My first Black Belt win at the Pans

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72xzTaKZCTU&w=560&h=315]

This was my first Black Belt win at the IBJJF Pans in 2013. I was super shaky early on in this match. I could definitely tell I had some nerves. But that’s just how it is in BJJ sometimes right?

Fun side story about this match. The blue gi I am wearing was fresh out of it’s packaging and had never been dried nor washed. That sucked! I always order my Keiko gis slightly larger so that I can shrink them to fit perfectly for IBJJF regulations. I wasn’t aware that I needed both a blue and a white gi for competition. Essentially in the adult Black Belt division they call you up with the color of gi they want you to wear. I found out once I was already in California. My friends at Keiko took great care of me and got the blue summerweave you see in the video. The issue was that it was way too long. If you watch the match you’ll see the gi moving all over me. In particular, watch the Keiko symbol on the back of the gi move all over the place as my opponent grabs my sleeves.

I managed to secure a choke at the end and I feel very fortunate that my first Pans win as a Black Belt was a submission. The 2015 Pans are only a month away and as I prepare for it I can’t help but look back on this match with part laughter because of the gi.