Gracie Jiu-Jitsu of Kentucky -- New Blog

Our blog has moved! Please check http://www.graciekentucky.blogspot.com/ for the latest updates concerning information about our Academy, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu of Kentucky.

Gracie: Guard is the Key Against Hughes

Gracie: Guard is the Key Against Hughes


by Greg Savage (greg@sherdog.com)
Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend Renzo Gracie will take on iconic welterweight Matt Hughes at UFC 112 “Invincible,” the company’s inaugural Middle East event, and he took some time out of his busy training schedule to sit down with Sherdog.com to discuss his preparations for the bout and his philosophy on the art he has dedicated his life to.

Gracie will be returning to the arena for the first time in over three years for his Octagon debut. Check out this exclusive video interview to hear one of the true gentlemen of the sport talk about his family lineage, his punching prowess and the decision-making process that led to his return to MMA at 43 years of age.

http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/Gracie-Guard-is-the-Key-Against-Hughes-23659

Using Flow Diagrams « Jiu-Jitsu Brotherhood – a global Jiu-Jitsu resource

Check out this article on utilizing flow charts to help strengthen your jiu-jitsu strategy, courtesy of the jiu-jitsu brotherhood.

Using Flow Diagrams « Jiu-Jitsu Brotherhood – a global Jiu-Jitsu resource

Doctors Call Bradley Wilson A Miracle

Here's an article on Spencer County Martial Arts' own Bradley Wilson. A hero, fighter and the toughest young man you'll ever meet.

http://www.southeastchristian.org/outlook/story.aspx?id=2230

Gracie Insider Tip of the Month -- Americana Counters

Great tips on countering the Americana, courtesy of Rener Gracie. Very detailed explanation on how to prevent a common submission.

Be careful, however, on leaving your free arm exposed and away from your body as you bridge -- it could lead to your opponent transitioning into an arm bar on the opposite side.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CixH-SzPI5w

Kron Gracie vs. Phillipe Della Monica

Check out the latest competition footage of Kron Gracie. Excellent transitions, defense...everything. Simple, effective jiu-jitsu -- works every time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiI_2ILqoA0

Rener Gracie vs. 21

Very cool videos -- while in Florida, Rener Gracie had the chance to spar with 33 members of the Jacksonville SWAT team and Police Department. About half of them were experienced grapplers and the other half were new to jiu-jitsu, but all of them were in determined to win. The batteries in the camera died during the 21st match so you don’t get see the last 12 submissions. Check it out...
“Fighting 33 opponents is like fighting a giant, you don’t decide when you win, they decide when they lose. “

-Rener Gracie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONudrmJwL-M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGzI9Q0Mb1M&feature=player_embedded

Andrei Arlovski vs. Marcelo Garcia

This is a good display of Marcelo Garcia's technical ability against a much larger and stronger opponent. Andrei Arlovski, who weighs in at around 240 and is a former UFC champ, is no push-over on the ground. Marcelo uses some excellent transitions and proper weight distribution to neutralize Andrei's size and strength advantage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVju68pMQ9Y&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1KUZ1pJLvg&feature=player_embedded

Turn Your Open Mat into a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Laboratory

Here's a great article Scott Sale found, courtesy of Matt Kirtley from Aesopian BJJ:

Turn Your Open Mat into a BJJ Laboratory

I’m going to make a bold assumption: You want to get better at BJJ. (I

must be a mind reader.) Open mat can be a secret weapon in your

training if you use it right. These tips will help make sure you do.

Go in with a purpose

What makes open mat good is also what makes it bad: you can do

whatever you want. Without someone running class, it’s all too easy to

waste time, goof off or simply not know what to do. Go in prepared

giving yourself a goal.

Examples:

– Improve move X.

– Improve my escapes.

– Improve my conditioning.

– Try out this new guard.

– Review my basics.

Try picking a topic—a certain position, submission, guard or even

concept—and set your mind on exploring and learning it in depth. It’s

easier to stay focused when you know what you’re focusing on.

