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

Joe Moreira Visits Pinnacle Jiu Jitsu Dec 27th for a Special Seminar

PROFESSOR JOE MOREIRA
and Pinnacle Instructors and Students
December 27, 2008
NORCO, CA

http://www.jiujitsudebrazil.com/biography/Biography.htm

I'm happy to share that 8th Degree Black Belt Joe Moreira and his assistant came to visit with Team Pinnacle at the Norco School Dec 27, 2008. Joe recently was honored by the IBJJF.org with his 8th degree certification. John Kvenbo Munoz was also awarded his second degree formally form Joe on Dec 27th.

Congratulations to Joe Moreira and to John Munoz for their accomplishments in BJJ. It's an honor to train with such humble and giving instructors.

We had a great time Dec 27th and cannot wait for another opportunity to train with our instructor's, instructor again. Thank you Joe for your time and knowledge.

KK

You Can't Become a Black Belt Overnight!

Happy New Year!

I wanted to post a spacial note regarding long term goals today. It's a fact the vast majority of students who will enter a BJJ or any martial arts gym in the next 30 days will quit within weeks or months, never achieving much of anything in the art. Even more students will earn a Blue Belt or Purple Belt and then advance no more. A handful will train and focus long enough to achieve Black Belt. And a precious few will earn additional rank above Black Belt. But why is this?

I think one of the biggest detractors from martial arts success is first; "sacrifice". There is always a cost for success and it's name is sacrifice. You will give up certain things in life to make gains in other areas. Be sure to understand what is gained and lost in any situation before dedicating your time and effort to your goal.

Second a goal may be achieved; thus the drive to succeed further is lost. Some people begin martial arts study to learn to fight, win a championship or perhaps learn to teach their own classes one day. Everyone enters the studio with different goals in mind, well most students have a specific goal in mind (Do you?). I believe some students stop training because they feel they know enough, they won enough, they learned enough to get by. So it is important to support your long term goal, you must first create, write down and share your long term goal with others. This will create your why and help sustain your energy and focus your mind in trying times.

In my first year of training and competition I was injured in a no gi competition, I badly tore my shoulder. I could barely lift my hand above my shoulder and it was obvious major muscle damage had occurred. My training came to grinding halt but I still visited the studio weekly to watch and learn while I rehabilitated my shoulder. It took more than three months to get my shoulder working well again even longer before I could do a full push up once again. But I knew my long term goal was to earn my Black Belt and open my own school so I kept taking baby steps toward my goal even though I could not give it 100% physically, I still gave a 100% mentally.

This is the primary sibject of my post. Regardless of what your why is in this martial art you need to focus on the daily baby steps you take toward your goal. Jim Huling one of my favorite authors and bloggers writes about it this month. Jim calls it "consistent progress". It's my baby steps I take daily toward my ultimate goal.

I'm not going to earn my black belt over night but I might as well enjoy the daily routine and focus I give Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. If not I may wonder and stray off my path and lose sight of my goal. It's in the small things we learn to achieve the great things in our lives.

Over the last three years I have learned it's always the tiny nuances of a technique that make it work, a grip, a leg or foot position, your balance or your opponents balance. Learn to enjoy and relish the small things in yoour daily routine toward your ultimate goal.

Happy Training.

Kenneth Knapp
Owner
www.SanSooKids.com

Instructor - Children's Class
www.kungfusansooriverside.com

Student - Blue Belt - Two Stripe
Pinnacle Jiu Jitsu - www.bjjtraining.com

It’s the off season, time to get to work…

In all things there is a time to relax, work, heal, learn and grow; as with everything else in life so to is BJJ training and learning. Now the off season has arrived for many competitors but now is not the time to relax, hang up your gi and allow your game to soften and slow. Now is the time to prepare, strengthen, plan, research, rebuild and reflect.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu like many athletic endeavors, planning and precise practice can take vast amounts of your time and effort in the gym for a scant few minutes of competition annually. When I was in college I spent more than nine months training and preparing for as little as 60 minutes of total competition for a season of sweep rowing. In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu our preparatory work can be far greater in comparison. If the average competitor competes in just six events each year and ends up losing in the first round of each event, that competitor would have spent a year planning and practicing for 30 minutes of competitive mat time and that’s only if every round reaches 5 minutes (an average Masters Blue Belt match, Adult matches may go 6 minutes or more depending upon rank). If the same competitor won all of his tournaments in six rounds he would spend just 150 minutes in competition for his year worth of training.

