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Jiu-jitsu Sensei
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This blog is to record my many training and teaching experiences in the martial arts. I run my own Can-ryu Jiu-jitsu dojo, but I also do extra curricular training in other martial arts to keep my skills sharp and to add to my knowledge of the arts. M
Recent Posts Tagged With 'grappling'
The Benefits of a Non-Macho Martial Arts School
Yesterday I taught an impromptu grappling class for my students. Submission grappling doesn't make an appearance in my curriculum until the senior belt levels, focusing more on 'no rules' ground defe...
Practicing Grappling Transitions
Last night I taught an off-curriculum Jiu-jitsu class in which I taught grappling submissions, specifically arm bar, triangle and omoplata from the guard position. When I do teach grappling or submis...
Learning From Other Martial Arts
Over the weekend, I went to Salmon Arm to teach at a Can-Ryu Jiu-jitsu seminar series. The topic I taught was "Defending Against a Skilled Grappler on the Street." The seminar was well-received and ...
Choosing an MMA Style to Follow
In MMA there are certain basics that everyone should know: boxing punches, practical kicks (i.e. leg kicks, push kicks, etc.), taking and defending the clinch, being on the giving and receiving end of...
Dealing With Foot & Calf Cramps from Ground Grappling/ BJJ
Calf and foot cramps are very common when you first start doing ground grappling or Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. I remember when I first started grappling, I experienced a few very crippling cramps, a couple...
How to Do Shrimping Drills and Why
Shrimping was originally introduced in Japan where it was known as "ebi aruki" or in English, shrimp walking. Judo and Jiu-jitsu schools use it to develop the lateral hip movement that is used to esc...
Dealing with Toe Injuries
Due to the slightly flexible puzzle mats that are laid out at the school where I run my Jiu-jitsu classes and do my MMA training, I and many others keep spraining our toes. What happens is that the b...
Practicing the Spiderweb with Eddie Bravo
Yesterday's seminar was great fun. Tasia, one of my MMA training partners, and I drove out to Victoria to train for 4 hours under Jiu-jitsu legend, Eddie Bravo. I had always considered him the "rock...
MMA Gloves for Sparring
When students are first introduced to sparring, we have them use 16-oz boxing gloves. These gloves are more protective and, because they're bigger, punches are easier see coming plus there is more su...
The Hakama Debate: Tradition vs. Practicality
Hakama are the skirt-like pleated pants worn by higher ranking belts (usually instructors) in more traditional Japanese martial arts schools. They are worn by black belts and sometimes brown belts in...
Let Us Not Forget Our Roots
Yesterday I participated in the Jiu-jitsu BC Society's quarterly technical seminar, led by Shihan Michael Seamark from Sadhana Dojo in Vancouver and Sensei Ari Bolden from the Victoria Jiu-jitsu Acade...
Throwing to Defend Against Kicks
This video shows a Kung fu sparring competition in which the guy in yellow very effectively defends against kicks simply by snatching his opponent from underside while he's on one foot, attempting to ...
My Grocery List of Injuries from MMA Training
In the last week and a half, I’ve gone through a number of injuries. Far more than I ever had in such a short period in my entire martial arts career. Here is the grocery list:2 black eyes (yes, I...
Learning Open Guard... from a Kitten!
This video is not just a cute video posted for a laugh. Shaolin monks developed an entire system of fighting based on the way animals fight. This one-minute fight between a bunny and a kitten can al...
Another MMA-Related Injury
This last week has been a bad one for injuries. A typical astrology-following Vancouverite might say it was due to Mars being in retrograde or something. But really, every so often, shit just happen...
My First Black Eye from MMA Training
I fully expected to get a few bumps and bruises on the road toward becoming a pro MMA fighter. Yesterday I received one such bruise, but not the way I would have expected.I was training with Tasia, t...
Mixing Martial Arts in Movie Fights
A student of mine sent me this video saying it was an awesome fight sequence that incorporated Jiu-jitsu. Needless to say, I was keen to give it a watch.At first I thought, "This isn't Jiu-jitsu," as...
Why Grappling is More Effective in the Ring Than in Reality
Since the introduction of Ultimate Fighting, the grappling craze has taken the martial arts community by storm. The Gracie family and their style of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu has earned world-wide acclaim ...
Cat Fighting Legitimized: The Sex Appeal of Women's MMA
When I decided to get involved in MMA, I knew that a large part of the public appeal is sexual. This is a chance for men to see honest-to-goodness, legitimate cat fights. Like their male counterpart...
My First No-Gi Submission Competition
Everyone wants to know how my first no-gi submission competition went. The video here shows the match. There were only two competitors in my division, myself and Tasia Yim from Team Franco. So now ...
A Mission for Submissions
I’ve been reading a number of books with photos and descriptions of various submissions, but I feel like there’s always something missing. Books are no substitute for a good teacher, but they can...
The Gloves Are Coming Off!
Last night, Chris, a former student of mine, was back in town and came out to train at my dojo. Chris is a brown belt in another style of Jiu-jitsu in addition to being a yellow belt in my style. I ...
Ground Grappling at a Size Disadvantage
Last night I led an interesting class. Fall has officially made its mark. With the change in temperature came the onslaught of illness, causing many people to miss class. That and the Smashing Pumpkin...