Our friend BJJ Scout has once again given us a bag of goodies with a 11 minute plus breakdown of the tricky footwork and body movements that enable Dominick Cruz to be SO frighteningly effective! Any fan of MMA will appreciate this video as Dominick is a blast to watch fight:
I have been looking forward to see the new movie Foxcatcher, but I must admit I am a bit reserved as the true story is one of heartbreak and hurt that rattled the wrestling community. It looks like landmark performances by all involved:
Apologies for any inconvenience but there will be no class Saturday November 1st. 
A few weeks back Jared Weiner, head instructor at BJJ United in Philly, put up a very important statement regarding concussions and brain injuries in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Overall a topic few address seriously as many believe head injuries are rare in an art that contains no striking. Sadly this could not be further from the truth especially when grappling with someone with four sharp pointy things called elbows and knees, a head, and lets not forget throws and takedowns! It never ceases to amaze me how quickly people pass over spending time and money on one of the most important pieces of protective equipment in grappling arts… a mouth
guard, that will help prevent against concussions.
The potential of brain damage is great and it is nice to see the topic addressed. Words of wisdom for all of us below…
“I was always the first person to tell someone to suck it up and fight through the pain, no matter what the circumstance was. If we were training for a tournament winning was the only thing that mattered. I can honestly look back and say that was a bad mentality and we are very lucky more serious injuries didn’t transpire over the years.
The back story: On July 19, I was in the finals of the IBJJF NY Summer Open. My opponent executed a beautiful single leg, he lifted me up and my head bounced off the mat. I saw the “camera flash” but kept fighting (This had no outcome on the match, my opponent won with great positions, and I don’t want to take away from his victory). Immediately after the match I became very nauseous and dizzy. I found myself dry heaving in the bathroom, and I wasn’t sure how I ended up there. That night I continued to throw up and feel “off” but I thought I was coming down with the flu and left it at that. That was HUGE mistake number 1.
Fast forward to exactly one week later: I was still feeling a little “off” but training hard anyways. All I knew was I had the Chicago Open coming up and I had to win coming off that loss in NY. During that training session I was accidentally kneed in the jaw by one of my students and knocked out cold. I have very little recollection of the actual hit, but I do recall coming to and asking what happened. I was not really sure what was going on but I decided to keep training anyways because if I missed a day of practice (in my mind) I would be soft and It might effect the outcome in Chicago. HUGE mistake number 2.
Fast forward to August 3: I finally decided to go to the hospital to see what was going on with me, because since the day I was knocked out, I felt light headed 24/7. I was experiencing horrible headaches and scalp pain. I had crazy pressure in my left eye, and I was not able to sleep. Any type of light was hurting my eyes, and worst of all I became sad, emotionless, and suffered memory loss. I was scared as I never felt like this before, and I didn’t know what was going on with me. I remember the doctor being really cool and trying to talk MMA and BJJ with me. She then advised me that I suffered two back-to-back concussions within a week and that is rare and extremely dangerous. She told me it could have been fatal to get two right on top of each other. She said it will take time but I should feel normal again eventually. EVENTUALLY. So here I am almost three months later still stuck in this “fog”. My headaches are not as severe, but I am still walking around light-headed and really “off”. I have not been able to train live, only teach, but even that is very difficult for me these days. A lot of things have been put in perspective for me over the last three months. The last thing on my mind is medals and tournaments, but being well for my daughter and family is my priority. This has been a nightmare for me, and people who have never experienced a head injury before never really seem to understand, and its very frustrating for me. I may seem normal, and look normal, but I feel far from normal. I’m hoping to bring some awareness to head injuries in our sport and they are to be taken very seriously. Take some time and educate yourself on the topic and if you are ever feeling “off” from a head shot get checked out.”I get home from over 15 hours of mat time with the most amazing family in grappling and what do I find in the mail…..
