Braulio Estima Interview

This is a translation of an interview Braulio recently gave to kombat.ro in Romania, I thought it was an interesting one which may folk would like to read so have done my very very best with the translation, sorry if there are any errors.

Read a great interview with Braulio Estima, one of the hottest grapplers today. See what he says about the world’s BJJ about the best MMA fighters and many more!

How was it for you the Europeans? You had some injuries last year ..

Braulio Estima: I had a neck injury in mid last year that kept me away from the mattress. Then I resumed training but was told by the Dr I have to operate if you want to avoid the risk of becoming paralyzed in an accident. One of my best friends died on January 10 this year, so I decided to attend the European Championship in his name, and to win for him. Basically, on 29 January I was at his funeral in the evening I returned to London, where we flew to Lisbon, where we arrived around 23:00. The next day we fought and we won the category, and on Monday I came back because I had surgery on Tuesday. It was a pretty busy week.

Although I was not in the best shape, I felt good during the match and was able to control their actions. I beat two opponents and I beat him on points to win overall.

Who was the man’s number 1 and who is no 1 competitor in the world?

Sergio Moraes was the best man of the competition for winning the Open site. Obviously, and I was as good as I’ve just beaten the him in the category, right? 🙂 The world number one is definitely Roger Gracie.

How would you describe briefly your BJJ?

Lifestyle, respect, spirit of competition.

What is the most important principle in BJJ?

Perseverance.

What was the hardest match, the victory and the defeat that disappointed you the most?

I had many hard matches, each time the tests were true. The most important victory for me was the Open at ADCC in 2009 and was the biggest disappointment was at the World Pro finals, when there were some errors in arbitration.

How is your training in MMA going? When did you begin and with what objectives?

MMA workouts are going well, I have had the chance to prepare myself with the best athletes in the world. I had the surgery just for MMA and to not have problems later in my career. After I recover I will dedicate myself to training. I want to conquer all and win the most important belts in the sport.

What do you think of fighters like Jacare, Galvao, Maia, etc coming to MMA and surely they need more than just grappling and BJJ in MMA?

I cannot know what they think, but obviously the money was an important issue. Fortunately, BJJ’s becoming increasingly professional and there are already major competitions each month. I think all the world’s most famous MMA fighters do BJJ through.

Name three of the best ground fighters in MMA!

Anderson Silva, Georges St. Pierre, Junior dos Santos.

Name the three weakest ground fighters in MMA that have come a long way!

Overeem, Chuck Liddell, Cro Cop.

How was training with St. Pierre? Have you finished?

No comment on training, because anything can happen there. We did exchange information.

Who influenced you most in your career?

My instructor, Jose Radiola.

Favorite Submission?

Triangle.

Describe in one word the following people:

Carlos Gracie, creator
Helio Gracie, transforming
Georges St. Pierre, athlete
BJ Penn, talented
Rickson Gracie, undefeated
Jacare, explosiveness
Roger Gracie, incredible
Braulio Estima, determination

What are your goals for 2011?

First I want to come back after surgery to the neck, and I will begin to dedicate myself to training again. The main objective is the ADCC’s in September and then I will put MMA first..

Name the four semi-finalists of the BJJ Open in 2011!

Roger Gracie
Bernardo Farias
Claudio Calasans
Ricardo dementia (or Xande Ribeiro)

What is the biggest rivalry in BJJ?

Certainly Cobrinha vs. Rafael Mendes

 

 

Awesome Gi and Professor John

So tonight was John’s first class as a black belt and he already has James referring to him as professor while he is laying down the pain 🙂 James however just seem glad that Pete is back so that John has another demonstration body.

A big shout out to Big Rob my brother from across the pond who had the first roll in class with John as a black belt and who was as close to tapping John as I ever have been, which is of course not at all close in any way.

I was also given some really good advice from John about the need to look at my game and actually start developing it as it should be, stopping working in other folks games, stop half committing or half carrying out a move and then resting and to be honest it all hit home.   He is dead right, all too often I work an escape, get some off my back and am in a good position only to pause, rest, collect my thoughts and by that time my opponent has moved and is back into a dominant place again.  For me it become so frustrating that I spend too much time moving, moving, moving which is not my game.  I need to move, escape, establish dominance and control and then if needs be take a rest.  Being off ill recently has not helped and my recovery is slowing me down but all this means is that I lose sooner it is not the reason I lose.  I have to say that of all the physical pursuits I have been involved in this is the one that most gets me down at times as no matter how much effort I put in, effort is not the key.  With rugby I was not the most talented but with effort and hard work I turned myself into a good player and played at a good level alongside future international stars.  With BJJ that effort alone is not enough, I have to work harder on the application of the effort and the technique as I want to progress in this sport more than any other one I have done.

