No Apologies: McGregor and Trump's America

McGregor thrives in Trump’s America. A man who truly doesn’t give a fuck and understands his worth knows no limits. He can say what he wants, offend groups of people, and break all the rules so long as he shows up on game day- when it’s all on the table. Both of these men have basked in the silence of their critics. With all the rules broken, and all the bridges burnt these two have taken us to some new place in history where we don’t know what happens next. We are in unprecedented times with an unprecedented champion.

We are living in one of those rare moments in time when the fight game’s chaotic history is synchronized with to the chaotic time it exists in. Like Ali and shit. These moments, when the world looks to athletes for the answers, exist in other sports too. However, when a fighter sits center spotlight, it’s special since fighting is the ultimate expression of freedom from rules and conventionality. Part of Ronda Rousey’s appeal, for example, is that she breaks conventional wisdom’s take on women and femininity. She is a badass but still shows her vulnerability, there are no standards for her to abide. She’s a cage fighter, and without the weight of social expectations on her back, Ronda is free to be herself even when it means being a bitch and to apologize to absolutely nobody.

And that is where America is right now- fully independent of conventional wisdom. The next president will be a foul mouthed megalomaniac who has offended a lot of people, and isn’t fucking sorry. To that point, MMA has Connor McGregor, the foul mouth megalomaniac holding two belts simultaneously, asking for a piece of the company pie. Unprecedented.

By being so bold as to threaten not to return to fighting without being set up for life, McGregor is redefining the relationship between promoter and fighter. The position he finds himself will surely have enormous effects on the UFC and MMA in general. He has forever changed the way fighters view their potential worth. This uncharted land where a fighter’s brand can outgrow the UFC will bring more bargaining power for the athletes. It may prove to be better for fighters and fans alike. A genuine superstar with a drawing power that supersedes the UFC can start bidding wars among promotions, co-promotion between rival companies, or a promotional split between the star and the UFC itself. However to view the flip side to that coin fans should look to boxing. Instead of big fights being made by a strong promotion, drawn out negotiations between management teams block the fights fans want to see.

Whether McGregor’s bargaining power benefits the sport in the future or not remains to be seen. However, one thing is for certain- at a time when anti-establishment fever is at an all-time high, Connor has the UFC by the pussy. They need him to come back and defend those belts. To strip him of those belts would not only add to his mystique, but also free him from the “Champion’s Clause”. At the end of the day WME-IMG needs him far more then he needs them. Connor McGregor is no longer a UFC fighter, instead the UFC serves as the platform for his show. So it’s within reason that he wants a piece of the pie, and in today’s America when you want something you step up and grab it.

The Fair Roll: Jiu Jitsu in Australia

Things change quickly in Australia. It is a country constantly evolving due to its ever-changing environment that forces things to adapt or die. Hence, survival of the fittest is an underlying theme in Australian history that has not only shaped Oz’s flora and fauna, but also its unique social and cultural makeup. The first people to arrive had to learn to deal with giant marsupial lions chasing after them, and later the British settlers learned to live under the sun for the first time. Thus, many social structures like castes and traditions that existed in the old country had to be discarded in this new environment. The ability to change with the times is how a colony of banished criminals laid the foundations for one of the worlds most developed and stable nations. As time progressed British settlers realized they had to abandon old past-times like rabbit hunting and oppressing brown people, while the indigenous people had to learn to adjust to western social structure introduced by the original boat people. Sure there has always been push back from the status-quo, but Australians historically understand the need for change. Take Aussie rules football for example. At some point someone looked at soccer and thought, “Hey why not add aerobatics and brain trauma to this boring fucking game? That’ll make it much more interesting.” Indeed, Australia provides a blank slate where good ideas will be heard with an open mind. Hence, Adaptability is a pillar of the Australian identity, and this characteristic defines the nation’s Brazilian Jiu Jitsu scene.