Prof. Carlos Machado is literally everywhere! I just saw him in his hometown of Dallas, we will be hosting him this weekend here in Seattle for a seminar, and he has an article in the latest issue of Jiu Jitsu Style! Read what Carlos has to offer at your local B&N or subscribe electronically, then swing on by NWJJA to register for this landmark seminar Saturday November 1st where Carlos Machado will make his first trip to the Pacific NW to offer some tips on making our Brazilian Jiu Jitsu better. This will be the third red-black belt we have hosted at NWJJA, and the fourth Machado brother.
What a great weekend spent training under THE best family in martial arts, alongside amazing training partners in DFW! Too much info to sift through right now but I can honestly say everything from Rigan’s handcuff series, to John’s quick reminder to remember the fundamentals that this system was built upon; SELF DEFENSE, the 2014 camp is arguably the best one yet. 
A quick shout out to NWJJA Seattle and Maple Ridge. I appreciate my training partners.
I also want to thank my coach Brian Johnson for his time, effort and guidance.
EVERYONE owes Lindsay Machado a HUGE thank you and hug, for without her … no camp. Period.
Lastly but certainly not least I want to send my love and gratitude to Carlos, Roger, Rigan, and John for their unbiased sharing and teaching of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Truly an inspiration for me both on and off the mat.
 |
| Rigan and Team Nexus |
 |
| John Machado…sign behind us says it all! |
 |
| Carlos The Wise |
 |
| Roger the firefighter |
I am already looking forward to 2015’s camp, which from what a little birdie told me will most likely be in a different city!
.JPG) |
| As you can see, both were overwhelmed with joy! |
Owner and head instructor Brian Johnson of Seattle’s NW Jiu Jitsu Academy was awarded his 3rd degree on Saturday October 25th 2014 by Professor Rigan Machado. Congrats on a life dedicated to the arts and guiding others on one of the most difficult paths one can walk. Nine years a black belt and over 25 years dedicated to the martial arts!
NWJJA has arrived and the 2014 RCJ Machado 5 Brothers Camp is underway! Practitioners from Mexico, Canada, and all over the US have flown in to train with the best Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Family on earth. As with every year Prof. Carlos Machado started off the festivities offering the his latest findings in his infamous hook sweep game. A teacher beyond compare whose conceptual learning method I find the most symbiotic with my frantic learning style. The three hours on the mat went by in no time. And speaking of which… we are down to the last 7 days to register for Carlos Machado’s seminar November 1st in Seattle, WA.
This evening we have John Machado, with Roger and Rigan tomorrow followed by a feast for warriors at Fogo de Chao!!!!
‘Nuff said…
Apologies for any inconvenience but there will be no class Thursday October 23rd and Saturday Oct. 25th. Have a great rest of the week and we will see you Tuesday the 28th. 
In less then a week you could be sitting on the mats with five legends of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu… the Machado brothers invite you to an opportunity of a lifetime where all five of the brothers (Carlos / Roger / Rigan / Jean Jacques / John) and over 150 fellow practitioners will share one mat for three days of great instruction.
Then literally the weekend after (Nov 1st) we will be hosting Carlos Machado here in Seattle, WA. for his first seminar in the Pacific NW! Over 18 hours of grappling in 7 days with 5 of the best in 2 of America’s most vibrant cities. That is 1 hell of an opportunity not to be missed!
Buyer be ware… knife maker Jeff Crowner previously of Oregon, now living in Texas, is keen on ripping off customers! If you are thinking of buying a custom made blade for your self or a loved one this holiday season I certainly would suggest you spend your money elsewhere.
I first spoke to Jeff nearly a year ago at the suggestion of my then Kali teacher Meynard, who claimed Jeff was an amazing craftsman whose blades were little known but some of the best he had seen. So I reached out to Mr. Crowner in an effort to help promote and get some word out about his blades via my blog. I explained I was a freelance writer who ran a blog and was working on a couple of articles for possible submission to various magazines and if possible I would like to somehow incorporate his blade work into said articles. I told him I had never reviewed a blade before and he seemed genuinely excited about working together and even offered the opportunity to write for some online ezines and what not that he was involved with. He also stated that he would have to charge me something and I said that was fine if he did not mind me paying it off in several payments. No problem says he. That was last fall.
