BACK CONTROL ESCAPE | GUARD PASS | Dynamic Martial Arts Roseburg

Solo training

I often get questions in class on online about what workouts could be done at home or at the gym to supplement our Judo and Jiu-jitsu abilities.

The best advice I can give is that the warm up exercises we do are essential movements that we use while engaged in Jiu-jitsu grappling rounds. 

Here are some examples of the exercises and what purpose they serve.

--Judo pushups or dive-bombers-- this exercise will aid in your ability for sprawl defense to takedowns as well as help you develop good pressure when doing guard passes, hold downs, etc.

--Cockroaches or crunch twists--These develop your core strength and help with your pivotal open guard mobility or just while on your back.

--Bridge and roll--good for core strength. Escaping mount and other various pinning positions. The bridge is also used for armbars, kneebars, and some other subs. 

--Shrimp or hip escape--creating space for escapes from pins.

--Step over or hip switch--This skill is for guard recovery/guard retention. It will also help you with sweeps and subs.

--Forward rolls, backward rolls, and side rolls--for mobility while inverted and numerous rolling attacks/defenses

--X patterns high and low--For developing mobility for turning in and out for escapes and attacks.

--Technical Stand up or Standing in Base--This is just a great habit to have.

--Ukemi (falling practice)--You can perform falling practice from low or medium level if you do not have a padded flooring or tatami. Proficiency in your throws/takedowns is directly connected to your confidence in falling well.

--Uchi-komi with belt or resistance bands--This aids in your footwork and speed of attack for your throws. It is a great way to get in repetitions (the key to muscle memory).

Below you will find some videos that give some more ideas on solo drills. I have also included Jeff Glover discussing the use of the stability ball. The stability ball is one of the least expensive and most useful tools you can get to help supplement your Jiu-jitsu at home. 

 

Buckets of Sand (Prioritize your Jiu-jitsu training)

Alexenko Sensei began the study of Judo in 1965. While serving in the army and stationed in Guam, he was part of a civilian Judo team that was preparing for a tournament against a Naval Judo team. One day while visiting the beach, he saw the other team running up the beach carrying heavy buckets of sand, one in each hand. Running in soft sand can be difficult enough without carrying something heavy. These guys were obviously working hard to prepare for the upcoming event.

Alexenko went to his Judo Sensei and reported what he had seen. He was concerned that the other team was working so hard and asked his Sensei if they too should be doing the same method of training.  

His Sensei looked at him and said, "While they have been running up and down the beach carrying buckets of sand, you and your team have been practicing Judo. When the tournament comes, they will be very good at carrying buckets of sand, but you will be good at Judo."

Alexenko's team dominated the tournament with their quality Judo skills.

Over the years, I have heard Alexenko tell the story many times, the point of which is to remind us that there is no substitute for time spent on the mat, learning technique.

I am a huge proponent of strength training. I have blended strength training in my own martial arts practice for over 30 years. In 2008 I became a certified "Specialist in Martial Arts Conditioning" through the International Sports Sciences Association. I am fully aware that cardio capacity, muscular strength, and muscular endurance are important variables in the Budoka development. 

However, running, biking, weight lifting and other activities can be much like the buckets of sand. You only become good at Judo/Jiu-jitsu by practicing it on the mats. Muscle memory, timing, and body mechanic efficiency only come from repetition of techniques and sparring. 

A scientific approach must be made if we intend to supplement our martial arts training with strength or cardio training. We must be careful not to replace our time on the mat with time under weights or on the treadmill. We must be careful not to become overly dependent on strength or cardio as a false replacement for technical skill.

If you want to be better at Jiu-jitsu, do not take time away from the dojo to spend it under weights at the gym. This in fact can be counterproductive to your Jiu-jitsu performance. You will become dependent on your strength and when you become tired, you will have not have the necessary skills to fall back on. Jiu-jitsu is not explosive and instead makes use of efficient body mechanics to overcome the strength of an opponent. Structure and leverage will defeat strength. If you are using strength, you are not using Jiu-jitsu.

Children students are the best example for this. They have not yet learned to be strength dependent. Instead they depend totally upon the skills they are developing. As they get older and develop athletically, they will incorporate that athleticism into their Jiu-jitsu, but will still call upon their leverage, structure, and timing skills first.