Though BJJ is a martial art, it is also a science. Any claim to a technique’s effectiveness must be peer reviewed through application against a resisting opponent-first in the gym and then in competition. Aussies understand this well, and treat world class competitors as case studies in a lab. Anyone with a lap top can see exactly how guys like Keenen Cornilious and Ruben Cobrinha sweep and strangle people. Despite not having an Andre Galvao available to train with, technology allows Aussies to study the best games in competitive BJJ regardless of affiliation. According to Australian Black Belt Lachlan Giles, "One of the benefits we got. [Even though some] would see it as a disadvantage [is that] we don’t have a world champion [coaching] here... I myself I learn a lot from watching videos of the worlds.” As techniques emerge and prove their effectiveness against the best in the world, Aussies will take note and add those techniques to their repertoire.

The lack of jiu jitsu dogma allows grapplers in Oz to pick and choose freely across team lines without fear of offending their lineage. The fact that Australia is really fucking far from jiu jitsu hot beds like Brazil, the US, and Japan allows Australians to be technique tramps. Even domestically, the sheer distance between big cities means no infallible figure can dictate how to train. The sport first appeared in Australia in the early 90’s under Peter De Been and John Will in south Victoria. These two guys traveled out of the country and brought back techniques learned from training in Brazil and the US. As word got out students from all around Oz began making the pilgrimage to Melbourne and setting up shop back at home. It’s lucky that Aussies enjoy traveling, and training became another excuse to fly out to Melbourne or Japan, or Brazil, or the US. Thus Aussie’s love for travel helped spread the art quickly, and since the masters were so far away, each instructor had the autonomy to teach BJJ the way he/she saw fit. Gerry Young of Hobart Martial Arts Academy in Tasmania says, “One of the defining characteristics of Tasmania is its isolation… However the result of this isolation has almost always been innovation and creativity.”

Another way adaptation helped mold BJJ in Australia was the end of the “White Australia Policy” in the 70’s and 80’s; which made it easier for non-European immigrants, including Brazilians with BJJ experience, to settle in Oz. Today, Australia stands as one of the world’s most ethnically diverse nations with a staggering 25% of the population born overseas. Furthermore, the 2011 census states that “46 percent of Australian residents were either born overseas or have at least one parent born overseas.” This multicultural reality gave way the proud Aussie adage of “a fair go,” meaning Australia is open to anyone that can help make it better through hard work and innovation.

This motto is exemplified within the sport of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in how happy gyms are to welcome visitors. Certainly, Aussies are eager to learn from anyone with something to teach. American wrestler? “Happy to have ya mate!” Japanese judoka? “Give us a toss!” Indeed, the lack of BJJ dogma allows Aussies to absorb anything that works best for them. It’s a bit of “jiu jitsu Darwinism” made possible by the fact that old masters are really far away and Aussies are used to seeing different views and opinions.

This open-mindedness also helps drive Australia’s strong female jiu jitsu scene. Though female BJJ still has a ways to go in terms of representation and exposure, Aussie comps tend to showcase jiu jitsu chicks with the respect they deserve. BOA 8 for example brought in World Champ Michelle Nicollini to compete in a superfight against home grown Aussie Black Belt Josephine Masiello. But the female jiu jitsu scene transcends comps, and should really be measured in how commonplace it is to find girls training. And thankfully, social networking groups like Jess Fraser’s “Australian Girls in Gi” and Tess Hunt’s “Babes in Belts” help promote female participation and networking.  