So will I get there, well yeah I honestly believe I will as I have an amazing team and John one of very few Black Belts I have met who is prepared to invest so much in other people no matter ability or grade.  Couple that with the input from Lagarto and how can I not improve and progress?  The only thing holding me back now is how I play my game and how I focus in my head, so watch this space.

Now for the awesome Gi, have a look at James in the pictures below and you tell me if you do not agree 🙂

 

 

 

 

This

just

screams

awesome

John Goldson – Black Belt

Well I have to say it was a momentous day yesterday for GB Sheffield, I am so sorry I could not make it down but I am on the comeback trail and I will be back to the next Lagarto session all being well.

Why was it such a big day well there were quite a few belts handed out:

Young Jake received his Orange belt and I am pretty sure he is a black belt in the making that boy

Blue Belts went to Naz the Samurai, Adam, Dimitri and Kyle which is a great achievement and well deserved by all.

Also a number of stripes were given out, and my good friend and brother in arms Chaz got his second stripe which is fantastic and makes me feel better about the fact that he so frequently kicks my ass 🙂

However the big news of the day has to be this:

 

pic courtesy of Gregg Rodgers

 

Our coach and a man who has given me so much support and help through the last 2 and a bit years received his black belt and received it from a great in the sport Lagarto.  This is such a well deserved achievement as John has worked so hard both personally but far more so for the sport both at the gym and in the north of the UK in general.  He has done all this in a selfless and tireless manner never in it for anything other than the love of the sport.  I am so sorry I was not there to see it but will continue to train with John and will see him tonight in his first full session as a black belt.

This is the goal that we all aim for and very few will make it all the way and it is something that John I am sure and all of us at the forge are immensely proud of and we will all go from strength to strength as a family and a team.

BJJ Sweeps – iPhone App Review

I just got a copy of this app with the aim of reviewing it and hopefully some others out there on the market. I am reviewing on an iPhone 4 running IOS 4.2.1 (8C148). The app version is the latest version 1.0.0

This is a fledgling market and really only the Machado Brothers, Stephen Kesting, Darculino and Roy Dean have embraced it fully, with only Roy and Draculino going for a full course offering. But there are more and more apps coming out offering some BJJ instruction.

As with all new apps and technologies there are bound to be teething problems and issues so I have taken this into account in this review. It is not the same as reviewing DVD’s, Gi’s or belts as these are all established and should be at that point of perfection, or at least nearing it.

Overview

BJJ Sweeps is headed by Black Belt Marcos Torregrosa and covers Deep Half Guard and Leg Wrap positions. It is produced by Handcrafted Web Solutions and the main man is Dan Munk who I hope to be dealing with again soon.

There is the standard disclaimer at the start of the app, about the risk of the sport and the fact that you take this on yourself and should always be aware of the risk but this varies from app to app.

It has a nice logo which is a good branding point.

There is no loading screen you are just presented with the app and the bottom task bar menu which is very basic but does all it needs. It has videos and an about button which has an extensive and impressive bio of Marcos.

Then inside each section there are move broken down by position in quite a basic but very easy to use style

 

For example:

Deep Half Guard
– Fundamentals
– Entries
– Rocking Chair Sweep
– Dump Sweep
– Scoop Sweep
– Multiple transitions to the back
– Multiple Gi Grip Sweeps
– Omoplata
– Transition to Leg Wrap

Leg Wrap
– Fundamentals
– Entries
– Single leg
– Taking the back
– Standing Sweeps
– Transition to Ankle Lock

Extras
– 50/50 Entry
– Ankle Lock Details

There is a nice shot of Marcos on the front screen and a fairly sparse menu no favourite section or such but this is something which could easily be added as the app is updated.

The menus then take you straight to a set of moves without the small icon previews but have a good explanation.

Content

Now this is slightly different from the standard video app and I must say the presentation is lovely. You first get the move at full speed with a good music track behind it (suitably rock) and then you get an in depth breackdown by Marcos. Finally you get the steps which are highlighted by some very nice concise on screen bullet points. The video, is smooth, close enough and just looks great one of the best video offerings I have seen.

The sound, my old high horse, nemesis, chagrin call it what you will, well what can I say but awesome guys. It does not sound like it was recorded in a cave more that you are just listening to a teacher telling you what to do in the gym.

I guess you could say that it is relatively advanced techniques and not the for some looking for true basics and maybe not all moves are actual sweeps, there are some for taking the back, but that would be just looking for flaws.