Proper nutrition and exercise are fundamental to a healthy lifestyle. People that make conscious efforts to live a healthy life are commendable. It helps us live a longer, happier, more productive life. Don't give up on strength or cardio training, but don't replace your time on the mat with those things. If you wish to be better at Jiu-jitsu, make the time in the dojo your priority and the outside training as a supplement. You cannot get back the hours not spent on the mat.

L.W. Keith  

 

Basic Bow and Arrow Choke | Dynamic Martial Arts | Video

Here is a short video I recently uploaded to our new Youtube Channel. This one is a basic variation of the bow and arrow strangle from back control.

Mushin and Kata in Grappling Arts

Mushin 

Mu = Nothingness
Shin = Mind, heart, spirit

The Japanese term of "Mushin" refers to clearing the mind of all mental blocks/obstacles and letting the actions of martial arts flow through us. The state of Mushin only comes with many repetitions of a technique.

The modern sports science explanation of this would be called "muscle memory" or "reflex".

Sensei Yuzo Kato would always tell me how it takes 3000 to 5000 repetitions of a technique for you to "get it right".  Sometimes he would even say 10,000.  

In the book "Motor Learning", Dr. Richard Schmidt illustrates that it takes about 300 to 500 repetitions to develop a "new" motor skill and goes on to explain that it takes between 3000 to 5000 repetitions to correct a bad habit and develop a correct one.

Bruce Lee said that martial arts development isn't about building up skill , but more about chipping away of bad habits.

Jigoro Kano, when asked what was the secret to Judo expertise, replied, "Practice, practice, practice."

No matter how we look at it, the only way for us to develop Mushin or muscle memory is through repetitions of techniques. 

There is another expression that says, "practice makes perfect." Another that I've heard that I think is even more accurate is that, "perfect practice makes perfect."

Kata

The International Sports Sciences Association handbook for Specialist in Martial Arts Conditioning Certification defines Kata as, "a prescribed pattern of movement".
 
There is a common misconception about Kata in modern martial arts. There is the formal Kata that is known for choreographed patterns of footwork, stances, blocks, punches, kicks, etc. vs an imaginary foe. This type of Kata is generalized with Karate or striking arts. Formal Judo and Aikido Kata also make use of these choreographed patterns but, use a partner with both having a specific pattern to follow. One is uke (attacker) and the other is tori (defender). 

Kato Sensei would often refer to Kata simply as form or the way you perform a specific technique with accuracy. It means that when performing a specific throw, pin, or submission, it is to be done as accurately as possible. Your body positioning, hands, arms, feet, legs, hips, head, all need to be in a specific place, doing a specific thing. 

In my 30+ years of experience in martial arts, I have had many debates with "martial artists" that claim their art has no Katas. If you are doing repetitions of something while making the effort to have good "form", you are performing Kata.  

When we drill a specific throw in Judo or guard pass in Jiu-jitsu, doing many repetitions and trying to make the transition as smooth and accurate as possible with each rep, we are in fact, performing Kata. When we practice shrimping, bridging, x-patterns, ukemi, technical standing, etc., we are performing Kata. We may call it something else, like partner drills, solo drills, exercises, scenarios, warm-ups, etc., but the purpose is still the same.

The reason we do these things is simply because perfect practice makes perfect. We want to have the ability to perform these techniques without having to think about it. We are developing muscle memory or Mushin.   

We must also take into consideration that skills are perishable. After we learn them, if we do not continue to practice them or refine them, they will dull over time.

In order to get in the repetitions needed to become proficient and maintain it, you must practice. Thinking about it is not enough. Reading about it is not enough. Watching videos is not enough. You must physically perform the techniques. As the techniques become easier and more automatic, it is time to refine and work on details, combinations, set-ups, counters, etc.

Basically, the mysteries of Kata and Mushin can be explained as: Accurate repetition will develop accurate muscle memory. It's not mystery, it's science and what we call it doesn't matter, it's just a necessary formula for successfully learning an art. 

Keep practicing. Get in many accurate repetitions. Remember, it isn't the hours of work you put in, but the work you put into the hours.

L.W. Keith 

Plateaus, Perseverance, and Breakthroughs

Everyone goes through it. Anyone at any age that has practiced martial arts for any significant amount of time has gone through a phase when the training may become a little more challenging, overwhelming, boring, hard work, or maybe even too easy. Whatever it is, it causes us to become frustrated and perhaps a little disinterested in continuing our training. We call this a training plateau.

