Get to Know: Rikki Rockett (Famous Rock Star & BJJ Black Belt)

As a child of the 80's I grew up listening to bands like Poison and am a HUGE fan of that genre of music.   If I had any idea when I was 13 years old that I would have something in common with my rock star idols, or that we would speak to each other on the same level about it, my mind would have been COMPLETELY blown.  I am beyond stoked that Poison drummer Rikki Rockett took the time to contribute some of his life, history and how he became a student of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. 

I believe many people (myself at least) dream about living the life of someone famous. Having opportunities to experience things that the average person may never get to do.  I know that as  kid in my early teens, the idea of being a rock star was incredibly appealing and sounded very exciting.  If you don't know Rikki Rockett because you didn't grow up in the 80's like I did, I think that you can easily imagine this being any other music super star that fits your generation. To date, this has been the most exciting Q&A opportunity I have had. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Q: What are you up to these days?  Are you still playing and involved with music?

A: Very much so. I can’t talk a lot about the changes with Poison right now due some legal stuff, but suffice to say that we are pretty busy right now! We played a show with a different lead singer, Brandon Gibbs, who is in my other band, The Devil City Angels. I started the Devil City Angels with Tracii Guns of L.A. Guns fame (Guns ’N’ Roses), Eric Brittingham from Cinderella and Brandon. I found Brandon in Burlington, Iowa 11 years ago at 17 years old playing with his brother. We have stayed tight ever since and now he is a bona fide rock star in my opinion!

I build custom drums and most important, raise my 5 year old boy Jude and my 2 year old Lucy.

Q: When did you start training?  What drew you to the sport as you got a much earlier start than most people that will be reading this interview?

A: I started over 17 years ago. I was training JKD, Kali and Silat. I was drawn to Silat because of the Sumatran version that was pretty much a ground game. I met John and JJ Machado at a vegetarian rally and told them how I admired Royce Gracie and I wrestled in High School and loved Silat. They invited me to the school. Once I was there I was greated by Renato Magno, (my long time and still my coach) and Eddie Bravo who also trained JKD. I got tapped out 12 times that evening and my life has never been the same! Can I tell you what an experience it is to tapped out by JJ Machado!

Q: When did you receive your Black Belt and from whom?  How old were you?

A: I was 48 years old. Renato Magno (Street Sports BJJ, Santa Monica, CA). Renato moved here with the Machado Bros. from Brazil to help start their school. I got my second degree two years ago. I am eligible for three stripes, but I don’t deserve it! I haven’t been as consistent this year because of all of my musical projects. Four training days a week is great, but this past year has been about two or three. I like to walk around at competition weight and feeling like I could compete at any time, but that’s just a wish most of the time! 

Note: I got my purple belt under Renato and JJ Machado at the Machado Bros. school. I remained a purple belt for 7 years!

Rikki & Renato Magno

Rikki & Jean Jacques Machado

Q: I think most people find it fascinating to learn about famous people that also train Jiu-Jitsu.  Name some of the competitors that you either trained with or against comping up in the ranks.  Any other well-known training partners currently or in the past?  

A: Mac Danzig (UFC), Danny Inosanto, Gabriel Vella de Freitas, All of the Machado Bros., Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, Eddie Bravo, Ed O’Niel, Rico “The Baltimore Butcher” Chipparelli & playwright / film director David Mamet come to mind.

Q: Any interesting stories to share about training over the years? 

A: I swear, everyday is an adventure.  And thank God for that!!!

Q: What do you feel a new student should focus on?

A: I can answer both this and the second at the same time. Keep a log of your training. I wish, wish I would have done this! We all tend to remember our rolls more than our drills and so it’s important. When your coach sez, “I wanna see 15 chokes from the mount!” and you are going in your head, “Hmmmmm, I only use 3 most of time, what were they now?” It’s important to review. Even if you prefer certain techniques over others. I am not a gifted grappler. I have had to scrimp and scrape for everything I have acquired. It just doesn’t come naturally most of the time for me. Even for our gifted brothers, keep a log. You are probably going to teach too.

Q: What would you change about how you approached training Jiu-Jitsu if you had to go back and start all over again?

A: See last answer!

Q: In my experience, famous and well known people that train BJJ don't compete very often.  I personally saw you compete at IBJJF Pan 2010 via the Budovideos stream.  That is how I became aware that you were a Black Belt.  How important is it to compete and its usefulness for development?

