This week at Dynamic MMA: June 27-July 1

Wow! We were super busy the last two weeks. Boys and Girls Club summer camp, Camp Millennium, self defense seminars for Roseburg area teachers, self defense seminar for Bureau of Land Management, all capped off with a great submission grappling tournament.

I just want to say a really big “Thank You” to everyone that helped out during these last couple weeks to help out with these events.

Very often I hear the comment, “you guys are everywhere!”This comment is referring to the fact that we spend so much time working with different community projects and organizations that we are seen a lot. This is not by accident. We have worked very hard over the years to demonstrate not just the physical effectiveness of our martial arts, but the positive influence it is in our lives.

None of this would be possible without great students. Our dojo has grown and continues to grow.  Just as a martial artist matures with his/her advancement through the ranks, a dojo matures with the development of its members. We chip away the negatives and hold onto the positives. We constantly seek out to improve. I believe we have the greatest group of students training with us now that I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I also believe that we have a remarkable group of instructors. Thank you all. 

DSGC IX was a great success! Everyone in attendance seemed to like the event. The quality of athletes and atmosphere continue to improve. The match ups were great at this tournament. I enjoyed watching every match that a reffed for. I am looking forward to DSGC X. Congratulations to all the winners and participants. Also, big congratulations to everyone that helped out. Pulling together is what helps make the event so good. 

Well, with the busy weeks behind us, we can get back on track with some other things. First off, look for big changes on our website soon. Also, I am looking into building a Dynamic MMA app for i-phones and android phones.

Mixed Martial Arts—

Monday and Thursday—

Striking techniques

Tuesday and Friday—

Using the cage as a tool.

Kodokan Judo—

Monday and Thursday—

Tachi Waza. We will be doing a lot of throws.

Tuesday and Friday—

Ne waza. Our focus will be on strangles and arm locks.

Brazilian Jiu-jitsu—

Monday and Thursday—

Jiu-jitsu fundamentals

Tuesday and Friday—

Spider guard techniques.

Muay Thai—

Wednesday—

This week I’ll be showing some good leg catching techniques and follow ups.  

This week at Dynamic MMA: June 20-25

Dynamic Submission Grappling Championship IX is Saturday, June 25th. The last day to register will be the 23rd. I hope to see a lot of our members competing at this event. This will be the first time we have held the event at the Roseburg Boys and Girls Club.

In our classes this week, we will be hammering the basics. Everyone in our dojo is familiar with submissions. One might say it is our specialty. This week we are emphasizing positional control and transitions.

No need to bring gloves or pads this week. We will be grappling.

All members are invited to attend Randori on Wednesday of this week. This will give you a chance to hone your skills a bit more before the tournament.

Dynamic MMA will also be at Camp Millennium this week. A few of our members will be making the trip out to Kellogg to help teach martial arts to the kids at the camp. Camp Millennium is a summer camp for kids that are dealing with a cancer diagnosis.
This will be the third year Dynamic MMA has been a part of the camp experience. Visiting the camp and witnessing the spirit and strength of these kids is truly an unforgettable and inspiring experience.

It seems nowadays there is no family untouched by cancer in some way. If you are not one of the assistants going to the camp with me this year, be sure to put yourself on the list for next year.

This week at Dynamic MMA: May 31-June 3

I hope that everyone had a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend. Summer is right around the corner. Be sure to keep yourself hydrated before, during, and after training.

This week we move back into tournament preparation phase. Judo, MMA, and BJJ classes will all concentrate on series of attacks and defenses that will help you be more successful in the upcoming tournaments. 

We’re taking techniques that you already are familiar with and connecting them together into combinations so that they can be executed in one smooth flow.  

June 11—Subleague finals—Hillsboro

June 25—Dynamic Submission Grappling Championship IX—Boys and Girls Club in Roseburg.

We had several members qualify for the Subleague finals. I hope to see all of our qualifiers there. Be sure that when you register for these tournaments that you register your team name, so that we can secure our season team points as well.

