Smash Pass

Matt Jubera Opens Jubera Jiu-Jitsu in Broomfield, Colorado

2015-01-31T22:22:00.003-06:00

Matt Jubera (center) with Xande (L) and Saulo Ribeiro.

Saulo Ribeiro Black Belt and Colorado's 2014 Black Belt of the Year, Matt Jubera, is opening up a new Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy in Broomfield, Colorado in February 2015 - Jubera Jiu-Jitsu. Matt is a good friend of mine who I originally began training with about 13 or 14 years ago when he was a freshman at the University of Michigan. His intelligent approach to studying jiu-jitsu, along with his relentless drilling until perfection made him a stand out at the Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu main academy that we trained at back in the Toledo and Detroit days. Within a few short years of joining Saulo and Xande's academy, Matt was awarded his Black Belt.

Matt has always been a serious and accomplished competitor on the BJJ scene. He's a Master's World Champion, 3x Pan American Champion, Black Belt National Champion and a Black Belt No Gi World Medalist. Matt has a background in wrestling and is also a Black Belt in Judo. His experience makes him one of the most qualified instructors and coaches in Colorado. If you want to take your Jiu-Jitsu training to the next level and become a serious competitor, and you want to train with an educated and intelligent Instructor, you have to train with Matt at Jubera Jiu-Jitsu.

Jubera Jiu-Jitsu is in the process of taking reservations and pre-enrollments prior to opening their doors this February. There will be Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes for both Adults and Kids as well as Self-Defense classes for adults. These classes will fill up fast so make sure you go to www.juberajj.com and reserve your first class now before the rush!

Website: www.juberajj.com

Address:

6821 W. 120th Ave. C,

Broomfield, Colorado 80020

Phone: 720-961-3704

Don't wait! Classes will fill up soon so contact them now!

~Jason

Rio de Janeiro to Host 2016 Olympics!

2009-10-02T12:03:00.002-05:00

On October 2nd, 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark the International Olympic Committe voted for Brazil to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

What makes this great for the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is that typically the host country can have influence on whether or not a demonstration sport will be held as an event at the games. I'm no expert on the Olympics or how a sport goes about becoming an Olympic event. I've just been reading this Wikipedia page. Technically, since 1992 demonstration sports have not been allowed. But, China was allowed to hold a wushu tournament at the recent Beijing Olympics. Also, with the removal of baseball and softball from the Summer Olympic program I think that BJJ stands a great chance at being showcased at the 2016 Summer Games.

For more info go here.

(Thanks, Adam, for the heads up!)

A Short Film with Saulo Ribeiro

2009-09-18T03:01:00.004-05:00

Rick Ellis (a student of Roy Dean) made a short clip featuring a training session with Saulo Ribeiro and Roy Dean. (Ironically, Roy Dean made a little light fun of me a year ago when one of his former students moved to Iowa, took a free class at my academy, and wrote back to Roy about his experiences with me. Actually, Roy didn't make fun of me. He just made a light hearted comment about how hilarious the letter was and supplied the message board for the comment to be posted on the internet. The comment is still available here. It makes me laugh everytime I read it!)

The clip reminded me of how philosophical Saulo is about Jiu-Jitsu and how pursuing the art of Jiu-Jitsu is so much more to him/us than just learning a martial art or fighting style. Jiu-Jitsu is meant to change your life and make you a better person. Jiu-Jitsu brings out your true self.

I remember Saulo saying to us in class: "When I roll with person, then I will know the true them. Who they really are. You can not lie when you are rolling. You can not hide who you truly are."

What he meant by that is, just because the other person may be better than you means nothing. Saulo is a multi-time World Champion. The odds of somebody beating him are slim. So, it's not about whether his opponent can beat him or not during a roll session. It's how they handle themselves when faced with personal adversity. It is good to have a more skilled person push you and to test your resolve and skills. You must, under even the most extreme circumstances keep your cool. Stay calm and go about executing your game plan as best as you know how. If you lose, you lose. So what? Tap out and fight again. Never quit fighting and challenging yourself to improve. This is the core of this philosophy.

What he also meant by this philosophy was that there are a great many people who think they are tougher than they really are. If you talk or act tough, that means nothing. Let us roll and see how tough you really are. And by seeing how tough you are, it doesn't imply that if you lose you are not tough. That just means you lack some skills or made a mistake. What is more important is how you handle the process of losing. Do you realize the situation is lost and just give up? Or do fight to the bitter end in an attempt to survive? Once you lose is your resolve broken, or do your rebound back and give it your all for another match? Do you time and time again go into a match against an opponent that is much more skilled and still keep trying to win, or do you mentally quit before the match has begun?

I have personally seen Saulo and Xande roll against "tough guys" in the academy and make short work of them. The tough guys would realize in about 10 seconds of the match that they were outclassed. From then on their will was broken. Match after match, submission after submission. They would lose all hope and faith in themselves. Having been dominated in BJJ, they would scarcely ever return to the academy to participate in a class. They came in as tough guys, they left as little boys. They unfortunately took it too personal and forgot to leave their egos at the door.

Thanks to Rick Ellis for making this short film. I look to seeing more videos from him.

~J

The Death Throes of Boxing

2009-09-11T14:14:00.001-05:00

Boxing promoter legend Bob Arum takes aim at his competition - the UFC. Fanhouse's Ariel Helwani interviews Bob about Boxing, and then the subject of the UFC comes up at about the 3:55 mark. So just fast forward to that and sit back and laugh at the things that come out of Bob's mouth.

Video courtesy of Ariel Helwani

Steve Maxwell & Xande Training & Rolling

2009-07-06T11:56:00.003-05:00

Steve Maxwell is a Saulo Ribeiro Affiliate in Philadelphia, PA. He runs Maxercise and is the guru of grappling fitness, strength and conditioning. Check out his YouTube page to see more of his videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/MaxwellStrengthCond

Holy Hell, Batman. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu on Cable!

2009-05-16T01:22:00.004-05:00

Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Targets the Masses with a Nation Wide TV Commercial

I have just finished watching one of the few television commercials that has ever left me feeling stunned, shocked, and initially completely confused. Basically, I am confused. Let me explain:
It's late, and I'm up shooting out emails and the television is on for some background noise. Dane Cook is doing his stand up routine on Comedy Central, but I’m not really paying attention. On comes a commercial the likes of which I have never seen. It is fast paced with a hoarse voiced commentator rattling off selling points. I look at the TV and I see old footage from the "Gracie In Action" videos on my TV while graphics of magazine covers about the Gracie family virtually stack up on screen. The announcer gruffly says, "The Gracie family has spent over 80 years developing the most effective system of self defense the World has ever known!" To see the commercial for yourself, go to https://www.graciecombat.com/flare/next .)
During the commercial, Rorion appears and says a thing or two about how he created the UFC to test Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (GJJ) against the World. Later in the commercial, Rener Gracie (who is kind of like the Shamwow guy of the Gracie family; ie, the “Gracie Juice Bag” video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0liQY4k4W4 ) and his brother Ryron are also on my TV talking about GJJ. They list all of the military and U.S. Government agencies that use “Gracie Combatives.”
The announcer says that, "The “Gracie Combatives” Course is based on the 36 most effective techniques of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu." It is then stated that the viewer/purchaser of said DVDs will be able to quickly learn and master what's on the DVDs from within their own home. What it boils down to is they are trying to sell “Gracie Combatives” to the general public as a means of personal and family protection. At this point in the commercial, I almost turned the channel. I found it hard to continue watching, but I did nonetheless.
Throughout the commercial are choreographed scenes of simulated street fights utilizing GJJ in a parking structure, in a sandy deserted lot, on a grassy lawn (no footage of a pony tailed Rickson fighting on the beach, though). Of course, there is the "infomercial" staple of having bona-fide testimonials from once “out of shape” and “weak” people who have since become empowered and healthy due to “Gracie Combatives”. Did they get this way from the DVDs? I don’t think so. My cynical side tells me that these are most likely testimonials from people training at the Gracie Academy, not in their homes using the DVDs exclusively. I could be wrong, though.