A: I think competition is a big part of our art. It pushes the envelope. Sure, the system of competing has it’s limits, but it drives a certain aspect of BJJ that is important. Some people never compete. Ceasar Gracie for example, but he is a bad ass and a great coach. So, it’s personal. However, it does build camaraderie and that is essential. BJJ peeps are, for the most part, a big family. We are like the Marine Corps of martial arts and we respect each other because of that. (I mean that with respect to the Marines, BTW. My Dad and cousins were in the corp.)

Q: What are your thoughts on rolling versus drilling?

A: If you don't drill, you will always defend more than you initiate when you roll because you won't have the mobility or the familiarity of the technique.  Both are critical.

Q: Do you use supplements?  How do you stay healthy?

A: I do supplement, but not overly. Multis, Vega powder after training and I toy with a few other things. Juice from time to time. I have been vegetarian for 22 years and I think it’s the best option for me. Mac Danzig, Jake Shields and others are vegetarian or vegan and do well in MMA. It is a viable option. I’d love to go Raw Vegan!

Q: What do you recommend for training preparation?

A: Sleep!!! What you ate the day before matters. I think too many guys try and eat like bodybuilders and that doesn’t seem to be the trick. Carbs are not the enemy in BJJ. That is a myth. If you are trying to rip for a photo session, sure, protein and low carbs. Doesn’t work with BJJ in my experience. To each his own, I guess, though.

Q: How active are you these days in BJJ?  What is a typical week for you training or simply a day in the life of Rikki Rockett?  Who do you currently train under?

A: Very active. However, my perfect week would be: Mon., Wed. & Fri. Jits. Tues. & Thur. TRX and Yoga. Weekends: Chasing my kids!!! I train under Professor Renato Magno, Street Sports BJJ, Santa Monica, CA. Sometimes I train with Dave Dunne (3rd degree B Belt under JJ Machado) at Fight Academy in Santa Clarita, CA. We have been buds for years. I fill in and teach once in a while for Mr. Dunne. He is a great coach and an amazing person.

Professor Magno has been an inspiration to me over the years on many levels. He is a friend, a great family man, great coach and a positive force in BJJ culture.

Q: Do you continue to study new (modern) Jiu-Jitsu and how do you go about that?  Do you train with other Black Belts in other gyms, affiliations, etc?

Rikki & Professor Dave Dunne

A: I do. We have guys in our school who travel all over and come back with some unexpected moves. We have guys train before tournaments from Brazil who are affiliates of Professor Magno who have a whole new twist on things sometimes. I have the pleasure of traveling and interacting with lots of Jits guys. Southern California is such a melting pot and hot bed for BJJ. It’s a blessed thing to be here and soak it up. I still suck, though! LOL!

Q: What is the worst injury you have experienced while training?

A: A meniscus tear from a leg lock and a compound fracture of my left big toe. Big toe breaks are like breaking your whole foot. The balance from your big toe is what separates us from the great apes… oh and Rigan Machado! LOL!!! (He’s gonna kick my ass for that one!)

Q: Any big goals for 2015?  Jiu-Jitsu, music, projects, etc?

A: Well, it’s about keeping up the momentum with my musical projects first and foremost. I have a family, so I gotta stay working for awhile. Maybe semi retire in about 5 years and teach Jiu-Jitsu. “Rockett’s Snakepit BJJ”. I would like to compete again. I really enjoyed it. I didn’t win. But, I didn’t get tapped or owned, so it was a positive experience for me.

Q: Do you keep up with current events in the sport?  i.e. Watching events like IBJJF, Metamoris, Polaris, etc?  Might you peruse BJJ forums online under some secret persona?

A: I do, indeed. I love Metamoris and Rigan’s new endeavor The World Jiu-Jitsu Federation. I love the UFC too. Any forum I have ever gone on I was very transparent. Too many ball busters on some of them. Because I am the drummer for Poison, some haters wanna judge me on what I looked like on the cover of a record in 1986! It becomes a little not worth the hassle. However, I thought about fighting a no-gi tournament and wearing bright colored spats, tease my hair and wear guy liner. But, if I lost I’d look like an ass! It would be funny, though!

Q: Name the accomplishment you are most proud of be it BJJ or something personal.

A: My first gold record. I bought my parents a Cadillac with that money like Elvis did! (Except I’m still in the building)

Q: Is there anything interesting you would like to say about yourself or any opinions you  have about the current state of BJJ?

