Something pretty amazing happened this Saturday at HBJJ.  We were all chilling at the party that we traditionally have on UFC nights.  (Shawn has a gi-normous TV mounted on the back wall.)  Suddenly, Shawn appeared with three brown belts and promoted Sameer, Warren, and Todd.  The room absolutely erupted in applause and whistles that went on forever.  I didn’t have my camera with me so I couldn’t take any pictures but maybe I can scrounge some up later.  The three new brown belts are exemplary in every sense - not just as BJJ fighters - and it was incredibly cool to see all of their hard work and dedication to the craft be recognized with such a huge promotion.  Afterwards we walked over to Barney’s Beanery and made fools of ourselves.  It was fun.

On a side note, the preceding Thursday I was promoted to blue belt.  I don’t think I really deserve a promotion, primarily because I make so many technical errors.  But I’m not going to over-analyze it.  At my level does a belt color really mean anything? For me the main benefit of promotion is that I can start learning foot locks and other techniques which are off limits for white belts at Shawn’s academy.  

Here are some pictures from Sean Flannery’s black belt celebration. All of us from Hollywood BJJ went to a hotel in downtown LA called the Standard. The Standard has a rooftop bar and lounge. I believe Sean Flannery is Shawn Williams’ first black belt so it was a big deal for the academy.

Sometimes during open mat I’ll watch Sean tie people in knots and I am gripped with schadenfreude. “I got mugged by Flannery” is a rueful phrase you hear a lot at Hollywood BJJ. In addition to being a two-fisted ass kicker, Sean is a truly generous and genuine dude and I really enjoy his classes.

Due to my inept photogritude, everyone I snap looks like the devil. In the picture below, Sean is the devil in the middle.

This picture sucks too, but it’s one of about three that doesn’t have my thumb in the frame. I just had a private with the guy in the “Thinker” pose (Warren Stout). I have to write more about that later.

Here’s the other picture.

I roll with all of these guys. The guy looking at the camera is a for-real photographer named Ron who is also known as “The Meanest White Belt”. Soon he will be “The Meanest Blue Belt” and then the universe will need to re-balance itself with another mean white belt.

My photographer friend Ron took this picture of me stretching between matches at the South Bay Open this weekend. I lost my first match in overtime. I’m not sure how points were awarded, I just know I lost. I won my second match by kimura. Then I lost my third match on points. I got tooled in my third match actually. My teacher Shawn Williams was there and his coaching probably saved me from getting submitted a couple of times in the third match when I got a step behind.

In between my matches these two huge Samoan guys fought. They probably weighed 400 pounds each. It was awesome to behold. It was like watching two shaved grizzlies put on kimonos and then smash each other.

Renzo Gracie dropped by Hollywood BJJ today for an impromptu seminar.  It was awesome.  BTW - Shawn Williams is a Renzo Gracie black belt and Hollywood BJJ is part of the Renzo Gracie association.  Anyway, Renzo taught us a few techniques and then we drilled.  I hadn’t seen any of the techniques before so it was really a great learning experience.  In addition to being a two-fisted ass kicker, Renzo Gracie is a really funny guy.  He was cracking jokes and fooling around with Shawn and overall kept everyone focused and positive.  He was totally gracious and signed autographs and took pictures with everyone.  It was a lot of fun.

I made it to class today - my first class since busting my MCL.  I’m wearing this ridiculous brace that only allows my leg to bend in one direction.  The warm-ups were kind of tough.  I can’t run right as I still have a pronounced limp.  However, I got through it and the drills were a lot easier.  I had a dream of competing in the upcoming Pan-Ams, but that’s going to have to wait.  I think I’ll go to all the open mats between now and then and give my tournament-bound teammates someone to beat up on.