Small Details

Well I managed Monday/Thursday last week and Monday this week and while my back is holding up well I am physically feeling it and really need to stick to that new year diet to get some weight off and some cardio up.

So my January 1st weight was 24st 8lb and hopefully over the months this will go down and down as I get fitter and stronger.

Anyway the point of this is around a class that I did with Gregg on Thursday and one with Chaz yesterday along with some conversations with John.

The classes have been focused around two relatively simple things, an arm bar and a sweep but have shown me that while the basics are still there the small details are what I have forgotten or have become blunted by 19 months away.

As Gregg put it “if you know an arm bar from mount you know one arm bar, if you know true and proper arm bar technique you know many many arm bars” and this is very true and what I am missing. I know what I need to do but at the moment am too slow or just not quite getting it and I was not sure why, basically it is down to fine details. Doing it all properly but not turning my hips right, or putting a foot on the floor rather than on their hip or a number of things.

The basics are there but the drilling that I have done over and over has left me a little bit and I am sort of running at that level where I almost have it and the instincts are already coming back but it is just behind a step.

All this really is to make the point that as boring as it might seem to drill the basics over and over if you don’t you will never ever get the helicopter arm bars or inverted guard. Build from a solid foundation and try driving a car first before you move to a flying car.

Dói, mas passa

Well I survived training which was in itself a thing of doubt and it was hard, even harder than I expected.

As ever the guys at the forge were brilliant and it was great to be back but when I was dying on my shield half way through the slow jog as part of the warm up I realised this might be a long and physically difficult night……….

………….and it was.

My fitness after so long away was just horrible and I struggled even when drilling but I got through it and after some light sparring with my good mates Gregg, Chris and Chaz everything held together and nothing popped, cracked or more importantly ruptured into my spinal column 🙂

I got home and after an hour sat in the chair I felt like I might not be able to get upstairs to bed as I ached, I then spent most of the night running in my sleep and aching, and mostly awake. But this is not much different to how it used to be and will get better as I put the hours back in and my body gets used to the knee/elbow in belly/sternum and the elbow in thigh among other fun things.

This morning I feel like I have fallen downstairs into a barrel of kendo sticks and rolled round for an hour but my back feels OK and that is the main thing.

So with all that in mind am I back or is it all too much for me, well I will be back again Thursday to do it all again as despite the aches pains and moans I loved being back. I still want to progress in this sport more than anything so what else can I do but keep pushing on smiling and aching all the way.

Guess who’s (broken) back

Well 2014 rolls around and I am making my second attempt at a come back, the first attempt was just over a year from my surgery to take a disc out of my back and chuck a new one in and was too soon I was too injured after every small effort at training to keep it up and setting myself back.

I am back walking properly no sign of the permanent limp they said I might have and bar a few issues left over from damage to my spinal nerves I am healed and well.

So once again I am back to BJJ which I have sorely missed and have always had it in my mind that I wanted to come back and one day earn my way through the belts. Who knows it could happen I just have to re dedicate myself and start the path again.

It has now been 19 months with no exercise bar a couple of hours and as such it is hard to see how I will do as I am less fit now than I have ever ever been but that will all come back with training and work.

Since have been away my mate Gregg is a brown belt with a stripe and James is a brown belt, well done to you both it is an immense achievement and something to be very very proud of.

Steve W is a black belt and that is fantastic and something that I genuinely aspire too and cannot say well done enough or how deserved it is.

If I have missed anyone it is because I haven’t been around and don’t know so my apologies.

Lets see how tonight goes and how I feel tomorrow I can’t wait but am also a bit apprehensive as another break down would really annoy me but I feel very positive towards it all.

BrokeBack BJJ

Well I nearly made it back almost for a bit and then I didn’t just as quickly again, its been a long and painful journey which is not finished yet but is a lot further down the line than it was.

Let me also just state that this injury was nothing to do with BJJ in any fashion.