The commercial directs you to their website www.graciecombat.com . They will let you preview all 13 of their DVDs for one month for only $9.95 (followed by 3 monthly payments of $39.95 (not stated in the commercial)), or you can buy all 13 DVDs up front for only $119.85.
Returning to my confusion and uneasy feelings about this commercial; part of the allure to BJJ, for me, is that it is not a sport that many people are familiar with or participating in. It’s not an over hyped sport or martial art. It is a very real style with very real effectiveness. There are not watered down BJJ academies in every strip mall full of kids running around in black belts. My point being that it’s not your typical martial art. And seeing the Gracie’s television commercial elicited a gut reaction out of me envisioning just those same fears, and perhaps more. But my fears were a bit premature and irrational.
I am former military, but my tour was over before the Army switched to using “Gracie Combatives.” However, while I was in the Army and stationed in Hawaii I was enrolled at Relson Gracie's academy. Now that I am running my own academy in Iowa (under Saulo Ribeiro) I get current and former military coming through my doors that have been taught “Gracie Combatives” while in Basic Training/Boot Camp or at their units. These students have a head start over the typical new student, but it is evident that they typically don’t get the same amount of time to train as does an academy student. Personally, I think I can only remember one technique taught to me when I was in the military. The “Gracie Combatives” are obviously an abbreviated form of GJJ/BJJ. From the military’s point of view, they have to have a hand to hand combat program that can be taught to the lowest common denominator in the shortest amount of time. Perhaps that is why these “Gracie Comabatives” DVDs are the perfect video set to mass market to the general public.
We knew that this was bound to happen sooner or later, and the more I thought about it the more I realized that this GJJ commercial was probably good for all of BJJ in both small towns and big cities. This commercial shows that GJJ/ BJJ have potential to reach far and wide. This commercial would not have been made without some marketing research that showed there is a demand for such a product. If so, then somebody near you (that has probably seen the commercial) may purchase it and realize they need to join a BJJ academy or club to actually train what's on the DVDs. That's good for you, the academy owner or academy student. You get more bodies in your school to roll with, and the owner gets more tuition to pay those bills.

As the CBJJ and the IBJJF move closer to the goal of making BJJ an Olympic sport, and as America gets more BJJ black belts starting their own academies, the competition for students will amp up in the coming years. Commercials such as this could determine all of our fates in this sport. Like it, love it or hate it, in the end this Gracie commercial is a good thing for BJJ in the long run.

Cool Training Song

2009-04-30T10:51:00.004-05:00

I was listening to Pandora Internet Radio while I was working today, and this cool song came on that I had never heard before. It was called "Way of Life" by Dead Prez. Paying attention to the lyrics I get the impression the song is about Jeet Kune Do or some other martial art. But, they mention grappling in there some where, so it works for me. It's a pretty cool song that you can find on the internet.

When I searched Youtube and Myspace I couldn't find an offical video. But, I did find a video that a high school wrestler made for his Media class, and... it's pretty cool! Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvCSdf_Phlc or below:

I'm always looking for cool songs to make new training CDs. If you have any suggestions for good songs to train to, feel free to leave them in the comments section of this post.

~J

Break Falling is B.S.

2009-04-25T22:53:00.005-05:00

About two years ago I started training in Judo. As I am in the medical research/genetics field, I tend to seek out and absorb any type of research reports that revolve around martial arts training. I simply log on to the medical research literature database and search for terms like "Judo", " Martial Arts", "MMA", "Jiu-Jitsu", etc. To make a long story short, there are TONS of manuscripts in the medical literature about Tai-Chi and Judo. Very little about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai and MMA. Most of the Tai-Chi manuscripts center around how it benefits old people. Most of the MMA manuscripts talk about concussions and the lethality of the sport (which is a moot point as no one has died as a result of the activities of the sport).

When it comes to the Judo focused manuscripts in the medical literature there is much emphasis on the diet and cutting weight, comparing Olympic level atheletes to average atheletes, the effects of outside stressors on competition, the color of the uniform on competition results, etc. But, there are a couple of manuscripts that study the actual benefits of proper breakfalling techniques. That is to say, how important is it to break your fall when thrown or falling by landing a certain way and slapping the mat with your hand or hands, in order to "distribute the shock/impact of the throw" and not seriously hurt yourself. I am sorry, that due to my haste to write this post, I am unable to furnish you all with the actual references to these papers. Perhaps in the very near future I will edit this post and provide you with the references and/or actually post links to the PDFs of the papers.

What it all boils down to is that there was a published medical manuscript that came to the conclusion that teaching old people at a nursing home to fall with Judo breakfalling techniques did not curtail the number of injuries incurred during falling incidents of the residents. There are some more recent manuscripts that say that the number of "hip injuries" are reduced by the elderly when they have been taught Judo breakfalling techniques. But, the study did not elaborate on what other injuries might have been incurred by the elderly in the study.

Furthermore, if you watch high level Judo competitions you will almost never see a competitor breakfall properly. Why? Because the thrown competitor is trying to make him/herself not land in a position that will give their opponent a scoring point or ippon. The thrown opponent with brace the mat with their arm, or voluntarily land on their head, etc; anything that keeps them from landing on their back. Sometimes by bracing with their arm to prevent a throw, their arm breaks or hyperextends. Bottom line: watch or compete in a local Judo competition and you will see that not even local Judo black belts break fall properly when thrown or falling. High level judokas know how to fall propery, they just choose not to inorder to win their match.

What does this all mean? Bottom line, breakfalling is bullshit. Sure it helps in some ways. It helps to learn how to flow with the throw. It helps to provide psycho-comfort to the thrown opponent that "it's okay to be thrown, if you land a certain way." Without convincing students that breakfalling will "save" them, I doubt Judo and BJJ would have as many followers as it does today. Some people might just "puss out", when it comes to the grappling arts.

What does all of this have to do with this post? Well, just tonight, I slipped and fell in my kitchen. How did this happen? Well, I put some ice cubes in a cheap tupperware dish and let my puppies chase it around my kitchen. The ice cubes made a rattling noise in the dish, they chased it around the kitchen and tried to get the ice cubes. Unbeknownst to me, the puppies had punctured the dish and the ice cubes had melted to leak water all over my kitchen floor. Walking in to the kitchen in my flip flops I slipped, my feet kicked out in front of me and I fell straight on my ass and lower back.

Did I breakfall properly? No, I did not. One second I am stepping on to the tiled floor in my kitchen, the next mili-second later I am on my ass. Breakfalling didn't even cross my mind in the 1/100th of a second it took me to go from happy-go-lucky with my pups to flat on my ass in my kitchen.

How did I land? I landed by reaching backwards with my hands and hitting the floor ass first as my palms hit the floor. My arms were straight and my elbows were nearly locked out. Can you think of a worse position to land in? After I landed I realized nothing was broken, and I was thankful that I kept my chin tucked to my chest and nothing but my pride was bruised; even though nobody but the dogs saw it happen - I confessed it to my girlfriend out of the sake of comedic value. I think it's funny to make fun of myself.

So here's the skinny on this post. If you are an average Judo Black Belt, or an above average BJJ player, when you fall in real life - out of the blue; the odds of you properly breakfalling are slim to none. Now, if you are on the mat or in competition, you may be more ready for it. Breakfalling may even help you get through a training session where you get tossed around a 100 times or more. But, when you slip and fall off the mat your training will most likely not kick in and save you. But don't worry, the science is in your favor, unless you are over 65. Proper Judo breakfalling techniques do not mitigate falling injuries during Judo competions (in the young/middle aged) or everyday life (middle aged/elderly).

After the fall, come up with a cool "manly" excuse to explain your concussion and broken wrist. I suggest that when asked, you tell people that a rabid Jackal charged you and you were forced to break it's neck by suplexing and pile driving it to death. Hence the bruises on your ass.

R.I.P. Grandmaster Helio Gracie

2009-01-29T23:49:00.002-06:00

The Gracie family just released that Helio Gracie died Thursday morning on his ranch in Brazil. According to the family, his last words were, "I created a flag from the sport’s dignity. I oversee the name of my family with affection and nerves of blood." He was 95 years old.

I'm still here

2008-12-17T01:29:00.002-06:00

First of all, I'm still alive. I often think of the authors of these various blogs that don't post for several months (5, in my case) and think to myself, "Jeeze, did they die or something? Did they get in a car accident? Did they have cancer? Man, I hope they're okay."

Here's the deal on why I've become so silent on this blog. It's pretty bland, actually. First and foremost my adventure at starting a new Saulo Ribeiro BJJ association in Iowa has taken up so much of my time (and $$$). I started the association about the same time I dropped off the face of this blog. So far things are going slowly but surely with this endeavor.

The other major thing that might be most relevant to this blog is that I have incurred significant interest in my product reviews. I have been solicited by several companies and television shows to write reviews on their products or to promote their shows on my blog.

Apparently (judging by context of the emails that I get) there's a whole marketing push by certain combat sport oriented "reality television" programs to solicit bloggers to talk/write about their show. I'm not talking about "The Ultimate Fighter" contacting me, although that might be cool. I'm talking about their competitor (hint = boxing). While I might like to watch certain boxers (most of which are historical and irrelevant today) I am oblivious to modern boxing champs. How can I possibly comment on boxing when I don't have Showtime or HBO and could care less about the outcome of a boxing "reality" show? Especially when John McCain was once in the pocket of a bunch of boxing commission bigwigs and tried to outlaw MMA in Arizona.

