My friend Sam Rivera stopped by my school Precision MMA in LaGrange, NY and made this incredible video. Sam is really an incredible film maker and he perfectly captured many of my deeply held views on martial arts and got some great shots of my students in the process – check it out and be sure to subscribe to Sam’s channel!
Over the course of any athlete’s career there will inevitably be moments he wishes he could redo. Missed opportunities, off days, miscalculations, zigging instead of zagging – those salty recollections that lead to sleepless nights and the ever present longing for a second chance to rewrite history with the clarity of hindsight. Andy Main knows that feeling all too well. He was given the chance of a lifetime with The Ultimate Fighter. However, he was in the right place at the wrong time. Barely 21 years old, Andy was the youngest cast member in TUF history and being just a year into his professional career he was also one of the greenest. 
After earning his place in the house with a first round submission he fell victim to crafty veteran Kyle Watson and he was quickly erased from the collective memory of MMA fans and UFC matchmakers alike. In the years that passed Andy would achieve many accolades – earning his Brazilian Jiu-jitsu black belt, opening his own academy and collecting MMA victories both locally and internationally. However, despite these successes he was haunted by the worst three words in any athlete’s vocabulary – woulda, coulda, shouda. Although time travel is still reserved for the realm of science fiction, occasionally fate will smile on us and offer a second chance. Andy would be afforded his shot at redemption at Pancrase 270 as he would face a familiar foe in the organizations featherweight champion Nam Phan.
Main first met the heavy handed Vietnamese fighter as a fellow member of team Koshcheck on TUF 12. Andy and Nam developed a friendship bonding over their mutual love of martial arts, Dragon Ball Z and Japanese culture. Unlike Andy, Nam was a battle tested veteran when he joined the cast of TUF. His experience lead him to success in the competition. Nam scored multiple TKO victories and became the sole member of team Koshcheck to advance to the semi-finals and ultimately earned a spot on the UFC’s roster. For years Main watched as Nam grew in popularity and earned multiple fight of the night honors in the world’s top MMA organization. The two would reunite when Nam reached out to Main with a unique proposition, a chance to fight for “team Nam Phan” in Pancrase. Andy jumped at the opportunity, fighting in Japan had been cluttering his bucket list for years. I joined Nam and Andy for the Pancrase adventure. Andy would go on to earn a stellar victory and be invited back to compete against some of the top fighters Pancrase had to offer. At the time, the idea of Nam and Andy squaring off seemed like a virtual impossibility. Andy was fighting at lightweight in Pancrase and Nam at bantamweight in the UFC. However, after each shuffled weight classes and Nam moved on from the UFC they found themselves on a collision course. 
After his first bout in Pancrase Andy had told the organization’s president that he would one day be fighting for the King of Pancrase belt. Pancrase did not make Andy’s journey to the title easy, throwing successive top contenders his way. However, after four trips to the cage Andy remained unbeaten and earned the number 1 contender slot and a title shot, a title held by Nam Phan who had captured the crown just months earlier. The prospect of fighting Nam presented conflicting emotions for Andy. On the one hand, Nam was an acquaintance and the one who gave him the opportunity to fight in Pancrase in the first place. On the other hand, this was Andy’s shot to prove he was more than what he showed back on TUF 12. A chance to remove that bad taste from his mouth that lingered since his exodus from the Ultimate Fighter and the perfect litmus test to see if he was indeed worthy of fighting in the UFC. To his credit, Nam has never been one to cherry pick opponents or shy from a challenge. Nam accepted the bout and it became the main event for Pancrase 270.
This would be Andy’s toughest fight to date. Nam had been through wars with some of the toughest fighters in the UFC. Additionally, he was riding a win streak and looked to be resurging. However, Andy was as confident as ever. He knew there was one massive comparative advantage – jiu-jitsu. Although Nam was a black belt himself, Andy knew he had a few tricks up his sleeve that Nam wouldn’t be ready for. If he could avoid Nam’s trademark bodyshot and overhand right Andy was certain he could bring the bout to the ground and execute his game plan.
In preparation for the bout Andy ramped up his aggression. In his eyes, winning alone would not be enough. He wanted this to be his showcase fight, a performance that would make everyone in the upper echelon of mixed martial arts stand and take notice. Halfway through his camp he discovered that the event would be broadcast on UFC Fight Pass. He would finally have the platform to show why he deserved to be mentioned among the top featherweights outside the UFC.