Dynamic Submission Grappling Championship will be bigger this year than ever before. We will have a few special guest referees helping us with the officiating. This is a perfect tournament opportunity for our members that have never competed before, as it is on your own home turf and you will have plenty of support from your teammates, coaches, friends, and family.  We will post the skill/weight divisions and updated rules later this week on our website.

Our dojo has also been asked to perform a Judo demonstration at the Seven Feathers Convention Center on June 5th. Any of our members that would like to get involved, please let us know asap and start working on the choreography now. 

See you at the dojo!

-Sensei Keith-

This week at Dynamic MMA: May 23-27

DFCC fight team member Mike Frear suffered his first loss on Saturday in a 155 title fight bout. Mike’s record is now at 4-1. I am sure this loss will only serve to motivate Mike and help him to grow as a combat athlete.

This week in the dojo—

Kodokan Judo—

Monday and Friday—

 We will continue to work on using “kime” during the execution of our throws.

Tuesday and Friday—

Lots of ground work techniques and drills.

Mixed Martial Arts—be sure to bring your gloves, shin pads, and mouth pieces this week.

Monday and Friday—

Defending and counter attacking strikes.

Tuesday and Thursday—

Striking while in motion

Brazilian Jiu-jitsu—

Monday and Friday—

More on the Omoplata and follow ups.

Tuesday and Thursday—

Smash pass and variations

dojo etiquette

Dynamic MMA is a traditional Dojo. This means that our dojo operates using traditional rules of etiquette. Gichin Fukakoshi, the founder of Shotokan Karate said, "without etiquette, there is no dojo."   

Adhering to the rules of etiquette will make your learning experience greater and result in making you a better martial artist.

We use the Kyu-Dan ranking system for our Kodokan Judo and Mixed Martial Arts programs.

The Kyu-Dan belt ranking system was originally used in Kodokan Judo in the early 20^th century. Dynamic MMA is one of the first dojos to use the Kyu-Dan ranking system in a Mixed Martial Arts program. 

Rank advancement requirements in our dojo are based on improvements of the following:

1.      --physical application of technique—repetition develops muscle memory and knowledge of body mechanics, patterns of movement, etc.

2.      --understanding of the art and its history—terminology, lineage, principles, rules of contest,  tactics, strategies, and doctrine 

3.     --etiquette inside and outside the dojo—never assume to be greater than the art

4.      --attitude—you are a representative of the art, your dojo, your training partners, your instructor, and the lineage. Attitude is a reflection of the martial arts maturity of the rank holder.

