Fighter

Third Coast Grappling Championship 3

  In the main event, Gordon Ryan used a triangle-armbar with just under 2 minutes remaining to submit Bo Nickal. The match mainly took place on the feet with Gordon attacking early with several scissor sweep takedowns. On a couple of occasions, Gordon was able to drag Bo down with the technique but, Bo showed his mat awareness by freeing is legs and scrambling back to his feet. Gordon then switched to trying to bait Bo into taking a shot by giving him his leg and then turning his back on his opponent. At the 4 minute mark, Gordon was in the lead 2-0. He turned his back and Bo hit a massive suplex bringing the score to 2-2. After the reset, it was clear Bo was trying to circle and bring the match back standing. Gordon was able to entangle Bo from his guard and quickly secured the Triangle choke. After a big slam from Bo as a last-second attempt to escape, he was forced to tap giving Gordon the big victory in this Jiu-Jitsu vs Wrestling showdown.

  After being out of action for a bit of time, Romulo Barral returned against MMA Veteran Jake Shields. Barral picked up the victory in OT and the championship belt. He used his dangerous guard and omoplata to keep Shields off base and on his back foot. All three judges scored in favor of Barral, hopefully, we will see him back in action soon to defend his title. Edwin Namji picked up the victory against a last-second replacement. Gilbert Burns was originally scheduled to face Edwin however, he was forced to pull out due to illness. Ben Leny stepped up to the challenge, he was game early in the match as the two men traded sweeps. Just before the halfway mark of the match, Edwin then used his patented D’arce to submit Leny off an attempted takedown.

Fight to Win 133

  After a week of talking back and forth between the two competitors, the stage was set for a scrappy match between AJ Agazarm and Ary Farias. The two got right after it from the start by flying off the stage from a takedown attempt followed up with heavy hands from by AJ, That was the first 15 seconds... That was followed up by a slick takedown from Ary, and the two traded toehold attempts from there. The remaining time was mostly spent with AJ attacking for the guard pass while Ary went after several heel hook attempts. The match went to the judge’s scorecards, 2 judges scoring in favor of AJ, giving him the split decision win. In the co-main event, Samir Chantre scored a huge submission over Lucas Pinheiro via heel hook. The submission won him the Submission of the Night honors and the  F2W Featherweight No-gi Championship Belt.

*Photo by Bane Visnjic  

Third Coast Grappling Championship 3

This Saturday one of the biggest stars of Jiu-Jitsu Gordon Ryan takes on Bo Nickal in a Wrestling vs Jiu-Jitsu super-fight. Bo is a 3x NCAA Champion and 2019 U23 World Champion, the match will take place under a modified ruleset. There will be no leglocks, no guard pulls and no tech fall. The match will be 15 minutes, unless there is a submission. This ruleset hopes to even the field as this will be the first submission grappling match for Bo. It will be interesting to see how Gordon manages the stand-up exchanges and how able Bo is to defend the submission attacks once the action hits the mat. Regardless of the outcome, It is always fun to watch the clash of styles in this Wrestling vs Jiu-Jitsu match.

Also on the card, in the co-main event. Romulo Barral meets Jake Shields. Barral is a 5x World Champion and ADCC champion. He has been less active in recent years so, make sure to catch this legend in action! Shields is an MMA veteran having fought in the UFC, Elite XC, Shooto and Strikeforce where he captured the Middleweight title. He has been more active in the grappling world in recent years since he moved to NYC to train with John Danaher and his DDS. Another great match on the card is Gilbert “Durinho” Burns vs Edwin Najmi. Burns most recently returned to competing in the Gi last weekend when he faced off with Tommy Lanagker at Polars 12. Burns lost the decision in what proved to be the match of the night but, showed yet again why he is a fan favorite with his aggressive style, always coming forward. Edwin is a young veteran who has been competing at the black belt level since 2015. He won his match against Giani Grippo in OT at Third Coast Grappling Championship 2.

Fight to Win 133

Two Jiu-Jitsu competitors turned MMA fighters will return to their roots on the Fight to Win stage in Fresno, CA. 2014 No-Gi World Champion AJ Agazam will face off with 2x World Champion Ary Farias. AJ made the transition to MMA recently, training with the Diaz brothers and fighting for Bellator. He has gone 2-1 (1 submission victory) in his MMA career so far. AJ is known for his savvy submission defense skills. Ary first fought MMA in 2014 and holds a record of 9-2. The card will also feature top featherweights Gabriel Sousa vs Hiago George and Veteran Samir Chantre vs Lucas Pinheiro

Let's face it, if you're going to compete in jiu jitsu, you're going to have to start on your feet. If you attend a gym or academy in which every sparring session starts sitting down - either due to crowded mats or concerns over injuries - and you intend on competing sometime in the near or far future, you're doing yourself a grave disservice if you don't work on your standup game. 