A nice part of fighting in Japan is the sense of camaraderie you develop with the other North American fighters. This time around we shared our trip with the CSW fighters Colleen Schneider, Victor Henry and their legendary corner man Josh Barnett. Being around a fellow English speaker who is facing the same adversity is a source of comfort. Victor and I exchanged Bill Burr jokes while Colleen and I discussed black metal while she pointed out the best spots for vegetarian entrees. I’m not someone who is often apprehensive, but meeting Josh Barnett was certainly intimidating. He has a look of intensity and a stern gaze, so serious it made me wonder if his former moniker of “baby faced” was supposed to be ironic. Adding to his mystique was the still fresh bruising from his grueling battle against Roy Nelson which took place just days earlier. In reality though, once he felt comfortable around us, Josh was very friendly. He told us old stories of backstage confrontations at Pride, his experiences training across the globe and his iconic fights with legends of the sport. While back stage he even took the time to answer my questions about leg locks and give me a mini seminar of sorts.
The weigh-ins were interesting. I randomly ran into two old training partners, one from Connecticut and another from New York. We hadn’t seen each other in years; Japan was the last place I thought our paths would cross. Nam was cordial at the weigh-ins, even joking with the Japanese press telling them Andy was notorious for stealing women’s underwear. There was an uneasy moment when Josh recognized the American commentator Dan “The Wolfman” Theodore the two had a less than pleasant exchange about some online claims and remarks made by Dan. Cooler heads prevailed, but had things escalated I don’t think there was anyone there who could have restrained Josh, despite the room being populated wall to wall with professional fighters.
Fight night we had a new addition to our entourage. Andy’s brother and fellow stud BJJ black belt Mike Main would join us in the corner. Mike is notoriously relaxed and easy going. His calm demeanor helped settle my growing anxiety. I also had someone to drill leg drags and heel hooks with to pass the time. Backstage Josh provided a soundtrack which ranged from blistering speed metal to the best of James Brown. The fights began and we were off to a great start. Colleen earned a decision victory in a back and for the war and Victor easily cruised to a submission victory. Following his victory, Victor was unexpectedly greeted by his father, who on a whim decided last minute to book a flight from California to Tokyo. His father said he made the decision after thinking about how many of his friends had suffered heart attacks and he didn’t want to go to his grave never having seen his son fight in Japan. The positivity in the room made us grow in confidence.
Before final preparation Andy, Mike and I went over strategy. The game plan was to stick and move on the feet and look for an opening for the takedown. We assumed Nam would expose his back immediately in an effort to get back to his feet. Andy was very confident he would be able to use that opening to transition to the twister, a move he was certain Nam would be unprepared for. Nam is a dangerous, but predictable fighter. We knew he would bring hard hooks and big overhands and look to rip the body. Although there was danger, we had no fear of the unknown.
The fight began and Andy began executing the game plan perfectly. He was confusing Nam with his movement and picking his off with shots from the outside. A well timed single leg resulted in Nam immediately giving his back. Andy locked in his control and although the twister didn’t present itself he was able to land hard clean shots at will. 
Due to Pancrase’s open scoring we knew all judges had given us the opening round. Nam came out like a ball of fire in the second round; desperate to keep his title he began throwing heavy shots. Nam landed a hard head kick which made us jump out of our seats for a moment, but Andy’s chin is strong and he shrugged the shot off with little sign of slowing down. Once again Andy was able to get the takedown and work Nam over on the ground earning him the round on the judges’ score cards. In round 3 Andy really began opening up and landing at will. He even scored a brutal standing elbow from a set up I showed him just an hour earlier while killing time in the back. He once again took Nam off his feet and began to lock in the twister. 
As he locked around Nam’s head everything seemed perfect. He began cranking and contorting Nam’s spine, but Nam refused to tap. In 14 years as a pro Nam had never once been submitted and he made it clear he would not go gently into that good night. A grimace and a brief yell of pain were all we could get before Nam willed his way out. We would see round 4. At this point Andy had won every round, a decision loss was a mathematical impossibility. However, slowing down was not in the cards. Andy marched forward aggressively and Nam looked completely exhausted. In a surprise moment Nam initiated the takedown. Andy locked in a kimura on the way down and seamlessly transitioned to the triangle. There would be no grandiose escape this time. No amount of will or determination could keep Nam breathing. Recognizing the end had finally come, he tapped out. Andy Main was now the King of Pancrase.
Overwhelmed with emotion Andy soaked in the moment and was near tears as the belt was placed around his waist. This was simultaneously the final realization of a hard fought goal as well as the funeral song for 
the regrets of the past. Andy had shown that now his time had arrived. Gone was the wide eyed kid who bit off more than he could chew and in his place stood a battled hardened champion who now sits upon the thrown of MMA royalty. In his post-fight speech Andy made clear his intentions. He demanded to fight in the UFC. In the interest of all parties concern it is best that his demands be met.
