Five Grappling Illinois 2

This weekend I competed at the Five Grappling Illinois 2. I wound up taking 3rd in the gi and had planned to do the no gi but I tweaked my knee (the one I had surgery on earlier this year) and I got a little spooked so I bowed out. I’m happy to say that it feels fine for the most part today.

The victories this weekend were much needed. With a disappointing performance at the Atlanta Open I was happy to snag some wins. If you’re a competitor coming off a rough loss, negative thoughts of doubt seem to have a way of following you into the next tournament. Getting some W’s help quiet them a little. Only a little though, you can’t ever get rid of them completely. While I definitely have some rust to get rid of overall I was satisfied with my performance. Although, next time I am going to work harder. I want one of their belts to take back to the gym.

I would also like to add that I was really impressed by the organization of the tournament. It ran very smoothly. I also have to say, I really enjoy 6 minute matches. They’re way more exciting. Both to take part in and to watch. Everyone was going after it. If you’ve never taken part in a Five tournament. It’s worth checking out. www.fivegrappling.com

Here are a few videos of my matches.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLluPB9fBCo&w=560&h=315]

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXBfiUJibf8&w=560&h=315]

Submission FC BJJ T shirt review

I recently got ahold of two shirts from Submission FC. The shirts are made of 55% Hemp and 45% Organic cotton. Along with the shirts I was also given test results performed on them to ensure that the hemp percentage claims were accurate. I know there has been a little drama concerning hemp related products in the BJJ community, so it was nice to have the claims verified.

So let’s get to the shirts.

bluehempfullwhiteshirt

I received two shirts. One is blue with a shark and BJJ quote, while the other is white with a lion and BJJ quote. The first time I put on one of the shirts, it almost felt like it was going to be itchy like wool, but it wasn’t. I assume this feeling is just a result of the natural materials used. In fact, the fabric is soft and breathes pretty well. In addition I’ve worn the shirts on a couple of hot days and both felt comfortable. I’ve also had them on under my gi when coaching my kid’s classes (my kids love the lion one) and they breathed very well. The shirts themselves fit great. They have an athletic fit, which for me means they are snug where I’d like them to be. Call me a meathead if you want but I enjoy a well-fitting shirt. I have both shirts in size medium and I am 200lbs and 6 feet tall.

All in all I really like the shirts. I honestly wish I could buy some of these shirts in plain colors to wear because I really like the feel and fit. I’m also a minimalist at heart when it comes to designs. Even in regards to non-BJJ clothing, I own very few shirts with logos or designs. So I hope Submission FC makes more of these shirts with some of their traditional designs like their slanted logo t shirt (which I really like). But everyone has different tastes and I know several of my students love the shirt designs. With all that said, if you would enjoy a comfortable, well-fitting BJJ shirt made with natural materials then I would recommend buying one of these shirts.

In case you aren’t familiar with the quotes on the shirts, I’ve listed them below.

“After the clinch, it doesn’t matter what happens, one way or another, we’re going to hit the ground, and we’ll be in my world. The ground is my ocean, I’m the shark, and most people don’t even know how to swim.” – Carlos Machado

“If size mattered, the elephant would be king of jungle” – Rickson Gracie

Check out their t shirts at http://www.submissionfc.com/submission-t-shirt

Costa Rica BJJ Traincation

Hey guys, just extending an invite to any of you BJJ players out there who might be interested. My student and good friend went to one of these Costa Rica BJJ retreats last year and loved the experience. He decided to put one on himself. Basically each day will consist of multiple training sessions as well as the opportunity to hike, surf, quad around, enjoy the culture or do anything you want really. Here is the website with details about it the retreat.

http://jungles-edge.com/group-retreats/retreat-info/?gr=1464

I would like to add that I do not personally receive any compensation for this. I’m paying to go myself and I am just excited about the experience and wanted to extend the invite to anyone who would be interested since there are  a few spots left.

If you have any questions refer to the page or even send me a message from the info here on my blog. Thanks!