Not many people get to have the privilege of occasionally teaching a martial art to their own instructor. In 1998, I’d been training in Wing Chun Kung Fu for close to a decade, with Rick Spain as my Sifu (instructor). Under his tutelage and expectations, I sought and found competence, and a way to transcend…
Author: Andrew Nerlich
John Will Seminar 15 Oct 2017 – Half Guard, the Seed
The seminar was held at the Red Boat Wing Chun Academy in Redfern. A wonderful surprise at the start with Red Boat Wing Chun’s chief instructor, Rick Spain, being awarded his Jiu Jitsu Black belt by John. David Suker of Stealth Fighting Arts in Bargo, received his the day before, and drove John to the…
Dave Camarillo 16 Sep 2017
The seminar was held at Higher Jiu Jitsu in the Woolloomooloo PCYC, organised by John Smallios. Dave’s first major statement was “Athleticism begins on the feet.” You want to be on your toes, moving, and always in a position to move. Not flat footed. All the running, sideways stepping, two in two out, etc. that…
The Gathering 2017, and a Rigan Machado seminar 10 Sep 2017
The Gathering 2017 I travelled to Melbourne to attend the Will/Machado Gathering, a competition organised every year by John Will. This year celebrating thirty years of BJJ in Australia. “Fawlty Towers”, where I stayed with the Langes, the Lazichs, Pete King and Elvis Sinosic. Unlike the TV namesake, staff are professional and the stay was…
Why you aren’t a streetfighter … and why you don’t want to be
From “Taking It to the Street; Making Your Martial Art Street Effective” by Marc “Animal” MacYoung, Paladin Press, 1999 A lot of martial art instructors claim to be streetfighters. They brag about how their system is street proven. To listen to these people, you’d think they were real hardcore street savages. And to give them…
Plan for an “Introduction to Jiu Jitsu” Seminar
Introduction to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for Wing Chun students. BJJ is a style of grappling, developed in Brazil from a base of Japanese Jiu Jitsu, with elements added from other grappling arts over the years. Excels in fighting on the ground, and especially off your back. Sport and self defence aspects You never wantto go…
A Trivial but Useful hack for Belt Stripes
You are sensible, and want to wash your Jiu Jitsu belt after every session. Jiu Jitsu knowledge and your Qi do not accumulate in your unwashed belt. Accumulating ringworm, staph and hep B might, no matter how good the mat hygiene at your gym. Your problem? The stripes on your belt are duct tape. Not…
John Will Seminar 5 Mar 2017 – Ashi Garami 2.0
Seminar was held at Rick Spain’s gym, Red Boat Wing Chun Academy, in Redfern. Terminology Today’s seminar concentrated on what John calls “Inside” leg control. If you sit facing each other, and you have his L leg trapped in your R armpit, this is “Outside” leg control. If, in the same position, you have his…
Stanley Tam Qigong Seminar 25 Feb 2017
The seminar was hosted by Joe Worthington of Jungle Brothers Movement. Qi can be thought of as bioelectrical / magnetic energy. Five Aspects of Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture Herbalism Moxibustion Bian Stones Qigong, Massage, etc. Only Qigong is a solo practice. Also known as Daoyin. External exercise – Jiu Jitsu, Martial Arts, Weight Training, etc….
Steve Maxwell – Gracie Jiu Jitsu Core Concepts 11 Feb 2017
It was hot … it was good The seminar was held at Higher Jiu Jitsu, Woolloomooloo PCYC. I arrived early, but not as early as Steve Maxwell, who was already on the mat doing his mobility workout. It was an extremely hot day. I went up to Steve, shook his hand and asked the obvious Jiu…