Driven by the open-minded nature of Australians, the BJJ scene continues to grow both nationally and abroad. Jiu jitsu’s popularity since the 90’s grew so much that FIFO workers (guys that fly to the worksite for a week or two and then fly home for a week or two) can sometimes find others to get together and roll at their work site. It’s also not uncommon for little cities outside of the urban hubs to have jiu jitsu gyms. Take Christopher Mazzali for example. He runs Mitsu Domoe in Albany, a 4.5 hour drive from Perth. When asked what motivated him to open the gym he responded: “I just needed guys to choke.” As did Grayson West who opened Legion 13 in Western Australia, and Jason Roebig in Queensland, and Rodney Ellis in New South Wales. They helped entrench the roots of jiu jitsu deep in Australia’s red soil, and now the BJJ scene has grown so healthy that it is pollinating the surrounding areas. In South East Asia for example, the jiu jitsu scenes in countries like Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam are heavily influenced by Aussies living abroad, with Aussie blokes working as either owners or instructors in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Phenom Penh.

The jiu jitsu in Oz serves as a microcosm of Australian culture as a whole, because Australians have to be open-minded. Despite the fierce rivalries that emerged in the early days of Australian jiu jitsu, those old fires eventually died down, and cross training is now common. Take Frank Barca’s 10^th Planet affiliate in Melbourne for example. While in the US the 10^th Planet system still strives for acceptance by the traditional BJJ community, his gym is frequently visited by sheilas (Australian for girls) and blokes from all around the country looking to grow their arsenal. Why? Because the shit works.

It’s this ability to give everyone “a fair go” and judge them and their ideas purely on merit that makes Australia’s young BJJ scene so vibrant. On the competitive side of things, Aussies are starting to make a splash on the international scene, but perhaps the best indication of how far along BJJ has come is the fact that the sport is found in every major city. Whether in a mega gym in Melbourne, Victoria or in a small gym in Hobart, Tasmania, Australians are eager to train with new people. In fact, the scene is so healthy that Australians have taken on the roles as ambassadors of the sport. And that’s good fucking news for those living in places where jiu jitsu is scarce, because Australians like to travel and they are not afraid to rock up and roll.

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Growing the Community: BJJ Globetrotters

Bill Gates once said, “The internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow.” In this virtual town square, any individual can share an idea and find like-minded individuals to create a community. Individuals like Christian Graugart, who founded Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Globetrotters- a group of traveling shogun badasses looking to train jiu jitsu with other badasses regardless of affiliation, belt color, race, religion, or gender.

Grugart’s goal is to “create a team against teams. An alternative Jiu Jitsu affiliation, that [pokes] the traditional notion of our tribalised culture.” The idea being that the BJJ community can transcend all the bullshit that keeps people separated. Let’s move past all the petty rivalries and just move the game forward. We are all in this sport together, we all share a passion, and we can all relate to each other’s experience. So why not train together and get friendly?

BJJ Globetrotters injects its members into an online network of academies and training partners from all around the world. Membership for both academies and individuals is free. An affiliate gym will allow visiting members to train for one week free. With over 150 gyms affiliated, members can find a place to train almost anywhere, and the global network opens up gym doors to guests with an unfamiliar style of BJJ, thereby growing each other’s game. BJJ Globetrotters even started “a completely free, couchsurfing style service that matches BJJ travelers and hosts from around the world.” They call this service “matsurfing” and it essentially means members are willing to house travelers as they pass through town. All they ask is you not be a serial killer and that you follow/promote the team values:

We don’t pay each other any affiliation fees

We wear any patches we like on our gis

We are free to represent any (or no) team in competition

We encourage training with anyone regardless of affiliation

We are willing to promote anyone who deserves it—members or not

We arrange camps, seminars and visit each other for training and fun

We believe everyone is equal both on and off the mats

We strive to enjoy life, people and the world through Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

 

BJJ Globetrotters puts the opportunity to enrich the global jiu jitsu community at your fingertips. Whether it’s the Arab Spring or the founding of “A community of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioners of all levels from around the world,” the internet has proven to be more than just a channel to access pornography and cat videos. Christian Graugart’s movement to create this global network of BJJ hobos is a step towards creating a real community among jiu jitsu practitioners. In my travels I’ve found that a good roll makes a fantastic ice-breaker; even when my partner and I don’t speak the same language, we both speak Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. So please sign up at their site, tell your friends, your instructors, and give back to this awesome fucking sport we all love.

