First Throw Mixed Martial Arts Magazine

Growth &
history
of the
november 2019

Contents
12
Growth &
history
of the

Nov. 2017
pg. 8
................................................................................Portion Control 101
whats inside
pg 4......................................................................................... Editors CHoice
pg 6............................rousey returns for msg appeareance with nunes
pg. 19 ..................................................................................Ufc match Analysis
pg. 21 ...........................5 tips for parents to help ther kids enjoy jiu-jitsu
pg. 24 .............................................................Celebreties who train jiu-jitsu
pg 6...................................................................Georges St-Pierre suspened
pg 7.............5 lessons to learn as white belt that will be worth your
entire Jiu-Jitsu journey
pg 8......................................................................................Portion control
pg 11............................7 actions you should take to get the best out of
your training sessions
pg 12...........................................................Growth and history of the ufc
pg 14.................................................................................Growth of the ufc
pg 16.................................................................................history of the ufc
pg 18....................................................................Ufc president dana white
pg 19.........................................................................ufc match up analysys
Pg 20...........................................................................WHite Belt Motivation
pg 21.................................................5 tips for parents to help thier kids
enjoy jiu-jitsu even more
pg 21........................................15 tips for being the best jiu-jitsu parent
pg 24...........................................................celebrities that train jiu-jitsu
pg 30......................................the beginners a to z of brazilli an jiu-jitsu

Editors note
Nov. 2019
issue #77
This month’s issue features our biggest UFC issue to date, with 7 uninterrupted pages
What the owners have achieved is simply
remarkable. The UFC was nearing bankruptcy
when they approached them in 2001. The
brand had minimal exposure and MMA
had a poor reputation, banned in 36 states
including New York. They managed to uproot
and lift the tainted brand to unimaginable
heights and in doing so, created a legitimate
sport. This has given birth to a generation of
genuine ‘mixed martial artists’ in the upper
echelon of athletes. The owners saw the
potential and exploited it. Inside we will talk
in further detail The Growth of UFC.
Carlos Avila
Contact Editor Carlos Avila
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free to just share feedback,
send pitches, articles, story
ideas and hot news tips.
founder & Editor-in Chief
Carlos Avila
Creative Director
Carlos Avila
Contributors
Elizabeth avila
Barry Brooks
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florence corrales
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THerealcarlosavila gmail.com
4 First Throw november 17 2019

Conor Mcgregor
vs
Eddie Alvarez
PAy-Per-View 11-19-2019
EW YORK

ROusey Returns for Msg
Appearance with nunes
amanda nunez
Ronda Rousey still knows how to make an
entrance. Moments after the conclusion
of the UFC 205 weigh-ins at Madison
Square Garden on Friday, the 15,000
fans in attendance got a littl e something
extra when the combatants in the main
event of UFC 207 were introduced for
a staredown following a video feature
previewing their December 30 bout.
Rousey, making her first appearance
on a stage like this since her November
2015 loss to Holly Holm, looked like
she already had her game face on as
she locked eyes with the UFC women’s
bantamweight champion, Amanda
Nunes. Nunes met that glare, eager to
defend her title at T-Mobile Arena in Las
Vegas against the MMA superstar who
held the belt for three years.
“She’s the fight I asked for,” Nunes said
while Rousey left the stage. “I trained for
this girl my whole career in the UFC and
now I have a chance to defend my belt
against her. It’s going to be amazing.”
Rhonda Rousey
“She’s the fight I asked
for,” Nunes said while
Rousey left the stage. “I
trained for this girl my
whole career in the UFC
and now I have a chance to
defend my belt against her.
It’s going to be amazing.”
Georges St-Pierre
Georges St-Pierre
suspended for a
year over positive
drug test
Former UFC light-heavyweight
champion Georges St-Pierrevhas been
suspended for one year by the U.S.
Anti-Doping Agency.
The suspension, coming after an
arbitration panel hearing, is retroactive
to July 6, the date Jones tested positive
for a banned performance-enhancing
substance before his scheduled UFC
200 main event against Daniel Cormier.
The bout was scrapped after the doping
test result.
6 First Throw november 17 2019

