Just working on the DVD at the moment. Still no closer to being finished but here is a clip for you anyway.
It's mov format and about 6.4 meg = long download on a standard modem.

http://www.gsw.co.nz/images/video/bjjnz_nats_2005_promo.mov

I know, long time no update. As most of you will know the forum is the best place for class related stuff and it really has replaced this blog as far as communication goes, but I will still try and update this thing when I get a chance.

Classes have been rocking along with the Fundamentals having almost 30 in them each night. Mon and Wed have dropped off a bit and are now running at about 15 – 20 per night. I expect it to get quieter as the winter takes hold. (like it has this weekend)

Anyway things that have happened lately.

Visitors:
American Gavin Enck contacted me a few months ago saying he was coming to NZ to visit some friends and travel a bit. He asked if it would be all right to train and as always I said yes. Now there are some people who email that I instantly don’t like and usually when/if they turn up it becomes clear they are just out to test themselves against other clubs. Ok fine, but not what we’re about. Gavin was different, straight away I liked the guy, he was friendly and open and we instantly hit it off.

As those of you who met him can attest he was a really nice guy! I just wish he had stayed longer and we had trained some more, but he was only here for a very short time and it happened to be between classes. I know we made a friend and I’m glad he took the time to come along and train with us. Hurry back Gavin.

Another visitor to GSW is Rodrigo (“Hodrigo”) Brazilian traveller and BJJ Blue Belt. Rodrigo is not like the other Brazilians I’ve met and he fits in extremely well on the mat. Hopefully he can work through his job and visa issues and stay a while in Wellington as he is already proving to be an asset on the mat.

Also he got John’s vote of confidence, which is unusual. Welcome aboard Rodrigo.

John Will:

Well as always John’s sessions were unreal, and as always I’m now questioning what I’m doing pretending to teach BJJ when I hardly understand basic skills and principals. John always manages to show stuff that is insanely complex in its simplicity and I wonder how I ever managed to perform it before?!?

I managed to follow John to the police college again this time and as always it was an eye opening session on stand-up skills. John called it absolute basics I called it a revelation. Also good to catch up with my old mate Humpy, always good to see him.

I will say that the theme for this set of seminars was clearly about uneven numbers and me without a partner, extremely frustrating to say the least, as this is the 4th seminar where I have not participated. Where are you Ko? :)

Again this time I had a lot of personal time with John and really gained a heap of knowledge of what’s happening in the rest of the country regarding BJJ. Also with our own Chris heading to Auckland to do a couple of the sessions there I managed to gain an insight into where we stand in our progression. All of which was very positive indeed.

Well I’ll leave it there as I’m currently working through some of the Competition DVD footage, using new programs and a new PC has not made the process any easier in fact it seems to be 10 times worse. I’ll post a pic of the new DVD authoring beast for you to see.

Take care

Geoff

Why Geoff has no money:
Reason 169>>
P4 3.06GHz
1024mg ram
Gforce FX550 AGP 256mb
Raid Controller
5 X 80 gig Seagate 7200rpm HDD's
DVD Writer Dual drive
etc,etc,etc

http://www.bjjamerica.com/

http://www.zen-do-kai.co.nz/

http://www.selfdefence.co.nz/

God this came around too quick.

JOHN is at the club on WEDNESDAY the 20th of April and THURSDAY the 21st of April. YES THAT'S THIS MONTH!!!
only 10 days! Sorry. Anyway like last time John will do 2 sessions of one and a half hours each. So they won't cut into your normal hours and the night will not go on forever.

The cost is $30.00 per night! or $50.00 for both. Please be quick in making your decision as the seminar will be full!!!

I know, I know long time no post. J But I’ve soo busy its not funny, at this rate I’m gonna need a secretary soon. Anyway one thing keeps on going and that is the reason for this blog, the Classes. I still can’t believe how many of you keep turning up night after night. I must say that I really appreciate it.

Ok, so here’s a run down from the last few classes


Wednesday 30/03/2005
45 split
This is the first of our guard passing classes, the basic idea is just don’t play the guard game and just crash around their defence. Using the elevated knee through pass we simple didn’t enter into any fancy defence/pass skills. Once we break open their legs simply stand back and disengage. Keeping one leg forward between their knees. Then when they react by sitting up to regain control we grab their collar and sleeve and drive our knee through to the mat and step passed.


Thursday 21/03/2005
BJJ Fundamentals 21 in the class,
Once more through the guard with no regard for what your partner is trying to achieve in the way of sweeps etc, simply don’t play their game.

Sunday 03/04/2005
BJJ Fundamentals 21 again,

Tonight we flipped the coin and played it from the guard. Starting with basic open guard skills worked in a drill where the passer was not allowed to grab the guard player’s legs in any sort of grip.

We slowly added aspects to the guard game each time upping the skill level and making it harder for the passer to get by. We ended the class with the guard fighter using as many skills as they possessed to thwart the passers attempts to get around their guard using any pass they liked. The drill ended up being a pass / sweep session.


Monday 04/04/2005
45 split 22 in class, including a new Brazilian Blue Belt Rodrigo!

Continued from Sunday using the same format and skill set for a pass sweep game using only open guard skills and limiting the passers tools. Started again with the passer being unable to grab the legs at all, then progressing to allowing pushing on the legs, then right into trying everything to pass.

Overall these classes should have been reversed, with the open guard skills drilled first then the passing second but either way the 2 skill sets are invaluable and everyone will find different aspects of each set useful in their games. (I hope) :)

Wednesday 06/04/2005
Dions class

Thursday 07/04/2005
BJJ Fundamentals 26 In Class

Again worked the open guard game covering basic principals. Finished the class with a couple of advanced sweeps.

1. Foot in bicep sweep. Left hand controls our opponents cuff, our left foot is in their bicep. Our right hand controls their other sleeve and our right leg is on the ground by their leg.
   We raise our left foot straight towards our head, with our heel leading the push, when we feel our opponents balance come forward we shift the direction of our push and roll them onto our right side.
2. Butterfly sweep. From closed guard with our partner "hiding", open your legs and hip out slightly to make space. Drive your right knee through the space and swing it out into your opponents bicep. Repeat the process with your left leg. From there push your left foot on your opponents hip to make space, insert your right shin across your opponents stomach so both your feet are out the left side of their body.
   
   a) Your opponent initiates the pass and tries to move around to your right. Using the control you have with your left hand and leg, pull them across your hips by driving their arm to the floor using your left knee. This will load them onto your right shin, using the momentum of their forward motion bounce them off your right leg and follow up to knee ride.
   
   b) You initiate the sweep by grabbing their left ankle with your right hand, sitting up and moving your head as close to their body as possible. Lie back and to the right use the control you have with your left leg and hand to pull them off balance and drive them straight forward off their base. Again as they load onto your right shin, fire them into space and follow to knee ride.

Sunday 10/04/2005
BJJ Fundamentals 17 in class

Keeping to the theme for the week, today we again played open guard starting in partners working the open guard skills. Then we "played" pass or sweep to put the guard fighter under pressure from a variety of different passing styles, sizes and weights.