Well, I guess after a pretty long hiatus, I'm back!! It's been a few months since I visited this blog, partly because I haven't had a lot to say but I finally think I have something worth writing down...
There was some talk today at the gym about being on a plateau with BJJ and I thought I would share my whitebelt thoughts. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu seems to me to be a sport that has more plateaus than most and that certainly provides as much if not more frustration than enjoyment at times. However, with that frustration seems to come a great sense of pleasure and accomplishment when, having been on a plateau for a long time, suddenly something clicks at the right moment and place and you find your game has lifted - often seemingly by itself! The feeling of being stuck on that same level is indescribably annoying and soulwrenching, the feeling that things have changed is similarly uplifting.
So, what can be done about being stuck on a plain? Realistically, there is only one answer to this - train more! But, I think that what is important is the quality, not always the quantity of training. Talking to a few people today, one of the top reasons given for being stuck on that dreaded plateau is doing the same thing over and over and over again. I have been very guilty of this in the past. By constantly training the same mistakes or poor theory into my game I have managed to stick myself into a pretty dangerous rut. Whilst I may think that I am training constantly and therefore I should be getting better, by managing to train in my mistakes I am in fact limiting my progress.
A good example of this has been my work on closed guard over the last six or so months. I feel more comfortable in closed guard as my jiu jitsu is not particularly dynamic. I don't like scrambles and I somehow never really feel comfortable working a top game unless I have managed to sweep into mount. However, I have always had a tendency to be too passive from guard - preferring to control and think about subs if there is a clear opening, rather than actually being creative and offensive from there. In the two competitions that I have entered, this was exposed as a real weakness of my guard, that if nothing happens I often get stuck in a more or less neutral match, which then does not go my way due to a pass from my opponent or losing on points.
This was extremely frustrating to me, especially when more savvy training partners would lock down to render my guard basically useless, or indeed just break it and pass when they wanted to. I felt that I was stuck in a plateau - I knew I wanted to be in guard, I just didn't know how to use it properly. I still feel that my closed guard needs a lot of work and I need to have more options than simply locking down and hoping for the best ('I have now been in guard for three consecutive days...'). However, I do feel more comfortable attacking from close guard and I have a few more options and I'm off the plateau a bit.
I got there by changing my whole thought process towards guard and my use of it. I now try to think about sweeps as well as subs. Whilst I have not gotten to where I would like to be (not even close), this change in my training has helped me lift myself off the plateau and to what I feel is another level up - not to my final goal, but a little closer on the meter! My answer to the plateau question is to look at how you're training and try to make adjustments - seems simple, but, if you're like me, it's actually quite hard to change a mindset!!
I'm a bit out of practice with these blog posts so I hope this has not been too incoherent! I would love to hear about how other people deal with the plateau problem - please chime in on the comments section - it makes me think people actually read this!!!!
Thanks for reading!!
Tuesday, 21 August 2012
Saturday, 10 March 2012
Abu Dhabi World Pro Trials Malaysia - after the smoke cleared!
To quickly sum up my results, unfortunately I lost both fights that I had. The first fight was the one I really thought I had a chance of winning and I was a bit disappointed that I couldn't control my nerves enugh to relax and fight sensibly. I started off implementing my gameplan perfectly, I dashed in and pulled guard before the other fella even really knew what was happening. I then struggled with him in guard - I couldn't break his posture enough and couldn't get his hands off my body to throw up the triangle or sweep. Eventually he broke my guard and the end started coming - I didn't tap to the choke, but the referee saw clearly it was too tight and tapped for me. I have no complaints, I knew it was tight but for some reason the adrenaline meant I didn't really feel it.
My second fight was against someone I know and I tried to tire him on the feet and hope he would pull guard. I saw the chance for a guillotine and went for it. I couldn't get the choke on the feet so I thought I would go to the ground and hunt for it there. Unfortunately, he tripped me as I went down and then got knee on belly. I defended an armbar on the left, then he transitioned well and got me with an armbar on the right, tap tap tap!
I have no complaints or regrets about either of my fights. In the first fight, I wish I had been a little bit cooler and able to display my BJJ a bit better but in the end it was a great experience and I did what I could. I didn't get my hand raised, but nor did I leave the mats feeling like I had wasted my time or let myself or my coaches down.
At the end of the day, the competition for me became more about the team and the event than my individual performance. My team mates did extremely well, producing the ladies' Absolute division winner and a number of medals. Leverage Combat Academy/Marcos Escobar BJJ won the overall team medal and I was very proud to see my training partners do so very well. It is a great source of pride and excitement to me that I will continue to train and learn from people that are consistently medalling in competitions and I will continue to be able to match myself against them and see how I stack up with them.
I really enjoyed my day yesterday and I was so pleased to take part in the first competition in Malaysia. I t was really nice to meet so many polite, respectful, funny and downright dangerous people that all share a love of this sport and to be able to watch them do their thing. It was great to watch the quality of competition, as well as be able to really get stuck in and start to connect to the SE Asian BJJ community. It's nice to know that wherever I travel in the region there will be people I have at least met before and, as long as I bring a gi, I will be able to pass a few hours getting sweaty with them!
What will I take away from the competition? First and foremost, I was again reassured that I have chosen the right hobby. It was a genuine pleasure to spend a whole day in the company of so many people that love the same things that I do and it was an honour to be able to help out with the running. In terms of my jiujitsu, I know can see how I want to develop my game - I still want to play guard, but now I know that my guard has to be more threatening and come with more options. This will be my aim for development in the future. I also know that my adrenaline is something that needs to be addressed and I have to be cooler in future competitions.Yesterday's competition totally fuelled my passion for the sport and makes me want to work harder and harder at it. It has made me feel even more blessed in finding Leverage Combat Academy and it has given me more drive to continue in this great sport and community. OSSS!
Finally, in this blog it just remains to thank all the people that made yesterday happen, from the organisers, to the volunteers, to the referees who all did an awesome job, to the spectators, to the weather (!) to the competitors - thanks for making sure Leverage didn't throw a party that no-one came to!! Thank you to my training partners. Thanks to all!!When I find the cord to my camera, I will put up some of the photos I took yesterday, in the mean time, I have added a few I have stolen from others!
Wednesday, 7 March 2012
Competition time
Well, here we go, just about two days until my first competition. I've trained hard, feel confident about making weight and I have a gameplan of sorts - part of which includes faking an injury and heading for the bar if things head south!!
At this point, there isn't really much left for me to do. I have one more training session tomorrow night just to iron out a couple of kinks and make sure that I have everything in the right place, I won't say I'm 100% prepared, but I don't think you ever really can be. All I know is that I have tried to train hard, regularly and intelligently. I have tried to listen to my coaches and argue with them where I thought it necessary, or when I was being pigheaded (sorry!).
This being my first competition, I'm not expecting much from it, or at least, that's what I said when I entered. All I talked about was doing it for the experience. However, now, after all the hard work I've done, experience be damned! I want to leave the mats with my arms raised once - just once, that's all I'm looking for, after that, as the indomitable Mr. Goh says, 'it's beer and chicken wings!' I also want to make sure that I compete fairly, with honour and dignity and that I am as humble in a hoped-for victory as I will be in defeat. I hope I can show I am a martial artist, as well as a fighter!
