that if you teach once, you learn twice.
It was also a special night as I was able to promote my first student. Michelle was my first promotion, she now has her first stripe on her white belt… I’ll never forget you Michelle !
So I will keep taking the opportunities to teach whenever possible and next time I will focus on removing my pause-words
After seeing a facebook post that my friend Mike was going to be promoted, I HAD to run over to GB America to photograph. It is not often that the photographer is photographed, so I thought it would be fun… besides, I had to drop off a camera body and a lens to Canon in Irvine At the end of class, as is customary, Mike was presented his new rank to the applause of his classmates and training partners. I know he was excited an I could see that he was happy. Here are some shots of him training before and after his promotion. For some of you that do not know, Mike is an AWESOME photographer and guy. He is someone that I look up to in the business world of photography. You can see his work and learn more about him here (http://mikecolon.com/)
Learning from Professor Marcio Feitosa
Practicing the 2 Collar Choke
Rolling with a Purple Belt
Locking in a Triangle Choke
Looking to sink a Cross Choke from Mount
Transitioning to a technical mount, working towards an Armbar
Beautiful 2 Collar Choke
Awaiting it’s new proud owner
Promotion
Mike with Professors Ulpiano, Marcus and Marcio
His first training as a Blue Belt
Rolling with Brown Belt Anna Laura
Oh Brother (That’s his brother, another GB Blue Belt)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASHLEEY !!!
Today was special for a couple of reasons:
- Ashleey is able to vote
- She is able to buy lottery tickets and actually WIN the money
- She can enlist in the Military
- She can vote
- She can be tried in the courts as an adult (not a real benefit…)
- She can drive
- She got a car
She looked so excited when everyone piled out of the house to the driveway where she was presented her new classic Cadillac Coupe de Ville. She stood stunned and after hugging her mom, she repeated “This is my car !!” over and over. She was truly surprised, happy and thankful. Enjoy your new ride Ashleey !
And of course I had to snap some of the kids and family
Today was Grace’s 3rd month, um…. 1/4 birthday? Anyway, she is now 3 months old and we caught her tonight giving us a little jibber jabber:
It is not normal that we get such colors here in Orange County, it makes me miss seeing the colors turn in South Carolina and Iowa.
I asked Heather to go get the mail but she had Grace in her arms… and it is sunny out today… so what else do you do? You grab the little pink sunglasses that are laying in the diaper bag and slap them on your unsuspecting daughter….. I almost wet myself :) She was so cute it was funny.
I received a couple of the Budo Videos Catalogs (www.budovideos.com) last night. Joe, the editor asked for permission to use a couple photos of Marcio Feitosa for an upcoming article. I was pleased to see 3 photos in there and the article was a good one. I was an interview of Marcio where the main focus was on the future of Grace Barra. You should check it out, subscribe to the catalog, there is a lot more in there than gear, the articles are good and getting better. The one thing that I enjoy is at the end of the catalog, they ask a random question to many big named BJJ folks. This one asked people their favorite movie, it was cool to see what Kyra Gracie and Eddie Bravo say is theirs… check it out !