Let’s address the elephant in the room. You didn’t get an FWU last week and for that I’m sorry. I was putting in long days at the 2012 Pan Championships and I couldn’t summon the energy to compile a list of BJJ-related news after a 14-hour day at the UCI Bren Events Center. Let’s face it, the Pans was the BJJ news for that week, so I don’t feel completely negligent.

This brings me to my second point, the Pan Championships. Allow me to enumerate: four days, 12 mats, 3000+ competitors and 2000+ on the live stream – no big deal. All in a days work (EDITOR’S NOTE: I squealed like a 12-year old girl in the presence of J. Bieber). Be sure to catch my coverage on the Budo Facebook and Twitter. We have big plans for that.

FRIDAY WRAP-UP

• I don’t mean to start the Wrap-Up on a downer, but I’m starting the Wrap-Up on a downer. Terere is struggling again and his family is asking for help.

It was Saturday afternoon, after I’d watched Gui Mendes warming up and Otavio Sousa marching toward the bullpen, that I realized things had gotten real. The Pan Championship is a bit of a sensory blitzkrieg and it’s easy to lose sight of the storm brewing just over the horizon.

The black belt final matches dropped a few bombs. Caio Terra, who at the No Gi World Championships a few months earlier declared that he’d be sitting out to recover form injuries, emerged victorious with sweeping points. Kayron Gracie took the middle weight title with a choke and Rafael Mendes closed the book on a nagging question in his career with an armbar on the inveterate Cobrinha.

There is only one bit of news here at Budo Videos: Getting ready for the Pan Ams. The brackets look ridiculous and the crew is going around harassing the top competitors while they train (see here). Recently, the boys went south filmed a top team on the sport BJJ circuit, and it may or may not involve the UberMends (HINT: It does). Look for that soon on YouTube.

Wrap-Up

• Dave at the Jiu Jitsu Laboratory heard you liked BJJ posts so he posted a link to a post about BJJ so that you can read a post about BJJ while reading a post about BJJ.

As I described earlier this week, we’re still sweeping up from the bombshell that was the Abu Dhabi Pro Trials 2012. This hasn’t really been articulated because doing so stinks of whining, but the broadcast is only half the work. The video boys still have to edit the raw footage into something worth watching on the replay. So, expect that in about a week and we (in this case, “we” means “me”) staff writers must mush on.

I apologize that I delivered this write up relatively late in week, but I’ve spent the better parts of Monday and Tuesday recovering from the mind crushing Jiu Jitsu I witnessed this past weekend. I am, of course, referring to the Abu Dhabi Pro Trials, which were held in lovely San Diego. The Budo Crew (of which I am now officially a part) was on scene and working their magic, and I don’t mean in the metaphorical sense. The technological trickery involved in a multimat broadcast is so mind boggling that I’m pretty sure that there at least two gnomes, three goblins and a rainicorn involved in making this thing happen.

I apologize that you, Budo Blog readers, were welcomed into the bosom of Friday bereft of your Budo Wrap-Up, but I’m having computer trouble. I occasionally indulge in an adult beverage (or seven) and sometimes lose track of the evening. Apparently, I lost track of last Thursday after 7 p.m. and woke up to a botched Linux installation on my home PC. Some people get tipsy and end up in Mexico, I apparently decide its time to swap operating systems. Don’t judge me.

I have the distinct honor of presenting a double introduction with this post. First, I’m adding what will (hopefully) be a recurring series of articles on the Budo Blog that features new developments with the mother ship. For this first installment, I asked Budo Dave a few questions regarding our multimat live broadcasts.

1. Budo Videos recently tested “multicasting” the Pan Kids Championships. Could you explain what this is and what this means?

The boys have been traveling a lot this year, and I interpret that as a clear indication of their faith in my ability to secure Warehouse C from my desk here at the Budo Blog World Headquarters (EDITORIAL NOTE: By “desk”, I definitely mean “lap” and by “Budo Blog World Headquarters” I mean “four man Coleman tent in front of Warehouse C, but this is all just semantics).  Their most recent jaunt, which they are still on, has taken them to Chicago for the  Winter Open Championships in Chicago to film another episode of IBJJF TV and Rolled Up. That’s right, two shows in one trip. We use all parts of the Buffalo around here, included the Webisode Gland.

