End of Year Wrap Up - Another Fun Year of Competition

Well 2009 brought ups and downs for me but it also brought some new accomplishments and great learning opportunities.

The year began with the Pan Ams and World Championships. This year I got to meet three of my heroes of BJJ None other than world championships competitors, Marcelo Garcia and Rafael Lovato Jr. Both wonderful competitors were kind enough to stop for a picture with me and our team. I also got to meet one of the reasons I began studying BJJ, Master Lloyd Irvin and his fantastic team at this year's American National. It was great to finally meet that man that inspired me to begin training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. you never who you are going to meet at your next BJJ tournament.


One of the funnest tournament experiences I had was at OTM's Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Championships. As almost a goof I entered three divisions of competition Master's Middle Weight, Light Heavy Adult and Light Heavy Masters. I came close to going for it and fighting in the Open as well but I had had enough for one day and ended up taking home three medals for my troubles.



All in all this year marked another mile stone in my path to my Black Belt and my goal of winning a gold medal at a IBJJF sanctioned event, the ultimate would be a gold medal at the World championships fighting in an adult category (that's me at 40 fighting 18 and older adult competitors, you gotta love a challenge). I've still got two silvers at the American National and one silver at the American International as my high water mark thus far but hope in 2010 I will have an opportunity to jump on the mat at many more tournaments.

To date I've got just 10 medals hanging on my wall in my office but over time I've realized it's not the tin on your wall that matters, but the memories and lessons learned on the mat during competition that truly endure and teach the most in your career.

A competitor never forgets the sweet sensation of victory, overcoming a nemesis or suffering a loss. Each moment is permanently etched in your mind and memory to be pondered and reviewed time after time. Hopefully to be recalled and used as motivating tools in future battles yet to be fought.

The reality of competition is the vast majority of individuals who walk on to the mat of a studio, gym or dojo will never enter the octagon, mat or field of competition. The lucky few who take up the fight to challenge themselves to be their best and endure the riggers of preparation, perfect practice, endless cardio workouts, drills, cutting weight and finally competition stand to learn more about themselves in a few minutes of battle than years of training can teach.

Each competitor winner or loser is a champion of his cause, a hero to someone in their life and possibly a role model for generations to come. I challenge anyone who reads this post to take up the challenge, sign up for your first tournament and experience the lessons to be learned within and without by stepping onto the competitive mat and hearing the words... "COMBATE"!

So it's almost Christmas, I'm happy, healthy, and fit. I look forward to seeing my friends, challengers and fellow competitors on the mat in 2010. All the best from C-Quence Jiu Jitsu and my family.

Best Regards and Happpy Holidays to You and Yours!

KK

Fourth Blue Belt Stripe Earned Dec 11th 2009!!!!

It's been a long anticipated moment for me to receive my final Blue Belt stripe on my way to testing for my Purple Belt. It came as a surprise on Dec 11th just after our Gi Advanced Class. To say I was excited is an understatement.

I am extremely eager to work even hard on my way to my Purple Belt test and many more years of competition and ever increasing technical understanding of this fantastic martial art.

with any luck I'll be testing for my Purple Belt sometime in Summer 2010 if all goes well.

Best Regards,

Kenneth "JitFU" Knapp
Blue Belt - fourth stripe
C-Quence Jiu Jitsu

Black Belt - children's instructor
Kung Fu San Soo
http://kungfusansooriverside.com

BJJ Seminar - Master Joe Moreira Nov 14th 2009

C-Quence Jiu Jitsu hosted a second fantastic instructional seminar by Master Joe Moreira Nov 14th 2009 at our sister school Knock Out Riverside home of Black Belt Instructor Anthony Del Valle. Over 45 students enjoyed plenty of one on one time with one of the true pioneers of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

One of the most talked about highlights of this seminar was Joe's open Q&A at the end of an outstanding guard passing and submission defense seminar. What was most amazing was to not see and hear from a living legend of BJJ but for the first time get to be an active participant as Joe's demonstration partner. It's amazing how many tiny details are realized simply by feeling the technique of such a high degree instructor inaction. I know I like many others took away powerful new techniques and tiny devastating details to add to our arsenal for competition and for self defense.

