Steroids in the BJJ Community

With the past interview I did with Caio Terra and the recent bashing video I posted concerning the subject a lot of people have been asking me about my opinion on steroids in the jj community. The reason why I kept quiet about the situation is its kind of a close to home topic being that I have seen friends and childhood idols lives ruined because of it. However since I’ve been throwing jabs at the situation gonna finally speak about it.

When it comes to steroid usage in actual sports that PAY money to athletes to perform at a certain level it is quiet common and maybe even justified why a person would take steroids. It is no different from a drug dealer selling drugs to provide for his family. Yeah you are taking a risk that endangers your health and it is wrong but you are doing what you have to do to make it in a world that is gradually getting worse economically by the minute.

Ex: many people have bashed pro wrestlers for steroid usage. However what u might not know is these individuals have to maintain a certain image to even be able to even being accepted as a candidate to perform on top shows like WWF or WCW. –don’t believe me- look up WWF Scandal 1992 on youtube. Another thing is athletes go through serious injuries and need a particular medicate steroid to reduce the problem to be able to continue their dreams.

Dangerously wrong yes. Justifiable Yes.

Now how do I feel about steroids in my BJJ community? Simple I think it is foolish and stupid !! and I’ll tell you why.

Let start off with a financial standpoint…..
(I looked this up) steroids cost anywhere between the price range of $ 150 to $ 300. Now let’s add that with your typical yearly gym fee of 1700 plus your tournament entry (Mundials) of 150. If you add that all together it comes out that you are spending A LOT of money just to obtain a $ 25 gold medal, a boost of ego, and a title of BJJ world champion that no one cares about in the real world and people will 4 get about in the next week or so in the bjj world…So in theory you’re paying to even make an ATTEMPT to be great in a sports that pays 0 money and makes money off of you.

It enough that the sport of jiu-jitsu is filled with ego driven, disrespectful, OSS shouting, self-centered people but to throw steroids in the mix totally takes away the intention and honor this discipline was intended for which is to better ones self ( I mean really isn’t that what being a martial artist is all about), I guess that is why this community is getting more ridiculous by the minute.

As a community and as an individual we got start focusing on developing ourselves not focus on title or 15 second glory that won’t mean shit when we die. Seriously steroids will FUCK YOU UP more than any opponent you encounter on the mat will. Your health will be affected seriously and you family will suffer because of your unfortunate stupidity.

As a martial artist focus on your growth and development of character and if you are one of those ego driven people who want some notoriety at lease obtain that goal with some fuck’n  integrity (no strings attached).

Please if you or know some1 that is doing it tell them to stop cuz it will hurt you and everyone that has to live with you death trust me I’ve seen it. Still don’t believe me check this guy out and Sad part is this guy was doing it for $$$ what r u doing it 4 absolutely NOTHING !!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVtKGlL0-ls

What Grinds My Gears

The stuff I see now adays in the jj community and even the world is outrageous ..so it time i tell everyone what really grinds my gear top 10. so u know what really grinds my gears ?

1.  Hard working mma fighters and grapplers that are not getting recognized . ( come on other writer steer away from the mainstream and help out the people that need it)

2. The fact that when i get facebook friend request..some people dont even the courtesy to tell me who they are. Geeze where has courtesy run off too.

3. OSSSSS !!! do i really need to talk more about this topic.

4. BJJ Black belt groupies - ( stop being a man fan)

5. the fact that since ronda rousey did an armbar and broke everyone arms..now everyone want to learn an armbar ( if u bother to stop learning all that fancy guard shit, you would notice that is the 1st move u learn in jj class genius).

6. People braging about how they submitted there teammates ( point blank u r a ---- -----, that is why now adays it more called an academy, instead of a team)

7. no name, only won 2 small tournament ass grapplers..try to rape out companies for sponsorships just to make themselves look good ( if i were a owner i would tell u to take ur 2 cent gold medal and shove it up your a**)

8.The fact El Atnom has disappeared where is that guy.

9.   the fact that after over 10 years there is still a debate over gi vs no gi ( shit just shut up about it already and just train)

10. the fact that i got write this out telling u what really grinds my gears !!

anyway c u all next time !!! :-)

Self-Drilling

Been awhile but I'm back at it for another edition of the infamous but cool Montablog !!! In today's edition I'm going to be giving some helpful tips about the importance of drilling. Something I know everyone talks so much about.
In the world of grappling in order to drill you need a partner to drill a single move 50x with to get it perfect. However have you ever thought of the notion that there is a way to drill without drilling constantly on the mat at all ? well I think i found a solution to this problem..something i call self-drilling ( i sure others have done this as well so I'm not the originator of it).

I remember awhile ago when i was developing my game after each class i would always conjure up thoughts in my head to figure out a way to do things better. In an effort to improve i would look at 1 or 2 techniques in a book or online that best fits my style.. Then i would go over the technique 50x in my head..thinking of everything from the set up to the troubleshooting issue i may run into. Flash forward i would step on the mat and the technique would work perfect ( with constant repetition while trying the technique out while sparring.)  and WA LA u have self drilling.

Here is the thing folks I am a firm believe in self-development. Yes we all belong to a team but at the end of the day our primary goal is to make ourselves grow. Self-drilling is a way IMO to not only develop a responsibility of analyzing your game but also in a way be your own teacher outside of practice because of course your instructor  and training partners are not with u 24/7.

In my final thoughts whether u r a Wrestler, Judoka, Submission Grappler, or even a MMA fighter..here r some steps to help you through this self-drilling process...........

