[buzzsprout episode='291364' player='true']
Raf's Recollection | I'll give you a full write up later, but all you need to know right now is Garry Tonon returns and gives us an interview for the ages.
Let us know what you guys think of it!
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[buzzsprout episode='287661' player='true']
Raf's Recollection | We've got a lot of great guests this week (Edwin Najmi, Gabriel Arges, Joey Hauss), but I suppose the biggest question we ask ourselves in this episode is:
Am I a kleptomaniac?
More on that later.
First up, we somehow manage to keep Edwin on the ground long enough to get him to chat with us about his upcoming match at this weekend's Submission Series Pro.
For those not in the know, Edwin is famous for his flying triangles, as his name has become synonymous with the attack. A regular staple in the world of competition, we get the chance to pick his brain about competition mindset, studying under Romulo Barral, training at the infamous Church Boys Wrestling facility, and even get to hear a little bit about his experience at this year's Copa Podio.
And if that's not enough, Edwin drops a bit of a surprise on us when he offers us a chance to talk with Gabriel Arges, another spectacular BJJ competitor who (up until last Sunday), we had yet to have the pleasure of meeting. If you've yet to see Arges in action, just check out a few of his highlights here:
And just because there are some last minute changes to a UFC card doesn't mean we forget about Over/Under Kevin. This week, we bring on Joey Hauss from The LA Jiu-Jitsu Club who challenges Kevin's ability to think under pressure (and even, somehow, manages to get under the skin of a future UFC Hall of Famer, who makes his return to the podcast after a long hiatus).
Because, as we all know, something crazy is likely to happen this Saturday. My money is on this happening.
Oh yeah, about that klepto thing, I tell a story this week about something I did after a seminar that I'm not proud of. I attended a bad-ass seminar of Brian Peterson's over at the LA Jiu-JItsu Club this weekend, made a new friend, and then... Well...
Look, basically, I ask you Verbal Tap fans, if what I did wrong. I await your judgement on our social media.
Thanks much for tuning in this week, folks!
[buzzsprout episode='285758' player='true']
Raf's Recollection | This week, we meet MMA and Jiu-Jitsu bad ass Tom DeBlass.
We begin this week by addressing the Yoel-sized elephant in the room.
But first, I want to start with this: You know how much Kev and I love post-fight interviews. They're usually conducted at a time when fighters are exhausted, out-of-breath, and may not exactly be of sound mind.
In short, they give us instant quotables to work with. Sometimes a flash into the brains of our favorite athletes.
This week Jon Anik got deep into the mind of Yoel Romero when he merely presented him with a microphone and an opportunity to speak his mind. This is what happened.
So it's a little difficult to figure out who or what Yoel is exactly talking about here--which is why I printed out a transcript and had Kevin do his best cold read possible. And, by cold read, I mean Kevin had absolutely no context for any of this. He didn't watch the fights and this was the first time he had seen or read the comments Yoel made.
It's one of my favorite moments from this week's show.
Now, that's not to say, we didn't have a little fun with Yoel's comments.
Also on the podcast, we get to know a little bit more about Tom DeBlass. We've long been fans of DeBlass' cool jiu-jitsu style (and we're friends with a couple of his students), but this was our first chance to really pick his brain to get insight about his fighters' mindset, the types of things that motivate him in jiu-jitsu, and the competitive nature of the guys at Orange County Jiu-Jitsu (even getting to have some good-natured fun at the expense of his protege Garry Tonon and new killer-in-the-making Gordon Ryan).
It's a great look into the competitive championship mindset and one that's definitely worth your time, as DeBlass even recounts for us some of the moments from the only 15 points that have ever been scored on him during competition (yes, he knows the exact number).
Listen in folks and be sure to drop us a line of what you think!
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Raf's Recollection | Coming soon!
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Raf's Recollection | Metamoris recap shows are always my favorite episodes.
Always.
Not only do we dedicate an entire episode to breaking down the techniques, production value, and implications of the big event, but we also get a chance to catch up with some of our favorite friends (new and old), as they help us analyze these matches from every possible angle.
Following in the tradition of our previous Metamoris recaps (Metamoris 4 and Metamoris 3), we enlist a team of six to help us take a look at the card and break down each match.
Joining us this go round...
Kit Dale - Leading us off on this podcast is our good pal Kit Dale. When looking to analyze the explosive match-up between Garry Tonon and Zak Maxwell, we figured: who better to speak on the match than a guy who not only had some of the best seats in the house, but also happened to commentate on the match as it was going on (not to mention: who knows a thing or two about competing against Tonon at Metamoris). In addition to his observations about the match, Kit also hooks us up with some great details about the behind the scenes nature of the show, reveals what Kenny Florian was too scared to do, and Kit and I discover where our jiu-jitsu venn diagrams intersect.
Ruben Avila 
- As one of of the more prolific BJJ writer/bloggers on the circuit, we decided to turn to the guy behind BJJGrappling.com, Ruben Avila, to help us try to make sense of the lengthy (and ultimately underwhelming) game show that was "Submit Vinny Mahalhaes for $10,000!" More importantly, we ask if this is a format that Metamoris should continue to use in future installments going forward. That and he gets Kevin to inadvertently support the use of WWE-esque rules in order to make a match like this more interesting (slick move, Ruben. He never even saw it coming!).