Live in Poughkeepsie and want to enroll you kids in martial arts or karate classes? Check out Precision MMA, with kids classes 7 days a week in a beautiful 5,000 square foot facility Precision has something for everyone. Precision kids learn life skills along with their martial arts techniques, discipline, sportsmanship, hard work and dedication are the hallmarks of each and every one of our classes.
Fore more check out www.lagrangemartialarts.com
Competition is anxiety producing. Each athlete has to discover their unique coping mechanism that allows them to perform at their best despite the stress of the event. Regardless of how rigorous the training environment may be, this is not a solution that is found within the walls of the gym. No, this skill is only acquired through the exposure of standing across from a someone you know is going to do everything in their power to beat you. It is all but undeniable that wrestlers make the smoothest transition to professional MMA competition. However, I do not believe this is because wrestling is the best base skill for mixed martial arts. The vast majority of techniques from wrestling do not translate to MMA and many wrestling habits will get you destroyed when faced with a competent grappler or striker. Also, most of the wrestlers who find success in the cage only do so after adopting a striking or BJJ intensive strategy. Johnny Hendrix is known more for his devastating right hand than his great inside trip. So why then do wrestlers reach such high levels? In my estimation it is because wrestlers endure hundreds of matches in a grueling format of combative competition. Just as amateur boxers have hundreds of bouts before stepping into the professional arena, wrestlers are groomed from an early age to stand across from someone and keep themselves together. I’m sure Ben Askren cried, threw up, had rubber legs, under performed, over trained and mentally quit in many a wrestling match coming up the ranks. Somewhere along the line though he zoned in and found his way to win and that mental fortitude laid the foundation for a successful professional career. For those who dream of wearing UFC gold, delay the gratification of being a pro and enjoy your time as an amateur. Take your loses in stride and find new ways to challenge yourself across as many disciplines as possible.
Precision MMA
Even more important though, find a good gym to train at, if you’re in the Poughkeepsie area check out Precision MMA in LaGrange, NY and if you find yourself in Morris County, NJ check out Pure Mixed Martial Arts.
5 Ways to Take 1st Place at Your Next Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Tournament by Jamey Bazes
Jamey is a life-long martial artist, winner of over 100 competitive matches, and BJJ Brown Belt under Brian McLaughlin.
One of the great things about the sports of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Submission grappling is that since there are a number of ways to score points and a number of legal submissions that can lead to a win it is possible to have many different game plans when competing. While some divisions are fought with the Gi on while others are strictly no-gi, and the point systems and legal techniques can vary from one tournament to the next, in general the same types of dominant positions and takedowns are likely to score points regardless and the majority of submissions are legal across the board. In this article I will discuss 5 different strategies which a grappler can use in grappling and BJJ tournaments to secure victories and take 1st place while citing experiences from some of my past tournament victories and what worked for me.
To add a little bit of personal background, I earned my Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Brown Belt from Brian McLaughlin of Precision MMA back in 2010, though my actual Jiu-Jitsu journey began back in 1996 with Steve Kardian at Thornwood BJJ. Over the years my grappling style has changed quite a bit but I have certainly been exposed to multiple styles, from more traditional Gi grappling to explosive no-gi submission grappling techniques, wrestling based grappling, 10th Planet BJJ guard tactics, and even a very little bit of Judo and Sambo. After having competed in 33 tournaments under different rules at every belt from White to Brown, every experience level in no-gi and multiple weight classes I have seen first hand which strategies work and do not work in multiple scenarios, not only for myself but for my fellow competitors. As such, I would like to share 5 different formulas I have used and seen others use to successfully medal in different tournaments with the hopes that these can help future competitors to build game plans towards success when it comes time for them to compete.
Tournament strategy number 1: Top Control
Poughkeepsie BJJ
No matter what rules one is competing under and whether the division is gi or no-gi, the importance of gaining and maintaining a dominant top position cannot be over emphasized. Though tournament rules and point systems will vary, in general points are scored for either a takedown or a sweep from bottom guard or half guard which results in one achieving a top position. If the competing grappler does score one of these, the worst case scenario is that he will end up on top in his opponent’s guard, and unless his opponent pulled guard to begin with this then that means that the grappler on top will probably start the match up on points. However, unlike wrestling, neither Gi Jiu-Jitsu or no-gi submission grappling matches end once a top position is achieved and some grapplers would prefer to play from bottom guard. With this in mind, it is essential that any top game player have extremely good submission defense and guard passing skills.