5 lessons to learn as white belt that will
be worth for your entire Jiu-Jitsu journey
It’s well known that the white belt is the toughest phase in anyone’s
Jiu-Jitsu journey. It’s by far the stage most people drop out. As
the entry level, the rule is you don’t know much and usually feel
overwhelmed with how much you need to work until black belt heaven.
Being uncomfortable
As a white belt, you’ll be smashed on
live roll. As you are still lacking most of
the technical knowledge required for
a good outcome in a Jiu-Jitsu match,
more than often, you’ll find yourself in
tough spots. Take in the experience and
find a way to deal with those moments
and you’ll get a huge edge on your
future years on the mat.
Tapping
Tap away. The white belt is the time
to tap, stay healthy and train as much
as you can. Tapping will also help you
understand the workings of the very
technique you got caught on. This will
both teach how to attack and how to
defend better.
Listening
Someone once said: “When you speak,
you are only repeating what you already
know. When you listen, you might just
learn something new.” This saying is
specially important in the life of a white
belt. Specially after a few months of
training, don’t give in to the illusion of
thinking you already know plenty. Listen
to your coach.
Enjoying the moment
Every beginning is hard. You don’t know
a lot and feel like everyone is looking
at you and noticing your mistakes.
Relax. Everyone has their own struggle
and you should focus on yours. Enjoy
the moment, enjoy the freedom of
making mistakes and asking for help
to grow faster and build stronger roots.
Remember: a black belt is a white belt
that didn’t quit.
Making (and correcting) mistakes
Marcelo Garcia likes to say that at first,
Jiu-Jitsu didn’t make sense to him.
Until one day something clicked and he
started to understand how the art works.
Regardless of whether you hear a click
or not, the white belt is the time to make
mistakes, correct them and learn as much
as you can. The habit of recognizing
your shortcomings and working hard to
correct it is something you’ll use forever.
first THrow November 17 2019 7

Portion Control 101
We are surrounded by too many options, but like on the mats, we need to tighten up
our focus and use our will power. Portion control is the single most important aspect
of eating well for the long haul. A large meal here and there won’t make you bump
up a gi size as long as you maintain proper portions for the majority of your meals.
But how much should you be eating? What is a proper guideline on how much rice
or pasta we can have without having to bust out the measuring cups? Well, luckily,
there are a few tips and tricks that can help tighten up our portions. Let’s roll.
How Much is Too Much?
We all are different shapes, sizes, and
require different portion sizes. Caio
Terra is not going to be eating the same
sized portions as Abraham Marte. We
would have to get into calorie counting,
body mass indexing and all sorts of
variables that nobody has time for,
unless you are a professional athlete
and at that point, you will probably
have someone doing this for you. Leave
the calculator at work, don’t stress over
reading every label, and definitely do
not skip food groups. With the following
tips, you can manage how much food you
should be consuming in a sitting.
“Take care of your body,
it’s the only place you
have to live in.”
8 First Throw november 17 2019

oss!
Forever On Point
You should never be eating to feel stuffed.
Think about what eating truly is; it is a
way to fuel your body by replenishing
vital nutrients burnt throughout living.
When your car is full of gas, do you
keep trying to pump more in? You sure
don’t. By portioning properly, you will
be eating enough to bring your tank
back up to full but not over. Eat when
you need to eat and not out of boredom.
If you find yourself still hungry after a
meal, let it settle for a few minutes and
then wait and see how you feel. We all are
different shapes and sizes with different
energy levels and outputs throughout
daily activities, thus requiring different
portions. By using this guide, you will
take a lot of the math and measuring out
of the equation, and be left feeling fueled
rather than full. For some awesome
recipes to fuel up with, make sure to
check out grapplergourmet.com and
ultimately: Eat well. Train hard.
The Methods
A HAND-Y TOOL:
Mother Nature gave us a ton of hidden
tools that can be found right at the end
of our wrists. Using different parts of our
hand to “measure” different types of food
will give an accurate guide on the size of
a portion we should be eating on average.
The variable with this method is obvious
that if someone who is a featherweight
somehow has massive hands, the method
may be a little off.
THINK IN QUARTERS:
If you don’t want to look like a weirdo
staring at a piece of chicken, then back at
your hand, then again at the chicken, you
can subtly use the plate itself as a unit of
measure. Think of the plate in quarters
and use those quarters as “portions.” This
method works best if you are rational and
do not try and cheat the system. Piling 4
pieces of steak into one quarter of a plate
is not correct. be reasonable.
first THrow November 17 2019 9