So, how do I feel? To be honest, similar to my previous boxing match (lost by first round TKO if you're interested...), I'm not feeling much. I have been through most of my emotional ups and downs and now I'm just not thinking about the fact that I have to fight on Saturday. Right now, I'm trying to reduce it to an intellectual experience, rather than an emotional one as I think about my weight, think about my travel arrangements and think about the techniques I'm planning to use. Come Friday night and Saturday morning, I think that will all change of course and I'll desperately be looking for a plane to the farthest place from Kuala Lumpur possible! Right now though, I'm just glad there's not too much hard training or dieting left to do and that, win, lose or draw, I'll be having a few (or more than a few) beers on Saturday night!
All that's really left for me to do is what I can do on this blog. I want to thank each and everyone that has worked with me, rolled with me, shouted at me, laughed at or with me and encouraged me. I want to thank all the training partners that have taken the time to point out flaws in my game (often painfully), that have broken my confidence so I can build it up harder and stronger and that have not let me quit, even when I wanted to. I want to thank everybody that has taken the time to support me and spend some of their own precious training time with me.
There are far too many names to mention, but here we go -
Firstly, thanks to my wonderful girlfriend, Fatemeh, for putting up with me tired and for being understanding about the training hours - thanks honey, nearly there! (And of course little Sonia for helping with diets and general encouragement!)
huge, huge thanks must go to Aaron Goh, who has spent so many extra hours talking with me, drilling with me, going over gameplans with me and basically being a rock to support or, as needed, crush me - thanks bro!
Same to Ian Lee, who has run some excellent training sessions and, in his inimitable manner, has taken time to roll with me and give me plenty of feedback whilst crushing the breath from my body and bending my limbs in odd ways. He has also taken the time to add a few nice little touches to my arsenal.
Lim Fang Han, one of the nicest people to ever put on a gi. Thanks for all the drills and encouragement man!
Nikola Cicovic, my fellow 92kger for all the laughs, as well as the odd serious training moment!
Evan Chee for keeping me humble with his human spider act - technique does beat strength!
The Basics BJJ crew - 'Wild Zebra', Patrick Versace, Gunther and everyone else that started with me and has kept at it.
Mag and Su Ling for always being ready to roll and poke yet more gaping holes in my game!
Josep "Sexy White' for helping with so many little details of positions and subs, and being willing to let me practice my hamfisted attempts on his neck, all with amazing good humour and grace.
Of course, Professor Marcos Escobar, for being a constant inspiration and for providing us all with the opportunity to take part in this great sport - sorry you won't be there boss, I'll do my best for you!
Sorry that this has started to sound like some sort of farewell or victory speech, but I do think it's worth taking the time to say thanks now and again. I would just like to thank every single person at Leverage Combat Academy - too many of you to name one by one and I think you know who you are anyway - for everything. I don't promise to win, but I hope I can at least make you proud of me. Good luck to everyone else that's competing on Saturday - I hope our opponents are prepared, because we certainly are! OSSS!!
At this point, there isn't really much left for me to do. I have one more training session tomorrow night just to iron out a couple of kinks and make sure that I have everything in the right place, I won't say I'm 100% prepared, but I don't think you ever really can be. All I know is that I have tried to train hard, regularly and intelligently. I have tried to listen to my coaches and argue with them where I thought it necessary, or when I was being pigheaded (sorry!).
This being my first competition, I'm not expecting much from it, or at least, that's what I said when I entered. All I talked about was doing it for the experience. However, now, after all the hard work I've done, experience be damned! I want to leave the mats with my arms raised once - just once, that's all I'm looking for, after that, as the indomitable Mr. Goh says, 'it's beer and chicken wings!' I also want to make sure that I compete fairly, with honour and dignity and that I am as humble in a hoped-for victory as I will be in defeat. I hope I can show I am a martial artist, as well as a fighter!
So, how do I feel? To be honest, similar to my previous boxing match (lost by first round TKO if you're interested...), I'm not feeling much. I have been through most of my emotional ups and downs and now I'm just not thinking about the fact that I have to fight on Saturday. Right now, I'm trying to reduce it to an intellectual experience, rather than an emotional one as I think about my weight, think about my travel arrangements and think about the techniques I'm planning to use. Come Friday night and Saturday morning, I think that will all change of course and I'll desperately be looking for a plane to the farthest place from Kuala Lumpur possible! Right now though, I'm just glad there's not too much hard training or dieting left to do and that, win, lose or draw, I'll be having a few (or more than a few) beers on Saturday night!
All that's really left for me to do is what I can do on this blog. I want to thank each and everyone that has worked with me, rolled with me, shouted at me, laughed at or with me and encouraged me. I want to thank all the training partners that have taken the time to point out flaws in my game (often painfully), that have broken my confidence so I can build it up harder and stronger and that have not let me quit, even when I wanted to. I want to thank everybody that has taken the time to support me and spend some of their own precious training time with me.
There are far too many names to mention, but here we go -
Firstly, thanks to my wonderful girlfriend, Fatemeh, for putting up with me tired and for being understanding about the training hours - thanks honey, nearly there! (And of course little Sonia for helping with diets and general encouragement!)
huge, huge thanks must go to Aaron Goh, who has spent so many extra hours talking with me, drilling with me, going over gameplans with me and basically being a rock to support or, as needed, crush me - thanks bro!
Same to Ian Lee, who has run some excellent training sessions and, in his inimitable manner, has taken time to roll with me and give me plenty of feedback whilst crushing the breath from my body and bending my limbs in odd ways. He has also taken the time to add a few nice little touches to my arsenal.
Lim Fang Han, one of the nicest people to ever put on a gi. Thanks for all the drills and encouragement man!
Nikola Cicovic, my fellow 92kger for all the laughs, as well as the odd serious training moment!
Evan Chee for keeping me humble with his human spider act - technique does beat strength!
The Basics BJJ crew - 'Wild Zebra', Patrick Versace, Gunther and everyone else that started with me and has kept at it.
Mag and Su Ling for always being ready to roll and poke yet more gaping holes in my game!
Josep "Sexy White' for helping with so many little details of positions and subs, and being willing to let me practice my hamfisted attempts on his neck, all with amazing good humour and grace.
Of course, Professor Marcos Escobar, for being a constant inspiration and for providing us all with the opportunity to take part in this great sport - sorry you won't be there boss, I'll do my best for you!
Sorry that this has started to sound like some sort of farewell or victory speech, but I do think it's worth taking the time to say thanks now and again. I would just like to thank every single person at Leverage Combat Academy - too many of you to name one by one and I think you know who you are anyway - for everything. I don't promise to win, but I hope I can at least make you proud of me. Good luck to everyone else that's competing on Saturday - I hope our opponents are prepared, because we certainly are! OSSS!!
Sunday, 26 February 2012
Ego and BJJ
Sorry for not updating more often, but it's competition time again at Leverage and, whilst I like writing about BJJ, it's a bit more important at the moment that I actually do some of it!
BJJ is a funny sport and it has to be said that ego can play a large part in training. Whilst it is important to be aggressive and roll to win, it is just as important to make sure that you are learning and, sometimes, learning comes from losing, even more than it does from winning!
I have recently been reading a few forums about BJJ and came across two stories that I wanted to share and that show that overly indulging your ego can seriously negatively affect not only your BJJ experience, but also someone else's.
In our first story, which I am led to believe happened in America, a brown belt was rolling with a beginner. Not just a white belt, but an absolute beginner. The higher belt had locked in an armbar but the beginner wasn't tapping. Not to be deterred, and absolutely determined to get the tap, the brown belt transferred the armbar to a more deadly version. The beginner was not quite aware of the seriousness of the situation and still didn't tap. The result? Snap, crackle and pop of the poor fella's arm. Not a break, but a nasty injury. As a result of this, the beginner decided BJJ was not for him and left the club, the post I read was his farewell to BJJ.
