Dan Simmler Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Seminar

Matt Serra Brown Belt, Dan Simmler came to Baltimore to teach a seminar at Crazy 88 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  Dan is one of America’s most decorated grapplers and it showed as he showed “one of the most functional seminars I’ve ever been to” (real quote from one of the participants).

He not only went over the gripping system he uses but showed some of the Judo throws and techniques that he has been using since he began training Judo w/ Jimmy Pedro.  He then transitioned to some top game stuff that he is known for. 

Overall, it was a fantastic seminar and even better was that the proceeds were going to the Boys & Girls Club in Massachusetts that provides low-income children with martial arts training opportunites.

Jordan Tully Decides Crazy 88′s April Non-Profit

The Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) designs and implements sustainable energy solutions to improve the health, education and economic well-being of rural communities in the developing world. SELF’s projects provide power for water pumping and drip irrigation, health clinics, schools, homes, streetlights, microenterprise and wireless Internet.

This month’s charitable donation was chosen by Jordan Tully.

UWC Capital Punishment

Team Lloyd Irvin has seven – SEVEN - fighters on tonight’s UWC MMA card including 135-lb Champion Mike Easton. 

Here is the fight card (our team in bold/italics):

• Mike Easton vs. Josh Ferguson : Mike Easton wins in rd 1 by guillotine choke and maintains the UWC title.  (Team Lloyd Irvin 4-3)
• War Machine vs. Rashad Woods : War Machine wins by choke in the 2nd.  (Team Lloyd Irvin 3-3)
• Marcus Foran vs. Joey Kirwan
• Ronald Stallings vs. Damian Dantibo : Damian Dantibo by KO in the 1st.  (Team Lloyd Irvin 3-2)
• Mikey Lovato vs. Jose Villirisco : Mike Lovato wins a UD 29-28.  (Team Lloyd Irvin 3-1)
• Frank Camacho vs. Binky Jones: Frank Camacho KO’s Binky Jones in rd 2.  (Team Lloyd Irvin 3-0)
• Phil Davis vs. Terry Cohens : Phil Davis finishes opponent from top of back mount with strikes.  4:30 into rd 1.  (Team Lloyd Irvin 2-0)
• Ronnie West vs. Kris McCray : Kris McCray wins early and fast with a rear naked choke – maybe 40 seconds.  (Team Lloyd Irvin 1-0)

Submission Only 3 Results

** = split division w/ teammate; no losses.

Looks like another strong performance from Crazy 88 BJJ Competition Team. We sent 6 competitors to the grappling event. Notable performances were given by Evan “Oz” Gideon who won the Blue Belt Open and Will “Smallville” Smallwood who did the same in the White Belt Open.  Next up is Grapplers Quest Las Vegas on May 9th.

Crazy 88 BJJ Partners with Trees for the Future

Crazy 88 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has partnered with Trees for the Future,  an agroforestry resource center helping people in developing countries improve their rural livelihoods through the introduction of environmentally sustainable land management projects focused on beneficial tree planting.

We will be donating a portion of all referral proceeds to this organization and continue to be involved as contributing member of the Howard County community.  This will be in addition to our current monthly effort to get our Tiny and Little Ninjas involved in current affairs.

NAGA Tournament of Champions Results

The guy I fought in the blue belt division was actually a 4 stripe white belt from a De La Riva school whose instructor was there telling him to fight up because he was promoting him to blue belt this week.  I beat the guy 11-0 and was very happy with the match.  I had been telling myself to be more aggressive with submission attempts, and I threw a bunch at him.  Pulled guard, broke him down and locked the diamond on him but we had to shift before I could turn it into the triangle because we were near the edge of the mat.  Right away I put an armbar on him…  turned it belly down but he had long legs and managed to step over my shoulder so I had to bail on it and rolled him back into my guard.  Locked the diamond on him again but I didn’t control his posture and he got out.  Sunk a pretty deep cross choke in and I thought I had it done there but he toughed it out for a bit so instead of burning my grips on the first match I let it go.  He reached back and I locked on a triangle… he stood up, so I hooked his leg and swept him with it.  I tried to come up into the mounted triangle but couldn’t quite make it al the way up on top and we got caught in a scramble which I won.  Passing him and getting side control.  I transitioned to mount, then S mount with his arm wrapped around his neck.  He bridged and rolled me, I turned around and swept him back to mount one more time at the bell.

So that was gold.  Not that I really counts, considering it was only one match and a blue belt who was a couple of days short of his actual blue.

Where it got all jacked up was that they had the blue belt and purple belt masters go first… then they decided to split the master an adult white belt divisions between two separate rings.  So I had to decide which one to forfeit… so I bailed on masters and went for the adult division.

That match started well.  Pulled guard (but guard pulls were as technically sound as I know how to do by the way…  sleeve pulled tight, foot on hip, etc…) but I had a hard time keeping this guys posture broken.  He kept trying to violator pass me, and on his third attempt he managed to get his knee wedged in.  I grabbed his pant leg so he couldn’t knee cut and went to half guard… he wasn’t able to flatten me out and we fought from there for a bit.  I tried to go deep half on him but he stymied it, then with about 45 seconds left to go I swept him.  It was a sloppy sweep though, and I ended up in his guard instead of in side control.  So at this point I am up 2-0.  I had his lapel by his belt with my right hand, and I made a stupid mistake and stepped up with my left instead of my right.  He hail mary armbars me… it isn’t too deep and there is 30 seconds left on the clock.  I stand and he rolls me with it.  It is deep, but I have my arm turned just enough so there isn’t any danger.  I reach up to pull his leg off of my head and the guy yells “He tapped” to the ref… and the ref stops it with under 20 seconds left on the clock.  Telling me he was afraid my arm was going to get hurt.  I protested but there was nothing I could do.

And of course at this point I can’t go do the master’s division.  So I am pretty pissed at myself and NAGA right now to say the least…

NY International Open Results

** = split division w/ teammate; no losses.

Keith “Trainspotting” Cebula easily won the Masters Blue Belt division, submitting his first two opponents with breadcutter chokes before posting a 6-0 victory in the Championship round with 2 guard passes.  Having placed Top 3 in his weight division, our teammate qualified for the Open division. Unfortunately, there were only 2 other competitors in that division so Trainspotting won his match on a massive number of points and then split the Open Division title with Pere from Camp Springs! Awesome showing!

Timothy “#1 Stunna” Spriggs dominated the Meio Pesado division, going 4-0.   He won 18-0, 2-0, 8-2, and 4-0 to win his first CBJJ Gold medal.  He controlled every match and did not look like a full-time college student who trains during vacations.  #1 Stunna has been working out hard and studying video heavily and has been able to maintain his skills even when he is not in Maryland.  Great job from the 18 year old.

Cathy Tran-Zwanetz made her IBJJF debut…luckily.  There was originally no one in her division to fight but the officials were kind enough to let her bump up a weight class to compete against another girl who was also opponent-less.  Cathy used her crushing shoulder pressure to pass her opponent’s guard, mount, and ezekielle in 45 seconds.  A textbook match that brings Ms. Cathy’s record to 3-0.

NAGA World Championship Results

Crazy 88 sent 2 first-timers to the NAGA World Championships in New Jersey today – Kurt Ratcliffe and “Big” Al Washington.

Kurt Ratcliffe went 3-2 for the day, winning 3 No-Gi matches. More details as they are provided.

“Big” Al Washington has been one of our most dedicated guys, coming out of nowhere and training almost every day, every class. He ended up going 2-2 for the day and taking 4th in the White Belt gi division.  A solid performance from the 4-monther.

A good first step guys.