This is a time when students quit training, or "take time off to try another activity".  Kids might even tell their parents that they don't like martial arts anymore and get upset when it is time to go to class.

This is normal. People (especially kids) usually do not realize that they are going through a normal and natural process. And, most beginners do not know that this time is crucial to their training both on a physical and mental level.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Remember, one of the most important character traits learned in martial arts is PERSEVERANCE.

Perseverance is needed to get through this phase. I always encourage parents to keep their child training until their next promotion. Many times, seeing the reward for their consistency and labor, the student will find new motivation and be eager to continue learning.  What's more amazing is that the student will usually have a breakthrough before the promotion actually happens.

I encourage my teen and adult students to make training part of their regular routine. I also remind them that the dojo is a type of sanctuary for them to help relieve stress and clear their mind of the everyday clutter. Stay at it, and the breakthroughs will come. 

The breakthroughs come in different shapes and sizes. Sometimes it is a technical aspect that connects with and handful of techniques. Sometimes it is a strategy that ties together the entire game plan. Other times, it may be a philosophy that brings new perspective to light. Whatever it is, the student is enlightened and motivated to make use of these new ideas.

As a student gains more experience, he/she will realize that plateaus and breakthroughs are all part of the growing process of the martial artist. By the time we become a black belt, we will have gone through this process many, many times. The highly experienced martial artist greets this process as a welcomed challenge. However, plateaus do not end with attaining black belt. It is never-ending part of the growing martial artist.  

As parents, we sometimes have to persevere for our children. It's a little harder for them to understand what is going on. We can't give up so easily. What kind of lesson are we teaching our children if we encourage them to quit or give up whenever the going gets tough? Don't teach your child to be a quitter. Hard work pays off.

Those that learn perseverance in martial arts will also persevere in school, career, personal relationships, and life in general.

L.W. Keith



   

The importance of throws/takedowns

Statistically, about 80% of fights will go to the ground. Often, in our dojo, you will hear me say that 100% of fights start from standing. More and more competitive Jiu-jitsu practitioners are realizing the importance of having good takedown skills.

The original design of Japanese Jiu-jitsu was as a hand to hand combative system for armor clad Samurai warriors. Punches and kicks were ineffective against the armor. However, throws can generate a great deal of impact and put the opponent in an instant vulnerable position.

A key element in Jiu-jitsu success is being a step or several steps ahead of your opponent. We refer to this as being proactive. If you are on the defense, you are a step or steps behind and are reactive (losing).

On the ground, the guard position is a defensive position (people often forget this fact). The basic premise for the guard is to defend against an opponent that is seeking to gain control of your upper body (head and hips). Submissions certainly can be performed from bottom guard position, but are more effective from top control. This is why sweeps are important.

If you pull guard, you are automatically putting yourself in a defensive and most times a reactive starting position. Some folks have a very aggressive guard game, but nevertheless, are still in a defensive position.

Statistically, competitors that start their match with a takedown have a higher rate of submission finish. Takedowns also give you the chance to score first and thus beginning your momentum towards the win.

The impact of a throw causes momentary physical and mental trauma and if done correctly, puts you in a position where follow-up attacks are easily accessible. You have become proactive and your opponent has become reactive.  

In a self defense situation, it would not be sensible to "pull guard" against an attacker. However, if it is within your abilities, throwing your attacker to the ground and making space to get away would be the wiser choice. The guard would be a good choice if the attacker managed to tackle you or somehow end up atop you. You would look to improve position, clear space between you and the attacker and get away. Self defense is not a point scoring match, it is about escaping an attacker.

I often stress in the dojo the importance of position before submission. Raising you hips to finish an armlock is relatively easy. Getting to the position to perform the armlock on a resisting opponent is where the real challenge is. For similar reasons it is important to become confident in your throw/takedown skillsets. Grappling begins when the combatants get to the ground. Getting the fight to the ground can be quite a challenge against a resisting opponent. Being in a dominant position when the ground fighting begins is of paramount importance if you wish to be proactive.   



      

Back Control

In Jiu-jitsu, there is something referred to as "positional hierarchy". This means that certain positions have greater value than others in combat/contest. That value is determined on how much damage you can inflict on your opponent in comparison to the amount the opponent can do to you.