As far as product reviews go, as soon as I get an email from a gi or other company about reviewing their product, my response is usually along these lines:

"I appreciate your interest in my thorough reviews of BJJ and MMA products. I am a scientist by profession, and my reviews are unbiased and reflect my honest opinion in light of your company's intentions of soliciting me for a review or compensation. However, time and circumstances may change my opinion of a once high rated product as better and more affordable products become available to the public.

I am not in the business of making money from writing product reviews for companies that make a substandard product appear to be something more than it is not. If you still choose to send me a product to review for your company, you can be assured that it will be unbiased and compared to other products that I either already own or have been sent to me in the past. As other companies willing send me products to review, I may revise my original review of your product in light of theirs to keep my reviews current in context."

Now, in my opinion, I am being straight up honest that if you have a substandard product I am not your boy to help you sell it. But, if a company thinks it has a good product, I am more than willing to give it a test drive. To be honest, I will give special priorty to "locally grown" products, as the U.S./global recession makes this an obvious point of economic consideration.

Okay, new BJJ school and fending off these people that want me to write them up good things for their companies that I know nothing about have been taking up most of time. What else has been happening with me and my non-contribution to this blog?

It's a long story, but I've started (along with my girlfriend - sorry ladies) to be a foster home for rescued German Shepherd Dogs (GSDs). Since August we've fostered 4 GSDs. Long story short, having one rescued GSD in your house can take up quite a bit of your time, let alone two or more. Now we've adopted our 3rd foster GSD who is named Denali. In about 5 weeks from now we will also be taking home our GSD puppy that we have bought from our breeder here in Iowa.

So, between starting a new BJJ school, rescuing German Shepherd's and having a full time job, I've been a little bit busy to follow the BJJ scene and post regularly on this blog. Not to mention all of the solicitors who back off once they realize that I won't kiss their ass just to get a free gi or something else and write a review that pimps their product. If it's good, I'll tell the public. If it's not, I will tell them likewise. Put up or shut up.

I will try to do better about posting on this blog and keeping up with the BJJ scene, or else I should probably just delete this blog and forget about it. I don't want to do that, but why have a blog if you're not going to post on it? I know like people like my product reviews, but I'm not exactly Kid Peligro as far as BJJ news goes.

~J

Obtaining the Judo Black Belt

2008-07-21T12:17:00.022-05:00

This past weekend I passed the test to be promoted to Black Belt (Shodan) in Judo. After having accumulated enough points in competition I, and one of my teammates, had to go through the motions in front of a state promotion committee. We first had to demonstrate the first 9 throws of the Nage no kata (a choreographed ritual that has a total of 15 throws). Then the committee asked us to perform various pins, chokes, armlocks and throws. Lots and lots of throws (obviously). Throws by themselves, throws with set ups, throws in combinations, counter throws, throws to your weak side (left, in my case). The whole test took about an hour and a half (I think). It was hot, I was sweating buckets, and bodies were flying through the air. Below are some pics from the session.

Me throwing with an Uki Otoshi, the first throw of my Nage no kata.

Me throwing with an Uki Goshi, the 4th throw of my Nage no kata.

The promotion committee is asking us to perform various pins, chokes and armlocks.

I can't remember what throw I was doing here. I think it is the miserable drop Sode Tsurikomi Goshi where I dropped my partner on his head. The Sode is one of my favorite throws, but I lost control mid-throw. Not all of my throws were picture perfect!

But this throw comes darn close! The Kata Guruma, one of my favorite throws. Right side or left side, the KG is coming for you!

In the end, I got this. Well... not really. I have to buy my own belt, so I guess I really only got permission to buy it and wear it! It's all good.

Well, I'm glad that this is done and over with. For the last couple of months we have been practicing and studying for this exam. Now that it is over I can go back to training hard and doing more randori!

Best of luck to you if you decide to start Judo, but don't do it for the belt. Do it for the throws!

Update from (flooded) Iowa

2008-06-18T15:44:00.007-05:00

Sorry for the lag in posts. I've been working on writing up a review of the Padilla and Sons Single Weave and Hybrid Weave gis, and then WHOOSH! A flood hits my area and throws everything in to disorder. I can't complain, though. The only thing that happened to me was that I lost my internet connection at home. Even though I live only 300 meters from the Iowa River, I'm on a big hill at least 50 feet above the water line. Others had it FAR worse, and I hope for the best for them. The first night of flooding my girlfriend and I were helping those down the hill from us sandbag, but I can tell you, what we did wasn't nearly enough. Such a shame. I posted some pics we took so you can check them out here: Jason's Flood Pics . I also took some video that I will upload to Youtube as soon as I can. The good news is that the water is beginning to recede.

Also, some of you may know (or not) that when I left Michigan for Iowa last October I had a goal of opening a Saulo Ribeiro training association. Well, the time has come and July 8th is the first class. I am the first SRJJA affiliate in the state of Iowa! You can check out the temporary website over at http://agogebjj.blogspot.com/ . The first post has the Grand Opening flyer. And that's my logo at there up above. Thanks to my girlfriend and Phil from Taproot for helping me design it.

That's all for now. I will try to get that gi review up as soon as I can. Bear with me!

Xande Ribeiro 2 Golds at the 2008 Mundials

2008-06-09T23:22:00.002-05:00

Xande Ribeiro wins 2 golds at the 2008 Mundials held in Long Beach, California.

Xande defeated Alexandre Souza by a score of 3 x 2 for his first gold of the tournament in the Heavyweight finals. Xande then went on to face his rival, Roger Gracie, in the Absolute finals. It seems that Xande focused on his takedowns/Judo as he scored 2 takedowns to Roger's one sweep. Final score: 4 x 2. (Photo at left: Xande is carried on the shoulders of Saulo Ribeiro and Jacare after defeating Roger Gracie. Photo courtesy of The Fightworks Podcast.)

Also, Rafael Lovato Jr. took 2nd place in the Super Heavyweight division!

Congratulations to Xande and Rafael Lovato Jr on kickin' butt at the Mundials!

As I become aware of the results of other SRJJA competitors I will post them here.

Padilla & Sons Kimonos Review: Single Weave & Hybrid Weave

2008-06-08T01:32:00.074-05:00

Padilla & Sons Kimonos, Single Weave gi, retail $70. Hybrid Weave gi, retail $75. Both available at http://www.matrat.us/ .

A while back I said that I would write a review on these two gis as a follow up to my first review on the Padilla & Sons (P & S) Kimonos Gold Weave gi written almost a year ago. In that review, I compared the Gold Weave gi to 2 other high end gis and even a Judo gi. If you're not familiar with P & S Kimonos, I suggest reading the first review where I give some background information on the company. In short, the company is owned by Joe Padilla in Long Beach, California. He is a BJJ brown belt (Rigan Machado) and a Judo black belt, and he is making some of the best damn gis in the sport.

In this review I will be breaking down the features of the P & S Single Weave and Hybrid Weave gis. I am only listing the features of each gi side by side and not directly comparing them to each other. As I am running out of non-Padilla & Sons gis to compare to, you can refer to my comparisons in the previous review here.

To restate my criteria for judging the quality of a gi, the areas I look for are (in no particular order): 1) Weight. I am not a fan of heavy gis. 2) Comfort. I don’t want a gi to be too abrasive or stiff. 3) Fit. The gi obviously needs to fit just right and be comfortable on my feet, in my guard, etc. And, lastly, 4) Construction. I want a gi that will last me years wearing it 3 times per week or so if need be. It should also be reinforced in critical areas with strong material.

I will also add a new 5th point of judgement that has come about due to my increased training in Judo over the last couple of years: 5) Cross over capability. I prefer BJJ gis to Judo gis (mainly because they are lighter and fit better), but many BJJ gis can't be worn in Judo class or Judo tournaments for several reasons (illegal dimensions, too many graphics/patches, poor construction, etc.). A BJJ gi that can also be worn to Judo class or competitions is a plus in my book.

Weight

The Single Weave gi (American Size 5) weighs about 6 lbs. and the same sized Hybrid gi weighs about 5 lbs. The Hybrid, afterall, is meant to be a strong lightweight gi for warm weather training.