Proper Portions
Protein: The average portion size for
protein is 4-6oz, based on the meat itself,
or the equivalent to the size of a bar of
soap. Busting out a scale or even worse,
placing a bar of soap next to your food is
not high on my priority list.
Hand: 1 palm
Plate: ¼ of the plate.
Vegetables: Leafy greens, broccoli, and
asparagus all measure differently and
are hard to fit into the 1 cup measure
a serving should be. By using the hand
or plate method, we can avoid that
headache and load up on our vegetables
without doing any math or smashing
asparagus into a cup measure.
Hand: 2 fists
Plate: ½ of the plate a.k.a. 2 quarters of the
plate.
Carbohydrates: When we talk about the
world of carbohydrates, it is crazy to
think of weight measures because a ½
cup of blueberries weighs different than
a ½ cup of cooked quinoa. The average
serving size should be ½ cup.
Hand: 2 cupped hands
Plate: 1/4 of the plate.
How to Execute
Think of your plate like a clock and eat
clockwise. Always place your vegetables
from 9 – 3 and start at 12. By doing so,
you are forcing yourself to satisfy the
initial hunger pangs by consuming
the bulk of the meal that you are the
most likely to skip. Then work to your
carbohydrates and then work through
your protein. By finishing with the last
remaining portion of vegetables, you are
more than likely not going to leave the
table still hungry.
Turn off the TV, close the laptop, and
lock your phone when you are eating.
Savor every bite and take your time
chewing your food. Not only will you
find that you are going to eat less and
be less hungry afterwards, but also the
more you chew your food, the easier it
is for your stomach to break it down,
which will yield in more nutrients. Oh,
and strengthening your jaw may save
you from a misplaced choke one day. If
you find yourself hungry after finishing
your meal, instead of fixing yourself a full
second plate of what tasted best (which
usually is the food that is the least good
for you). go and have a second portion
of vegetables. Nine times out of ten, this
will fill up that remaining space you had
in the tank and you will gain even more
nutrients from your fruits and vegetables.
10 First Throw november 17 2019

7 actions you should take to get the
best out of your training sessions
Here are seven actions to be taken if you want to take the best out of each training
session. Train hard, be smart and learn more.
Hold out nothing
Training is learning. Simple as that.
Hence, you should not care about what
happens in terms of outcome. Pay
attention to each detail of what you are
doing (and what your opponent is doing).
Take risks with intelligence and learn as
much as you can.
Repetition means perfection
Like everything else, Jiu-Jitsu is all about
getting your brain (and your body) to
work by instinct. The only way to do it is
to practice each technique up until the
point you fully understand them and can
execute without a second thought.
Learn to walk, then run
There’s no berimbolo without a solid
DLR base. No X-guard without a good
half guard base. Learn the scissor sweep
before trying some crazy advanced
technique. If you can’t do the basics,
there’s no way you’ll be successful in
anything that comes later.
Warmup is life
Bad warmup leads to more frequent
injury. Injury leads to time off the mats.
Time off the mats leads to delayed
development. So, warm up properly
before each training session so your body
is ready to go.
Mind your fuel
No engine will run on bad quality gas. The
analogy works perfectly for the human
body too. Doesn’t matter how much you
train and how much you want it, if you are
not paying attention to what you eat and
drink, you are not getting anywhere. Eat
healthy, train more, learn faster.
Get your rest on
Off time is as important as mat time.
Rest properly, get your 8 hours of sleep
every night and let your body recover.
Also, use the time off the mat to look
into your previous sessions and access
your past mistakes.
Get comfort with discomfort
Don’t be afraid of putting yourself in
tough positions. Train even when tired.
Get your brain and body used to bad
situations and that will make you look for
answers and get solutions faster.
Warmup is lifE!
first THrow November 17 2019 11

Growth
& history
of the
over the Next 5 pages take some time to to further understand ths
12 First Throw november 17 2019

hs history behinD the ufc and how we got to where we are today.
first THrow November 17 2019 13

Growth oF THe
the first event staged in Denver, Colorado on 12th November 1993. This event was
based on an eight-man tournament format featuring fighters from various disciplines
such as; Karate, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, Wrestling, Boxing, Kickboxing and Taekwondo.
Fought in an octagon shaped cage, the idea was to pit fighters from different fighting
backgrounds against each other to see which martial art would be superior. Royce
Gracie, a master in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu overcame 3 opponents in the night to win the
tournament. Now, it is difficult to associate this event (and other early UFC events
which continued this format) with sport. It was brutal. There were no weight classes,
no gloves, no judges, no time limit and virtually no rules for that matter. However,
these events became very popular among fans allowing the UFC to put on more
shows, attract big names, building their roster and building an audience. Before they
knew it, they were creating a sport.
Today, the popularity of the UFC has
exceeded all other fighting sports
and now consistently achieves more
pay-per-view (PPV) buys than boxing
and even rivalling the WWE. Since
Zuffa LLC purchased the organisation
back in 2001, their growth has
relentlessly snowballed, branching
out into new countries every year
with UFC 200 expected to exceed its
record of approximately 1.6 million
pay-per-view buys obtained at UFC
100 in 2009. This growth has helped
MMA mature into a finely tuned sport,
building the reputation of the UFC.
The expansion of the UFC has been
portrayed in the growing number of
events in the last decade.
1
1993
4
1995
A HIGH INCREASE OF
YEARLY EVENTS DUE
TO RECENT INCREASE
OF POPULARITY
5
2000
10
2005
24
42
2010 2015
14 First Throw november 17 2019