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Sun Tzu's Art of War: Rousey vs Zingano

The popularity of Woman’s Mixed Martial Arts continues to grow at an exponential rate. The UFC crowned its first ever Female Strawweight Champion following a successful all-female season of TUF. Along with the growing exposure, the talent pool is also blowing up, forcing veteran fighters to adapt or be left behind. This capricious nature of WMMA makes it very difficult to envisage how fights will go. Nonetheless, here is a closer look for the upcoming Bantamweight title fight between Champion “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey and challenger Cat “Alpha” Zingano.

1) Which of the two sovereigns is imbued with the moral law? (Who is harder to finish?)

• If Cat Zingano is anything, it’s tough. In both her UFC fights she weathered submission attempts and brutal Ground-N-Pound to get a TKO finish in the 3^rd. Ronda Rousey fought off a nasty Rear Naked Choke attempt from Liz Carmouche and against Sara McMann she ate flush right hands and looked unfazed. Both ladies have showcased their heart in past fights and have demonstrated an indomitable spirit. If there is a finish in this fight, rest assured it will be hard earned. EVEN

2) Which of the two generals has most ability? (Who has the better camp?)

• Boxing coach Edmond Tarverdyan runs the Glendale Fighting Club. The gym is home to current champ Ronda Rousey. Under Edmond’s tutelage Rousey’s striking is rapidly improving (evident in her annihilation of Alexis Davis at UFC 175). Cat Zingano belongs to Elevation Fight Team, the brainchild of Leister Bowling. EFT runs out of the Muscle Pharm Training Center in Denver where Bowling focuses on preparing elite MMA fighters with the best coaching and equipment possible. Without a gym to run, Bowling is solely dedicated to ensuring victory for his athletes, and it is my opinion that this is the camp format of the future. Advantage: Zingano

3) With whom lie the advantages derived from heaven and earth? (What advantages surround the fight?)

• At a time when the UFC is struggling to replace the stars of yesteryear, Ronda Rousey’s stock continues to grow in the form of endorsements and movie roles. Rousey understands that her success rides on her ability to beat trained killers inside a locked cage. Despite this pressure, Ronda always looks at home in the Octagon. How well Zingano handles the lights of the main event is yet to be seen. Furthermore, this will be her first time in a 5 round fight. Furthermore, Rousey is a popular champion fighting in Las Vegas; to snag a decision against her will be very difficult. Advantage: Rousey

4) On which side is discipline most rigorously enforced? (Who's in better shape?)

• Rousey saw the 3^rd round once in her career when she finished Miesha Tate after a high paced 2 rounds. But Cat Zingano has far more experience gutting out prolonged wars. While the championship rounds are uncharted territory for both ladies, Zingano proved time and again that she can push through fatigue late in a fight. Advantage: Zingano

5) Which army is stronger? (Who's stronger?)

• Judging by their history, Cat Zingano looks to be more physically imposing than Rousey. Off her back, Zingano likes to check her opponent’s balance and explode to roll them over. In the clinch she will drive through girls to drag them down, and once on top Zingano puts tremendous pressure to wear down opponents and eventually break them. Rousey showed her strength when she bullied Sara McMann up against the cage and ket her there. However, Zingano is much happier to utilize her horsepower to out muscle opponents. Advantage: Zingano

6) On which side are officers and men more highly trained? (Who's more well- rounded?)

• Both competitors excel in the clinch and on the ground, and whoever can get the dominant position will likely walk away with the belt. But if neither is able to establish dominance in the clinch, look for them to break away and strike. Once in striking range Rousey’s boxing is much more fluid, but she lacks head movement and tends to bull rush when hit. Zingano, though slower, throws powerful punches to back opponents up, but leaves her head on the center line while throwing. The most blaring discrepancy in technique is how the two handle being on the bottom. Zingano tends to use her strength and explosiveness to roll opponents, but her hips are generally flat as she waits for openings. Ronda on the other hand will use her hip escape to create space to either get up or attack submissions and sweeps from awkward angles. Advantage: Rousey

7) In which army is there the greater constancy both in reward and punishment? (Who can finish the fight?)