As most grapplers know, in the average tournament points will be achieved from passing guard to sidemount, and then more points from progressing to mount or backmount. The “top control” strategy could actually be a misnomer in the sense that it can be several strategies in one, but the common thread is that they all revolve around getting on top and staying on top. In it’s purest form, this would probably be a style where the grappler tries to never allow his back to hit the mat, scoring the takedown right off the bat, and progressing to dominant top positions or a submission from there. This a style that works particularly well for former wrestlers who have excellent takedowns and have also cross trained in BJJ. Since I never wrestled in school this is not my primary style but I have seen it employed quite well by my instructor Brian McLaughlin. In various matches Brian has had over the years I have witnessed him achieve the victory by first scoring the takedown and then passing guard and either winning by points from top control or securing a submission from mount, sidemount or backmount to get the tap.
Top control is a practical style of grappling because it applies not only to Gi and No-Gi grappling but also to Mixed Martial Arts and street fighting. But what if you do not have strong wrestling skills and wish to employ this method one might ask? The answer is simple: one must become good at sweeping from bottom guard or half guard or find ways of ending scrambles on top. This is how I have used this strategy to win some of my past matches. For example, in a no-gi absolute division several years back at the Diamond State Games in Delaware I went up against a very formidable opponent named Seph Smith. Both Smith and I like leg locks so it ended up being a constant battle to see who could secure any number and between the two of us we made attempts for heel hooks, calf splicers, straight knee locks and toe holds from both top and bottom positions. Since neither of us could secure the submission, pass the other’s guard or take the other down, I realized mid-match that if I wanted to win the best way of doing so would be to end every scramble in top guard. At times he’d drop back for a calf splicer and I would escape, or I would drop back for a toehold and he would escape. Either way, when each lock was broken and a scramble for top position ensued I made sure to sit up first and gain top guard. In this way I won this match and advanced to the next round.
Tournament Strategy Number 2: Bottom Guard Player
BJJ Submission
Strategy number 2: Bottom Guard Player. As most people well acquainted with BJJ or MMA know, being on the bottom does not necessarily mean one is losing the match or fight. Many submissions or sweeps are possible from bottom guard which can lead to victory. Some instructors would recommend that a grappler not pull guard initially and try to go to the takedown, resorting only to the “bottom guard strategy” if taken down. This is often a good philosophy, though I would argue that guard pulling does have a time and place perhaps if one’s opponent is an amazing wrester who he simply cannot take down but whom he thinks he can easily submit from guard. Regardless, use of an aggressive bottom guard can be a way to achieve 1st place in a tournament and I used this strategy back in 2007 to submit a much larger opponent in the finals of the No-Gi absolute division at Brad Daddis’s South Jersey Grappling Championships. After submitting my first two opponents I found myself up against a wrestler who was much larger than me, probably around 230lbs while I myself was only about 170lbs. He quickly took me down with a double leg which I felt powerless to stop. Once on my back in bottom guard however I waited for him to attempt a double-unders guard pass at which point I transitioned to a triangle choke. Being such a large guy he lost his footing while leaning forward to stack me up and toppled forward allowing me to land in a mounted triangle position. From there I turned and secured the triangle choke while on my side to take home the belt for the absolute division.
Strategy number 3: Stop, Drop and Leglock or Go for the Sub from Standing
Rousimar Palhares often uses the Stop, Drop, and Leglock Strategy
“Stop, Drop and Leglock” is a term that I coined for a strategy which I have been extremely successful with in tournaments, though I by no means created it. Professional fighters like Masakatsu Imanari and Rousimar Palhares have made this strategy work for them in many high level fights, proving it is not only effective in sub grappling. When it comes to the standup portion of a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or Submission Grappling match, most grapplers think that there are really only two options: either go for the takedown or pull guard or half guard. There is, however, a 3rd option, which is to go for the submission from the feet. While most subs will be completed on the ground, many can be attempted from the feet and this very frequently catches the opponent off guard because he does not consider it an option or something he needs to be concerned about. I myself am not particularly good at flying armbars, flying triangles, standing guillotines or standing Kimura-traps, but these are also very effective submissions which can be pulled off from a standing position in either Gi Jiu-Jitsu or no-gi submission grappling. For me, going for leglocks from a standing position has always been very natural and effective. The way that I typically do it is by starting off the match with a little bit of hand fighting and making it look as though I am going to try for a takedown. Once I get close enough and am convinced that the opponent is distracted, I then like to drop to my back, hook the opponents ankle with my arm and spin upside down, wrapping my other leg around my opponent’s straightened leg while he is still standing. From there he will inevitably fall one way or another because I will be pulling his base out from under him. Then I usually transition to any number of leg locks like toeholds, heel hooks or straight kneelocks. If these do not work however, I have found that upper body submissions like triangles or armbars can sometimes be transitioned to or the leg lock can be used as a sweep by letting go and sitting up on top of the opponent. This strategy isn’t only effective because it is unpredictable but also because it forgoes all the other usual positions. If done correctly you don’t have to worry about passing your opponents guard or preventing him from passing yours. Instead, you cut right to the chase and start the submission battle right away. Even better, this strategy often ends the match very quickly, leaving one with extra energy in a tournament for one’s next matches. I used this several years ago to take first place at a no-gi division at the Diamond State Games in Delaware, when I dropped down quickly and secured a tap by way of toehold against a professional Pure MMA fighter.
