Categories
BishopBjj News

Reduce Injury, Increase Flexibility At Jiu Jitsu

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmpqm9otPS0?rel=0&w=560&h=315]
I am an advocate of improving  personal performance to get better at things – especially in jiu jitsu. This doesn’t mean that physical development is the end-all-be-all of improving jiu jitsu, but it can be a very dynamic tool in streamlining your improvement. I hate the idea of a limited range of motion, or existing injury limiting the weapons at my disposal. Along with taking NeoCell Collagen Sport, NeoCell Collagen Joint Formula, these recent exercises have helped me prevent injuries, increase flexibility, and improve my jiu jitsu. I wanted share them with the community, as we have seen a strong influx of visitors since our last article on injuries in bjj. I hope you enjoy the video. I will have more up soon, what did you think so far?

Categories
BishopBjj News

BishopBjj.com Podcast #6: Worlds, Metamoris, and Jena Bishop

podcast 6 image
Check out the latest edition of the BishopBjj.com podcast. We share untold stories of the Worlds and Metamoris, and interview World Champion Jena Bishop. She talks about training in the middle of the U.S, why she wondered if it was ever possible if she could be a World Champion, and how her training has changed over the last few years.

Listen:

 

Categories
Live Technique and Perspective Videos

Tanquinho: Beating The Open Guard (Knee-Forward Position)

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8RJJ9MU9ng?rel=0&w=560&h=315]
Check out this great new video on Tanquinho’s knee forward style of passing. Maybe you will learn even more by watching!

Categories
Uncategorized

How To Evaluate Metamoris II

metamoris art II
By: Tyler Bishop
Metamoris has completed it’s second foray into premium jiu jitsu cards. There were some slight changes to the rules and procedures this time. Unfortunately, many of the results fell short of expectations.
On a positive note, the hype and fanfare prior to this event seemed significantly more intense than from the first installment of Metamoris. This is great news for jiu jitsu. Metamoris is great idea. It is a premium event that allows access to spectators all over the world, pays it’s competitors, and provides a first class experience for both.
On a negative note, there are always birthing pains with new and innovative ideas. While the idea of submission-only isn’t new – in fact it is an old idea – the implementation of a  Metamoris-style event is quite new. The drawbacks so far have been creating a tournament environment that is truly the most competitive, effective, and exciting format to watch. This seems to be the initial mission. To create a tournament that provides the best competitors with the optimum environment to showcase there talents and abilities. So far, the event is missing the mark – as many matches become as stalemated – and with no points to influence urgency the matches have tendency to become somewhat passive at times. I believe the judges were added this time to do just that; however, this seemed to have little effect on the competitors and actually seemed to just disenfranchise the audience a little bit.
Don’t kid yourself, the rules, setup, or coordination of an tournament will never be able to manufacture an exciting event. In an op-ed we wrote last year we discussed why the competitor is the sole one responsible for excitement. However, there is little debate here that things could improve to create a more optimal environment. So how should we evaluate this event looking back, and what should our expectations be for the future?

Here are three popular opinions we have seen since the the completion of the event…

  1. This style of event is the best, and it is only missing further incentives for the fighters to become more exciting.
    I have seen this opinion written a lot. It obviously is a very popular way to look at the event – knowing what we do now, and what we would like to see in the future. It makes sense too. As discussed above, the broadcast, professionalism, and organization is top-notch – and one can only assume it will get better. The only thing missing is a more exciting array of matches, right? I’m not so sure.
    Incenting fighters to perform one way or another seems like it could be the right way to go – and who knows maybe it is – but you have to consider what that actually does to the competition. At what point do you create an environment in which the competitive spirit has left? Paying fighters or penalizing them for being effective (whether on offense or defense) has a direct result on the fighters performance. You could essentially be incenting a fighter to not fight there best. That goes against the spirit of competition. Let me give you an example in a different context. If you were deer hunting and sat alone in the woods for days with no deer walking past you, at what point would you say that buying deer to stock in the woods is fair game? I would argue that it is never sporting to do this. You have manufactured a kill. While you can take the meat home to the dinner table, you can’t necessarily feel great about the process by which you have acquired said meat.So while I do appreciate this sentiment, and would realize the need for it’s institution, I would strongly hope we could explore all other avenues before jumping into this boat. If for no other reason to simply keep the event pure and sporting. One of the best things about the event is the lack of a true mediator in the process. By instituting penalties and rewards we insert an arbitrator that I’m not sure does the sport justice.
  2. Institute the Rickson Budo Challenge Rules.