Feel

Out of the package the Single Weave gi is soft and bright white, and has a traditional single weave pattern. The Hybrid gi, on the otherhand, only comes in black (as of this writing) and is a smooth weave of heavy canvas twill. This heavy canvas twill is smooth to the touch, but is a noticably stiffer fabric than that of the Single Weave gi. The first thing I did to both gis was to wash and dry them to fit. I have found that the Padilla & Sons Single Weave gi stands up to going through the dryer quite well with minimal secondary shrinkage (continued shrinkage after the first drying). This might not be recommended by Joe Padilla, though, and will definitely shorten the life of the gi. As for the Hybrid... Well, it says on the label not to put it in the dryer, but I thought doing so would help soften it up some, but the heat from the dryer caused the fabric to get shiny in spots. So, definitely don't put the Hybrid in the dryer!

Fit

The fit of the both gis is comfortable and non-binding through the chest, torso and armpit areas. There is great range of motion when moving the arms, and the slightly longer skirts of the gis (as compared to the Padilla & Sons Gold Weave gi) keeps the gi tucked into the belt nicely.

On the left, the Padilla & Sons Single Weave gi (also available in blue). On the right, the Padilla & Sons Hybrid Weave gi (only available in black. Both gis fit exceptionally well and are nicely tapered from the armpits to the waist. From here on out, click any of the pics to enlarge.

Both gis when properly sized will conform to regulation measurments. What is noticeable is that both gis have narrower sleeve cuff than the P & S Gold Weave gi.

Construction & Dimensions: Gi Jacket

What you can see here is that both gis have the girdle seam that separates the upper part of the gi top from the lower, a feature that the Padilla & Sons Gold Weave doesn't have. Does it matter? Comfort wise, no. There is no difference in feel in gis with or without a girdle seam. But, it does matter in terms of strength. The weakest part of a gi will always be where two pieces of fabric join. But, as I'll show below, this seam is strongly reenforced in these gis.

The lapels of both gis are approximately 1 - 7/8 inches and have 5 stitch rows to provide firmness. The collar is identical to the Gold Weave gi in fit and feel.

Opening up the jackets to expose the interiors, you can see that both jackets have a 'T' shaped reenforcement through the shoulders and down the spine. In the Hybrid Weave, this reenforcement is made of Single Weave gi material. This combination of Single Weave fabric and smooth fabric in the jacket, is where the Hybrid gi gets it's name.

Close ups of the spine seam 'T' reenforcement. It is slightly wider in the Hybrid than the Single Weave. This close up of the Hybrid shows more clearly the combination of the two fabrics.

The girdle seam is reenforced on both jackets and is approximately 1-1/4 inch wide. Notice how this reenforcement overlaps the bottom edge of the spine reenforcement, making a possibly uncomfortable seam edge smooth and wearable.

One of my favorite features on the Padilla & Sons Gold Weave gi was the attention to detail that was put into reenforcements, such as the inside collar edge. This reenforcement is more commonly seen on only Judo gis, and is not a typical feature on BJJ gis. Above you can see that both jackets are reenforced in this area with a a 1 inch band. This band starts at the junction of the girdle seam, and loops around the neck to finish at the other girdle seam in a continuous unbroken reenforcement. This feature allow could add a year or more life to a gi jacket.

Another high stress area - the armpit. A look inside shows that both jackets are reenforced in the armpit areas with a large oval of Single Weave material. What can also be seen in these photos is that the seams leading into and out of the reenforcement patch are themselves covered and reenforced with a 1 inch wide band of fabric. This makes the insided of the sleeves smooth and comfortable.

Hip split reenforcement. Here is the only spot on either gi that is less reenforced than the Gold Weave gi. Here the split is reenforced with a 3 inch triangle of Single Weave material on the Single Weave gi, and with smooth canvas twill on the Hybrid jacket. Is it adequate? It would seem so thus far with the Single Weave gi, as I have been training in it (BJJ & Judo) for 10 months now. The Hybrid gi has seen far less mat time. Only time will tell, but if I were to pick a weak point in the construction, this would be it.

This is the inside of the Hybrid Weave jacket to show the combination of the Single Weave material and the smooth canvas. Here, the Single Weave material is being used to reenforce the chest and shoulder of the jacket. The same construction is used to reenforce the Single Weave gi (photo not shown). I have never seen a smooth gi reenforced in this way. It is very cutting edge.

Sleeve cuff width. This was a point of contention on the P&S Gold Weave gi with sleeve cuffs that were about 7-1/4 inches wide. Some people wrote me saying that this feature alone was making them hesitant to buy the Gold Weave. But, with both of these gis above, about an inch of material has been shaved off. Both gis have sleeve cuffs that are about 6-1/4 inches wide, which is more on par with the rest of the industry. Does it make a difference? Appearance wise it looks a little nicer, a little more "tailored". But, functionally, does it matter? To me, I like to be able to use the Ezequiel choke from many different positions, so I don't like cuffs to be too narrow. But, 6-1/4 inches isn't too narrow. Many BJJ players will gladly give up the ease of getting an Ezequiel choke as long as they feel protected from being dominated by a low sleeve grip. These sleeve cuffs reach a middle ground between those who like them narrow and those who don't (or don't care).

Sleeve cuff reenforcement. Both cuffs are reenforced with a 1 inch band.

Construction & Dimensions: Gi Pants

The gi pants, are very different compared to each other. The Single Weave pants are more similar to the pants of the Gold Weave gi. The are soft, have a triple belt loop, and the knees are reenforced from crotch to ankle. The Hybrid pants, on the other hand are much more stiff because they are made of a heavier cotton twill. But, this doesn't make them uncomfortable because they are at the same time quite smooth to the touch. Like the Single Weave pants, they have a triple belt loop and the knee is reenforced from the crotch to the ankle.

There's something different about the triple belt loops on these pants compared to the P&S Gold Weave gi. The top portions of these loops hang free. It's hard to see on the black pants, but I am pulling the middle loop away with my index finger. I was rather unsure about this feature when I first encountered it, but I have yet to find that this unique feature is any less effective than a more traditionally sewn on loop.

The crotch on both pants is reenforced just like the pants of the Gold Weave gi.

The four pictures above show the front (top two pics) and back (bottom two pics) triangle reenforcements on the inside of the pants crotch. The white Single Weave pants are the 1st and 3rd pics, the black pants are pics 2 & 4.

Pants hip split reenforcement. Again, neither pant is more reenforced in this area than the pants of the gold Weave, but these little details are what comprise the differences between Gold Weave gis and Single Weaves.

Pant knee reenforcement goes from the crotch to the ankle cuff hem seam.

The ankle cuff of the Single Weave is slightly more narrow (9 inches) than that of the Hybrid Weave's pants (9-1/2 inches).

Ankle cuff reenforcement for both pants is approximately 3/4 of an inch.

Opinion

Admittedly, I am biased regarding these gis. I am a traditional gi wearer at heart, and have a hard time slipping on a smooth woven gi like the above Hybrid Weave. I also don't like to wear non-traditional colors (colors other than white and blue). Why am I like this? What is my aversion? Is it because I feel like I'm wearing a karate gi? Do non-traditional colors make me feel like I'm being too flamboyant, or pretending to be a ninja? I answer yes to all of the above. But, I qualify this answer with I only feel this way in regards to myself, and not when others are wearing these non-traditional gis. What they wear is up to them and it doesn't bother me in the least.

These questions have been in my mind since I was in the market for my first BJJ gi years and years ago. It's obvious that my biases are based on what I was brought up with in my first BJJ academy. But, I have always been a little curious about why BJJ (or Judo) chooses to use the uniforms that it does. While writing this review I was flipping through an old Gracie Magazine and hit upon this article: "The 25 Great Mysteries in Jiu-Jitsu", by Marcelo Dunlop, Gracie Magazine #126 September 2007; pages 28 - 37. In the article 2 questions were asked about BJJ gis:

The first was "Mystery #19": Why does no one use smooth gis in Jiu-Jitsu anymore, apparel that disappeared from academies during the 1990s? The answer: 'The smooth gi, with long sleeves like an invitation to the opponent, started to see its days counted in our Jiu-Jitsu with the arrival of the new woven and thick gis coming from Japan. "When we started training with the judo guys, I remember the guys had started wearing Mizuno so tight and thick it weighed about 3kg," recalls Sylvio Behring. The novelty quickly caught on with practitioners of the gentle art, as the tighter sleeves made gripping more difficult, but also - and mainly - the thick collar made choking harder. "The smooth one really did make manipulating and controlling your opponent a lot easier. But, to this day in my academies I encourage the kids to use the smooth gi," says Behring.'

First of all, I can only assume that in those days the BJJ boys and girls were wearing smooth gis more along the lines of traditional karate gis, and not like the P&S Hybrid Weave. The Hybrid Weave is a smooth gi with a BJJ cut and collar and is reenforced with Single Weave material. But, what the above answer eludes to is that the smooth gi was commonly used in BJJ in Brazil up until the 1990s. So, it's "rebirth" in the more evolved and better designed P&S Hybrid Weave is perhaps more "traditional" than we typically give credit. And, granted, it should be a little cooler while training in warmer weather than a traditional weave.