Although the competitive season may come to a close during the holidays, there are always opportunities to grow. Now is the time to watch, review and learn new techniques to add to your game plan for next season. Now is the time to perfect a few new takedowns, sweeps and attacks. Without the pressure of making weight and pulling together a plan for each event and potential known competitor you may face next season. Now is the time to reflect on highs and lows, doubts, challenges and perhaps even weaknesses in your game and prepare for a new challenge in 2009!

We are all constantly learning. What worked as a White Belt may have little to no chance of affecting a wiser more tenured Blue Belt, what once worked with Purple Belts may need to be refined to work with Brown Belts. And there are always your basics to readdress and perfect over and over and over again.

This season my gift to myself is knowledge. I picked up a few DVDs I have long wanted and look forward to studying them in detail. I plan to review what I see and practice with my instructor and team mates to fit what works for me into my plans for future events in 2009. Now is the time to grow, think and expand what I know.

I invite my friends and competitors in BJJ to join me in our quest to gain ever more knowledge in the sport we love. I encourage you all to work your precise practice of new techniques into your daily training regimens. These advances will pay large dividends with a little luck next season.

Happy Training to all and I wish you a very Merry Christmas!

Best Regards,

KK

Joe Moreira, 8th degree black belt visits Team Pinnacle in Norco!

I could not be more excited to learn that my instructors/instructor Joe Moreira is coming to teach a private seminar Dec 27th at our Norco school. I further learned Joe was recently awarded his 8th degree black belt in a very official ceremony. You can read more about Joe Moreira here: http://www.jiujitsudebrazil.com/biography/Biography.htm.

Joe Moreira

As a young competitive grappler and student of BJJ I am thrilled to have Joe teaching and training us. What a great Christmas present!

You can check out our new website at www.bjjtraining.com. We have three schools and this point and our gis are all getting stitched up with our team logo now (dang I need a new gi!). Be sure to look for our blue triangle logo at upcoming events.

We just sent a contingent of competitors to Grapplers Quest this month in Vegas. One of our blue belts Jason Hartman took first place and won all of his matches by submission in the gi competition. Great news for him and for other team members who joined him from our sister schools. I'll try to list our final results once I speak to our other coaches.

Happy training as always.

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter.com: @socialFIEND is my nickname.

KK
Pinnacle Jiu Jitsu - Norco, CA
Blue Belt - Two Stripe
http://www.bjjtraining.com

A Look Back at My 2008 BJJ Competitive Season

It was a fun year of training, competition and growth!

Well 2008 is rapidly coming to a close. As this year's competition season wains for the holidays (Clebber Luciano is hosting a tournament this weekend and Millenia Jiu Jitsu will host the Turkey Tap in Nov) I am looking forward to an exciting 2009 next year.

This year was fun and rewarding for me. To date I have accumulated two second place finishes and two championships. Here's how my year broke down in Male, Masters/Seniors, Middle Weight, Blue Belt competition:

Pan Ams - DQ on an ankle lock
World Championships - First round loss by submission
Clebber Luciano's Copa Pacifica - Second Place
OTM US Open of Grappling - First Place
American National - Second Place
California Classic - First Place

As a baby blue belt this year has been one I will remember well. We saw the relocation of our studio to yet another larger facility and the aligning of our three sister schools under one banner; Pinnacle Jiu Jitsu, Owner/Chief Instructor John Kvenbo Munoz. We also witnessed our first ever overall team championship. Congratulations to school owners, John Munoz, Anthony Del Valle and Jake Behney. Very nice work guys.