In our second story, we have the story of a girl rolling with boys. She is a blue belt and can clearly handle herself. However, rather than getting the respect due her belt, she has found that males, especially white belts cannot deal with the fact that she can not only control them, but is also able to tap them out regularly. The result? They attempt to smash her through the mats, which has in a fair few unnecessary injuries, not just from submissions being cranked more than needed, but also bruises, contusions and the odd sprained ankle as she is dragged, pushed, crushed and generally beasted all over the mats.
I think it is obvious in both cases that ego is what is driving people and it is clearly harmful, not just to bodies, but also general gym atmosphere. Whilst the first is a somewhat extreme case, the second is one that is probably fairly familiar to people in gyms all over the world.
There is a clear difference between ego and pride. Pride is generally fairly positive, it's what makes us not give up position, or fight out of bad positions and make sure that we give a good account of ourselves when we roll. Ego is what can lead us to take things a step too far and cause damage to others. BJJ is a generally safe sport, but if we allow ourselves to be blinded by ego, then this can mean that we are ignoring safety and cranking joints and crushing jaws instead of getting legitimate submissions.
Everyone gets tapped and it is how we deal with this bruise to our pride that, I believe, shapes our approach to the sport. I don't like to tap any more than anyone else, and I get a sense of achievement when I battle for and win a submission. It makes me feel proud to get a legitimate, good tap and it can really upset me when I am tapped due to a mistake or by someone that I usually can defend pretty well against (a sign of my ego showing through). However, I try not to go too far in getting the tap, and I also try not to become inconsolable when I get tapped. It doesn't always work and, one person at the gym mentioned that he feels you can't leave your ego at the door, you have to manage it. I think this is a perfect approach. We need some positive ego, or pride, but we need to try to leave the negative aspects behind, not just for the sake of our development, but also for the sake of other people's development and, indeed safety.
BJJ is a funny sport and it has to be said that ego can play a large part in training. Whilst it is important to be aggressive and roll to win, it is just as important to make sure that you are learning and, sometimes, learning comes from losing, even more than it does from winning!
I have recently been reading a few forums about BJJ and came across two stories that I wanted to share and that show that overly indulging your ego can seriously negatively affect not only your BJJ experience, but also someone else's.
In our first story, which I am led to believe happened in America, a brown belt was rolling with a beginner. Not just a white belt, but an absolute beginner. The higher belt had locked in an armbar but the beginner wasn't tapping. Not to be deterred, and absolutely determined to get the tap, the brown belt transferred the armbar to a more deadly version. The beginner was not quite aware of the seriousness of the situation and still didn't tap. The result? Snap, crackle and pop of the poor fella's arm. Not a break, but a nasty injury. As a result of this, the beginner decided BJJ was not for him and left the club, the post I read was his farewell to BJJ.
In our second story, we have the story of a girl rolling with boys. She is a blue belt and can clearly handle herself. However, rather than getting the respect due her belt, she has found that males, especially white belts cannot deal with the fact that she can not only control them, but is also able to tap them out regularly. The result? They attempt to smash her through the mats, which has in a fair few unnecessary injuries, not just from submissions being cranked more than needed, but also bruises, contusions and the odd sprained ankle as she is dragged, pushed, crushed and generally beasted all over the mats.
I think it is obvious in both cases that ego is what is driving people and it is clearly harmful, not just to bodies, but also general gym atmosphere. Whilst the first is a somewhat extreme case, the second is one that is probably fairly familiar to people in gyms all over the world.
There is a clear difference between ego and pride. Pride is generally fairly positive, it's what makes us not give up position, or fight out of bad positions and make sure that we give a good account of ourselves when we roll. Ego is what can lead us to take things a step too far and cause damage to others. BJJ is a generally safe sport, but if we allow ourselves to be blinded by ego, then this can mean that we are ignoring safety and cranking joints and crushing jaws instead of getting legitimate submissions.
Everyone gets tapped and it is how we deal with this bruise to our pride that, I believe, shapes our approach to the sport. I don't like to tap any more than anyone else, and I get a sense of achievement when I battle for and win a submission. It makes me feel proud to get a legitimate, good tap and it can really upset me when I am tapped due to a mistake or by someone that I usually can defend pretty well against (a sign of my ego showing through). However, I try not to go too far in getting the tap, and I also try not to become inconsolable when I get tapped. It doesn't always work and, one person at the gym mentioned that he feels you can't leave your ego at the door, you have to manage it. I think this is a perfect approach. We need some positive ego, or pride, but we need to try to leave the negative aspects behind, not just for the sake of our development, but also for the sake of other people's development and, indeed safety.
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Interview 3 - Jósep Valur Guðlaugsson
Next in the interview series is Superman himself, Jósep. With his trademark dry humour, this is really one to read!
Could you just briefly introduce yourself - name, age (if you want to!), job, nationality and anything else you would like us to know about you?
Hi, I‘m Jósep Valur Guðlaugsson aka Sexy White,Superman or the Viking but usually I end up being known as Forrest Gump after the cool factor wears off! I‘m from Reykjavík Iceland and I‘m a software engineer.
How long have you been training BJJ?
For 4 years and 2 months.
What other martial arts have you tried?
When I was around 12 years old I tried Aikido and then Kimewaza. Total maybe 3 years. I‘ve also trained weights, gymnastics, running and overall fitness since I was very young. Now I do BJJ, Weight lifting and Tango.
How would you compare them to BJJ?
I honestly don‘t think they work for self defense. I remember when I tried the Aikido techniques on my friends or family members who weren‘t willing to act the part and do somersaults or flips at the right moments things just became awkward. Today I just feel sorry for the people who have put a lot of time and effort in a self defence form that doesn‘t really work in real life. In BJJ you can easilly roll 100% with your friend everytime just as you would be fighting and no one gets hurt and I believe the best way to learn is by doing. I don‘t believe you learn to fight by doing Kata, just as well as no one goes inside a gym and benchpresses 100kg without first benchpressing 50kg.
Please tell us a little bit about what got you into BJJ.
In my old weight gym there were a few classes teaching BJJ when BJJ was starting in Iceland. I did a few session with some of my friends after training and we always had a lot of fun. But I dropped out when I got meningitis. Only a few years later I tried again. I got hooked and for the first 2 years I trained 1-2 sessions every day 5-6x a week. Now I try to go as often as I can.
What's your favourite submission and position?
I guess it‘s Guilotine or Kimura. Something basic, I‘m not very flexible and constantly sitting and a few poorly done squats and deadlifts has made my lower back pretty stiff and sensitive so I don‘t focus much on Armbars or Triangles.
Gi or no-gi?
I like both but I think I like no-gi more.It is faster and I don‘t have to wash my gi.
Could you give us a few words about what BJJ means to you?
The most important thing doing BJJ for me is that it‘s a great way of meeting friends. But it‘s also a great way for me to keep in shape and being active. Normaly the best part of the day is when I get to roll, then I can forget about work and the boring stuff and just play. If I show up tired, a friend will set the pace of the roll guaranteeing that when I leave I will have gotten a satisfying workout.
I have trained in many different clubs and always the morale has been good and I‘ve met a lot of good peoplein this sport that I consider my friends. After a few sessions people learn that this is not a place for egos. Most people, especially us guys, think we are much better at stuff we‘ve never tried than we really are so everybody who starts BJJ gets humbled in the beginning. This is no place to act tough, everybody rolls with everybody so we win, we lose, we learn from each other and we goof around.
Could you talk about any figures in sport or otherwise that have inspired you on your BJJ journey?