120
cities
30
Countries
MOst Pay-per-views in one night
As you can see, the UFC have been
active in their quest to expand into
new countries and we can expect these
nations to host more events in the years
to come. There is not only a desire to
watch MMA around the world but a
desire to participate. From the early
days when they only had a handful of
American fighters, the UFC now employs
fighters from all over the globe as their
roster continues to expand.
1,931,000
total number of events
This growth has been attributed to the
efforts of their ambitious owners; Frank
and Lorenzo Fertitta and Dana White. It
is clear to see their ambition just in the
sheer number of events they have held
since their take over in 2001. They have
also been determined to expose their
brand in new countries catering for the
swelling demand across the globe.
363
“We’ve been at the tipping point for a while now. We finally got to the point where we
couldn’t be denied anymore. We’ve been kick boxing and wrestling’s asses for the last
year and a half. We’re selling out venues; we’re breaking records everywhere we go.”
first THrow November 17 2019 15

History oF THe
1993-2015
To enable and facilitate their growth Frank, Lorenzo and Dana have truly leveraged their entrepre
brand and develop MMA as a sport. The timeline below highlights their progress with key milest
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
UFC established.
No biting.
No groin attacks.
1st event –
Tournament
format: Royce
Gracie wins.
No time limit.
No Judges.
Referee allowed to
stop fight.
Time limit
enforced.
1st fights with
time limit.
Judges decide fight
outcome by holding
up a card with a
name of the fighter
they perceived to
have won.
No kicks to downed opponent.
No head butts.
No elbow strikes to back of head/neck.
First weight classes introduced:
200lbs and above = Heavyweight
2010
2002
1st UFC event
in England.
2005
Premier season of The ‘Ultimate Fighter’
Reality TV show boadcast on Spike TV.
1st finale of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ series.
Diego Sanchez and Forest Griffin are
crowned winners.
2007
UFC acquires
popular Japanese
organization:
‘Pride Fighting
Championship’
UFC signs Brock
Lesnar from WWE.
2009
UFC 100 The
UFC’s biggest
Pay-Per-View.
1st UFC even in
Australia.
UFC acquires WEC.
New weight classes
introduced:
Featherweight:
136lbs-145lbs
Bantamweight:
126lbs-135lbs
16 First Throw november 17 2019

preneurial talent to build the UFC
stones and rule developments:
1998 1999 2000
1st UFC even
in Brazil.
New time limits
enforced
10-point scoring
system adapted
from boxing.
Timing structure
change:
Rounds: 5 minutes
New weight class introduced:
Bantamweight 155lbs and bellow
New unified rules of MMA established
Several new rules include:
No knees strikes to the back of the head.
No elbow strikes to spine/neck.
No punches to back of head/neck.
2001
UFC purchased by Zuffa for $2 million
Weight classes realigned:
Lightweight: 155lbs and below
Welterweight: 156lbs-170lbs and below
Middleweight: 171lbs-186lbs
2014
2011
UFC acquires
Strikeforce
UFC establishes
deal with TV network
FOX.
5 round 5 fights
enforced for all
main events.
2012
New class
introduced
Flyweight: 125lbs
and bellow.
2013
Women’s division introduced (135lbs
and below)
1st women’s fight in UFC: Ronda Rousey
Vs Liz Camouche.
Ronda Rousey announced as champion.
‘The Ultimate
Fighter’ airs featuring
women 125lbs and
below forming new
Straweight division.
Winner, Carla Esparza
becomes Champion.
UFC bans Testosterone
Replacement Therapy.
2015
UFC Anti-Doping
Program established.
first THrow November 17 2019 17

president
dana white
Other key developments sparking the
growth of the UFC included expanding into
new countries and acquiring rival fighting
organisations which helped them become
the monopoly of MMA fight organisations.
This power allowed them to experiment
with TV shows such as the reality series,
‘The Ultimate Fighter’. This was a risk, but
an extremely fruitful one. Finalists, Forest
Griffin and Stephen Bonnar put on one of
the best fights in UFC history in the finale
attracting vast amounts of viewers, even as
the fight was airing. The reality aspect of
the show attracted a new generation of fans
as they gained a terrific insight into the life
of a fighter.
What the owners have achieved is simply
remarkable. The UFC was nearing
bankruptcy when they approached them
in 2001. The brand had minimal exposure
and MMA had a poor reputation, banned
in 36 states including New York. They
managed to uproot and lift the tainted
brand to unimaginable heights and in
doing so, created a legitimate sport. This
has given birth to a generation of genuine
‘mixed martial artists’ in the upper
echelon of athletes. The owners saw the
potential and exploited it. Dana White
fronted bold decisions and took risks
but it was these decisions and risks that
ignited growth. From broadcast deals to
Brock Lesnar, they persistently innovated
to reel in new fans and give existing fans
exactly what they want. Dana’s honest
and vocal approach separated himself
from other sporting CEO’s, engaging
directly with fighters, fans and the media.
The owners leveraged all their skills and
resources to turn a $2 million business
into a $4 billion one, transforming an
underground sport into the fastest
growing sport in the world..
Key milestones in the growth of the UFC
came on the turn of the millennium.
In 2001, the New Jersey State Athletic
Control Board began regulating all fights
enforcing the ‘Unified Rules of MMA’.
This increased the safety of fighters
helping build the reputation of the
brand and the sport in general. A year
later, the UFC was purchased by Zuffa
LLC. Since then, the developments have
spiralled. Five new weight classes were
introduced forming the structure of the
new-look UFC.
“Whatever it is that you’re
passionate about, whatever
it is that you absolutely love,
and whatever it is that you
would get up and out of bed
every day and do for free.
You should try to figure out
a way to make money at it
and give it a shot.”
18 First Throw november 17 2019