Strategy number 4: Submission Over Position
The armbar is a common BJJ submission
In a way, this strategy goes hand in hand with strategy number 3 because when going for a sub from standing you are not generally starting off with a concern over gaining dominant ground position and once you hit the ground you start a submission chain which very frequently leads to the match ending before any static or conventional position is achieved. However, this strategy differs of course in that you can start the match off with a conventional takedown, sweep or guard pull and still take this attitude into the match as it progresses. The general idea here is not being overly concerned with guard passing, achieving or maintaining side mount, mount or back mount, or even being overly concerned with whether or not your opponent passes your guard or gets a dominant top position on you. This is a very “all or nothing” approach as if it fails one usually ends up down on points, but it’s a very pro-active and aggressive way of grappling. I used this strategy to win the opening round of the NAGA Worlds in 2010 in the No-Gi Advanced Welterweight division against Michael Padilla, a well known professional grappler and Amateur MMA fighter. The match started with him shooting a single, which I sprawled on, at which point he off balanced and swept me to bottom half guard. After ending up in full guard he lifted me up off the ground at which point I hooked one his legs and used my typical upside-down leg attack. While trying to secure the leg lock I placed no concern over what position we would end up in if the leg lock failed. I initially tried a toehold and then a straight knee lock, both of which he defended. However, in his haste to employ strategy number 1 and end up in top control and feeling secure in having shut off my lower body attacks he forgot to be wary of upper body submissions and as he tried to sit up in my full guard I switched my hips and sunk in a triangle for the tap, putting me in the finals of that division.
Strategy number 5: Hold Onto That Point
This strategy is seen in many tournaments these days where two evenly matched opponents cannot submit eachother or score large numbers of points so one becomes satisfied with gaining a one point advantage and preventing himself from being scored on to take the win. After winning that first match by triangle in the opening round of the Advanced No-Gi Welterweight division at the NAGA Worlds in 2010, I found myself in the finals against a very skilled 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu Purple Belt and this was the strategy that I used. At the beginning of the match he pulled guard and I went for a heel hook. NAGA awards points for strong submission attempts so I was given one point for this. Following this, not much happened in this match. He spent some time in my guard trying to pass which he could not do, but neither could I secure a sub or a sweep. Eventually, we found ourselves back on our feet and not being a wrestler he was wary to go for a takedown on me. I was also wary to go for one on him because I thought it might leave me open to a guillotine attempt, and being up by one point I knew the onus was on him to score. As the match winded down he shot for a double leg takedown which I sprawled on. I then pulled guard and controlled him for the remaining seconds to win the division and take home the belt. It was a conservative win, but it worked, and though less than exciting to watch this strategy consistently works for many top grapplers when all else fails.
These 5 strategies are battle tested and all equally capable of leading a grappler to a win under any tournament format. It is important to know how to use each one as opponents’ styles will vary and one method alone will not always lead to victory. Next time you have an upcoming grappling tournament consider which of these you may want to use and be prepared to use each if your primary strategy does not work out the way you had planned.
Poughkeepsie BJJ
Train with Jamey at Precision Mixed Martial Arts in Lagrangeville, NY and get the best Poughkeepsie BJJ training available. Classes 7 days a week. Call us at 845-392-8495 or click here to learn more. Make sure to ask about our 30 Day FREE Trial.
If you train at Precision MMA then you know how much hard work Chris Stanley does to keep things running smoothly. So for his birthday I wanted to show him how much I appreciated all he’s done for the gym and take him to Virginia to train with his favorite grappler Ryan Hall. Ryan was gracious enough to make time in his very busy schedule to welcome us and teach a private to Stan.
I love traveling to different gyms. I get to experience a different training culture, techniques, philosophies and strategies and use them to enhance my game as well as my students’.
When we arrived at 50/50 we first took part in Seph Smith’s competition class. The class is tailored specifically for seasoned BJJers. A series of movement drills and dynamic running warmed up the class before getting into technique. The techniques were a series of 5 moves in what I term the “call and response” method. One partner mounts, the other escapes and sweeps – each partner has an active roll in the drilling sequence which helps keep students from zoning during their repetitions. Seph would make his rounds pointing out the finer points of the techniques and reminding students of the competitive aspect of the class. Techniques were to be executed immediately without hesitation, the second you were mounted you were to shrimp, delay would be the beginning of the end from a competition stand point.