Our team has had continued success in the cage (King of the Cage and others). Our MMA guys are racking up victories on every outing. To date we have only suffered one loss in three years of fighting. We have more fights coming up in Dec for Neil Chaos Cooke, Sean Strickland, Dave Cryer and others (http://bjjtraining.com/fight_team.htm, for more info).

As always I am simply thankful to have been healthy throughout this year and been given the opportunity to train, compete with and observe some of the greatest athletes in the world. My love and admiration for BJJ grows with each passing month. I am thankful to have been influenced by so many in this sport.

One tremendous goal I achieved this year was winning a Gold Medal in my weight class. The OTM US Open (Long Beach, CA) was the place where it happened and I am happy to have achieved this personal goal. Now it's on to a Pan Ams medal and then a World Championship medal. Well that's the goal anyway.

I have also had the opportunity to influence my first student. As you may have read on my blog very recently Kevyn Meredith won two of his first ever Pankration fights by triangle submission. He brought home a bronze medal and had less than a month of training in BJJ. I look forward to working with Kevyn as he grows in this art and in competition. Watch for him on the mat and on my blog. I'll chronicle his endeavors here and on my YouTube channel "BJJTalk".

I'm looking forward to my third year of competition and another chance to bring home a Pan Am and World Championship medal. I should note at 39 it's a great challenge and very exciting for me to compete in the World Championships as an adult. It's my favorite tournament and I look forward to the challenge once again.

Thanks to the guys I have met this year and to the fantastic teams that prepare them for competition, without you guys and your hard work we would not have this fantastic sport to enjoy. I am proud to be a part of your competitive experience.

To anyone reading this post who has thought about getting into submission grappling or competing for the first time or perhaps you have thought about getting back in touch with your Free Style roots. Go for it! Put down the remote, get off the computer and go visit a gym or two and get signed up and begin your journey in BJJ. You will feel better, get thinner, learn more about you and perhaps even find a champion within yourself. All it takes is the first step to get you started, so write down a goal and get started now!

www.bjjtraining.com is where I call home and we are always happy to have guests or new faces come check us out. You will be glad you did!

Happy Holidays to Everyone!

Kenneth Knapp
Blue Belt - two stripes
John Kvenbo Munoz, Black Belt 2nd Degree
under Joe Moreira

Black Belt, Children's Instructor
Kung Fu San Soo
Master Kurt Bellman
www.kungfusansooriverside.com
www.sansookids.com

My first coahcing experience is a success!

A couple weeks ago one of the guys I train with, Kevyn Meredith stated he was going to compete in the upcoming 2008 Pankration National Championships, title holders take home belts just like a cage fight.

Now this would not be odd but Kevyn trains in Kung fu San Soo, basically a very aggressive street fighting martial art. It's not BJJ or MMA and most of his nervous system strikes are out side the rules. He is a neophyte in BJJ, so I figured it was going to be a quick tournament experience for him.

Boy!!! Was I wrong!!!!

Here's the story and his final match that ended in 30 seconds by Triangle choke:

This past weekend I witnessed what heart, focus and a simple high percentage plan can do for the right competitor. As you may not be aware I teach Kung Fu San Soo to children weekly (www.kungfusansooriverside.com). One of my fellow adult instructors is a very young black belt named Kevyn Meredith (age 19). Now Kevyn knows his way around a fight in the street but he knows little to nothing about BJJ and MMA. In fact he has received less than 30 days training in BJJ informally. So when he came to me and stated he was competing in the Pankration National Championships this past Sunday at 185's I thought he was crazy as a loon. But I told him I would teach him what I could given his goal and timeframe. BTW: the kids tall, thin, flexible and loves to hit hard. He's got steel fists.

Given we had less than two weeks to prepare him for his fights we knew he had to focus on a simple striking plan that focused mainly on points for contact to the ribs and chest with kicks and punches and he had to do his best to stay out of a ground fight and away from submissions and takedowns.