Jim Lawson - It only makes sense that we enlist the help of our friend Jim Lawson of The Warrior's Club to help us break down the epic rematch between two exciting BJJ warriors. Jim makes his second appearance on the show detailing the finer points of Keenan Cornelius' and Yuri Simoes' respective games and attacks. As the lone gi match of the card, Jim tells us how the match stacked up against the five other bouts (and even describes how the fight looked like in person at the Long Beach Convention Center that night).
Travis Newaza - Very few people can refer to themselves as the "sweetheart" of Brazilian Jiu-JItsu and get away with it. Yet somehow the distinction doesn't seem too far off when you get around to talking about Travis Newaza. As one the owner of one of the coolest BJJ brands out on the circuit (Newaza Apparel) Travis has made a name for himself as a brand owner who doesn't just make clothes for the BJJ community, but who also takes a great deal of pride in being immersed in the culture of the sport. On this podcast, Travis helps us measure the shock value of the Metamoris "secret match," it's overall impact, and even discusses the finer points of Ed O'Neil's head.
JT Torres - In order to get the most objective account of the match-up between JT Torres and Rory MacDonald we decided to ask JT himself to take an objective look at his match against Rory MacDonald. Just kidding. No part of our conversation is objective in the least. Instead, JT gives us the inside scoop on what it was like to compete against an opponent who outweighed him by close to 40+ pounds, outlines the game plan he used during the match (and describes the adjustments he had to make), and even takes a minute to respond to the comment that Rory was prepared to let his arm get broken on the Metamoris mats.
Rob Acree 
- And finally, closing out the podcast, is one of Kevin's training awesome partners from BJJ and MMA Training Center out in Chantilly, Virgina, Rob Acree. Rob uses his black belt acumen to properly contextualize the match between Renzo Gracie and Kazushi Sakuraba, navigating us through not only the historical significance of this highly-anticipated rematch, but also giving us a detailed breakdown of the techniques and strategies utilized by both Renzo and Sakuraba. Additionally, he helps me get in some great digs at Kevin's expense, so I seriously can't complain about that.
A damn good podcast from start to finish. Thanks to everyone who participated and helped us breakdown this monumental event. And keep an eye out real soon for episodes of Around the Mat to start popping up all around.
And get ready guys. Kevin touches down in LA in just a few days and we've already got big plans for our 100th episode! Get ready folks!
If you want to send us a message on our social media, merely hastag #VerbalTapTurns100 with a twitter message, Instagram meme, video or Vine to send us a message (we might just talk about it on air)!
Oh Yeah, Check This Out
I got the chance to shoot the shit with Garry Tonon this week. Good times were had.
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[buzzsprout episode='222389' player='true']
Raf's Recollection | I'll never forget the time I discovered Mac Danzig and I had a mutual set of friends. Years ago I discovered that Mac and I were only a couple degrees of separation away from each other all thanks to my best friend Bobby.
And when you're in good with my long-time best friend (and future best man at my wedding) and his family, in my book, it means you've already been vetted and that you're good people.
Before I had a podcast, or even really knew I'd take up jiu-jitsu, I was just a UFC fan who enjoyed Mac's work in the Octagon. Perhaps it's my knowledge of how reality shows work and get spliced together, but even when I sat at home watching his time on The Ultimate Fighter I always thought he got a bum wrap on the way he was depicted. It's not entirely surprising, it's just the nature of the beast known as reality TV.
But as someone who doesn't tend to get caught up in that sort of thing (even then), I just knew I liked his fighting style and thought he had a promising future (in retrospect, I can see that I have a long history of rooting for the jiu-jitsu guys). Naturally, I was stoked to see him go on to win the show and have a solid run in the UFC.
After years of hearing great things about him and the way he teaches from our mutual friends, I was pleasantly surprised a few months ago when I heard he was holding a Striking for Submissions seminar down here in LA. I packed up the gym bag and made it down.
Before the seminar, I got the chance to meet and exchange pleasantries. We talked about our mutual connections and BS-ed about a number of MMA and BJJ topics, all the while Mac lived up to all of the great qualities our mutual friends had come to say about him.
By the time we got around to the seminar and I saw him demonstrate his first BJJ transition, I realized something I had long since forgotten: Mac was one of the first people I watched and learned how to do jiu-jitsu technique from.
While I had watched a number of fights before his tenure on The Ultimate Fighter, I never really paid attention to the science of it all. For whatever reason, his style just clicked with me and, while I may not have understood the exact reasoning behind every grip or underhook, I remember finding myself interested in the craft and wanting to learn how to break it all down.
And on this day, on these mats, there he was telling me to stop doing the technique so wrong and try to get it right for a change.
He didn't actually say that, but you're all familiar with how I roll by now.
Nonetheless, it was just a cool moment in my training journey and all the more reason his appearance on the show was so cool for me personally.
On the podcast this week, Mac (37:20) drops in to provide a little more insight about the actual production of The Ultimate Fighter, the awesome connection he has to the world of animation, his interest in photography, what its like to transition out of fighting, and even describes what it's like to be on the other side of the cage as a referee.
It's a fantastic first conversation with a guy who's been a friend of podcast long before we even had him on. We look forward to having him back on some time soon.
