Registration is now open. Please note the weight categories are now the official IBJJF weight categories. So start dieting if you need to. DIVISIONS Competition is for both kids and adults of all levels and from all academies. There will be Beginners, Intermediate, and Advanced divisions for all weight classes. The adult weight classes in kilograms (kg) are IBJJF No Gi divisions: MEN (kg): 57.5, 64, 70, 76, 82.3, 88.3, 94.3, 100.5, 100.5+ WOMEN (kg): 53.5, 58.5, 69, 74, 74+ RULES AND SCORING This year’s NO GI rules will be full IBJJF rules for NO GI. To download the rule booklet, please go to http://ibjjf.org/referees/rules/ For more information http://nzgrappler.co.nz/category/news/ take advantages of the early bird option: REGISTRATION FEE Until 11:59 pm Saturday 15 February 2014 Adults: $50 Kids: $40 Until 11:59 pm Wednesday 19 February 2014 Adults: $60 Kids: $50 Great competition as per last year event. http://www.aucklandbjj.com/2013/08/auckla...

While in New Zealand, we do have much survey on BJJ, I came across this awesome research. Please check out their website for more info, I just posted a few information from one page only. Hopefully, it will help you understanding your students better. This is a topic that is not so relevant to Aucklandbjj.com because both instructors have a full time jobs and teach as a hobby. We are happy running our little club and increasing our students base is not our main priority. This is not how we put food on the table after all. But thought the years, I have seen BJJ schools growing and some others declining within the same city and country. The question was always: why? Who can we blame? I am not a big believer into creating a fake image or even worst trying to convince a paying customer of signing up for something that he does not want or will not motivate him. If having fun and being fit is the most important, but you insist on MMA and competing BJJ, you are likely to have...

Just a quick reminder as the early bird entry fee is getting nearer.                                              Save $10 by registering before11:59 pm Wednesday 30 October 2013.                    Normal price will apply until closing date which is  Wednesday 30 October 2013 Kids are on Sunday 3 November Adults are on Saturday 2 November For details regarding the competition. http://www.aucklandbjj.com/2013_09_01_archive.html Book now for the biggest competition in Auckland but the whole New Zealand as well. http://nzgrappler.co.nz/2013-no-gi-nationals-on-2-3-nov/

I like listening to Inside Podcast. I wish one day I could start one for not only Auckland BJJ but the whole New Zealand BJJ scene as well They do talk a lot before playing the interviews. Some people enjoy the banter talk and some find it annoying. I don't like the banter talk, I love it. The topic for this week is bond to be freaking awesome and I wanted to share it: Renzo Gracie and Alan "Gumby" Marques (Ralph Gracie BB). I also like their logo and copied the idea for the Aucklandbjj.com patch. http://www.insidebjj.com/2013/10/14/101-renzo-gracie-and-alan-gumby-marques/    

Usual warm up and some berimbolo drills. Jordan (Judo black belt instructor) demonstrated Uchimata (European version) which is you turn uke around instead of hoping foward as the usual uchimata ken ken. Just in case you wonder, uke is the term used for the training partner you demonstrated the technique on. Ground topic of the day was side control and escapes. Couple of situation rolling from side control Training concluded with normal rolling.

BJJ is getting more and more popular. The World Jiu Jitsu expo is now getting MMA fighters to do super fight against BJJ competitors. Add Jon Fitch (Guerilla Jiu Jitsu Black Belt) to the super fight schedule for the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo next month in Long Beach, Calif. Fitch will go against BJJ world champion Paulo Miyao in a 20-minute submission only match, Renzo Gracie told Newsday on Thursday. "He's a fighter," Gracie said. "I couldn't believe when we offered him such a tough opponent, he took it right away and not even a question." Two weeks prior to the expo, Fitch is scheduled to fight Marcelo Alfaya at World Series of Fighting 6 in Miami. Gracie also said that Rodolfo Vieira, who was supposed to fight Kron Gracie, had to pull out with an injury.  A new opponent for Kron Gracie is still in the works. For more info on the expo, try worldjiujitsuexpo.com .            