Now Kevyn has good flexibility and a natural desire to compete. His heart is 100% focused on winning. Knowing this I set out to teach him very rudimentary basics of BJJ given his extremely limited timeframe. We also had access to a good friend, Jeff Frater (Millenia Jiu Jitsu) who referees and runs a Pankration fight team locally so we knew the rules and the goal of the game up front. This was an advantage but something amazing happened once we took to the mat.

Kevyn's First Win Ever in Competition!


Kevyn's Third Match - turned out to be his last... 30 second Triangle!


Kevyn has been interested in grappling for a while now but never received formal training so he's very rough. I took his desire to learn and focused his game specifically on his striking (point accumulation - get out ahead and stay out ahead), foot work (I wanted him to circle, stick and move and take the angle) and finally triangle attack if he gets taken down and always reset to his closed guard if he's caught in side control or mount. I specifically took training I read from Lloyd Irvin and spoon fed it to him, here's what I pounded into his head:

Order of operations for Triangle Attack:

(Posture Control - we really focused on posture control) No rush or urgency just this process as follows:

1. Threaten

2. Lock - legs locked together for structural integrity and difficult to escape

3. Perpendicular Angle - rotate away from trapped arm. Provides reduced effort and closes the choke down it cinches shut. Acquisition of this angle is paramount.

4. Finish - hang the head, squeeze the knees, finish your choke to submission.

Kevyn also got special training with Master Jeff Frater who runs a Pankration fight team and coaches tons of great kids and adults to compete in this sport. So Kevyn had an edge and understanding of this game coming in.

With this basic knowledge and a focus on winning Kevyn took to the mat. His nerves got the best of him (he suffered a first round loss to a long term grappler) but after a loss, a bye, and two submissions via triangle choke and a final match that never happended due to his competition dropping out of the tournament he came out of his first ever tournament with a third place medal, in the National Championships of Pankration! And all this with less than 30 days of BJJ training. The kid literally didn't know spit about BJJ or grappling when he stated he wanted to fight in this tournament less than two weeks ago. All toll'ed he had four days (two hours each day) of real training to prepare his game plan, focus and technique. I think he did an excellent job of sticking to his simple plan. Kevyn did well in his first National Championship in Pankration (www.fightleague.org).

I could not be more proud of Kevyn and his first accomplishment. Special thanks to Master Jeff Frater for helping and inspiring Kevyn on to victory.

Best Regards,

Kenneth Knapp
Black Belt - Children's Instructor
Kurt Bellman's Riverside Kung Fu San Soo

Blue Belt - two stripes
John Kvenbo Munoz, 2nd Degree Black Belt under Joe Moreira
Pinnacle Jiu Jitsu (AKA: Team U.S.A. BJJ - United Fighting Systems)

California Classic - GOLD!!!!!

A Story of Personal Triumph...

Yesterday was a good day for me and for Pinnacle Jiu Jitsu. I began training in BJJ just over two years ago on Father’s Day. And the California Classic was my first tournament I ever competed in for John Kvenbo Munoz and Pinnacle Jiu Jitsu (AKA: Team USA BJJ). Sunday was my third experience at this Rommel Dunbar hosted event and over the years it has been a challenging and rewarding event for our school and for me personally, but this year was something special for me.

As an older competitor but still new to this sport every event is a new learning experience and every match is challenging. As a still young Blue Belt it has been a humbling and enormously rewarding experience to train, learn and compete in this incredibly complex martial art. And it is nice to feel my progression through my tournament experience.

Tournament day is when the training stops and the application of knowledge begins. After running hundreds of miles, suffering a diet and weight cutting process that denies me life’s simple pleasures and hundreds of training days on the mat you are either ready or you stay home. Sunday I was ready!