In the meantime, check out his work at http://www.macdanzigphoto.net/.
As an avid photography fan, I'm not one to put over work if I don't find it really good. But his stuff is awesome and I strong encourage you all to give it a gander.
But Wait, There's More!
Our pal, Alex Perez returns on this week's podcast to find out if he beat Kevin in our UFC 180 edition of Over/Under Kevin.
In addition to finding out the results, Alex helps us recap all of the awesome (that sick main event), the disgusting (Ultimate Fighters taking a #2 in the cage), and the really disgusting (the worst PSA for Cauliflower ears ever) things that made one of the shortest UFC PPV's in recent memory a fun and unpredictable night of fights.
Metamoris 5: The Game Show
Because no Metamoris card is complete without at least three match-up changes, we had to get creative with our latest Around the Mat preview series. We always like to record these things a week out of the show as to try and get you a preview that's the most up-to-date possible, but when the news hit that Kevin "KO" Casey was out of his match-up (prompting the BJJ equivalent of American Idol to take place) as I was editing the latest installment of our Metamoris Preview Series, I had to do something.
This was that something.
The following is a sneak preview of our show that's coming out a little later tonight. Hope you all enjoy it!
EDIT: And here's the entire full length episode for your viewing pleasure:
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[buzzsprout episode='219848' player='true']
Raf's Recollection | We all know Garry Tonon [46:54] as one of the most exciting grapplers on the planet. With an aggressive style on the mats that relentlessly goes after submissions, Garry has made a huge name for himself in the world of competitive jiu-jitsu as one of the most reliable "sure bets" for an exciting match.
Even when if it means putting himself in terrible positions. And that's just part of what makes his matches so unpredictably exciting.
The guy has a gas tank that puts a great number of us to shame (despite a number of well-documented accounts of how much fast-food the kid ingests). But, as I came to find out last week, even interviewing Garry Tonon can be a workout.
Not because the guy is a difficult interview (our conversation is a lot of fun), but because he just has so much energy, you have to match his level of intensity during the interview. Even in the moments we spent talking with Garry off-air, before our interview officially began, Kev and I found ourselves having a great time comparing notes and jokes. As I overheard the rapid-fire cadence in his voice, it began to make complete sense:
Garry Tonon doesn't do anything slow.
With that in mind, I encourage you all to give a listen to a dynamic interview we do with Garry, as we touch upon all the bases: his match at Metamoris 5, what his expectations of his opponent Zak Maxwell, if his eating habits are truly as terrible as some Metamoris preview videos lead us to believe, what it's like to train with Rory MacDonald, and what he really thought of my interpretation of his BJJ game at Metamoris 5.
Yep. This one.
It should be noted that a running joke at my gym has been how when I played Garry, my jiu-jitsu was way better than normal. Leaps and bounds better. So while I'd love to base my game entirely on Garry's movement, I will remind you that too is an exhausting endeavor (the guy never quits moving).
Be sure to give Garry's episode a listen and then let us know what you think!
Peace Out, JEvans
Last week, we said goodbye to our pal, John Evans who is forging ahead with his journey to open out his own jiu-jitsu school. Mind you, he'll still be here in the Valley, but he's going to be opening up his own place for BJJ instruction very soon.
As one of the most influential people in my BJJ career, I can't thank John enough for his patience and his help with my game. Any gains I've made over the past few years are due in part to his superb coaching abilities.
And because no goodbye is without it's hardships, allow me to post the video of the way we closed out John's experience here at VMAC.
[embed]http://instagram.com/p/vE4UiBj6r5[/embed]
Be sure to follow him on Twitter at @BJJBreakdown and look out for more updates about his school at BJJBreakdown.com.
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[buzzsprout episode='214622' player='true']
Raf's Recollection | Considering all of the videos and writing I have to get done this week, I'll keep this short. We had a huge week on the podcast, previewing this weekend's UFC 179 with our pal Marcus Kowal and discussing all things World Jiu-JItsu Expo.
Marcus (pictured here in a new headshot compliments of our good friend Blanca Marisa Garcia) joins us this week to take on Kevin on our latest installment of Over/Under Kevin.
Some of you know Marcus as our pal from Systems Training Center down in Hawthorne, while others of you may somewhat recognize this guy as the host of his own podcast the MMA Roundtable.
Yep, since we last left Marcus, he has now grown up and started a podcast of his own. So we decided to give him some well deserved shit to start the show and then get into our picks for this weekends fights.
I Went to the World Jiu-JItsu Expo!
Let's just say this weekend was another mad capped weekend of insane jiu-jitsu coverage.
Accompanied by my two awesome photogs (Alex Perez and Octavio Villanueva), we hit up the World Jiu-JItsu Expo for a second year of crazy coverage.
On the podcast, Kevin spends the first twenty minutes asking me all about it and I talk a little bit about some of our favorite experiences and observations from an event that is something akin to what we call "Jiu-Jitsu Christmas."
I got to talk with this guy.
And this guy.
And even catch up with this guy.
I'm working to get out a video per day, but right now, here are two of the first videos we've edited from this weekend.
Keep an eye out on our YouTube page as we'll be posting as many videos as we can from this weekend's World Jiu-Jitsu Expo.
