Results tagged “BJJ” from MMA Explosion

I tell ya, man, it's great to see martial artists in York County and the surrounding area getting together, training and learning from each other. My co-worker Tom Joyce, whose taken a great deal of martial arts over the years, always recalls the squabbling he used to witness and hear about between schools and martial arts masters. It makes you wonder why petty differences couldn't be put aside for the greater good.

George "Phoenix" McGinnis of York Mixed Martial Arts Academy in Red Lion has been at the vanguard of the MMA cross-pollination in York County and beyond, and a recent facebook post by him illustrates this:

"Had a good work out last night. Hit up Blackman's MMA (in Harrisburg) for some mat time with their fighters and then bounced on over to Jay's (Haas' academy in Lewisberry) to work in with their wrestling team. The beauty behind association and comraderie is that everyone generally wins. Hell, just last night I noticed 2 - 3 wrestling techniques at Jay's that I am going to start drilling as early as today to incorporate into my own game..."

As a source of inspiration, I also asked George about how he got his nickname:

"It was decided upon by a couple of friends a good ways back due to my uncanny ability to bounce back from any bad situation. Example: I would be in a match where I was down numerous points and unlikely to recover, and then out of no where I would spark enough energy or motion to escape / reverse the position and or submit my opponent from an unlikely angle."

"An example of how it applies to me off the mat is again my ability to bounce back from a bad situation, or what I often refer to as 'rock bottom'. I have hit rock bottom a handful of times in my life. I have made mistakes that have cost me dearly. I have said and done things that I was certain I would never be able to redeem, but like the Phoenix, its old physical form perishes in the ashes of its self-made pyre and a new emerges stronger and healthier then ever. To me, the Phoenix represents redemption, a fresh start and perhaps a new lease on life..."

Date: Relson Gracie Seminar (Tues Nov 24, 2009)
Times: (All evening classes will be canceled)
6pm-7:30pm Gi Class ($40)
7:30pm - 9:00pm No Gi ($40) Both classes ($75)

Please Call Balance Studios at 215 636 9661 to reserve your spot.

Relson's Seminars generally sell out within the first day, so Call ASAP if you want a space.

If you are a Memeber of Balance Studios, see Josh in the office to reserve your space.

Once a prized pupil of Lloyd Irvin, Ryan Hall set off on his own academy in Arlington, Va., Fifty/50 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He recently claimed bronze at the Abu Dhabi Combat Club world championships.

Got a message on facebook from York fighter Anthony Dick recently, saying that he started training with Daniel Beleza at York's Academy of Combative Arts.
"Since starting with him I finally won my first fight in Massachusetts. They are so awesome there the school is great and the trainers top notch."

Congrats on the win, Anthony. Hope it's the first of many.

Here's a message on Shogun Fights' Web site:

Thanks for making Shogun Fights' premiere event a huge SUCCESS.

Over 5,000 people were in attendance to witness MMA history.

The next event will be March 27th 2010.

More information will be available shortly. Please check back for updates.

Thanks to Paul Miles from mamma-online.com for the head's up.

I went over to the Academy of Combative Arts in York today for their open house, and had a great time. The academy, located in the Greyhound Bus Station, is home to many MMA fighters, as well as others who are interested in getting (or keeping) in shape or learning self-defense.

Unfortunately, I was late in getting there, so I missed the exhibition that owners Joe Duffey and Frank Nguyen had planned. But I have to say, everyone was accomodating in doing it again, just so I could get a little footage, which will be edited and put up here sometime soon.

In addition to Joe and Frank, head BJJ instructor Daniel Beleza was there, as well as Muay Thai instructor Kham and a guy he's been training with for a couple years now, Kaensak Sor. Pleonjit. Kaensak, who now trains in New Jersey, was champion at both Lumpinee and Ratchadamnoen stadiums, which I'm told are the two biggest and most prestigious stadiums in Thailand. He was in York for a seminar at ACA in August and hopes to do it again soon.

Just found this on MMAMelee, the best damn MMA social networking site. Jim Hettes vs. Jay Haas - dayum! And Randy Smith is on the card, which means we'll probably be seeing Tamdan "The Barn Cat" McCrory in town again.

Rounds 2 and 3 after the jump.