To quickly recap I had a micro discectomy on my L4/L5 S1 vertebrae on June 2nd 2012 which involved the removal of a disc in my back, some spinal fusion and a great deal of messing about. I had severe nerve damage as well and at one point was told I would drag my leg for the rest of my life and possibly end up with many other awful side effects. I was also told that it would be 18 months before I could look at any kind of sport or real exercise.

Well only a year down the line I have had a few relatively gentle sessions of BJJ and also some really excellent and gentle Judo sessions taught by the patient, calm and skilled Ming Wong. This has me way ahead of schedule and that is a great, I am not dragging my leg and only suffering one fairly annoying and sizable side effect but with time that will go away.

Recently I have had to hold off training again as I have been suffering a good sized whack of pain probably due to the amount of walking I am now doing on a daily basis but also down to the fact that I have been pushing pretty hard. However the fact that I have got back at all has been a major benefit to me and has further re enforced my love of BJJ and also Judo I just love being back albeit having to sit out again at the moment for a bit.

The main point of this though has been to say that once again the forge and the guys there especially John, Gregg, Ming and Naz and also the ladies there on a Saturday morning who have laughed at my co ordination issues have been brilliant. It has been like going back to a second family and has really lifted me from what can be at times quite a low time as it is hard to go from competing in big competitions and even medalling at the Grace invitational in London to being barely able to walk onto the mat.

So while I am not there yet I am getting there and sooner rather than later my journey back towards blackbelt will continue and one day I will get there that is a promise.

Don’t call it a comeback…….No seriously don’t

The track of this blog was about rolling, Gi’s and reviews and then I vanished, why you ask? Well in fact no one did but I am, going to tell you anyway so suck it 🙂

I got very very down as a combination of work in a new city and a constant bad back meant training became almost impossible.

Then the bad back became horrendous and ended me in surgery more of which tomorrow.

So this blog now becomes my journey hopefully back to training and finally improving my skills and BJJ future. It may interest some and may not interest a lot more but I know I have spent a lot of time looking for info about people who have had back surgery and managed to return to BJJ and there is not that much so maybe this will help a little.

ADCC 2011 day one

I will post a better update when I have worked out all that went on however just to say.

What a good day it was, well organised, some great fights and loads of the top fighters wandering around more than happy to pose for pictures or just chat.

One odd thing was watching fighters who when you train with them seem almost invincible getting beaten, it almost seems impossible but it happens.

As expected the superfight was cagey but with so much to win and lose it was not a shock.

Roll on day 2.

Interview with Colby Black – Draculino’s main man

Well I have said it before but I am finally back in the game and back online.

I have been concentrating on getting my new job settled and making sure I make the right impact and that is now all going great and am enjoying myself even though it is a fair bit of travel.  I also managed to squeeze a wee break in to the south of France and all that along with settling a few other things has taken me away from the game I love and from this site.

So I thought that the opening of the new Forge and the Mendes Brothers Seminar would be a good time to kick start my ass into gear again.  Thus as of 23rd September 2011 I am have until December 30th 2011 to get from 23st 5lbs to a maximum of 21St and to prgress my BJJ in general.

I will also be tweeting from the ADCC weekend and writing an update when I get back so you can follow me @stewnorriss Here

Now to the main point of this article, I ran an interview some time ago with the legendary Draculino none of which would have been possible without both Justin and the Colby and I wanted to learn some more about Colby the man himself and also about his training.  In typically cool style he produced a video interview for me in two parts and here they are.  A genuinely interesting and certainly very good guy…

Interview Part 1
Interview Part 2

 

Dave “The Iron Giant” Keeley

My good friend Dave Keeley was promoted to blue belt in BJJ at the weekend and I just thought I would post this profile of him as he is surely going to break it big time in the next year.

Stats

• Height:  6’10”
• Weight:                260 lbs
• Team:  Gracie Barra Sheffield
• Management:  Suckerpunch Entertainment
• Titles: Strike and Submit Heavyweight Champion, Yorkshire White Collar Boxing Champion

Bio

Standing at nearly seven feet tall and fighting in the premier division of combat sport, heavyweight, Dave is undisputedly one of the most recognisable and fastest rising fighters in the UK and European MMA scene.  Couple that with the fact that he has begun a successful foray into the massively untapped and hungry MMA scene in Asia and you have an exciting prospect just waiting to explode onto the big stage.

