The gathering was hosted by Anthony and Nikki Lange at Langes MMA, North Manly. Leg attacks were the theme of the day. Notes from techniques shown by Luke Martin and Andre Powell. Luke Martin Outside Ashi to Outside Heelhook You have his R leg trapped. You should be deep on his thigh, well above the…
Steve Maxwell’s Jiu Jitsu for a Lifetime – 3 Feb 2018
The seminar was held at Higher Jiu Jitsu, in the City of Sydney PCYC. Hosted by John Smallios. Methodology The three sides of the Jiu Jitsu for a Lifetime triangle are: Skills Conditioning Health Conditioning is mainly about increasing strength and mobility. Health is about diet, breathing and recovery. Steve is not a fan of…
Tales of a Grandmaster
Who am I? A twenty-eight year student of Sifu Rick Spain, who was for a while Grandmaster Cheung’s highest ranked student. I achieved my tenth level / instructor credentials in 1995, while Rick was still aligned with GM Cheung’s World Wing Chun Kung Fu Association (WWCKFA). GM Cheung’s signature and Chops appear on my instructor…
Wing Chun – Tradition and Innovation
Sometime around 1980: Rick was sweeping the floor of the Wing Chun Academy hall. He lived in the Academy in the role of what the Japanese call an Uchi-deshi. He trained, ate, slept and lived in and for the Academy and Wing Chun. Sifu entered the hall. He took up a position where Rick could…
Internal Kung Fu and Invisible Jiu Jitsu
As an avid student of Kung Fu (Wing Chun since 1989, other styles since 1977) and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (since 1998), I have sought out the higher level subtleties as well as the fundamentals. An ongoing quest. Travelling such a path, one continually comes across claims of “Internal” Kung Fu, and “Invisible” Jiu Jitsu, and…
Jordan Peterson and the Self Authoring Program
Dr Jordan B. Peterson is a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto, Canada, and a practicing clinical psychologist. I first came across him on a Joe Rogan podcast. He is embroiled in a number of academic and political controversies in Canada, mainly to do with his strong opposition to a proposed Canadian law…
Transformation; a Personal Odyssey
Many people say how martial arts has changed their lives. I’ve heard people say the same about attending a Barbara Streisand concert. I didn’t go, they may be right. I do feel that my martial arts training was a driving force behind, not just a series of mental transformations and attitude adjustments, but an actual…
Living the Dream
Wednesdays and Fridays I take a lunchtime Jiu Jitsu class at Lange’s MMA, at North Manly. Wednesday is no gi, Friday gi. Jiu Jitsu always resets my mood. If it’s a warm day, or sometimes even when it isn’t, the beach is a short drive away, and that makes the day even better. Most times…
Creativity and Martial Arts Training IV
This is part IV, the last of a four part article. Part I Part II Part III Limitations and Constraints Unlimited freedom paralyses creativity. You need somewhere to go. You need a problem to solve. I was rebuked as a black belt by a highly ranked instructor for not being able to immediately think of a…
John Will Seminar 11 Nov 2017 – Pirate Grip, Russian Tie
The seminar was held at Universal Combat Arts, Castle Hill. Thanks to Kirk Sicard and Simon Farnsworth for their hospitality. Russian Tie (2 on 1) Stand facing your partner, feet parallel, so your four feet form a square. Your partner gets a neck tie on you with his R hand. Grab his R wrist with…