My personal technique was Joe's triangle escape. One of which came down to proper posture and hip pressure, amazingly simple yet powerful escape.




For the first time my young son Zachariah came to watch, learn and meet Joe and our entire team. I know in time Zach will feel the draw of the mat and possibly pick up where his old man leaves off in this wonderful art.

As always Joe's visit marks yet another highlight in my path to understanding this wonderful diverse and devastating martial art.

I look forward to his next visit with eager anticipation.

Best Regards,

Kenneth Knapp
Blue Belt - four stripe (we're getting closer!)

Third Stripe Earned - One Step Closer to Purple Belt!

So it's been quite a while since my last rank advancement. I was beginning to think my coach had forgotten about me. ;-) J/K It's been a challenging but fun season thus far with the Pan Ams and World's in the bag. Our team is excited as ever to continue competing in tournaments across CA and beyond.

Last night I got to roll with King of The Cage Super Heavy Weight World Champion Neil "Chaos" Cooke once again. It's always a pleasure to be tossed around by Neil. He's a tough competitor but he's always helpful to everyone on Team C-Quence, even us geezers. Thanks for the roll Neil!

After class, our instructor John Kvenbo Munoz reviewed the team's performance at Worlds and handed out a few rank advancements, well more than a few. One of the lucky students to get a fresh new stripe was yours truly. Yippeee... I'm a Three Stripe Blue Belt!

I've been pretty excited to take this next step closer to my purple belt. As most competitors know Blue Belt can be a sketchy time in your advancement. It's a time where bad habits stand out like "North Star Zits" in your game and it's a time to refine and solidify trusted go to techniques in your winning strategy, all the while trying to learn as much new technique as you can.

As in every martial art BJJ students must face long up-hill climbs in the learning process, long flat plateaus where nothing feels right and enormous leaps forward in sudden explosive advances in skill. I think my Blue Belt experience has been all of this and more for me. It's been a great time for me to focus my game, learn where my bad habits are and reinforce new knowledge and old to become a better more skilled competitor. But man do I have sooooooo long to go. :-)

So it's back to the mat in preparation for the many tournaments that still lay ahead. I'm excited for the rest of the season and am looking forward to some good learning experiences along the way.

Thanks to everyone who has been helping me to become a better Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner and competitor.

Happy Training,

Kenneth Knapp
Blue Belt, III Stripes
C-Quence Jiu Jitsu
Chief Instructor John Kvenbo Munoz
Norco, CA

2009 IBJJF World Championships - Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

First let me start with our top news! Highlights for Team C-Quence include two World Championship medalists: Johnny Monuz brought home Silver in blue belt juvenile light feather division (only losing by a single advantage point in the gold medal round to a brazilian) and Claudia Martinez Kvenbo brought home Bronze in brown/black belt division female light feather division. Claudia had amazing competition:

Round 1
Kanako Inaba – black belt
ac. Champion JJ

(and)

Round 2
Leticia Ribeiro – black belt
ac. Gracie Humaita

Congratulations to our medalists this year. I know our instructor, John Kvenbo Munoz is proud of his wife and son for their fantastic achievements and for what our team accomplished this year. I know he has high hopes for the coming years as well. Congrats also to Team Lloyd Irvin’s juvenile team for bringing home second place overall this year! Nice work guys and gals. Traveling all the way from MD to compete. That’s pretty cool stuff!

And now on to my results and comments from 2009 World BJJ Championships. This year marks my third world championships (one year as white belt and two as blue belt). To be clear the white belt tournament held at the same time as the world championships is not considered part of the world’s so for the record I have now competed in the world’s twice as a blue belt.

This year I held a simple but realistic goal of winning my first round match up. As a 39 year old competitor in all other tournaments I would normally fight in the Masters or Seniors 1 age brackets (at age 40 Seniors 2 will be my usual age bracket), but lucky me at worlds they host only an adult division (Men 18 years and older, normally capped at age 29). So if you wish to compete in the worlds without traveling to Brazil for the Masters/Seniors Worlds this is your opportunity to fight the best of the best.

