Archives for October 2013

Having Trouble With Spider Guard? Start With This Basic Spider Guard Sweep.

By Ruben Avila · October 24, 2013 · @RubenEAvila

Basic Spider Guard Sweep

The spider guard is a facet of the open guard that cannot be ignored. Quite simply, if you don’t have a good understanding of spider guard fundamentals, you will be doing your open guard, and overall jiu-jitsu by extension, a huge disservice. You don’t have to be a spider guard player, or open guard player, or even a guard player at all to make it a point to learn basic spider guard fundamentals.

Start your spider guard journey with this basic spider guard sweep taught by American world champion Marcos “Yemaso” Torregrosa.

Cutting Weight for Grappling Competition: Can Lentils Help You Lose Weight?

By Ruben Avila · October 23, 2013 · @RubenEAvila

The answer is yes! Lentils can help you lose weight. Are they a miracle food? No, of course not. Nothing is. When you see something in a magazine, on television, or the internet just realize that they need hyperbolic statements in order to pique interest. I am attempting my first cut ever, and I am enlisting the aid of lentils.

How can lentils help you lose weight?

Here is a good source of information detailing how lentils can be used as a tool to help you lose weight.

Anyway…

Interview With Dan Faggella: Author of BJJ Techniques to Defeat Bigger & Stronger Opponents

By Ruben Avila · October 22, 2013 · @RubenEAvila

Hey guys, just a quick one here. I had the pleasure to interview Dan Faggella the author of “BJJ Techniques to Defeat Bigger & Stronger Opponents.” I read his ebook, and wrote a review that you can read here.

Here is part 1 of the Dan Faggella Interview:

What Should Martial Arts for Kids Be Today?

By Ruben Avila · October 21, 2013 · @RubenEAvila

I am sitting here doing research and putting together game plans for a kids jiu-jitsu class I will be teaching at our academy. I am a big picture type of person. I always have been. I need to see the big picture before I go back and fill in the details. Usually, I arrive at my big picture by way of a question.

“What Should Martial Arts for Kids Be Today?”

Here are some questions I’m working on answering:

Orange You Glad I Said Banana? A Paleo Shake High in Protein Without Whey

By Ruben Avila · October 20, 2013 · @RubenEAvila

It’s hard out there for a G. Sometimes we need quick meals that will give us enough calories to get by for a couple hours without cooking. Shakes are a great way to do just that. Most of my shakes have always had one ingredient in common: whey protein powder. Recently, I have decided that I want to keep my whey intake to sporadic at most. So, here’s another protein shake without protein powder. Another bonus, all ingredients are paleo.

Paleo High Protein Shake Without Protein Powder:

Benson Henderson Grappling in ADCC vs Leo Nogueira

By Ruben Avila · October 19, 2013 · @RubenEAvila

Benson Henderson Grappling — Benson Henderson is the only UFC champion to wear the UFC belt AND compete in grappling tournaments.

Benson Henderson Grapples with Leo Nogueira in Beijing, China for the 2013 Abu Dhabi Combat Club.

Benson Henderson is someone I deeply respect as an athlete and martial artist. He is one person who, although originally a wrestler, has always repped Jiu-Jitsu strong. Even when he was a UFC champion, he went out and competed in IBJJF events because he loved the challenge. Most UFC fighters would consider grappling tournaments beneath them, or an unnecessary risk.

Not Bendo.

Benson Henderson has improved is grappling exponentially because he embraces the full spectrum of martial arts just like GSP does. Although he lost his title to Anthony Pettis, I’m sure he’ll come back stronger. He is a very resilient person. I am also a fan of his comportment inside and outside of the cage. Something I can’t say of all mma fighters.

Anyway, on to the good stuff.

Check out Benson Henderson grappling against Leo Nogueira.

Such a competitive and BEAUTIFUL match.

Why I LOVE My Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu School In Sacramento

By Ruben Avila · October 17, 2013 · @RubenEAvila

Our Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu School in Sacramento, CA after having world champion Leandro Lo over for a seminar.

I started learning bjj from my instructor way back in the days in another town. I immediately liked the training and it had a lot to do with my instructor’s teaching style. I like that he can draw humor while demonstrating a technique and make it fun for us, but, the same time, be all business when it comes to watching us do our reps and making sure we do every repetition correctly. I like having fun while I work. I don’t believe it has to be all work and no fun. What would be the point of this all if I wasn’t having fun, right?