Back on the Grind!!!!

As anyone knows, after long and careful thought I have returned to my original instructor Marcos "Yemaso" Torregrosa and Team Yemaso in South Sacramento.  Marcos welcomed me back with open arms and the team is fantastic!!! I am very happy to be training again with an instructor and team that takes jiu-jitsu seriously and like to train intelligently and efficiently. 

Yemaso BJJ training under the watchful eye of Marcos "Yemaso"  Torregrosa 

Going back to the first day was rough!!!! I almost threw up after the warm-ups, which are way more intense than I remembered. We warmed up for about 15-25 minutes, and then went into instruction, drilling and finally rolling.

I had two good rolls. Each round is 10 minutes, which is on the extreme side of things but coming from a military background I am no stranger to tough training. At the end of the day my body was wrecked, I had random bruises, cuts, scrapes, gi and mat burns, MAN IT WAS GREAT!!!!

Now after a week and a half of training my wind is coming back and I don't feel as sore at the end of training, my body is remembering what it used to be able to do and is getting back to that level.

I have had to make some adjustments to my gameplan. I do not have the strength and power in my left side as I used to so it is a lot harder for me to force the americana and kimuras, but Marcos and I have worked on some adjustments and now I have a whole new angle of attacks.

At 31 years old I have knees that grind, a bum left shoulder and a completely torn pec muscle but I am still training and on the grind, until I get my next operation.

What are you doing? have you trained today???

The Revival

I am going to revive this blog after much neglect due to my Military commitments. Now that I have the time I can begin to chronicle some truly unique experiences that most grapplers do not get the opportunity to have or would want to go through.

As many people know I am currently deployed to the Middle-East. So I am not able to train with my Team at Capital City Guerrilla Jiu-Jtisu, but I have been able to train with a variety of grapplers from Gracie Barra, Renzo Gracie and few other clubs from around the country. So to say the lest it has been a great opportunity to; as Dave Camarillo says “Train with everybody”. 

I am three weeks post-op for a torn left pectoral that occurred while benching 350 pounds. it was a freak occurrence that happened, I have impeccable form on the bench, and it could had been a variety of factors that led to the tear. Needless to say i am in a sling for another three weeks then I can begin physical therapy. I am looking forward to apply my style of strict, disciplined, training that I am know for and getting to through the physical therapy and kicking ass.

I am also working on a project to benefit at-risk/ low income kids in the Sacramento Area by forming a non-profit organization. I have some truly exciting and unique ideas that I think will bring some very positive results. I am in the very early stages of this development but I plan to implement the plan early 2013 for a summer 2013 program, if successful I think it could be something that could grow and become a yearly program.

Keep drilling, stay positive and go and train like a champion!!!! 

Road to the American Cup 2

Tonight's training was intense! We started the practice of with the usual wrestling type warm up and  then proceeded to do some grip-fighting excercises.

We went over a guardpass with some unique details that Marcos pointed out. For my game plan and style of BJJ which I am starting to call  Big Man Jiu-Jitsu, I was able to modify Marcos' technique to suit my body type. After repping the guard pass for a while we moved on to drilling.

We drilled the Morote Gari or double leg take down. The Morote Gari was my throw when I started Judo back in 2007, before the rule change after the 2008 Olympics. I love the Morote Gari, the power if the throw as well as the ability to completly pick your opponet off the ground and take and then bring them back with force and power. That is what Big Man Jiu-Jistu is about! We pulled out the crash pad and Team Yemaso put in serious work. Uke stood in a standard stance and Tore shoot in and took them down. We drilled non-stop for a minute and a half.  We cycled through our group until we each had a chance to drill twice. My lungs were on fire and my heart rate was through the roof, but I felt strong and powerful.

After that we hit the mats for some Newaza randori and rolled for about thirty to forty minutes. We bowed out to end class and then our usual crew of guys stayed after to get in a few more rounds of No-Gi Randori.

I feel strong and my game is slowly improving. I have been working on maintaning  guard and setting up sweeps to gain side control. I feel my guard game is improving greatly and I know I will bring a greatly improved game to the American Cup this year and I am hunting for a repeat Gold Medal.

OUUUUUSSSSS!!!!

Road to the American Cup

Sorry for not be able to write for a while.My school work had kept me busy, but we are in the middle of the semester and I am now able to write.


Due to my lack of funds I have not been able to compete as much as I projected I would for this year. The American Cup 2010 was my first Jiu-Jitsu tournament and I won gold as a white belt. I hope to repeat that success this year again at this years American Cup as a Blue Belt. This will be my first time competing as a Blue Belt so I am looking forward to the challenge of new competition at the higher level.

