there and back again

It has bin a while since I updated this page.

I was out with injury's for several months..(broken rib,busted knee,etc)

I'm taking a few day of now and will be back to full training next week!

I did compete in three tournaments in the meanwhile, the first one being the Rickson Gracie team tournament,in wich I was able to submit everyone in the advanced open class, but it took enough toll on me to disable me from winning the next tournament 5 days later.. Having me lose a lackluster match in the first round.

Luckely, I had a several weeks to recover and a full week to train for the next big tournament, the Zona no-gi.

Wich had me placed 3rd in -85 and absolute.

Not back up there,but I did win 7 matches, and was beaten by a brown belt and reigning european champion, and the second place winner in olympic wrestling/pro judo player.

So I'm pretty happy with the results, I learned a lot.

Tournaments comming

Its almost time again for the first competitions this year!

And I'm really looking forward to it, especialy because I could not fight in the European Championships.

The first one comming up will be the watterland cup, wich is nothing more then the anual Rickson Gracie Holland tournament, and will be a Poul competition.

Meaning you can always fight atleast 5 matches.

This wil make a great warmup and test for my skills,because the weekend after that on 15 Feb, the Amsterdam open will be held again, and I would like to prolonge my winningstreak at the Amsterdam tournaments.(I won the last 3 championships I fought there.)

Besides that, in March the new Zona no Gi challenge will be held,and I also want to aim my aerows on that prize as well.

Helio Gracie Dies at the age of 95.

Sad news has reached us that Helio Gracie has died.
As grandmaster of the sport, and example to many he will be sorely missed.
He died at the age of 95 at the consequences of pneumonia.

1 oct 1913 - 29 jan 2009

injury update

I wont be going to the European Championships in all likelyness..
My ribs are still not healed, and I want atleast 3 or 4 weeks of full speed training.
Sadly this wont be the case, since I still not healed enough at the moment, and the tournament will be in 3 weeks..

I guess I just have to point my arrows at an other target..
European champion in 2010!

things to learn

After my last matchups I got a very clear view of what still has to be done..
In the first place, my takedowns need to improve, and not just the technique on its own, also the different aspects of the game.
The hand fighting is the first thing that comes to mind, I need to work more to create the angle's I need, because now I'm mostly waiting for something to present itself,and that just takes to long.
Further I will focus myself completely on my wrestling style of fighting,so I have a solid base.

For my guard work its obvious I need to work more on keeping my opponent where I want him.
A higher guard, more rubber guard and also more movement from the bottom, if he's not going to move then its up to me to start moving, this is also the reason I cracked my ribs this time,because I tried to force motion out of him.

Last points are my pressure, even though I'm pretty good at that, I need to reposition myself better, with strong and active fighters my poor positioning from the side control is costing me precious points.
And although my Passing the guard worked great I need to switch more between different technique's, so I dont become predictable.

Strength and conditioning will also play a bigger factor in the EC, So next week when my ribs are healed enough I will start my fitness regime again.
Cranking training up to 8 times a week in January.

If I better these things I will be ready for the EC for sure.

Those two pics floated around the web, the moment I injured my ribs(+-) and Christian with his medal.

Ede ends in injury

Last saterday was the Grappling ede competition witch I always participate in but due to some bad luck I bruised my ribs in the second match,went on to winning the 3th and 4th but injured myself further when I fought my 5th match.. Had to quit a tournament prematurely for the first time..
So Its a week rest now and I'll be back on the mat in no time,Still, I'm a bit disappointed.

pica