Roseberry's Jiu Jitsu

Jiu Jitsu in Olympics? No time like the future.

Some amazing sporting news came to light yesterday. The 2016 Olympics will be held in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Of course there is no surprise that it is intriguing that the possibility of having Jiu Jitsu become an organized sporting competition within the hallowed grounds of the Olympics is somehow more attainable in my eyes. There are roughly 5-6 years to get the nod for the sport to see the Olympic floor. With the exposure Jiu jitsu has seen within the last 2-3 years being on television, showcased by the UFC and other MMA organizations, there may be a positive light that is being shined on the sport. ADCC in Barcelona, Spain this year had great viewer turnout around the world, it was broadcast live (semi-live) this year on the Internet. People are willing to pay to view the best JJ competitors in the world, so why not have this for free on the great sporting event that happens every 4 years? I am not one to stir the pot, and I believe that this is pure speculation, but there are many out there who feel that Judo is the main reason for keeping Jiu Jitsu out of the Olympics. I have seen on numerous sites that there is a worry that Jiu Jitsu would take top Judo practitioners away from Judo, the sport that is widely considered the top martial art throughout Asia. I have also seen criticism by some that say that Jiu Jitsu on the highest level can be very boring to watch. I guess my rebuttal to that would be, have you sat through an Olympic sailing event? That is probably the best part of the Olympic games if you don't like what is on at the time, switch to another channel carrying a different competition or wait an hour. Not every sport translates well with everyone. We can't all be Kobe Bryant and smoke Finland in basketball. Sure a sport like basketball is going to get most of the attention, but if you are able to get a GSP representing Canada, or a Dean Lister representing the USA, within the Jiu Jitsu community these names register. These names even register to the casual fan at this point. Think about it, GSP is 28 now, in 2016 Georges will be 35. For St. Pierre I would believe winning a gold medal in Jiu Jitsu would be the icing on the cake that in one of the most illustrious carriers in MMA. I know this is a bit of a long read, but just some food for thought. Keep your fingers crossed and your ears open, the age of Olympic Jiu Jitsu could be coming!

Training during Cold Season

It is amazing that anyone gets anything done now a days with all the hype behind H1N1 and all the other nasty crap that we endure through our immune system this year. I recently was sidelined for an entire week with a severe ear infection, my first. I actually went in to see the doc thinking that I, in fact had the Swine Flu. I was relieved, yet puzzled when she checked my ears and asked me if my ear hurt. I couldn't believe the pain my body was feeling was from an ear infection.

On top of trying everything to stay healthy and active, sinus infection after sinus infection is beginning to weigh me down, literally. I have set a goal of dropping down to around an even 200lbs by the end of the year. This now seems like a huge deal because of the fact that I just can't push myself during training like I want to. I honestly can't wait to get that first freeze and kill all the spores in the air for the year. I have found that I actually perform better and can really get after things athletically during the winter months.

So, for anyone who is out there with the same affliction, training during the cold/sinus season, I feel your pain. Keep with it and you will be ok!

Samaya's day at JJ

Jiu Jitsu through the eyes of a 4 year-old. *note the camera (if you were wondering about the clarity.)

UFC Undisputed

I don't know if anyone else has picked up UFC Undisputed 2009 for their game system, but if you are a fan you need to pick this game up. I didn't want to give a rousing review of the entire game, but rather the phenomenal way that the Jiu Jitsu is presented in the game. On its own, the stand-up fighting is basically a button masher. My four year old daughter can knock you out when she plays as Chuck Liddell, Literally. If you never take it to the ground I could see where the game would get seriously mundane, but get that solid take down and the ground control becomes a thing of technique and patience. Hum, sound familiar to a Jiu Jitsu fighter? You can't just hit a button and pass someones guard, you have to use one of your analog sticks along with a small combo of other buttons to gain a dominate position. THQ must have done a lot of research as well. I really like that if your fighter isn't supposed to be somewhere they don't let them go there, the progression of changing positions is all there. Take for instance if you are in a fighters' closed guard, you break the guard, then go for the pass to either one side or the other. If you wind up in side control and move your analog stick back to the direction of the fighters guard, it won't let you go back. In a real fight you wouldn't go back into half guard or full guard, so it shouldn't happen in the game. The ease of the ground control is very realistic. Fighters get out of submissions if their stamina is high, like at the beginning of the fight. Submissions in general are difficult to finish, but in truth I would want it that way. In previous UFC games like Sudden Impact if you went to the ground all you had to do was hit two buttons together and you would throw on a submission. If the other fighter didn't hit the exact two buttons that you did, they couldn't defend the submission, and so the fight could last a matter of 30 seconds. Now I know that this happens in real life, but sometimes fantasy is better when it lasts longer.