Yeah, of course you can immediately pull guard, but guard pulling is an art itself. If you don't practice it from standing, your guard pull in competition will be easily thwarted and you'll quickly find yourself in a very, very terrible situation (... and you don't want to have to tell people you "pulled mount", do you?). What about judo, you ask? Yes, judo is an excellent addition to your game, and I'll elaborate on why in a later post.

However, one of the best standup styles to integrate into your BJJ game is wrestling, and here are some reasons why: 

An Easy Two

In an IBJJF-ruled tournament, if you face a guard puller, there's an easy two points there just ripe for the picking... and you wouldn't know - or have built the reflexes to catch it - if you haven't practiced your wrestling. Just the slightest touch on your opponent's leg when he/she goes to pull guard, is most likely going to earn you that "easy two". Who wouldn't want to start a match a whole two points ahead?? That way your opponent is going to be concerned about trying to recoup those two points, and in doing so, will most likely make mistakes that you can capitalize on to advance your position or sink a submission. 

The Sprawl Factor

If you face a wrestler, especially a takedown artist, you're going to want to know how to sprawl... otherwise you risk giving your opponent an easy two. Even if you aren't the greatest at taking someone down yourself, knowing how to sprawl - and sprawl hard - is going to make your opponent think twice about trying to take you down. Additionally, knowing how to sprawl - and developing that specific timing associated with great sprawling - is going to help you throughout your jiu jitsu. For example, if your opponent is on his/her back and is trying to reverse the position, knowing how to drop your hips and make yourself as heavy as possible is going to help you thwart your opponent's attempts, keeping you on top and in a better position to dictate the pace of the game. 

Confidence on Your Feet

Probably the most amazing gift wrestling will give you is confidence on your feet. Between learning how to effectively and efficiently take someone down and knowing how to sprawl on a moment's notice, you're going to develop an incredible sense of comfort on your feet. Even if you have no intention of taking your opponent down, that sense of confidence will be apparent, and it'll weigh on his/her mind when he/she is facing you on the competition mat. Maybe there will be a slight hesitation in his/her guard pull, or he/she will think twice about taking you down. That kind of psychological warfare is invaluable.

It's Freaking Fun! 

For those who have never taken a wrestling class, or have only taken a couple of classes, wrestling can seem hard and intimidating. Yeah, the first few sessions will definitely kick your butt and have you seriously questioning the status of your cardio, but once you get enough under your belt to become just a little more proficient... wrestling is freaking fun! Exploring the angles you need to offset your opponent's balance and being able to effectively duck under his/her arms to reach the legs presents a delightful new puzzle. And you'll never forget that delicious feeling of elation that first time you execute a perfectly-timed and technically correct takedown on someone who isn't just letting you do it. 

Even if you never execute a beautiful highlight-reel-worthy suplex takedown in competition... or ever in your life... you will never regret adding a bit of wrestling into your jiu jitsu game. 

Train on... and take 'em down. Oss.

The ultimate question for the jiu jitsu beginner embarking on his/her first gi buying journey: what is the best gi brand? Really, this blog is just for that person, because anyone who has been in jiu jitsu long enough will know that 1) there are many great gi brands all claiming to be the "best", and 2) "best" is really relative on someone's personal preferences.

If everyone had the same exact preferences, there'd be exactly one gi brand. But everyone is wonderfully, magically different... we're left with a ton of different gi brands. And so instead of writing about what I consider the best - because my preferences will likely be different from yours - here are a few awesome gi brands that we here at the Fighters Market warehouse really like: 

Kingz Kimonos

You really can't go wrong with a Kingz gi. The brand has been around since 2011 and produces some of the best-constructed gis in the market. Owned and run by jiu jitsu practitioners, they have a vested interest in producing a gi that stands up to rigorous training. Kingz also offers a variety of different models - perfect for every preference and price range. For example, their ultralight weight Kingz Nano 2.0 Jiu Jitsu Gi and lightweight Kingz Balistico 3.0 Jiu Jitsu Gi are both ideal for the competitor worried about making weight on the competition scale. For those practitioners a little strapped for cash, their Kingz The One Jiu Jitsu Gi is probably the best - and sharpest-looking - basic gis that have come through the warehouse. Kingz also has offers kid's and women's cuts for most of their gi models!