Actually no, I‘ve never had a role model in BJJ. I just enjoy the training. I don‘t look at any champions today and want to follow their foot steps, I‘m 34 now and I want to be the 70+ years old guy that still rolls with the guys. Helping out and being in noticably good shape for my age.
If you were asked to persuade a friend to take up BJJ, would you? How would you persuade them to take it up?I often do. I point out what a great way it is to maintain a good shape and how good the morale is.
What changes have you seen in your life since you started BJJ?
I think I‘m more relaxed. I have more friends and during Christmas parties with the family it is now custom that I attack a few of my relatives so we roll around the floor in our best suits, usually it ends with them ganging up on me!
Where do you see yourself in your training in 5 years? What aims and goals do you have for your training?
In 5 years I‘ll happily be doing the exactly same but I‘ll be 2 years older.
Could you just briefly introduce yourself - name, age (if you want to!), job, nationality and anything else you would like us to know about you?
Hi, I‘m Jósep Valur Guðlaugsson aka Sexy White,Superman or the Viking but usually I end up being known as Forrest Gump after the cool factor wears off! I‘m from Reykjavík Iceland and I‘m a software engineer.
How long have you been training BJJ?
For 4 years and 2 months.
What other martial arts have you tried?
When I was around 12 years old I tried Aikido and then Kimewaza. Total maybe 3 years. I‘ve also trained weights, gymnastics, running and overall fitness since I was very young. Now I do BJJ, Weight lifting and Tango.
How would you compare them to BJJ?
I honestly don‘t think they work for self defense. I remember when I tried the Aikido techniques on my friends or family members who weren‘t willing to act the part and do somersaults or flips at the right moments things just became awkward. Today I just feel sorry for the people who have put a lot of time and effort in a self defence form that doesn‘t really work in real life. In BJJ you can easilly roll 100% with your friend everytime just as you would be fighting and no one gets hurt and I believe the best way to learn is by doing. I don‘t believe you learn to fight by doing Kata, just as well as no one goes inside a gym and benchpresses 100kg without first benchpressing 50kg.
Please tell us a little bit about what got you into BJJ.
In my old weight gym there were a few classes teaching BJJ when BJJ was starting in Iceland. I did a few session with some of my friends after training and we always had a lot of fun. But I dropped out when I got meningitis. Only a few years later I tried again. I got hooked and for the first 2 years I trained 1-2 sessions every day 5-6x a week. Now I try to go as often as I can.
What's your favourite submission and position?
I guess it‘s Guilotine or Kimura. Something basic, I‘m not very flexible and constantly sitting and a few poorly done squats and deadlifts has made my lower back pretty stiff and sensitive so I don‘t focus much on Armbars or Triangles.
Gi or no-gi?
I like both but I think I like no-gi more.It is faster and I don‘t have to wash my gi.
Could you give us a few words about what BJJ means to you?
The most important thing doing BJJ for me is that it‘s a great way of meeting friends. But it‘s also a great way for me to keep in shape and being active. Normaly the best part of the day is when I get to roll, then I can forget about work and the boring stuff and just play. If I show up tired, a friend will set the pace of the roll guaranteeing that when I leave I will have gotten a satisfying workout.
I have trained in many different clubs and always the morale has been good and I‘ve met a lot of good peoplein this sport that I consider my friends. After a few sessions people learn that this is not a place for egos. Most people, especially us guys, think we are much better at stuff we‘ve never tried than we really are so everybody who starts BJJ gets humbled in the beginning. This is no place to act tough, everybody rolls with everybody so we win, we lose, we learn from each other and we goof around.
Could you talk about any figures in sport or otherwise that have inspired you on your BJJ journey?
Actually no, I‘ve never had a role model in BJJ. I just enjoy the training. I don‘t look at any champions today and want to follow their foot steps, I‘m 34 now and I want to be the 70+ years old guy that still rolls with the guys. Helping out and being in noticably good shape for my age.
If you were asked to persuade a friend to take up BJJ, would you? How would you persuade them to take it up?I often do. I point out what a great way it is to maintain a good shape and how good the morale is.
What changes have you seen in your life since you started BJJ?
I think I‘m more relaxed. I have more friends and during Christmas parties with the family it is now custom that I attack a few of my relatives so we roll around the floor in our best suits, usually it ends with them ganging up on me!
Where do you see yourself in your training in 5 years? What aims and goals do you have for your training?
In 5 years I‘ll happily be doing the exactly same but I‘ll be 2 years older.
Monday, 6 February 2012
Interview number 2 - Lim Fang Han
Next in line is Marcos Escobar blue belt, Leverage's Lim Fang Han! Enjoy!
Could you just briefly introduce yourself - name, age (if you want to!), job, nationality and anything else you would like us to know about you?My name is Fang, and I’m 31 years old. I work in advertising and I am a blue belt under Marcos Escobar, training at Leverage Combat Academy.
How long have you been training BJJ?
I have been training since November 2007, which makes it 4 years and 3 months! I can’t believe its been that long.
What other martial arts have you tried?
I used to do TKD as a kid, for about 2 years. Never went back.
How would you compare them to BJJ?
Well, obviously I was a kid and I don’t remember much. The one thing I remember about TKD was the kata/patterns that we had to memorize. In BJJ there are no patterns, the only pattern I see is me tapping out a lot, all the time.
Please tell us a little bit about what got you into BJJ
I was always intrigued by the UFC, and if you’ve ever watched the early UFCs, you’ll notice that BJJ was a force to be reckoned with. One day, I decided to get off my ass and actually take the initiative to learn the art. I started off in a place in Kelana Jaya, under Quico (a purple at that time), together with Eugene ‘Kenu’, Alex Padilla, Jase Kong Mikey and Leong Vieira. Shortly thereafter, our instructor at that time had found out about Marcos and wanted to join him. Unfortunately, he had to move to Bali, and he urged all of us to join Marcos’ school to learn from a legitimate source of BJJ and the only black belt in Malaysia! In many ways, it made our transition to Escobar’s much easier. That was 3 and a half years ago, and I haven’t looked back since.
I am very grateful that Marcos welcomed us with open arms. When I joined, there were a few students who were already learning from him, some of whom are still with him today, namely, Aaron Goh and Kenneth Lam (of Streetfight Wing Chun infamy). Back then, all we had was Marcos, and ourselves. As white belts, it was a little intimidating, but we relied on each other to learn. Slowly, things began to progress, we even had our own BJJ camp in Pangkor Island, with 3 black belts (Marcos, Chico Mendes & Cristiano Carvalho), a first in the region!
These days, the gym is full of blues and really good purple belts for the beginners to learn from. As a result, the white belts of today definitely improve a whole lot faster than we did 4 years ago! I guess that’s a definite sign of progress.
What's your favourite submission and position?
Kimura from side control.
Gi or no-gi?
I started out doing gi only, fearing nogi. But as I started doing more nogi classes, I realized how much I actually enjoyed it. The thing that I like about nogi is that it is very fast paced, and has many exchanges. Having said that, because it is very fast paced, I realized that I could develop very sloppy habits from it. The gi game, being a lot slower and grip dependant, makes you think, and execute your movements more technically. You can’t yank your hand out of an armbar when you’re doing gi.
Ultimately, gi or nogi, it depends on what you’re learning Jiujitsu for. To me, why not do both?
Could you give us a few words about what BJJ means to you?
BJJ has taught me many life lessons, about stress management, health, friendship, patience, how to approach problems amongst others. After a bad day at work, instead of heading home to sulk, I head straight to the gym to train, and almost always, I come out of it feeling better. Sometimes, work can be stressful for me, which is why it is so important for me to train.