age : 26
Weight : 205
Height : 6’5”
Reach : 81”
Fighting Style :
muay thai
age : 26
Weight : 205
Height : 6’4”
Reach : 84”
Fighting Style :
ground and pound
18-1
198 Match Analysis
15-1
jon vs
jones alexander
gustafsson
34%
head jab accuracy
25% head power accuracy
57% CLinch head accuracy
1.3ratio of stand up strikes to opponent
56% power share of stand up strikes
4
total knocdowns
22%
26%
53%
2.1
48%
5
first THrow November 17 2019 19

N o b o d y e v e r t e l l s w h i t e b e lt s t h i s .
M A Y B E M O R E W O U L D S T I C K A R O U N D I F T H E Y K N E W . W H O K N O W S .
Everyone gets into martial arts out of genuine interest. Face it, you have to be a certain type
of person to let someone who is trying to hurt you get that close.
B U T T H E R E S E E M S T O B E A C E R T A I N N U M B E R O F I N D I V I D U A L S T H A T T H I N K
T H E J O U R N E Y I S E A S Y A N D E V E R Y M O M E N T W I L L B E F I L L E D W I T H J O Y .
IT’S NOT.
For the first year or so you will make a lot of mistakes, you won’t be good. You will
come to every class. You will have a lot of potential, but nothing will click, everything
you did before, all your accomplishments, forget them. They will not keep you
from getting smashed.
A LOT OF PEOPLE NEVER GET PAST THIS STATE, THEY QUIT.
HELL, MOST PEOPLE I KNOW DIDN’T HAVE A HARD YEAR, THEY HAD A HARD FEW. WE KNOW WE HAVE
SOME MISSING LINKS, BUT WE ARE ONE STEP AWAY FROM A MAJOR
BREAKTHROUGH WE JUST DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START.
EVERYONE GOES THROUGH THIS.
AND IF YOU ARE JUST STARTING OUT OR YOU ARE STILL IN THIS STAGE, YOU must REALIZE ITS NORMAL AND ALL YOU HAVE
TO DO IS
PUT MORE TIME ON THE MATS.
F I R S T O N E T O S H O W U P , L A S T O N E T O L E A V E .
DOESN’T MATTER IF YOU HAVE TO TAP A LITTLE MORE, CRY A LITTLE HARDER, DRILL A LITTLE LONGER.
ITS IS ONLY BY PUTTING IN MORE EFFORT THAT YOU WILL BEGIN TO REACH THE NEXT LEVEL
AND YOUR TECHNIQUE WILL BE AS GOOD AS THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE YOU
AND THE MEDALS ON YOUR WALL WILL CLINK EVERY TIME YOU SHUT THE DOOR
A N D Y O U R B E L T W I L L L O O K O L D E R T H A N Y O U .
IT’S GONNA TAKE A MINUTE THOUGH. THAT’S NORMAL.
YOU’VE JUST GOTTA ROLL THOURGH THE HARDSHIPS. AND PUSH THROUGH THE PAIN.
20 First Throw november 17 2019

5 tips for parents
to help their kids enjoy
jiu-jitsu even more
The gentle art is a great tool for children to develop their
social skills, stay active, build self-steem and learn to deal
with uncomfortable situations.
Don’t get mad if when they lose
Master Carlos Gracie once said that in
Jiu-Jitsu you either win or learn. Kids are
in it to learn and failure is a big part of
that process. Relax and be supportive so
they will want to try again.
Don’t rush them
Every kid has a different learning curve.
Every good instructor will tell you that.
Believe them and don’t compare your
kid’s knowledge stage with other kids.
It’s ok to lose interest
Kids will sometimes say they don’t want
to go to class anymore. Don’t get mad at
them. Try to find out what’s wrong and
work with them to try to rekindle their
interest for the art.
Don’t try to correct them
In competitions or in classes, resist the
urge to coach and instruct your kid.
That’s the Professor’s job. Two people
yelling instructions will only confuse
your kid.
Join them
If you can make it leasurable. Find the
time and put the gi on. With time, as they
grow, you’ll be able to train together.
15 Tips For
Being The
Best Jiu-Jitsu
Parent
1........................................Be encouraging.
2.............................................. ..Stay calm.
3......... Don’t fret over bumps and bruises.
4.....................Help your kids be prepared.
5...........Let the instructor do the coaching.
6.....................................Lead by example.
7......................Help them avoid junk food,
encourage a healthy diet.
8.......................................Remember your
commitments to them.
9.................................Don’t push too hard.
10..........................If you have a complaint,
bring it to the instructor,
don’t burden your child with it.
11.............................Focus on the positives.
12......................At tournaments remember
it’s about them, not you.
13.................Don’t argue with the referees.
14..................Don’t do anything that would
make your kid not want to go to
jiu-jitsu class.
15...............Jiu-jitsu
for kids should be fun,
don’t forget that!
first THrow November 17 2019 21

