Mat Rat News #2 Portland Open Champions

Hello Mat Rats,

Journeyman Grappler here! I’m stoked to bring you the second issue of Mat Rat News! Although it has been less than a week since the last post, a lot has happened so fix your gis and tie your belts!

What Happened?

This past week went by like a flying armbar! Anita and I spent most of it getting ready for the first ever IBJJF Portland Open. Joining us on our northern-bound mission for submission was RJ Bets from Guardian Gym and 6 other competitors from my home academy, Ralph Gracie Berkeley (RGB). I was unable to train at Guardian in the lead up to the competition, though, as the mats were being redone.. Instead, the Guardian team cross trained at Ralph Gracie Berkeley (in a class taught by Alexei Bordas) and at Empire Jiu Jitsu in San Francisco with Jake Scovel and Kurt Osiander. Many thanks to them for letting the GG squad come through and roll.

Once in Portland (PDX), after getting brunch of course, Anita, Staccia (RGB Purple Belt), and I went to 10th Planet Portland’s Gi class to loosen up and review our gameplans. The class was taught by Juan Bernardo, a Black Belt from Victory MMA under the tutelage of Dean Lister and Jeff Glover. Juan moved up to PDX and now trains with the 10p PDX team. Shout out to Juan for letting us crash your class!

After a low key evening and a sleepless night,competition Sunday dawned and found me feeling like a crazed white belt desperate for a roll. As a coach, I believe that competing earlier than my athletes is key, and thankfully I was scheduled before the 9 people I had to coach! My first match was a bit of a scramble: I dove for a kimura attempt that I’ve been messing around with in practice and, unfortunately, it ended with my opponent coming up for the sweep. I made up for it with a toe hold finish for the first round win…typical Journeyman. I won the second /semi-final match with a quick kimura from triangle. My finals match went the distance, but an early guard pass (x-pass) secured the win and a Gold place medal! Guardian Gym athlete RJ Bets took silver, falling to a tough opponent in the finals. All the same, he went home with high morale and a solid game plan to improve for the next one. Sometimes a loss can be more helpful than a win.

As a whole, the Ralph Gracie Berkeley (RGB) team turned in a stellar performance. With only 8 competitors, they were able to place 9th as a team, going toe to toe with some of the top academies in the world. Another highlight of the day was watching the Women’s Adult Black Belt Division, which featured Northwestern athletes Amanda Loewen and Hillary VanOrnum.

All in all, it was a great Sunday! Until, that is, Anita and I got a text from our unnamed airline *cough* Alaska! *cough* that our flight has been cancelled and that we were rescheduled to fly back Monday night. So much for teaching my evening classes…

What’s Happening?

March 16th will be our first adult promotion ceremony, and which will include a seminar taught by my instructor and 5th degree black belt Eduardo Fraga
Guardian is hosting a Happy Hour at Oakland’s Kingfish Pub & Cafe on Wednesday the 27th!
March 20th-24th IBJJF Pan Am Championship Irvine Gi
May 4-5th BJJ Tour American Cup San Jose Gi
May 11-12th IBJJF San Diego Spring Open Gi & Nogi
June 8th BJJ Tour Sacramento - Gi & Nogi