A: I think it’s a good thing to occasionally roll with the ballistic white belt who will challenge your current knowledge. The young, over the top Blue Belt hell bent on your destruction! yes, it will keep your instincts fresh. Oh, yeah, do it when you are tired. And… the light girl who trains all the time. Make sure you use no muscle-ing at all. These are things many of us avoid when we roll. Try asking your Police training partners what they run into every day and how you might handle it. This is real life and sometimes we can get bogged down of the sports end of BJJ. Like Bruce Lee always warned about never losing your natural instinct from learning too much technique.

Q: Anything else you would  like to add people might find interesting about yourself?

A: I was an EMT back in Harrisburg, PA.  How's that one?  I was a hairdresser, a dishwasher and a lifeguard before seeking fame and fortune out west.

Q: Any sponsors you would like to thank, products, or services you would to promote?  BJJ, music, etc?

BJJ: Shoyoroll http://shoyoroll.com/
Scramble Brand http://store.scramblestuff.us/
Ludwig Clothing http://ludwigvantheman.com/

Music: Devil City Angles http://www.devilcityangels.com/
Poison http://poisonweb.com/

Clothing: Cult of Individuality Denim http://www.cultofindividuality.com/mens/jeans/
New Balance Sneakers: http://www.newbalance.com/

Drums: Sabian Cymbals http://www.sabian.com/en/home
Drum Workshop Hardware & Pedals http://www.dwdrums.com/
Drum Tacs http://www.drumtacs.com/
Aquarian Drum Heads http://www.aquariandrumheads.com/
Los Cabos DrumSticks http://loscabosdrumsticks.com/
Rockett Drum Works Custom Drums http://rockettdrumworks.com/

Additional Links:
http://www.rikkirockett.com/index.html
https://www.facebook.com/TheRealRikkiRockett?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/RikkiRockett?fref=ts
https://instagram.com/rikkirockett/
https://twitter.com/rikkirockett

Luan Carvalho (Nova União) x Michael Langhi (Alliance) 2015 Brasileiro (Semifinal)

Unless you are very plugged into the tournaments going on in Brazil right now last weekend featured the 2015 Brasileiro tournament which is kind of a big deal.  Unfortunately unless you were there or have been able to see some of the posted matches it's a bit difficult to stay on top of the results.  One match that jumped out at me as very impressive is that of fairly new Black Belt Luan Carvalho (Nova Uniao) over Alliance powerhouse Michael Langhi!  Note this was a semifinal and a real nail biter but most did not expect this result.  Luan would go on to win the division and I can imagine this is the biggest win of his career.  I would definitely keep an eye on this prospect in the Leve (Light) division at future events!

(Link for mobile users: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBx2Aaacfmc)

2015 Brasileiro Results:
http://static.ibjjfdb.com/Campeonato/000380/pt-BR/Resultados.pdf

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/luancarvalhobjj
http://thebjjmentalcoach.com/
http://www.novauniao.com/
http://www.pridefightwear.com.br/loja/index.php

93 Brand 100 Kilo Gi Review

It has been a long time since I have done a gi review on the blog.  I recently had the opportunity to test out one of 93 Brand's latest offerings the 100 Kilo gi and that was just the inspiration I needed get on here and share it with everyone.  93 Brand is an American company based out of New York that was founded in 2012.  They are very well known in the Jiu-Jitsu community for offering basic gi designs that are not overly flashy.  There is something to be said for simplicity in the design of a gi. As much as I take pleasure in a gi adorned in eye catching logo patches and a custom look right out of the box, I also enjoy the ability to get creative and add on my collection of patches from my gym and various others acquired from seminars, organizations and causes I support. They also offer a full line of gear not limited to belts, rash guards, grappling tights, and t-shirts.  93 Brand offers some excellent pricing on their gi's well under the $200 mark.  You can usually purchase their gi's anywhere from $99-140 pretty regularly on various sites. 

Design

If you are Jiu-Jitsu purist then 93 brand has a lot to offer in the way of getting you geared up and on the mat with little fuss. The 100 Kilo at first glance is a clean, organic look with a well blended combination of classic colors. It is a solid off white gi with the look and feel of unbleached cotton, soft to the touch right out of the bag with charcoal grey contrast stitching and crimson accents on the taping, logo patch and embroidery. Each sleeve features 93 brand logos embroidered in black, white crimson and charcoal grey. The bottom of the jacket has some added flair with the words “position/submission” embroidered charcoal grey and crimson.  The cuffs of the jacket, inner portion of lapels and skirt, and cuffs of the pants have crimson taping and are very soft. All of these elements provide a subtle but appreciated balance to the look of the gi. The pants match the jacket well with the contrast stitching, reinforced knee and a vertical 93 brand patch down the front of the right leg rather than down the side as we might see in a lot of other gi’s on the market. 