My first match is a perfect example of why I think a lot of guys over thirty don’t jump into this particular tournament. I was matched up against a very game Chris Garci. He’s a 19 year old fighter with excellent movement and flow in his game. With a 20 year age difference I figured I had my hands full but I was focused on throwing everything I had at this match to achieve my goal. Here’s how our match was listed June 04, 2009:

Christopher Garci
ac. Brasa USA
(vs.)
Kenneth Knapp
ac. C Quence Jiu-Jitsu



In the end Chris pulled guard and got a sweep. During our exchange I believe he was nearly awarded 4 back points but my defense was strong and held up. Our match up was filled with a lot of him attacking and me defending from turtle. I had an opportunity to level the scoreboard when we ended up standing and I had his back. I dumped him to his right shoulder and rather than rolling into to turtle Chris shot his legs up and out (like a break dancer egg rolls) and he landed in side position (pretty cool move that caught my attention). Chris earned 2 points I believe our entire match. I had a chance or two at take downs but didn’t capitalize. I was bummed but for the first time I made it through my entire first match at the World Championships and kept it close, my game held up. Overall this match allowed me to see many areas where I need to focus on my game so it was very rewarding for me. I enjoyed it and look forward to my next attempt at achieving my ultimate goal of winning gold at the World Championships.

Disappointingly, I didn’t get passed my first match up but I felt that this had been my best performance to date at the Worlds so I felt bad but good at the same time.

As most of my fellow competitors know the one thing on your mind after your tournament day is done is food. So the only solace I was left with was my $6.00 burger/fries and the fact that I was heading home uninjured, accept for my pride perhaps.

The highlight of my day aside from meeting Coach Lloyd Irvin and Ryan Hall face-to-face at this year’s event was the fact I finally got to meet a couple of my heros, Marcelo Garcia & Rafael Lovato Jr.. I think the only thing that can bring you out of a negative funk after losing in the first round of a big tournament is perhaps taking some cool shots with guys you greatly respect in our sport.



So in the end my I showed up, did my thing but was left wanting. Until next year…same time, same place. ;-)

As a final note most people I know do not train or compete in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu so it’s hard for them to understand what we do and why we do it. Today’s event pitted 117 trained competitors in the Adult, Middle Weight, Blue Belt division against each other. In the end four men (1 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze medalists) walk away with a little piece of glory around their necks and a title that exemplifies the pinnacle of achievement in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competition.



The heart wrenching angst of BJJ competition is no matter what happens in a match one man/woman wins and one man/woman loses. It must needs be there is defeat in every victory.

I’m now looking forward to defending my championship at this year’s US Open, California Classic and American National where I will face competitors in my age, weight and belt level. It will be fun to say the least.

A special thank you to the great competitors who I met this year especially Marcelo Garcia, Rafael Lovato Jr., thanks for the pictures gentlemen. A special shout out to coach Lloyd Irvin and his team for traveling from MD to compete and take home a couple of medals and one title thus far, great work coach! I’d also like to say thank you so much to Ryan Hall for the invite to 50/50. I can’t wait to get to the East Coast to roll with that guy. Love that triangle game. ;-)




See you on the mat, train hard and stay healthy.

Kenneth Knapp
Blue Belt
C-Quence Jiu Jitsu

Repost from BJJTraining.com - Neil “Chaos” Cooke wins the King of the Cage super heavyweight title

I know this is a late post but I wanted to include it in my blog. Neil is a personal friend and great guy, my wife also does his hair from time to time in preparation for his fights. Everyone who trains with Neil or knows him is thrilled with his accomplishments in MMA and the fact he is truly a great ambassador to the sport. (Watch for his upcoming interview in MMA Magazine July 2009).

Pinnacle fighter Neil “Chaos” Cooke wins the King of the Cage super heavyweight title

On February 26, 2009, at the San Manual Bingo and Casino in San Bernardino, California, King of the Cage held its Immortal Mixed Martial Arts event. Our very own Pinnacle fighter Neil Cooke was getting his first opportunity to capture a title championship. His opponent was a tough MMA veteran named the “King of the Streets” Chance Williams.

