Tap, tap, tap...

Yesterday, Kevin facilitated the class. After some light stretching, we proceeded to pummelling drills. Again, Kevin emphasises this drill to promote sensitivity and increased tactile ability. He then taught us another variation of the bodylock takedown, which entailed taking down your partner forward. This transitions into side control. Important thing to be aware of is not to get caught up in a half guard after the takedown.

This nicely segued into half guard escapes. Kevin demonstrated the concept of head control using your shoulder. This is a very important concept, because where the head goes, so does the body. You achieve this by getting your arm under your partner's neck and grabbing the gi cloth on his shoulder. Make sure that your partner's head is cradled in the crook of your elbow. Only then you can drive your shoulder against the side of his face to force him to face the opposite direction. You can then drop your bum/hips on the mat,your chst toward the ceiling toprevent you partner to control your posture. Once you have this, you can the concentrate on getting your leg out of the guard.This could mean using your hand, other knee, foot,etc. to ease that leg out. Kevin enthuses doing this in stages, rather than using one move,as it would more than likely be a power move than a technical move.

After that, another drilling on the butterfly guard and sweep to improve "feeling your opponent". A new concept of what I call "deception" was introduced. This is about moving your partner onto one side, and as you sense a change in his centre of gravity to compensate for this action, you then sweep him onto the other side. Wicked.

We had 4 rounds of 5-minute sparring. Jack, Keith, Little Steve, and Mammoth Steve became my rolling buddies. Mammoth Steve clearly had at least 50 kilos on me! I caught him once in an over-under but he was so big that I couldn't shift his weight. We just laughed.

In a nutshell, I was trying to survive for 20-odd minutes. I did try some submissions - I like Ezekiel best, but I was getting caught so much in chokes that my neck was sore and bruised. Not that it mattered, I just kept on getting back for more. It didn't matter that I was tapping, I was more concerned on surviving longer than the last time. And I was having fun.

Are you tough?

Whilst warming up as a group, Kevin mentioned about having music during training. He said that the guys down in Portsmouth have music during sessions, as one brings an iPod and speakers. I thought that it was cool to have music whilst training. I've always liked music and would have it whenever possible. He then said something that made me sit up and think. "You don't have to look and act tough to be tough", he said. I believe he was saying this in the context of having fun and training in a relaxed manner, and not looking and acting badass all the time. Not that it was ever an issue where I train but I mulled over this in training and for several days, hence this post.

What is being tough? How would you say someone is tough? In my native Filipino language, "tough" is being "siga". When someone mentions "siga", there is a mental imagery of someone who is muscle-bound, tattooed, and strikes fear in someone. Is there a difference betwen tough and tough-looking, then?

Is being a fighter, or someone knowing martial or any striking art make someone tough/tough-looking? In the current MMA/BJJ scene, there is a fair number of practitioners who sport body ink,  in various sizes and locations. A fair number of them also supplement their training with weightlifting and strength and conditioning. Does this inadvertedly make them tough-looking? Is this a conscious or subconscious decision on their part in order to strike fear (or at least second thoughts) against messing with them. What if your opponent has more tattoos and is more ripped?

At this point, I want to make a distinction between being physically tough and mentally tough. We've seen fights where fighters crumple into a fetal position or turn away from a more aggressive fighter. Conversely,we've seen those who, in the face of adversity, appear to get more pumped and seemingly able to dig deep to pull themselves out of the predicament they're in.

I realise I've put out more questions that I have answered, but the truth is, I do not know myself. I believe toughness, or being "siga" is totally a subjective matter and is open to interpretations, based on a person's perspective. I myself sport several tattoos, am pierced, and a martial arts practitioner. Some people might think I am tough or "siga", but I think otherwise.

Mestre Kevin Chan

So... I've started going to class for two weeks now. Everyone there was very welcoming and I was made to feel at home. The structure of the classes run like this:

General warm up (stretching, pulse raisers)

Grappling-specific warm up (shrimping, rolling, pummeling, core exercises)

Techniques

Technique-specific rolling

3 to 4 x 5-minute sparring

Cool down

Since then,we've drilled the following:

Armbar from Guard (Bottom)

Kimura from Side control

Americana from Side Control

Guard Passing ( 2 variations)

Takedowns (Body lock and Judo throws)

Takedown transition to armbar

Butterfly guard and Sweep

Omoplata

Collar Choke from Guard (Bottom)

The classes are being run by Mestre Kevin Chan or Brown belt Dante or Purple belt Big Steve. Slightly different styles in teaching, wherein Dante and Big Steve are more technique-oriented whilst Kevin is more concept-oriented.