• Both ladies are proven finishers. When Zingano gets the top position she unleashes a flurry of GNP that makes girls wilt. However, Rousey can finish fights from any position she gets in. Few people have Rousey's killer instinct and it’s what makes her one of the most dominant champions in UFC history. Advantage: Rousey

HOW ZINGANO WINS: The fight will be a war with both momentum shifting from one side to the other. Look for Cat to get the better of the power punches which will cause Rousey to over-commit trying to establish a clinch. From there Zingano will lateral drop the champ and start raining down elbows and punches. Zingano will find herself in bad spots along the way, but top control and damage will earn her a hard fought Split Decision.

HOW ROUSEY WINS: Look for Rousey to force the clinch and mix in her strikes to confuse Zingano. She’s going to eat some hard shots, but she’ll generally win the striking exchanges forcing Zingano to back up. Once against the cage Rousey will catch Zingano standing tall and trip her to the mat. Rousey advances position and Zingano will look to reverse the position and expose her arm. Rousey brutally collects another arm in round 2.

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Sun Tzu's Art of War: Jones vs Cormier

This weekend UFC fans will get a late Christmas present in the Light Heavyweight Title clash between Champion Jon "Bones" Jones and Daniel Cormier. Using Sun Tzu’s masterpiece, “The Art of War,” to break down the fight, I can predict with 100% certainty that one of these fighters will walk away with the belt or your money back.

1) Which of the two sovereigns is imbued with the moral law? (Who is harder to finish?)

• Neither guy has ever been finished in their professional MMA career. Jones showed he can withstand heavy fire in his fight with Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165. Furthermore, at UFC 152, Jones also showed his submission defense when he escaped a nasty armbar at the hands of Vitor Belfort. Cormier has never really been in serious trouble, at least not the kind of trouble Jones weathered. What’s kept Cormier out of danger is his technical ability. However, Jones is also notoriously hard to hit, and he’s shown to be able to get through hardships in fights. Advantage: Jones

2) Which of the two generals has most ability? (Who has the better camp?)

• The challenger comes out of the renowned American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California. A strong history of championship level talent has been cultivated on these mats including: 1 UFC champion and 3 Strikeforce Champions. Meanwhile, the champ trains under the tutelage of Greg Jackson and Mike Winklejohn in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Jones and Jackson have a special relationship where both guys delve into the breakdown of a fight to come up with a gameplan suited to mentally and physically break opponents. Advantage: Jones

3) With whom lie the advantages derived from heaven and earth? (What advantages surround the fight?)

• Jones has settled into his role as the king of 205. He is no stranger to the pressure of a big fight, and he has gone 5 hard rounds before. Furthermore, the UFC kinda promoted this fight with Jones as the villain, a persona Jones used to avoid. Perhaps this new role will rid Jones of his marketing burden, and free him up to feel more comfortable as the bad guy. It’s hard to gauge how much that will be a factor, but anything that makes Jon Jones more comfortable makes him more dangerous. Cormier on the other hand will be going into his first UFC title fight, and this will be his first 5 round fight at 205lbs. Advantage: Jones

4) On which side is discipline most rigorously enforced? (Who's in better shape?)

• We’ve only seen Cormier go 5 rounds once, and he did not disappoint. In his 3 rounders he’s dominated his opposition and looked ready for more every time. However, some would say his noted history of struggling with weight could play a factor in his conditioning. No one knows for sure how hard it is for Cormier to make 205, but from what we’ve seen from DC it’s doubtful he will wilt in the later rounds. As for Jones, 5 rounds is nothing new to him, the Gustafsson fight proved he can still throw heat in the later rounds. DRAW

5) Which army is stronger? (Who's stronger?)