The game is rated T for Teen, I would not recommend it for anyone who has kids that don't already watch UFC. The blood isn't too bad, but the cuts look very realistic. Just saving you a little Q&A with the little ones. The other aspect of the game I really like is the Classic Fights mode. You have to recreate the outcome of the fight, which sounds easy, but in truth is very challenging. I tried the Diego V. Karo fight that went Unanimous Decision in the 3rd and wound up knocking Karo out in the second. You have to know how to set the pace or perfect the move, which gives you more of a challenge than just beating up your friends on line.

Anyway, I recommend this game and am looking forward to many blisters on thumbs in the coming weeks!

Aaron and Team Jiu Jitsu Fighter

What's in a name?

It is hard to believe that the UFC will reach it's 100th pay-per-view this year. If anything shows you the longevity and scope of what MMA can and has done this would be it. I think that UFC has legitimized itself as a sport and not a sport entertainment sideshow as some have said in the past. I can't help but wonder though, will the UFC continue to number their shows and if so, when does it become unnecessary?

I propose that UFC go to the amazing UFC 100 title and then after that come up with a new concept of naming the shows. I believe they can take a page out of boxing and instead of calling it UFC 101, call it (hypothetical) UFC Penn Vs. Florian. You just have that main event to go on, while the UFC has these recognizable names they should be using them. I am the first to say, with the UFC having some sort of fight going on every month, I can't always keep track of who is fighting what "Numbered" show. This would clear up any confusion for that month's card. The UFC is doing a great job cultivating younger, lesser known fighters, so bring them up right and within a few years those fighters have drawing power on the main event namesake.

If that is not an option the UFC could go back to "Naming" the PPVs. Redemption, Meltdown, Boiling Point, these have all been used in correlation with UFC #s, but never on their own. The only problem here is that the show begins to sound gimmicky, too WWE. The WWE and all other pro wrestling promotions has done this since the dawn of time. It is a great way to promote a show, WCW's Halloween Havoc, TNA's Road To Victory, WWE's Royal Rumble. These names play to a certain curiosity in the demographic that watches both UFC and wrestling, but as you can see they are a little juvenile in the grand scheme. Let's evaluate one here, what sounds better to you? UFC Lidell Vs. Couture3 (which was actually the name of this PPV) or UFC 57: Execution. To me, hands down the fighters make the PPV not some catchy name. BTW, that card was the largest gate UFC had done to date up until UFC 91 with, Oh, another fighter Vs. fighter named PPV, Couture Vs. Lesnar. I believe I have made my point and a strong one at that, but unless Dana White and Co. stay up long Vegas nights Googling UFC, they probably won't see this, so they won't get it and we will get UFC 218: Beat Down instead of UFC Hogg Vs. Dvorak.

God save the Queen!?

As advertised, TUF season 9 began yesterday. If you read my last post you are well aware that there is much criticism within the MMA community for Mr. White and Co. for the character portrayals that seem to be dominating the show as of late. This season may be no exception, but I did like the fact that the producers made the Brits out to be a very blue collar, determined, well schooled bunch of blokes. I honestly think that a UK fighter will win one, if not both divisions this season. Although, I can't really tell you who I think will do this, I am just throwing my prediction out there this early. Good fights, even though it seemed like there was a little favoritism among a few of the fighters.

Dana arrives in England where Bisping awaits outside of the MMA training complex affectionately known as the Wolfslair. They go inside where 16 competitors are waiting with Tapout adorned on each fighter (talk about a corner on the market, although Dana just signed a deal with Triumph and was wearing one of their shirts instead of a Tapout shirt.) Dana informs the Brits that only half of them will be making the trip to Vegas to fight for the UFC contracts. The battles ensue and we have our nameless 8 that are going on to Vegas.

I am already cringing as the next episode's preview begins. It is the American boys' turn to show what they got. And we have a guy who is struggling to make weight, and another guy who is fainting on the pedestal (Ala, Phillipe from last season.) I think that this is the MMA embodiment of how the rest of the world views the U.S. in general. We want max results with minimal effort. We half-ass everything and shit on opportunity, we don't take enough seriously and act like our life depends on our own success. We think we are better than everyone else when obviously we are not. I am not going to stand on a soapbox here, but wait and see, if one of the US guys does win it will not be through true grit and determination, it will be from half-arsing it and lucky picks. Maybe it is the English running through my blood, or the fact that I go against the norm. I love the underdog story in every avenue, so God save the Queen and let's see how this goes.

