A beginner’s guide to the centre line hypothesis
Roy Dean, in his DVD ‘Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: Purple belt requirements’, spoke of depth of knowledge versus breadth of knowledge and encouraged that rather than attempting to assimilate and amass numerous skill sets, to look deeper and understand the concepts and principles that underpin each skill. In the same vein BJJ Black belt Roy Harris has warned not to become a “collector of techniques” or someone more infatuated with developing flair than actually being able to use basic fundamental skills in ‘live’ randori.
If …

The rationale for writing this brief post was met over a Grande soy almond latte in Starbucks. You read Val Worthington’s nemesis [the sauce] is diet coke well, soy almond latte is mine and at £3.00 a pop it’s a little more expensive too, anyway, I was perusing an edition of the Sunday Times sports section when I came across an article concerning age and competitive sportsmen and women. The raison d’être for the piece seemed to be the imminent return of Michael Schumacher, the seven times Formula One motor …

 
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is an art/sport characterised by ground fighting. More so than just being the most effective and efficient sport for groundwork, BJJ has it very own peculiar and largely unique positions to launch techniques from.
One of these is the ‘Guard’ (“do-osae” in Judo or the “body-scissors” in catch-wrestling). According to wikipedia: whilst “in the Guard, the practitioner is on their back controlling an opponent with their legs. The practitioner pushes and pulls with the thighs or feet to upset the balance and limit the movements of their opponent. …

For some time now we have seen a number of posts, threads and groups on online forums and social networking sites written and set up specifically to address the distinct lack of support, direction, appreciation and retention for all women within the grappling fraternity here in the United Kingdom. It has been established time and time again that the opportunities open to women in our sport of ‘grappling’ are far behind those of their male counterparts; an issue that is indicative in the wider context of the sporting environment. Nevertheless, great …

By David Webb, 20th November 2009
All images © David Finch/judophotos.com

By David Webb, 20th November 2009

If you ever get the chance to sit and watch an ‘expert’ in Judo or Brazilian Jiu Jitsu apply their trade you will be simply blown away by how devastating both are as simple stand alone entities. As we have mentioned before, time and time again champions in both are beginning to see the benefits of crosstraining Judo and BJJ and blending the tachi-waza of Olympic Judo with the ne-waza of BJJ into a formidable force on the mat.
However, if you were to ask any top level Judoka or respected …

The mission statement that accompanies any project undertaken through KombatClinic.com is simple: “committed to developing excellence in performance”. If we are committed to developing this excellence it must mean getting out there and training under [and alongside] the best, individuals that are deemed THE best in their respective fields. Over the years both through KombatClinic.com and indeed at my own academy I have sought out individuals, athletes, performers and coaches that are just that. The best.
From submission wrestling with Jeff Monson, MMA with Leigh Remedios and Michael Bisping, Brazilian Jiu …

Interview by,  David Webb: 02 August 2009
(All photographs with kind permission and courtesy of Fighting Films Ltd. and Bob Willingham).
Enjoy!