Gearing up for 2011

Its close to the Holidays and I will be ramping up training to prepare for the 2011 season that will encompass at least 3 maybe 4 IBJJF events to include the Houston International, Dallas International and Worlds NoGi,,,I hope to make the Pan Am NoGi but that will depend upon sponsorship.

Only did 5 events this year,,,less than half of the 14 I did last yr. With higher rank comes higher stakes and chasing the top of the grappling world.

Texas Police Games 2010

Went down to South Padre on June the 17th searching for something I havent achieved since June of 07,,,,TX Police Games GOLD!!!! Ive been scraping getting silvers and bronze the past few years at the events. These events are small but always TOUGH!!!! I was able to achieve gold in the NoGi Advanced (Purple Brown and Black) which was a relief as Regan told me I was gonna have to walk home if I didnt get a gold. I was only able to take bronze in the Gi as I came up against a tough Black Belt (Robert Ross) in the semi's.

Me Regan and Jess THE MESS had a good time and it was great time. It was great to get away again and get into the ocean. Now we are training the Ft Hood combatives team until the end of Sept getting them ready for the All Army Combatives event that will be held at Ft Benning the end of Sept. Its Two a days mon thru fri and very tolling but it will get me in great shape and ready for Worlds NoGi in Nov. I hope to compete once or twice this summer just to keep the game flowing.

Preparing for another challenge

Cruise was great but now time to knuckle down and get ready fro the 2010 TX Police Games in South Padre in the middle of June. Conditioning and strength are coming along. Technique is getting to a new level. Gotta keep eyes on the prize,,,have not won gold at this event since its first yr in 2007. This yr will be different.

A New Begining

Well,,,,what can I say,,,I got married to an awesome gal that has been behind me since 2007,,,when I first locked eyes with her at work,,she was shy,,,we got together and dated a bit then we lived together for a few months,,,things happen and doubts arise,,,things move to an on and off status,,,she hunts me down and pretty much smacks me in the face making me realize my true feelings and helping me realize that there is somebody out there for me,,,I dont have to fill my life with trivial things in attempts to keep me from wanting a companion. That gal is Regan Jane Mullenax and I love her with all my heart!!!!

This lady is a total planner and points me in the direction I need to go and facilitates my dreams. I bow to this lady that treats me like a king. I love my queen dearly and appreciate her patience and determination to strive for what she wants. She is one of the strongest people Ive ever met,,she is a Breast Cancer Survivor (diagnosed with at the age of 27) I figure that if she can overcome that hell,,,,,,I can do ANYTHING with her strive and resolve. She is my true hero.

Up next,,,Caribbean cruise,,,,next event,,,another vacation at the TX Police Games in South Padre in June then a tune up in the summer for the Pan Am and Worlds NoGi. Nothing but the best.

2010 IBJJF Houston International BJJ Open

The team came in and repped the Grapplers Lair. Patrick Miller took gold in his weight class as did Adrian Mendoza, Adam Boyd and Myself. I took silver in the open (all) weight class,,,losing by points from a guard pass to my team mate Adam who got the gold. Im so proud of the team and am happy to add more International Titles to the Lair HOOOWWWWAAAHHHH!!!!

Now its break time til the late spring early summer. Gonna shine up my game.

Tuff Stuff

With a new belt (Purple) come tougher challenges. I was called late in the evening on Thurs Jan 28th by Coach John Moore. He told me that Jarrod Clontz the owner and coach of AFC in Killeen was holding a small NoGi event at his school and that he wanted me for a featured 10 minute Purple Belt Superfight similar to the one I did at his event in Feb of 2009. I thought about it for a minute and opted to do it.

John n I went with a few guys that were competing for the first time. I was a lil nervous as this was my first event as a purple belt and my coach was there as well as my fellow purple Rene and Padawan Learner n good friend Adrian "The Brazilican Sensation" Mendoza.

My Opponent Eric Acosta is no slouch and as the match starts he beats me to attempting to pull guard. I grab a tight straight footlock and flex hard (so hard my elbow hurt for days). Victory!!!! Purple Belt first time jitters are over within 51 seconds of the match starting. John is happy so Im happy.

Next up is the Fight to Win Century Grappling Championship in Austin on Feb 6th. I signed up for masters Advanced NoGi and Masters Purple Belt,,,,,Well Set Daniels the promoter didnt have any masters for at first so I was thrown into the young bucks division with mad cats. I held my own but was put out before reaching the semis in the NoGi. Seth has no Masters for me in the Purple Belt Gi division as well. I make it to the Bronze medal match and lose.

I do have a chance of redemption in the masters as Seth has a NoGi Masters Advanced Division for me. I meet my good friend Paul McDonough in the finals. Its a BTX Fightwear showdown (shameless plug even though they dont sponsor me yet =) hahahahahaha ). Paul n I jockey for takedown in the clinch and he attempts to pull guard. I end up taking his right foot just as I did the wk before to Eric and I have it tight. He slaps my right leg attempting to pull himself up as I fall to cinch the submission. The ref calls it saying he believed Paul tapped. It was a shallow win.

Im tired n sore from all the rolling in this tough new world in the grappling community. Next up is the IBJJF Houston International Open on March 6th. Its Gi only and I WILL BE READY!!!!

2010

Gettin geared up for the 2010 season. First up is Fight to WIn in Austin on Feb 6th. Gonna be a good event as it will be my first event since Winning the Worlds No-Gi title and it will be my first event as a Purple belt. Lotta pressure but no worries. Gettin back into championship form with my buddy (pictured above) Adrian THE BRAZILICAN SENSATION Mendoza. Our teammates Clint and Tyler will be fighting later that night during the MMA portion of the event......HOOOOWWWWAAAAHHHHH!!!!!