Normal service will be resumed

A lot of reviews, interviews and other stuff is all coming but am afraid I have been pretty poorly. It has even stopped me training, couple that with crazy busy work and I have been quiet. Next week I will be back and blogging I promise, thanks for still reading.

Merry Christmas and a Tappy New Year

See what I did there……………………………………….

Just a quick one to say thanks to everyone who has helped me and especially this year, it has been a good one with some lows but more highs.

Thanks to Tatami, Gorilla Gear, Lucky, Scott from on the mat, Submission Sniper, Roy Dean, No Gi Apps, Dean at MMAD, Dan and Nate and Randy from iBJJ you have all been a great help and support and I look forward to working with you all in the new year. Oh and how could I forget, my mentor Meerkatsu.

Draculino, Colby and Justin you guys are a constant help and awesome guys.

The guys and girls of the Forge you are as ever an inspiration and a support and next year you will see me push harder than ever. Karl and Richard you have the graphic skills to pay the bills and Tony you are the ace photographer along with your apprentice Gregg. Ross, John, James, Naz, Chaz, Alisdair, Rich G, Rob, Max, Noel, Steve et al you al help me get better, but my god sometimes it seems like tough love

My family and friends always.

Finally Kerry without you I would be nothing.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and lets be awesome in 2011.

All the hours spent watching TV will be replaced by training. Instead of your good smelling girlfriend, you will be rolling around with bad smelling, sweaty men. Your ears will become deformed until they look like cauliflowers. Your fingers will become callous and your joints will hurt, your knees and ankles will never be the same again. Yet, you will be able to practice this sport jiu-jitsu and you WILL love it!

It aint over till the fat man sweeps

I have taken feedback on board so am stripping the site back and looking at some new logos and also features and designs, your feedback is welcome please let me know what you think.

Stuff to come (weather dependant as my photographers, gym and world champ black belt are all impossible to reach at the moment)

An interview and seminar review with the fantastic Gazzy Parman
Reviews of a few new BJJ iPhone apps
Gi Reviews
- Tatami estilo (this week)
- Tatami Zero G
- Sick Brands Gi
- Gorila Gi

There are also plenty more to come watch this space

Feliz aniversário para Mim

Well as I have pointed out a few places elsewhere today is my second anniversary of training Gracie BJJ at Gracie Barra Sheffield down at the Forge under John Goldson and Lucio ‘Lagarto’ Rodriguez.

It has been on the whole an immensely positive time yeah I have had a few low point but they have mainly been in my head and not really connected to the gym and don’t we all have those moments.

I have gone from 26 stone to 22 stone, from a no belt to a blue belt one stripe and from someone who had never fought legitimately to someone who now has a silver medal at the Gracie Invitational at the Seni. All in all quite a change around in my outlook and they way I am, I would never have thought I would find a sport again which I loved as much as I did Rugby League but I have.

I never thought I would enjoy that ache and fatigue of a good workout but now if I go too long I miss it, hence rolling while on holiday in Spain.

The other big positive of it all has been meeting a very good set of people who have mostly become good friends and who support me and I will be there for as long as I can. So to Gregg, James, Chaz, Naz, Rich G, Ross, Damo, Damo, Dom, Max, Dunc, Steve, Big Dave, Chris, Yousef, Hayden, Guy, Tracy, Ben, Pete Dutton, Dan, Taffi, Fiddy, Dmitry, Ellie, Ming, Big and Wee Paul, Pete, American and English Rob, Ryan, Seymour and of course my coaches John, Lucio and Lagarto as well as all those at ShootFighters, Manchester and anywhere else I have trained I thank you and you have my respect and my gratitude for helping me on my journey and for your continued support. (anyone I forget I apologise)

These are the folks who supported me through thick and thin and who recently when I had my wallet lifted all checked to see I was OK before they started taking the mick, well all but Gregg, Ross even donated a very nice wallet to me to replace the one I lost, thanks bro.

The Forge continues to go from strength to strength and last beginner class I went to had over 40 people on the mat which is brilliant. The MMA part is due to start soon and I helped carry the cage in last week it is going to be awesome.

So to all thinking about MMA or BJJ please come along FORGE OPEN DAY sadly I will not be there as I am off to watch the NFL in London which I booked back in Feb but I will be back soon. Also to anyone who thinks they just fancy MMA I suggest you give BJJ with the Gi a go it is brilliant and truly the best decision I took.

With all this in mind I have this to say as I finish, I do not know if GB Sheffield is the best gym or has the best this or that, all I do know is that for me I have never found anywhere better. No gym I have trained at has felt as much like home and as much like I am getting better and stronger every day and that is what matters to me.

Here is to many more years, more stripes, more belts, more medals for us all but most importantly more friends and a bigger and tighter family at GB Sheffield.

13/09/10 Starting weight 22st 11lbs / 319lbs / 145kgs
20/09/10 Now 22st 8lbs / 316lbs / 143.5kgs
06/10/2010 Now 22st / 308lbs / 140kgs
20/10/2010 Now 22st / 308lbs / 140kgs

Total loss 11 lbs / 5kgs

(edited to correct Portuguese grammar)