What happened yesterday?!

Yesterday was grapplers quest Amsterdam!
Having competed in the states several times in this tournament you’ve seen some really talented UFC stars and West Coast grappling legends compete in this event.

While medaling in grapplers quests if I’ve never won gold in the advanced divisions.

Excited for the tournament I signed up online, and my bracket was incorrect. Unlike the Vegas events they don’t do weigh ins the day before, (More on that) So I emailed Gus and Ruben several times for the start time and bracket of the new division before traveling to Amsterdam…with no assigned start time, I showed up around 9:30am.

…anyone who has done Bjj knows this is a mistake.

A few days before I left London I found out the two day event was combined into 1. (Thanx Daniel Strauss for that news…later confirmed)

1pm was my start time for the bracket I was registered online for…I was suppose to face a guy from Macao’s Gold Team. Eventually it is explained I am in the wrong bracket (I was registered in gi)—so i decide to stick around and the bracket with me in the gi is removed, combining another bracket of the single fight.

Now i know I was in the wrong bracket, but they were unablw to show me my bracket until 4pm. (They wanted me to leave without seeing I was in a bracket)

Finally I see a bracket against a Brazilian from Frontline academy. I ask them when the weigh ins are…and they say 6.
Waiting around from 4-6 I ask them to make us the first match…more miscommunication they rush up to me saying they’ve been calling my name over the loud speaker..rushing me mat side while my opponent is bringing the browns to the Super Bowl. Amazing.

Anyways, long day at the office and I was strongly considering just bouncing on the tournament and enjoying the afternoon in Amsterdam.

100$ for 1 division,- and while I know it’s not IBJJF…I honestly believe if I left I would not have been placed in any bracket.–forget the fact my division only had one match. Absolute start time was even later in the day…I’ve done tournaments all over the world. In regards to how you treat a black belt this was one of the more unorganized events I’ve flown to compete in. Which is unfortunate as the Grapplers Quest experience is different in the states. Brian Cimmins does a good job.

I resisted the urge to leave and enjoy the day sight seeing but competed anyways. Played a conservative game. Pulled guard, felt him trying to go footlock on the pass, decided to go inverted to look for the triangle.

Slow reaction times *warning* and he was able to beat my feet into my chest/armpits to get 3 for passing the guard.

Now he’s up and looking to stall, walk the game out. Pulling guard again I set up a sweep which he is able to use a Kimura to base on, forcing me to transition to the back.

If I get the back his kimura is void and I get 4 points for the hooks. My hands are in an S grip, and as I’m trying to get my hooks my grip breaks. Paid performance…and I probably still scramble for the hooks or make him apply a bit more pressure…but I need my elbow for coffee. As you can see my hooks are close…just no cigar.

Congrats to my opponent. Very strong grip on a kimura he grabbed from his waist. I tried hard to slip the elbow to the mat and he is good at his move. Inshallah we will play again :)

Thanks to everyone for helping me get ready for the tournament. Kuwait Combat Athletics for hooking up camp/ I felt good after a camp at legacy Gym in Boracay, and had a couple of playabouts while in London as I adjusted to the time differences. Learning experience, not just in BJJ but in life ;)

What would you do with one day in Amsterdam?!

#Kuwait I’m back this week…looking to get right back into rolling. Lets get it. Time to drill back takes! Looking forward to get back on my fitness at Inspire…details on a class there COMING SOON!!!