The live rounds began working specifically from the mount or guard to reinforce the previous techniques taught. Short in duration, but high in intensity students were encouraged to take the bull by the horns and make things happen rather than grappling lackadaisically. The biggest difference I noticed rolling with the students at 50/50 vs my home gym was the approach from the guard. 50/50 students welcomed the open guard, alternating between butterfly and various forms of De La Riva predominantly as opposed to the tight closed or high guard I typically encounter.
Following the class Stan and I took a private lesson with Seph. I’ve watched Seph for years on the competition scene and the thing that always stood out about his game was his lethal leg lock game. Leg attacks are far from my strong point so I was very excited to add some new wrinkles to that aspect of my game. Unlike the way many teach leg attacks, Seph emphasized the enteries and counter attacks as much as the submission finishes. I was especially happy that he worked his attacks off the leg drag and knee slice passes since those are two of my favorite passing methods. Seph showed us his unique way of trapping the foot in the heel hook position. I would elaborate, but I was sworn to secrecy. What I can tell you is the details were 100% “game changers” for me. We also went over strategies from the 50/50 position, which as the gym’s namesake would indicate, were pretty incredible. Seph then peeled back the curtain on his strategy, pass to leg lock, leg lock to pass. The ebb and flow of his transitions smoothly relied on the old adage of the finding the path of least resistance.
The following day Stan and I made it to 50/50 early so we could rep everything we had learned from Seph. While drilling I saw Ryan working his boxing in the corner of the gym and was surprised how comfortable he looked on his feet. I have no doubt his striking will surprise whoever has the misfortune of fighting him next. Once I finished drilling I saw a few blue belts practicing the 2 on 1 Russian, one of my favorite positions. I gave a few pointers and then we had an awesome rolling session.
Ryan finished up boxing and joined Stan and I in the corner of the gym. He wanted to get a feel for Stan’s game so he first watched the two of us roll so he could evaluate his game. Ryan then got on the mat with Stan himself for further investigation. After a few minutes Ryan reported his findings. Ryan’s outlook on jiu-jitsu was very unique. He focused his attention on the “big picture”. He wasn’t so concerned with the precise grip Stan was using, but rather the structural integrity of his overall positioning. Ryan told us that when using the guard his goal was to always keep his lines of defense tight. Knees and elbows connected with an engaged core and advantageous angle. The particular moves were less important since they could only be executed from proper positioning. He then broke down the instances where Stan was extended, flat, or disconnected. Conversely, Ryan explained that guard passing was simply finding the hole in the structure and occupying that space.
Ryan’s approach to grappling wasn’t concerned with particular techniques, but rather with physics. Rather than discussing underhooks and grips he spoke of levers, wedges and points of leverage. At times listening to him speak evoked memories not of jiu-jitsu class, but of science lectures on simple and complex machines. Ryan’s approach has no limitations. There is no dogma or prejudice in Ryan’s approach, it was simply problem solving. Techniques were evaluated with a scientific method – arrive at the proper conclusion and duplicate the results under varying circumstances.
The two privates we took were invaluable. With Seph we walked away with a solid sequence of techniques we could practice and begin implementing, while with Ryan we were provided a framework we could use to approach all of our existing techniques.
If you happen to be fortunate enough to live in the Virginia area check out 50/50 HERE
Otherwise, you can still check out Ryan’s incredible instructional videos HERE
There is nothing quite like a great fight. Some fights exemplify technical prowess. Techniques are disguised with feints, fakes and misdirection like a magician’s prestige. Attacks are sequenced in endless combinations and flow before the audience in a series of chain reactions. Fighters solve physical riddles and challenge their adversary’s reflexes and intuitions.
Other fights are chaotic displays of unbridled fury where caution is thrown to the wind. Courage accented with insanity creates a wild parade of speed, power and grit. Fighters become less like artists and more like daredevils as they stand in the line of fire.
Finally, there are fights that devolve into wars of attrition, crucibles of endurance which are no longer battles of techniques, but wars of wills. These fights become spectacles of character where the only thing keeping a combatant going is his unwavering devotion to the pursuit of victory.
Every once in a great while a fight is all of these things simultaneously, a synergistic combination of mind, body and spirit. Great fighters challenge our concept of reality; they display unimaginable feats and in the process force us to reconsider what is possible for human beings.
Mark Hunt and Antonio Silva put on a great fight and if you were not privileged enough to witness it, no amount of hyperbole will do it justice.