I found out yesterday how wonderfully exhilarating and personally rewarding something as unique as a tournament experience can become. Here’s the story…

In my first year at the California Classic I had won my first round and made it into the gold medal round to face one of my own teammates. As a three stripe white belt John (Moo Ya Do) as we call him handled me easily to win by points. But as a young white belt to win one victory and take a loss to a teammate I felt I had competed as best I could. So taking home a silver medal was pretty neat.

My second year I had high hopes as a senior white belt on his way to his Blue Belt I felt I knew enough basics to get through each match and I had a pretty good plan to earn points and take a submission if an opportunity presented itself. But then I had to face Justin Snodgrass in the first round and I got stopped cold. Justin likes the guard game and he is expert at pulling guard and controlling his opponent. He was a very tough match for me and he ended up sweeping me to take the victory. I was bummed to have lost my first match and to be out of the tournament. That year their was an excellent turn out for the Master’s division so moving on would have been a great challenge and experience. There is nothing worse than being denied when so much personal expectations are set in your mind. But even the greatest BJJ champions have tasted bitter defeat at one point in their career.

So this brings us to this Sunday. California Classic changed it’s format to be in line with other traditional Brazilian rules championships. So we all had to weigh in the day of our matches in gi. This makes weight cutting all the more challenging as now you must weigh the difficulty of dehydration (if your diet wasn’t in check) with having enough energy to compete effectively and avoid cramping up. But everyone was in the same boat for the most part and I believe this strategy does help to avoid some bracket crashers from dehydrating and then bloating up to smash their competition on tournament day.

I had come to this tournament fresh off a US Open Championship and a second place finish at the American National. Not bad for a baby Blue Belt old guy. ;-) I had one thing set in my mind, gold or nothing! I shared this goal with my wife, son and daughter. I wanted them to know what this tournament meant to me. They were there my first year when I took home the silver as well. And they knew I had gotten stopped in 2007.

As luck would have it Justin was back as was I. His team mate Carlos was there as well. Once you hit a few tournaments the faces become all to familiar and we had the usual guys show up for California Classic this year. United BJJ always comes in force as their instructor owns and runs this well attended tournament.

In the brackets I had to get by Carlos to get through to either a second round semi-final or perhaps the gold medal round. So my focus was firmly set at making points and applying my game plan to take home the win in the first round. In the initial moments in our match I went for a quick takedown but made a tiny mistake and had to scramble in spider guard to stay in control and then pop back to my feet. Carlos has a very tough posture to break down on his feet and numerous leg sweeps were thwarted and he was very eager to snatch a single leg every time my leg left the mat. We were stuck in a take down dance for a while (I hate that) but in the end I got my take down and passed his guard (one of my team mates stated… “Once you hit the mat you passed his guard like butter and then just ran up the points’). One of my goals in this tournament was to control the point board form the first seconds of the match and run up a lead and stay ahead. This is simply one tactic I had not truly embraced in previous outings.

Carlos and I had a good match, I was gassed even after running four to five days per week and spending plenty of time in a weighted vest running wind sprints up hill and on the beach along with rolling four to five days per week. I must be getting old. ;-)

All that mattered after this first match was the fact I had made it into the next round and I was hoping Justin and I would have a chance to fight once again. I had to get by his guard.

Justin had a bi so he was waiting for another competitor who had just won his first round before Carlos and I took the mat. This meant that if Justin won his first round, he I would face of in the gold medal match. And as luck would have it that’s exactly what happened.

So after a ten minute rest I was facing off with the guy that had taken me out of contention in 2007 as white belts. Now we faced off as one stripe blue belts once again. Justin is a great competitor and he is a class act. I knew he was in this match for a victory but I had other plans. As we slapped hands and began our match I knew Justin’s primary goal was grips than pull guard. I simply wanted to land in open guard or put him on his back. When he committed and pulled guard I stepped in and we landed with my knee splitting his legs (I haven’t got a video of this match but I think I went for the pass and snaked and pulled me back to his closed guard). From that moment on my only goal was to posture, open his guard and pass and avoid his choke, triangle, arm bar and sweep attempts. In the end I reversed him once, and passed his guard once. He tried every submission he could to the point of gassing his arms out. It seemed like a ten minute match toward the end.

