A good blog…

Murasaki BJJ keeps an interesting training diary… the guy is basically training himself not too far from me in Japanland… and has some very good insights.

I particularly liked this post.

Bookmark it!

Kyushu Grappling News

I took a snap of the upcoming schedule for most big grappling / BJJ events in all of Japan. If you can read Japanese, click on the filename for the full size image. It’s over a megabyte.

schedule.jpg

Here is some schedule information for Kyushu grapplers, in English.

• The schedule isn’t entirely clear yet, but at either the beginning of April, May or July, there will be a GI (Ground Impact) grappling contest held around Japan, with one of the events being in Kyushu.
• On May 6th the Copa South (BJJ competition) will be held in Wakamatsu near Kitakyushu. I have entered it the last two  three years running and taken bronze twice. This year, GOLD!
• The De La Riva Cup will be held on June 8,15,22,29 at various locations around Japan, with Kyushu / Hiroshima being touted as a possible location.

 

More news for Kyushu grapplers

SHOOTO NEWS:アマ修斗　南九州オープン開催決定。関西フレッシュマン日程変更。

Click on the link for info about a couple of amateur Shooto competitions. As far as I can tell, one is in Miyazaki city, on April 27th. There will also be a BJJ competition on the day.

Automatic translation:

Amateur Osamu To Southern Kyushu opening holding decision. Kansai new
commer schedule change.
The first holding of Southern Kyushu amateur Osamu To opening
tournament formal is decided.
This is received and the schedule of the Kansai new commer tournament
changes as follows.

– Schedule content CT/GT of the event remarks Brazilian Jujutsu one
match is to inquire the hall Miyazaki Prefecture Miyazaki city on the
1st Southern Kyushu amateur Osamu To opening tournament sponsoring
Japan Osamu To society cooperation synthesis combative sports Chikada
gym Sunday, April 27, 2008 in the date holding simultaneously 03-5984-
3209.

– Hall Kyoto/PUREBRED Kyoto content CT of the event remarks West
Japan new commer on the 7th Kansai amateur Osamu To new commer
tournament sponsoring Japan Osamu To society April 29, 2008 in the
date (fire/congratulations) is inquired the name change 03-5984-3209.

Original Japanese:

アマ修斗　南九州オープン開催決定。関西フレッシュマン日程変更。

南九州アマ修斗オープントーナメントの初開催が正式決定。
これを受けて関西フレッシュマントーナメントの日程が以下のように変更。

■第1回南九州アマ修斗オープントーナメント
［主催］日本修斗協会
［協力］総合格闘技近田道場
［開催日時］2008年4月27日（日）
［会場］宮崎県宮崎市内を予定
［イベント内容］CT/GT
［備考］ブラジリアン柔術ワンマッチも同時開催
［お問い合せ］03-5984-3209

■第7回関西アマ修斗フレッシュマントーナメント
［主催］日本修斗協会
［開催日時］2008年4月29日（火/祝）
［会場］京都/PUREBRED京都
［イベント内容］CT
［備考］西日本フレッシュマンを呼称変更
［お問い合せ］03-5984-3209

New organisation: The Jiu Jitsu Federation of Japan

JIU-JITSU FEDERATION OF JAPAN =JJFJ=

Click on the link to see.

It’s a new organisation, headed by the man himself, Rickson Gracie, although I think he probably has about as much to do with it as Ronald McDonald has to do with the Teriyaki McPork they have here.

We already have the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation of Japan, which you basically have to be a member of nowadays to participate in most jiu jitsu competitions, especially those run by Paraestra, as Yuki Nakai heads both organisations.

Now, I was all ready to begin railing on the organisation. “Great! Another 5000 bones to pay for a flimsy membership card just to pay even more money to enter their competitions.” But I actually read through the site, and basic membership (including the card and access to tournaments) is free. This puts a whole different spin on things… Free membership makes the stuff on the ‘About us’ page actually seem genuine.

You can begin registering online, for free, in English, on May 1st. You can find it under the slightly suspicious menu tab, “How to Failiate.” Sounds ominous.

I’m pretty sure that Axis is going to be closely aligned with this federation, as Rickson is the head of the Axis family of schools in Japan. Until now, the IBJJFJ has been the only big dog in town, and the organisation that puts on the most BJJ events, so there have always been Axis people fighting at them. That makes me hopeful that us lot, the IBJJFJ lot, the Paraestra lot, will go ahead and sign up so that we can join “their” competitions. I notice they have one in Fukuoka on June 29th.

I’m going to check with my coach, but I think I’d like to sign up.

Jiu jitsu and martial arts resources for people in Kyushu

It’s all in Japanese, but let’s face it, most of us have Japanese girlfriends who like nothing more than to translate martial arts stuff for us, right fellas?!

Here is the homepage of Fukuoka Kakutougi (sport martial arts.)  

Here is the link page… you’ll find shops, academies, promotions etc… you might find one near you!

Competing tomorrow…

After only a few months as a blue belt I decided to enter a competition. It’s the first All-Kyushu BJJ competition (Kyushu is the large island on the southern end of Japan.)

Apparently my first fight is with the favourite to win it, some battle-hardened veteran dude. Hmm. Not good considering I’ve paid almost 10,000 bones to enter and it will take an hour and a half to drive there.

Because of the above fact, I decided to enter the absolute category, too, just to give myself another opportunity to fight.

Ganbarimasu!