The next gi question comes in "Mystery #23": Why was the gi traditionally white? The answer: 'Older than fighting facing forward, the white gi is one of the oldest traditions in martial arts. In Japan, the attire was always worshipped, in and out of fights, for the notion in the country that white was a noble color, pure and chaste. The adoption of the with gi for all had the further function of dressing people of different economic classes the same, be them noblemen or peasants. One need only inagine how classic Japanese judokas were peeved when Olympic champion Anton Geesink suggested, in 1986, that the color blue be adopted for the keikogi ("training uniform" in Japanese, from where the word "gi," in English, came about). Not even the force of tradition, though, could keep color from becoming popular, and nowadays in Jiu-Jitsu we see a profusion of tones - making it easier for fans and referees. A study by the University of Halle, in Germany, concluded that with fighters wearing different color gis scoring errors fall by 20%, thanks to the drop in referees' eye fatigue."

So, a blue gi isn't that traditional, and wearing a different color gi could help you in a tournament. Well, assuming you have a color of gi that the particular tournament allows. Both Judo, and now some BJJ tournaments are only allowing blue as an alternate color. And in Judo, it has to be a very particular color of blue.

The answers to the above 2 "Mysteries" helped me reconcile my traditional mind towards non-traditional BJJ gis such as the P&S Hybrid Weave gi, and slowly, I will incorporate it more and more into my training rotation.

Summary:

Back to the review. In terms of judging criteria for a gi stated at the top of this article, I would break down the scoring of the two gis like this:

Weight: Both gis score high for being light weight, 5 stars each (out of 5). With gi jacket and pants, both gis weigh in at 6 lbs or less.

Comfort: The Single Weave gi is soft out of the box and stays soft even when hang dried, 5 stars. The Hybrid Weave, because it is made of a different material, is stiffer than the Single Weave and other traditional gis. That's not to say that it's uncomfortable, though. The fabric is very smooth to the touch and is non-abrasive. Give it some time to loosen up from wear and wash, and it will come around. 4 stars.

Fit: Both gis fit like gloves, and seem to be tailored to fit. They have nice tapers from the armpits to the waist. The sleeve cuffs are not too big or too tight and there is plenty of range of motion in the arms. 5 stars each.

Construction: When talking Padilla & Sons Kimonos, you're talking about light weight suits of armor. The construction of P&S gis is absolutely second to none. Hands down, they are toughest gis in the 5.5 - 6 lbs range. So, in that context, both of these gis get 5 stars. However, if I were to compare these two gis to the P&S Gold Weave, then they only get 4 stars. The Gold Weave is just better reenforced and lacks girdle and spine seams (weak points). But, that's why these gis are less expensive than the Gold Weave.

Cross over capability: This is not that big of a deal for most people reading this review, because these are BJJ gis, and were not intended to be used for Judo. But, if you can kill two birds with one stone, why not? The Single Weave has great cross over capability into the Judo dojo and competition ring. Not only is it built tough enough to handle the abuse, it has limited graphics, is the right color and has dimensions that should pass inspection at most state and regional tournaments. For that it gets 5 stars. Additionally, I'm not fond of my Judo gi due to it's weight, and prefer to wear the P&S Single Weave to Judo class. As for the Hybrid Weave... while it is constructed well enough for the rigors of Judo, it is the wrong color and the wrong weave. For this, I can only give 2 stars (for the construction alone) in this category.

Omitting the Cross over category and comparing the gis only to non-Padilla & Sons gis, the Single Weave scores 20/20 stars (100%), and the Hybrid Weave scores 19/20 stars (95%). The strong point of both gis is in their construction, reenforcements and light weight. Pound for pound and stitch for stitch, they are the best Single Weaves and Smooth Weave gis out there. Not to mention their price! Whether or not you prefer a traditional weave to a smooth weave is up to you, and you may score the Hybrid Weave either higher or lower than myself based on your preferences. If you are open to the smooth gi, I strongly recommend the Hybrid Weave gi as reviewed here. If you are in the market for a traditional gi for training or competition, you will love the the Single Weave gi. It is by far and away the best Single Weave on the market. Just compare the price of these gis to similar gis on the market and you will see what I mean. Padilla & Sons Kimonos are better constructed than their counterparts from Atama, Koral and others, and on average will cost $30 - $40+ less.

Again, the Padilla & Sons Kimonos are available from Joe Padilla at http://www.matrat.us/ . The customer service is the best around and if you have questions, Joe answers them personally either by phone or email.

~Jason

Red-Black Belt BJJ Promotion

2008-06-05T01:43:00.002-05:00

If you train long enough you will see people promoted to black belt in BJJ. If you are fortunate, you yourself, will be promoted to black belt. But, you will only see one, maybe two people, promoted to Red-Black belt in your life time if you are lucky. Watch now as Renzo Gracie does the honors of promoting Carlos Gracie Jr. (Gracie Barra founder) to Red-Black belt.

First, Rickson Gracie pays tribute to Carlos Gracie:

Renzo promotes Carlos:

Carlos then shares his thoughts about the promotion:

Rafael Lovato Jr. Highligh Video

2008-03-18T16:44:00.003-05:00

Rafael Lovato Jr. is a Team Saulo Ribeiro black belt based out of Oklahoma. He was one of the youngest Americans to ever receive a BJJ black belt, and he and his father are the first American Father & Son BJJ black belts. Together they run the Lovato School of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Vale Tudo.

This clip contains highlights from some of his BJJ and even a couple Judo matches. It was made by YouTube user DirectD... which is not me, so thank him/her for their work.

Enjoy

~J

Fabricio Martins in Iowa all of March

2008-03-10T14:02:00.003-05:00

Fifth degree black belt Fabricio Martins will be staying in Iowa until the end of March. This is great news for the local BJJ community.

Fabricio is currently teaching the Monday and Wednesday night BJJ classes at Miletich Training Center in Bettendorf, IA. He is also available to teach private and semi-private lessons to those that are interested. If you are interested in taking a private or semi-private lesson with Fabricio, you should contact Rodrigo Uzeda at Rodrigo.uzeda@gmail.com or 563-506-0216 to discuss scheduling and prices. I have been told that Fabricio is willing to travel to your academy's location as long as it is within a reasonable distance from Bettendorf, but this will require a 2 day advanced notice and a guarantee of at least 2 private or 2 semi-private lessons.

Additionally, Fabricio and Daniel Otero will also be holding another 2 day seminar at MFS in Bettendorf, IA on Saturday March 29th and Sunday March 30th, 2008. Each day will consist of 3 hours (11 A.M. - 2 P.M.) of BJJ training. In this seminar series the Gi will be an optional uniform. The seminar will be $80 for 2 days or $60 for 1 day (pre-registration rate), at the door the cost will be $120 for 2 days or $90 for 1 day.

For those making a long drive hotel arrangements have been made at the Heartland Inn in Bettendorf, IA (563-355-6336). Those that request the "Miletich Rate" can get a single bed room for $50 or a double for $55.

Seminar Summary:

What: BJJ seminar (gi is optional)
When: Saturday March 29th & Sunday March 30th, 11 A.M. - 2 P.M. both days
Where: Miletich Training Center, 325 16th St., Bettendorf, IA 52722
Cost: Pre-registration $80 for 2 days $60 for 1 day. At the door, $120 for 2 days, $90 for 1 day

Send Pre-registration to:

Gregg Humphreys
3513 Oakwood Drive
Bettendorf, IA 52722

Pre-Registration must be received by March 22, 2008. Questions about the registration or the seminar? Call 563-343-3508.

Champions From Brazil Come to Eastern Iowa

2008-02-28T13:40:00.008-06:00

I haven't posted anything in a long time. So long in fact, people have emailed me to ask if things are "Okay?" Things are fine, I've just been recovering from a few Judo and BJJ injuries as well as doing some traveling. Not much time for training, put plenty of time for me to pack on some pounds. I digress my fat ass to the point...