Hope you enjoy it, folks!
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[buzzsprout episode='212870' player='true']
Raf's Recollection | Vinny Magalhaes {13:29) is the MMA version of a workaholic. It seems like every time he finishes a fight or a grappling match, he's already lining up the next fight (or two).
You might even call him a fight-aholic. It's like the guy's addicted to competing.
Lucky for us it results in some amazing fights to watch both in the cage and on the mats.
Shortly after walking us through his sick light heavyweight title win at Titan FC 30, Vinny talks to us about his next Metamoris 5 match-up against Kevin "KO" Casey (... only to work on creating a match for himself at Metamoris 6).
That's right. A month before Metamoris 5 even happens, Vinny's already offering himself as available and ready to fight at Metamoris 6.
But that's the spirit of the fight in Vinny. He's a goal-oriented fighter who's not just content holding MMA gold around his waist. It seems like he's ready to fight any time, any where, any place.
On this week's podcast, Vinny describes his Titan FC 30 fight camp, what his training partners think of his workaholic tendencies, and even gives us some insight into the fighter psychology that takes place inside of the cage.
Then Vinny switches gears to answer some BJJ questions, including his thoughts on Keenan Cornelius' performance at Metamoris 4, what it's like to film one of those Metamoris preview videos, and even starts walking us through some of the competitors he'd like to have a rematch with.
Also, he fields a question thrown our way from Renato Laranja and then is informed about Kevin's poor attempt to recreate Vinny's match from Metamoris 4.
So Vinny, if you're watching. Here's the video of the terrible re-creation and I will be happy to provide you with Kevin's address once you finish watching it.
EBI Dos!
A
lso on the podcast, I talk a little bit about what it was like to watch the Eddie Bravo Invitational 2 in person.
I don't want to go too much into detail (as the show has yet to be televised and we're working on a cool side project here as part of our coverage), but it was a cool experience that was a blast to attend.
I just wanted to take a moment to thank the wonderful participants (a number of whom are friends of the podcast) who did an exceptional job that evening. And also, my thanks to Alex Perez for the fantastic work helping us with fight coverage through the night.
Are You Going to the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo?
If so, don't be afraid to stop by and say hello. I'll be covering the event live in Long Beach all weekend and would love to run into you guys while we're there.
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And FINALLY...
Check out our latest installment of Around the Mat, where we break down the Metamoris 4 match between Dean Lister and Josh Barnett.
We love hearing what you guys have had to say about our other installments, so keep them comments and likes comin'!
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Raf's Recollection | BJJ friends, we really come through for you on this one. This episode not only features the awesome guys from White Belt BJJ (Todd Shaffer and Tony Peranio), but we also do some of the best investigative journalism we've ever done on this episode of the podcast.
When I saw the headline "Wrestler Challenges Jiu Jitsu Instructor at 10th Planet Decatur AL- Security Cam Footage," it didn't take long for me to realize it would likely somehow involve our pal Brandon McCaghren.
Yes. This goofball.
Yeah, the same guy behind this abomination of a song (and also this one that's pretty ok).
Chances are, you've likely seen the video we're talking about here. If you haven't, take the following five minutes of your time to laugh your ass off as you watch Brandon make short work of a guy who interrupted his jiu-jitsu class and challenged him to a match (mid-way through said class, mind you).
In the time span of a week, the video has gone viral (right now hovering around the neighborhood of 500k views) and attracted the attention of just about every major BJJ publication and Facebook page (and even a few non-BJJ sites), making Brandon a bit of an overnight BJJ celebrity.
So to get to the bottom of this whole ordeal, we decided to reach out to our pal and get him to tell his side of the story. In our EXCLUSIVE interview, Brandon walks us through the match and all of the events that lead up to the challenge.
As usual, Brandon brings his brand of whimsy to the show and we couldn't be happier to see him get so many compliments on his jiu-jitsu skills (I've rolled with the guy, the dude's BJJ is nothing short of awesome). Give it a listen and let Brandon know what you thought on the Twitter at @Brandon_mc.
Here's hoping even more people head to his classes as participants, not mid-class challengers.
White Belt BJJ
Man, are these guys funny.
I can't tell you how many times I've scrolled through my Instagram feed and laughed out loud at the work the very funny guys from White Belt BJJ do.
Instead of talking about it, I'll just let a few of these speak for themselves.
And that's just a small sample of their work. Spend a few minutes going through their memes and you're bound to crack up more than just a few times.
What makes so many of the memes they do work so well is the ability to combine a crazy subversive sense of humor with a series of observations that are grounded in many of the frustrations so many BJJ practitioners experience in their training sessions.
I've been a real fan of the fantastic work ethic these guys have and they were a blast to talk with on the podcast. On our show, they talk about how White Belt BJJ came into existence, what it's felt like to watch so many new BJJ meme artists come out of the woodwork, and we even find out how much Tony and Todd really know about one another.
Give it a view and go support them on all of their channels.
WhiteBeltBrazilianJiuJitsu.com
But Wait, There's More
Oh and while you're checking out social media pages, be sure to add us and check out while you're at it.
Facebook: /VerbalTapCast
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And then also check out the latest installment of our BJJ talk show panel, Around the Mat. In our latest episode, we break down the match between Saulo Ribeiro and Rodrigo "Comprido" Medeiros. Let us know what you think about it with the hashtag #AroundTheMat!