Construction

Specifications:

• Unbleached natural cotton
• 450 GSM Gold Weave jacket
• 10 oz. twill cotton pants
• Minimal contrast stitching
• Interior seam taping
• Gold Weave lined knee reinforcements
• Gold Weave crotch gusset
• Stretchy para-cord drawstring
• 6 drawstring loops on the pants

As many know, Gold Weave gi's tend to suffer from shrinkage more than almost any weave available on the market.  I spoke with George of 93 Brand prior to receiving the gi and he informed me that "the 100 Kilo has undergone two treatment processes since the unbleached fabric tends to shrink quite a bit."  That isn't to say it won't shrink but it should prevent any unexpected surprises after being laundered the first few times.

Touted as the 100 Kilo gi, the actual weight of the A-1 tested came in right at 2.6 pounds. For those of you who don’t want to make that conversion, that is 1.18 kilograms.  Made of 100% cotton, when I opened the package and pulled the gi out I contemplated actually sleeping in it.  Generally treated with a finishing chemical, most new gi’s feel like sandpaper and smell like the rubber sole of fresh pair of Keds.  The collar itself is very sturdy and thick; no flimsy collar present here.  The traditional stretchy drawstring is present here. This type of drawstring seems to be the industry standard these days.  In my experience these usually are manufactured to be longer than necessary as I found with the Kilo. That being said, it is easily cut to the desired length and burning the ends makes for an easy modification. The stitching throughout the jacket and pants seems to be very good. I have seen very sloppy work in this area even with some of the most expensive brands on the market. Sometimes it is simply a cosmetic issue and even worse can affect the structural integrity of the gi. Fortunately that is simply not found here with the Kilo. The pants have reinforced knees that run mid-thigh to just 5" above the cuff on the pant legs. I prefer to see the longer, reinforcement to provide additional cushioning and the Kilo does this well.  As many know this provides cushion, and additional support for those who like a gi that fits relatively close to the body. If you do prefer that type of fit like I do, then you may be familiar with the added wear and tear that comes as a result of added stress and pull on the flat panels of fabric and critical fulcrum point seams.  The crotch gusset is constructed identical to the Gold Weave fabric of the jacket.

Fit

Based on my dimensions, 5'7" 150lbs I requested an A-1. Often times when I fall into the top end of a sizing chart for any particular brand, A-1 sized gi's tend to be too small.  Moving up in size tends to put me in an overly bulky gi. Dealing with the added fabric can be cumbersome and allow opportunities for my training partner or opponent to get deeper grip control. A-1 was the perfect choice for the 93 brand 100 kilo, especially knowing I could wash and dry it in warm/hot temperatures without worry. This is something to take into consideration when purchasing your gi, the amount of time it will take to ensure laundering is handled properly every time. The less of a worry that is, the better.  Out of the bag the sleeves were a bit long and wide for my arms, but nothing that a high heat setting on the dry couldn't fix.  The pants were pretty much perfect in length and not baggy by any means.  To my satisfaction the taping on the inner seams throughout the entire gi are also 100% cotton, preventing the chaffing that can be an issue when the manufacturer uses synthetic threading or taping that has been cauterized to prevent unraveling. I found that sometimes taping can be abrasive due to logos and the overall finishing process.  The taping on the Kilo is smooth and just what I prefer.   I can't say enough about the comfort of the pants.  They are so comfortable I have no issue lounging around the house in them.

Rolling Impressions

I can’t help but refer back to my comment about this gi being comfortable enough to wear to bed as pajamas…although my wife might actually be able to defend the middle-of-the-night Kimura or ankle lock I try in my sleep.  That being said, I knew there may be a chance that the jacket sleeves would stretch during training or become more pliable after a sweaty high intensity roll. One thing I knew for sure, I was excited at the idea of NOT getting chaffed to hell with sandpaper pearl weave on my shoulder blades and elbows! The skirt proved to be a very acceptable length, not too short or too long.  The fit in the shoulders is perfect and the overall fit of the jacket does feel a bit roomy for my body type.  It doesn't fit me like a competition gi but I think you can get a pretty good idea from the pictures provided.  If I have one complaint about this gi it is that I did experience some stretch in the sleeves.  Modern day Gold Weave gi's almost all suffer from this due to being manufactured to be "light" and comfortable.  I have had the chance to work with most of the current Gold Weaves on the market these days and almost all of them have some stretch particularly when they get damp from training.  That isn't necessarily a bad thing if you prefer a very comfortable jacket that doesn't feel like you are wearing body armor.  My fix for this issue is to not fret about a little over-shrink in the sleeves to counterbalance any stretch you will experience while training.  In order to custom tailor the fit of the Kilo I ran it through 3-4 trips in the washing machine on a warm setting, low spin cycle.  I followed this up with trips through the dryer to help steam the material and shrink it down.