1. Figure out what u want to develop in your game
example- if ur a wrestler and like to go 4 single leg. develop some way to step up the single leg or even  building off when you catch the single.
2. look for a technique or moves that is directed toward your overall game - ( some people mistake this and want to learn something outside the box that has nothing to do with their game..build your blocks and focus on adding on to what your already have).
3. ask yourself some troubling shooting questions what if (going over scenarios to figure out will this move your about to drill actually work and by what percentage).
4. drill the move 50 x in your head ( visualization)
5. Optional: drill the move 5 x on a partner- ( if u do this after going over the move 50 times n your head u will c the difference in your understanding of the move).
6. Put it to action in your training.

Hopefully this format helps you in your progression.

until next time

Monta'

Challenges

Gonna make this blog short or at least I will try to. Just recently I did a heartfelt but amazing story on a guy name Anthony Sanza.
 ( if u havent checked out his article here it is be sure to show your support and repost http://bjjlegends.com/bjj/bjj-news/jiujitsu-mma-news/item/613-anthony-sanza-dont-count-him-out-not-now-not-ever.html

It was probably one of the most toughest and hardest articles i ever had to do not only cuz of his situation but also because it hit "close to home" in way. Thinking of this story really gets to me in a way about how much people complain unessary things in life. Why dont i have a better job, man im so nervous going into this tournament, i have so many test to study for. I dont need to say the (stop b****n) phrase, but what i will say some of the things we complain about n life is childs play compared to the pains and struggles others go through.


end this blog by saying stay positive and fight whatevere obstacle that comes in your life no matter how big or how small.

Deal Revealed -(Fresh New Start)

Well lets skip the dramatics and get down to business. On the month of September of 2011 after being apart of the academy for 2 years I left Hollywood BJJ ( aka Paragon Hollywood). Since that time i have been a free agent/ronin for the past 4 months. During that time I have had the opportunity of training with some great people (grapplers/fighters)  and even taken time to help out young guns here in my hood at Tapout LA training center.

Ever since this month began Ive been talking about me finally signing up with a gym and i am happy to say it has finally happened. Took me awhile to think positive going into the situation,reflect, and actually man up n do it. All i ever want to do in jj is grow and b happy. Never wanted to be a world champion..all i ever wanted was to grow and be in a positive atmosphere that allows me to do that and well i think its time for me to do that.

also not to sound negative but I will say this..if this does not work in the long run..i am making this announcement right now...I WILL NEVER JOIN A ACADEMY IN THE SO CAL AREA AGAIN.but I'm going to be positive about this new venture (so 4get i said that -lol-).

anyway without further delay this is who i will be training with starting Jan 3rd...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZCuM34A07A

L.W.N-(Like, Want,Need)

It seems as though the world main interest is the all mighty dollar. Might as well say it is a new form of religion. Setting all of my upcoming bjj signing and other plans for the next year aside. This blog will focus on how to invest your money in this tough economic time. I like to call it L.W.N ( like, want, need). I started developing this concept for myself when i was in college due to my poor spending habits i had when i was a teenager.Back in high school all i did was spend money on cloths, shoes,games, and anything i thought that would make me look "cool" for a short period of time. Always wanted to be the one with the most shoes or the best cloths against my peers. thousands of cloths and 100 shoes later (that i eventually gave away)when i looked back all i can say is ....Dang I wasted alot of money !!!

For the past 4 years I've developed a procedure to help me manage my money. In terms it has helped me to save big time and now i am able to afford jj training, go on plane vacations, walk away not stuck in any college debt amongst other things...SO let me enlighten u money spenders.When looking at item u want to buy ( excluding bills, food, and important life dependent things) ask yourself a question do u LIKE it, do you WANT it, and do you actually NEED what your are buying.

Like- do u like the product you are about to buy... if u cant get pass this step might as well save your $$$

if you can get pass.this stage then its on to the next phase.......

Want- do you really want what you are buying. what is it about the product that attracts you to getting it. (by this time if you can answer this question then you can buy it) the next phase is for people who really want to invest instead of spend.

Need- do you need it...what is it about what your buying that will make you better. (financially, physically, or satisfying your daily routine). For instance i just brought a new computer because my old one was damaged after 10 years of use. The need for a new computer was to communicate with friends, do my articles, amongst other important things i need to do.

My personal advice to everyone reading this would be to get to the WANT phase because it is something worth spending your money on that will last for a lengthy period of time.

Overall this blog is meant  not telling you to stop poor spending but mainly invest on important things that really matter in your life.

No-Gi Mundial Moments ( The Great, The Strange, & The WTF)

Due to my article writing and other stuff going on it is hard to do montablogs nowadays but I’m back for a limited time only. Today I had the distinct pleasure of checking out the No-Gi Mundials today. As far as the action is concerned it was cool but for it that isn’t what summed up my day.So to make it short here are my No-Gi Mundials moments from today (no particular order)

1.Losing a beat to a friend and buying him a Acai bowel :-/

2. Rafael Lovato’s speech after his victory- it goes to show you no matter if you train with a world champion or not. As long as you work hard you can do anything in life. Guess that’s why he is one of my favorite Black belts.

3. Bumping pass a couple of black belts including a world champion to say wsup to a friend- not something to be proud of but hey I did say Excuses me 5 times before doing it.

4. Seeing old friends from way back in the days- great to see people still remember back when i was competiting.

5. Hanging out with the Mighty Tom Barlow- coolest dude u will ever meet

6. Mean stares I was getting from people whose names I won’t meant. (dang didn’t know I was disliked in the jj community now)

7. Meeting some people I did articles on ( James Brasco, Erik Anderson, amongst others)- great to see the people I did articles on are not only great competitor but also great people.

8. Try to talk to my BJJ crush (female) but didn’t look like she was interested.

9. Brandon Mullins post victory speech- USA f*** yeah !!!

10.Jeff Glover running into 3 people he knows at the exact same time-( me, kyle koeign, and tom barlow)

i sure there were a bunch of other stuff..but this is why im keeping it short

monta