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Raf's Recollection | 
Karl Penn is our kind of idiot.
Well, jiu-jidiot to be precise.
In a short amount of time, Karl has made a name for himself as the guy behind some of the funniest jiu-jitsu memes hitting the net.
We've had the pleasure of getting name checked in a couple of his memes as of recently (including the one to the right-hand side here, pronouncing his appearance on this week's show), so we wanted to return the favor by having him on the show.
If you haven't seen some of his work, allow us to share a few of our favorites:
And my current favorite...
On this week's episode, we find a little bit about Karl's jiu-jitsu evolution, what he did before BJJ, and even get him to explain a few of his most recent status updates.
We love supporting folks like Karl who help put a smile on our face in this crazy world of BJJ. For a sport that can sometimes take itself a little too seriously, we love having an ally like Karl Penn who gets that a simple meme can help us make sense of the more ridiculous aspects of BJJ.
Be sure to follow Karl and his facebook page, Jiu Jidiots, and tell 'em your friends at Verbal Tap sent ya.
Where'd I Train This Week?
I made a stop over to train with the guys over at The Warrior's Club this week.
As some of you may recall, our pal Jim Lawson publicly put me on blast on last week's podcast and told me a beating was in in the foreseeable future.
He was certainly right.
A beating did happen, just not at my expense. As the picture on the right demonstrates, Jim may have pushed this white belt a little too far.
That aside, Jim teaches a really cool class, helping me lay a strong foundation for my footlock game (don't worry, I can't do any of it remotely well, so you're all safe for the time being).
What I appreciate was that as I struggled to grasp the proper grips and technique, Jim really made an effort to make sure I understood the concepts (even going as far as to blame himself for me not getting the techniques right). I assured him it's my general stupidity (or jiu-jitsu dyslexia I've diagnosed myself with that renders me incapable of even the simplest of BJJ moves), but I sincerely appreciated his efforts to go above and beyond helping me better understand the techniques of the day.
Those are the kinds of instructors you want in your corner, the people who make it their mission to make you better (and feel like they're letting you down if you don't quite get it). I can assure Jim that his help is greatly appreciated and will one day pay off.
Great rolls and fun times. I look forward to giving Jim his well-deserved rematch any time he likes, but let this be a lesson to all: it's not polite to call out your podcast host.
They might get angry.
You wouldn't like me when I'm angry.
... or hungry. Now that I think about it, that's probably worse: hangry.
Nonetheless, my thanks to all the good people at The Warrior's Club and I look forward to getting beat up by you all again sometime soon.
Oh and BTW
If you haven't watched it yet, please go check out the first technique video from your pals here at Verbal Tap. That's right. Our pal Travis Conley identifies a problem in my current game. Please feel free to like and share, and let us know if you want to see more of these in the future!
Let us know what you thought about this week's episode on our social media:
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Until next time, folks!
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Raf's Recollection | More about our conversation with our pal Mike Jasper coming soon!
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Raf's Recollection | Coming soon, more about our podcast with Tim Means and our review of UFC on FOX 12.
Plus, I talk a little bit about what it was like to interview Rickson Gracie earlier this week and we chat about training at Subconscious BJJ with Brent Burniston again!
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Raf's Recollection | Joey Diaz is a real motherfucker.
There's an old adage that says "never meet your heroes." The saying implies that you'll only set yourself up for disappointment when you finally meet the person you admire.
In entertainment, that saying consistently true. But not with Joey Coco Diaz.
I've always been a fan of his style of comedy and over the past year I've had the pleasure of getting to know Joey as both a stand up comic and a BJJ training partner.
On stage or on his podcast (The Church of What's Happening Now), Joey is ferocious, uncensored. A beast. He has this great old school energy that is severely lacking in this PC sensitive world.
Off stage, Joey is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet. The dude's selfless and has gone out of his way to do nice things for his friends on numerous occasions. He's offered to do my talk show, he did this podcast, and he even offered to help me out with a new project that I'll be sharing with you all very soon.
On the podcast this week, we ask Joey about his training in BJJ, why MMA audiences gravitate toward his sense of humor, and get some fun stories about his time working with Robert DeNiro in the movie Grudge Match.
It's a great conversation that is truly an extension of the great vibe that Joey brings to my gym, Valley Martial Arts Center. And I can honestly say that our gym is all the better having him there. Our thanks to Joey D. for one of our favorite conversations.
Subconscious Jiu-Jitsu
Last week, I had the chance to train over at Subconscious Jiu-Jitsu over in North Hollywood. Friend of the podcast Brent Burniston teaches a hell of a class.
At the end of the podcast, I talk a little bit about what it was like to watch an instructor teach the counter to one of your go-to's (and love every second of it).
I was stoked to finally get to train there and I look forward to visiting Brent's academy sometime soon again!
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Raf's Recollection | What do you do when your co-host is unavailable during a week when you have an interview with Stuart Cooper and need to review what took place at this year's Worlds?
Well, naturally you carry on without the guy and replace him.
J/Ks everyone.
Don't worry, Kev isn't going anywhere. He just was out of town for the week (and will be back with us next week).