It has also taught me to value my health. When I started training, I was smoking a pack a day. I even used to smoke a cigarette right before training! As of today, I have been smoke free for a year because of Jiujitsu (and Marcos’ incessant advice). It may have taken awhile to quit, but I intend to stay this way, and Jiujitsu has played a big part in helping me quit.
It has changed my life for the better, and I hope it will continue to do so in the years to come.
Apart obviously from Marcos, could you talk about any figures in sport or otherwise that have inspired you on your BJJ journey?
Royce Gracie, for showing the world that the little guy can win; Rickson Gracie, for being so technical and awesome; Leo Vieira, for being the nicest/most humble world & ADCC champion ever and of course my teammates, who inspire me to train harder every day.
If you were asked to persuade a friend to take up BJJ, would you? How would you persuade them to take it up?
Obviously, you could never force someone to do something. Without proper intent, they would never last in such a sport/art. I will tell you how I managed to get my girlfriend to start training. It was in August 2009, and Marcos was conducting a self defense seminar. Up till then, to my girlfriend, Jiujitsu was just a bunch of men rolling on the floor and hugging. I convinced her to participate in the self defense seminar, as I was worried for her safety as well. Marcos showed a series of practical Jiujitsu based self defense moves, and she found it interesting enough to participate in a trial class. After that, she was hooked! These days, she trains just as seriously as me, and has been competing and medaling in competitions regionally.
What I’m trying to say is that you have to put a context to the art, in order to convince a person to take it up. Whether it is self defense, weight loss or even learning to kick ass, I would convince them to take up the art based on their goal. For most, it is almost always getting serious about health and weight loss.
Could you just briefly introduce yourself - name, age (if you want to!), job, nationality and anything else you would like us to know about you?My name is Fang, and I’m 31 years old. I work in advertising and I am a blue belt under Marcos Escobar, training at Leverage Combat Academy.How long have you been training BJJ?
I have been training since November 2007, which makes it 4 years and 3 months! I can’t believe its been that long.
What other martial arts have you tried?
I used to do TKD as a kid, for about 2 years. Never went back.
How would you compare them to BJJ?
Well, obviously I was a kid and I don’t remember much. The one thing I remember about TKD was the kata/patterns that we had to memorize. In BJJ there are no patterns, the only pattern I see is me tapping out a lot, all the time.
Please tell us a little bit about what got you into BJJ
I was always intrigued by the UFC, and if you’ve ever watched the early UFCs, you’ll notice that BJJ was a force to be reckoned with. One day, I decided to get off my ass and actually take the initiative to learn the art. I started off in a place in Kelana Jaya, under Quico (a purple at that time), together with Eugene ‘Kenu’, Alex Padilla, Jase Kong Mikey and Leong Vieira. Shortly thereafter, our instructor at that time had found out about Marcos and wanted to join him. Unfortunately, he had to move to Bali, and he urged all of us to join Marcos’ school to learn from a legitimate source of BJJ and the only black belt in Malaysia! In many ways, it made our transition to Escobar’s much easier. That was 3 and a half years ago, and I haven’t looked back since.
I am very grateful that Marcos welcomed us with open arms. When I joined, there were a few students who were already learning from him, some of whom are still with him today, namely, Aaron Goh and Kenneth Lam (of Streetfight Wing Chun infamy). Back then, all we had was Marcos, and ourselves. As white belts, it was a little intimidating, but we relied on each other to learn. Slowly, things began to progress, we even had our own BJJ camp in Pangkor Island, with 3 black belts (Marcos, Chico Mendes & Cristiano Carvalho), a first in the region!
These days, the gym is full of blues and really good purple belts for the beginners to learn from. As a result, the white belts of today definitely improve a whole lot faster than we did 4 years ago! I guess that’s a definite sign of progress.
What's your favourite submission and position?
Kimura from side control.
Gi or no-gi?
I started out doing gi only, fearing nogi. But as I started doing more nogi classes, I realized how much I actually enjoyed it. The thing that I like about nogi is that it is very fast paced, and has many exchanges. Having said that, because it is very fast paced, I realized that I could develop very sloppy habits from it. The gi game, being a lot slower and grip dependant, makes you think, and execute your movements more technically. You can’t yank your hand out of an armbar when you’re doing gi.
Ultimately, gi or nogi, it depends on what you’re learning Jiujitsu for. To me, why not do both?
Could you give us a few words about what BJJ means to you?
BJJ has taught me many life lessons, about stress management, health, friendship, patience, how to approach problems amongst others. After a bad day at work, instead of heading home to sulk, I head straight to the gym to train, and almost always, I come out of it feeling better. Sometimes, work can be stressful for me, which is why it is so important for me to train.
It has also taught me to value my health. When I started training, I was smoking a pack a day. I even used to smoke a cigarette right before training! As of today, I have been smoke free for a year because of Jiujitsu (and Marcos’ incessant advice). It may have taken awhile to quit, but I intend to stay this way, and Jiujitsu has played a big part in helping me quit.
It has changed my life for the better, and I hope it will continue to do so in the years to come.
Apart obviously from Marcos, could you talk about any figures in sport or otherwise that have inspired you on your BJJ journey?
Royce Gracie, for showing the world that the little guy can win; Rickson Gracie, for being so technical and awesome; Leo Vieira, for being the nicest/most humble world & ADCC champion ever and of course my teammates, who inspire me to train harder every day.
If you were asked to persuade a friend to take up BJJ, would you? How would you persuade them to take it up?
Obviously, you could never force someone to do something. Without proper intent, they would never last in such a sport/art. I will tell you how I managed to get my girlfriend to start training. It was in August 2009, and Marcos was conducting a self defense seminar. Up till then, to my girlfriend, Jiujitsu was just a bunch of men rolling on the floor and hugging. I convinced her to participate in the self defense seminar, as I was worried for her safety as well. Marcos showed a series of practical Jiujitsu based self defense moves, and she found it interesting enough to participate in a trial class. After that, she was hooked! These days, she trains just as seriously as me, and has been competing and medaling in competitions regionally.
What I’m trying to say is that you have to put a context to the art, in order to convince a person to take it up. Whether it is self defense, weight loss or even learning to kick ass, I would convince them to take up the art based on their goal. For most, it is almost always getting serious about health and weight loss.
What changes have you seen in your life since you started BJJ?
Like I mentioned earlier, I value my health a lot more these days, I am a lot more patient, more meticulous in problem solving and I am generally a lot happier because of my training.
Where do you see yourself in your training in 5 years? What aims and goals do you have for your training?
In 5 years, I hope to be a very good competitive purple belt. While I know that it is not realistic for me to want to be a Mundials (BJJ World Championships) Champion, it is a dream of mine to step on the mats to compete at the Mundials at least once and make my team proud. All in all, I just hope to be training consistently and hope that Jiujitsu will continue to help me improve myself and be a better person.
"Jiujitsu is not about who you beat, but what you conquer." - Anon
Like I mentioned earlier, I value my health a lot more these days, I am a lot more patient, more meticulous in problem solving and I am generally a lot happier because of my training.
Where do you see yourself in your training in 5 years? What aims and goals do you have for your training?
In 5 years, I hope to be a very good competitive purple belt. While I know that it is not realistic for me to want to be a Mundials (BJJ World Championships) Champion, it is a dream of mine to step on the mats to compete at the Mundials at least once and make my team proud. All in all, I just hope to be training consistently and hope that Jiujitsu will continue to help me improve myself and be a better person.