10:
Celebreties who train j
Even the rich and famous get bitten by the jiu-jitsu bug -- stars of Hollywood blockbusters and
taking to the mats in droves. Here’s a list of 10 of the most famous jiu-jitsu practitioners.
Anthony Bourdain
This TV presenter is one of the most
passionate devotees to the art of
jiu-jitsu on the list. He nearly curated
an entire episode of his CNN-broadcast
show, Parts Unknown, around his love
for the art. At 59 years old, he’s also the
second-oldest celebrity practitioner behind
Ed O’Neill. A blue belt who trains
primarily out of the Renzo Gracie
Academy in Manhattan, Bourdain can
be found on the mat no less than seven
days a week. Yes, seven! When asked
how he manages it, he says “You’ve just
got to get past the first couple of days,
which sucks. Then after that, it’s OK.
You just keep going.”
Ed O'Neill
Forever known as Al Bundy, but also
one of the principal cast members of the
sitcom Modern Family, O’Neill is the second-most-famous
black belt on our list.
A student of the Gracie Academy in Torrance,
California, O’Neill is a long-time
practitioner of the art of jiu-jitsu who’s
been training since the early 90s.
24 First Throw november 17 2019

jiu-jitsu
nd award-winning musicians are
Kelly Slater
Surfing star Kelly Slater is one of the
most famous and decorated watermen in
the world. An 11-time World Surf League
champion, the 44-year-old is a blue belt
in jiu-jitsu and often drops in to train
at the Mendes Brothers' Art of Jiu-Jitsu
Academy in Costa Mesa, California. He's
also trained with the likes of BJ Penn on
trips to Hawaii.
joe rogan
Everyone’s favourite UFC announcer and
2012’s ‘MMA personality of the yeah’ Joe
Rogan is probably the most known on
the BJJ and MMA world. Known for his
podcasts The Joe Rogan Experience and
his well-document career in the UFC, Joe
was awarded his black belt from Machado
black belt Eddie Bravo, who is also know
from creating the team 10th Planet and a
number of controversial jiu-jitsu moves,
including rubber guard. Joe was awarded
his black belt in 2012
first THrow November 17 2019 25

Celebreties who train jiu-jit
Chuck Norris
If the world’s most dangerous man didn’t
train well there would be something
wrong in the world. Chuck is probably
the only person on this list who rolled
with late, great Helio Gracie. Infact Helio
put Chuck to sleep and his whole world
was turned upside down. Chuck trained
all around the world before settling with
the Machados to earn his black belt. In
2015 Chuck earned his 3rd Degree from
David Dunn, under the guidance of Jean
Jacques Machado
Vince Vaughn
Funnyman Vaughn is one of the most
prolific comedy actors of the last 20 years,
and starred in smash-hit movies such as
The Wedding Crashers and Dodgeball.
One of the best things about jiu-jitsu is
you can start at any age, and at 46 years
old, Vaughn has strapped a white belt
around his waist and is now a student at
the Gracie Academy in Torrance, California,
with Ryron and Rener Gracie. Well
done, Vince.
26 First Throw november 17 2019

tsu
continued
Usher
R&B singer Usher is a recreational practitioner
of Muay Thai and grappling, which
he trains for with world-class exponents
Anderson Silva and Andre Galvao. Maybe
it was MMA fighter Silva's dance moves
that attracted the eight-time Grammy
Award winner into the gym.
Ashton Kutcher
One of the higher-ranked practitioners
on this list, Kutcher is best known for his
film and TV work in sitcoms such as Two
and a Half Men and That 70's Show. He is
a purple belt under Rigan Machado, who
has something of a monopoly when it
comes to training Hollywood A-listers.
first THrow November 17 2019 27