I have come very far in the last year in terms of not only technique but also strength, power, and mental fortitude. I have excellent training partners and feel I am in a even better position to win gold gain this year in not only my division but also in the absolute.

Weight Training

I finally went to the gym for the first time in four months. The problem I find with weight training is that compared to Judo and BJJ is that it is very boring. I go to 24 Hour Fitness which is where everybody goes and I see bad form, kids working out only their arms and chest, and men and women wearing things that they shouldn't.

I do not like to spend alot of time in the gym, I like to get in there hit the weigths hard and get out. My workouts are sport specific, meaning that the focus is on movements that are common in grappling, which is mostly pulling movements. So I do alot of deadlifts, Wide grip lat pull downs, low cable rows etc.

I have my workouts spread throughout the week by a "Pull" day, "Push" day, and a leg day. I based this on the Four Pillars of Human movement. One is Locomotion, which is walking, running etc. I run on a daily basis so that takes care of training locomotion, and even though there is not alot of locomotion in BJJ or Judo, the cardiovascular benefits are great as is the fat burning that locomotion training provides.

The other pillar is the Push/Pull pillar which is the most used in grappling, with more emphasis on the "pull". Both must be trained to keep a muscular balance and avoid injury. The next is "level change" which is using the legs to move the body up and down. This comes in play when changing levels for a double or single leg takedown or in Judo when using hip throws such as Harai Goshi or Ippon Seoi Nage.

The last Pillar is Rotation which is the most neglected factor of movement. So far the best way I have found to train rotation in the body is by using Kettlebells, which I will start to implement a kettlebell workout once a week.

On Friday I trained the "pull" factor. My workout went as follows: Deadlifts: 225 pounds x 8 Reps, 275 x 6, 295 x 4, 315 x 3. I could had gone much heavier but I did not want to tire my back out too much. Wide grip pulldowns: 155 x 8, 175 x 8, 195 x 8, Close Grip Pull downs: 175 x 8, 8, 8, Low Row cable pulls: 165 x 8, 8,8.

That was my workout for Friday. Simple and not very complex, but it is short and brief and to the point. I rather spend the extra time on the mat!

Be Blessed!!!

BJJ Training

This will be a wrap up of the week's training. On Friday (1-14-2011) we had our Competition Team practice which consists of drilling one offensive move or series of movements.(For more on the importance of drilling see here: http://wwwthegentleway.blogspot.com/2010/12/drilling-basics-is-road-to-victory.html) I have been working on building up my bottom game for the last three months and drilled a series of Spider Guard to a Tri-Pod Sweep to Side Control.

After surviving the drills, we had three rounds (10 minutes) of rolling. I was thoroughly gassed but as always I left glad that I came and put in the work on a Friday when so many others are thinking about going out to go party.

TEAM YEMASO!!!

Be Blessed!!!!

Judo Training

Tonight's Judo training seemed more intense to me. I was really tired this evening due to getting off work really late. I almost did not go, but I decided I had to because I will not be able to go to BJJ on Thursday so I went.

I got to class a few minutes late so I missed the frst part of the warm up. After we stretched we did more to the basic Judo Newaza sweeps we do. I work with a different person this time, instead of Sensei Weiler. He was very eager to pick my brain on Newaza. Of course he wanted me to show him real exotic things like the D'arce choke and the rubber guard. I told him I do not even know how to do those things and that most matches are won by the most basic chokes and locks. I advised him to drill the basics and focus on the fundamentals of the closed guard and open guard for now, and to also work on his Osaecomi-Wazi (forgive me for my misspellings). I showed him some of the sweeps I use from the open guard and some of the theory of BJJ and how to use what space and movements your opponent give you to make the sweep happen.

We did 30 minutes of Newaza Randori and then move on to Ta-Chi Waza. We set up the poor, old broken down crash pad and practiced Kuzushi drills and then threw Uke on to pad with our throw. I did alright with Uchi Mata, but was really getting a clean powerful throw with Harai Goshi. Sensei Takeda had us switch to Osoto Gari and all of mine were horrible!!! My foot was too high or my hips did not go through enough to generate power for the throw, defiantly something I will work on in the future.

Last we did Randori of course and I was able to use my grip figthing to be defensive but still be active so not have any stalling called on me. Sensei Weiler kept trying to throw me with Osoto Gari but I was able to counter by grabbing his leg and using a wrestling technique called "running the pipe" as a legal counter.

I did take a thumb to the eye so I had to sit out a round as I could not see out of my left eye. Class well and was very enjoyable and I am glad I went to train!!!!