When it was all over I was up on points and he had scored none. It was a great experience to not only come out of this fun tournament with the championship but to have faced the one guy who had spoiled my 2007 experience was an even better feeling.

This tournament and others like it are why I train in Brazilian Jiu Jistu. As a Masters competitor it is often hard to find a decent bracket outside of Pan Ams and World’s. these well attended regional tournaments bring together many well known competitors and schools. And creating little challenges and friendly rivalries is what competition is all about.

I’ll close by simply saying without great competitors there is no competition and I greatly appreciate being challenged by some of the best competitors in California. I look forward to defending my title next year and I know Romell and his team will be all the more ready to crush the competition as well.

I should add this tournament brought the unveiling of Pinnacle Jiu Jistu. It was our first tournament as a team and I am very happy to report our team members performed exceedingly well. Our team members occupied the top honors in many categories through out the days event and in the end we took top honors (1st place team) in this wonderful tournament. I know through this introduction of Pinnacle Jiu Jistu Inland Empire jiu jitsu students and schools will find stronger competition among rival schools and better attended tournaments across the board. As we improve as individuals all Inland Empire schools also benefit.



Congratulations to John Munoz Jr. for his World Championship Gold Medal! The kid is good and we can’t wait to see him fight as an adult! Congratulations to all youth and adult competitors form all Pinnacle Jiu Jistu schools. We did a tremendous job representing our instructors.

See you all next year.

Kenneth Knapp
Blue Belt
Under John Kvenbo Munoz, Black Belt, 2nd Degree
Pinnacle Jiu Jistu – Norco School
(AKA: Team USA BJJ)

Team USA BJJ - United Submission Academy Creates "Pinnacle Jiu Jitsu"

We have some big news at our little studio. Team USA BJJ (United Submission Academy) is embracing a new banner to unify our sister schools under a single unified fighting front: Pinnacle Jiu Jitsu: www.bjjtraining.com.

Each individual school maintains their autonomy but our competitive focus is now unified under one name, one team and one purpose.

Our first official tournament as a unified team will be California Classic. This is a well managed tournament presented by Rommel Dunbar of Riverside, CA. In certain regard some may think of it as our local tournament as it is close to our home gym and surrounding sister-schools.

Be sure to look for our patches and participants at BJJ tournaments across the Southland.

Happy Training,

KK

Empty your cup... a note on humility in martial arts.

One tenet I feel no longer receives proper focus in some martial arts studios concerns the nature of martial arts learning and practice and it is; Humility. In today's MMA infused reality I have noted a great lack of respect and utter lack of humility among even the youngest of neophytes. Beginners spout their indifference to competitors, their dislike of instructors, they puff up their chests and roar loudly their victories.

I feel this quote reveals nature and reality of humanity:

How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these.
~ George Washington Carver

Knowing this simple truth concerning your life experience wouldn't it be prudent to attend to our ability to show and embrace humility in all our dealings?

If one is pride filled and lacking even the most rudimentary ability to respect ones fellow students, instructors and competitors hasn't the honor in combat study and practice been lost? Isn't the greatest lesson humility to truly understand and appreciate the fragility and glory of life?

Even the mighty Grey back eventually is dethroned by a younger challenger. Even the mightiest champion will fall one day. Shouldn't we then prepare for our demise by maintaining a vast appreciation for others and an understanding that we are but a very small part of this world and a mere footnote in the thousands of years spent in developing the systems we study today?

I encourage any student of martial art who reads these simple lines to reflect on your experience in martial arts and learn to embrace humility to deeply understand, appreciate and enjoy your path in martial arts and the discovery of self that comes with it.

Creating without claiming,
Doing without taking credit,
Guiding without interfering,
This is primal virtue.
~ The Tao te Ching

Happy training.

Kenneth Knapp