Thursday, June 13, 2013

A lot has happened in the months since my last update... Three new stripes on my Purple belt, preceded by a broken foot, a jacked up neck, a slow recovery, and a forced break from beloved Jiu-Jitsu.  Because my neck has been twisted up since the holidays, I haven't been able to get very much consistent mat time in BJJ class. It has been a long frustrating process filled with moments of hope, promptly followed by disappointment and pain due to overeager training sessions. It is frustrating to feel your cardio, strength, and all around fitness go to waste, along with neglected technique. But that's the way it goes in this sport, and you have to learn to utilize your time in a productive way while on the injured list. The silver lining is that due to my forced hiatus on the mat, I will have the chance to work on my stand up game. Kickboxing is always a blast, and it has been a lot of fun starting to tune up my striking, and footwork. Training Muay Thai and Boxing doesn't seem to aggravate my neck, so hopefully spending some time in the ring/cage, will help get my fitness and diet back on track.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Team Absolute cleans up at Utah's first S7 tournament...


I just wanted to give my fellow team mates a shout out, and a huge congratulations for all there hard work at the first S7 submission grappling tournament in Utah.
Denver Merrifield-Nirva took home gold and silver.
Nick Johnson earned, 2 gold medals in the purple belt gi/no-gi divisions.
Lance Gorman, scored a sweet belt for first in the absolute, and gold.
Justin Mitterling brought a silver in the blue belt gi division.
Big Dustin, earned a silver.
Rebecca Rodriguez earned a gold in the woman's gi division, and decided to go grab a silver in the men's division while she was at it.
Aaron Thomson, 2 gold medals in gi/no gi blue.
Armano, took home a bronze.
Jeff, also scored a bronze.
And last but not least, Joel took silver.

10 competitors, 15 medals. Not a bad day at the office.


I was really disappointed that I missed out on this one, the format looks great, and the new rules seem to be a great way to encourage more submission based Jiu-Jitsu. But with my shop being as busy as it has been, there was no way I could compete on a once/ twice a week training schedule.

A little bit of information on S7...
Herb Dean, and Josh Rosenthal, (well known for their work as referees for the UFC), partnered up with Dayan Henson, Scott Adams, and Paul Paterson, to build this world-class tournament platform designed to further the sport of submission grappling in America. The whole S7 outfit gets an A+ as far as there gear and equipment goes. Once they get their bracket and staging system down, and get their crew trained to keep matches moving, they should be among the leading organizations in the sport.

For more information on their rules, tournament dates, and innovative scoring system, go to www.s7sg.com.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

NAGA Utah, March 2012







This last weekend I had the pleasure of competing in Utah's first NAGA event. These guys put on the best tournaments in the nation hands down. If you ever get a chance to compete in one of their shows, don't miss it. They travel with a crew, and their own mats and equipment. They have trained referees on their payroll so that there is no confusion, or controversy over favoritism or team loyalties.

A few words of advice when attending NAGA would be, show up early. Because unlike other BJJ tournament organizations, these guys start on time, and they are organized, efficient, and always on point. I have competed in their events twice. Both times they started on time, finished up ahead of schedule, and had the mats rolled up and out the doors before I had even changed out of my gi! In other words, they aren't on "Brazilian Standard Time".

At any rate, it was an amazing weekend for Team Absolute. We showed up with 11 killer competitors in our arsenal, ranging from the kids white belt division, all the way up to our big guns, none other than the killer himself, our 2nd Degree Black Belt Professor, Pedro Sierra.
As of our last count, of the 11 competitors that attended, our team brought home 12 First place finishes, 4 Silvers, and a few Bronze medals to top things off.

We had some pretty awesome highlight reel finishes throughout the day. My vote for the "Submission of the Day" would be our resident light weight assassin Cameron Dansie in the Purple belt gi division. Who sunk in a standing collar choke, and dragged his opponent to the ground like a Panther affixed to the throat of his latest meal. Thus promptly putting the Boise State wrestling champion to sleep. Earning himself his second First Place finish for the day, and a shiny new belt for his quite extensive award collection.

