#bjjnsw

In this video, our head coach Rodney Ellis demonstrates a simple, yet very effective half-guard sweep to counter when your opponent does a back-step. Plus, in additional footage, you can see (grainy) footage of Rodney hitting this sweep in training ... just 20 minutes after teaching it! If you like this video, please like and subscribe! https://youtu.be/iPd8_bqPz_0

In a way I’m glad that I am unavailable for any more grading days for the rest of the year …! 

I think this morning I must’ve done 10 “grading/evaluation rolls” from 8:30am to 10:30am and sheesh … I am feeling it now.  (am getting too old for this)

Those watching today would’ve seen what I do in these evaluation rolls - essentially, I’m working with you to see what you’re trying to do … and sometimes that does mean I have to be stuck in some uncomfortable positions   ☹️

But … like I said at the gathering last year, I really want to get 20 black belts within the first 20 years of SCJJA, and time is running out. 

Thank you to everyone who came for the technical grading at 10:30.

Unfortunately, the turnout wasn’t as big as I had hoped but it was still enough for me to able to test my tests for the coloured belts. There were certainly some confused looks, and at least everyone who was there now knows what to do when you’re mounted and grape-vined! 

Remember that a big part of classes like today’s is finding out what you don’t know, so that you can add it to your game. With the public holiday Monday making this week a short week, I’ll be taking questions from today as my lesson plans, starting with 9am on Monday.

Hopefully now that the days are longer, the numbers improve and with that I’ll award some belts between now and Christmas. I don’t like awarding belts when the numbers are small, I love doing it when there is a big group present to share the moment. 

Osss,

Hey everyone,

Since it’s raining in Sydney today, grab a coffee and take an hour to watch/listen to this Roll or Die episode with Bernie Jenkins. It’s a good one and might be exactly what you need to get motivated for the mat this week.

Quick links:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6M2SUR4E9g103OKxSxEnuN?si=e0fcc6c3927b41b3

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hS3HG8b0fC4

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/roll-or-die-episode-321-bernie-jenkins/id1519037518?i=1000769413997

If you’re short on time, just skip straight to the 21-minute mark. That bit really stuck with me.

That’s because I was actually on the mat the day Bernie (plus three others, including my old coach Larry Papadopoulos) got his black belt. Those early 2000s sessions at John Donehue’s place were seriously brutal — “brutal” doesn’t even cover it. The fact that Bernie demoted himself a belt rank earlier on says everything about the standard they trained to.

I still remember JD publicly challenging a long-time purple belt who was pushing for brown: “If you want it, you need to tap out every purple and below on the mat right now.” That was about a dozen people.

A week ago I had a chat with one of our long-time brown belts and laid out what I want to see from him to get to black.

At the end of the day, it’s exactly what Bernie says in that clip — I want every one of you to reach the best level you’re capable of. No more, no less.

Use this rainy day for some jiu-jitsu study, as the mat will be expecting you tomorrow.

Let’s keep grinding.

Oss,

Hi all.

Congrats once again to all who graded this morning. And thanks to Steve, Jonathan and all the "ukis" who were there too.

Every time we run this I make the point that jiu-jitsu is more than just rolling around on the floor. It's first and foremost a martial art. That's why to be graded you must train gi, no gi, and learn the self-defence positions.

There is always one position that most people fail. And I get why, because it's more a theory than anything else. If we taught it every class, eyes would close as you think "not this again"!

So I pretty much only teach it in the grading.

How do you stand when someone is in your face intimidating you?

Do you want to escalate the situation, and have a fight? Not knowing if they have AIDs or another disease etc?

Google the story of David Hooks who copped one punch from a bouncer, hit his head on the cement and died.

The best thing to do is de-escalate it, but stay safe.

In this short video below Master Relson Gracie demonstrates it.

Notice where his chin is. Where his arteries are. And how even though he's appearing weak, he is also proving he's old tough SOB you don't wanna mess with.

Hi all.

Congrats once again to all who graded this morning. And thanks to Steve, Jonathan and all the "ukis" who were there too.

Every time we run this I make the point that jiu-jitsu is more than just rolling around on the floor. It's first and foremost a martial art. That's why to be graded you must train gi, no gi, and learn the self-defence positions.

There is always one position that most people fail. And I get why, because it's more a theory than anything else. If we taught it every class, eyes would close as you think "not this again"!

So I pretty much only teach it in the grading.

How do you stand when someone is in your face intimidating you?

Do you want to escalate the situation, and have a fight? Not knowing if they have AIDs or another disease etc?

Google the story of David Hooks who copped one punch from a bouncer, hit his head on the cement and died.

The best thing to do is de-escalate it, but stay safe.

In this short video below Master Relson Gracie demonstrates it.

Notice where his chin is. Where his arteries are. And how even though he's appearing weak, he is also proving he's old tough SOB you don't wanna mess with.

Gathering post 4/4

With James' grading, that makes a dozen home grown black belts that have trained on the SCJJA mats in 2025 (plus head coach Rodney).

And it was a pleasure to have all of them available at once for a rare photo!

Gathering post 3/4

Congratulations to @jamesmishevski who last Thursday became just the 15th person to go from white belt to black belt at SCJJA.

12 years of toil, capped of by winning his brown belt division at the Pan Pacs 2 months ago.

Gathering post 1/4

Last Thursday we held our Annual Gathering.