Where does "TUF" go from here?

Since the first Chris Liben melt down to Ryan Bader wrestling his way into a 6 figure contract I have devoutly watch the Spike TV/ UFC program "The Ultimate Fighter" reality series. This brain child of Dana White started back in the Reality Show boom a few years back. In a wash of terrible reality shows, this show really didn't stand out at first. I think if you were a die hard UFC/MMA fan you were watching, giving support to the show to see it work. I think the mass public looked at most in the TUF 1 house as a bunch of meat head thugs that were just there to hurt each other. I would say that the first season is still my favorite, which seems to be the case in most reality show instances, there is a sense of reality that is captured on the first one. A close second is Josh Hanes on season 3, his motives for being there were truly honorable and he fought like he had to win. Many of those guys were there for the TV time. I think the show took on a life of it's own and showed that it was a cash cow then the live finale took place and we got so see Griffin Vs. Bonner in a hellfire 3 round beat down. Both men left everything in the octagon and for their efforts were awarded UFC contracts. Bonner has kind of petered out, but Griffin wound up fulfilling his and the UFC's dream of cultivating a champion from the reality series.

Lately, though, the TUF product has become something of a character clinic. Truly, I really watch anymore of the fights and the coaches. I could watch these shows like I watch Britney Spears music videos...with the sound off! Two words, Junie Browning. Junie maybe single handedly killed this shows success in the long run. Then again, maybe his Liben-wannabe antics have secured that it will be around for a long time, taking it in strange new directions.

For fight purists and those of us that actually practice avenues of Mixed Martial Arts, I want to throw up every time I see our sport depicted in this way. Even Dana White in the first 2-3 seasons said that he was out to break that street thug image that most people have of the sport. So with great anticipation and reluctance all at once I wait for this season's TUF.

The bright spot in this season has got to be the fact that Michael Bisping and Dan Henderson are the coaches. Like I said I watch now a days for the fights and the coaches. Most find Bisping annoying, but he is a damn good fighter and I like him. Hendo is always a good show, but he is so low key and soft spoken, it will be interesting to see how he translates to TV.

Who knows, maybe this batch of fighters will be great and not just in it for the TV time. It does seem like after a alcohol filled sausagefest season, Dana tones it down with an actual good, technical, clean shaving boy season. Cheers to all who still have the stomach to watch the train wreck that is The Ultimate Fighter!