Rebecca Rodriguez made her most anticipated return to local competition as well, and found little to no resistance on her way to dual First Place finishes in both the Gi and No-Gi divisions. And though she lobbied for a spot in the mens lightweight division, apparently the NAGA officials felt the fragile male ego would not withstand the blow of eminent defeat via her feminine ferocity, and chose to prohibit her from entering.

But I think the most honorable mention of the day has to go to Erik Keyes. In spite of the fact that Erik has only been training at Absolute for a matter of weeks (6 or so), he has been right there beside the competition team, sweating it out, and training his ass off for the entire tournament camp. He is always eager to learn something new, shows incredible humility, and on top of his amazingly positive attitude, whether he is winning or loosing he always greets you with a smile.
He had two really tough matches at NAGA, and though he didn't come out the victor, he most defiantly earned the respect of his team mates, and opponents. I look forward to watching Erik's BJJ evolve and progress, because with that kind of desire, and determination, he will undoubtedly be among the best at Absolute, in a very short while.

As for myself, I only had one match this time around, against a very game Unified BJJ player named Zach Boskovich. Zach and I have faced off twice before in previous submission only tournaments, and he gets better and better every time I see him compete. And this time around was no exception. Though I came out on top 7-0 on points, he fought a damn hard fight, successfully evading (what I thought) was a deep collar choke, and a few other sloppy submission attempts.
I respect the hell out of Zach and his whole team, they are absolutely full of individual talent from their professors all the way down through the belt ranks. Team Unified is full of killer BJJ practitioners, and they are undoubtedly one of the most decorated, and competitively active teams in Utah. Not to mention they are friendly as hell, and an awesome bunch of guys all around.
Special thanks to Rob Norbutt for the amazing action photography.
Check out more of his work @ www.theinfinitymachine.com

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

BJJ Gi Reviews

Practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, doesn't require a whole lot of equipment. You need a mouth guard (if you want to keep your smile pretty), some clean underwear (if you want training partners), but most of all, you need a good Kimono. A solid, well made Gi, is as essential to training BJJ as having a partner, or Professor. And while I could wax on about the ongoing debate of Gi vs. No-Gi, I would rather share some information about the BJJ Kimono's that I have tried over the years.

Keep in mind I am only reviewing Kimono's that I have used personally, and I am in no way being paid, or influenced by any manufacturers. These are all my own opinions from personal experience, and hundreds of hours of training Gi Jiu-Jitsu. Some people like new shoes, new bags, or sunglasses... I like to try out new Gi's.

In my opinion there are a few factors that one should consider when buying a new gi. A few examples are: durability, weight, color, fitment, size, and most of all cost. Another thing to keep in mind is how you will be using it. Such as regular training, competition, or light training. Will it be the only one you have? What is the climate like where you train? Some of these things might seem a bit like over thinking but I promise, you won't regret taking a little more time shopping around. Especially when you are finishing up a day of training, and your Gi is still in one piece, and fits like it should.

So first some notes on weight, and fitment. Heavier Gi's, are often referred to as Double Weave, or Gold Weave, and will generally last longer, be more durable, and a bit more warm while you roll. As for the lighter Single Weave, or Pearl Weave Gi's, they won't hold up as well to regular abuse, but lighter weight for competition, and more breathable, so you will be cooler at the end of a long hot summer day of training. I prefer to try and strike a balance between the two.