In the meantime: We landed a whale of an interview with Stu (We've been truly anxious to hear about his legendary filmmaking process for some time now).
If for some reason you're unfamiliar with Stuart Cooper, you would be well served to check out the documentary about him below.
And if that's not enough to help you understand the the man behind the camera, why not take a look at a few samples of his work.
We've had the pleasure of being in contact with Stuart Cooper for some time now, but we've long been fans of his work.
His documentaries do a superb job of filling in the metaphorical and narrative ellipses for the avid BJJ enthusiast. The stories behind many of our favorite BJJ athletes often extend further than what we see on the mats during tournaments. When you watch a Stuart Cooper film, you get more than just why a match or a tournament is important. We get a rare insight into the philosophy, the psyche, and even the small nuances of the fighter's personal lives (try telling me any two Stuart Cooper documentaries are alike).
For me, his films aren't just comparable to quality found on the big budget, fight countdown shows (similar to the ones produced for the UFC and Bellator), the creativity exhibited in many of these vignettes stand up against a number of documentaries period. They strive for uniqueness in an industry where narratives are often uniform and bland.
On the podcast, we talk about his filmmaking process, some of the crazier experiences he's faced, and his new Indiegogo campaign he's mounted (https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/stuart-cooper-films) to help off-set the costs of making these films.
While the notion of traveling around the world, training BJJ, and making films sounds like a dream, the cost of making multiple, high quality videos on a regular basis basis is anything but glamorous. As a man who's portfolio has been a free and open book for the past several years (and who's films have often showcased the sport in an entirely different light), we highly implore you to donate to his Indiegogo.
Believe us, we know no one likes taking out their wallet when they don't have to. But the breakdown of his production costs is a mere fraction of what other places would charge for a comparable product-- and a loss of films like his would be a huge setback for a sport we all love.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/stuart-cooper-films
Verbal Tap Goes to Worlds
This was my first time attending a Worlds competition. While I've been a number of tournaments over the past year and a half, I learned a lot from my experience down in Long Beach last week.
For example, Worlds is loud (http://instagram.com/p/oorT9Wj6rD/).
And there's a lot of matches that happen all at once.
(#TwoEyesTwelveMats was a personal favorite hashtag to use).
And it's a lot to take in all at once.
But it was a great experience and I got to see a ton of great matches and friends.
(I didn't get the chance to mention it on the podcast, but I really do believe this: Much in the same way they have warm up mats for the competitors, they should also have mats designated just for spectators who want to start drilling something they learned and thought was cool during the competition.
Hell, I should get some perk for my spectator fee, right?).
But, I did go at it alone. I had back up at the event to help me better understand all of the action taking place.
Yep, that's right. Our good pal, BJJ Breakdown's John Evans (seen in the accompanying picture looking more bad ass than ever thanks to me, #streetcred) was there to help explain all of the moves that blew my mind.
John not only covered the event with me, but he also shows up on this podcast to walk us through some of the highlights.
All this plus we get in a One Minute Review of The Ultimate Fighter (!!!).
What are you waiting for, listen in now!
[buzzsprout episode='112408' player='true']
Raf's Recollection | If you practice Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the meme over on the right hand side here pretty much says it all.
As much as we want to go around and spread to the gospel of BJJ to our friends and family, there are some who—despite our best efforts—will never care about the "gentle art."
I know it hurts to hear. I know that it's a lot to take in all at once. But it's better that it comes from someone who cares.
The realization that some people will never care about a sport that you and I love so much is a fact of life that stings and sometimes causes us great emotional strife (stay with me here, it's going to get better. Promise).
Our guests on Episode 37 of Verbal Tap know this struggle all-too-well. Marshal D. Carper and Darryl Cozza are two BJJ practitioners who wrote an uproarious eBook entitled, Don't Wear Your Gi to the Bar, that teaches you how to survive everyday social settings while still preserving your inner BJJ nerd.
And in Verbal Tap first, I'm gonna go ahead and put this as the very first book to receive MUST READ status from our podcast (calm down, we're not starting a book club yet or anything).
Aside from an obvious love of sport, there's a real wit in this eBook that accurately describes the losing battle that is explaining the culture, beauty, and art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu to people who just can't get past why you like dressing up in pajamas and choking your friends.
Wanna know the most insane part?
These guys aren't even charging you a single dollar to read it? Simply follow this link and download it from their website. All for Free.99.
All the guys ask in return is that you share the book with your training partners and other BJJ enthusiasts (and maybe even drop a five star review on sites like Amazon if you dig it). Also, for you non-cheapskates who like to promote authors on the independent circuit (like a real American), there's also an option to buy a version of their book.
While the book is a great display of subversive humor, there's more to Marshal and Darryl than well-written jokes and Game of Thrones/BJJ metaphors.
They're not just funny, their BJJ knowledge is legit.
As we discover in the podcast, the eBook is only the first in a long line of instructional BJJ videos and articles from the pair. Recently, the duo have launched their own online venture entitled, ArtechokeMedia.com, a website that's designed to promote "the organic growth of jiu-jitsu thought, theory, and technique." The guys were nice enough to send a preview of their next project to Kev and I during the podcast--and all we can say is that you all are in for a treat when they launch it in the coming months.
It's truly spectacular.