All in all my experience using the 93 Brand 100 Kilo gi has been an absolute pleasure.  Even under heavy training conditions the Kilo never feels heavy from sweat and doesn't trap body heat.  I have used this gi quite a bit over the last 2-3 months and it handled everything I threw at it.  It appears to be very durable and hasn't shown any degradation at all.

Measurements

93 Brand offers a great range of sizes for any body type.  The original sizing chart can be found at http://www.rollmore.com/93br-kilo.html where you can purchase this gi and other 93 Brand products.

Size             Height               Weight
A0             5'0"-5'4"           100-130lbs
A1             5'2"-5'7"           125-155lbs
A1L           5'5"-5'9"           125-155lbs
A1F           5'3"-5'7"           110-135lbs
A2             5'7"-5'10"         150-180lbs
A2L          5'10"-6'1"         150-180lbs
A2H          5'7"-5'10"         200-230lbs
A3             5'10"-6'1"         175-210lbs
A3L           6'1"-6'4"          185-220lbs
A4             6'1"-6'3"           215-250lbs
A5             6'3"-6'6"           240-270lbs

*Note that all measurements were taken after shrinking the gi down for my use.

Closing Thoughts

This was a very fun gi to review.  It is not your every day, run of the mill kimono.  I enjoy the unbleached look of the Kilo.  It definitely makes you stand out in the crowd yet remains simple by design, not cluttered with patches and embroidery.  Due to the stretch in the sleeves I personally would wear this for any normal training and teaching day at the gym as opposed to a competition. This is by far the most comfortable gi I have ever worn and trained in.  If you are looking for something different at a very reasonable price then give the 93 Brand Kilo gi some serious consideration, you wont be disappointed.

Links
https://www.facebook.com/93brand?fref=ts
http://www.rollmore.com/93br-kilo.htmlhttps://instagram.com/93brand/

Gustavo Dantas Seminar Review

Our gym was fortunate enough to host Gustavo Dantas in December 2014.  We are affiliated with Robson Moura so during that time we have developed a relationship with many of the current and former Nova Uniao gyms throughout the country.  Gustavo is the President of Nova Uniao USA with his gym based in Tempe, Arizona.  Gustavo is a 4th degree black belt under Andre Pederneiras.

The content covered in this seminar was very good.  Rather than show a series of moves from a particular guard or position Gustavo focused heavily on concepts.  We began with his most successful closed guard sweep, the "Roleta sweep."  After spending some time breaking down the move and the timing of how to execute it properly we switched things up a bit.  Gustavo spent some time showing proper posture in the guard when trying to stand up.  A lot of emphasis was placed on doing this properly and how if the posture was not very good it would be easily exposed by the Roleta sweep.  This method of teaching really made it an "ah ha" moment because while we were learning the Roleta sweep it really drove home the importance of good posture when trying to break the closed guard.

(Link for mobile users: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PvwLZHBR7U)

The other concept we covered worth mentioning was chaining the guard breaks into passes without much delay.  Obviously hanging out in the open guard is not going to be favorable for the guard passer.  Gustavo showed us a slick way to control the pants sleeves and prevent spider guard bicep control.  I had not seen this particular variation.  Importance was placed on being purposeful with your grips and not hesitating to initiate the guard pass.  A good deal of time was spent working situational guard passing with the guard player trying to defend.

One thing I liked was during specific moments throughout the seminar Gustavo would queue up matches online that we could review and he would point out specific examples of executing techniques in competition.  He has a very analytic approach to teaching which is very refreshing.

(Link for mobile users: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eo7Rtc6X4wU)

Something some people may not know about Gustavo is that he is a Certified Mental & Life Coach and excellent public speaker.  He has developed  a DVD series:  The BJJ Mental Coach "Inner Discovery for Outer Success."  Gustavo described how he himself experienced a lot of performance anxiety competing in Jiu-Jitsu tournaments in the past.  Through this series he is trying to help others achieve their goals by taking a more mental approach to competition.  I personally purchased the DVD set and watched a good portion of it however I have not completed it so I will review it at a later date.  After hearing his speech at the seminar about the program and some of the free videos he has put out on his YouTube channel I felt like I could benefit from it both for Jiu-Jitsu and in my personal life.  A lot of the concepts discussed do not have to only apply to the sport.