In sport Jiu-jitsu, this hierarchy is reflected in the point system. The most dominant positions. back mount and mount, are worth the most points. Lesser points are also awarded for knee on belly position, guard sweeps, guard passes and takedowns. 

There are hundreds of opportunities for other positions and submissions en route, but the positional advancement we seek in Jiu-jitsu is ultimately aimed at gaining back control.

As I like to put it, we "prompt" our opponents into certain positions by using proper body mechanics.

In the video below, Jiu-jitsu black belt, Jason Scully demonstrates many back mount entry options. I like the video and wanted to share it because it reminds us that in almost all controlling positions, there is an opportunity to take back mount. 

Inside Dynamic Martial Arts--October 2014

Testing for youth and adult students went very well on the 27th. We had over 40 youth members on the mat performing their exam. Everyone got through it and either received a new belt or stripe.  In the future, we do plan to split the testing into two separate times or days. I believe this will accommodate everyone better and help those on the mat stay focused. 

If anyone missed the exam day and still needs to do a make up test, we are scheduling one for October 11th. Talk to your instructor about the times. If you cannot make it on the 11th, be sure to schedule a day with your instructor. 

We are entering an exciting second week in the new cycle. This week our youth students will be working on positional escapes. The adults will be drilling some cool standing guard passes.

 

Dynamic Martial Arts | Stop the Bully | Spring Break Camp

Our "Stop the Bully" Spring Break Camp was fun and very educational for the students that attended. They each earned a black "bully-proof" stripe on their belt and are the first members of our Anti-bully task force. 

The students learned a system of defense that begins with verbal Jiu-jitsu and follows a series of steps that help the student have the confidence to deal with bully situations. 

Most schools have a zero tolerance rule for fighting. This means that if a child is assaulted by a bully, it is likely both kids will be suspended from school. The common definition of fighting is with punches and kicks. The zero tolerance rule does not serve as a bully deterrent so much as making the victim afraid to defend.

Jiu-jitsu allows a child to defend him/her self from a bully without the use of strikes, using our rules of engagement. Because the child is using a clear set of guidelines, they can minimize injury to themselves as well as the attacker. Plus the child has a clear definition of the steps that were taken to prevent the physical confrontation. Having this clear set of guidelines gives the Jiu-jitsu student confidence which is the first deterrent to bullying.

This is the video the kids made during their camp. We wanted to express a message with the statistics to show what a severe problem bullying really is and also demonstrate just a few of the techniques learned in the camp. 

I think it is important to note that the kids in the video are able to use their learned Jiu-jitsu skills and talk to the attacker at the same time. 

We will be hosting "Stop the Bully" camps this summer as well. Please watch for future posts with dates for these events. 

Big "Thank You" to the kids for attending and to Tony and Brian for helping teach the camp!

Inside Dynamic Martial Arts--Jiu-jitsu promotions--stop the bully camp--training with Olympians

I am very proud of the students at Dynamic Martial Arts for having a successful testing and graduation last weekend. The dedication and hard work was easy to see as everyone confidently passed with no real struggles. Congratulations to all the kids, juniors, and adults that received promotions.

16 and up

Rand Dickson--4th stripe on white
Sam Clayton--3rd stripe on white
Brady Merrifield--2nd stripe on white (16yr) 
Triston--1st stripe on white (16yr)

13-15

Peter Stevens--2nd strip on orange/white (junior)
Warren Dickson--2nd stripe on yellow/black (junior)
Reed Shanahan--2nd stripe on white (junior)

Kids 6-12

Gabriel M.--3rd stripe on orange/white
Malcolm K--Yellow/white belt
Cristian M--Solid grey
Shawn B.--3rd red stripe on grey/white
Mary Z.--2nd red stripe on grey/white
Jay B.--4th red stripe on white

--Gabriel also received our "best attendance" patch for his outstanding dedication
--Cristian received a "role model" stripe for his enthusiastic assistance at events and in class
--Malcolm received a "bully-proof" stripe for graduating our bully prevention camp.

I am also very proud of our instructors. The outstanding performance of the students is a direct reflection of their effectiveness as teachers.

 

 

Over Spring Break, Maylin Hayes got to spend some time training with 2012 Judo Olympic bronze medal winner, Marti Malloy.