    Now we are talking! I will conceal any bias that long time readers know I have towards this particular format. I have long-time been a fan of this scoring format, and am somewhat baffled as to why after a brief acceptance years ago this style of tournament disappeared. Much like Rickson himself, this style of tournament produced some fantastic fights and matches that will be remembered forever, and then simply left us wanting more.
    This type of tournament does have it’s downfall though. The point-based rewards for submission attempts over positions is wildly objective, and doesn’t always reward the most effective grapplers. It has a tendency to reward those who are most aggressive over those who are most technical. The affinity for this even likely comes from the old Rickson Budo Challenge events in which many of the matches produced a fever-pitch of excitement even when there was no submission. Adding rounds to the tournament format certainly could help break up the action, and allow fighters to re-evaluate their gameplans though. There is a lot to be considered here; however the amount of objectively in the scoring likely leaves this approach on the outside looking in.
    While the merits of this style of format are far and long-reaching it is likely not a great fit for the current promoters and their ideals. It would be a dramatic 180 from their current format, and would provide a level of objectivity that many audiences might not appreciate. Furthermore, it is possible that this style of tournament even flies in the face of what the promotors are attempting to produce (it’s hard to say). Ultimately, there are elements of this style of tournament that deserve some serious consideration, but it’s unlikely that we see this exact format at Metamoris anytime soon.
  3. The event is perfect…. more Schaub, MORE SCHAUB……MORE SCHAAAUUUBB!!!!!!!
    All jokes aside, is there a little birdy in the back of your mind that wonders if the boring defensive struggles of Ryron vs. Galvao, and  Cyborg vs. Schaub are secretly what the young Gracie brothers may have wanted from the Metmoris events? Almost in a rare tribute to Andy Kaufman, perhaps they are the only ones in on the joke.I know, it seems crazy right. Who wants to create a boring event that frustrates it’s audience? In all likelihood this sentiment is simply unfounded. However, the Gracie academy does espouse many of these defensive techniques, and spends a strong amount of time emphasizing defense over offense. It does seem possible that an agenda inside of these events is to showcase a personal point they wish to make as to the true merits of real jiu jitsu competition.Perhaps much of this is just as much about anti-competitive jiu jitsu as it is the ultimate showcase for jiu jitsu competition. It’s hard to say really, and you would have to have a strong affinity for conspiracy theories to believe it whole-heatedly. However, I can say one thing for sure. Whoever draws a grappler from the Gracie academy in the next event better be prepared for some serious defense, and a possible non-fight. This is two events in a row in which the most disenchanting match included a Gracie Academy fighter.

All in all, Metamoris is a revelation that needs to quickly continue to evolve. The addition of Royler Gracie vs Eddie Bravo to the next event will ensure record sales and attendance. It is up to the event to deliver what the fans want to see.
Osss

Categories
Uncategorized

10 Things Learned At The 2013 Jiu Jitsu World Championship

By: Tyler Bishop
The 2013 Jiu Jitsu World Championship is in the books. History was made once again, and we want to congratulate everyone who stood atop the podium at the event. For everyone that competed and suffered defeat, keep your head up and keep striving towards your goals. The competition is fierce, and the stakes are high. The World Championship is the most prestigious event in jiu jtsu history, and will likely maintain that title for a long while – due to the incredibly high level of competitors that attend the event.
Just like every year, there is a lot that we can learn from this event. The BishopBjj.com team was in attendance every day of the event, and we did not miss a beat. We wanted to share with you a few of the important pieces of material that we learned at the championship, and hopefully you can share with us some of the things you may have learned watching at home.