If you get a chance I highly recommend checking out some of his BJJ Mental Coach videos and see if you can benefit from them.  To wrap things up, the seminar was great.  I'm a huge fan of Gustavo Dantas, his analytic teaching style and wish he was more local to us.  If you get a chance to drop in at his gym in Tempe, Arizona or attend one of his seminars I highly recommend it.  There is also an excellent three part series he participated in on Budovideos Rolled Up from late 2014 that I have linked at the bottom of the article.

Links:
http://thebjjmentalcoach.com/
http://gdjiujitsu.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwNh1vy8QSg

2015 Pan IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship Preview

After taking a year off from doing any big tournament articles I got the pre-Pan excitement.  I am really looking forward to the tournament that seems to get bigger every year with each division getting more stacked from lower belts all the way through black belt.  Tournament info can be found here: http://ibjjf.org/championship/pan-jiu-jitsu-championship/

This preview will focus on divisions that interest me and/or I feel like I know enough about the competitors to make comments.

Brown / Adult / Male / Light Feather
2014 Champ - Andris Brunovskis (Atos)

This is actually a pretty stacked division with some exciting guys to watch and picking a winner is difficult.  Michael Musumeci, Ostap Manastyrski, Woolf Barnato, and Darson Hemmings are my personal favorites in this division.  Woolf came up short and finished second in 2014.

My prediction: Woolf Barnato (Ralph Gracie)

Brown / Adult / Male / Feather
2014 Champ - Fabio Caloi (Alliance)

Watch for Isaac Doederlein and Rick Slomba (Atos) will be big contenders.  Slomba is coming off a big year but Doederlein is likely to claim the title this year.

My pick: Isaac Doederlein (Alliance)

Brown / Adult / Male / Middle
2014 Champ - Dillion Danis (Alliance)

Marcelo Garcia protege has to be the favorite to reclaim his title this year.

Brown / Adult / Male / Medium Heavy
2014 Champ - Manuel Diaz (Brasa CTA)

Reigning champ Manny "Beats" Diaz was promoted to black belt late last year making way for some new blood this year.  Another Marcelo Garcia protege, Matheus Diniz (Alliance) will be a big favorite this year.  Don't overlook Cyborg's sutdent Hunter Ewald (Fight Sports) as he is a gamer. These two would make for a great final.

My pick: Matheus Diniz (Alliance)

Brown / Adult / Male / Super Heavy
2014 Champ - Erberth Santos de Mesquita (TLI)

Not familiar with many of the guys making up this division but one name stands out by a lot.

My pick: Jared Dopp (Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu)

Brown / Adult / Male / Ultra Heavy
2014 Champ - Pedro Henrique Moura (Ribiero Jiu-Jitsu)

This is a pretty small division with only 6 guys.

My pick: Ryan Sandhagen (Bruno Bastos Association)

Black / Adult / Male / Rooster
2014 Champ - Joao Rodrigues (CheckMat)

Seven competitors making up this division with Caio Terra returning after taking time off from health issues in 2014.  He will have his hands full on the tougher side of the bracket with Fabio Passos (Alliance) likely in the semi-final.  Bruno Malfacine (Alliance) has the easier path on the other side of the bracket.  I'm going to predict a Passos / Malfacine final here as I'm not sure how healthy Caio is these days.

My pick: Bruno Malfacine (Alliance)

Black / Adult / Male / Light Feather
2014 Champ - Paulo Miyao (PSLPB Cicero Costha)

We will be treated to both Miyao's competing in the Light Feather this year and thankfully on opposing sides of the brackets.

My pick: Paulo Miyao (PSLPB)

Black / Adult / Male / Feather
2014 Champ - Mario Reis (Alliance)

This is probably my favorite division every year.  The usual names are here minus Rafa Mendes, Tanquinho, and Cobrinha.  Make way for Vitor Paschoal (Brasa CTA), Osvaldo Moizinho (Gracie Fighter), Gianni Grippo (Alliance) and Davin Maxwell (Cassio Werneck BJJ).  My personal interest this year is to see how Gustavo Dantas (Nova Uniao) will fare competing with the younger guys.