The point of this post is that I have found out, on short notice, that 2 champions from Brazil are coming to Eastern Iowa to hold a 2 day seminar at the Miletich Fighting Systems (MFS) Academy in Bettendorf, IA. They are Fabrício Martins and Daniel Otero, both from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Fabrício (photo at left, courtesy of bjj.philippines) is the coach of both Daniel Otero and Rodrigo Uzeda. Rodrigo is currently the resident BJJ instructor at MFS. Fabrício has a very accomplished academy in Brazil that has produced many champions. His only representation outside of Brazil, that I am aware of, is an affiliate in the Philippines which is also very accomplished. Fabrício is currently a 5th degree black belt with an extensive competition resume. For the sake of being brief I have only included his championships as a black belt below:

1987: Campeão do desafio Cantão de Jiu-Jitsu, Campeão do Torneio Rio – Minas de Jiu-Jitsu, Campeão Lighting Bolt de Jiu-Jitsu

1988: Campeão Carioca, Campeão Suburbano, Campeão da LINJJ

1989: Campeão Carioca
1990: Campeão Carioca, Campeão da LINJJ, Campeão do América Futebol Clube de Jiu-Jitsu, Campeão da Copa Armazém do Esporte de Jiu-Jitsu

1993: Campeão Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu

1996: Campeão brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu (masters), Campeão Carioca de Jiu-Jitsu

1997: Campeão Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu (masters)

Daniel Otero (photo at left, courtesy of Sherdog) is a student of Fabrício Martins and is the 2006 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion (black belt) in the Rooster Weight category. He is also an accomplished MMA fighter (7-1-1) (includes amateur fights) with multiple wins in the Shooto fighting organization. Read an interview with Daniel by MMA Universe here. Daniel's resume is as follows:

BJJ (as a Black Belt):

2003: 2nd Place Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championship, Brazilian Nationals Champion

2004: 1st Place Brazilian Nationals Champion

2006: 1st Place Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championship

MMA (including amateur fights):

Shooto Japan Back To Our Roots 3: vs. Masatoshi Abe, Loss (DQ) (Pro)

Shooto Brasil The Return: vs. Tomohiro Hashi, Win (TKO) (Pro)

Real Fight 3: vs. Márcio Silva, Win (Submission, triangle) (Pro)

Clube da Luta 5: vs. Estevao Leo, Draw (Pro)

Shooto Brasil 7: vs. Tiago Matos, Win (TKO) (Pro)

Real Fight 1: vs. Raul Carneiro, Win (Unanimous Decision) (Pro)

Shooto Brasil 3: vs. Wellington Silva, Win (Unanimous Decision)

Shooto Brasil 1: vs. Willian Parrudinho, Win (Unanimous Decision)

Shooto Brasil 1: vs. Edson Paulista, Win (Unanimous Decision)

The seminar is a 2 day event starting on Friday, February 29th at 5:00 P.M. at lasting until 7:00 P.M. The focus on Friday night will be with the gi (kimono). On Saturday, March 1st the second session kicks off at 10:00 A.M. and goes to 1:00 P.M. The focus on this day will be No-gi. The cost is $40 to attend one of the days, or $60 to attend both sessions.

Summary:

What: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Seminar with Fabrício Martins, Daniel Otero and Rodrigo Uzeda

When: 2/29/2008, 5:00 - 7:00 P.M. (with the gi); 3/1/2008, 10:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. (No-gi)

Where: Miletich Fighting Systems (MFS) Academy, 325 16th St., Bettendorf, IA (link goes to Google Maps location)

Cost: $40 for 1 day, $60 for 2 days

Contact: Gregg Humphreys - dynamogregg@msn.com , 563-343-3508

Sorry for the short notice. I hope that those that want to attend are able to do so. If you can't make it, contact Gregg (above) and let him know that you want these guys to come back to the area in the near future.

The Best BJJ Blogs of 2007 - Vote Smash Pass

2007-12-11T10:37:00.002-06:00

The Fightworks Podcast is conducting it's 2nd annual (?) contest for the best BJJ Blogs of the year. Believe it or not, this pathetic blog of mine here was actually nominated! Of course, it only has 2 votes so far, and one of them is from me... but that means that somebody out there actually likes the blog... or me. Either way, to even be on the list of some of those other blogs is pretty cool.

There are some very cool and well designed blogs on the list that we all have visited. Some of them are even linked on my blog to the right. There are a few new ones/ones that I hadn't heard of yet that look to be very good, as well.

The voting for the Best BJJ Blog of 2007 ends on December 30th. On December 31st, the winner will be announced. The prize for the winner is be 2 Grapplers Quest DVDs. Second place gets 1 GQ DVD.

So go over to the Fightworks Podcast and vote for me or your other favorite blog of 2007.

Rafael Lovato Jr. Interview

2007-11-19T12:25:00.001-06:00

The Judo Podcast website has done an interview with Rafael Lovato Jr. following his win at the 2007 BJJ Mundials. Rafael, a Team SRJJA black belt, started Judo about a year ago and talks to the Judo Podcast in a 45 minute interview about his take on Judo and how it impacts his game. He also talks about some of the differences between BJJ and Judo. It's a great interview with insights for both BJJ players thinking about getting into Judo, or Judokas thinking about starting BJJ.

Visit their website to play the interview here.

Also, to see some Judo highlight clips from the 2007 U.S. Senior Nationals visit Judo Throw Down. Great stuff.

Things Are Settling Down

2007-11-01T00:40:00.002-05:00

I'm a lazy bum... in regards to this blog. But I know people who are worse (Matt & Seth). Anyway, I'm here in Iowa and am learning my way around the training circles in the vicinity. As I am sure you can imagine, the vast majority of the time I have spent here thus far has been dedicated to learning my way around my new city, finding hot spots and finding people to train with.

Before I go further, the big news is that my friend from back home in Michigan, Don Richards, has made the cut to fight for the IFL. Congrats to Big Don. He's also slated to fight Dan Severn on November 21, 2007 in a King of the Cage match. Big Don is a Team Caique brown belt from Warrior Way in Walled Lake, MI. Keep your eye on him to get his black belt within the next year or less.

In my first month that I have been in Iowa City, I have trained with the University of Iowa BJJ club, the University of Iowa Judo Club and Miletich's Academy BJJ (inactive website) class with Rodrigo Uzeda.

Everybody here that I have trained with so far has been nothing less than extremely nice to me. The UI BJJ club is phenomenal in terms of how they run a class. As far as a University Sports Club goes, this club runs their class like an true academy (30 min. warm up, 30 min. instruction, 30 min. roll). On top of that, they have several blue belts that are very good. Overall, I was very impressed with how this University Club ran it's program. The club also has Pedro Silveria down quite often to teach classes and conduct privates.

Rodrigo Uzeda is a BJJ Black Belt under Fabricio Martins. He is currently living in eastern Iowa and is a friend of my instructor, Saulo Ribeiro. Rodrigo recently began teaching BJJ (with the gi) two nights per week (Monday & Wednesday 7:30 - 9:00 P.M.) at Miletich's academy in Bettendorf, IA. I have been attending his biweekly classes as often as I can, but it is a 2 hour round trip for me to do so. The training area is huge and there are tons of exercise equipment and kicking bags.

The University of Iowa Judo club is currently being run by Richard Finley and is quite different from the Judo club from which I've come (Eastern Michigan University Judo Club). The UI Judo club is more formal, and is run as an instructional club, whereas the EMU Judo club was run primarily without instruction with focus on self instruction/workouts. I have a good feeling that this club will fill in the many gaps in my Judo game and make me not only a better competitor, but also give me better knowledge of the sport overall. I highly recommend training with this Judo club if you're in town.

Pat Miletich's academy also offers a Judo program, but as they are so far away from me right now, I can only make it down for just the BJJ program on Mondays & Wednesdays and must forgo the additional Judo training at the moment.

Unfortunately, within the month that I have been down here I have incurred 2 slight injuries. The first being my lower back with the UI BJJ club, which seems to have become an increasingly recurring problem, and a dislocated pinky toe with the UI Judo club (last night).

I plan to post pics soon of the different training facilities that I have been to, as well as pics taken before I left Michigan.

On another note: Due to the increased prevalence of MRSA in schools I have been getting a lot of hits on my MRSA article. And, the Padilla and Sons Kimonos review has still been getting a lot of attention. Read the comments on these articles for updated info.

Pics (probably) coming soon.

J

The Time Has Come - Moving On-

2007-09-08T01:57:00.001-05:00

I am sorry for the lack of inactivity on this blog throughout August and September. It was never my intent to alienate or abandon my friends that enjoy reading what I tend to post from time to time. Likewise, it was never my intent to make this blog a personal diary. However, there are some important events forthcoming in my life that have been looming on the horizon and have taken my time away from not only updating this blog, but which have also encumbered my BJJ and Judo training.

Throughout the months of late July and August, my time has been spent helping my fellow team mates train for the BJJ Mundials. Due to this, my Judo training suffered. But, as only one person from my Judo team actually reads this blog (and he's living in Japan now) I doubt I'll catch any flak about it from the Ju-"duh"-kas on my team. ;P

But, the most important event that has delayed my training and posting is that I am moving away from my much beloved Michigan BJJ and Judo scene for new pastures in Iowa. Yeah... I said Iowa. It has always been my opinion that nobody moves to Iowa but only out of it. Not the case for me. In my line of work the University of Iowa (in Iowa City) is on the cutting edge of Molecular Biology, Genetics and Birth Defects research. So the money and opportunity takes me to this new land of hopefulness... and corn. I will be out of the state of Michigan and into some apartment in Iowa by September 30th.

