Anderson Silva Seminar

Today I got to train with a legend in the UFC. Anderson "The Spider" Silva taught a seminar at ATOS. He taught a sequence that started from standing to a submission in guard. Here's what I remember.

1. Distance Management
2. Clinching to intercepting a punch. (The key is to clinch behind their head at their ears.)
3. "Wrapping" their arms while in a clinch to throw forward or trip backwards. (The key is to grab their wrist while it's above your arm.)
4. Dodging their punches behind the elbow then finish with a triangle or armbar.

Guest instructor move: picking up heels then jumping to armbar. 

Vince K. was my training partner. I have known Vince since I was a white belt.

This was a screenshot taken from the video posted on ATOS Jiu Jitsu Facebook page: video link 1 & video link 2.

Demian Maia at ATOS

One of the perks of training at ATOS is sometimes we have someone famous drop in and teach a seminar.  Today's guest is UFC's Demain Maia.  His style of jiu jitsu is very old school compared to what's being taught at ATOS, which more of a modern jiu jitsu.  Demian Maia's style reminds me of the non-fancy GB stuff with a touch of fancy and self-defense.

I should really fix and re-tie my gi before photos, this picture makes me look fat.

Class photo taken from atosjiujitsuhq's instagram, I'm in the 2nd row.

Feed LA Seminar At Gracie Barra Mission Viejo

Wayne, his cousin, and I attended this seminar.

Budo Jake taught techniques from turtle position:

• Crucifix from top of turtle
• RNC-crucifix from top of turle

AJ Agazarm taught techniques from half-guard:

• Tripod to side control from top of half
• Tripod to reverse side control from top of half
• Tripod to reverse side control to knee-on-belly to arm-bar (top of half)

Kayron Gracie taught techniques from guard:

• Breaking the straight arm collar grip to wrapping their arm (key elements include: bending opponent's wrist and using your leg to bring them in for the wrap)
• Wrapping their arm to triangle
• Kimura when opponent is defending their arm in the triangle choke. Switch folding legs to alternate triangle, then bridge and frame their defending arm. The bridge makes room for you to sneak in your second arm.

Pic or it didn't happen :P

Visited Gracie Barra Encinitas

Last Saturday, Wayne and I headed to GB Encinitas for a charity seminar. The charity was for a young girl named Jacklyn who is having her lip surgically repaired by GB Encinitas student. I was feeling pretty lazy when Alby cancelled and Wayne wanted to meet there instead of carpooling. Luckily, Wayne changed his mind and we met up and carpooled, good thing too because the E-light for my gas tank came on.

The seminar started off with about 4 black belts each teaching a technique. A lot of people showed up for the seminar. I'm thinking at least 50 people because the mat was packed! There wasn't much room at all to do some of the techniques, especially the ones involving takedowns and rolls.

Techniques:

1. Standing opponent headlocking you from the back.
2. Knee slide on turtled opponent's back to roll, then finish with an armbar. I like this one, the setup involves an underhook cross-collar grip
3. Opponent headlocking you bent forward. (Dominic's)
4. Rolling an opponent when they are in top and you are turtle to side control.

After technique, we did pass the guard "King of the Hill" and it started with the black belt's guards. So there were about 7 black belts down and ~50 students waiting in line to pass their guard. It started off slow because we lined up in ranked order so the brown and purple belts were up first. They were more slow and technical. After sometime, as expected, it got faster and faster because belt and white belts were much easier for the black belts.

I was in there 3 times and each time with a black belt. Those guys capitalize on every mistake. The first one I was going to try a stack pass, but he threw up a triangle. I was able to defend it to just end up back in his guard. Eventually, he opened his guard and I was trying to do a knee slicer pass, but then he kicked my legged and took my back. This was the most memorable attempt. My 2 other failed attempts: another back take and ended up in turtle position.

After 3 failed attempts at passing a black belt's guard, I called it quits and talked to Dominic off the mats for a little bit. He said he was teaching Tues/Thursday classes now. After that Wayne and I walked around the facilities before leaving.

Their facility is huge! There's a boxing and workout gym downstairs! Raquetball and basketball courts down the hall. Passed what it seemed like another private gym, there was a fusion yoga class. It was like a physical workout Mecca!