Dan from Canada. Dan wins the award for traveling the furthest to train with us so far. Even though Mikki is here from Japan, she has been training with us for over a month, while Dan came just to prepare for the Pan
After Monday, I my poor skin just couldn’t handle any more gi work. As karma would have it, this would be the day that I would pack in the most time in my gi. The day got started at 9 AM, when in all its scary, intimidating-ness, I marked a private with Cobrinha. He started off asking my what I wanted to work on and my brain nearly exploded. We needed to narrow that question down.
Based on my need and Cobrinha’s assessment from the night before, we opted for passing spider guard. He completely broke down by base, posture, and grip breaking in a way that was so magical. Suddenly, he only swept me on my head every once in a while instead of every time. He kept reminding me to breathe and relax, but I was nervous and frustrated. His patience with me and ability to pass instructions and details along is outstanding. We rolled for about ten to fifteen minutes afterward, and Cobrinha is a mythical creature, I’m convinced. He was correcting little things here and there, and at one point said that my little mistakes were letting him pass my guard “like water.” Water. Not butter, this dude lowered the viscosity to water. Not fair. I could feel immediate improvement standing passing, although as he said, “You have some homework to do.”
I rested about an hour as the noon class participants began to trickle in. These guys come into the gym with their game faces already on. Noon class began with judo entrances and then Cobrinha covered how to kill the deep half guard. My partner was Jordan (the bow and arrow choker) and he is a very, very intense individual. He kept me working hard for everything and really pushed a competitive environment. We did a lot of specific training from the deep half guard. That underhook is just ever so annoying but you’ve got to walk before you run. By the end of noon class (which suspiciously actually ends at about 2:30-3:00) my neck and arms were burning from the gi burns growing and I opted out of the final roll.
A quick stop by Whole Foods (delicious overpriced salads) and Julia and headed back to the house for a whole of one hour rest. I had to rush back to the gym and teach a private to one of the newer female students before the night classes got in full swing. We went over some basic details to allow her to get closer to the ultimate white belt goal: survive. It’s interesting to teach privates to different kinds of people, forcing me to work outside of the small set of techniques I’ve chosen for my own game. I have to adjust the position for different body types, forcing me to really understand the mechanics.
I was hurting. Badly. But just one last class, and I had to get through it. Jacaré was teaching the beginners class and gave me a sort of disapproving eye that I was opting to sit out until regular night class. That’s probably my favorite thing about him--it doesn’t seem to matter who you are or where you’re from, but he expects (read: demands) the best out of you.
We started out the class with judo drills. A lot of them. 60-80 entrances quickly, every ten ending with squatting your training partner ten times. Thank goodness I got Cobrinha, who I unfortunately outweigh. The class followed with pushups, squat jumps, and sprawls, just to get the blood pumping. From there we went directly into specific drills. Deep half guard top and bottom, closed guard top and bottom, open guard top and bottom. When open guard came around I could clearly feel a difference, even though there are many things I need to work on. I need to be especially comfortable balancing myself on just two posts during passing, and bury my head more. But, progression is progression.
After an hour of specific drills, I was quite tired and ready to quit because of the pain from my skin being rubbed raw. I was hoping for a light night, but I’m pretty sure those don’t exist. Those not going to Pan Ams were excused and those who were began to get paired up. It’s amazing to me, especially coming from a smaller team, to be at a place where not one or two but twenty or thirty people are preparing for a major tournament, pushing each other to their limits.
I was definitely there after just a few rolls, flinching every time the gi scraped my skin and my muscles were aching. I wanted to quit, except the decision was not mine. I could feel tears of pain and frustration welling up and I was fighting them back. Next roll came up and Jacaré was pushing everyone even further. “I’m gonna make you cry tonight.” I knew he was talking to me, and although it hurt immensely I was amazed that he was investing that much attention in me. He cared that much so I had to care more. I could feel the passion that he’s put into his school and students and it was just inspiring.
The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in battle.
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From adcombat.com:
Alliance Team In Full force at the Pan 2010
Romero Jacare confirms that his team is ready and will be at the Pan in force: "After lots of training and preparation the time for the truth is coming!" Stated the Alliance leader. "I believe we are at the top of our game and ready to shine again. Our Atlanta based team will be a strong integral part of the Alliance Team with Cobrinha, Ian, Jonathan, Alec, Darren, Jeff, Pedro, Jordon and a host of others leading the way. As I tell them preparation is key, it is better to train hard and suffer than to suffer in the tournament when it counts.
This following week we conduct out Pan Am Camp with Lucas Lepri, Rafael Rosendo, Steve Hall (Pesadelo) and a group of the association students participating. From Brazil Fabio brings our "tropa de elite" (elite troop) Malfacini , Michael & Michel Langhi, Sergio Moraes, Soluco, Leo Nogueira, Gabriel and others that will makes us ready to fight for the top."