 In addition, she also got to hang out with San Jose's Judo program head coach, Yoshihiro Uchida. Sensei Uchida was also coached the U.S. team in the first Olympic Judo tournament in 1964. What a great honor and experience for Maylin!

 

The Dynamic Martial Arts "Stop the Bully" Spring Break Camp was great! We had an awesome group of kids that learned how to use verbal Jiu-jitsu to deter bullies and Jiu-jitsu to control the physical attack of a bully. The kids also took part in the making of an anti-bully video. The participating kids received a "bully-proof" stripe on their belts for graduating the camp and are now part of our Bully-proofing task force.

 

 

 

Inside Dynamic Martial Arts--March 2, 2014

Jiu-jitsu testing is at the end of this month. If you are struggling with any of the material, please be sure to let your instructors know. We will be glad to help. Remember that the fee is $15 and includes a pizza party after the test. We will also watch Metamoris 3 for the rematch between Jiu-jitsu legends Royler Gracie and Eddie Bravo. https://metamoris.com/ 

This week the adult Jiu-jitsu class will return to working bottom half-guard controls and sweeps. Kids' Jiu-jitsu will be working bottom guard attacks and sweeps. 

MMA class will be focusing on strikes this week, so please be sure to bring gloves, shin pads, and mouth guard. If you do not have the right equipment, please talk to your instructor about getting it ordered.

The NAGA (North American Grappling Association) Oregon Grappling Championships are March 15th at the Portland Community College.

If you wish to compete in the tournament, register online by March 7th at NAGA Registration  
In the "fighter's team" section, please be sure to use DFCC/Impact Jiu-jitsu. 

February comes to an end with some Jiu-jitsu and Judo promotions

Well, we got the big room functional just in time. Impact Jiu-jitsu black belt, Matt Leech did a great job with the seminar. We covered different types of pressure and use those pressures to secure and advance positioning. One of the reasons I enjoy working with Matt is that we have similar views on the application of pressure. 

We also had several rank promotions from Mr. Leech. 

Larry Keith--Purple
Tony Pepe--Fourth stripe on blue
Cameron Ericson--Stripe on blue and also received Kodokan Judo Sankyu (brown)
Brian Powers--Blue
Mike Frear--Blue
Drew Bauguess--Blue
Ryan Warner--Blue
Mark Hamel--3rd stripe on white
Daniel Sheets--2nd stripe on white

Congratulations to everyone! Keep up the great work. Together, we are building a very strong and awesome Jiu-jitsu community. 

The next Impact Jiu-jitsu seminar should be in 3-4 months. The cost is usually going to be around $50 and is well worth every penny. It is important to get to know the other Jiu-jitsu practitioners and instructors in our affiliations. The Impact instructors are very good at tying into what we are currently working on to help supplement and amplify our skill sets and understanding of the art.  

The Sunday after the seminar, we had Malcolm's 7th Birthday Party at the dojo. The theme was Ninja Turtles. A good number of kids attended. Sensei Tony guided them through a class and some dojo games. Then Malcolm got to cut his cake with a Samurai sword. The kids loved that part the best! Anyway, this was a good practice run for future birthday parties we will host in the future. If you or anyone you know would like to have a martial arts birthday party for a child, call us or go to this link to reserve the date. Dynamic Martial Arts Special Events 

We will continue construction in the big room and soon hope to have the rest of the equipment installed and usable. Thank you all for being so patient and helpful in the process. In the end we will have the largest and most state of the art dojo in Southern Oregon.

Spring Break is right around the corner and we will be hosting another Spring Break Martial Arts Camp. The theme this year is anti-bullying. Flyers and info will be posted soon. 

If you know of anyone that suffers from bullying, please send them our way. Jiu-jitsu really is one of the best tools for battling the bully epidemic. There is nothing we enjoy more than helping someone feel safer and improving their life through martial arts. 

Please be sure to visit our website and send your friends to it as well.

Dynamic Martial Arts 

 

December 28, 2013---Testing day success!

Great day at the dojo today! We tested 8 teen/adults and 12 kids for stripes today. All of them performed well and passed with flying colors. 

Congratulations to Ryan Warner, Rand Dickson, Brian Powers, Mark Hamel, Brady Merrifield, Randy Dickson, Warren Dickson, and Reed Shanahan for earning a stripe on their white belts.

