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Mental Revelations of the Progressing Grappler Continue
THE NEXT REVELATION:
“HE WHO CONTROLS THE SCRAMBLE HAS THE EDGE”
This essay is a follow up on “Mental Revelations of The Progressing Grappler.” I am pleased to announce that the initial list was not exhaustive (though I never purported it to be), and even as I have continued to progress, my eyes are continually being opened to new features and aspects of grappling. My prayer is that you are exposed to this revelation at an earlier stage in your training than I was and therefore are able to tailor your training to make your grappling as sharp as it can be.
Nature and Existence of “Scrambles”:
A scramble is a period of time within a match/roll where movement is opened up, neither participant has full control, and the apparent pace of the match quickens noticeably. Continue reading
“Feel The Pressure” Workshop a Huge Success in South Dakota
1/28/12, Tim Sledd ventured to Rapid City, South Dakota to teach the “Feel the Pressure” workshop. Blessings abounded as several students partook in a semi-private lesson, followed by an open roll of the advanced students. The workshop was packed and the concepts of the workshop were explored and enjoyed by all who attended. Pics to come on the Small Axe Facebook Page.
Tim Sledd Promoted to Black Belt by Andre Galvao!!!
The Power of Facebook/ Upcoming Events
Since I am an avid Facebook user, I set up a Facebook page for Small Axe Jiu Jitsu… Like it and get the most current Small Axe news and info.
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Small-Axe-Jiu-Jitsu/
October 15, 2011 will be the next Andre Galvao seminar at Small Axe!!!! Come check it out!
February Andre Galvao Seminar Review
Seminar and Promotion Ceremony
Andre Galvao travelled to south central Indiana to lead his second seminar at Small Axe Jiu Jitsu, but his first seminar at the school as its affiliate leader. Eager jiu jitsu practitioners of all levels gathered early to see what techniques would be taught.
Many in attendance were veterans of Professor Galvao seminars and so expectations were high. Professor Galvao began the seminar with a welcome to all who attended and explanation of his philosophy of always seeking the submission and working to advance to the most dominate position and not just ride an advantage to victory. After his brief intro, he led a thorough warm up focusing on loosening and stretching all the joints of the body. Then the seminar began.
The focus of the seminar was on attacking the back. I had asked Professor Galvao a question in the car shortly after picking him up from the airport and he told me the seminar would answer my question. IT DID. Look at what we did:
1. Attacking Turtle-ing Opponent (Proper position, arm placement, hip placement, elbow blocked)
2. Methods of impeding the “turn in” by a simple elbow push.
3. Drilled sensitivity and movement when and if bottom guy turns in.
4. We learned how to take the back when the opponent turns into us.
5. Rear Naked Choke details
6. Breaking a defensive Grip that is preventing RNC.
7. Sliding Collar Choke, Galvao Style! Critical details that make the choke faster, tighter and harder to defend.
8. Transitioning when guy escapes over your bottom hook.
9. “Digital Clock Choke”… analog is out of date!!!
10. Transitioning to Digital Clock Choke from the on-side back position (kicking leg away).
After the technique portion, Professor Galvao fielded questions from the students. Every question was answered to the student’s satisfaction.
Throughout the seminar, I mingled around, trained, and talked to the participants. More than one came up to me and told me that one technique or another was worth the whole price of the seminar. I heard students say, “that is a game changer” and others praise little details by saying, “why didn’t I learn this years ago?”
After all the rolling, teaching, and training was done, several of the Small Axe/Team Atos students were awarded stripes on their belts and several of the youth students moved up into new belts. A new tradition for the Small Axe students was implemented and each new belt came with a throw from Professor Galvao and Instructor Tim Sledd.
Small Axe Jiu Jitsu was happy to host grapplers from many different regional academies and is grateful to Professor Galvao for his open mindedness and leadership.
ANDRE GALVAO SEMINAR COMING!!!!
Andre Galvao and Tim Sledd
GALVAOBJJ/ATOS LEADER
ANDRE GALVAO
IS COMING!!!!!!
DATE: 2/26/11
TIME: 1-4
LOCATION: SMALL AXE JIU JITSU
DETAILS: Multiple time World Champion, Andre Galvao will visit is First American Affiliate on February 26th, to lead a seminar and offer promotions to the Small Axe/Atos students present.
Questions? E-mail: smallaxebjj@gmail.com for answers.
Tim
America’s First Galvaobjj/Team Atos Affiliate!