The thrill of Victory and the pain associated with it

Exactly one week ago to the day I entered into my second foray in martial arts. The area's Brazilian Jiu Jitsu ProAm tournament, "The Best of the Best 9." Like I said in recent posts, this event takes place in Omaha, NE and is an open invitational competition to anyone with a submission or wrestling fighting style.
Before I give my thought about the event and the outcome of my particular divisions I would like to clear up any misconceptions of Jiu Jitsu. Loosely translated from its Japanese origin, Jiu Jitsu means the Gentle Art. This is obviously an example of Feudal humor, since the only thing gentle about the art is maybe the camaraderie between the participants. When I tell someone at work that I am studying and competing in Jiu Jitsu, most of the time I get an, "Oh, wow...what is that?" So I have to explain that it is a martial art, and what it usually entails. If you don't know what Jiu Jitsu is, this is the basic way that I explain it. If is very close to Greco-Roman Wrestling, but you can submit your opponent instead of pin your opponent. Next question I get is, "What do you mean by submit your opponent?" I mean, if I am on his back with my arms around his neck I am trying to choke him until he either taps or passes out from a lack of oxygen to the brain. I know that it sounds serious, but only the dummies let themselves go that far. If I have an opponents arm in a angle that puts pressure on a shoulder or elbow, this may also garner me the submission.
One major misconception is that we hit each other, which is false, striking is not permitted. Jiu Jitsu has in the past 10 years become synonymous with Mixed Martial Arts or MMA. In MMA, Jiu Jitsu is what happens when the two participants get to the ground, minus the strikes on the ground. OK, everyone got it?
After waiting 6 hours to finally get my matches going at the tournament, I began my quest for metal, or rather medal. I started in my Gi division, which is 221 lbs. and up, which I may add was the heaviest division at the tornement. Out of a field of 6 competitors I held my own. My first match was against a Sam Longstaff out of Topeka Jiu Jitsu, in Kansas. The match went the distance, the entire five minutes, with myself winning by points. I still am not sure how many points I was up, rumor was I had a 13 point lead over him going into the last minute. Most of the match I had his back, but to me the match seemed closer than the result showed. Sam was a hell of a competitor, and had a determination to win that rivaled my own, which was great. Because my second match was a total disaster for yours truly. Be the time my division was beginning the coordinators were realizing that this ProAm was taking way too long and needed to speed things up, so they began putting entire divisions out on all three mats. To make a long and pointless story short, guys were having to compete on one mat right after they got off of another mat. This happened to me in my second and it really showed. Luke Schollmeyer, fighting out of Omaha. Beat me soundly within 2 or 3 minutes. Which was ok, I really didn't expend a lot of energy and was no worse for wear coming out of it. There are sometimes in life when you know you can't win, considering the hand that is dealt, and this was one of those times. So I fell into the losers bracket, I was going to have to fight my way back up. I then took on a competitor, who I am not sure who he was or where he was from. To be honest, he shouldn't have even been competing, I soundly beat him, I basically drove him to the floor by off-balancing him and pushing him over, I jumped on top of him in side control and submitted him with a Kimura (arm crank). The entire match took less than an minute. This is the way you stay fresh in competition, taking out the competitors quickly to save energy. The final match I had in this division was for the Bronze medal and took place against Sam Longstaff again. Sam had won his second match, I would like to think that I helped him, I was coaching him from the side, since after his first match he befriended my and we hit it off, I thought giving him some advise was the least I could do. We squared off one last time, with intentions of winning a medal. Sam took me down quickly and landed in my guard. It seemed like all my training had prepared me for this moment, within a minute he was tapping from an armbar to Gi choke, something that we had been working on just the week before and I had never gotten anyone with it before or even tried it out. The elation of winning a medal was great, I wish we both could have felt that way, but for every win there must be a lose. Anyway if you want to see how anyone else did in their division, please check out www.bjjomaha.com. The video is of the bronze medal match between Sam and I.

Parisyan can't catch a break

UFC welterweight Karo Parisyan is suspended for nine months. Nine months, for violating the Nevada State Athletic Commissions banned substance policy. He tested positive for three banned pain killers. Let me say that again, Nine months for pain killers. Ken Shamrock tests positive for Steroids and gets a year, Karo, a chronic victim of panic attacks, tests positive for pain killers and gets almost a month. Time for acrimums, NSAC WTF?

His last fight was also taken from a win to a no contest. To me that is fine, if someone is on something and it is considered during the fight to be an advantage then by all means the fight should be a no contest.

According to Sherdog.com Karo Parysian was given two pills by a "friend" before the UFC 94 fight against Dong Hyun Kim. The friend said that these were his perscription painkiller that he had been taking since 2005 after an injury to his hamstring. The pills odviously were not the same. “I trust the guy,” Parisyan said. “He’s a friend of mine. He’s got a chronic disease. He gave me the pills and told me they were the same exact thing. That’s why I took them.”

This whole store is still a little strange to me, but if anything Parisyan had bad judgment and that was his undoing. I feel for Karo, his pleading to the NSAC seemed genuine. “This is my only form of income,” Parisyan said. “If I don’t fight, I’m nothing. I’m very, very sorry. It was completely unintentional. This is embarrassing for me.”

Karo is trying to get his life back on track after dismal fights stemmed from an onset case of anxiouty and panic attacks. He seems like he can't catch a break and things could get worse for this 26 year old before they get better. I sincerely hope he takes some time off and rehabs physically, but especially mentally. He is a contender in the welterweight division in the UFC, but it may be the right time to go elsewhere. He would be a huge asset to Strikeforce or Dream, especially Strikeforce who is trying to compete at some level with the UFC. Hell why not Affliction for that matter.

Best of the Best 9

Just 2 weeks away from my second foray into the competitive Jiu Jitsu I am getting anxious to see the competition. The Best of the Best Tournament is help every few months in Omaha by Midamerica Martial Arts of Omaha. This tournament is like any other tournament, teams show up and their team members participates in matches for individual glory as well as team points that could give them the coveted championship.

The tournament in my opinion could be better, the competition is good, but the actual structure of the tournament could use some sprucing up. I don't want to throw stones, I think it is great that someone, anyone is putting together a Jiu Jitsu tournament that is available to all the schools in the region.