The actual fight did not last long, but provided much excitement to the sold-out crowd. When the bell rang, both fighters Neil and Chance met in the middle of the cage and exchanged a quick 1-2 punch before clinching up. Chance weighing in at over 315 lbs by fight time had little trouble picking up the 268-lb Neil Cooke and driving him to the ground.

Neil quickly scrambled to his feet and both fighters gamely went through several combinations before Chance was able to achieve the clinch and take Neil to the ground for a second time. However, Neil showed no signs of quitting and again got up to his feet. Once on his fee,t a battle ensued with both fighters trying to get dominate clinch position.

Neil fended off several takedown attempts and after a scramble, Neil got a dominate top position on Chance. Neil wasted no time in delivering some devastating ground-n-pound punches which forced Chance to assume a turtle position to protect himself. Neil seized the opportunity to rotate to the side maintaining good hip control and pinning Chance to the ground along the cage. Neil began to deliver some heavy punches to the side of Chance’s face and after a barrage of un-answered punches it appeared that Chance was no longer able to protect himself and the referee stepped in and called a stop to the fight 3 minutes into the match.

Neil “Chaos” Cooke is now the King Of the Cage Super Heavyweight Champion—a well-deserved victory for a well-trained MMA fighter. Neil Cooke appears to have a bright future in MMA and we all look forward to his continued rise into the elite class of heavyweights.

Pinnacle Jiu Jitsu Norco, Fontana and Riverside become Cquence (Sequence) Jiu Jitsu

News announcement



John Munoz (BJJ 2nd degree black belt) and Anthony Del Valle (BJJ black belt) are proud to announce the completion of our new school name and logo.

The following school locations will now be named and recognized as CQuence Jiu-jitsu:
1. Norco school
2. Riverside school
3. Fontana school

The name is pronounced like "Sequence" but spelled with a "C" instead. We worked long and hard to provide the best logo that will represent our team and method of teaching.

Within the next few months, we will have available merchandise reflecting the new team name, i.e. t-shirts, stickers, gi patches, school banner, car sticker, etc.

In addition, we will be launching a whole new website with updated information, better layout, and BJJ techniques to share with everyone. We will have a blog, twitter account and face book to better service and communicate with our current and future students.

We at CQuence jiu-jitsu have a bright future and exciting year to look forward to, and I appreciate you taking this journey with us.

Thank you for your continued commitment to our schools, where are goal is to provide our students with the best Brazilian Jiu-jitsu instructions in Southern California.

John Munoz and Anthony Del Valle
CQuence Jiu-jitsu

2009 Pan Jiu Jitsu Championships Hosts Record Attendance of 2,400 Competitors!

Although Brazilian Jiu Jitsu suffered it's greatest loss in 2009 with the passing of Grandmaster Helio Gracie (RIP) it is encouraging and wonderful to witness his legacy and impact on martial arts competition with record competitor turn out at this years Pan Jiu Jitsu championships in Carson, CA. 2,400 competitors took to the mats this past weekend for this year's event, and what an event it was!

With so many competitors traveling from around the world to Southern California it was easy to see the Pan Ams has well out grown it's home at CSU San Dominguez Hills (Carson, CA next to Home Depot Center). I'm not sure where next year's event will be hosted but it was plain to see the competitor and coaching staffs alone easily filled to over flowing the available seating and standing areas surrounding the ten competitive mat areas. I am hoping next year's event will offer more seating and perhaps a larger floor area to accommodate the swelling masses flocking to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu's second greatest US based tournament.

As an older competitor (Senior 1, Men aged 35-40 yrs) the Pan Ams offers the best chance for competitors my age to size them selves up against grapplers near their own age, weight and ability. The World Championships in the US offer no Masters or Senior divisions so for the past two years I have signed up as an adult, but happily at Pan Ams I get to square off with fellow Geezers as we are affectionately labeled.