For my money ADCC has always been the greatest grappling tournament. It brings together great athletes not simply from Jiu-jitsu, but judo, wrestling, sambo and MMA as well. The clash of styles makes for incredibly unique matches and outcomes. I also love the emphasis on takedowns. While many BJJers bemoan the guard jumping penalty I applaud it as the tournament’s greatest strength. Grapplers cannot be one dimensional; they must understand how to dominate the match from the feet to the floor. I also love the international feel. Qualifiers are held from around the world, it’s the closest our sport may ever get to an Olympics.
Learn some of these incredible techniques brought to you by Tampa BJJ black belt Matt Arroyo HERE and HERE
Over the last decade and a half I’ve had over 100 grappling matches, 9 pro MMA fights and a handful of boxing matches. In that time I’ve faced black belts, world champions and professional competitors from a myriad of martial arts backgrounds. However, in truth I’ve never considered myself an ideal candidate for martial arts competition. In many ways I don’t have the stomach for it. I sweat the small stuff – I obsess, stress out and far too often allow bright lights and uncertainty to overwhelm me. In times of discomfort and peril one must develop a coping mechanism or fall to pieces entirely. For me, I coped with the crucible of competition by preparing as vigorously and thoroughly as possible. I left no stone unturned, I attempted to maximize my potential for victory with regards to each and every variable. I believed if I dotted every “i” and crossed every “t” then the only plausible outcome would be a decisive victory. I often carried this approach to ridiculous reaches, occasionally flirting with absurdity. I remember when I first started preparing for MMA I had trouble acclimating to the gloves so I wore them around my apartment performing every imaginable task for two weeks straight. Often my neurotic tendencies were harmless with the worst consequence being the slings and arrows of peer ridicule. However, one area where I potentially faced severe detriment was with regards to weight cutting.
Growing up I was always the small kid. As a result I think I developed a warped body image, always seeing myself as weaker than my peers. Weight cutting offered me a solution to this dilemma. One advantage I had as a competitor was that I was always willing to inconvenience myself in order to improve. 5 AM runs for cardio, 2 hour car rides to train at the best gym, going broke buying private lessons – if I thought I’d improve by 1% then all were performed without hesitation. As a 17 year old blue belt I knew most people wouldn’t be willing to put trash bags on and run in the 90 degree heat for an hour in order to have a 6 pound weight advantage, but for me, I’d do it with an ear to ear grin on my face. So back in 2002 my weight cutting saga began. As a teenager my body was pretty resilient. My “weight cutting” routine consisted of a few weeks of crash dieting followed by hard cardio sessions in a sauna while covered in trash bags. I did every stupid thing you could imagine. I’d drive to summer tournaments in my winter coat with the windows rolled up and the heat on. In traffic jams or red lights I’d chew gum and spit into a plastic bottle. In the winter I’d occasionally sleep with the heat off and windows open since I read that shivering forced your body to burn more calories. In reality I probably wasn’t doing myself much good, but for me it was a mental hurdle. I looked at my competition and knew I was bigger than them and that was enough to allow me to compete with confidence. I was earning plastic trophies which likely appraised for less than $5, but intrinsically they were priceless. A part of me knew this wasn’t healthy. When cutting weight in high school I’d answer the most pedestrian test questions incorrectly and in training I once was so fatigued when I introduced myself to a new student I told them the wrong name (yes, I once was so loopy I forgot my own first name). We all did stupid things in high school, some people got bad tattoos, I cut too much weight.
Like anything, my weight cutting underwent a maturation process. I read a few books and took some college courses on nutrition, resulting in a more refined diet and cutting routine. I had things down to a science and was following less detrimental practices. There was one tournament where I slipped up though; using an inaccurate scale I missed weight for a pro grappling division. I was so embarrassed I swore it would NEVER happen again. I thought to myself, I would rather have both my arms broken than admit that I couldn’t make weight.
At this point all weigh-ins were the same day as the competition. However, once I was bit by the MMA bug everything changed. Now I would have a full 24-30 hours to rehydrate prior to competing. In MMA the stakes were higher as well. There was much more money on the line than in grappling and fighters were willing to make sacrifices that amateur grapplers would not. I now had to cut weight not to gain an upper hand, but to simply avoid being at a disadvantage. This was 2006, Sean Sherk and Rich Franklin held UFC titles in large part by dropping a weight class and enjoying considerable size advantages. For my first fight I sweat out 10 pounds over two days to weigh in at 155, I won the fight but kept thinking I was too small for the weight class. Eventually I was dropping close to 15 pounds the week of the fight. I finally felt like I was big enough, but at the same time my life was revolving around making weight. Friends hated going out to eat with me because I would grill the waitress on the type of cooking oil used or whether their salad dressing contained sugar. The problem became, as soon as I was big enough for the weight class I was having trouble making weight. I thought about going up to welterweight, but being 175 pounds I knew I would be at a huge disadvantage going up against guys coming down from 190 pounds. Psychologically the weight disadvantage would be too daunting.