This BOTB is looking promising as far as depth of schools that will be competing. According to http://www.bjjomaha.com/ there are 10 schools that are sending fighters to compete. One of which is our very own Roseberry's, which I will represent.

At BOTB 8 I had 4 months of Jiu Jitsu under me and I think I put on a pretty good show, coming in 4th place in my divisions. But this time around I have really been training hard and learning the craft and am looking at getting a medal...Third or higher!

If you are reading this and live in the Omaha area, please, come check out this competition.

Best of the Best 9

Blackburn High School

2606 Hamilton St., Omaha, NE

Competition Begins @ 9am

Admission is $5

Getting back on the horse

WOW, didn't realize that I hadn't posted anything since October with this. A lot has changed since then. I had another kid, I participated in my first BJJ tournament, I got two crowns on my teeth, so some good, some not so good.

I thought I would take a minute to say that I have now decided that if I am going to blog it needs to be streamlined. Writing journal form about anything is way too taxing to do. I don't have the time or the resources and frankly I don't think many people give a damn about what I think on all issues. I know I don't care what some random jerk thinks about certain areas of life in general.

SO...This is going to become a MMA blog site of sorts. I feel that I have enough of a background in the culture of MMA that I can hold my own. After this week I feel that I should take some time and speak about a few headlines that arose.

First is the Ken Shamrock Steroid suspension. If you are an MMA fan you probably saw this coming a mile away. When I met Ken a few years ago I thought to myself, "There is no way this guy gets this body at his age by just going to a gym." I wish I could have shown you a picture of him next to me for comparison, but the dick was charging $20 to get a pic with him and I am not an idiot. But, I digress, Ken was set to face former WWE star Bobby Lashley in a few months for Roy Jones Jr.'s promotion. This obviously won't be happening due to the fact that Ken lost his fighting licence for one year. Well at least he has his own promotion "War Gods" to fall back on. Although the product that he put out there in way of a fight card left a lot to be desired. Tank Abbott is the only name in his promotion and he is about 15 years past his prime. Ken didn't strike me as a very smart guy when it comes to money, but I could be totally wrong. That meet and greet was a pretty long line and if everyone but me paid $20 for a pic with Mr. Shamrock, he probably made out pretty well. Too bad he is pissing away his money trying to put together a promotion that in his eyes I am sure "rivals" the UFC. Kids, DON'T DO DRUGS of any kind. Eventually they all mess up your brain.

Round 2, Here we Go!
UFC was sent into a PPV tailspin this week, and in my eyes for the better. UFC 98 when first envisioned by the brains of the UFC was to be the epic battle of Frank Mir V Brock Lesnar 2. This was to be for the heavyweight title, and we finally would have some kind of justice in the division. But, Mir became injured and was forced to pull out of the match. They decided to scrap the fight until Mir can get back. In it's place the UFC formulated a match for the Light Heavyweight belt between Rampage Jackson and Rashad Evans. This came off of last week's lackluster Rampage win over Jardine. The real magic happened and the hype for this fight began when Evens entered the cage after the match and Rampage peppered Evans with trash talk until Evans felt the need to swear. Evans is a cocky, but laid back guy, Rampage knew exactly what to say to get Evans riled up. GOOD FOR YOU Rampage, your cardio sucked, but your mouth works just fine...Not SO fast. Turns out that Rampage needs surgery on that trash talking mouth and now will not be able to back up his talk. The UFC had to scramble to salvage this sinking PPV and went with Evans V Lyoto Machida. Machida is a great opponent in my opinion, but unless you are a true fan of the sport, you probably have not even heard of the guy. Let me put out my prediction on this fight, since I believe the mass populous won't bother to watch this PPV. Machida wins by decision, and not split decision. He has one of, if not the best striking defences in MMA. The guy is like Teflon, you can't stick this guy. He is a Brazilian Karate Champion as well as a Jiu Jitsu fighter, extremely smart and well-rounded. Evans is a hell of a striker and wrestler, but if he can't hit Lyoto or take him down he will get flustered and a flustered fighter is a vulnerable fighter. Ask BJ Penn about that, he will talk shit about GSP forever and it is all because GSP had a much better game plan that Penn. That and Penn's ego was not as big as GSP's muscles. Sometimes bigger is better, ask Couture after fighting Lesnar. See, I am qualified to at least put in my 2 cents on this stuff.

I promise that not all my rants will be this long. I didn't even get to the 'Mask' Lewis death story. RIP Charles, you will be extremely missed.