From graciemag.com:
Pan: Alliance wants Gracie Barra’s bases
By Marcelo Dunlap
One of the fascinating things about Jiu-Jitsu is that it’s an individual sport with a team sport quality to it. Thus, while thousands of practitioners today are training on their own thinking of the Pan (as well as others who don’t yet know they are going to compete), the teams are also out there outlining their plans to win the tournament to be held from the 8 to the 11th of April.
In the past five years, the adult division has been dominated by Gracie Barra, which won in 2006, 2007 and 2009. But the champion from 2008, Alliance, bets it will reconquer the trophy.
“The Alliance army is all set to invade California,” said Master Romero “Jacare” Cavalcanti in an e-mail sent by staff from the headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. Jacare has helped lay out the team’s tactics from within the mat, where he has been training with the team.
“Our troops are ready for battle in Irvine,” continued the master. ”Training in both Sao Paulo and Atlanta is in the final stage, and in full swing. We have the utmost confidence in all our students. At the last World Cup, just the crew from the academy here in Atlanta alone scored nearly 40 points, of the total 132 points Alliance scored.”
“I believe that few academies have reached that marker (40 points), so we expect the best. Training sessions are going off here and I’m getting the wrong end of it,” he jokes.
“This weekend Lucas Lepri, Rafael Rosendo and students from all our team’s associates come in for our training camp. We’re all after the same goal, which is to help the team win the Pan, and then get the Grand Slam by winning the Worlds,” said the commander in chief.
“From Brazil, Malfacine Bruno, Michael and Michel Langhi, Sergio Moraes and other big stars from the team will arrive. From Atlanta, we’re taking Cobrinha, Ian, Alec, Darren, Jamanta, Jeff and others who already have experience and good results from major IBJJF competitions. After winning the Worlds and European (two years running) we know we’re the team to beat, but with all due respect to other teams, we always come to win. We carry a tradition of nearly 30, and this time it will be no different. With the reshaping and renewal of the team we are stronger and more united than ever,” says Jacare in finishing.
More news from Graciemag.com:
Sergio Moraes celebrates win and issues challenge
by Carlos Eduardo Ozório — March 23, 2010.
After suffering his first setback in MMA against Brett Cooper, Sergio Moraes made a comeback and using Jiu-Jitsu, the style in which he is world champion, he made quick work of Etoube Manuelo at Jungle Fight. All set for the Jiu-Jitsu Pan-American, the black belt comments on his comeback:
“For me it was great. I really needed this win. I stopped to analyze my last fight, when I lost, and was in too much of a hurry to finish. I had my money on getting a quick finish and I prepared for the, since I took one fight right after another. A lot of folks said I underestimated my opponent, but I never do. That’s never what goes on in my head. I just plain got tired and was just trying to survive. I ended up suffering my first loss. ”
“This time I corrected my mistakes and I was well prepared, in great shape. If the fight had gone 10 rounds, I’d have fought fine in all of them. But, thank God, it was over in the first. So it was a very important victory, which I entered focused, without losing positions. I did Jiu-Jitsu and the finish came quickly,” he added.
Few fighters can compete at the highest level in two styles. In Sergio’s case, the results are coming in both Jiu-Jitsu and MMA.
“My training is always based on the gi. I hardly train without the gi, of course. My focus is always Jiu-Jitsu. I’m going to do the Pan forcinha and we’ll see how it goes. I can reconcile the two (MMA and Jiu-Jitsu). Any fighter in MMA has to train ground fighting, so there’s a way to do both.”
In addition to the Pan, the Alliance rep also intends to go to the World Pro in Abu Dhabi. But his main focus is the IBJJF World Championship.
“I want a sponsor so I can go to the World Pro, if it isn’t too much. Incidentally, if someone wants to lend us a hand, the message is out there! I’m trained and ready to fight. Whatever comes up I’ll do, of course always focusing on the Worlds every year. ”
Serginho is also awaiting a call up from Bellator, where he should be in action soon. In the mean time, he carries on training at Alliance, in Sao Paulo, alongside the “General” Fabio Gurgel. With a natural inclination to take on challenges, the fighter just issued a challenge to the GRACIEMAG.com reporter:
“Let’s see if we can meet to play Playstation. Let’s see if you’re good at eleven (soccer)! In fact, I’m winning eleven professional, more than I am a fighter!” he chides, without knowing he was speaking to the champion of the game!
Watch out, Serginho!
We had another packed class this evening, so much so that after some intense stand up drills we went right into specific training.
In a submission-packed Jungle Fight, Sergio Moraes exits on the people’s shoulders
by Marcelo Dunlop — March 21, 2010.