This year's event was well managed and mat management was at an all time high in my opinion. However from time to time typical issues remained with regard to properly trained officials (or what appears to be biased decision making), but over all bracket coordinators, medical aid, timing and scoring officials did an outstanding job keeping the action moving. Anyone who has ever witnessed tournament day from a behind the scene's perspective knows nothing goes according to plan and there are always tough calls to be made in brackets and on the mats. It seems no tournament would be complete if it did not feel a bit hap hazard in the way brackets are run, competitors are paired and of course there are always questionable calls made on the mat. But all competitive sports offer controversy.

A word to the wise in competition, READ THE RULES! It is astounding to hear arguments and complaints stemming from competitors or coaches who believe they are wronged by a one sided judge. It's simply my opinion some of these issues can be abated by a simple review of the rules posted here http://www.bjjf.org. I believe misunderstandings stemming from what would appear to be a controversial call might be avoided if everyone had fully reviewed these rules annually. When you compete in international competition or any submission competition be aware of the rule system in place by the governing body and work within the rules.

I have heard for years that judges at these international events will favor Gracie Team members over all other competitors from lesser known schools when in fact it is my belief judges are trained to observe and call points, infractions and submissions as they see them (ultimately points are earned when in the judges mind and opinion you have earned them and not simply yours). Their perception of right and wrong doing, correct execution, intent of competitors etc... is all that matters. Ultimately it's their call to decide if you receive points for take down, passing the guard, knee on belly, mount etc... My advice to new competitors is simple, stick to your game, focus on your points (know how to earn them and lose them) and always, always, always be aware of your points earned during your matches. Nothing is more deflating then to realize you have lost your second match by just 2 points when in your mind you felt you had earned three to five points during your match. Don't guess at your standing, know where you stand minute by minute second by second during your match. Five to seven minute matches fly by when you are engaged with an opponent so do your best to have someone watching the points and clock while you are engaged in combat. It is fact the vast majority of BJJ matches end in point related decisions whether they are advantage points or total points accumulated. Either way you must realize where you stand at all times during your match and always be aware if you are ahead or behind on points.

My final comment before I recap Pinnacle Jiu Jitsu's performance at this years Pan Jiu Jitsu Championships I would like to add; know and master three to five take downs to add to your game. If you are a white or blue belt by now you should have three or more take downs that you can implement at will during a match. If you don't know any take downs, don't work take downs or are simply not comfortable with them get over it and get to practicing them. It is upsetting to see great Jiu Jitsu competitors frustrated by Judo players or simply losing to 2-0 over a simple matter of a take down. You need to have take downs working as an integral part of your on mat strategy. your victory begins with your first two points earned via a decisive and convincing execution of a proper take down.

This year's event brought two Championship title home to Pinnacle Jiu Jitsu:

Claudia Martinez Kvenbo - Brown Belt, Adult, Light Feather Weight! Brings home gold!!! Congratulations Claudia, very well deserved victory via collar choke submission!

Allen Wrench brings home gold and a new purple belt (FINALLY!), Blue Belt, Senior 2, Men Super Heavy Weight. Great work Mr. Wrench!

Congratulations goes out to Kevin, Tony, Jim, Edison, Johnny for your hard work and dedication! Great work guys on bringing home silver and bronze victories this year.

Other competitors include, Kenny, Kenneth (me), Fernando, Brian, Ricky, Jonathan, Jesus, Jason, Jerad, Eugene, Jack and Ivan. Great work for your preparation, focus and champion spirit! Keep it up guys!

We look forward to a fantastic competitive season. Feel free to learn more about our school and team here: http://www.bjjtraining.com.

Happy Training,

KK

Kenneth Knapp
Blue Belt - Two Stripe Pinnacle Jiu Jitsu
Black Belt - Kung Fu San Soo (Al Rubin Associates) - Children's Instructor

Why Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Has Made Me A Better Sales Person

Sounds like a funky title but it's true. For more than a decade prior to taking up Brazilian Jiu Jitsu I worked to build a successful sales career. It's taken me many years to understand the true nature of sales and to embrace the challenge and game of sales fully.