Jerod Phillips, who owns Tap or Sleep fightwear and sponsors James "Binky" Jones, sent me this message about Binky's fight at 145 last weekend against Jason McLean, headlining Maryland's first-ever sanctioned MMA event, Shogun Fights:
"Binky won a UD. He used Put On as his walk out song. So Binky Jones Put On for his city!!!

An email from Brad Souders, of Extreme Sportsplex in Martinsburg, W. Va., sent me these videos the other day with this note:

"Here are two videos i shot last night on two common bjj problems. The first deals with the popular knee cut pass and the second is one counter to the brabo choke which is becoming popular in no gi grappling.

Sorry about the boxer show and notice my gut hanging haha and for added Matt,Mark, and Grove notice the shirt lol."

This piece was recommended to me by George McGinnis of YMMAA in Red Lion and was written by Rosendo Diaz (pictured above) of Rosendo Diaz Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Royler Gracie-David Adiv:
The keys to becoming better at Jiu-Jitsu don't always rest in the in the hands of your instructor or the quality of your training partners, nor does it always come from getting the most up to date techniques used in competition.

While those things are important and contribute to the overall development of your skills, what really matters is the commitment you make to the art of jiu-jitsu and your discipline and what I like to refer to as the three P's of training.

What are the three P's of training?

Practice, Persistence and Patience...

YMMAA owner/purple belt George McGinnis and Nate Grove.

Nate Grove of Red Lion receives his yellow belt last night (Oct 21 09) at the York Mixed Martial Arts Academy.

Nate was the first official youth program student to tutor under Coach McGinnis more than a year ago. At ten years old, this young man is off to a great start in a sport that has been sweeping American soil by storm since its introduction years ago.

McGinnis said, "I think its safe to bet that majority of us in our 30's and above in some way wishes that we would have known about or been involved with BJJ / Judo in our younger days. However, that's the beauty behind BJJ. Not only is it clearly dominating and highly effective, but because of its leverage based applications and design, pioneers like Professor Helio Gracie were able to participate in BJJ and its growth well into his 90's. That's insane!"

Other youth students like Tyler and Robby good have been training at the YMMAA and are sure to shine along with Nate in the future.

Congrats, Nate, on your yellow belt. We'll be following you here on MMA Explosion!

photo from sherdog.com

I blogged about the upcoming light-heavyweight title fight between champion Lyoto Machida and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua recently, saying it should be interesting to see if/how they alter their styles in the fight.

from mmajunkie.com:
"I know Lyoto very well," Rua said. "I have studied his game a lot. I know his style. I trained my strategy for the fight for three months in a row, focusing on that.

"I hope to be able to keep up with the strategy for the whole fight because we know what to expect, and we don't plan on getting frustrated and changing the plan. We worked on that, and we'll follow the plan."

The 2005-era Rua was an aggressive, wild foe. But in facing Machida's patient, karate-based counter-striking style, Rua believes his own patience will be key.

It may prove a test of the mind as much as an examination of Rua's physical form.

"We can only know for sure what's going to happen when the fight starts," Rua said. "You never really know what's going to happen in a fight. You can try to predict something, but anything can happen. Anything can change at any given moment during a fight.

"I trained for something. I plan and hope on doing what I trained and the strategy I prepared for, but a fight is a fight. Let's wait and see."

Found this video of Joe Fye, who trains at Gracie NEPA in Scranton with Jim Hettes, and goes by the name "Stranglehold" on mmamelee. Fight took place on June 12 at Cage Fight against Sean Haines. The fight is listed as a TKO, but I would call that a straight-up KO. Haines was flat on the canvas and the doctor had to run in and check him. That's a KO in my book. Nice hands, Mr. Fye.

I know Machida has said he adapted his style to please the fans - becoming more aggressive - but with the ultra-aggressive Shogun coming at him, we might see Machida revert back to the elusive, patient counter-striker. Either way, we're in for a good one. These are two of the most exciting and talented LHWs out there and so I don't see this one getting out of maybe the second round.

Thanks to JiuJitsuMatrix.com

Ryan Hall, who used to train with Lloyd Irvin, now has his own school called Fifty/50 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This year, he competed in the Abu Dhabi Combat Club World Championships, and above is his match with the legendary Leo Vieira. Ryan's academy is located at 4238 Wilson Boulevard, 3rd Floor, Ballston Mall - Sport and Health, Arlington, VA. For other ADCC results, go to sherdog.com