Congratulations to youth students, Gabe, Josh, and Malcolm for earning a white curriculum stripe on their belt and to May Lin, Tanner, Cameron, Cristian, Sean, Brayden, Elian, Ethan, and Emma for earning a bonus red attendance stripe on theirs. 

Congratulations also to Josh, May Lin, Malcolm, and Cristian for being awarded "best attendance" patches. By the way...those are some cool looking patches!

The dedication and discipline of the students that tested today was displayed as they cruised through the exam smoothly and methodically.

Thank you to training partners, instructors, and family for helping with the success of these students. Together, we are building champions both inside and outside the dojo. Keep up the great work everyone!

OSS!

December 28, 2013--Jiu-jitsu Promotions

The 3rd cycle of curriculum will begin Monday, December 30th. Printed copies will be available at the reception counter.    

Inside Dynamic MMA--Week of October 14-18

We are going into our third week at the new location. It seems that everyone is excited about the new building, new location, and new possibilities.

In the last two weeks, we have had great classes and even hosted two self defense seminars for local girl scouts.
 
On the 19th, we will host the girls scouts again to let them finish earning the "martial arts" badges and learn more about stranger danger/bully prevention.

Also on the 19th, we will host a Halloween Safety Seminar for all school aged kids. This event is open to the public, so if you know anyone with kids, tell them about the event.

On the 26th, we will host the Beaverton Impact Jiu-jitsu head coach, Armand Debruge for a Jiu-jitsu seminar. Armand is a highly decorated Jiu-jitsu competitor and has been a black belt since 2009. The seminar fee is $50 and will be from 10am-1pm. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from a highly qualified Jiu-jitsu instructor.

The remodel of the new dojo is going to go into overdrive beginning this week. Many of you have had a tour of the big room and loading dock area and see the vision of the future. Have patience with us during the work and remember how awesome it is going to be on completion.

Our dojo will be closed on Halloween as we host our annual Halloween Party and Haunted Dojo.



 

Jiu-jitsu Belt testing and other news

News:

Belt testing and graduation celebration is this Saturday at 10:00am.
Students must have the following qualifications:

--Membership dues must be current
--$15 testing and graduation fee must be paid in advance
--Must have the minimum of 21 day in attendance for this curriculum cycle
--Youth students solid grey and above are required to test for rank stripe
--Youth students that are white belt or grey with white stripe may test if they fit the other requirements. Passing the test will result in a red attendance stripe. (worth one month)

Testing time for 6-12 is 10am. The test should take about an hour or so. We will have pizza and soft drinks for the graduation celebration at the end of testing.

*If for some reason a student cannot attend the testing day, please talk to Sensei Tony about scheduling a make-up test date.

We are super EXCITED about this event! It is our first time doing a testing and graduation for our youth BJJ program. Please be patient with us as we iron out any kinks in the process. As we continue with this program, we will inevitably become more proficient.

Other upcoming events:

**On September 21st we will be hosting the Dynamic MMA "Black Belt Focus for Better Grades Seminar". 

Please bring your school aged kids to this event. They are encouraged to bring friends. 
In the workshop, kids will learn listening skills, how to show teachers respect, stranger danger and bully prevention. 

Ages 6-9 will be from 10-11am
Ages 10-15 will be from 11am-noon

We will have snacks and beverages available. 

**Also on September 21st--We will have our adult BJJ rank exam and celebration.

Testing time will begin at noon and continue until finished

Students must meet the following qualifications:

--Membership dues must be current
--$15 testing/graduation fee must be paid in advance
--Minimum of 21 days of BJJ class attendance on attendance card

We will have pizza and soft drinks at the conclusion of the testing.

**On September 28th, we will have a Dynamic MMA member appreciation potluck. Please bring a favorite dish. Please be aware of potential food allergies and/or special dietary needs. Label your foods, so that others know if they contain potential allergens. 

Examples:

Sensei Larry Keith is allergic to chicken and eggs
Sensei Tony Pepe is vegetarian
Sempai Drew Bauguess is vegan

It is quite possible that we will have the potluck at the new location. We will keep everyone posted.   

News: Week of August 26th-30th

• The Dynamic MMA Summer Camp was a huge success! The kids got to make a martial arts movie. The theme we chose was the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Below is the short movie we made. The kids performed very well and had great ideas. We did not get to showcase all of their skills in this video due to the short amount of time we had. However, we have some great ideas for the sequel that we will likely film over Christmas break.
• I will be getting DVDs to the students that took part in the camp. Until then, please enjoy the Youtube version. 

