Yesterday morning, Sunday 7th August, 2016, was my last training session at Rick Spain’s Red Boat Wing Chun Academy, at 431 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills. Sunday Jiu Jitsu. I joined the Academy in July 1989, while it was in smaller premises at 342 Elizabeth St. A couple of blocks away, if that. I can’t remember exactly…
False Paths and Blind Alleys
I wrote an earlier blog post on advice for beginning or prospective martial arts students. Most of us that have trained for a while could bore people for days on the subject, but I did feel I left something out. It got too big for an edit on that earlier article. That is – martial…
Advice for new martial art students
Which martial art should I do? Which school should I go to? There is no supreme martial art. Different martial arts suit different people. Find one that suits you and your goals. Look at a few different arts and a few places before signing up. Often, the instructor’s character, teaching style, knowledge of their art…
Dealing with the unconscious athlete in Jiu Jitsu
As a BJJ referee, I regularly see competitors rendered unconscious by well applied chokes in competition. I’ve seen this every now and then in training also. The effects were always temporary. I’ve been on a competition mat where the same person was choked out twice (in different matches, of course). In all cases, everyone was…
Jiu Jitsu Concepts and Principles
I thought a bit more about Kit Dale’s concept-based approach and talked to a guy (Dan, brown belt from Langes) who has trained with him and is a friend of his. According to Dan, KD’s whole “No Drilling” thing is a misrepresentation of what he actually does. He teaches techniques and has his students practise…
Kit Dale’s “The Art of Learning Jiu Jitsu”
These are some thoughts based on reviewing Kit Dale’s recently released video “The Art of Learning Jiu Jitsu”, with some reference to his earlier collaboration with Nic Gregoriades, called “Beyond Technique”. KD’s video is in two parts. The first is footage of a seminar he conducted in Melbourne. The second is of him talking to…
Xtreme Doorway Gym by SMAi – Product Review
The Xtreme Doorway Gym is sold by Sports Master Athletics International (SMAI). http://www.smai.com.au My Jiu Jitsu coach, Anthony Lange, had to buy his in a two for one deal and was kind enough to let me have the extra one. I can’t imagine many people would want two – once assembled it is very easy…
John Will seminar 16 April 2016 – Legbars
The seminar was held at Simon Farnsworth’s gym, at Castle Hill Showground. My car’s SatNav was slightly out of date, and I found a Northwest rail link construction site square in the middle of the route it calculated for me. No matter, I knew the area reasonably well anyway. My training partners for the seminar…
Quotes
At the end of the day, Jiu Jitsu isn’t about how many people you can tap. Jiu Jitsu is about how many people you can help. Find a way to have Jiu Jitsu in your life. Tom de Blass. You should not have a favourite weapon. To become over-familiar with one weapon is as much…
John Will seminar 21 Feb 2016 – collar grip guard, single leg X guard
Seminar held at Rick Spain’s gym in Surry Hills. Collar grip with the seated guard He is on his knees in front of you. You are sitting up on your L butt cheek, R foot on the ground, R knee bent and pointing straight up. Your L leg is bent with the L foot tucked…