It’s time to experiment

Now is your chance to put that encyclopedic knowledge of every BJJ

instructional to use. Is there a move that’s been making waves in

competition that you want to learn? You could bring a laptop or iPhone

to watch instructionals then drill them.

Forget this piece of advice if it doesn’t line up with your goals.

Sometimes drilling those same basics you’ve known forever is the right

thing to do (at least it’s never wrong.)

Don’t get technique overload

Just because you’re free to do whatever you want doesn’t mean you

should pull out every technique you’ve ever Youtubed. Get two

experienced guys on the mat and it can quickly turn into technique

show and tell (“Hey, check this out!” “That reminds me of this…” “You

gotta see how I do it…”) Keep your goals in mind and don’t get too far

off track (unless it’s really something worth checking out.)

Put in the reps

Once you’ve figured out what you want to work on, start drilling. Then

keep drilling. Discipline yourself to put in a healthy number of

repetitions. No skimping on your reps because you don’t have an

instructor keeping his hawk eyes on you. I’m sorry if this is boring

but it’s good for you.

Find the right training partner

Who you train with can make or break an open mat. If they aren’t as

motivated as you, it’s a pain to force them to drill when all they

want to do is talk and spar a bit. You’re better off with a white belt

that has a good worth ethic and is eager to learn than a lazy purple

belt that doesn’t really feel like breaking a sweat. Finding the right

person to team up with can give you a serious boost and make grappling

R&D really fun and rewarding.

Do live drills

Take whatever you working on and make up live drills AKA isolation

sparring for it. This is an fantastic training method that a lot of

people overlook. Your drills can be as simple as starting from a

specific position over and over again to running a series of

situational exercises that increase in complexity as they go. (Message

me on Facebook if you want some example drills.)

Take sparring seriously

Nothing bugs me more than two guys rolling for 1 minute before someone

taps then spending 2 minutes talking about it. Save the discussion for

later. Quick bits of advice or showing someone how to stop a move

they’ve got caught in a couple times is OK. But you’re there to spar.

Now is a good chance to push your endurance and forget time limits and

go until you are absolutely dead.

Film your sparring

If you’ve got a camera and a tripod (or a willing third person), try

getting your sparring sessions on video and watching them afterward.

You’ll often be surprised by the things you do (and don’t do) that you

never realized.

Renzo dropped 14kg to fight with Hughes

From www.graciemag.com: 

Renzo dropped 14kg to fight with Hughes

Renzo Gracie was in Rio de Janeiro this week. But not to train Jiu-Jitsu, work on his boxing with his friend and coach Claudinho Coelho or do physical prep work in Rio’s nature. Renzo was invited to a wedding.

He was not just any guest. Indeed, he was the best man of his uncle George, brother of Renzo’s mother.Saturday night in family for the UFC fighter.

Among his relatives most clued in to the MMA world, the chatter was about how seriously the Jiu-Jitsu professor living in New Jersey was taking his fight against Matt Hughes.

“He lost 14kg for the fight; he’s lean” they said, impressed. In the group were black belts like Daniel Gracie, Carlos Russo, Flavio Canto, Leo Leite and Kyra Gracie. Naturally happy, Renzo drank only water.

And, of course, father to the fighter Grandmaster Carlos Robson Gracie drew everyone’s attention with his storytelling.

The attention of the guests was also drawn to the dialogue between the great master, famous for his catch phrases while presenting the TV show “Heróis do Ringue” in the late 1990s, and Olympic medalist Canto

www.spencercountymartialarts.com

Helio Gracie Lives...

The following is a repost from Graciemag.com about the one-year anniversary of the death of Grandmaster Helio Gracie:

It was on January 29, 2009, exactly a year ago, that Grandmaster Helio Gracie left us. But while there are still Jiu-Jitsu academies, the weak, women and children getting stronger through the art, his legacy shall only become more and more pervasive.

It needn’t be a special occasion for you to remember the teacher, and no matter what the tribute, it will never be enough to fully honor him. Even so, we set aside this video in which Helio does what he likes doing best.

