Results tagged “PA BJJ” from MMA Explosion

Here's an email from Larry Novak, owner of Tattoo Fightwear, a New Cumberland-based mma clothing company:

Tattoo Fightwear is sponsoring James "Shrapnel" Chappell, here are a few of his stats:
-Green Belt USMC Martial Arts
-High School Wrestling
-Blue Belt BJJ
-1yr. Boxing/Muy Thai
-Competed in NAGA, UGC and took a gold medal at the PA.State BJJ Tournament
-Ammy record: 3-0
-Light weight title holder for the Central PA. Warrior Challenge.

To see one of Chappell's fights, click here.

Ted's Take: Jimmy's won all of his fights by armbar - which, don't get me wrong, is a great thing - but I can't wait to see it when he lets his hands go.

Daniel Tavares

York's Academy of Combative Arts, a full-service MMA school featuring BJJ black belt Daniel Beleza and Muay Thai instructor Kham Ngondara, is holding a seminar tomorrow (Sat.) at 10 a.m. at their location, 53 E. North St., in the same building as the Greyhound bus station. Cost of the seminar, which should last between 1 1/2 to 2 hours, is $60.

The seminar features Daniel Tavares, a BJJ black belt and NAGA champion. Tavares is a close friend and training partner of Beleza. "He's an incredible BJJ practitioner and instructor," said ACA co-owner Joe Duffey.

In addition, because Tavares, who is 5'10" and about 165, is a bit bigger than Beleza, he brings a different perspective to the table, especially for anyone who has trained with Beleza, Duffey said.

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..."

George McGinnis, owner of York Mixed Martial Arts Academy in Red Lion, presents a new series, called Technique of the Week. George is a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Tatu Taborda in Scranton. Here's George's description of the video:

This is our first "Technique of the week" video. Here you will see Coach Brad Souders and myself demonstrating what we call "Leg Lasso" and we show in detail how to transition into an 'Omoplata'. I have played with similar positions like this before, but this particular variation was shown to us by Renaldo (De La Riva black belt). Note: Some people don't really push for the "Leg Lasso" position much due to their fear of either losing the position or being leg locked. If you control your opponents sleeves and maintain space, it would honestly be extremely difficult for them to leg lock you once you have fully committed to the position...

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.

I wanted to let you all know the results of the competition this past weekend at the NAGA Submission Grappling Tournament.

Dan "The Mirror Guy" Genevesi took 1st place, 139.9lb. Division

Joe "Wildman" Marerro took 1st place, 149.9lb. Division

Victor "Apu" Millian took 2nd place, 224.9lb Division

Keith Patterson took 2nd place, 199.9lb Division

"Wrestler" Joe Ruggierio took 2nd place, 225lb+ Expert Division

I am sending out this email to let you all know that this Saturday, November 14th the school will be closed due to the NAGA Grappling Tournament. Many of us are going to be competing in the tournament, so if you are interested in participating or just want to come and support your team you can go to nagafighter.com for details or just give me a call. Thanks and I will see you all on Monday.

Thanks,
Adam Rocco
Roccomma.com
215-778-2517

Click here for more information.

From the Youtube description:
"EVERYONE LOVES A MONTAGE. AND EVERYONE LIKES CAPS LOCK. VIDEO FOOTAGE FROM OCTOBER 11, 2009. VIDEO TAKEN WITH A KODAK ZI6 POCKET VIDEO CAMERA. CAMERA OPERATION, EDITING, AND LOOP SEQUENCES BY JERMAINE JUSTICE."

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Jim Hettes is a 22-year-old who looks like he's 16, a professional who starts his day with a bowl of Fruity Pebbles. A 140-pound man who doesn't even bother to tell anyone what he really does for a living.

He has learned a lot these last few years. One thing he has picked up is, it's not worth trying to get anyone to look past what seems obvious.

"I tell them I'm self-employed," Hettes said. "I don't tell them I'm an MMA fighter.

"Usually, when you tell them you're an MMA fighter, they look at you a little different. Some people understand it. Some people think you're just a thug or something. Half the people think I'm B.S.-ing them anyway."

Actually, far from it.

Baltimore had its first MMA event a couple weeks ago - Shogun Fights - and Pennsylvania's Jim Hettes represented GracieNEPA and MMAMelee to the fullest, winning by armbar in the first round. I posted a vid of the fight a while back, but here it is again, from another angle, posted just a few days ago at MMAMelee. Parts two and three are on the next page.

George McGinnis, owner and head trainer at York Mixed Martial Arts Academy, sent me this email on his impressions of Friday's event in Harrisburg:

"I would like to congratulate Coach Blackman and all those involved in a successful evening. There is no doubt that his personal involvement in the entertainment business is what assisted him in running an impressive show. Steve Blackman took the appropriate amount of time to converse with the trainers and was extremely composed during the event which was a refreshing change of pace. I was impressed with the easy to find location, the venue itself, as well as the talent pool in both the amateur and pro divisions. I do believe that we will be looking to work with Mr. Blackman in the future"...

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.

I am sending out this email to let everyone know that we are changing the schedule to accommodate more time for the Submission Grappling classes. The Submission Grappling classes during the day will start at 12:20 and will end when we are done. I am not putting a time restraint on our class anymore.

For those of you that come in for the Boxing or MMA class during the day, it will begin when we are done Submission Grappling. Assume it will begin around 2:00. If we aren't finished by then, just hit the bag, stretch and warm up.

The Submission Grappling classes in the evening will be extended by a half hour. Monday and Wednesday the class will be from 6:00 to 7:30, and from 7:00 to 8:30 on Tuesday. The classes that follow will stay the same. They will just be starting a half hour later than usual.

We are also going to be stricter with the class as well. You must come on time or you will have to do a separate warm up in the cage before you can join the class. In class I will go over the new format in greater detail. I am changing the format in the hopes of getting our grappling to all new heights. I hope to see you all in class soon.

Thanks,
Adam Rocco
Roccomma.com
215-778-2517

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.

Thanks to mmamelee for the video.

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...

I wanted to get down some of my impression of the Central Pennsylvania Warrior Challenge III, held last Friday in Lancaster, so here goes ...

I've known promoter Mark Jovich for about 2 1/2 years, pretty much ever since I started this blog. The man is top-notch - a Marine for more than a quarter-century, former military instructor at Dallastown High School, father, husband and of course, martial arts master at Central Pennsylvania Martial Arts Academy in New Cumberland.

Mark's no fly-by-nighter, no "one-and-done" promoter; he's here to stay and to build on what he has constructed so far: quality events, the most bang for the buck, while gving young fighters the chance to realize their dreams.

Jim "Kid Havoc" Hettes kicks Steven Baker. Thanks to MMAMelee, the ultimate MMA social networking site, for the pic and story.

ONE FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS:
In front of more than 5,000 fans, Jim Hettes becomes the first man in history to win a Professional mixed martial arts bout in the state of Maryland. (See Video) Saturday night Shogun Fights was not only a staple of excitement for the city of Baltimore, but also every MMA fans dream.

Shogun is a brand new promotion and they didn't put on a fight, they put on a show! Top level promotions like the UFC and Strikeforce should beware. If this is their first time doing it, there is definitely a new contender in the house. Full with celebrities, lights, cameras and plenty of action, the crowd was electric and never was that more evident then when Hettes's walk-out song 'Welcome to Jamrock' by Damian Marley started bumping, it sent chills down your spine.