Links
Dec
31
Pocatello Fights
Filed Under Uncategorized | 1 Comment
Sometimes I feel like I let people down. It’s nothing to cry over, but it still bugs me. On Friday West Side has three outstanding guys fighting in Pocatello, Idaho. I don’t think I’m going to make it. That sucks. Luckily for them and the rest of us at West Side, Juan Santa Cruz, trainer [...]
Dec
29
The Art of Creating Space
Filed Under Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory, Philosophy, and Technique | 2 Comments
Creating space is crucial in jiu-jitsu. The ability to create space is something we all need to master in order to elevate our game. Space is freedom. There are three tenets we must remember when we think about space: 1) create space, but then immediately fill the void, 2) create space to attack the base, [...]
Dec
28
Thank You
Filed Under Uncategorized | 1 Comment
The words “Thank You” are very important and I need to say them more often, I couldn’t run West Side or Tap or Die or navigate this life without tons of help from all kinds of people I know, so I would like to start my “Thank You’s” to all the people who took the [...]
Dec
27
Tap Or Die’s Richard Cesena
Filed Under Uncategorized | 2 Comments
This not the Tokyo Event Okay here’s the news, Tap or Die is sponsoring our first jiu-jiteiro, our first Brazilain jiu-jitsu competitor and logically it will be the man on our logo, purple belt extraordinaire, Richard Cesena. Rich just recently placed 3rd, in the purple belt absolute, at the Tokyo International Tournament. In 2010 Rich [...]
Dec
26
My son loves Star Wars; that’s mostly what he got for Christmas. He likes the bad guys—the Darths— Maul, Vader. I’m a fan of the bad guys too, but it’s not because they’re bad, it’s because they’re fearless. Darth Vader’s not a pussy. When I look at the guys I like in MMA, BJ Penn, [...]
Dec
24
Willy Wonka and a Jiu-Jitsu School
Filed Under Uncategorized | 3 Comments
Tonight I dropped in on Brent Atwood a Pharaoh’s Horses Tattoo to see how he was coming on West Side’s new logo—not done yet. We got into a conversation about being the owner of your own place, your own business, and the name Willy Wonka came up. Willy Wonka. Willy Wonka ran a business with [...]
Dec
23
The Rythm of a Roll
Filed Under Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory, Philosophy, and Technique | Leave a Comment
Anything that can flow has a rhythm. Any process that can be done smoothly has a tempo that it follows and that includes training or rolling with a partner. When were out of sync; when we’re slow and spastic with our movements, I would suggest listening to some music. Let your body find its rhythm [...]
Dec
23
The Head Pat and the Belly Rub
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Remember when you were in grade school and someone told you to pat your head with one hand and rub your belly with the other? It was difficult at first. You either rubbed both your head and belly at the same time or vice versa, but once you got the hang of it it was [...]
Dec
22
Marketing Your Jiu-Jitsu School
Filed Under Uncategorized | 2 Comments
Here are two facebook profile photos. The top one is my marketing lady Niki, the bottom one of course is me. Who would you buy something from? Unless you’re a fool you’re going to say Niki. That’s why I’m taking her advice (and the fact she does marketing for a living), she knows what she’s [...]
Dec
21
MMA in Ogden
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Ogden city has a long and storied boxing tradition, I think Jack Dempsey fought at the Berthana (a historical building in downtown Ogden) before he became the champ. Boxing now seems to be on wobbly legs; in my opinion it’s being given a standing eight. Boxing however, is not out; it’s a very important part [...]
