Tuesday 29 December 2009

The 'Spiderman' Pass - Absolutely Fantastic

Try this one guys....If it 's good enough for Peter Parker and Leo Vieira, then it's good enough for you.

Happy new year

Sunday 6 December 2009

CFS/Hert Martial Arts - Free Xmas Camp - 6.12.09

A great group of guys training earlier today at the HMA annual Xmas camp. Instructor Gary Hoptroff does this every year for his guys with no charge. This year as my way to say thanks, I joined in and taught a few bits and pieces.

Thanks to everyone including Corey, Carl G and Jesus who came along too.







In the clips below, I was teaching a mix of Wing Chun, FMA and JKD concepts agains the jab and cross, looking at angles, posture and positioning















Like everthing learned in life, these tehniques and drills need to be put into perspective, because everything works in the right situation.

Hope you enjoy them!

Tuesday 1 December 2009

December BJJ techniques of the month

Hey Guys


This month I have a special XMAS treat for you courtesy of Alan do Nascimento - aka 'Finfou'. I managed to 'twist' his arm whilst training and he agreed to shoot a couple of positions to share with you guys this month.


I have to tell you that he is a real humble, nice and down to earth guy and a really good teacher too.


In this first video, he teaches an omoplata from the spider guard




In the second video, he explains a particular defence to a common guard pass 'attack'. the attack may be common but let me tell you, the defence is not!! In fact it was so good, we shot it twice!










Always feel free to comment :)

CFS BJJ - Training with Finfou - Nov 09

The Man himself...............................

Getting to grips with the finer aspects of the triangle!

Finfou and Jesus Finfou and Savash

Corey, Finfou and Malandro

Finfou and a few of the crew.....


























Interview with Alan do Nascimento - BJJ Black Belt - Mundial & World Cup Champion (conducted 18.11.09)












DO: 'Finfou', thank you for taking the time out to conduct an interview with me. Can I begin by going through some background info with you?

F: Sure. My full name is Alan do Nascimento and I was born on 12.3.82. I am currently 27 years old. I was born in Sao Gonsalo, Rio de Janeiro.


DO: Can you tell me about your BJJ history and how long you have been training


F: Yes. I started training BJJ when I was 12 years old. My first teacher was Fernando Augusto aka 'Terere" I started of course as a white belt, and progressed through yellow and orange, gaining my blue belt at the age of 15. I received my purple belt from him when I was 20. Terere then moved to Sao Paulo to teach and then Ricardo Vieira started teaching in the Favela VB project and I have been with him ever since. Ricardo gave me my Brown belt when I was 23 and one year later on 29.7.06 he honoured me with the Black Belt.


DO: Only 2 teachers and they just happen to be 2 of the best in the World


F: Exactly. I have been very fortunate and thank GOD for this.


DO: Can you give a summary of your competition successes in recent years


F: Sure


IBJJF - European Champion - Black Belt
  • 2007 - Middle
  • 2008 - Middle
  • 2009 - Middle Heavy
Brazilian National Champion - Black Belt
  • 2008 - Middle Heavy
  • 2009 - Middle Heavy
CBJJ - World Champion

  • 2005 - Purple Belt at Light weight
  • 2006 - Brown Belt at Light weight

CBJJO - World Cup Champion
  • 2005 - Purple Belt at Light weight
  • 2006 - Brown Belt at Light weight

CBJJE - World Champion - Black Belt
  • 2008 - Middle weight

DO: That's an impressive list which shows how successful and active you are as a competitor. So what would you say are your goals in general and so far as BJJ is concerned?

F: Thanks. Well I wish to continue to use BJJ as my way to financially contribute to the Favela and to show the children from the Favela that they can make a good life for themselves and be the best they can be in life. It also gives me the means to support my family.

DO: I obviously know that you are a fantastic competitor but you teach as well don't you?

F: Yes. I actually spend half of my time each year in Brazil and the other half in Sweden. When in Brazil, I teach at the VB project and when in Sweden I teach for Hans Ersson.

DO: How do you manage to survive the weather in Sweden?

F: Warm clothes and good training!! But seriously, I have learned to do whatever it is I need to do because of the goals that I have in life.

DO: If I am correct, this is your third trip to the UK and the last time you were here I managed to train with you then too. Even though you have spent most of your time here teaching and training with the Checkmat team at the London Fight Factory (LFF), my question is what do you think about the standard of BJJ here compared to Brazil?

F: Yes this is my third trip and I hope to have many more. So far as the standard is concerned I think it is steadily growing and there are obviously a lot of good teachers here apart from the obvious names like Roger Gracie and Braulio Estima for example. I hope that in my way I can help to contribute to the growth of BJJ in london.