And, for me, that's what made this booking so great. While we do our fair share of talking with pro fighters and MMA personalities, at our core Kev and I are major BJJ enthusiasts. When you hear these two explain the rationale behind the website (they want to shine a light on the unsung heroes of BJJ such as coaches, instructors, and mentors who may not necessarily be on the covers of magazines, but who make significant contributions to the sport), it's hard not to do the same and give a voice to two individuals who, themselves, are doing exactly that through their humorous writing and insightful videos.
Maybe that's why we like the sport so much. There's a camaraderie in jiu-jitsu that extends beyond the walls of a gym or a dojo, independent of affiliation and ranks, that consistently introduces us to people like this. Even though we have never physically met Marshal or Darryl, our overall hope of growing and sharing the sport is one and the same and Kev and I would be down to roll with them when/if the opportunity presented itself.*
Of course, cool people like us already know the caliber of folks who train BJJ. Even that smug, appropriately cast "Gatsby" Leo DiCaprio meme knows the deal.
So check 'em out on our podcast and while you wait for the episode to download, enjoy Marshal and Darryl at their finest.
*However, if when I actually meet them they're a couple of d-bags, I reserve the right to take all of this back
Raf’s Recollection | Don’t any of you let a word of this get back to Kev, but I might be moderately proud of the guy.
No seriously, not a word to him. Before we know it, the compliment will go to his head and then we’ll all have that to contend with. Fortunately, he never reads these things, so I’m usually at liberty to insult him as I please.
But this week is a little different. On this week’s podcast, we talk a little bit about Kevin’s jiu-jitsu game and discuss his experience at a US Grappling tournament in Virgina last week.
Over the past year and a half, Kev has developed and refined his competition game. And under the fine direction of the folks over at BJJ and MMA Training Center, he has been able to meet and surpass a great deal of his competitive goals in a relatively short time span. It’s a testament to both his team and his own dedication to the craft—and, while I might be speculating here, I think we may just be hearing the beginning of it.
We spend a great deal of time insulting one another on the podcast, but when it comes to competition, I don’t kid around. I’ve never quite been the type that thinks the competition is defined solely by wins and loses, but my overall hope is always that he does well and that he meets and surpasses his own competitive goals.
I will, however, become absolutely get pissed if I don’t get results fast enough.
When I finally got the good news about the tournament, I was momentarily happy to hear how he placed—and then, moments later, really pissed it took so long for me to get a goddamn result (do you not get 4G on the East Coast?!!!)!
Anyway, this week, we rightfully acknowledge his hard work and then get right back to calling him an idiot (that will conclude the one compliment I pay Kevin per year).
But that’s not all we’ve got this week. Our pal, Gilbert Jamal Smith, returns to the podcast to talk about his upcoming fight against Jason Lee for Prize Fighting Championship on Saturday, July 13th.
What we like most about Jamal is not only his ability to respond to a joke (he tends to respond to internet trolls on Twitter with kindness), but also the honest and candid ways that he responds to our questions.
He never ducks a question, he’s honest to a T, and there’s always a memorable sound bite or three that comes out of an interview with him (my personal favorite comes towards the end of the interview with his response to a question about a “game plan”).
Not only that, but he’s willing to be silly and doesn’t take himself that seriously—demonstrates as much by playing not one, but TWO games with us on the Podcast (one of which was an entirely new segment, created just for Jamal).
Nonetheless, we wish Mr. Smith all the best as he gets ready for his fight in two weeks and hope that if you live in Colorado, you go support the guy in action. And if you can’t make it to Colorado, be sure to drop the man a note on the Twitter and let ‘em know what you thought of his appearance on our Podcast.
Until then, we’ll just be waiting for results, Jamal. And, as I’ve denoted earlier, I’m really bad at waiting for results. So I’m gonna want to hear from you how it all goes down. From your pals at Verbal Tap: Best of luck to you, good sir!
Raf's Recollection | Allow me to be entirely forthcoming: Metamoris II was the first time I’ve ever attended a grappling tournament.
Over the years, I’ve covered and attended dozens of UFC’s, Mixed Martial Arts competitions, and boxing matches, but last Sunday marked the first time I’ve ever attended a grappling-only tournament.
Yes, I, too, have no idea how I’ve never been to a single grappling-only tournament; No, I don’t get out much.
Now that’s not to say I’m completely oblivious to the competitive world of competitive jiu-jitsu. I’m familiar with the athletes, I regularly watch the matches, and have an above average recollection of the trends in the sport. But it’s also why I thought it best to bring along a strong jiu-jitsu technician (and all around good guy), John Evans, to properly contextualize the event for all of our dedicated grappling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu fans (you can read his excellent summary of the event right here).
Having said all that, I came to Metamoris with high expectations. This is, after all, an event that prides itself on being the alternative to the oft-criticized world of elite jiu-jitsu. The format, the rules, and the first-rate caliber athletes involved display a thoughtful and measured response to the “point” and “advantage” system that some argue ruin the essence of modern jiu-jitsu competition.
And with just that concept and design, the event gave us plenty to talk about this week: On our podcast here, we touch upon all of the individual matches (good and bad) and have a thoughtful discussion about type athleticism that was displayed on the Metamoris mats.
But I’d like to take a moment to talk specifically about my own experience and the concept of “spectacle.”