Dave has already been picked to fight for his country as the heavyweight fighter on the M1 global team at an event in Holland shown worldwide and on Bravo (part of the Virgin TV group) in the UK.

Even at this early stage in his career he has begun to fight a who’s who of both UK and worldwide talent.  He suffered a controversial defeat to UFC veteran Neil Wain who after the fight was unable to take his shot against Hall Of Fame fighter Jeff “The Snowman” Monson.  Dave stepped up to the plate at very short notice and took the Monson fight shown on Sky TV.  Dave did considerable damage to Monson cutting him badly and only fell to a choke which has been named after Monson himself who is a legendary and decorated grappler.

Primarily known for his excellent striking utilising his huge reach the defeat to Monson only made Dave redouble his grappling training at the world class GB Sheffield where he often trains with world champion blackbelts and which is run by John Goldson himself a blackbelt and respected BJJ trainer.

Dave’s wide appeal has been shown with his fights for Cage warriors in both London and Jordan which were shown in the UK on Sky TV and worldwide to an audience in 42 countries.  Couple this with his victory by an arm snapping arm bar in the KF-1 tournament in Korea shows across Asia and you have a fighter who is building into a global attraction.

This will only grow with his return to the KF-1 tournament in October where he fights in the next round of this event run by the South Korean government who see MMA as the next big thing.

In November the Iron Giant goes to China for M1 global again and this is promises to be a massive show shown worldwide and a win guarantees him another M1 fight.

All of this is very impressive and coupled with the fights on Total Combat and Strike and Submit cards as well as being the Strike and Submit Heavyweight Champion and Yorkshire Heavyweight White Collar boxing champion and you have a fighter early in his career who has already made giant strides.

Dave is available for sponsorship and provides an excellent opportunity to anyone looking to see their name on not only a UK wide but a global stage.

www.irongiantmma.com coming soon

 

 

 

 

Not drowning just waving :-)

Well despite appearances to the contrary I am in fact still around and also round 🙂

Last few months have been fairly hectic with family things and a new job over in Bradford which is going great but has stifled training opportunity a bit. However with my first pay day in about 7 weeks coming up (the joys of job moves) and GB Leeds being a short ride from work. I aim to be back training much more often as of next week and yes I miss it.

However some cool things are to be posted soon I attended a brilliant seminar with Felipe Jerry a world class black belt. I went to Professor John Goldson’s first big class also a great day.

Coming up are a profile of Dave The Iron Giant Keeley, news of Kim Taylor’s next seminar, a trip to the ADCC in September and hopefully the UFC end of the year as my fight club membership will give me early and discounted tickets so would be rude not too 🙂

Gi Review – Black Eagle Predator MKII

Introduction

I was sent this Gi to review by the patient and friendly Steve Turner at Black Eagle who I must also say has been very cool to deal with at all points, the Gi is available to purchase http://www.black-eagle.co.uk/bjjgipredatormkiipearlweavewhite-p-3182.html

How I review

There are other more technical reviews out there on the market or meerkat (some of which you will see linked below) and I do not intend to re invent the wheel, as I have said earlier I will be looking at this from the big man point of view.  How does it fit, how is it when you jog, run, sprawl and roll in it?  Does it stay a good fit, does my extra bulk and torque damage the Gi and also how do my training partners feel?

I stand six foot three inches tall and am 300lbs I am wearing an A5 Gi.

Initial Thoughts

This is a step back into the big man market as Black Eagle had decided the numbers did not add up but thankfully they have decided to start stocking A5 Gi’s and soon even A6 Gi’s I am told and I for one am glad.

Now this is sold as super light and super strong and also that it will NEVER shrink, that’s right never, “what never ever?” that’s right never ever.  So instantly I am a bit worried and skeptical, then I notice ripstop trousers and my worry rises.