  1. Buchecha is the new king, and it is now unquestionable. Prior to this event, there was little doubt that Marcus Almaeda was the champ, but now he is “the man”. After last years epic battle and a close match earlier this year, the Buchecha/Rodolfo rivalry still seemed close. We watched the absolute final match intensely. We wanted to see if today would be the day that Rodolfo took back the crown. Unfortunately for Rodolfo, June 2nd served as the exact date that Buchecha became the far-and-away better competitor. Buchecha simply dominated the match from start to finish. I  honestly wonder what Rodolfo was thinking. I can’t imagine anyone has done the things Buchecha  did to him in a very long time. It’s always a little off-putting when you recieve an unexpected beating in BJJ. I’m sure that goes double for Rodolfo. Welcome to the Buchecha dynasty.
  2. Blue belts take it seriously! The level of competition at the blue belt level this year was the best I have ever seen it. I remember being a blue belt 6 years ago, and the competition was not at this same level. Many of the competitors are training with the same enthusiasm and commitment that the brown and black belt competitors are. In fact, the other blue belts all know who the other top guys are… at blue belt. What does this hold for the sport in the future, and how should the average jiu jitsu competitor feel about this? It is the World Championships after all, and everyone has to start somewhere.
  3. You don’t win until you win. We saw it twice in the finals this year. You can’t win the match until your hand is raised. Ary Farias cost himself a World Championship by carelessly walking off the mats. I feel for the guy ( I really do), but when the stakes are that high – and your match was as close as that one was – wait to get your hand raised before you celebrate. The rules are the rules, and you simply cannot pick and choose objectively when they will be followed (they are hard enough to enforce as is). Another example of this was Augusto Taquinho’s tenacity in finishing his match with Rafa Mendes. It looked from my perspective like Rafa was looking to coast out at the end. Augusto simply had more fight him at the end, and with seconds left he stole the match. The meal goes to the dog who is hungriest.
  4. Acai is delicious but should not be eaten in a cage. I love acai, and ate exactly two bowls at the Worlds. I enjoyed neither of them. When you force me to stand in a cage to eat it you might as well punch me in the groin while you’re at it. This is CSULB’s thing, not the IBJJF’s, but regardless it is a travesty. #freetheacai
  5. Points are hard to get. I’ll never forget a conversation I overheard at the 2011 World Championship, it went something like this…
    – Competitor (to referee): Why did you not give me points for passing the guard?
    – Referee: **Dead lifeless stare**
    – Competitor: I passed the guard and it should have been 3 points, I should have won the match!
    – Referee: No, you lose…. it fair
    – Competitor: (intensely)… But I should have won! Those points would have put me in the lead!
    – Referee: (long pause… smiling now) Points are hard to get …. (pats the kid on the shoulder and walks away)
    It had to be one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. The competitor was losing his mind, and the referee was on a totally different page. The point of the story is this – points are indeed hard to get. You have to earn them, and sometimes they are easier to get than others. Sometimes you might feel screwed, other times you might get lucky. When you are a top competitor you find a way to rise above it all. That’s why you consistently see the top names in every division.
  6. Gabi is busy getting stronger. Gabi Garcia wore a shirt on day 1 that read “I’m Busy Getting Stronger”. Meanwhile, all of the women in the black belt absolute grew even more fearful of what that might mean. How could she be any stronger! In all seriousness, Gabi simply is too much for any other woman currently competing in BJJ. She plows through her division just as easily as she does the absolute. She will be the champ of the absolute so long as she signs up. Fair, unfair, or any where in between, it’s the fact of the situation. She is a woman without any true competition.
  7. Atos has a bad day. The team that was stocking up on top talent, and seemed poised to showcase themselves this year fell flat. Galvao, the Mendes Bros., Calassans, and Keenan all fell short this past weekend. It could just been a fluke, but it seemed almost too much of a coincidence that the team performed to far below expectations. Again, it’s the World Championships, and everyone is good, but it was surprising to say the least that a team with so much fanfare underachieved to this degree. Maybe it really was as simple as a bad day.
  8. Braulio Estima is a bad man. Estima showed up on the competitor roster at the last minute on a whim, and dominated the competition – closing out the bracket with teammate Romulo Barral. He is truly a character as well. As Galvao attempted a footlock at the end of their match, Estima certainly hammed it up for the enjoyment of the crowd. Hopefully we will see more of him in the gi in the future.
  9. The gi-checkers took the day off. Remember how just about 50% of the gi’s were illegal at the 2013 Pan? For some reason the IBJJF did a 180 on this procedure. I witnessed very very few competitors being turned away for gi disqualifications. I even witnessed several gii’s in action at all levels that were noticeably outside of normal perimeters. I’m not sure if the IBJJF specifically lightened up or if it was simply some new employees, but this change was noticeable. I even thought about wearing a bath robe to test this policy, but alas I had no bath robe to wear.
  10. (Personal Note) It was an incredibly special day for me and my family. My wife, Jena Bishop, and close friend, Nick “Moose” Schrock, both added “world champion” to their resume. Jena took 1st in her brown belt division and 3rd in the absolute, while Nick took first at purple belt medium-heavy. It is an incredibly emotional experience to witness first hand all of the blood, sweat, and tears pay off. It’s easy to see why jiu jitsu is such a passionate experience for so many. This past weekend was one of my most memorable and enjoyable of my entire life. Part of jiu jitsu is living through the sacrifices and training with your teammates, and when they experience success you share in their victory.

That’s what I learned at the 2013 World Championship.
God bless.
 

Categories
BishopBjj News

World Jiu Jitsu Championship 2013 Review (Behind The Scenes)

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9HqntGg4gE?rel=0&w=560&h=315]
Check out this awesome 15 minute review and look behind the scenes of the 2013 World Jiu Jitsu Championship.