Category Archives: Athlete Profile

Pure Technique vs Pure Guts

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Lex

Most of my formative years (high school, college) have been in the United States. It’s in the U.S. that I was introduced to wrestling. For better or for worse, wrestling coaches (at least in my experience) are warrior philosophers. There … Continue reading →

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The Tanks of Jiu Jitsu: Andre Galvao and Xande Ribeiro

Posted on April 14, 2012 by Lex

Andre Galvao and Xande Ribeiro have fought each other twice within the last month. First at the San Diego trials for the World Pro, and then again yesterday for the finals of the World Pro. Xande won the first match. … Continue reading →

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Pans 2012 Blue Belt Middle Weight Division Results

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Lex

Josh Macin (pictured left with a super intense celebration face) won the blue belt middleweight division at Pans yesterday. I faced both him and his opponent in the finals before, and I imagine I will have to again. His opponent … Continue reading →

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Olympic Judoka Pulling Guard in a No Gi Grappling Tournament

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Lex

The follow match is an Olympic judoka Travis Stevens (currently ranked 5th in the world) competing in a recent Grapplers Quest (in December, 2011). In judo, Travis is probably my favorite actively competing judoka to watch, partly because he goes for … Continue reading →

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Gold Medals

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Lex

Nick Delpopolo put up a picture of his gold medals in judo on facebook and it made me think about what judo and jiu jitsu means to me today and in the bigger context of my life in general. I have … Continue reading →

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Don’t Do What Everyone Else Does, Just Love the Game

Posted on February 26, 2012 by Lex

I know in the United States soccer is not as widespread as in the rest of the world, but I grew up (in Russia) with it being all around me. Everyone played soccer: family, friends, teachers, co-workers… the cross-eyed nerd … Continue reading →

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Review of Operation Knee on Belly

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Lex

Jared Weiner has come out with a new dvd set Operation Knee on Belly. I’m a big believer that a good instructional dvd or book can take your game to another level. For me, for example, Marcelo Garcia’s x guard … Continue reading →

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A World Champion in Civilian Clothing

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Lex

I was having a conversation with a Russian judoka who was explaining to me some details on how to properly execute an uchi mata throw. And it slowly began to dawn on me how many elite judoka he was friends … Continue reading →

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Two of the Best Judoka in the World Practicing at the Kodokan

Posted on December 17, 2011 by Lex

The following is a video of Ilias Iliadis and Teddy Riner in a randori session at the Kodokan in 2011, who are two of the best in the world in their respective weight divisions. Iliadis is a -90kg player and … Continue reading →

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Marco Perazzo

Posted on November 17, 2011 by Lex

Yesterday, I wrote about a 5x world champion Robson Moura, so it seems only appropriate that I continue with the theme of greatness and talk about the head instructor of NJMA, the one and only: Marco Perazzo. He is a … Continue reading →

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