Sensei Takeda told me he knows that I am ready to be promoted to Blue Belt in Judo!!! I need to study the guideline that he has given me so I can test at the end of the month. I hope to be a double Blue!!!

Be Blessed!!!

BJJ Training

This is for BJJ training for 1-11-11. I was too tired to write yesterday.

First BJJ lesson of the year!!! After everyone made fun of my glasses, we did our warm up and then went into technique. Marcos show the De La Riva Guard and a sweep from the De La Riva.

The De La Riva is an awkward guard to me. It seems like you can tear up your knee with it; Marcos addressed this and said that our knees will toughen up and condition themselves to the rigors of the De La Riva.

I have always wanted to learn the De La Riva Guard. It seems like it is the next step in the guard fighting process, after mastering the basics of the closed, open, and spider guard. We drilled the move for about 30 minutes and Marcos was joking around with me and said that my De La Riva was looking good and was calling me Joaquin "Demente", who is a player that I look up too for his aggressive "Big Man" BJJ.

After drills we rolled. I rolled with one of the many Mikes we have at Team Yemaso, this Mike I call Asian Mike because he is Filipino. Mike is a Purple Belt and he is never afraid to roll with me and we had a good battle going back and forth. I almost submitted him but he transition out of it. Asian Mike pushes me and I like to think that I push him as well. Great Roll!!!

I also got to roll with Mike U. who is my greatest opponent at Team Yemaso. He has gotten very good, so good that most of the things I try do not work and I find myself constantly getting swept or reversed and then submitted. Somewhat discouraging, due to the fact that the battles used to be more 50/50.

I know that Mike U. has greatly benefited from private lessons with Marcos. I decided that I will start taking private lessons from Marcos at least twice a month; in one lesson alone I developed a game plan that I used to crush all the Mike in class and everyone else, until they all took privates and figured out counters to my game plan. So now it is time to step it up to that next level and I strongly believe that private lessons will aide in that goal.

Be blessed!!!!

Judo Training

Judo training was excellent. Did the Judo warm up and then proceeded to Newaza. I drilled with Mike Weiler who is a Shodan (First Degree Black Belt). We always just do some basic sweeps. Like said before on the sweeps I feel just leaves me open for my opponent to take side control. I drill the moves but I highly doubt I will ever use this hip type sweep. I showed Sensei Weiler the Anaconda choke to break down an opponents turtle position. Sensei Weiler really like the Anaconda. I was happy to exchange knowledge with someone who has helped me a lot with my "Big Man" Judo.

We did some Newaza Randori and then moved on to moving drills for Osoto Gari and Ashi Bari. Last we drilled a Ouchi Gari to Kouchi Gari combination. Next came Randori.

I was able to give Sensei Weiler a decent fight although he threw me many times. I was inspired by my buddy Stuart from the U.K. with his view that you should just attack and not worry about being throw because there is nothing to loose.

I was able to hit a Hari Goshi on one of the smaller players using the overhand Russian grip, I am really attracted to the Russian and Eastern European style of Judo. I believe that Russian Judo also is better suited to BJJ. (will write an essay in that theory).

All in all my timing and technique is coming back to me and I do not feel as tired as I did last Monday. Tomorrow I go back to BJJ.

Be blessed.

Judo Training

Tonight I made my return to Judo practice at Sacramento Judo Club. I forgot how demanding the sport is. Tai-Chi Waza is very demanding due to the huge emphasis place in the Push-Pull Factor of Human Movement (More on that in a latter blog).

We did a light warm up and stretched; afterwards we practiced some basic sweeps form the guard positions. As a BJJ Blue Belt I find some the sweeps peculiar only because some of them seem to leave you open to having your opponent take side control. Alas I must train Judo with my Judo Goggles on, not my BJJ Goggles. Sensei Tekeda had three of us lay in open guard and ran the rest of the students through to practice fighting from the guard. I enjoyed this because al I have been doing for the last 8 weeks or so is fight from my back, so I was able to give nearly everyone the business.

We did  five, five minute rounds of Ne-Waza Randori. I had a great roll with Sensei Tony Comfort, who is very skilled at Ne-Waza and gave me quite a challenge.

Next came the drills for Tai-Chi Waza. We drilled just getting Kazsushi. As we broke Uke's balance we moved up and down the Dojo. I practice Osoto Gari and Kouchi to Ouchi Grai. I was terrible at both.