Fast forward to June 20th of this year… after $300 of checks to Jeff had been cashed I was patiently waiting for my blade as he had told me he was sending the blade ASAP. I get a random text stating “No way I am making a blade for you. I will refund your money.”
Naturally I tried to get ahold of him to ask if this meant for me and if so, why!? But got no reply and to this day have no clue why he decided to back out of his side of the agreement. But whatever, I gave him my address once more and waited for a check.
To save a long drawn out story, Jeff has yet to reimburse my money and it seems he has no intention to. He has tried to slander me even getting to the point where lawyers were calling me and naturally when I explained they were being led on a wild goose chase they scoffed at the waste of time. I have no clue what his problem is nor do I care any longer. Buyer beware with Jeff Crowner and his collaborations.
Jeff’s old site is still around but is most recent one Jeff Crowner blades states the account is suspended and it seems he is trying to erase his presence online. Looks like he moved to Texas and now wants to hide how much of a rip off artist he is. His previous number I have is 541-852-6039. Buyer beware my kali and silat heads!
 |
| Magid choking out Zac Maxwell with a baseball bat choke |
Scott Sievewright has been nailing a no gi version of the baseball bat choke (typically done with a gi) with a modified S grip. What I love about the grappling arts… once you think you have learned every possible way to do something, some kid in the Midwest decides to blow all of our collective minds by simply thinking slightly outside the gi, er… box!
 |
| Principle… don’t skip this pic |
Here is the man himself Magid Hage showcasing the Baseball bat choke with a gi:
Here is our friend Ari up in Victoria teaching the no gi variation:
And finally we have Scott Sievewright (one of Red Schafers students) who has been nailing fools with this:
Antonio Graceffo over at Wrestling Roots has just written a comprehensive and impressive chronological overview of the development of wrestling in the west. Accompanied by a great bibliography make sure to check this out and spread word to any students, scholars, or other interested historians.
Click here for the entire article.
| 1848, | Greco-Roman wrestling was born in France. The Greco Roman style is unique in that it forbids attacks to the legs. The wrestlers must possess powerful upper bodies and have the ability to lift and throw their opponents. (Sparta Club, history of the Greco) |
| 1870’s | Catch-as-catch-can, or Lancashire wrestling, or just “Catch wrestling” was invented in Lancashire, England. Catch wrestling matches can be won by pin, choke, or submission. They had no time limit. And a title fight once lasted for over 11 hours. (Launchpad) |
| 1896 | Greco-Roman wrestling was included in the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and has been included in every summer Olympics held since 1908. (Olympic.org,WRESTLING GRECO-ROMAN) |
| 1904 | Catch wrestling was included in the St. Louis Olympics. All of the competitors were Americans. And consequently, the US won all of the medals. It was also included in the 1908 London Games and the 1920 Antwerp Games. (Nash Aug. 2012) |
Wanted to send a shout out to Life University’s first all women wrestling team in Georgia. They will be competing at the Cumberlands Invitational this weekend and we wish them the best on the tough journey of a collegiate wrestler. 
Stumbled across this great clip on BJJEE where Roger Gracie shares the details of nailing the toehold from inside your opponents half guard. Solid details from one of the best. I will train with this man someday!
Here I sit well over 36 hours after a stellar weekend of training under the sharp eye of Guru Jeff Davidson, and my head is still reeling from the deluge of information! I have been doing martial arts for well over 23 years and it is admittedly sometimes a bitter road to walk in terms of trying to find the right guidance and instruction regardless of style. In the FMA it can often times lead to a lifetime of inaccurate details, strange power trips, and/or untested theories taught as fact (a dangerous ego stroke when weapons are involved). My point is to find a good teacher is tough. To find a great teacher is damned near impossible!