In sales as in BJJ you win some and you lose some. Even the best in the world are humbled at times. If it were not so it would not be such a challenge to take top honors at world and national events. Likewise, the spirit of competition runs deep in the veins of sales professionals. Each has his/her vision of greatness and works diligently toward a single minded goal... To be the best! Whatever that may mean to them. So like BJJ competitors do sales people share this vision of greatness.



To be good at sales one must endeavor to create specific habits that move you toward an ultimate goal. You must refine your technique, look for advantages, execute flawlessly, and remember the rules, master your approach, you must identify and strengthen your weaknesses and you must be prepared to make sacrifices. And in BJJ like sales once and while you must be prepared to take a chance; "throw the dice" as my instructor John Kvenbo Munoz always says. Without great risk there can be no great reward.

In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as in sales at times you feel like you are top of the world, but today's home runs do not ensure tomorrow's victories as they say. You must continue tirelessly to hone your game and plan to sustain your victories and create consistency in your craft.

Dedicating my mind and body to a single minded goal such as winning gold at Pan Ams and Worlds in the same season focuses my mind, challenges my fortitude and strengthens my resolve. I seek greatness not for title and glory but for me, for self, I will be #1 for the day and walk off the field of battle victorious having competed well and done my best thankful and grateful for my competition for without them their is no game and no battles to be won.

In both BJJ and sales you must work with the end in mind. What will the next workout gain me, what gem of knowledge can I integrate into my game today. How do the next cold calls push me toward my earning target for the year. So different and yet so similar are the mindsets that create a willing student, dedicated competitor and truly successful professional.



I've learned through many years of competition in many disciplines of sport that half the battle is just showing up; showing up for often routine monotonous endless workouts, showing up for conference calls, cold calling blitzes and meeting upon meeting, showing up for competitions prepared and willing to lay it all on the line for five to six minutes, it's all or nothing, win or lose. But only one can win the day. Sales people like BJJ competitors have an uncanny nack to simply show up, day in and day out, through injury, pain, frustration, good days and bad, victories and defeats.

I have witnessed men and women face their fear, shrug off uncertainty and doubt to find true glory in a simple arm raising or signature on a contract. Sometimes the greatest victories take place in a quiet space deep within ones self, the moment you realize I have mastered this moment. I can win this match, I have the upper hand, this moment is mine. Even before the roar of team mates and the crowd fill your ears as your competition submits and taps your leg you have won. You have overcome self, you have shown up prepared and you have fought well.

An identical feeling can wash over you in a large conference room filled with executives as you open dialogue on a 2.5 million dollar contract, you have prepared well, you know your competition's strengths and weaknesses, you have a strong plan and have answers to every question a counter to ever parry a rebuttal for every objection. You know the second you've won, you note a delving question that signals the "BUY", the contract is yours the day is yours. But that quiet voice deep insides reminds, "in victory be humble". Be a good competitor and appreciate the suffering your competition faced to arrive at this place in this moment. Be gracious in victory as in defeat because you may taste sweetness one day and bitterness the next. And always remember those who gave, shared, coached and paved the way toward your moment in the lime light.

To some our endeavor is trite, quaint or a nice hobby. But to us, for the rare breed of competitors that we are, BJJ and/or sales is what we live, it's who we are and it's a sacred part of our life that we hold dear to ourselves. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to me is health, it's focus, it's balance, it's aspiration, it's challenge, it's exhilarating, it's a timeless struggle of man's search for meaning and victory over self and others in battle. It's building of immutable confidence and the sculpting of champion spirit.

Through BJJ training and competition I have found a better me. A more focused, resourceful professional with unbreakable confidence and unyielding persistence. And the best part of it all is I have found the more confident I become in my discipline the more humble I am as a man. Through confidence I have learned the hardest lesson in life, the truly talented sales professionals, fighters and champions are often the most humble not because they have to, but simply because they have the strength to be.

For your consideration. Happy training to all and happy selling!