"Jiujitsu is not about who you beat, but what you conquer." - Anon
Sunday, 5 February 2012
The first interview - Aaron Goh
This blog has been a touch inactive of late due to a few things going on and also trying to sort out what I think will be quite an exciting and interesting series of articles. As I hope has been clear from the beginning, I train at Leverage Combat Academy in Malaysia and I wanted to take a look at some of the people we have training there in the hope that anyone reading this that has never thought about BJJ, or has been intimidated by BJJ will see that none of us that train the 'gentle art' are supermen or women, we are all just ordinary people that aren't aggressive meatheads, but who enjoy the challenge and the fitness of a combat sport.
So, first up and with no further ado, the co-owner of Leverage Combat Academy and one of the biggest influences in my decision to start and continue with BJJ - Aaron Goh. Take it away Aaron!
Could you just briefly introduce yourself - name, age (if you want to!), job, nationality and anything else you would like us to know about?
Aaron Goh, and I just turned 30. I co-own and manage Leverage Combat Academy, a training facility that focuses primarily on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and its applications in various forms (Submission Grappling, Mixed Martial Arts).
How long have you been training BJJ?
I started in late 2008. I didn't do too well in maths while I was at school, but I’m guessing that makes it more than 3 years.
Please tell us a little bit about what got you into BJJ and how you met Marcos.
Well, like every hot blooded male who was a product of the 80s, I grew up watching action movies and I have always had a fascination for martial arts. I didn’t believe that anything I saw was practical though, so I always thought that fighting and martial arts was just for the movies. Until one day, I sat in the cinema and watched a Donnie Yen movie called ‘Flashpoint” (now regarded as one of the best and most realistic action movie ever filmed). It was like a spark was ignited within and I told myself “Hey, this actually looks like it could work in real life”
At that point I was already 26 years old, and I have always been into keeping fit and I was an avid gym goer. I didn’t really want to pursue anything that is close contact physically, unless I thought it was practical and could actually work in real life. So I researched more and found out that Donnie Yen used “Mixed Martial Arts” to choreograph the fight scenes and that it was a combination of various martial arts, one of which was Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I was extremely intrigued and I told myself, “I must learn this!” It so happened that 2 weeks later, The Star ran an article on Malaysia’s very first pro MMA fighter, Adam Kayoom. I got in contact with the gym that he was affiliated with at that time, but was told he was no longer teaching there. Undaunted, I went for a trial class, was immediately hooked and signed up on that same day!
The classes had a mixed bunch of practitioners, most of whom had already been practicing BJJ for a few months or a few years. I felt out of place as most of the techniques shown were beyond my comprehension and ability. It was no fault of theirs, but I was a complete newbie and so I began searching for a place that could fit me and my need to learn the basics. I mean, it’s no point learning a spinning back kick if you can’t even stand properly you know what I mean?
I remember searching for BJJ in Malaysia almost every day, constantly refreshing the search page, until one day I found out an ADCC champion and a Brazilian Black Belt was teaching here in Kota Damansara! I couldn’t believe my luck!
I went for the trial class that very week, and I still remember there were only 5 of us or so. One of them was Kenneth Lam actually! Hahaha! And that’s how I met Marcos and have not looked back since.
What's your favourite submission and position?
The back take is my favourite position. Favourite submission guillotine (No Gi) and the bow and arrow lapel choke (Gi)
Gi or no-gi?
Man, this has been and still is an ongoing debate. I’m no Black Belt but I firmly believe both Gi and No Gi complement each other. If you want to get better at the Gi, you must train No Gi. Without the Gi, you must keep your game tighter and you cannot be loose otherwise you will lose position. And if you want to get better at No Gi, you must train with the Gi. With the Gi, you are forced to be more technical with your escapes and submissions. You cannot just muscle your way or slip out of bad positions. I enjoy the intricacies of both, and I honestly feel training both Gi and No Gi has helped my jiu jitsu tremendously.
Obviously you are now the co-owner of Leverage Combat Academy, what was it you did before opening the gym and going full-time with BJJ?
I was in the car customization industry for 8 years and I was the pioneer for a lot of stuff that are staples now in the local aftermarket industry. I was the first to commercialise airbrushed graphics for cars and I was also the only person to have successfully brought the king of car customization to Malaysia, the world famous West Coast Customs.
Not many people are prepared to give up their jobs and do their hobby professionally, what was it that made you decide to go for it?
It’s not an easy decision to make for most people. If they are not sure about their passion or hobby, and they just make the jump without careful consideration, that passion can quickly become a burden once it becomes a full time venture. I decided to go for it because I really believe in jiu jitsu, and I really believe in the relationship I have with my instructor and partner, Prof. Marcos. We both shared the same goals and we both are very passionate about BJJ.
I was also feeling burned out by the long hours with my car business. It was extremely stressful, and jiu jitsu was my constant outlet. So after some careful consideration, I decided to pursue my passion.
Can you tell us a little bit about how you felt when you decided to take that plunge?
Nervous. Worried. Not so much for how things might turn out for me financially, but more so for how my relationship with my instructor will pan out. I’ve been involved in numerous businesses since the age of 21, and I can honestly tell you that a business relationship is just like a romantic relationship. It’s all fun and laughter when times are good, but when times are bad; that’s when you know for sure if you can really work with and count on your partner. I have lost count of the many friends I have lost due to business misunderstandings and dealings. My own childhood friend whom I have known for 10 years even screwed me over, all in the pursuit of wealth.
I took those lessons to heart, and I really didn’t want to lose my instructor over business. It also helps that we train together, so for the most part if there’s any misunderstanding we can always sort it out on the mats. Of course he kicks my ass, but you can be damn sure I’m gonna at least try to not make it easy for him!
You are obviously very committed to spreading the word of BJJ throughout Malaysia - could you give us a few words about what BJJ means to you?
BJJ to me is a lifestyle. It is one that I personally feel many should adopt. It is a great tool to release stress. So many people go through life with a chip on their shoulder. They work a job they hate and for a boss that they hate even more. Everyday there’s the stress of traffic, deadlines, bills, appointments and family commitments. That’s why there’s so much road rage. These people are looking for an outlet. The majority of them are ticking time bombs, just waiting for that one incident that will set them off.
My advice? Try a month of BJJ. You will be so tired after training and rolling, you won't even have the energy to get mad at the idiot that cuts into your lane.
I like to think of how similar BJJ and life actually is. In jiu jitsu, if you don’t sort out certain grips or if you ignore certain positions, you’re gonna get submitted! You learn to look at life’s problems similarly, without all the mental anguish that typically accompanies it. You become analytical. You start to think strategically. And when you get better at BJJ and as you get fitter, your self confidence increases and when that happens, it changes the way you carry yourself. Because you’re more confident, you’re willing to take chances and ask for that salary raise. Or demand that promotion. Your quality of life actually gets better through jiu jitsu, and that is why it is a lifestyle.
Obviously you have decided that BJJ is your life now, do you think it is suitable for everybody - why would you suggest that someone take up BJJ?
BJJ is absolutely suitable for everybody and I am living proof of that. I wasn’t the most athletic, or strongest or biggest or fittest in the class when I first started. I wasn't even a fast learner. I didn’t take to it as easily as I have seen some people take to it. My first 6 months, all I was doing was just tapping. And every night I would lie awake and wonder, 'can I really one day understand how jiu jitsu works?' But I stuck with it and I persevered. And I am glad I did. You do not need any particular physical attributes to take up BJJ. You do not need to have a background in any form of martial arts (I certainly did not). A person can literally get off the couch, put on a Gi and a belt, and start that very second.
