Sweeps

Open:

If the devil is in fact in the details than I spent the weekend with him. Me and the Five Rings Crew (Tom, Eric, Louisa, and Greg) were fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to attend both days of the Caio Terra seminar which was hosted by our friends from Gracie Technics Oregon. My fellow training partners knew that I had been looking forward to this opportunity for quite some time, as I have spent countless hours pouring over the many techniques featured on Caio’s recently released half guard DVD. Caio began the seminar in unique fashion, first he lined us all up by belt rank so that he could better judge the students in regards to ability and understanding. Second he threw out 5 different techniques and allowed the students to choose which one he would teach by a majority vote.

Five Rings Jiu Jitsu keeps getting better and stepping-up its game. On Saturday, November 13, we travelled up to Bonney Lake, WA, and participated in The Revolution Tournament - the biggest tournament in the Northwest. Pound for pound, we ROCKED the tournament.

Five Rings Jiu Jitsu at The Revolution Tournament
with Gleukos in hand! It was a GREAT day! ! !

Five Rings Jiu Jitsu hosted 2x BJJ Absolutle World Champion / 4x Heavy Weight Champion Xande Ribeiro on Friday, September 10, and Saturday, September 11. Head Coach Tom Oberhue has been training with Xande for over two years now, but this was the first time Xande had come to Five Rings Jiu Jitsu in Portland, Oregon. It was a FANTASTIC weekend.

Here are some of the Highlights:

Wow! What an experience! I am a firm believer that EVERYONE who participates in our sport should go to a tournament like that Pan Ams. It is truly something to see top level grappling. It's even more amazing to see that the basic techniques we learn every day -- things like the humble scissor sweep -- are still being used! I know, I know... we are all told that they are used. I mean, I'm horrid at the scissor sweep. I can't even really do it against someone of lesser skill then me.

http://picasaweb.google.com/ChuckONeal37/PastorSMugShot?feat=directlink

*Click the link above.  How does a pastor explain this face on Sunday morning?  With a big smile and many assurances that it hurts those who have to look at it much more than it hurts me. 

So for my personal game, I had a pretty good epiphany on Saturday. I discovered that I can roll without analyzing everything and not go all out. That I can just flow and react, relax, and turn my brain off. Prior to this, I had analyze-and-be-mellow or unthink-and-go-hard. Now the third option is there -- which I think is a HUGE deal.

What a good week for Jits!

So the BJJ1 PSU class seemed to take to the triangle well, I saw lots of good things there. We also worked on transitioning from triangle to armbar. This week we are going over hip-bump sweep and scissor sweep, with a small review and live rolling!

On my personal training front, I'm really excited for A FIRMA. Should be a great program.