• Cheal Sonnen said he was surprised with how strong Jon Jones was in the clinch. This is the same guy who trained regularly with Randy Couture and Dan Henderson, so it’s hard to dismiss his observation. That being said, Daniel Cormier launches grown men in the air like he’s playing with a toddler. Advantage: Cormier

6) On which side are officers and men more highly trained? (Who's more well rounded?)

• Cormier’s striking first came up when he out classed Jeff Monson without using his wrestling. Since then his striking only got better. He can find a home for his right hand, he has excellent timing, and can flurry opponents into cage to set up his world class takedowns. On the ground, I’ve never seen anyone, not even Fedor, control Dan Henderson the way Cormier did. On the other hand, Jones’ record speaks for himself. He can strike, he can wrestle, and he has solid submissions. However, for the first time in his career, Jones may not have the ability to dictate where the fight goes. He has never faced a wrestler the caliber of Daniel Cormier, who can strike and fight on the ground. Advantage: Cormier

7) In which army is there the greater constancy both in reward and punishment? (Who can finish the fight?)

• Jones is a clear finisher. On the feet, Cormier has knock out power, but Jones’ striking can also stop opponents with strikes. On the ground, Cormier has fantastic control for his ground-and-pound and will take a choke if available, but Jones will actively look for submissions while simultaneously dropping the best G-n-P at 205. Advantage: Jones

HOW CORMIER WINS: The challenger will strike his way in on Jones and bully him into the cage. From there he has to be wary of the infighting ability of the champ, but he can mix up takedowns and flurries to keep the champ confused. After a long grueling clinch war, a mix of flurries and takedowns will guide DC to a Unanimous Decision.

HOW JONES WINS: The champ will fluster his opponent with his range and cause Cormier to come in head on and over aggressive. From there look for Jones to land a solid right uppercut while Cormier ducks his head to get inside. The wobbled challenger will stagger back and Jones will swarm. Finishing the fight by TKO.

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The Layoff: Returning from a Jiu Jitsu Hiatus

For the last 8 years, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has been a big part of my self-identity.  For a little clarity as to how long that is, consider that “Laffi Taffi” was a number one song when I first started BJJ, and I still used mapquest to get to tournaments. Living rent-free and studying at the community college freed me up to spend what little cash I had on booze, pot, CD’s (yeah CD’s), and to take up a new hobby in BJJ.

At first being a white belt felt goddamned awful. The more experienced white belts knew enough to use me as a glorified practice dummy, and the colored belts used me as a walking laboratory where they could try out crazy experiments. Eventually, I caught up to those white belts, and the colored belts even started to exert some real effort to beat my ass.

Improving as a white belt feels like being a toddler finger painting. Anything you do well is received with praise and reinforcement, and anything you do poorly is discarded as “Who gives a fuck? You’re a white belt! Just be happy you didn’t pee yourself.” Everyday practice was a win-win situation for me. It was exciting and fun. I remember learning things like: don’t leave your arms out too far, don’t reach back to open the guard, and never ever wear mesh shorts to practice. I started to gauge myself against the higher belts, and started feeling personal pride when I did well against them. Eventually, my progress took me far enough to earn a blue belt, and I even saw myself doing well at comps.

After over a year and a half of training 7-9 times a week my BJJ life took a big hit. I moved away to live in Long Beach, and though I had training available for me, I became engulfed in a sea of school work. Suddenly I didn’t have the time to train, and when I did train my regression was painfully obvious. I could no longer dominate white belts, and suddenly other blue belts were dominating me again. Being dominated is a shitty feeling. I didn’t want to go to practice because I knew failure waited for me on those mats. It was difficult to find the time to train, but really, I was happy to find excuses.