The Academy is obviously going through a lot of changes in 2012, with a new training facility, could you say a few words about what you're planning for the coming year and beyond?
The new academy would not have been possible without the support of so many individuals. I always like to say that a gym is only as good as its members. Other than that, it is just empty space and walls. It is the individuals in the gym that make our academy unique and I am proud of this, more than anything else. With the new facility in Solaris, Mont Kiara we are hoping to be able to broaden our reach and encourage more Malaysians to take up BJJ.
We've also got an exciting competition coming up in March and a few seminars planned. With the ever growing popularity of Mixed Martial Arts in Malaysia, more and more people are discovering BJJ and we hope to be at the forefront of that. We’ve put in our dues and we have spent years building a strong foundation, so I really hope that this year we achieve our goal of 100 active students.
With a large influx of MMA fighters coming to the gym, could you please talk a little bit about how you see Leverage switching focus towards grooming potential MMA fighters, is that the plan at all? Will the gym be providing more MMA-focused fight training or will it remain a place where MMA fighters can come just to brush up on their jiujitsu?
Our core has been, and will always be BJJ. So the modalities will be Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with the Gi. Submission Grappling (No Gi). And Grappling with Striking (essentially, MMA). I think the vast majority have no idea what it truly takes to be an MMA fighter. They don’t know that you MUST have at least some form of stand up (striking) and ground work (grappling/ wrestling/ jiu jitsu) before you can call yourself an MMA fighter.
Most of these guys just put on a Dethrone or Tapout t-shirt and think they are a fighter. It also doesn’t help matters when some gyms market MMA as something glamorous and cool, when the reality is that it takes a lot of hard work, dedication and training to be an MMA fighter.
I want Leverage to be known for our jiu jitsu, first and foremost. And that is what we will focus on at all times.
Looking at things from a wider perspective, we saw in the first UFC that BJJ beat everything, however, in the modern MMA game, wrestling seems to be the dominant art. Is BJJ still essential for MMA? Will it rise to dominate again?
Wrestling, in my opinion, is the best companion to BJJ. If you have good wrestling and BJJ, you can dictate where the fight goes. Wrestling has the best takedowns for MMA, and BJJ has the best positions and submissions for MMA. In the first UFC, no one had a clue what ground fighting was.
But BJJ is constantly evolving. Look at the recent Mundials and ADCC. I believe it is not the case of BJJ rising to dominate again, it is a matter of fight strategy and using one’s strength to win the fight. No one will expect Roger Gracie to display the striking prowess of Anderson Silva, and expecting him to do so and win fights is ludicrous. His strength is his jiu jitsu. Similarly, no one will expect Alistair Overeem to grapple like Roger and dominate his opponents with superior positioning and submissions. He is a kickboxer and he will use that to win fights.
MMA is a complex sport, and it is not easy for any single martial art to dominate like in the first UFC. I do believe jiu jitsu fighters will continue to dominate with their jiu jitsu, and I cannot wait to see some of the champions of our sport take up MMA in the future (Rodolfo Vieira comes to mind).
Apart obviously from Marcos, could you talk about any figures in sport or otherwise that have inspired you on your BJJ journey?
Marcelo Garcia comes to mind. He’s always smiling. And he’s such a great grappler. I hope to one day be half as good as him, and as humble as he is. I want to be a great ambassador for the Malaysian BJJ scene. Leo Vieira. Such a legend and yet so down to earth and friendly. I was very fortunate to have met and learnt from him. I enjoy watching Rodolfo Vieira’s guard passes. I like the Mendes Bros too. Caio Terra. Andre Galvao. If I keep going on, I would probably list almost every great BJJ athlete there ever was! I just keep an open mind and I take inspiration from everywhere and everybody.
Do you have any final words for anyone that might be reading this?
I’d like to thank everyone with whom I have had the opportunity to slap hands and bump fists with. There are so many people who have been so supportive of Leverage and I cannot thank them enough. Most importantly, I thank God for giving me the ability to do jiu jitsu and I hope this article inspires someone enough to try BJJ for themselves. Osss!
So, first up and with no further ado, the co-owner of Leverage Combat Academy and one of the biggest influences in my decision to start and continue with BJJ - Aaron Goh. Take it away Aaron!
Could you just briefly introduce yourself - name, age (if you want to!), job, nationality and anything else you would like us to know about?
Aaron Goh, and I just turned 30. I co-own and manage Leverage Combat Academy, a training facility that focuses primarily on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and its applications in various forms (Submission Grappling, Mixed Martial Arts).
How long have you been training BJJ?
I started in late 2008. I didn't do too well in maths while I was at school, but I’m guessing that makes it more than 3 years.
Please tell us a little bit about what got you into BJJ and how you met Marcos.
Well, like every hot blooded male who was a product of the 80s, I grew up watching action movies and I have always had a fascination for martial arts. I didn’t believe that anything I saw was practical though, so I always thought that fighting and martial arts was just for the movies. Until one day, I sat in the cinema and watched a Donnie Yen movie called ‘Flashpoint” (now regarded as one of the best and most realistic action movie ever filmed). It was like a spark was ignited within and I told myself “Hey, this actually looks like it could work in real life”
At that point I was already 26 years old, and I have always been into keeping fit and I was an avid gym goer. I didn’t really want to pursue anything that is close contact physically, unless I thought it was practical and could actually work in real life. So I researched more and found out that Donnie Yen used “Mixed Martial Arts” to choreograph the fight scenes and that it was a combination of various martial arts, one of which was Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I was extremely intrigued and I told myself, “I must learn this!” It so happened that 2 weeks later, The Star ran an article on Malaysia’s very first pro MMA fighter, Adam Kayoom. I got in contact with the gym that he was affiliated with at that time, but was told he was no longer teaching there. Undaunted, I went for a trial class, was immediately hooked and signed up on that same day!
The classes had a mixed bunch of practitioners, most of whom had already been practicing BJJ for a few months or a few years. I felt out of place as most of the techniques shown were beyond my comprehension and ability. It was no fault of theirs, but I was a complete newbie and so I began searching for a place that could fit me and my need to learn the basics. I mean, it’s no point learning a spinning back kick if you can’t even stand properly you know what I mean?
I remember searching for BJJ in Malaysia almost every day, constantly refreshing the search page, until one day I found out an ADCC champion and a Brazilian Black Belt was teaching here in Kota Damansara! I couldn’t believe my luck!
I went for the trial class that very week, and I still remember there were only 5 of us or so. One of them was Kenneth Lam actually! Hahaha! And that’s how I met Marcos and have not looked back since.
What's your favourite submission and position?
The back take is my favourite position. Favourite submission guillotine (No Gi) and the bow and arrow lapel choke (Gi)
Gi or no-gi?
Man, this has been and still is an ongoing debate. I’m no Black Belt but I firmly believe both Gi and No Gi complement each other. If you want to get better at the Gi, you must train No Gi. Without the Gi, you must keep your game tighter and you cannot be loose otherwise you will lose position. And if you want to get better at No Gi, you must train with the Gi. With the Gi, you are forced to be more technical with your escapes and submissions. You cannot just muscle your way or slip out of bad positions. I enjoy the intricacies of both, and I honestly feel training both Gi and No Gi has helped my jiu jitsu tremendously.
Obviously you are now the co-owner of Leverage Combat Academy, what was it you did before opening the gym and going full-time with BJJ?