Best Regards,

Kenneth Knapp
Pinnacle Jiu Jitsu
www.bjjtraining.com

Kung Fu San Soo Instructor
www.kungfusansooriverside.com

Attack, Test, Defend - How do you fight and train?

You fight like you train!

Within BJJ there are three states or modes to the fight game. These states are simply these: attack, test and defend. Each mode is distinctly different and each mode can and will impact way you fight in a tournament. Always remember you generally fight like you train. In some cases guys that fight great in the school freeze on the mat or simply change their focus and fold on the mat. It sounds strange but it happens. Some people enjoy the unknown challenge that awaits them tournament day and others simply don't enjoy the process and experience of a large tournament.

So back to my point. I have been taught a very aggressive style of BJJ, not aggressive like I'm gonna kill you in a street fight but rather aggressive in the sense that in a tournament our team takes the stance of winning by attrition. I simply attack, attack, attack until finally you become board, tired or frustrated and I catch you. It's an aggressive style that nets results.

When you train it's important to focus on the style of fighting you train and do. do you find most often you are sitting back defending, turtling or all together avoiding opening up and taking risks? Are you too passive or being timid in practice? If you think you are you are stuck in defense mode, always stopping an attack, always being cautious and waiting for something to happen.

Conversely do you find in practice you get caught a lot by team mates simply because your are opening up your guard and working sweeps and attacks to find ways to tap your partner? "In order to find victory at times you need to throw the dice" John Munoz my instructor has taught me overtime. Even the best have to open up and take risks. We learn to take risks by testing our game in practice.

If you find daily you are pressing your opponent, always seeking the quickest most effective and efficient finish in your training you are in attack mode. You like the push your matches and see what mistakes are made. You take risks but quickly counter when caught by a surprise counter attack. Your goal is to finish each match with an air tight choke, arm bar, triangle or leverage.

Each mode has it's place and every student trains through these various stages daily or at least through their growth in the art. I have found that I use each stage through out my training. There are times when I will defend in turtle or on my back to see how my opponent will assert their hooks or try to pass. Their attempts may open up opportunities for me to counter and then take a dominant position. Still other times I like to test, I try new escapes, sweeps, passes, submissions. I want to find out what works for me. And yet other times I will enter attack mode and pressure my opponent to find the quickest solution to their game.

I think it's important to realize when you are in a certain mode and learn to switch form mode to mode while training. You will need strong abilities in all three modes if you seek success in the studio or in competition.

enjoy the daily routine of practice and enjoy learning new techniques each day and week. Use your testing mode to work new moves into your game and use them often to master them for your attack mode.

Oh ya and really work on what I call "hitting the reset button" that is to say, sometimes you simply I have to hit the eject button on a failed attack and get back to neutral (closed guard) while controlling your opponents posture. You have to have techniques in place that will allow to get back a neutral position quickly and efficiently if you get stuck or caught in an attack.

Happy training,

KK

9 Year Old Stops Pit Bull Attack with BJJ!!!!!

You read it correctly, a nine year old from Bakersfield saved an eleven year old girl and her tiny dog form a Pit Bull attack.

A friend of mine just shared this story with me. It happened in Bakersfield, CA recently (today is 01/06/2009). Check it out. He apparently used a rear naked choke to hold the dog off of an 11 year old who had tried to save her smaller dog from an attack by the Pit Bull.

http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/37069754.html

This application of martial arts knowledge is a perfect example of why I teach children martial arts. This little nine year old was quoted as saying something to the effect of; at first I thought to kick him but I stopped because he would get my leg. He thought about not giving the attacker anything. He then jumped on the dog and applied his choke which basically became a restraining hold for 20 minutes!

Glad to see everything worked out for this little guy and his friend. Let's hear it for BJJ and for kids in martial arts!

KK
www.kungfusansooriverside.com - where I teach children's classes in Kung Fu San Soo

www.sansookids.com - I'm editor and founder of this social network for instructors who teach kids Kung Fu San Soo.

www.bjjtraining.com - Where I train in BJJ - Norco School Under John Kvenbo Munoz, Black Belt 2nd Degree under Joe Moreira