Progress

Although Progress is relatively new to the jiu jitsu brand landscape, they've quickly made waves in the industry. Super streamlined with fresh, modern details, Progress made a big entrance onto the competition scene with their sponsorship of debut black belt superstar Kaynan Duarte. What they lack in variety (yet), they more than make up for in quality. Their standard kimono is the Progress M6 Kimono, which is now in it's fourth version, featuring the quote "Without struggle there is no progress". And while the price point is really quite reasonable, their basic model, Progress The Foundation Kimono, is the best bang for your buck you'll spend on a gi. They do offer a women's cut in a few of their models, but no kid's cuts as of yet. Stay tuned...

Tatami

Aside from Kingz, Tatami is the other big name gi brand in the market today. Established in 2009 in South Wales, Tatami features one of the widest range of gi and no-gi products in the industry, with collections ranging from simple and streamlined, to wild and "way out there". Tatami definitely has every other gi brand beat when it comes to the number of gi models they offer, so there is plenty to choose from. By far their most popular gi model - particularly for competitors - is the Tatami Estilo Gi, now in its sixth edition, with a variety of different color schemes to choose from. Looking for something more lightweight? Their Tatami Zero G is one of the lightest in the market. If you like the fun and funky, Tatami also has a whole slew of more artsy, collectible gis, including the Tatami Japan Series Samurai Gi and the Tatami Gorilla Smash Gi. 

If you're just starting BJJ, you might have to buy and try a bunch of different gis before you actually have a preference. There's no getting around that. And few gi brands have actual storefronts where you can go in and try a bunch of different gis on. If you can't get to the Fighters Market store in San Diego or visit the Fighters Market booth at a major IBJJF event, odds are you'll find a great gi from among these three awesome gi brands. 

Train on... comfortably. Oss. 

There's nothing more frustrating than buying a perfectly-fitting gi, and then finding that it no longer fits right after you wash it for the first time. Arg!

Your first instinct may be to blame the gi company for producing a shotty gi... but before you send off that angry email to customer service (who, by the way, work their tails off and don't deserve your passive aggressive attitude, ya schmuck), you might want to make sure you're washing your gi correctly and the fault isn't your own. 

Here are some tips to keep your gi clean, shrink-free and long-lasting: 

Washing

From the second you pull your brand spanking-new gi out of the bag, you'll need to consider what your first few washes will look like. Does your gi fit loose? Do you like it more fitted? Then wash your gi on hot the first time, try it on again and decide if you need to shrink it a bit more. There's no scientific calculation for the amount shrink you can expect. This is mostly due to the fact that different gi companies use different weaves and fabric weights for their gis. In fact, some companies have numerous gi models that all differ in their construction. The quality of the cotton fibers can also play a role in the amount of shrinkage you can expect, and this is a factor that's controlled at the very beginning of the manufacturing process. 

However, as a rule of thumb, you can a lighter weight, looser weave to shrink more than a heavier, tighter weave. Ripstop pants tend to shrink very minimally, if at all. 

Drying

Again, consider if you need to shrink your gi to make it fit more snug. If you do, then you can pop it into the dryer the first time you wash it. Because almost all gis are made from cotton - at least the jacket, anyway - anytime you dry your gi, it will shrink. The reason for this is that cotton is a natural fiber made of cellulose. When the cellulose fibers are exposed to heat, they constrict, which, compounded over the entire length of the fabric, causes your gi to shrink. It also breaks down the fibers, which weakens the fabric over the long-term and leaves your gi prone to tearing. 

Once you've achieved the desirable size for your gi, the best option is to air dry it from then on. If you live in a warm, dry climate, you can dry it outside on a line. However, if the climate is not favorable, or if it happens to be raining on washing day, you can opt to dry it indoors, either on a line or hanging on your bathroom shower rod. 

Post-Training Care

It shouldn't have to be said, but you don't want to just leave your sweaty, un-washed gi in the trunk of your car or in your laundry basket for days on end. While you might think you can just wash that funk out - and gi funk is some serious funk - it's easier said than done. The source of that funk is bacteria - both your body's naturally-occurring ba bcteria as well as the bacteria that may or may not be thriving on the mats - which eat the fatty compounds found in sweat and produce malodorous compounds. These compounds then cling to the natural fibers in your gi, and the longer you leave your gi to "ferment", the harder it is to wash those pesky compounds out, especially if you're washing in cold water to preserve the size and longevity of your gi. 

If you can't wash your gi immediately after a training session, there are some ways you can try to "defunk" your gi. These include: adding Borax or color-safe bleach to your laundry, spraying your gi with diluted peroxide (white gis only, as peroxide can bleach certain colors), soaking your gi in a vinegar solution prior to washing, or using a detergent specifically made for gis. 

Hopefully these tips will help you keep your gi in tip top shape for your next training session. Just remember the most important tip of all: don't wear a stinky gi to class. You won't make any friends that way. 

Train on... fresh. Oss.