Eventually I realized how much of a bitch I was being and committed myself to sharpening my jiu jitsu. I moved away from the sun and fun of Long Beach to train with my old teacher in Rancho Cucamonga. My first night back I noticed that one of my old training partners had surpassed me. While I genuinely felt very happy for him, a part of me felt jealous. I didn’t like the fact that now I was that colored belt that newer guys/gals were gauging themselves on. I struggled to properly execute techniques against beginners, and losing against them hurt the ego I had built up before the break. I hated being the “beatable” colored belt, but I had to accept it because jiu jitsu is honest even if we’re not.

When jiu jitsu exposes a weakness, we have to acknowledge it. We can decide not to, but the weakness will always be there laughing at us, mocking us, and visible for all to see. Those who don’t want to admit their short falls, fall behind. They quit trying to patch up their holes, and their frustration eventually beats out their will to keep training. I think anyone coming back from a layoff has to make the decision to either admit vulnerabilities or give up trying to get better.

A layoff brings us back to the shitty days of being a brand new white belt. We suck again, we have peers who toy with us, we have trouble with newcomers, and we are face to face with our own impotence every day. But unlike the old days as a beginner, we can’t dismiss failure as, “meh, you’re a white belt” and at the same time, we don’t get praise for executing basic techniques. The only praise we get is from ourselves. We have to be the judge of our own progress.

When I first came back from the layoff, the toughest battle was admitting to myself I wasn’t what I used to be. After accepting that heavy truth, I realized that the person I should be trying to beat is not my training partner, but myself from yesterday.

Here is where the ego must be discarded. The ego causes us to compare ourselves to others, our training partners, our peers, our friends. The ego feeds our personal pride, and in the immortal words of Mr. Marcellous Wallace, “Fuck pride! Pride only hurts. It never helps.” Hubris is a sin for a reason; it is something that builds as we progress, but we fear to lose. When we fear to lose that pride, we make excuses. Excuses are lame… excuses are the language of the weak, they're what we tell ourselves when we don’t want to take responsibility. Furthermore, it really sucks to train with people who have such a big ego they can’t give you any credit. I remember, after coming back from another layoff as a purple belt, being swept by a white belt and telling myself, “well I just wanted to let him work.” Go fuck yourself, you douche.

I’ve been swept, submitted, and mounted by lower belts plenty of times, and I used to think of a reason why I didn’t perform, but the reality was that they simply did a good job. I hated to admit it but fuck, they got the better of me. And you know what? Good for them. After I reflected on it, I realized I should be happy for them, not upset at myself.

It all goes back to the honesty of BJJ. Over the last few years I’ve had to take more breaks from BJJ, each time I’ve tried to keep my ego in check. As a white belt my shortcomings were excusable, and my ego was allowed to grow. Later in my BJJ career those shortcomings weren’t as easily dismissed, and I was forced to accept them and mature. This is what makes BJJ such an amazing sport. In few places is pure honesty as evident as it is in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. When I tap my opponent to let him/her know I accept my defeat, there is no lying there… I am acknowledging I lost. It may hurt, both emotionally and physically, but by accepting my lickings I learn. And that’s the whole point… to learn and grow.

Though the layoffs sucks, they are an opportunity to reinvent yourself. A chance to build an even better you from scratch. It takes honesty, it takes commitment, and it blossoms maturity. As we mature we find that our goal should not be to beat up our training partners, but to be better when we leave the gym than when we entered.

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Sun Tzu's Art of War: Pettis vs Melendez

Saturday night’s (Sunday morning in the land of didgeridoos) matchup between Champion Anthony “Showtime” Pettis and Challenger Gilbert “Niño” Melendez promises to be pure fucking excitement from start to finish. Using Sun Tzu’s masterpiece, “The Art of War,” to break down the fight, we can lay down our life savings on a sure winner.

1) Which of the two sovereigns is imbued with the moral law? (Who is harder to finish?)

• Neither guy has ever been finished in their professional MMA career. Not for lack of opportunity though, as both fighters have had to fight out of gnarly situations before. Melendez survived a shoryuken uppercut when he fought Diego Sanchez, and Pettis escaped a fully sunk Rear-Naked-Choke in his first fight with Benson Henderson. DRAW

2) Which of the two generals has most ability? (Who has the better camp?)