Which brings me to my next dilema: There are no Saulo Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu Associations in the entire state of Iowa where I can train. Where to train, where to train? While I am excited to train with the other BJJ schools in and near Iowa City, I am very intent on opening up my own place within a year of getting down there. I also intend to train with the Militech Camp (which has an outstanding Judo Coach) as well as the Univeristy of Iowa Judo Club in order to keep my judo and no-gi games at top notch. If I can find a nice wrestling club to complete the picture, I may in fact approach grappling nirvana. With NAGA's happening in Chicago as well as Madison and Milwaukee, WI, all of which are 2 - 4 hours away... I may be able to stay at the top of game.

So, that's the big news. I'm moving and will be leaving the Michigan BJJ scene. A scene that I was a part of since the beginning in 1996-97. I will be leaving all of my (bjj & non-bjj) friends, coaches and best training partners for unknown territory. I will miss them all and I only hope that I can make it work out Iowa.

On another note:

In my previous post I did a lengthy review on the Padilla & Sons (P&S) Gold Weave Kimono. I also linked this review to many of the BJJ and MMA forums/message boards... basically posting it publicly wherever I could find space. It has received a lot of attention and comments from many people around the world. So much so, that somebody at class tonight (commenting on the P&S Gold Weave I was wearing) stated that, "Yeah, I called and tried to order one, but they said that they were sold out."

YES! This means that my post about these kimonos and this company is shedding light on the fact that you don't need to pay more that $100 for one of the best BJJ gis on the planet.

A lot of readers/posters were also asking me about the other kimonos that Padilla & Sons offer (the Single Weave and the Hybrid Weave). Well, I will very soon be able to offer all of the inquisitors my opinion on these two kimonos. Earlier this week I received my new single weave and hybrid weave kimonos from Padilla & Sons. At first sight I am very impressed. VERY impressed. But, I am a skeptic by nature and profession, so I will wait to give my opinion after I have worn them on the mat for at least a week or two before I start giving my critiques. But let me just say, this hybrid weave kimono is like nothing you've ever seen. I am such a stickler for traditional gis, that I typically don't care for gis similar to this Padilla & Sons Hybrid Weave (which appears in photographs to be similar in nature, but not design, to the Atama Summer Weave). But this Hybrid Weave seems to have a little something extra. It is a very innovative design to say the least. As for the single weave, I am astounded at the attention to detail that has gone into this gi. By nature, a Single Weave is not intended to survive long - either on the training mat or in competition. But this one appears to be light weight and built like a tank. In fact, both gis out of the box already appear to rival the competition in design and construction.

So, hopefully by the beginning of October I should have a good review posted on the Padilla & Sons Single and Hybrid Weave kimonos.

Next up in my list of news is my fairwell tour, so to speak. I'll attempt in my final weeks to travel to the BJJ schools around Southeastern Michigan that made me who I am today. Hopefully I'll remember to bring my video camera and get some words from some of the people and instructors I came up with. I also hope to get around to a couple of the Judo dojos in the state that are considered top notch. But, don't hold me to anything.

Check back in a few weeks. Better yet, just subscribe to this blog and get an email update when I post next.

"Lost in the transitions"

~Jason

Gi Review - Padilla & Sons Gold Weave Kimono

2007-07-10T01:34:00.003-05:00

Padilla & Sons Gold Weave Kimono. Available at http://www.matrat.us/ . Retail, $80 (white) $90 (blue).

Most of us outside of California are probably not familiar with a little company on the West coast called Padilla & Sons Kimonos that churns out some of the best kimonos to ever hit the mats. If you've been training since 1999, maybe you've heard of this company run by Joe Padilla that use to make an indestructible double weave kimono which retailed for around $60 or so. But, just as the word was spreading about how good his gis were, he stopped making them. There were several factors that caused this to happen and which required Joe's full attention, which meant he was unable to attend to his fledgling kimono business. But, there is good news for us all - Joe is back in the business and now he is also making Gold Weave kimonos. And, with the recent rise in the prices of Atama (~$46 increase on the gold weave kimonos) and Koral, Joe couldn't have got back in the game at a better time for us practitioners.

Back in February and March of 2007, Atama had really increased their prices, which was difficult for me in that I had just become quite fond of some of the Atama gis. But, I am not willing to pay their prices for future purchases. So, I started looking around the net and found that Joe Padilla was making his gis again and I wanted one. I had missed out on getting one of his gis before he stopped making them back in 2001. When I saw the price he was asking for his white Gold Weave Kimono ($80), my jaw hit the floor. I had to have one of these gis, if not for their legendary status, then to hopefully find an answer to the Atama price jack ups. Nowadays, an Atama Gold Weave retails for $145, and the Koral MKM for $144.95. In my opinion, neither gi is worth that price.

I called up Joe on the phone and we talked about the gis and I told him my height and weight (5’ 9.5”, 190 lbs.). He recommended his A3 for me. I gave him my shipping and billing info and about 4 days later his kimono showed up at my door. I’ve been wearing it every day to training since I got it, and this gi is absolutely phenomenal.

My criteria for judging the quality of a kimono and whether or not I might like it depends on (in no particular order): 1) Weight. I am not a fan of heavy gis (double weaves, etc.) and I tend to prefer Gold Weave kimonos. 2) Comfort. I don’t want a gi to be too abrasive or stiff, which can be the case with some Gold Weave kimonos. 3) Fit. The gi obviously needs to fit just right and be comfortable on my feet, in my guard, etc. And, lastly, 4) Construction. I want a gi that will last me years wearing it 3 times per week or so if need be. It should also be reinforced in critical areas with strong material. Even though I have 4 gis in the training rotation, if I really like a particular gi I want to wear it as much as possible.

Let’s start with the weight, fit and comfort of this A3 Gold Weave Kimono. It is noticeably light weight, as a good Gold Weave should be and weighs in at just under 6 lbs. For a Gold Weave, it is very soft and comparable to the Atama Mundial # 5, which was one of the softest gis I had ever worn up until this kimono. The fit of the kimono after washing and hang drying is nearly tailored and felt as if it was made just for me. The gi didn’t shrink but maybe a half inch in the sleeve length from the wash. The gi top is made of all Gold Weave material and does not have a separate skirt made of a thinner material. One topic of discussion that has been mentioned in the BJJ forums is that the sleeve cuffs are wider than most other gis (as shown in the pictures below). But, believe me, the extra width is hardly noticeable and they are not ungainly in any way. The only people that might not like these sleeves are those that prefer Gameness type sleeves. The gi top is pleasantly “un-flashy”, which is perfect for me. Joe’s logos are unobtrusive and are actually embroidered, not sewn on patches. There is a small shark on the left sleeve and his unique logo on the abdomen of the gi near the knot of your belt.

(click pics for a larger view)

The kimono has a tailored fit and is very comfortable. Shown here with my belt pulled down a bit to show the unique placement of the Padilla logo.

The sleeve length and width are comfortable and are within the CBJJ rules and guidelines for competition kimonos. You can see in this picture that even though the sleeve cuffs of this gi are wider than other kimonos, they are not baggy or unpractical.

A close up view of the embroidered logos.

The construction of the kimono, both top and bottoms, are extremely well designed and reinforced like a suit of armor in all of the critical areas. In my comparisons to the Atama and Koral gis, I was actually shocked and how well the Padilla & Sons kimono was constructed. Obviously, Joe put a tremendous amount of thought into these gis. As Joe also trains BJJ himself, I’m sure he’s had plenty of time to recognize the short comings of some of the other gis on the mats.

I took the time to take some pictures comparing the Padilla & Sons Gold Weave kimono (retail $80) to the Atama Mundial # 5 (retail $162) and the Koral MKM (retail $144.95) so you can see how the three compare to each other. In every regard, the Padilla & Sons Gold Weave Kimono is more than comparable to these other two high end gis.

(click the images for a larger view)

Kimono top comparisons:

The collar widths of the three gis are nearly identical. The collar of the Padilla kimono is similar in thickness and stiffness to that of the Atama. The collar is firm, but not cardboard stiff, and is very comfortable.

The edge of the skirts of the Atama and Koral are folded back on themselves for reinforcement. I have found that in my older gis when this edge becomes worn, it is prone to splitting and frays easily. The Padilla gi is reinforced with a separate band of canvas that is 1 3/4" wide and heavily stitched to prevent the wearing of this edge.