To begin, you could tell there were a few looming ghosts from inaugural event. After the event started over an hour late last year, everything seemed rushed at the pace of a runaway freight train. I’m a stickler to keeping things prompt, but I can also understand the difficulty of keeping things on time for a PPV, when you have matches that can go anywhere from one to twenty minutes (especially when five of the six matches go the distance). However, from a production standpoint, if the audience feels like you’re rushing, chances are it’s because you’re rushing. There is a certain effortlessness the event has yet to find that can easily make the production value of the event come off as more assured.
Second, in what was perhaps the biggest conversation piece after the event: Match-ups are key. When they work (Galvao v. Lovato Jr., Dern v. Nicolini), they produce fascinating displays of jiu-jitsu between two equally matched opponents that, even if they don’t end in a finish, do more to advance the art. But when you get match ups that are a hard sell to begin with, you sometimes get what you pay for. My sincere congrats for Brendan Schaub for volunteering to be a participant in the event. Seriously. It’s a level of competition that is truly difficult and I don’t think anyone would fault him for wanting to be involved. Would I have like to see him engage more with Cyborg? Of course. Would I have like to have seen Cyborg calculate a new game plan when there was an opponent who was “running away?” Sure. But the fault isn’t so black and white. Did Schaub have an obligation to “fall into Cyborg’s guard?” Should a seasoned jiu-jitsu guy like Cyborg—who doesn’t typically have the problem of an opponent who is constantly backpedaling—be forced to dictate the pace and abandon his own game plan just because he “knows better?” Again, a tricky conundrum. It seemed both performers were implementing a game plan to “win,” which sadly came at the expense of anything remotely worth watching. So let’s take it a step further: With the very prevalent disparity between the participants, what was the expectation in this match? I’ve run this scenario a hundred times in my brain and have still yet to produce an answer, except to say that maybe next year we give Cyborg an opponent that’s at least on his level. I think there are few people who would question Cyborg’s placement on a Metamoris card, why not give him the type of opponent he deserves? Who knows, could produce something that’s fascinating for all the right reasons.
And I’m sure I can spend a lot of time discussing how the event would have been better served with more than a week after the Worlds (we can play this set of “what if” scenarios for days). But I take Metamoris President Ralek Gracie and team at their word when they say they plan to work around other jiu-jitsu competitions in the future.
Blemishes aside, Metamoris has more in its win column than it does in its needs improvement file.
The stage. The programs. The invitations. The promos. All things this tournament gets right. But it’s more than just all the small things, for me the thing that makes Metamoris so uniquely special is “the feel.”
The majority of the audience (when they’re not heckling Schaub) is quiet and respects the athletes. The mood is tense and ooh’s and aww’s come with every sweep and take down attempt almost instinctively, with the tempered politeness a reflection of an educated audience who understands how difficult many of these moves are to pull off. In some ways, despite the band, the big lights, and the large cheering crowd, the competition gives off a kind of “exclusive” vibe. At one point, the intimacy of the venue and quietness made it feel like we were given the opportunity to watch a match between two high level practitioners at a local academy that would otherwise be closed off to the lower belts and spectators. The kind of thing that in years past would have just been the subject of lore and storytelling. Pulling off that kind of thing isn’t easy and is certainly worthy of recognition.
So depending on what it is you consider ideal, I think when it comes to format, even the most impassioned jiu-jitsu fan would have to admit that the concept of a perfect system seems somewhat out of reach.
There will always be Brendan Schaub’s. Time limit draws. Audiences who may not “get it” or resist these kinds of events from time to time.
But that doesn’t mean we stop trying. Aside from all of the superb attention to detail and ethos the Gracie family loans this event, the strongest thing Metamoris may have going for it right now is zeitgeist. It is the right tournament at the right time.
Frankly, as a jiu-jitsu fan, we don’t have many large-scale options. There’s no other event that makes this sport come off like a spectacle. The athletes are treated like rock stars, the selection of venue is just right, and a majority of the players and participants are spot-on. For the time being, why not make this the exclusive home for competitive jiu-jitsu? Care less about giving us match-ups with marquee UFC fighters and care more about filling that spectacle void that so many of us jiu-jitsu fans crave and need.
And, in return, as fans of the sport, we should keep the following grim realities in check before we use our collective wit to troll the internet: we don’t live in an age where Nike sponsorships happen to the elite-level jiu-jitsu practitioner, we don’t have coverage on national prime time television, and the sport that closest resembles this one is currently fighting for its rightful place in the Olympics. At the end of the day, I think we need to ask ourselves: do we want to see something like this on a regular basis? And, if so, is there anything else out there like it? At least here, for better or worse, we have a collection of folks putting this event together who care.
The very figurehead of said organization caring so much he does something like this:
I’m not sure I share the look of grave concern expressed by Ralek here (I think the show was far from a disappointment and has more positives than his face lets on), but it is nice to know that going forward we’ve got someone who wants to give us the best kind of experience possible. But I also feel good in knowing that as long as he and his team are committed to giving us a first-rate event, they merit a strong consideration for an experimental format that puts jiu-jitsu on display for those people who love it.
And that’s why I, for one, was happy to call Metamoris II my first live grappling experience. And hope it’s the first of many to come.