·         For all the controversy surrounding Duke Roufus and the tragic death of his student Dennis Munson Jr, the fact remains that the guy knows how to build great fighters. His coaching practices may be up to debate, and time will tell how much Munson’s training regimen contributed, if at all, to his untimely passing. However, what is known is that under the tutelage of Roufus, Pettis became one of the most dynamic and exciting fighters to ever compete in Mixed Martial Arts. On the other hand, Gilbert fights out of the famous Gracie Fighter network that produced such beasts as Nate Diaz, Nick Diaz, Jake Shields, and David Terrell, all of whom competed for a UFC title at some point in their careers. Both guys come from proven camps with proven instruction, but the relationship between Roufus and Pettis is special. Advantage: PETTIS

3) With whom lie the advantages derived from heaven and earth? (What advantages surround the fight?)

• This will be the 17^th title fight in Gil’s career. He has a wealth of experience competing at the highest levels all around the world. He was a Shooto Champ, WEC Champ, Strikeforce Champ, and competed in Pride FC during the promotion’s prime. As a 12 year veteran of the sport, Melendez has seen everything the fight game has to offer. In addition Vegas is also closer to San Francisco (his adopted home) and Santa Ana (his hometown) than Milwaukee (Pettis’ hometown). Finally, Pettis’ long layoff since winning the title also works against him. Advantage: MELENDEZ

4) On which side is discipline most rigorously enforced? (Who's in better shape?)

• At 155lbs if you gas out you don’t fight for titles. Both guys have had drawn out 5 round wars. DRAW

5) Which army is stronger? (Who's stronger?)

• Neither guy is a real “horsepower” kind of fighter. Both utilize technique, timing, and speed to win their fights. It’s hard to say who’s physically stronger. DRAW

6) On which side are officers and men more highly trained? (Who's more well rounded?)

• At 155lbs if you’re not well rounded you don’t fight for titles, but these two are well rounded in different ways. Arguably the best striker in MMA, the champ excels at knocking people unconscious, but has some slick submissions that need to be respected. His wrestling is also on point and was even able to take down Ben Henderson in their first fight. Gilbert Melendez on the other hand has fantastic boxing and top level wrestling. He out-struck Jorge Masvidal in their Strikeforce title fight, and dominated Shinya Aoki on the ground with his defensive grappling. That being said, Pettis is more offensive from every position and that counts for a lot. Advantage: PETTIS

7) In which army is there the greater constancy both in reward and punishment? (Who can finish the fight?)

• Pettis has a finishing rate of 82% split evenly between submissions (7) and knockouts (7). In comparison, Meledez, an aggressive fighter himself, has a finishing rate of 55%. Though Melendez’s finishing rate may pale in comparison to Pettis, it should be noted that he’s been fighting top level guys for a lot longer. However, despite being a talented grappler, Meledez only recorded one submission as an MMA fighter. Although known for his cool samurai kicks, Pettis will actively hunt for a finish wherever the fight goes. His flashy strikes on the feet are fun to look at, but his proficient use of jiu jitsu should also be appreciated. Watch Ben Henderson’s first fight with “Cowboy” Cerrone, and watch him escape every submission attempt thrown at him. Then watch Pettis catch him in a simple armbar from the guard, a move white belts learn their first day but only black belts master. Advantage: PETTIS

HOW MELENDEZ WINS: After an exciting back-and-forward battle the fight goes to the judges’ decision. Consistent pressure, strong right hands in transition, and relentless takedowns will guide Melendez to a hard earned Unanimous Decision.

HOW PETTIS WINS: After a grueling 2 rounds Pettis begins to find his range and starts keeping Melendez at bay. He drops Melendez in a wild exchange, and catches the challenger with a guillotine late in the 3^rd.

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