My pick: Osvaldo Moizinho (Gracie Fighter)

Black / Adult / Male / Light
2014 Champ - Lucas Lepri (Alliance)

Usual favorites Lucas Lepri and Michael Langhi (Alliance) are not registered this year which should be a relief for the rest of the division.  That said there is a lot of talented guys which should make for an interesting watch.  Mario Reis (Alliance) has moved up a weight class, Jonathan Torres (Atos), Andris Brunovskis (Atos), Michael Liera Jr (Atos)...the list goes on.  Lots of Atos guys here are likely to make some noise.

My pick: Jonathan Torres (Atos)

Black / Adult / Male / Middle
2014 Champ - Leandro Lo (PSLPB Cicero Costha)

Reigning champ Lo is back again this year and will be the favorite as usual.  Otavio Sousa (Gracie Barra), Victor Estima (Gracie Barra), Magid Hage (Gracie Barra), Vitor Henrique Oliveira (GF Team), Tanner Rice (Amazonas), Sean Roberts (CheckMat) are just a handful of the superstars making up this group.

My pick: Leandro Lo (PSLPB)

Black / Adult / Male / Medium Heavy
2014 Champ - Gustavo Campos (Atos)

This will be a hotly contested division again with most of the big names returning including all of the medalists.  Keenan (Atos), Gustavo Campos (Atos), Abmar Barbosa (Zenith BJJ), Murilo Santana (Barbosa JJ)

My pick: Keenan Corneilius (Atos)

Black / Adult / Male / Heavy
2014 Champ - Yuri Simoes (Brasa CTA)

Yuri has moved up to Super Heavy this year making way for Lucas Leite (CheckMat), Marcelo Mafra (CheckMat), and Timothy Spriggs (TLI).

My pick: Timothy Spriggs (TLI)

Black / Adult / Male / Super Heavy
2014 Champ - Luiz Panza (Barbosa JJ)

Guys to watch are Yuri Simoes (Brasa CTA), Bernardo Faria (Alliance) Joao Assis (CheckMat), Eduardo Telles (Brasa CTA), and Erberth Santos de Mesquita (Guigo JJ).

My pick: Bernardo Faria (Alliance)

Black / Adult / Male / Ultra Heavy
2014 Champ - Andre Galvao (Atos)

First thing worth noting is no Galvao this year!  Luis Panza (Barbosa JJ) has moved up in weight. Bruno Bastos (Bruno Bastos Association) will give it a run again with the younger guys.  James Puopolo (Ribiero JJ) and Alexander Trans (UAE JJ Team).  An interesting note is that Joao Rocha (Soul Fighters) has just recovered from cancer and will be in this division.

My pick: Alexander Trans (UAE JJ Team)

Black / Adult / Female / Light Feather
2014 Champ - Andrea Encarnacion (Elite BJJ Redmond)

With only 4 women in this small division this is a pretty easy pick for me.  Michelle Nicolini (CheckMat) and Gezary Bandeira (ATT) are likely to meet in the finals.

My pick: Michelle Nicolini (CheckMat)

Black / Adult / Female / Feather
2014 Champ - Tammi Musumeci (ATT)

Tammi is making her first big stage showing since suffering an awful elbow dislocation at the 2014 Worlds.  I think we are likely to see a finals rematch with Mackenzie Dern and Musumeci (ATT).

My pick: Mackenzie Dern (Gracie Humaita)

Link for mobile users: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChWzHzvpBs4)

Black / Adult / Female / Light
2014 Champ - Beatriz Mesquita (Gracie Humaita)

Texan Lora Hallock (Atos) will be making her first attempt as a black belt this year.  Fabiana Borges (Gracie Barra), Beatriz Mesquita (Gracie Humaita), Angelica Galvoa (Atos), and Nyjah Easton (TLI) will be heavily favored here.

My pick: Beatriz Mesquita (Gracie Humaita)


Wheeeeeeew that's about it.  If you want to watch the Saturday & Sunday portion of the live stream go here:  http://ibjjf.tv/

Tournament info: http://ibjjf.org/championship/pan-jiu-jitsu-championship/
Brackets: http://events.ibjjf.com/
Schedule: http://ibjjf.org/pan-2015-schedule/

Please visit the following:

http://thebjjmentalcoach.com/

Link for mobile users: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gzZH4cQK30

https://www.facebook.com/93brand

The Miyao Brothers are COMING!

Unless you've been living under a rock there has been much chatter on social media groups about the two phenomenal Japanese/Brazilian twins finally making their move to the United States.  A new gym in New York City known as Unity Jiu-Jitsu is very close to opening their academy.  From what I have gathered Murilo Santana will be running the gym and of course the bolo twins of Joao and Paulo Miyao will be training and possibly teaching to some degree.  It sounds like the intent of this move is for them to re-focus their training in the Big Apple and capture some World Championships at the Black Belt level.  They have spent a great deal of training during their time in Jiu-Jitsu under the banner of Cicero Costha which is also well known for developing the talents of Leandro Lo.