As for the fitment, there are usually two bases for fit. Judo style, and BJJ style. BJJ Gi's have a longer leaner fit, they are far lighter, but the biggest difference in my mind, is the arm sleeves. The Judo Gi, is wider, and shorter at the wrist than the BJJ Gi, and it is wider in the arm pit area. Also, Judo style is usually a two piece construction. Meaning it has a thick upper jacket, and around the rib line, it has a seam, and a lighter lower half that continues to below the belt line. I have found that the best way to measure what style suites you best, is to ask the higher ranked teammates at your academy for there opinion. BJJ guys are usually very chill, and eager to share knowledge. So if they are around your size, see if they will let you try on there Gi jacket. Obviously do this BEFORE class, so the Gi isn't stretched out, and sweaty.

Anyways, enough with the rambling, lets get on with it!


First on the list, (my very first Gi),
The "ATAMA, Single Weave".
This was an awesome Gi as far as durability, and comfort goes. It was my only Gi for nearly a year of training and average of 4 times a week. I have a fear of being that "stinky guy" at the gym, so I washed it every night after practice, without fail, and it held up great. Even in the dryer, which no Kimono manufacture recommends unless you are trying to shrink the size for a tighter fit.
This Kimono has a bit more of a Judo style, as far as multiple seam construction, with multiple fabric types/ textures, and a looser fit under the arm pit.. Though it is far softer than any true Judo Gi, by far.
The pants are my favorite BJJ pants, full stop. They are soft, true to size, they fit great, and they are durable. If you are looking to purchase a new pair of pants, and you don't want to spring for the cost of a whole new Gi... look no further, these pants are all you need. So to sum up...

Price: $149-169.00 (Depending on color/size) Great bang for your buck.

Jacket Fit: Longer in the arms, and lapel, good sleeve width, but a little wide in the arm pit area.

Pants Fit: PERFECT. Tight fit all around, good length, fits low on hips, good draw string, durable, but still comfortable and soft.

Weight: Medium Light, great all weather training, but not to heavy for competition in BJJ or Judo.

Durability: High quality Gi, great workmanship, quality materials, priced just right.

Link: http://atama-kimonos.com


Next up... "VULKAN, Pro Light".
This is a very popular Kimono at my academy. They are light, breathable , and as you can see, very sharp looking. I owned two of these, one in Black, and one in white. I really liked how light they are, for summer training in a 100+ degree gym, they are awesome.
My only issues, would be durability, and fitment. They tend to run a bit short on the lapel, ( I do have a long torso, so it could just be me) and the sleeves run a bit short, but they are loose in the arm pit, and torso area.
Some people prefer this fit, but because the Gi has such a loose weave to the fabric, after you have been rolling for a bit, and the jacket gets damp, I found it really difficult to keep my arms in my sleeve, when people grab at your Gi near the wrist/ elbow area.
As far as durability, the jacket seems to hold up fairly well, but I have seen at least 6 pairs of pants blowout in the knee, and crotch areas. Hopefully Vulkan addresses the problem, because they would have a really solid Gi if they could fix that issue.
So I would recommend this Kimono to those who plan on using it in rotation with 3 or 4 other Gi's. Or for use in competition. Though I have to say, the sleeve width has been an issue for me in at least two tournaments. My arm has slipped out twice, while defending sweeps from open guard. I was lucky to have gotten away with a warning, in both cases. I have seen refs disqualify players for the same wardrobe malfunction.

Price: $159-199.00 (Depending on color/size)

Jacket Fit: Moderately durable jacket, very light, soft fit, a bit short in the arms, and lapel, good sleeve width, but wide in the arm pit area.

Pants Fit: Good length, fits just above hips, the draw string is a bit stubborn, comfortable, light, and soft, but very suspect in the durability department, open guard players be warned.

Weight: Lighter weight, great for hotter weather, great for BJJ competition, (if you prefer loose sleeves)

Durability: Great Gi top, workmanship is consistent, quality materials, pants need work, priced a bit high in my opinion for what you get.

Link: http://www.vulkanstore.com/products/Jiu_Jitsu_Uniforms-1


Next up... "Dragão, Arm Lock".