Much is up for grabs for Jiu Jitsu champions still in active competition: loss, the fall to obscurity, injuries, dropped Acai bowls, no Acai bowls or (worse yet) the possibility of competing against Gabi Garcia. Speaking of whom, she will be fighting at the Abu Dhabi trials Brazil … despite already being accepted to the Pro Cup. For the sake of clarity, allow me to list the balleritidue I have just professed:

• The aforementioned risks
• Gabi Garcia
• The largest pay out in competitive BJJ
• Already accepted to fight in the largest pay out in competitive BJJ

Editor’s note: There was a few mistakes made in copy editing this video. English is not the first language of Rikako’s team and so it was quite difficult to makes things readable in English. I apologize for any inconvenience.

The women’s division is a growing segment in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, but it’s already contentious. The growing pool of competition is already producing stars, and Budo Videos sponsored athlete Rikako Yuasa is a promising young prospect. The 2012 IBJJF European Open Champion in the purple belt division has strong takedowns and a tricky guard – which means I shall endeavor to avoid rolling with her at all costs. I’m serious Budo’ers, this is “lie about an injury and walk with a fake limp for a few weeks” worthy.

There is one event in Jiu Jitsu that brings the wheels of the Budo Videos news machine to a grinding halt, and it happened this week. Take note of these five words: new, Ralek, Gracie, music, video. The sheer volume of dropped knowledge is so staggering that it takes individuals weeks to recover, but luckily we have a team of elite researchers on retainer and they completed their analysis late Wednesday evening. Our take-away: Ralek has a son who gets kissed after fights, Ralek did not play with Legos at the age of 8 nor (we’re assuming) later in life (which gives rise to doubts about the Gracie Diet compatibility of Danish building blocks), he did not go to college and Ralek’s fight equation is as follows

Some times jokes don’t have punchlines. This Wrap-Up is sort of like that, except it doesn’t have a proper introduction.

• Dave at the Jiu Jitsu Lab has done a case study in Garcia vs. Drysdale. Peer review it.

• DSTRYR has patches for sale. I know you read ‘em, so go show them some love.

• You know who Draculino is, right? If not, don’t admit that. Just smile and nod people. Smile, nod and watch this documentary.

• Renato Laranja – never mind the string of Mundial victories and never mind the fact that his “defeated” list is a who’s-who of Jiu Jitsu. This mockumentary has all the real victories, including “Joe Hogan”. I’m done here people.

I, somewhat unfortunately, have a series of very potent psychological associations with the term TGIF (it’s not an acronym, it isn’t pronounceable), but I am definitely able to identify with the spirit of the initialism (you’re welcome). This is partially a product of my new strength and conditioning program, the fact that I’m back to consistently taking a beating training with the Beej and a flurry of activity revolving around stuff and things. Speaking of “back in town”, I have gathered – first hand – evidence that our boys are hard at work on another episode of you know what.

The 2012 European Opens is over and in the books and it looked to be a great event. I only write this because I wasn’t there and nearly everyone involved with the event blew up my Twitter stream. Rodolfo Vieira came off strong and prompted Romul0 to pontweeficate (pontificate + Tweet) whether or not there is anyone in Jiu Jitsu to stop him. I’m currently imagining a Superman Dies scenario in which a mighty challenger faces off with the unstoppable force, except that no one dies. Nor are mindless killing machines. Nor have heat-ray vision. Nor fly. And they wear kimonos. In short, this is no way reminiscent of my scenario and is clear indication of my ability to form accurate analogies. Moving on …

Budo’ers, I have an admission to make. I am doing you, the collective many, an injustice. I really should coin a better term for the Budo Blog audience but I am in a difficult position. The Budo Videos audience is diverse and the mavens over at DYSTRYR have laid claim to the term “grappler”. This creates a unique challenge in that while Budo’ers suffices, it does not do justice to the collective might of this humble blog’s audience. I have toyed with the term “Beeple”, but it rang entirely too resoundingly of the sort of mishap one would encounter while potty training an unruly toddler.

