SUBS
I just wanted to extend a huge thank you to Coaches Ryan, Karen, and Masha for covering all of the classes while I was gone on vacation. Florida was beautiful but it’s good to be back to the gym, and I’m grateful that we have such a great team that can step up and keep things running on schedule while I’m gone. In many ways Jiu-Jitsu is an individual endeavor and pursuit, but it can’t be done alone in any capacity. Having an amazing team around you is essential for success, and we have such an incredible team of Coaches and members here at Sanctuary, and for that I’m so grateful.
SUPERFIGHTS
This coming Saturday, April 22nd, our very own Masha Bubela will be fighting in Onalaska, WI at the 3 River Throwdown. It is a mixed MMA and Grappling event and the grappling matches are in the superfight format and under EBI overtime rules. If you’re interested in attending in person you can purchase tickets here. Otherwise you can purchase PPV to view the event live by clicking here. Reetta Knuuttila – who has been training with us via Sigma Jiu-Jitsu in Finland – will also be fighting at this event. We’re really excited to see Masha and Reetta showcase their amazing Jiu-Jitsu on this stage and are proud of them for putting themselves out there and competing.
GRAPPLING INDUSTRIES
In just over a month, on May 27th, Grappling Industries will be coming to Wisconsin Dells! We’d like to make this a team event and get a lot of people signed up to compete and gather a large group of people to come out and support. Competing is a great way to accelerate your growth in Jiu-Jitsu as it gives you a very clear external incentive to improve. Preparing for competition gives you very clear motivation and goals, and the aftermath of the competition – regardless of the outcome – will provide you with great feedback as to your strengths and weaknesses.
If you’re not interested in competing, that’s totally fine! We’d love for you to come, hang out, watch some Jiu-Jitsu, and support your teammates that are competing. If you’re interested in competing you can sign up for the event here. If you’re not sure whether you’re ready, or if you have questions or concerns about competing, please send me an email or text and we can discuss!
Fundamentals: This last week we focused on studying and training the X Guard position. The X Guard is one of the first modern guards, originally pioneered and brought to popularity by Marcelo Garcia. On Monday we learned two pass variations and on Wednesday we studied two basic attacks from the X Guard: the Tripod Sweep and the Back Take. On Friday we moved on to our Side Control curriculum by studying a variety of attacks, counters, and defenses with two variations of taking the mount, an armlock, and an armlock defense (the Ryan Lewis special!).
Advanced: In Advanced class this week, Coach Karen did a veritable Triangle clinic! If you’ve ever trained with Karen, you’ve most likely been caught in her Triangle. Karen went over multiple Triangle setups and entries from both closed and open guards.
No Gi: in No Gi this week, Coach Masha reviewed positional control, entry, and submissions from the Twister Side Control position.
REVIEW OF THE WEEK!
Coach Karen has a background in public education, more traditional martial arts instruction, and obviously an impressive pedigree in Jiu-Jitsu. This makes for a killer combination in a Kids’ Jiu-Jitsu program and as seen here can really help children develop the positive qualities that parents want to see and that will help the kids for the rest of their lives on and off the mats. Huge props to both Coach Karen and Coach Ryan for their incredible work building, maintaining, and growing our Kids’ Jiu-Jitsu program. The parents and kids love it!