I will write a more detailed review later when I get some time, but I wanted to take this moment to publicly thank Jeff for accepting me as a student, his patient teaching, and the willingness to take a newbie and build from the beginning. After sifting through so much bullshit and assholes in the FMA I am happy to find a teacher whose pragmatic approach is shadowed only by his willingness and openness to share his understanding of these beautiful arts.
We spent the weekend training Kali along with a cursory introduction to Yorba martial training from West Africa. All of it was absolutely engaging and fascinating, we can’t wait to get back on the mats with Guru Jeff. Here is what a couple of attendees had to say:
“This weekend seminar was organized perfectly to start with a basic foundation on which everything else was built upon. Moreover everything was taught, explained, and reviewed in a pragmatic fashion (ah…so that’s why I do it like this).” – Mike
“When you first meet Guru Jeff Davidson, his brusque voice may make you think that he’s a stiff-lipped sort of guy, but it’s not long before you realize that not only is he very knowledgeable but he’s got a great, dry sense of humor, is amazingly patient, and knows how to effectively break down the material in a way that you can actually understand it instead of just regurgitating patterns. In some martial arts seminars/workshops you’ll find instructors that are frustrated when you don’t learn something the first time and sometimes you’ll find instructors just blaze through the material even if it’s an “all levels” seminar. Not so with Guru Jeff – his pace kept me interested and effectively challenged and was more than willing to give us the time necessary with the more complicated tactics. I’m really glad that I was able to train with him and I look forward to learning more from his years of experience.” – Elton P.
And to close here is a short clip from what Guru Jeff had to say on his blog Balisong Player (which should be on your daily check list):
“Well, I took these guys (and girl) in one weekend through material that would typically take me three months to cover with beginning students here in my own school – and they worked hard and diligently through every minute of it! Invariably when I teach seminars like this, I always notice the point when students ‘cash-out’ mentally from overload. I’m quite surprised and happy to say that these good folks worked doggedly through everything I gave them with 100% concentration and effort at all times – and then asked for a review on the second day! (at which point I myself was close to cashing out – lol). Such students are the hallmark of a good Teacher, so kudos to Jake once again. To our new group in Seattle: thank you all for a wonderful weekend of training and camaraderie. I hope there will many, many more to come. Most of all, thank you for appreciating the true depth and richness of our beloved Art of Kali.” To read his entire post please click here!
Cannot thank you enough Jeff! I will be seeing you in a few weeks to brush up and clean up what I am sure I will forget!
CheersJake
Congrats to my coach Brian “Mr. BJJ” Johnson, head instructor and owner of NW Jiu Jitsu Academy, for taking silver at the 2014 IBJJF No Gi World Championships. A consummate competitor who inspires all of his students and fellow fighters alike. Hard work and dedication pay off. Congrats brother! Had a great time last weekend training with my coach and friend Tim Cartmell. As always solid basics were emphasized with realistic scenarios and varying degrees of uncooperative drilling. It seems almost uncanny how every time I train with Tim in Portland he covers something that is an integral part of my game, such as this visit where we worked a figure four grip as you are being taken down with a single leg.
 |
| Cartmell seminar September 2014 |
It was a great reminder that I have been blessed with solid teachers such as Tim Cartmell, Mike Martello, Hu Xi Lin, Brian Johnson, and Jeff Davidson. Check out the pic below and you will see the level of training Tim Cartmell brings to the table as MMA professional Pat “Bam Bam” Healy even joined us on the Saturday sessions. Tim remains one of the most underrated martial arts instructors accessible to the public.
Thanks to Tim, Michael and Ecole de Budo.
Quick reminder there is no class this weekend as we host our Kali teacher Guru Jeff Davidson for his first visit to the Emerald
City. Come learn how to shank a fool better! We start at 10am.