2011 holds great things in store for Small Axe Jiu Jitsu! It is official! We are the first American Galvaobjj/Team Atos Affiliate!
It is my distinct honor to report that Andre Galvao and Tim Sledd agreed that Small Axe Jiu Jitsu would be a great affiliate for Professor Galvao! We look forward to more great instruction from Professor Galvao and will strive to help spread the Atos message!
Brandon Sieg Grappling Resume
Grappling History:
Promotions
Blue belt 1998 by Caique (with Gracie TA), Bedford seminar
1st stripe blue 2-26-06 by Caique, IU seminar
2nd stripe blue 9-23-07 by Caique, IU seminar
3rd stripe blue 2-23-08 by Caique, GMA seminar
4th stripe blue 10-24-09 by Caique, IU seminar
Purple belt 11-13-10 by Caique, IU seminar
Competition Experience
10-20-07 Extreme Grappling Open, Indy: Master Blue light-hvy 3rd gi
12-1-07 Michigan Open: Master Blue light-hvy DNP
6-13-09 Hoosier Open: Master Blue light-hvy 1st
9-26-09 Michigan Open Master Blue middleweight 2nd
10-2-10 Michigan Open Master Blue Middleweight 2nd
ANDRE GALVAO SEMINAR REVIEW
If you walked into my school on October 30th, knowing a BJJ seminar was planned, but not knowing who was giving the seminar, quickly you would realize this was something special. First you would see several black belts on the mat stretching and getting ready to learn. Next you would see people from California, Kentucky, and Illinois spread around the mat ready to train. The baited breaths of black, brown, purple, blue, and white belts would tell you a legend was about to teach.
Hopefully you would look around the room. If so, seated quietly near the entrance watching some guys playfully sparring, you would see a highly decorated World Class competitor, smiling. If you haven’t lived under a rock in the BJJ community for the last 8 years, then you would quickly recognize the guy as Andre Galvao, and something tells me you would quickly put your gi on and tie your belt.
The seminar began with a brief introduction, not only to Professor Galvao, but also to his philosophy and that of Atos Jiu Jitsu. What a way to set the mood for the day! This was not going to be a seminar of thuggish ruggish ego-centric testicular explosions; this was defined early as a seminar of sharing love of the art.
Following the introduction, we did a brief but comprehensive warm up and the first indication that Andre is a methodical instructor became evident. He started from the top of the body and warmed every joint imaginable down to the little toe.
Next, we jumped into some drills which led into techniques, which spawned counters and various submissions. Professor Galvao periodically tied the techniques together to remind us that we were on a path of progression and merely exploring a small set of options for each situation. The seminar included but was not limited to the following techniques:
- Open Guard Pass Drill (variations on blocking the hip)
- Andre’s Method of holding a tight cross-side from said guard pass
- Using your hip to prevent an elbow escape, using your head to prevent a roll away (this section alone gave me significant material that I could add a whole new “Hip Control Video” tutorial)
- Ezekiel from opponent turning away
- Triangle from cross-side (new variation for Small Axe)
- Nifty triangle finish detail using a head turn!
- Guard Replacement drill (from open guard “thread the needle” pass) Roll under
- Guard Replacement to triangle
- Triangle defense to Omoplata
- Omoplata detail clean up! (leg squeeze, far lapel grips, ankle grip, hips away)
- Clock choke if guy is flexible (I obviously wasn’t)
- Belly down armbar from omoplata –>rolling if necessary to variations of the traditional mounted armbar.
- Drilled Guard Retention –>triangle–>omoplata–>clock choke–>armbar
- Two variations of taking the back off a defended omoplata
- Armbar off of back take attempt! (very tight and fast armlock… I think I yelped once during the demonstration)
- Last was an armbar from omoplata control while parallel. Bringing the inside knee in to transition to the armbar.
Once the technique portion of the seminar was done, Professor Galvao began a meet and greet (another way of saying he picked people to spar with). He chose kids, women, black belts, purple belts to roll and he gave lots of different energies and utilized the techniques he had just shown many times. What a pleasure to watch.
Overall, I would describe this seminar as “concept driven”, beginner to advanced, and tons of fun. Andre is very approachable, willing to answer questions, and constantly surveying the participants to correct details. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND an Andre Galvao seminar. There is an old saying, “Some people can teach, some people can do.” Andre Galvao can do BOTH!
Valeu Andre!!!!!