(Edit: Copy problems and to mention where the Gracie Gym is located.)

Well, Budo’ers, I have run precariously close to becoming a legitimate Brazilian Jiu Jitsu journalist. Allow me to enumerate the reasons why:

1. Yesterday I attended the grand opening celebration of Ronis Gracies new academy, the Gracie Gym, located in Westminster, CA. That’s right, I was live and on location – applause please.

2. At the aforementioned event, I conducted an interview all. By. Myself.

3. The whole bachelor’s degree in journalism thing.

Speaking of an interview …

If one were to ask my opinion (and they are), the crappiest part of competing is making weight. Those who’ve had to make any sort of drastic cut will sing the song of “Weight Crash Suckitude” – complete with food cravings and bouts with lightheadedness. Well, Rumble (may I call you “Rumble” Mr. Johnson?) added a new verse: loss of feeling in one’s lower extremities. Perhaps the saddest part of this tale is the fact that he still missed weight by 12 pounds … and still got choked out.

Dulce diet for the win, apparently.

Wrap-Up

One of the hazards of being friends and working with Budo Jake (the Beej!) and Dave (the Budoes, as I call them) is that they’ve managed to build businesses of their hobby. Really, they’ve monetized their passion. Make no mistake, I’m happy for them, but it can be the source of … friction. Allow me to paint a picture with words here: You’re in your cubicle, slaving away at whatever you do. You’re navigating a sea of grey fabric walls, navy blue carpet and the silence is only broken by the occasional phone ring or light typing. You actually love your work, and so this part of the job is more than bearable – but still, you’re at the office and not a tropical destination of some sort.

We are a week into 2012 and I have to say that the Budo Crew is doing marvelously. We started our New Year’s properly by getting up early, packing our training bags and we left our loved ones to do whatever they do while we train. Personally, I juggle between the beliefs that they literally go into suspended animation and only spring back to life when I park my car or they all mill about like actors that are off camera, a la the Truman Show.

While we sneak in our last minute sweeps, takedowns submissions and Wrap-Ups, 2011 is quietly coming to a close. Failing at that, it’ll probably crash over the horizon in a blaze of debaucherous glory – unless you plan to train the next morning (which I do). We here at Budo Videos and the BudoBlog wish you a safe new years and a fantastic 2012. In consideration of the fact that 2012 is actually 12 months long, I’ll make it a point to make booster well wishes throughout 2012.

• Cobrinha continues to prove that he understands Jiu Jitsu far better than you (READ: me). This side-control video is clear evidence of this.

Well, Readers, we are fast approaching [enter holiday here] and things are a bit slow in the BJJ world. Let’s face it, there was only one piece of BJJ related news to happen this week and I fear that the incredible educational value of it is going to waste. Luckily the BJJ community has me to right this wrong: “GINAGI” has answered the decades-old question of whether or not Bacardi and (up to and possibly in excess of a ton) broccoli are Group A and B compliant. Close the case, print and stain it. Ralek Gracie has laid this mystery to rest. You’re welcome.

As threatened, I present Nino Schembri’s interview from our recent trip to his new academy. Check out the interview with Ben Kim, his new black belt.

Editor’s note: English is Nino’s second language and this transcription has been edited for clarity. I’ve tried to indicate with brackets where I’ve substituted words. Other minor substitutions were made for the sake of clarity, but I’ve done my best to assure that the integrity of the interview remained intact.

BJ: So, tell me a little about your first black belt.

It’s a well-established fact that Budo Jake is a bit of a Jiu Jitsu pilgrim. After all, he apparently has a show in which he goes to other gyms and challenges the teachers to death matches (or something) and ambushes black belt competitors after their matches at IBBJF events. It seems a bit paparazzi for my tastes, but I’m neither the “C”, the “E” nor the “O” and I’m not about to get kicked out of my tent in front of Budo HQ (OCCUPY THE BUDO PLANTERS, I AM THE ONE PERCEN-ER, GUY THAT SLEEPS IN THE BUSHES).