General Dojo Etiquette

1. Bow toward the inside of the dojo upon entering or exiting the dojo.
2. Show up on time for class. When it is time for class to begin, line up in order of rank in seiza (sitting kneeling) facing the Kamiza (front of dojo).
3. If you are late, change into your uniform and wait for the instructor to give you permission to step onto the mat.
4.  Always address black belt instructors as Sensei. Currently they are Larry Keith, Olga Keith, Alexenko, and Gerald Lewis.
5. Address anyone higher rank than yourself as Senpai, Sir, or Ma’am
6. When someone is left in charge of a class (even for just a moment), you are to offer them the same respect as the Sensei, regardless of rank. 
7. Execute a standing bow before stepping onto or off of the tatami (matted area).
8. When the instructor is speaking to the class, do not interrupt. Do not walk away, or cause any kind of distraction. Listen to what is being taught.
9. Practice only techniques that have been formally taught to you and that are approved for you by the Instructor.
10. Do not teach techniques to others without specific permission from the instructor. 
11. Always respect the skills you are learning. Carelessness can and will result in injury.
12. Do not be stubborn—it is better to tap out early than to tap out late. Enter positions quickly, but execute submissions with control and consideration.
13. All strikes will be done with control. Never let emotions escalate your sparring sessions.  
14. Bow and/or touch gloves with your practice partner at the beginning and end of each practice session and when a new partner arrives.
15. Do not wear shoes on the tatami. Do not walk around outside or on the dirty floor with bare feet and step onto the mats. Slip on shoes or flip flops are a good piece of equipment to have.
16. Wear proper uniform with proper rank. For Judo that is a white or blue Judogi with proper belt. MMA rank shirts are a required uniform for MMA students.
17. Uniforms must be clean and in good repair.
18. If you must leave early, be sure to inform the instructor before class begins or as soon as you can. Leaving early is disrespectful to the Sensei and students. Make sure you have a good reason.
19. Remember to remove socks, sharp jewelry, watches, and the like.
20. Keep finger nails and toe nails trimmed short. If you have long hair, wear it tied back and out of the way.
21. No stinky uniforms, gloves, shin pads, or other equipment should be used. Hygiene is very important due to the close contact of our sport. 
22. No food or drinks are allowed on the mats.
23. Never shout or yell for the Instructor (other than emergency). If you have a question, approach the instructor and wait to be acknowledged. Do not interrupt if the instructor is working with other students.
24. Only the correct grade signified by the color of the belt or T-shirt may be worn.
25. Junior grades should seek to randori practice with senior grades, although the senior has the right to decline. If a senior asks a junior for a practice the junior may not decline unless he is sick, injured, or an instructor has directed otherwise.
26. Maintain a disciplined and serious attitude. Judo, MMA, and other arts can be fun, but they are very physical, and if you are goofing around, someone will likely get hurt.
27. Even if you are instructed to sit on the side and watch, this is not break-time or time to chit-chat. Keep your attention on the class. Much can be learned from watching.
28. If you are the odd person out, do not wonder around the class. Sit properly and wait for your turn to participate.
29. Refrain from idle conversation in the dojo. The more time you spend talking, the less time you spend training. You also prevent others from getting proper practice.
30. Do not stray from the curriculum. If you have been asked to perform a certain technique, you should perform that technique.
31. Accept that there are no shortcuts. Learn your basics thoroughly and try always to understand why they work (or fail). Ignore the "tricks" people are constantly trying to teach you.
32. Try to earn the respect of your fellow team mates as a "good person to train with" not as the toughest guy on the mat. Be careful and considerate of others.  Be an asset - not a liability.
33. Judo and MMA should never be practiced outside of the dojo without the specific permission of the Sensei.
34. Pass along good etiquette to your fellow students. Set a good example for the other people in the dojo that may be less aware.

Way behind...

I apologize for getting behind on the Dynamic MMA blogs. A number of events have prevented me from sitting down at the desk. I will be back on track this week hopefully. Thank you for your patience.

This week at the dojo--

Kodokan Judo--
  
We will be working a bit on our "Kime".  Kime ( ki-may) is best described as the instantaneous tensing at the correct moment during the execution of a technique. In Judo we feel it as if in a coiling/uncoiling spring.

Monday & Thursday--

Variety of throws

Tuesday & Friday--


Tomoe-nage, Sumi-gaeshi, Kuzure-morote-seoi-nage


Mixed Martial Arts--


Our focus this week is returning to striking, balance, and flexibility. Be sure to bring your gloves, shin pads, and mouth pieces.


Monday & Thursday--


Defense, counters, and combos.


Tuesday & Friday--


Balance, flexibility, and rhythm drills.


Brazilian Jiu-jitsu--


We will focus on Omo-plata this week. Omo-plata is a Portuguese term meaning the scapula or shoulder bone. The Japanese term for this submission hold is Sankaku-garami or triangle entanglement. Basically, it is a shoulder lock that is performed with the legs that hyper-flexes or hyper-rotates the shoulder joint. 


Monday & Thursday--


Armlock and Omoplata positional recovery


Tuesday & Friday--


Omoplata recovery and follow up attacks 


Muay Thai--

Wednesday--


Our focus will be on strengthening our balance, flexibility, control,  and accuracy for our high level kicks. 


Please be certain to bring proper gear to your classes. 


See you at the dojo.


--Sensei Larry Keith--