Details

So what do you get:

BJJ Sweeps App £2.39 / $3.99
21 techniques
Full explanation of all moves

Conclusion

This is a good app it looks and sounds great and does all you would need, but it really is for folk who are looking for these specific techniques and not a basics app however you will not find a better show or sounding app at this price range in my experience.

iBJJ V 3.0 Update – iPhone Review

The excellent iBJJ app just got better with the version 3 update which brings a number of new things and a brand new module which can be bought.

First, there are 9 new drills bundled in for free which are the same high quality and innovative approach that iBJJ have already shown capable of.

But the bulk of the work with 3.0 went into some design changes to make navigating easier and this is something they have really done. The app now looks great and the arrangement is broken down into categories which are simple and easy to use. The whole design of this belies the fact that this amazing app still only costs £2.39.

Also enabled is the iBJJ Store which has one module for sale at the moment Wrestling for iBJJ – Vol. #1 (review to follow shortly) Jimmy Quinlan teaches wrestling techniques and drills important for every Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner.
He has used these very same techniques in his own arsenal to take multiple Gold and Silver medals in the NoGi Pan Ams and Mundial tournaments as well as defeating Bruno Bastos Black Belt and 10 time Brazilian champion when Jimmy was a purple belt.

——————————————————————————————-

I just got a copy of this app with the aim of reviewing it and hopefully some others out there on the market. I am reviewing on an iPhone 4 running IOS 4.2.1 (8C148). The app version is the latest version 2.0.1

This is a fledgling market and really only the Machado Brothers, Stephen Kesting, Darculino and Roy Dean have embraced it fully, with only Roy and Draculino going for a full course offering.

As with all new apps and technologies there are bound to be teething problems and issues so I have taken this into account in this review. It is not the same as reviewing DVD’s, Gi’s or belts as these are all established and should be at that point of perfection, or at least nearing it.

Overview

BJJ volume one is instructed by Nate Ryan, 1st degree black belt from Gracie Barra Boston and owner/head instructor at Mass BJJ more details can be found at their website

There is a nice clean logo for the app which says all it needs too.

There no standard disclaimer at the start of the app, about the risk of the sport and the fact that you take this on yourself and should always be aware of the risk but this varies.

There is no loading screen you are just presented with the app and the bottom task bar menu

Menu
The menu system is excellent offering Gi, No-Gi moves, then inside each section there are move broken down by position.

For example:

Gi

Back attacking

Lapel Choke

Lapel Choke Variation

Reverse Ezekiel

Each move has a star next to it so you can make it a favourite and then easily select it which I like.

You then can use the task bar menu which offers Gi, No-Gi, Favorites and Info

These do what they suggest with the info tab explaining tapping as well as the standard offerings such as links to the app on facebook.

There is no branding on this screen just a sparse menu but this is something which could easily be added as the app is updated.

The menus then take you straight to a set of moves without the small icon previews but have a good explanation.

Content

Now this is where it differs from all of the other apps, the videos have been shot and recorded but are not presented in video format. Instead you get a move system broken down in a series of still slides, which can then be ‘played’ at a selection of speeds much like a flick book.

You then have the option to change the angle of the move from front to reverse to give you a different perspective and also you can add text to the screen which explains what is happening.

Each screen has a help tab to explain how to work it but to be honest it is totally self explanatory.

The reason for the change from video to the flip book style I was told was to allow as much as possible to fitted into a light weight app and with over 90 moves this is certainly achieved. You also get techniques such as shrimping and bucking which I have not seen explained in an app like this before but are essential.

The only tiny complaint I would have is that sometimes for upper body moves such as rear chokes the text can slightly obscure the people doing the move however you can change the opacity of the text which does help alot.

Details

So what do you get:

iBJJ App £2.39 / $3.99
Over 90 moves
Full explanation of all moves
Flick book format
Web site support

Conclusion

I have to admit when I first saw the app format I was convinced I would not like it but I was wrong I love this app. It is portable compact and quick to load, it is packed with moves and explanations and it just works beautifully.

It allows you to have a look at each component of the move in detail which sometimes you could miss in a video. I would suggest that they could back this up with a small subscription or price rise to which then allowed you to maybe access the videos of the moves on line it would be very hard to better but I always want to shoot for the moon 🙂

I would suggest that of all the lower priced apps this is the one to buy and if you are not convinced there is a free trial version of the app available too which I am sure will convince you.

Exclusive News

A wrestling for BJJ app will be coming soon from these guys soon which I am looking forward to reviewing.

In news you will only see here an MMA app is being shot with none other than Kenny Florian who earned his black belt alongside Nate from Roberto Maia so I also hope to get my hands on that soon.

I am not sponsored or endorsed by any app programmer and my reviews are based on my opinion and nothing else, like it, hate it, respect it, all your choice but it is what it is.