Case in point, in Kevin's class, he showed the concept of sensitivity thru pummeling and butterfly guard. He said that it's about being sensitive to your partners's actions and molding your body to conform to his body whilst adjusting your own body. It's about being loose enough to feel your partner, but maintaining sticky limbs.The sticky limbs concept is prevalent in a lot of martial arts disciplines. I can remember doing sensitivity drills in Escrima and in Jeet Kune Do.

In the butterfly guard, your legs are able to sense your partner's actions, and thru manipulation of your centre of gravity in relation to his,you are able to effectively execute a sweep/reversal without putting excessive force in the action. For a lot of beginners, strength becomes a substitute for technique,though this is only going to work if you are stronger than your partner.What if it's the other way around?

I've got notes on how to execute the above techniques. I just need to type and create links.

I'm going to sleep now.I'm tired and I've pulled a couple of muscles from yesterday and today. Oh, well.

Now, where is that again?

One sunny Saturday, I told my missus," Why don't we go to the High Street and do a bit of shopping. I also wanted to visit the gym and have a look at the place." Whenever I can, before I go to a new place, I always try to do recons at least a day before - checking out the address, parking provisions, or if I'm using public transport - bus or train stops. I've learned that it eases anxiety for me on the day itself, as I have got these things covered and only worry about the class itself.

The school is called the Croydon Martial Arts Academy and it's just off the High Street. I am quite familiar with the High Street and thought it wouldn't be too hard to find. I had a notion that being an academy, it would be a big building with a grand entrance and easy to spot. That wasn't entirely true.

It was easy enough to find the building, alright - the trouble was finding the entrance. Following the address, it brought us to the back of the building, sort of like a loading bay, with trucks parked beside the building. I thought,"This couldn't be right."We need to get to the front of the building." I checked the address again, and got my trusty iPhone map. Another walk around the block led us back to where we started from. I then started ringing the academy but no one was picking up. I got on the 'net and managed to get to the Academy's website but no luck. I wasn't closer to finding how to get in that darn building. My wife wants to go back to her shopping and I am getting frustrated, as well. I thought, "Well, why don't you go to the mall and out of this heat and I can just continue ringing the place up and looking for the magic entrance?" That appealed to her and I was left to use my non-existent Boy Scout skills in finding where this academy is.

After 30 minutes of ringing the number and walking around, someone picks it up. Finally. I spoke to the guy and asked directions on how to get there. He then said, "Are you the one standing outside? I can see you from here." "Good. How do I get in, then?", I said. " "There is a black door on your right, then it's up the stairs.", he said.

I looked on the right and there it is - a nondescript black door, unmarked and obscured by a parked delivery truck. So much for grand entrances.

At least there's free parking.

The search begins.

Late last year, when things have settled down a bit, I began looking for schools to train in. I have been discussing this for a while now with my missus and she has always been supportive of whatever silliness I find myself into. She was more hopeful than I am with my return to training, able to suggest ways to plan around the various bits going on, e.g., school pick up, work, childcare, etc.

That sorted out, I started looking for schools. Much as I would have liked going back to Carlson's, it was not an option anymore due to time constraints. There was no way I could get to class on time with my new work hours and school pick up. Did I tell you that it takes 2 hours via public transport to get there, as well? Despite that, Carlson's is one of the better BJJ schools in London, IMO. Simon Hayes, Dickie Martin, and Wilson Junior have made me feel very welcome during my short stay there.

Anyways, I had to find a school that is near enough to cater to my needs and would not bust the bank. I did some internet forum searching (a very helpful venture, as you meet a lot of people here, as well) for several months and I found a newly established school in Croydon. I could not believe it! Gracie Barra Kamon BJJ by Kevin Chan! Apparently, they have just started last November and slowly building up their London base. I did a bit of forum searching again about the school and Kevin comes highly recommended by Simon Hayes himself.

In the next post, I'll tell you about the recon mission I had that is a story in itself. 'til then.

I'm back.

It's May 2011. Nearly two years since I did my last blog regarding training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Issues on the home and work front largely brought the demise of my training (including escrima) and there were things that had to be prioritised. It is unfortunate but then what can you do- life does get in the way sometimes. Oh,well.

But hey, things appear to be looking bright and here I am again, scratching that martial arts itch that won't go away. Join me as I journey through the world of grappling as I write down my highs and lows, my successes and challenges. Hopefully I'll meet like-minded grapplers as I traverse through the world of sweat-, blood- and tear-stained mats of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world.