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

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.

pica

Amsterdam Open 2008

Amsterdam Open proved to be a good tournament for me once again, as I could Submit my three oppenents in the -88,3 kg division.
Sadly there werent more fighters, but Desmond and Henk proved to be good tests of my skill.
I won the first round in the openweight class,( with 22-00 ) But sadly lost my rematch against Henk, altough it did give me more insight on how to beat certain fighters (like him.)
Hopefully I wil be able to use these experiences for the Dutch Open thats comming up.
The importance of a set of good takedowns and an agressive game for me seems clear..

For fun,some of the pics that where taken.
I hope to post some vid's soon.

Short Circuit

Had the Short Circuit tournament in Fred Royers Gym,
Did not do to wel, won two matches and lost two matches.
Stil, I did not have a lot of trouble making the weight, and I got a good chance to polish my technique.

5th of july asociation tournament

Next in line, asociation tournament, a good chance to see if I can beat Antoni,Pieter and Niels.
Its bin a while since I fought a Gi tournament, and it wil be a good lesson.

Also, teaching BJJ at MMA-Rotterdam is a lot of fun,but its stil a very smal class.
Hope it fills up in time.

When I was scroling around on the web, I found some easy tool to download youtube vids, so I can finaly post some new vids of myself at tournements and some other shizzle.
Here they come:P

Antoni Koíng Sanchezzz(because it such a nice KO)

My first open weight fight at zona no-gi, at brazilian speeds:P

This was a real Bitch of a fight, and my greatest weaknes is clear here, takingdown an opponent.
Besides that, fighters in Holland tend to stall the shit out of you!

Ede

Saterday yet another edition of Ede, where I wil fight in the -83 division again, altough I'm not really sure how heavy I am at the moment..
Nice twist to the usual competition is that the official representetiv of the Rickson Gracie Holland schools wil be fighting in my wieghtclass, Miechel verhoef.
A good challenge but a hard fight,because he has way more experience then me..
Luckely,I know footlocks are his weakpoint.

My stand up and especialy my sprawl have improved a lot,and it wil be good to test these skills in competition.
We'l be going with a large group, so it might be a nice day team wise.

Ringsports

Ringsports Featured a short part about the Zona Cup! With my name in it! Sadly, they also posted a picture with my name..With the winner from the -85 beginners...
I'll post the pic,its kind of funny,but on the other hand it sucks,I finaly get a magazine spot, and it they place the wrong photo :S..

Seminar and tournament

Sunday there wil be a seminar from one of the best coaches around, Henry Atkins!
We wil be training grappling technique specificly because of the upcomming Grappling tournament in Ede where I wil try to secure my first place again and with that making almost sure I wil be Dutch National Shooto Grappling champ once again!