The hip split area of a gi is very prone to tearing. The Padilla kimono hip split is reinforced with a big wedge of canvas, where the Atama and Koral are reinforced with small pieces of extra gi material. The other hip split on the Koral MKM gi in this photo is actually torn between the wedge and the edge of the seam.

It was this particular detail that blew me away. The inside edge of the collar where it is sewn to the gi is reinforced with an extra band of canvas identical to that inside judo gis. I have included a picture of my judo gi for comparison. This reinforcement extends around collar like a yoke, covering the most highly gripped areas of the gi. This detail will greatly extend the life of the gi.

Another area of high stress. The junction in the armpit where the seams meet is a weak point that is more than adequately covered on the Padilla kimono. In contrast, look at the small reinforcement on the Koral MKM.

The back edge of the collar and the shoulder area of the gi is decently reinforced.

The ends of the sleeves receive a lot wear from pulling and gripping. Here again, Joe uses the 1 3/4" wide canvas band to strengthen the cuff edges. Atama folds the end back on itself and uses an ~ 1/2" wide band to secure the cuff. The Koral MKM is similarly constructed and due to this you can see some fraying beginning. Granted, the Koral is the oldest of the 3 gis and was purchased about 10 months ago.

At ~ 7 1/4" inches wide, the sleeve cuffs of the Padilla kimono are wider than the 6 3/4" wide Atama and the 5 3/4" wide Koral MKM. As I said before, this extra width is in no way awkward or excessive. It even helps those Ezequiel chokes flow a bit smoother, which are always a pain to get with the Koral MKM.

The pants of a kimono are often over looked by some gi companies. It seems that they pump all of their money into the top, and then stitch together a pair of pants out spare material. Not the case with these pants. These pants are made of a material very similar to the Atama pants that I have worn and loved for years. They are soft, but very durable, and come with 3 belt loops instead of the standard 2. Just like the gi top, the pants are intelligently reinforced throughout.

Kimono pants comparisons:

The pants has 3 belt loops and a standard drawstring, and are very similar to the Atama pants.

Both the Padilla and the Atama have a knee reinforcement that extend all the way from the lower thigh to the cuff of the ankle. The Koral MKM on the other hand has a smaller reinforced knee area.

Also on the ankle cuff, the 1 3/4" wide canvas band is used for reinforcement. The Koral MKM is also reinforced with a band of canvas, but the Atama pants are secured with a folded back method.

Both the Padilla pants and the Koral MKM pants are reinforced at the hip split, which is an area of stress that has been over looked by Atama.

The Padilla pants and the Atama pants have a reinforced crotch area, unlike the Koral MKM pants.

Wash and care instructions are pretty standard. When your gi arrives, there will be an envelope with the printed out care instructions inside. Basically, wash and rinse the gi in cold water either by itself or with similar colors, and allow it to hang dry.

The customer service of this company is phenomenal. If you call and leave a message or send him an email (available on the contact page), they will be returned to you. Joe is great at helping you out and truly does want to put people in a quality gi that will make them happy. He has been a pleasure to deal with.

Taken together, the gi top and pants make a perfect package that feels great on the mat. I have made the comparisons against two of the more popular and higher end kimonos on the market today for you. The Padilla & Sons Gold Weave kimono is comparable to the other gis in some areas, but by and large, is vastly superior to both the Atama Mundial # 5 and the Koral MKM in practically all of the critical areas. The attention to detail that has gone into the production of this gi is amazing. I have made up my mind on which gi company I will be using in the future. I have thankfully found my answer to the recent price increases at Atama. At $80 each, I can buy 2 Padilla & Sons Gold Weave kimonos for the price of 1 Atama Mundial # 5, and I know that the quality of the gi will be better.

Padilla & Sons Kimonos and Mat Rat also sell a Blue Gold Weave ($90), a light weight Hybrid Weave ($80), Single Weaves ($70), as well as various other training gear and clothing. Make sure you check them out at http://www.matrat.us/ and give one of these gis a try. It is sure to be one of the best gi purchases you have ever made.

~j

Honey May Increase Athletic Performance

2007-07-03T11:04:00.003-05:00

My BJJ team mates and I, have for several years now, been using honey as a simple carbohydrate supplement prior to and during our matches at tournaments. We never really thought twice about the matter, as it seemed straight forward to us: honey is a simple carbo-hydrate that is natural and comes in an easy to use format. We were able to maintain (or so it seemed) a decent amount of energy throughout the duration of the tournament by taking a few table spoons prior to the first match, with smaller servings in between matches if we need it. Recently, we introduced the magic of the "Honey Bear" to our judo club and had some success with using it during judo competitions (picture above with trophy and the Honey Bear).

Just when we thought that plain ol' honey was all we needed, along came the advice of a "sage" in the BJJ world. The Sage recommended that we use all natural, unpasteurized, unfiltered raw honey instead of the honey bought at the super market which is heat sterilized. The reason being that the raw honey contains all of the amino acids and natural health benefitting properties that are otherwise removed from the heat sterilization process. Okay, Sage... I'm game. Let's give it a try. About a week later I found some raw honey at the local farmer's market that set me back about $9 for a mason jar full of the stuff. The vendor was... passionate about his product, to say the least. He went on and on for about 15 minutes telling me ALL of the health benefits of raw honey, "Cures cancer, stomach ulcers, pollen allergies, it's good for the prostrate, blah, blah, blah." These were some heavy claims, and in my line of work - Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence to be believed. So, I abused my work resources and scoured the medical literature databases trying to find support for his claims. I read paper after paper that knocked down the vendor's claims one by one. The only interesting articles that I found were regarding the use of honey as a topical treatment for wounds and possibly as a treatment for staph infections and MRSA. Apparently there is an enzyme in honey that reacts with the water in honey and creates hydrogen peroxide. I'll keep my eye on how that research develops. Bottom line though, there aren't any magic cures in raw honey and it is debateable as to how different it is nutritionally compared to normal heat sterilized honey (which is cheaper, by the way).

The other article I found that was interesting was one in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, where the authors actually compared the use of honey as an athletic supplement during an endurance exercise. The findings were quite promising and supportive of what my team mates and myself have been doing for competitions.

The study had 9 elite cyclists complete 3 randomized 64 km (39.68 miles) time trials and the effects of a low and a high glycemic index (GI) carbohydrate on their performance as compared to a placebo supplement were analyzed. The study was double blind (the cyclists didn't know which supplement they were getting, and the researchers didn't know which cyclist got what supplement until the end of the analysis), where the cyclists ingested either 15g of honey (GI = 35), 15g of dextrose (GI = 100) or a placebo (GI = 0) every 16 km of the time trial. The dextrose group and honey group completed the time trials slightly faster than the placebo group (~128 min 18 seconds compared to 131 min 18 seconds), but these results are not significant. However, the researchers also analyzed the Maximal Power Output of each cyclist in terms of Watts. During the majority of the time trial there were no differences between the 3 groups. However, in the last 16 km leg of the race the dextrose group and honey group produced more watts (power) than the placebo group. These results are indicative of the effects of the carbohydrate supplements and are supportive of the use of a low GI carbohydrate (honey) for an energy source during endurance exercises.

So, on your tournament checklist, add "Honey Bear" to your gear bag. Send me some pics of you, your medal(s) and your honey bear and I'll put them up here. Good luck!

Reference: Earnest CP, et al. Low vs. high glycemic index carbohydrate gel ingestion during simulated 64-km cycling time trial. J Strength Cond Res. 2004 Aug;18(3):466-72.

Check out the nutrition data on honey here. Learn more about the Glycemic Index here.

Rafael Lovato Jr. on the Cover of Gracie Mag #124

2007-06-28T21:47:00.001-05:00

As posted on the Lovato Jiu-Jitsu website, Team SRJJA member Rafael Lovato Jr. will be on the cover of Gracie Magazine #124 for July 2007.

From Lovato Jiu-Jitsu Academy website:

"Rafael is on a serious streak this year having won the American Nationals, European Championships, Pan-American Championships, and the Brazilian Nationals. After Rafael won the Brazilian Nationals, Gracie Magazine sat down with him to talk about the hardships of being a foreigner competing in Brazil. You can check out this article in the July 2007, Issue #124, of the prestigious Gracie Magazine."

Way to go Rafael! Keep up the good work and best of luck to you as you continue on to the Mundials this year!

Be sure to pick up a copy of this July's Gracie Mag and support our team mate and friend, Rafael Lovato Jr.

Read the On The Mat Wiki article about Rafael here.

In other news, expect a gi review article on the new Padilla & Sons gold weave kimono in the near future. Other articles are also in the works.

(Photo courtesy of The Fightworks Podcast)