This match, where he from the bottom choked unconscious an opponent 15 kg his heavier and even advised the distracted referee what he had done, was a milestone in the grandmaster’s career. ”It was the biggest thrill of my life,” he was quoted as saying in the newspapers of the time. And he confirmed it to GRACIEMAG 50 years thereafter: “It is true, because I found out my Jiu-Jitsu was superior to his.”

Check out the video and then read the technical breakdown of the hold, below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMAu0A-vQm8&feature=player_embedded#

Helio narrated the outcome of the fight: “He didn’t realize my other hand had gone in directly into the flap of the gi. We were trying for the choke, both of us with the hold in place, but it happened that Kato couldn’t get past the barrier of my legs, making my hold more effective and bringing us to the decisive phase of the fight.

“I noticed he gave up the hold to defend his neck, consummating my positional supremacy. I tightened the hold and Kato began to falter, his grip on my wrists weakening. So I held the choke in place and brought the referee’s attention to what was going on: ‘He’s going to pass out.’ The ref didn’t hear me or didn’t understand, but, in the end, I let him drop to the side, Kato landing with a thud,” recounted the professor, on “O Globo” TV.

He will be forever missed.

www.spencercountymartialarts.com

The Triumph of Human Intelligence Over Brute Strength...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYacMTSYC9I&feature=player_embedded

Xande Ribeiro Sweep From Class

Excellent technique and timing on this sweep from six-time world champion Xande Ribeiro. 




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqJsG8UeKKY

Rafael Lovato Jr. Blog

Check out this blog when you get a chance. Hosted by black belt Rafael Lovato Jr, the blog features some great training tips and techniques. He's an avid competitor, and there's plenty of tournament advice featured in his posts. Definitely worth a visit and a look.

http://www.lovatojr.com/

See you all on the mat -- tomorrow night!

Brian
www.spencercountymartialarts.com

Women in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu

Check out this blue belt demonstration from Roy Dean Academy. The student, Caryn Ackerman, is Mr. Dean's first female to be promoted to the rank of blue belt, and deservedly so. Her crisp technique and attention to detail show a high level of proficiency with the blue belt curriculum.

In my opinion, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is the perfect system of self-defense for women. It's all leverage and technique, and Grandmaster Helio Gracie (with his 130 pound or so frame) proved time and time again that  his technique could prevail over much larger and stronger attackers. Sure, size and strength will always be factors in an altercation, but it's short-sighted to believe that those elements cannot be overcome with proper training.

Unfortunately, however, women aren't encouraged (and oftentimes are discouraged) to participate in this gentle art because of the popular "MMA-tap-or-snap," brute mentality that is being perpetuated by the mainstream media.

I can speak for our Academy in saying that all are welcome at Spencer County Martial Arts, and love to see increasing diversity on the mats. If your wife or girlfriend has any doubt about the style and if it's a right fit for her, show them this video and invite them to watch a class.

Again, big props to Ms. Ackerman on her achievement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIhc97XjhPI&feature=player_embedded#

Gracie Insider: Technique of the Month - Armbar Finishes

Courtesy of Ryron and Rener Gracie. Try working these into your game -- very high percentage moves.

Welcome, 2010

Team:

We wanted to take an opportunity to say thank you again for your commitment to yourselves and to the Academy in 2009. The school continued to grow with newcomers who contribute to our unique atmosphere in numerous, positive ways.

Veteran students mentored every white belt and greeted everyone who stepped through our doors with a handshake and open arms. Integrity, sportsmanship and strong character are essential tenets of our students' success. We ask that the SCMA family keep to this tradition in 2010 and dedicate themselves to continuing to practice pure Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, as developed and refined by Grandmaster Helio Gracie.

We look forward to starting the new year off on a strong note tomorrow at Saturday's class. Please join us, and tell a friend to come and watch.

See you all on the mat -- and thank you once again.

Sincerely,

The SCMA Instructor Team