BJJ PanAms

[DJColdfusion]

Took the silver this yearv in my division. That makes 2 silvers and 2 golds (total). Got beat by a guy who just plain played a smarter game, losing by an advantage in the finals.

Anybody else go?

Its a little strange this year. I'm very proud of the results because I fought much tougher competition this year. I even got a little "revenge" on my first tournament loss (2003) in the first round of my weight class this year. But I also realized how very, very far I have to go.

My opponents were incredible guys and I might get a chance to train with one of them in the future. We're 1 and 1 now and he made me promise to do the tie breaker.

My bigggest problem, and the biggest lesson that I learned, is that I'm a little passive in the clinch. Very few people out there can take me down so I tend to grip and try to force them into something stupid. I'll show a little leg, hoping that they'll go for it and then counter them into something that gives me the advantage. Or I'll narrow my stance, offering a leg sweep or giving them the grips for a throw, and then counter their offense. That is really the part of my game that needs the greatest amount of change and the area that I will be focusing on over the coming months/years.

[Mike Brewer]

First and foremost, congratulations! Way to go, man!

As for training, you have the size and strength to get offensive, so I say explore the possibilities. You're pretty good at the game you know, so do what any other top tier athlete does - get better! Push the limits, and live in that discomfort zone and by next year, you'll have a new depth that the guys looking for their revenge won't be ready for.

[SweepEm]

I was at the Pan Ams on both Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

LOTS of great matches on both days. So many great black and brown belt matches going on, all at the same time. At sometimes, it was hard to watch since there were so many going on at the same time.

Two notable competitors on Sunday; Kron Gracie (son of Rickson) and Fabio Gurgel. Kron is simply awesome in his submissions. People are saying that he's being sandbagged and should be a black already. Maybe so since he's like a hot knife through butter in division.
Even through there were many black belt matches going on, practically everyone in the audience stopped to watch Kron's matches.

Fabio Gurgel is legendary and he's still got it.

DJ:
Congrats on competing and big congrats on medaling. Lots of people train and never compete which is cool but if you have that drive to compete, you're above most to put it all on the line and step on the mat.

Every year, I always use the Pan Ams as a goal, to go compete and it's usually either a sickness or an injury that's stopped me. Every tournament I go to, there's a part of me that's jealous of all those who do compete and it drives me to keep getting better and one day, being able to once again compete.

[DJColdfusion]

Thanks SweepEm, The PanAms have become a way for me to pay my respects to the sport itself and the people who brought it to us . . . plust it's a great couple of days of hanging around with great friemds.

[Britt]

Congrats and high fives on your silver, man! Awesome news!