Tuf fighters and Margarida wrists

Two major events are happening this weekend. The first is the IBJJF Pans - the world's biggest BJJ tournament with over 2,600 competitors. Good luck to all my BJJ friends who are taking part in this. Some brackets have over one hundred fighters, so you can imagine how many rounds it would take just to reach medal contention.

Also this weekend is UFC 112. I don't normally follow MMA but with the line-up including Renzo Gracie v Matt Hughes, Anderson Silva v Demien Maia and Brits Dan Hardy and Nick Osipczak, it promises to be a mouthwateringly exciting event. Shame I won't get to see either (well I might get to sneak some Pan viewing in on Sunday when it streams live).

Still, there is always The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) on TV. I really like this program. The premise here is to get a bunch of rough tough guys, whip them into shape under the tutelage of former champions Chuck Liddell or Tito Ortiz and make them smash ten bells out of each other until a winner emerges...who is then handed a contract for the UFC proper. It's like the X-Factor, but with more blood.

Training news
Time for some training news. I've got over my sulk after the disappointment of the British Open and have recovered my jiu-jitsu mojo. I must first congratulate little Hana who was awarded her blue belt last weekend by Roger Gracie. This kid, 16 years old, and standing maybe barely five foot tall, has been tearing up the mats since she first joined the academy last year. I don't know anyone who trains harder and more fearlessly than she does, so a blue belt is ample reward for her achievements.

I've noticed a couple of really tough guys joining the academy recently. Seb is a BJJ blue belt but OMG he just smashes me to smithereens. Seb is also a judo player, I think he competes at international level, and uses a lot of his judo when he rolls. If anyone thinks BJJ always beats judo on the ground, think again. His balance, timing and application is milimetre perfect and I am in awe at how he excecutes his moves. The other night, I swear, he tapped me out with the same kimura 5 - 6 times in a row. No matter what I did, he managed to get the kimura and made me tap. Although Seb is much bigger than me, it was not his superior size or strength that beat me, it was his technique and timing. I really love how top judo guys pick up BJJ and manage to make both work in sparring.

At the beginning of the year, I said to myself I wanted to improve my top game - and that means better guard passing. Following my attempts to work the cross-knee pass from Yuki Sasa's Paraestra instructional, my coach Nick taught me the Magarida pass. It seems a simpler version of the cross knee and perhaps a little more high percentage, but, as ever, speed, timing and execution are critical. It's quite a nice feeling (when it works) as you slide over and past their bottom leg and hips and drop into side control. The defense to it, Nick showed me, is easy however ;)

Media News
It's pretty typical of my life that just as I am getting anywhere something happens to hold me back. At the moment, I've got a bit of RSI in my wrists and I took the decision to do less typing so it does not jeopardise my BJJ, day job, and homelife. I've turned down opportunities to do exclusive interviews with Andre Galvao and Roy Dean. But all is not lost, it just means I can concentrate on their respective seminars and maybe work some photography into the mix. Hope the wrists sort themselves out soon.
Oh and it means less wordy blog entries too...erm unlike this one!