Who is your favorite? Hall of Fame – Female Gabrielle Lemos Garcia Country: BRA Gi World Titles: 7 Hannette Quadros Staack Country: USA Gi World Titles: 7 Leticia Ribeiro Neves dos Santos Country: USA Gi World Titles: 7 Michelle Zonato Nicolini Country: BRA Gi World Titles: 7 Bianca Andrade Barreto Country: BRA Gi World Titles: 6 Luanna Alzuguir Marton Moraes Country: BRA Gi World Titles: 5   Kyra Gracie Country: BRA Gi World Titles: 4  

I just received my black belt certificate from the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation(which is signed by Carlos Gracie Jnr). The international Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) is the major and most prestigious governing body for Brazilian Jiu Jistu (BJJ) that hosts several of the biggest tournaments in the world, including the World Jiu Jitsu Championship, Nogi World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Pan Jiu Jitsu Championship and European Open Jiu-Jitsu Championship. The federation was created by Carlos Gracie Jr, who is the head of one of the largest Brazilian jiu-jitsu associations, Gracie Barra. The IBJJF is directly connected to Confederação Brasileira de Jiu-Jitsu, sharing its rules and regulations. http://ibjjf.org/

We have been covering this topic recently.     This a great video from Stephan Kesting breaking down the berimbolo.   Then the rest of the videos are more advanced.                           

You can now register online for the biggest BJJ Nogi Competition in Auckland, New Zealand.  Make use of the early bird option and save $10 if you register before  Saturday 26 October 2013. Closing of the registration: Wednesday 30 October 2013 You can now start your diet to aim for your weight category. They will be using IBJJF rules but no advantages rule and also no belt system (just 3 divisions of beginners, Intermediate, and Advanced divisions for all weight classes). I expect some of the divisions to have over 25 competitors as per their last competition. So plenty of fights to get the gold medal. Get that cardio ready for November. NZ Grappler’s NO-GI NATIONALS is the largest grappling competition in New Zealand. Don’t miss your chance to challenge yourself among the best of New Zealand. This year’s 2013 event will be awarding the Men’s Absolute division grand-prize winner a free trip to Las Vegas USA to compete at Grappler’s Quest in 2014 (IMPORTAN...

Usual one step sparring for warm up. Our classes follow a teaching system based on positions. The first class is mount The second class is back Thirsd is side control, knee on the belly, north south 4: guard pass 5. guard sweeps 6. guard submissions 7. top 1/2 guard 8. bottom 1/2 guard 9. Turtle 10. Q & A The topic of the day was questions and answers. Every students get to a question and the instructor answers. Question 1 was the inverted guard. Size and back problem can make it difficult for the larger players. However, it is a great guard for avoiding getting your guard passed. Lot of the lighers are reknown for this modern sport BJJ guard.         Question 2 was the hip bump sweep. The details are in the posting of the hand (and not the elbow) and raising your hips higher than the opponent hips. Tip: hips as high as his face.               ...

Today we visited Auckland university's sister club at the Maunouchi police dojo. This is a strong club that consists of mostly masters players who are Tokyo business men. One of the team pointed out that the judokas at the dojo like Bjj so much that they had dressed up their throwing dummy in a Bjj suit :-)

Well the team and I decided to get out of Tokyo and see A local district club. This really was the definition of local as were hosted by Tomohiro san who we had met at the masters. His family also run the local Buddhist temple and preschool. The training was good japanese tradition dictated that they gave team nz red belts and threw high school students, senior and masters players at us for 5 rounds. After that it was free practice but we tried to keep 2 new zealanders on the mat all times. Luckily, for us they kept us on a masters time table of 2 minute rounds. Unfortunately, at the end of randori Dmitry hurt his leg fighting one of the top high school u100 players in japan. But he did get a black belt in return.