This Kimono is strikes a great balance between light, and durable. In fact, the Gi top is one of the toughest I have seen. Though the collar is very stiff, and it takes some getting used to, it's not uncomfortable. The Gi top has a great BJJ fit. Tight in the arms, arm pits, and torso, but the lapels are still long.
The pants are a bit short in length, (keep in mind that's coming from a guy with a 30" inseam) but they are a good fit in all other areas. the draw string is quite stubborn, even more so than the Vulkan. But not unworkable. You just have to work those hips, and be good at "the twist".
One important point that I have noticed, is that although this Gi has held up very well over the past two years of hard use, it has shrunk at least one full size. It fit great as an A3 when I first bought it, and since then, I have had to pass it on to my girlfriend, who usually wears a A2, and it is a bit tight on her now to. I would recommend buying one size bigger than your used to running, and shrink it in the dryer. They really do shrink more than any Gi I have seen, even without the use of a dryer.
Another quick note, in the past few years, the team at Dragao have come out with some really sharp looking new designs for their Kimono's. So be sure to check out there full selection before you buy, especially if you want something flashy.


Price: $159-189.00 (Depending on color/size)

Jacket Fit: Very durable jacket, stiff collar, fairly light, a tight fit in the arms, great lapel length, good sleeve width, sizing seems to run one size small.

Pants Fit: Short inseam length, fits great right at the hips, the draw string is very stubborn, light, but still durable, though not very stretchy.

Weight: Lighter weight, great for all weather, good for BJJ competition, (be sure to check the sleeve width, for competition)

Durability: Great all around, workmanship is high quality, quality materials, price is good, a bit high, but the quality shows in the craftsmanship.

Link: http://www.kimonosdragao.com.br/v8/home.asp?lang=en_US


Last but not least... "Fuji Single Weave".

This is hands down the best Gi I have ever bought. There are currently 6 of these hanging in my closet right now. I own four black A4's, and my girlfriend owns two A3's, one Blue, and one Black. The colors are deep, and dark, and hold up better than most $200+ dollar gi's that I have seen.
These Kimonos are durable, they are inexpensive, and they have the best cut I have found. They have a tight under arm, around the arm pit, so there are no elbow slips, or spider guard issues. I will say that the pants fit a little tall on the waist line, and seem to have a long inseam, so when I have my team patches sewn on, I ask the tailor to hem them for me. But I have wicked short legs, (30" inseam) so for most folks that shouldn't be an issue.
The Fuji Single Weave, is heavier than your average single weaves, so competition weight could be affected, but for an every day, year round, hardcore practitioner, look no further.
Here is the best part... This awesome Gi, will set you back $89.00 every day of the year for Black or Blue, and $79.00 for White. And if you subscribe to sites like BJJHQ on Facebook, they regularly appear for $70 plus $5 bucks for shipping anywhere in the USA. You can't beat that kind of value anywhere.
One thing I will say, that is very important to note... These Gi's will shrink, and they fit one size SMALL. So if you are regularly an A3 like myself, the A4 will fit perfect after one cold wash, and hot dry. After that, it is good to go.

Price: $70-89.00 (Depending on color/size)

Jacket Fit: PERFECTION. Long lepel length, sleeves come right to the wrist with a perfect competition diameter, collar is good and thick, but not to bulky, colors are awesome and hold well, slim rib line, and tight under arm. Gi's run one size small, so order one up. (Regularly A3= order A4 wash cold, dry hot once to custom fit)

Pants Fit: A bit long, but that could be due to ordering one size larger to get the right jacket fit. If they would ship an A4 Jacket with an A3 Pants, I would be in heaven. (But remember I have a 30" inseam) The drawstring is good, and doesn't tangle easily. And the material and stitching is durable.

Weight: Medium, great all weather Kimono, that will last for years.

Durability: Fantastic. No issues that I have seen, and 20+ people from my Academy roll in these Gi's year round.