I remember going out for the Ultimate Fighter and being reminded the shame of not making weight. We had all been paired off for our elimination bouts and Jason Guida missed weight by 1 pound. He was severely dehydrated, he was having muscle spasms, his blood pressure dangerously low and he was dry heaving and light headed. He was universally resented for his failure to make weight and in many ways his professional career never recovered. I remember thinking “that will never be me, no matter what”.
After many fights were canceled last minute I was starting to lose my desire to compete. I had resigned myself to simply being an instructor and relaxed certain aspects of my regimen, my super strict diet being one of them. Then I got an opportunity to fight in Strikeforce, but I would have to drop 25 pounds in about three weeks. Not wanting to miss out on the opportunity, I took the fight. The weight didn’t come off the way it usually did. Half way through my cut my body stopped sweating. I was sitting in a steaming hot bath covered in rubbing alcohol and Epsom salts. I was mentally and physically falling apart and still 4 pounds over. Picking myself up to check my weight felt like climbing Mount Everest. My cornerman was keeping an eye on me and felt like I had transformed into a different person. All I thought about was that I HAD to make weight. I didn’t care about the damage I was doing to my kidneys or even how detrimental the cut would be to my performance the next day, I would rather die than face the shame of missing weight.
After trying every single trick in the book I made the weight. To this day I consider it the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. Come fight time I fought great…for the first minute of each round. Then I was so fatigued I could barely pick my hands up to block the punches to my face. I was beaten badly, covered in blood and embarrassed – but I do remember thinking “at least I made weight”.
I equated missing weight with quitting, with cheating, with being a coward. I could deal with my opponent getting the better of me, but I would never want to endure the shame of not showing up the way I had agreed to – on weight.
More recently I decided to jump into a grappling tournament, my first one in years. I was 172 pounds a few days before the competition and was planning on sweating out 12 pounds to jump in the 150-159 pound division. As I put my foot in the steaming bath I felt the familiar discomfort which flooded back memories of Strikeforce. I immediately got out of the water and began to wonder what was wrong with me. Did I suffer some sort of amnesia? This was a NAGA tournament, I wasn’t earning any prize money (in fact I was paying to compete) and still I was going to put myself through that torture. It was just part of my routine, if I didn’t shed any weight I was forced to face my pre-competition neurosis and admit the fact that someone might be a little bigger or a little stronger than me. I ate breakfast and competed in the 170-179 division. At the end of the competition I realized the need to cut weight was largely in my head. Yes a few guys had bigger biceps than me, but the consequence of competing at a higher weight class was worse in my imagination than it was in reality. I was glad that for once I valued my health above a shiny belt (fortunately I was still able to win the tournament).
Lately the issue of extreme weight cutting has been placed under the mixed martial arts microscope. Just weeks ago in just his 3rd pro fight, Nova Uniao’s Leandro “Feijao” Souza died while cutting weight. There are reports that Souza was taking Lasix, a powerful loop diuretic used to treat edema and hypertension, in order to shed excess water weight. Souza passed out in the sauna, still 2 pounds over the 125 pound weight limit, before being taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. More recently, Rodrigo Damm was forced to withdraw from his UFC bout with Hacran Dias due to kidney stones associated with cutting weight. Recently, infamous UFC weight cutter Gleason Tibau revealed that despite competing in the 155 pound weight class he routinely enters the octagon at over 180 pounds.
I have friends who have passed out while sitting in a sauna. Kidney stones are most common in males over 40 years old, but I know more than a few fighters who have endured them in their 20’s. I guarantee the weight cutting problem will get worse before it gets better. Pundits, gurus and experts have all suggested solutions to the problem. Recommendations have ranged from additional weight classes, multiple pre-fight weigh-ins, or hydration tests. Brazilian Jiu-jitsu has done away with weight cutting by weighing the competitors immediately prior to the start of the bout and disqualifying anyone who misses weight by the slightest of margins. While this works for tournament jiu-jitsu, it would be disastrous for professional MMA. Huge fights would be lost on the scale rather than in the octagon. Too much money is at stake for the UFC to risk disqualification in high profile bouts.
Honestly, only a cultural shift is necessary for the sport as a whole. Coaches need to monitor the weight of their athletes and educate them on safe weight loss practices while dissuading extreme measures. Fighters need to be less short sited and consider their long term health. Retired fighters should alert the younger generation about the troubles they’ve faced as a result of their years of extreme weight shedding. Above all though, competitors have to realize that regardless of the professional stigma or personal shame, no match is worth dying over.
Brian McLaughlin is a Poughkepsie MMA coach at Precision mixed martial arts in LaGrange, NY
