Throwback Adult Purple Belt Gi & NoGi Featherweight Submissions

Even back then, it was exceedingly rare that I won on points. If I won, I won by submission.

Double lapel choke from the back back when I still competed in the Gi:

These were my last 2 NoGi matches I did prior to moving to NYC:

Getting the "W"

I don't really get why they give 2nd and 3rd place medals

Been a busy couple of weeks. I quit my job, rather, resigned to be more accurate.

Competed at the Submission Only, took 2nd in the purple belt featherweight, lost first round of the absolute. I've had a nagging shoulder injury that came after getting sick a few weeks back but I'm thankful I've still managed to train a good bit.

Making sure I don't let Jeff Shaw open up his spider/DLR game

The week following the Submission Only, I had a superfight (still hate that term) with a good friend and fellow Jiu-Jitsu addict, Jeff Shaw of Dirty White Belt Blogger Fame at the Bull City Brawl in Durham.

I managed to get the submission win at about the 6:40 mark with an ezekiel I set up by hunting for the arm triangle from technical mount/back take territory.









I played a conservative game on top, not letting him open up his guard because I knew his DLR and spider guard game would give me a lot of trouble if he got it going.

Felt good to get the win if not much else because I didn't open my game up and didn't feel like I had much finesse in the match. I just grinded out pressure passing and the old school Jiu-Jitsu gameplan of smash and pass then threatened submissions until I got the ezekiel.

Coming up I have US Grappling Raleigh on the 18th, a superfight in Charlotte at the Fight Lab MMA event on the 24th, then I plan on competing the next day at the Copa America in Gastonia, NC.

Win or learn.

Recent Match - Submission Only & upcoming competition schedule

It's always strange to me in tournaments when I hit triangles, or a straight armbar because it's not that I don't know how to do them, but rather, I don't hit them in training nearly as often as I hit them competing (or at least that's how it feels).

Purple belt has taught me to look at the bracket as only the match I having coming up. I've had some great wins and nearly flawless matches at purple belt, but I've also had matches where I made one mistake and never got it back. I've yet to medal in the absolute at purple belt and that's also on my list of goals for this year.

I've got US Grappling Raleigh coming up on the 18th, and Copa America the weekend after on the 25th in Charlotte.

I am hopefully booked for the 2nd installment of the Toro Cup and will get another superfight (yes, I still hate that term) for the Bull City Brawl event in Durham in June.