Links: BJJhq.com, martialartssupplies.com, budovideos.com


Well, I hope that these reviews were helpful in picking out a new Gi, for everyone who cared to read them. I will be sure to add more reviews as I collect more Kimonos, because as I am sure you can tell, I love trying out new brands and flavors. If anyone would like to send in a Gi for review, or to test a new product, feel free to shoot me a PM. Thanks for reading.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Rockwell Rumble Sub-4-Santa Submission Tournament


Team Absolute had another great tournament tonight! Rockwell put on a great charity event that was a blast to attend and compete in.

I managed to take 1st in the Absolute Gi division. I had an awesome match in the finals with warrior Jacob South, (picture bottom right) and barely survived the wicked tricky guard of Richard Cesena. As well as two of my Absolute MMA brethren, Riley Peterson, and Braeden Kilpack.

The highlight of the event though, was the epic paper-rock-scissors battle for 1st place in the 205lb. division between Jacob and myself.

Mr. South had just fought through the 205lb. No-Gi division (1st place), the Absolute No-Gi division (1st place), and then in our finals match, the Absolute Gi division. And we were the only ones in the 205lb. Gi division. So, seeing as how we had just fought, we were both exhausted, and because of the tournament format we would have to fight best out of three, we decided to have a best of three ro-sham-bo contest. Oddly enough, the crowd seemed more into that battle, than any other match that evening!

Needless to say... I arose the victor, coming back from a loss in the first round, (his rock smashed my scissors) to a win with paper, then finishing via rock. The crowd went WILD!


Congrats to all my team mates, and the awesome competition that showed up for the event. Also thanks to Rockwell, and everyone who came out to support the fighters, we couldn't do it without you guys.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Quick update...

Things have been crazy busy at the shop as of late, so I don't have a whole lot to report on. I have been working on a BJJ Gi review for my next post, but I really underestimated how many Kimono's I have owned in the past 4 ish years of Jiu-Jitsu. Also, I underestimated what a nerd I am when it comes to MMA gear. So look forward to a lengthy, detailed report on that front.

Meanwhile, at Absolute MMA, we have been making a few big changes around the gym. Rob has invested in a new cage, and so the ring has been sold, and is gone. The new cage is still not complete, but all that is left is the door, and it's finished. We installed a new mat cover, to match the grey cage mat. And man, it looks sharp.

I had the pleasure this weekend, of covering a few classes for Rob and Pedro, while they were in Arizona teaching a seminar. I can't tell you how much I enjoy teaching Jiu-Jitsu. I love talking shop, figuring out the weak links in our game, and helping my teammates get better, and learn new things to make our team stronger. Also teaching gives you a chance to test your knowledge of pure technique, anyone can BS their way through a class, but actually teaching sound technique, that your world class professors would sign off on, is another thing entirely. I hope to one day be able to become a well rounded teacher, so that I can help others learn, and improve their Jiu-Jitsu, as much as my instructors have for me.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Another awesome seminar with Grand Master Flavio Behring!


Once again, Absolute MMA had the amazing opportunity to host the semi annual visit of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 9th Degree Red Belt, the Grand Master, Flavio Behring.
With over 60 years of BJJ experience, it goes without saying, that he is a wizard in the art of self defense, and arguably the most influential force behind the spread of Gi Jiu-Jitsu all around the world.
It is always a pleasure just having him in the gym, and his BJJ knowledge, and teaching technique is second to none. Its amazing to see the way his mind processes seemingly complex situations, with absolute simplicity, and grace. Every progression has perfect flow, and direction. Every movement has purpose, and reason. No time is wasted, no energy misspent. After over 6 decades of perfecting his system, he has trimmed off all of the unnecessary frills, and gimmicks. The result is 100% pure unfiltered, frighteningly effective Jiu-Jitsu technique. I am so grateful that my Professor Robert Handley, goes through the trouble to present us with such an amazing opportunity to train with the best in the world.


Master Sylvio Behring, GM Flavio Behring, GM João Alberto Barreto, GM Alvaro Barreto.