 

 

 

• Back to school is right around the corner. We will be hosting a "Black Belt Focus for Better Grades" Seminar soon after school starts.  I will post the date as soon as it is set in stone. Also, it would be extremely helpful for anyone that has access to school registration or "meet the teacher day" to deliver some ad-cards for the event to parents and children at school.
• We will be scheduling the BJJ stripe/belt testing day soon. More information will be posted as soon as it becomes available.  
• Anyone registering for the Oregon Open Jiu-jitsu tournament should register as Impact/DFCC in the team affiliation section of the form. You must register before September 2nd. Registration can be done at this link Oregon Open

 



Inside Dynamic MMA--June 24-28

 

The summer camp at the Boys and Girls Club was awesome! Thank you to Tony, Ian, Mitchell, Cameron, Josh, and Malcolm for helping out. Also, thank you to Dean Jones and the Boys and Girls Club of the Umpqua Valley for letting us be part of their summer programs.

 

The Dynamic MMA Summer Camp is scheduled for the week of July 22-26 and the week of August 19-23. We've got some super cool stuff planned for the kids. Please be sure to RSVP if you plan to have your child attend.

 

Reminder: The dojo will be closed during the week of July 1-5 while Sensei Tony Pepe and I are in Las Vegas for the Martial Arts Supershow. Tony and I will be soaking up as much information as possible at the numerous seminars and bringing the information and skills back home to share with our dojo members.     

 

Students: Please remember to pick up your attendance card on the way into class and give it to your instructor. Your attendance is an important part of the requirements to qualify for the rank exam at the end of the training cycle.

 

Planned for this week: 

 

Adult classes--13 and up

Pankration Mixed Martial Arts

We will be working standing striking combinations and ground and pound tactics. Please be sure to bring your MMA gloves, shin pads, mouth guards, and groin protection all week.

Jiu-jitsu

This week we will concentrate on a few guard passing options.

Youth classes--4-12

Jiu-jitsu

The kids will be learning about breaking the guard open and passing.

Youth Randori

Students will learn more about points in Jiu-jitsu and working some specific drills.


Train smart, smile, and get in those reps. Also, remember, it isn't just the hours you put in, it's what you put into the hours that gets you the results.
  

Inside Dynamic MMA--June 10-14

It seems that just about everyone is excited about our recent schedule and curriculum changes. We are now on a rotating curriculum and have rank exams on a quarterly basis.  If you have not received a copy of the new schedule, please pick one up at the reception desk in the front entry of the dojo.

Last weekend's Oregon State Games Judo tournament went well for our DFCC team.
-Joshua       1st
-Angelina   2nd
-Gabe         2nd
-Nolan        3rd

I can't express how proud we are of our youth Judo and Jiu-jitsu kids. They work very hard and are very dedicated.

Jiu-jitsu

Mount escapes.

Mixed Martial Arts

Figure 4 gripping and concepts that solidify the technique.

Inside Dynamic MMA--Week of April 22-26

Upcoming event--

April 27th--Dynamic MMA will have booths at both the YMCA Healthy Kids Day and Wildlife Safari Kids Day.

We will be introducing the public to our programs, teaching kids how to break a pine board, and passing out flyers for our May 11th Open House Celebration. We will need several volunteers to help run the booths and even more volunteers to help with the Open House. With your help, we can make these events a great experience for kids and introduce new people to the martial arts and fitness classes we love so much! 

Kodokan Judo

All week

Focus--Kake (Completion)--quality completion of the throw.

Pankration Mixed Martial Arts

Monday-Thursday

Focus--Phase 2--working the clinch on cage/wall--we will be practicing techniques for acquiring dominant position up against the wall.

Tuesday-Friday

Focus--Phase 1-2--closing and creating distance using strikes.

Brazilian Jiu-jitsu

Monday-Thursday

Focus--Top control--maintaining and progressing positions.

Tuesday-Friday

Focus--Escaping--recovery of position from bottom side mount.

Thai Kickboxing

Monday-Thursday

Focus--Set ups--Position for attacks

Tuesday-Friday

Focus--Clinch work--strikes from the clinch.