Sergio Moraes brought Jungle Fight to a close, this Saturday night, with his back to the podium after taking a takedown. It was the happiest takedown of the Alliance fighter’s career, as it was applied by his tiny daughter, who was at the top of the ring sporting a white gi and orange belt to celebrate the categorical victory of her father.
In fact, Serginho’s performance was beyond reproach in the last fight of the night, overwhelming Peruvian opponent Etoube Manuelo in the ring, passing guard with ease, and from the mount, sinking a basic and efficient kimura.
“In this fight I fixed the main mistakes from my last participation in Jungle Fight, when I suffered my first loss in a hurry to finish. It made me lose some positions on the ground, and I ended up getting knocked out. Today I didn’t rush and got the victory. I even got the takedown! “he said into the microphone of reporter Paula Saack.
Serginho took the time to hail his class at COHAB 2 and partners from Alliance, and congratulated Wallid Ismail for his part in strengthening the sport in Sao Paulo, adding that martial arts practiced by the youth can keep people away from drugs and lower crime rates. For his well-meaning speech, it was no wonder that Serginho left on the shoulders of the people in the stands.
Another star of the night, also-local boy Claudio Godoy ran rings around another Peruvian, Fernando “Zopilote”, in the quickest-ending fight of the night. The hasty Edilberto Crocotá also finished his opponent skillfully, taking the opportunity to provoke the audience. ”Sorry, guys, but today Sao Paulo is all mine! Viva Bahia! ”
The Sao Paulo City Government confirmed four more Jungle Fights are on the cards over the next four months, to the delight of the fans and athletes present.
Jungle Fight 18
Pacaembu, São Paulo, Brazil
March 20, 2010
Sergio Moraes (Alliance) submitted Etoube Manuelo (Clube da Luta-Peru) via kimura at 4:06 min of R1
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Some news from Graciemag.com:
Gabrielle signed up for Pan and heading to Abu Dhabi
by Carlos Eduardo Ozório — March 19, 2010.
Gabrielle in action against Diana. Photo: Carlos Ozorio
Gabrielle Garcia didn’t offer her opponents in the over 63kg division of the World Pro tryouts in Gramado a chance. The Alliance representative showed a lot of grit and, after beating Diana Menezes in the final, with a takedown, provoked the opposing cheering section by beating her chest at them. The impression she left of being one mean fighter was not the same she left in her post-victory interview. A true lady with a kind heart, Gabrielle remarked on her campaign to GRACIEMAG.com:
“I had three matches. I got the finish in the first in 15 seconds, in the second it took 50 and I won the final against Diana, who is Brazilian National champion at black belt. I had been training a lot and was really confident. Now I have to train even more to win in Abu Dhabi.”
However, before the event in the United Arab Emirates, Garcia has another commitment scheduled. The brown belt will compete on the mats in Irvine, California, where the Pan-American Championship is to be held. To come out on top yet again, she is relying on the help of the “General”.
“My training will carry on as always: I’m doing some special work with Fabio, who’s polishing up my game. I’m also continuing the physical conditioning work, sticking with the same training regimen. Only the focus now changes, because I’m going to compete first at the Pan-American and my head will be on that. Only then will I think about the World Pro, which I want very much to win, as well.
Her large build leads one to believe she may have some interest in fighting MMA. But, for the time being, traditional Jiu-Jitsu is her greater calling.
“If things continue as they have, with professional prospects, I won’t be thinking about MMA so soon. I want to stick with Jiu-Jitsu, showing what I do. What I really like doing is fighting in the gi. But if a good offer comes up some time down the road, there’s nothing to prevent me from entertaining it,” she says in finishing.
Alliance going strong for the Pan-Ams
By Ivan Trindade | Published: March 18, 2010
Our GMA member Romero “Jacare” Cavalcanti, leader and co-founder of Alliance, has only one thing in mind: to win the Jiu-Jitsu Grand Slam in 2010.
But what is the Jiu-Jitsu Grand Slam?
It is winning the Adult Teams titles of the European Championship, Pan-American Championship and the World Championship.
The first third of the task was accomplished last January.
Now the team is getting ready for the second third, the Pan-Am’s, next April, in California.
And, as usual, Fabio Gurgel, Fernando “Soluco”, Rubens Charles “Cobrinha”, Michael Langhi, Lucas Lepri, Bruno Malfacine, Tarsis Humphreys, Luana Alzugir, Gabrielle Garcia and many more will be coming to the US to help accomplish this goal.
You wish you could be part of it, don’t you? Well, you can.
Well, you can. From March 31st to April 7th, Alliance Members ($200) and visitors ($300) will be able to train in Atlanta, Georgia, with Jacare’s team.