Pretty exciting stuff right?!  If you don't know where these talented brothers come from then take a minute to watch this excellent piece by BJJ Hacks which focuses on training at Cicero Costha gym.  I know quite a few local competitors that have recently visited the Sao Paulo gym for some training. It's a different world training in Brazil I can promise you that much.

Link for mobile users:
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20040Wr2ng0 )

Murilo Santana vs Lucas Leite (Nogi Worlds 2013)

Link for mobile users:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1cZt8hWMZ0&feature=youtu.be)

New York City is just packed with some talented schools you could takes weeks of vacation to visit all of them.  Off the top of my head there is Marcelo Garcia Academy, Renzo Gracie, Vitor Shaolin, and the addition of Unity Jiu-Jitsu is just amazing as there are all fairly close in proximity.  There are many other schools already in the area...you just can't go wrong picking a school or selecting a few to drop-in for some training.  I could easily exhaust my vacation days for 2015 trying any of these schools and not get to nearly all of them.  

Links:

https://unityjiujitsu.com/

https://www.facebook.com/unitybjj/info?tab=overview

http://www.bjjheroes.com/bjj-fighters/murilo-santana-facts-and-bio

http://bjjhacks.com/

Anthony Bourdain on Cooking and Jiu-Jitsu (Charlie Rose 12-2-14)

Do you know who Anthony Bourdain is?  If you don't you probably need to know.  Everyone loves food and he is a food NERD.  He's as nerdy about food as most of us are about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He had a well known show on the Travel Channel about culinary and cultural adventures known as No Reservations & The Layover.  From here he gained national notice and his talents moved over to CNN where he currently hosts Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown.  In a nut-shell...he travels all over, specifically NOT tourist attractions looking for delicious, "unknown" places to eat excellent food.  He is not limited to visiting places within our United States.  He visits exotic countries leaving few stones un-turned.

So some may be asking...why in the heck is this being posted on a Jiu-Jitsu blog site?  Well he has a passion for Jiu-Jitsu like most of us.  The only difference is he is a well known celebrity and I find it really cool to see how far Jiu-Jitsu reaches out and has an impact on the lives of people outside of the normal population.

To a degree I can relate to Bourdain as I myself started training Jiu-Jitsu at an older age (30) and have a lot of respect for his approach to training and enjoying the sport.  From what I have seen and read about Bourdain he is really down to earth and has very little ego on the mats.  Like many of us he sees it as a challenge to help better himself and of course he enjoys the learning aspect of it.

I don't have any particular desire to see our sport be adopted by the majority of people...I think that it feels more special when you can relate to the minority of people that share the passion...so seeing someone on occasion that seems to be the last person you might expect to also share that passion makes it a little extra special.

Ironically, Anthony Bourdain's wife, Ottavia, is the one responsible for exposing him to Jiu-Jitsu.
I highly recommend reading more about their relationship with Jiu-Jitsu here: http://www.sbnation.com/2014/1/22/5334360/anthony-bourdain-interview-mma-jiu-jitsu-training  (EXCELLENT INTERVIEW)

His wife, Ottavia, regularly competes and is very dedicated to Jiu-Jitsu.  Serves her right.  She needs some hobbies while her husband is traveling the world working on his tv show!

Anthony Bourdain & his wife Ottavia

Ready to get a little jealous?  Bourdain with his star power obviously has opportunities to train with some high level grapplers.  I regularly see him sporting Shoyoroll gear and recently saw pictures of him training with Cyborg!

For those interested in seeing what Bourdain is up to be it his travels, food, or Jiu-Jitsu exploits I HIGHLY recommend following him on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AnthonyBourdain?fref=ts

I had known about his passion for Jiu-Jitsu for a while and seeing this recent video of Bourdain on the Charlie Rose show motivated me to put a small piece together to share with those that might not be aware of him.

(Link for mobile users: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjHXipJoAqU)

Related Links:
http://www.sbnation.com/2014/1/22/5334360/anthony-bourdain-interview-mma-jiu-jitsu-training
http://www.cnn.com/video/shows/anthony-bourdain-parts-unknown/
https://www.facebook.com/AnthonyBourdain?fref=ts
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdd2PR4LCndEIOoQsN_aLMQ