DO: I think that we are very lucky right now in the UK. We have the best of both Worlds I would say because not only do we have a lot of resident and visiting Brazilian BJJ Black Belts but we also have a growing number of UK born Black Belts leading the way.

Finfou I want to thank you first of all for the time you put aside for me on this trip and secondly for allowing me to conduct this short interview with you whilst you were having some dinner and your first ever sample of apple pie and hot custard!!. Is there anything you would like to add before we finish.

F: Man, it has been my pleasure to train with you, your students and all the guys at LFF. I would like to first of all thank GOD for everything he does for me. I would like to thank Ricardo Vieira for all his teaching and helping me to become the practitioner I am now. I want to thank Hans Ersson and Margarita Myhr who recognised the potential in me and brought me to Sweden when I was a purple belt to start teaching at their academy. I want to thank my partner Ullis Hansson who has given me a lot of support. My students in the Favela and Fightzone Stockholm. My mother and grandparents who looked after since I was 4 and Finally for the blessing of my son Andrews who is the inspiration in my life.

The Art of Wing Chun

For those who know me well, they know that I have a long association with the often misunderstood art that is called Wing Chun.

I first became involved with WC in 1983 when I was introduced to Sifu's Martin Ruiz and John Sahakian who were teaching in Ealing. I had only heard of the art through a good friend of mine Asari St Hill. I discovered that their lineage was Sifu Simon Lau and I would describe it as a 'hard' style. I trained with them for approximately 3 years, until they closed down.

I continued to train with fellow students and friends generally thinking I was much better than I really was, which unfortunately is often the case with martial artists. In early 1986, quite by accident, whilst I was at college I was asked to start teaching a group of ladies who wanted 'self defence'. This led to the 'Womens school of martial arts and self defence' taught by yours truly.

In 1988, I had 'a visit' from representatives of Sifu Nino Bernardo, who encouraged me that perhaps I need to learn more WC. I did want to go and study with Sifu Nino but I could not afford it at that time. However it did start me researching alternative places to train.

In April of that year I joined Sifu Eddie Yeoh's school (Grandmaster Lee Sing lineage) where I trained until I met Sifu Michael Louison in October 1988. He was visiting our school. I learnt he was starting a new school in Greenwich and made an open invitation.


At that stage, Sifu Michael was one of a small handful of students who had completed the entire system under Sifu Nino and he had also trained with Master Wong Shun Leung and Si-bak Ng Chun Hong.

I studied with Sifu Michael as his first student from 1988 through to 1993 and was one of his most consistent students. I had the pleasure of travelling with him to Italy in 1990 to teach a seminar and I would cover classes for him in his absence. I also managed to train with Si-bak when he came to london a few times to teach and also on trip to his school in Hong kong maybe 9 years ago. That was an amazing experience training with such a talented group. They did their best to make sure that I knew their Wing Chun was the best!!

Back in London, I did get involved in some challenge matches defending my style and I am pleased to say that fortune favoured me in those outings!


Funnily enough, my first introduction to the filipino martial arts came through training with Sifu Michael and training at the 'Basement' becaause at that time, Sifu Nino was an apprectice instructor under none other than Guro Dan Inosanto. That was in 1990.

So far as WC is concerned, in my opinion, Sifu Michael's interpretation and understanding is of the highest level.

Here is a video I have found of him training along with a good friend of mine whom I introduced to WC & Sifu Michael maybe 12 years ago.

See what you think

The WC, that I use now has influenced every aspect of my martial arts!


Enjoy












December Update and the Xmas season

Hi Guys....

Woke up this morning (early!!) and it was freezing!! Car iced over....welcome to XMAS!! :)

Last month was a busy month for me and this month will undoubtedly be busier. I managed to achieve most of my targets for last month but unfortunately I didn't manage to film any CSW/MMA stuff. That will probably have to wait a while as I begin to prepare for the European Championships at the end of January 2010.

This month, the BJJ 'techniques of the month' are performed by BJJ whizz Alan 'Finfou' Nascimento and once again I thank him for the time he spent with me last month.

In adddition I have a short interview with him to help you guys have a better insight into his life and BJJ.

I should also have some more Filipino martial arts info and any other updates.

I will also have some info on one of my first martial art loves...Wing chun!!

I also congratulate Suleyman Cetin who formally completed his Phase 1 training in FMA even though his general skills are way above that level.

Hope you enjoy all, and as always, feel free to comment.

Cheers