Then came the Randori; seven five minute rounds of pure hell. I realized that I am decent at grip fighting and avoiding alot of throws, but I am timid when it comes to attacking. I think that I need to just find one or two moves and drill the hell out of them until I become proficient. As stated before drilling is the key to success.

Do any Judokas learning the art have the same problem? Not attacking nearly enough?

Besides that practice went great and I am not as tired as I thought I would be.

Be Blessed!!!

2011 Strength and Conditioning Program

sOne thing I am always on the look out for is what specific strength and conditioning programs elite level BJJ and Judo fighters use. It is nearly impossible to find information. I have no doubt that it is kept under wraps as their training programs are akin to a trade secret.

I have been designing a nutrition and strength and conditioning program for 2011. I will periodically post my progress and try to find out what works and what does not.

I do believe in the periodization training principle popularized by Tutor M. Bompa in his book Periodization for Sports. In a nut shell periodization is that in order to receive maxium gains a workout regimen must be have a specific goal in mind: Hypertrophy (increase in lean muscle mass) Strength, Power, Speed, Fat Loss.
I believe that power, Strength and hypertrophy can be attained in the same program.

For the next twelve weeks I will embark on a program that will increase my endurance capacity and increase muscle mass and power and strength. I only recommend gaining muscle mass for the heavier weight divisions, since I have a very large and heavy build I compete in Ultra heavy weight and have the potential to fight any size of monster out their so to gain 10 to 15 pounds of muscle would not hurt ( I have the luxury of not having to worry about making weight). On the same token, I want to get what speed and agility I have, I am faster and more explosive then all of the other guys I have fought so far, I want to keep it that way.

I will update my progress and put up some before pics, midway and after. I plan in hypertrophy all the way to the Pan-Ams, this will give me a good 3 months of weight training.


(Top Photo) Demente success is attributed to a good combination of mat time, gym time and good nutrition. ADCC Champion Jeff "The Snow Man" Monson (Bottom Photo) owes alot of his success to time in the weight room


If anyone needs advice please let me know, I have access to vast amount of books and articles as well as ten years of weight training experience, I have also taken courses in nutrition in college.


Be Blessed!!!

2011 Sugestions

Thank you to Mike, Kobi, and Stuart for being my official followers, and everyone else who has taken a peek at what I got going on here.. This Blog is new so I hope it grows over the next year.

Next year I will be able to chronicle my trials and tribulations as a newly minted Blue Belt on the competitive circuit as well as my journey to move up the ranks in Judo.

Besides my dissertations and essays, what else would all you people like to have on here? I was also thinking of logging my strength and conditioning workouts, nutrition and weight loss progress. Is that something that people are interested in?

Please advise as I am always open to suggests to improve on the mats and this blog.

Be Blessed!!!

The Last Roll of the Year!

Yesterday was my the last time I will step on the mats for 2010. Our class was taught by our very knowledgeable and experienced Purple Belt Mike Uhlinger, who now has been getting the best of me lately. (See Mike I mentioned you.)

Mike went over a very complex sweep and it's variations. The sweep was an off shoot of the spider guard, I felt sorry for our brand new White Belts as they were completly lost on this technique. We did static drills with the sweeps than we did live drills with the sweep. (The importance of live drills I will write about at another time)

Of course after all that we rolled. I spent most of the time trying to survive Mike's onslaught as he took my back, and trying to pass Hera's guard. Rolling turned out to be a rather frustrating endeavor, as I at one time used to pass Hera's guard pretty easily and also used to passed Mike's guard and submit them both. Now either everybody has gotten better or I have relied too much on doing the same thing over and over again and my game as gone stagnant.

Either way I am sure that by this time next year I will have further evolved my game and be a better fighter for it.

Be Blessed!

The reality of the Blue Belt.

Now begins my training for the 2011 competition year, so yesterday I go to practice with the intent of destroying everybody. Life as a BJJ fighter tends to have a sense of humor, and with that I get taped by every one I roll with, and all my core bread and butter tactics are nullified.

I came to realize after this the reality of the Blue Belt. All the Blue Belt means is that you have shown your dedication to the art, have mastered some of the basics and may have medaled at a tournament or two as a white belt. By now means I'm I any where close to being where I want to be at. As time goes on I keep seeing how little I know and how much farther I have to go in BJJ. It is a journey of a life time that has no destination, as there is always more to learn, and as of right now I feel a little stagnant in my game.

I am some what dejected by this, but I know this will aide me in my evolution. Royler Gracie said in his book, Submission Grappling: Theory and Technique, that at the times when you feel your game is the most stagnant are the times that you are about to make a huge push to the next level.

Let's work on all of us getting to the next level! Be Blessed!