I was in the car customization industry for 8 years and I was the pioneer for a lot of stuff that are staples now in the local aftermarket industry. I was the first to commercialise airbrushed graphics for cars and I was also the only person to have successfully brought the king of car customization to Malaysia, the world famous West Coast Customs.
Not many people are prepared to give up their jobs and do their hobby professionally, what was it that made you decide to go for it?
It’s not an easy decision to make for most people. If they are not sure about their passion or hobby, and they just make the jump without careful consideration, that passion can quickly become a burden once it becomes a full time venture. I decided to go for it because I really believe in jiu jitsu, and I really believe in the relationship I have with my instructor and partner, Prof. Marcos. We both shared the same goals and we both are very passionate about BJJ.
I was also feeling burned out by the long hours with my car business. It was extremely stressful, and jiu jitsu was my constant outlet. So after some careful consideration, I decided to pursue my passion.
Can you tell us a little bit about how you felt when you decided to take that plunge?
Nervous. Worried. Not so much for how things might turn out for me financially, but more so for how my relationship with my instructor will pan out. I’ve been involved in numerous businesses since the age of 21, and I can honestly tell you that a business relationship is just like a romantic relationship. It’s all fun and laughter when times are good, but when times are bad; that’s when you know for sure if you can really work with and count on your partner. I have lost count of the many friends I have lost due to business misunderstandings and dealings. My own childhood friend whom I have known for 10 years even screwed me over, all in the pursuit of wealth.
I took those lessons to heart, and I really didn’t want to lose my instructor over business. It also helps that we train together, so for the most part if there’s any misunderstanding we can always sort it out on the mats. Of course he kicks my ass, but you can be damn sure I’m gonna at least try to not make it easy for him!
You are obviously very committed to spreading the word of BJJ throughout Malaysia - could you give us a few words about what BJJ means to you?
BJJ to me is a lifestyle. It is one that I personally feel many should adopt. It is a great tool to release stress. So many people go through life with a chip on their shoulder. They work a job they hate and for a boss that they hate even more. Everyday there’s the stress of traffic, deadlines, bills, appointments and family commitments. That’s why there’s so much road rage. These people are looking for an outlet. The majority of them are ticking time bombs, just waiting for that one incident that will set them off.
My advice? Try a month of BJJ. You will be so tired after training and rolling, you won't even have the energy to get mad at the idiot that cuts into your lane.
I like to think of how similar BJJ and life actually is. In jiu jitsu, if you don’t sort out certain grips or if you ignore certain positions, you’re gonna get submitted! You learn to look at life’s problems similarly, without all the mental anguish that typically accompanies it. You become analytical. You start to think strategically. And when you get better at BJJ and as you get fitter, your self confidence increases and when that happens, it changes the way you carry yourself. Because you’re more confident, you’re willing to take chances and ask for that salary raise. Or demand that promotion. Your quality of life actually gets better through jiu jitsu, and that is why it is a lifestyle.
Obviously you have decided that BJJ is your life now, do you think it is suitable for everybody - why would you suggest that someone take up BJJ?
BJJ is absolutely suitable for everybody and I am living proof of that. I wasn’t the most athletic, or strongest or biggest or fittest in the class when I first started. I wasn't even a fast learner. I didn’t take to it as easily as I have seen some people take to it. My first 6 months, all I was doing was just tapping. And every night I would lie awake and wonder, 'can I really one day understand how jiu jitsu works?' But I stuck with it and I persevered. And I am glad I did. You do not need any particular physical attributes to take up BJJ. You do not need to have a background in any form of martial arts (I certainly did not). A person can literally get off the couch, put on a Gi and a belt, and start that very second.
The Academy is obviously going through a lot of changes in 2012, with a new training facility, could you say a few words about what you're planning for the coming year and beyond?
The new academy would not have been possible without the support of so many individuals. I always like to say that a gym is only as good as its members. Other than that, it is just empty space and walls. It is the individuals in the gym that make our academy unique and I am proud of this, more than anything else. With the new facility in Solaris, Mont Kiara we are hoping to be able to broaden our reach and encourage more Malaysians to take up BJJ.
We've also got an exciting competition coming up in March and a few seminars planned. With the ever growing popularity of Mixed Martial Arts in Malaysia, more and more people are discovering BJJ and we hope to be at the forefront of that. We’ve put in our dues and we have spent years building a strong foundation, so I really hope that this year we achieve our goal of 100 active students.
With a large influx of MMA fighters coming to the gym, could you please talk a little bit about how you see Leverage switching focus towards grooming potential MMA fighters, is that the plan at all? Will the gym be providing more MMA-focused fight training or will it remain a place where MMA fighters can come just to brush up on their jiujitsu?
Our core has been, and will always be BJJ. So the modalities will be Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with the Gi. Submission Grappling (No Gi). And Grappling with Striking (essentially, MMA). I think the vast majority have no idea what it truly takes to be an MMA fighter. They don’t know that you MUST have at least some form of stand up (striking) and ground work (grappling/ wrestling/ jiu jitsu) before you can call yourself an MMA fighter.
Most of these guys just put on a Dethrone or Tapout t-shirt and think they are a fighter. It also doesn’t help matters when some gyms market MMA as something glamorous and cool, when the reality is that it takes a lot of hard work, dedication and training to be an MMA fighter.
I want Leverage to be known for our jiu jitsu, first and foremost. And that is what we will focus on at all times.
Looking at things from a wider perspective, we saw in the first UFC that BJJ beat everything, however, in the modern MMA game, wrestling seems to be the dominant art. Is BJJ still essential for MMA? Will it rise to dominate again?
Wrestling, in my opinion, is the best companion to BJJ. If you have good wrestling and BJJ, you can dictate where the fight goes. Wrestling has the best takedowns for MMA, and BJJ has the best positions and submissions for MMA. In the first UFC, no one had a clue what ground fighting was.
But BJJ is constantly evolving. Look at the recent Mundials and ADCC. I believe it is not the case of BJJ rising to dominate again, it is a matter of fight strategy and using one’s strength to win the fight. No one will expect Roger Gracie to display the striking prowess of Anderson Silva, and expecting him to do so and win fights is ludicrous. His strength is his jiu jitsu. Similarly, no one will expect Alistair Overeem to grapple like Roger and dominate his opponents with superior positioning and submissions. He is a kickboxer and he will use that to win fights.
MMA is a complex sport, and it is not easy for any single martial art to dominate like in the first UFC. I do believe jiu jitsu fighters will continue to dominate with their jiu jitsu, and I cannot wait to see some of the champions of our sport take up MMA in the future (Rodolfo Vieira comes to mind).
Apart obviously from Marcos, could you talk about any figures in sport or otherwise that have inspired you on your BJJ journey?
Marcelo Garcia comes to mind. He’s always smiling. And he’s such a great grappler. I hope to one day be half as good as him, and as humble as he is. I want to be a great ambassador for the Malaysian BJJ scene. Leo Vieira. Such a legend and yet so down to earth and friendly. I was very fortunate to have met and learnt from him. I enjoy watching Rodolfo Vieira’s guard passes. I like the Mendes Bros too. Caio Terra. Andre Galvao. If I keep going on, I would probably list almost every great BJJ athlete there ever was! I just keep an open mind and I take inspiration from everywhere and everybody.
Do you have any final words for anyone that might be reading this?
I’d like to thank everyone with whom I have had the opportunity to slap hands and bump fists with. There are so many people who have been so supportive of Leverage and I cannot thank them enough. Most importantly, I thank God for giving me the ability to do jiu jitsu and I hope this article inspires someone enough to try BJJ for themselves. Osss!
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