Celebreties
continued
Tom Hardy
It seems that the ever-present Tom Hardy
is cropping up in more and more roles
lately: Bane in ​The Dark Knight Rises​; the
titular character in the Mad Max reboot;
alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in The Revenant
and Inception​; and gritty gangster
flicks such as Legend or The Drop. He
even picked up a nomination for an Oscar
along the way.
Hardy played a troubled military veteran-turned-MMA
fighter in the 2011 movie
Warrior, and he looked the part both on
and off the mat. Hardy completed some
of his training with the British Royal Marines,
where the actor familiarized himself
with the positions and techniques
commonly used in the ring.
Keanu Reeves
Star of The Matrix trilogy, John Wick, and
many other films in the past 25 years,
Keanu Reeves is one of the best-known
film stars in the world (and the highest
paid). Reeves, who has appeared in a
number of films that grossed over $100
million worldwide, has trained in many
forms of martial arts during his career,
including kung fu, sword fighting and
most recently, Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Reeves was pictured training with the
Machado brothers, pioneers of Brazilian
jiu-jitsu in the U.S. Cousins to the Gracie
family, the Machados settled in the U.S. in
the 80s and 90s. Rigan (pictured with the
beard) has worked as a fight coordinator
for many Hollywood movies. Keanu linked
up with Rigan and his brothers to prepare
for the filming of the John Wick sequel.
28 First Throw november 17 2019

Product Review: Arm Bar Soap
It was a sad day when I
realized that being told by
my live-in girlfriend that I,
my head, our bedroom, my
side of the bed, the laundry
room, and our apartment in
general “smelled like my gi”
was not a compliment.
Two things generally take a BJJ player off
the mat: injury or a skin issue. Although
most gyms do their best to keep the mats
sanitary and clean, you never know if
your training partner puts the same
attention on his/her personal hygiene
that you do - especially if you’re a
competitor at a tournament. Ringworm,
staph, herpes, and all manner of other
festering skin issues can get passed from
training partner to training partner
and will derail both your daily training
and your social life. Hawaiian born and
raised, owner Chad Hospodar has been
a part of the Brazilian jiu jitsu world for
over a decade now. His company, the
Arm Bar Soap Company, has created
a great natural solution - the After-
Training Soap. Made with all natural
ingredients including five essential
oils - tea tree, eucalyptus, lemongrass,
bergamot, and peppermint - their soap is
sure to leave you smelling significantly
better than your gi, and worry free
about skin rashes. The oatmeal crumbs
seal the deal with their exfoliating
properties. Arm bar soap, armbar soap,
bjj soap, antifungal, antibacterial Tea
tree oil alone has long been used by the
practitioners of natural medicine like
myself due to its extraordinary antifungal
and anti-microbial properties.
In conjunction with eucalyptus oil,
this one-two combination is a brilliant
partnership for first cleansing any
abrasions or cuts received in training
and then reducing the inflammation and
redness of the wound. With bergamot
and lemongrass to give Armbar Soap’s
After Training Bar a light, clean scent,
you can’t go wrong with the ingredient
combination that they’ve put together.
For everyone else, the user experience
from purchasing through their website
is top notch. Feel free to contact chad@
armbarsoap.com for orders.
Arm Bar After Training Soap is available
at Armbarsoap.com for $4.95 per bar or
$8.95 for a Two-Pack.
The Arm Bar Soap Company
4118 MacArthur Blvd.
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(510) 355-8792
first THrow November 17 2019 29

A to Z
The beginners
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
JIu-Jitsu, it’s a sport that, for me, has changed my life and has changed many others.
To help break down the big world of BJJ I’ve come up with a simple A-Z that will help
anyone with basic concepts, submissions, fighters and attiudes in the sport.
A is for Armbar
For me, this was the first submission
that I ever learned, and probably will be
yours. If you’ve ever watched any judo, or
movies, then this is already a very recognisable
move.
B is for Berimbolo
This is a move done from a guard called
De La Riva (explained later). It allows the
guy on the floor to attack a standing or
crouching opponent, in order to attack the
back position, which is one of the move
offensive positions in BJJ. Don’t worry, this
is an advanced move and it’s something
you shouldn’t need to worry about, but
when you first start, you’ll probably end up
being attacked with this by higher grades.
C is for Control
Position before submission is a big saying
in BJJ and it’s one you’ll hear a lot. The
basic principles of BJJ come down to control,
to attack your opponent, you need
control, to escape a submission you’ll
need control.
Learning this at the start of your BJJ journey
will help you become a better fighter,
faster.
D is for De La Riva
Named after the black belt De La Riva,
you’ll probably encounter this move
during rolling. It’s a form of open guard
that may look un-effective, but infact
allows you to control your opponent
very well.
E is for Escapes
As a beginner you’ll need to learn to do
this, and fast! There is a steep learning
curve in BJJ and that is what puts off a lot
of beginners. There’s very little obvious
reward at the start of your journey.
F is for Flowing
Learn to do this as a beginner and you’ll be
the higher belt’s new best friend. Too many
beginners, through no fault of their own
rely a lot on strength when they first start,
especially if they’re already physically fit.
Learn to relax and you’ll learn to understand
when strength is a good or bad. As
Rickson Gracie says “Flow with the go”.
G is for Guard
One of the most basic principles of BJJ and
allows you to be an active attacker off your
back. Your guard is your best friend, you
can attack, sweep and submit from it. As a
beginner, focused on everyone’s favourite
closed guard and you’ll start picking up
open guard naturally.
H is for half guard
Another relatively basic move in BJJ. You’ll
normally find yourself when you’re getting
squashed to the mat and you’re desperately
trying to defend. Don’t worry though,
there are a lot of moves that you can do
from this sneaky littler position. Learn to
love it and learn to use it.
I is for Injuries
An inevitability in any sport. If you get
injured, don’t dismay, take some time off to
recover and come back stronger.
30 First Throw november 17 2019