First of all ripstop bottoms have always tended to cut into me, it is the big lad, flabby bits, rip stop becomes a ligature and all things hurt problem.  Secondly ultra light Gi’s are always a wee bit scary that soon enough the seam will pop and everyone will be getting a better view of the big man than they wanted.

Finally the never ever shrink thing, well that is a claim I have seen before and ended up with what looked like a tank top and plus fours, as more often than not when I put a Gi on it just fits and no more, so shrinkage is not good.

Were my initial fears well founded, well read on intrepid reader

The Science Part

The make up of the Gi is as follows:

The cost is £69.99 (reduced from 74.99) plus post and packaging 4.90

The Brand New Predator MKII BJJ Gi.
1. Ultra light, ultra strong ripstop trousers
2. Ultra Light Pearl Weave jacket
3. Extra lines of stitching on re-enforced lapel with ripstop overlay
4. Ripstop trimming to sleeve cuffs and jacket trim
5. New patch designs and Predator embroideries
6. Sanforized – Guaranteed never to shrink out of fit
7. Mercerised – Increases the strength of the fibres and further protects from shrinkage
8. Additional loops on trousers for greater comfort fit
9. Improved Competition cut, and fully IBJJF legal

And soon mix and match pants and jacket will be available

Washing

As you can see the Gi did not shrink at all which amazed me, in fact it slightly relaxed and got a bit bigger, which did amaze me, and I will also admit I then gave it a 90 degree wash and it still did not shrink.  This is quite something and is impressive meaning you order the size that you need in safe knowledge that it will keep fitting you.

Rolling, Sparring, Training, Fit and Feedback

The important point how does it look, feel and most of all how does it hold together when rolling.

While it does not look as flashy as some the patches and the design is very nice, well stitched, designed but for those of you who like your Gi very bling it is not so much the one for you, I however like it.

The jacket fit is good if a little shorter than some I have worn, the trousers are very comfortable and the most comfortable ripstop ones I have ever worn.  They are quite long in the reach (from the top of point G to the waist band) which is often an issue for the taller and wider fighter.  However for my liking they are just long enough and no more, I have said before that I like a longer trouser which is hard as I have a 34 inch inside leg.  However they are easily comp legal and for most fighters will be the perfect length.  There is no extra padding at all on this but it is designed to be light.

The jacket is a good fit all over with the sleeves a near perfect length and the cuffs nice and wide so that it is good for both myself and the person I am rolling with, which when training is important.  There are no extra tags round the cuffs as I have seen on other Gis and which provide a tailor made hand hold for opponents which is also a good thing.

Rolling in it feel easy and light and while the weave stays very light and is also quite cool importantly it does not fall out of shape or start to look ragged and twisted.

I as ever went very hard for in this Gi, and the Gi held up brilliantly, it did not lose shape or end up with pull marks all over it.

It is also amazingly light, the whole Gi felt lighter than a Gracie Barra A2 jacket on it’s own yet it still feels substantial enough to roll in it, it does not feel like it will just rip away.

In Conclusion

Well simply I was wrong, the Gi has held up well to some extreme punishment and the trousers are the most comfortable ripstop material I have ever worn, they do not rope up and cut and also do not cling too much when they get sweaty making them hard for training partners.  The whole Gi in fact almost has a wicking effect when you start to sweat which is due to the weave and light nature of it.

If I could change anything I would make the draw strings on the trousers longer and of the bungee cord material which I am a big fan of these days also I would in all honestly have liked a slightly bigger Gi maybe the A6 but that is just because I like a bit more material than some as this would have been perfectly legal for me to wear.

Again like all ultra light Gi’s It is probably not a Gi I would put into my every day rotation as the real strength and robust nature of some others means they are going to be my every day use Gi’s.  However for a competition Gi it is fantastic, it is light so if you have to make weight, apparently some people do :-), it is ideal.  Also it will stay cool, dries quickly and is durable and strong.

If you are looking for a second Gi or a comp Gi I would definitely add it to your armory and at the currently reduced price it is a very attractive prospect.

I will keep wearing it and revisit in a few months to see how it has continued to hold up.