I started BJJ after doing Kung Fu for about 15 years, including reaching an instructor level in Wing Chun under Rick Spain. At first, it seemed that the Wing Chun principles I had learned in my previous training were applicable to everything in BJJ. After a long time (IIRC after I got my blue belt) I found…
Category: Jiu Jitsu
BJJ Black Belt 4th December 2013
I am nearly fifty-nine. About to start my sixtieth trip around the sun on this pale blue dot. My goal was to achieve a Jiu Jitsu black belt before I was sixty. I have been fortunate beyond all expectation to have achieved that goal ahead of time. In realising my good fortune, I also realise…
John Will Seminar 29th September 2013 – Crucifix Control
Held at Rick Spain’s gym in Surry Hills. Osotogari (done as a warm up rather than in depth technical analysis) Major outer reaping throw from Judo Step You both have judo grips (R hand on his L collar, L hand on the gi seam under his R elbow). Pull his collar to your R…
Carlos Machado seminar 16 May 2013
At Langes MMA Artarmon. Guardwork You have your R hand in his R collar. Stiff arm. You are up on your L elbow. Guard is not closed but you are “setting the stirrups”, holding onto and controlling him with your heels. You “swim” clockwise, moving around to his R on your elbow, getting an angle…
John Will seminar 24 March 2013 – X Guard
George Adams and I were wrestling before the seminar. John stopped us and gave us a brief lesson on getting the necessary arm controls for effective use of our hooks – the double hook sweep is much more about arm controls than about the hooks themselves. It can be very hard to get those arm…
John Will seminar 21 Oct 2012 – ankle picks, Z guard
N.B. – I was shown much of the Z guard material by John at another seminar at George Adams’ gym back in April 2012. This write-up is a mix of my notes from both seminars. At Sifu Rick Spain’s gym. Ankle Picks,etc. From collar and wrist tie. Get the wrist first, so that when you…
Jean Jacques Machado seminar 28 July 2012
The seminar was held at Kyoshi George Adams’ dojo in Lakemba. There was a no gi session in the morning which I did not attend. The afternoon session was for gi. Darko Zaric was the only other Lange’s MMA person there, save for Simon Farnsworth and a fair number of his students. Henry Cho and…
Carlos Machado seminar 10 May 2012
Langes MMA Artarmon. About 35 attendees. Started at 6 pm and finished about ten to nine, and then only because Anthony suggested some of us might have had jobs to go to in the morning. Great seminar, loved every minute of it. MAT FIVE!!! Posture in Closed Guard “Thumbs up” – Forearms on his body, loose…
John Will seminar 21 April 2012 – Z guard
(21/4) You have half guard on his R leg. He has the far side underhook and crossface. If your feet are on the outside of his R leg, you can turn into him. If you move them to the inside, turn onto your L hip and reach back with your R foot to snag his…
John Will Seminar 25 Mar 2012 – Guard Passing
Some stand up to warm up Use the “watch grip” to set up an underhook. Your right hand grabs his left wrist from the top with your thumb around his wrist on the pinkie side. With a regular grip, he can pull his hand straight back against the thumb. With the watch grip, he has…