J is for Judo
Ther pefect supplement to BJJ. If you’re
competitive and planning on entering
some competitions, then you’re going
to need to learn to take someone down.
Judo will also teach you good balance
and timing, plus you’ll get plenty of
stand up practice, and getting back up of
the floor practice.
K is for Kimura
Another basic submission that you will
learn when you start Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Named after the judoka Masahiko Kimura,
after the submission was applied to
Helio Gracie.
L is for Lapels
A gi fighters best friend and worst enemy.
These can be used to control, submit
and attack your opponent. Normally stiff
and hard to grip, for obvious reasons, just
remember, what you can do to your opponent,
they can do exactly the same to you.
M is for Mount
Apart from the back, the mount will score
you 4 points in any IBJJF ruled competition.
From the mount you can control your
opponent effectively and have a higher
chance of submitting them here.
O is for Omopalata
The omopalata is a shoulder lock where
you control an opponent’s single arm with
your body. An omopalata normally comes
from a failed triangle or armbar. The Triangle,
Armbar, Omopalata combination is
something that is useful combination for a
beginner to grasp.
P is for Passing guard-
Passing guard is generally considered to
be one of the most difficult things to nail
down in Jiu-Jitsu. Ask any top-fighter and
they will probably say that it’s their most
worked thing. In competition, there are a
lot more points awarded for guard passing
and positions, than fighting in guard.
Q is for Questions
As a beginner, asking question are going
to help you far more than trying to spaz
your way out of a technique. Get subbed
by something cool? Ask how they did it.
Dd they pass your guard like a hot knife
through butter? Ask how they passed so
easily. Asking questions will only make
you a better student.
R is for Rolling
Live sparring, or “rolling” as it’s know in
BJJ is the best way for you to practice the
drills you’ve been repeating in a pressured
situation. A lot of people treat rolling at
the Pan Ams and will look to win at every
cost. When you roll, use it as a point of
learning on what techniques work against
which opponents.
S is for Side Control
Side control is probably one of the most
common places you will end up after
passing guard. Contrary to popular belief,
you don’t actually get any points for side
control, the 3 points that are normally
awarded for the guard pass. Side control is
an intermediate position, where you can
dictate the pace and position of the roll.
T is for Takedowns
While rolling normally starts from knees,
actual competitive fights will always start
from standing. Taking your opponent to
the ground and controlling the position
can net you a quick and easy 2 points.
U is for Uke
An Uke is the judo term for a drilling
partner that has passed to BJJ over the
last few years. You should always strive to
be a good Uke when someone is drilling
technique on you,if someone is drilling
turtle attacks, you keep a strong structure,
you don’t fight out of a triangle defence to
prove you’re a better fighter. Thats wrong.
V is for Videos
A bit of a controversial subject but we’re
going to include it in our A-Z. Watching
competition videos of high-level fighters
such as Leandro Lo, Andre Galvao an
Buchecha are excellent. It gives you an idea
of the grit and determination that a worldclass
fighter has to pass a guard. However,
there is a lot of great content available online,
however there is also a lot of rubbish.
Just make sure you don’t practice your
YouTube techniques instead of drilling
with your partner.
W is for Wrestling
Now we’re not talking about bodyslams
and acrobatics, we’re talking about hardcore
freestyle wrestling. Cross training
wrestling will stand you in good stead
against equal level opponents.
X is for X Guard
Invented and perfected by the pocket rocket
Marcelo Garcia, the X-guard is quite an
advanced technique for a beginner, but at
least if you’re aware of how many variations
of open guard there can be, at least
you won’t be too confused if a nifty purple
belt wraps you up.
Y is for Yourself
Just remember, Jiu-Jitsu is your journey.
Don’t train 10 times a week because you
were told too, train when and where you
can and enjoy the journey.
Z is for Z Guard
Also known as the knee shield the Z guard
is another intermediate position that
allows you to transition into another guard
or be aggressive within half guard.
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