Gracie Worlds Prep Week

[Brandon Mccaghren]

[David Rosado]

Rise and shine! Time to pack up and leave for LAX and then Sweet Home Alabama. I hate that song when I'm home, but it's amazing after a week on the road.

The trip home from San Jose was long. Slick Rick and Sean rode in the backseat and me and Brian "The Barncat" Debes rode up front. Lots of talk about woulda, coulda, and shoulda. But then they slept and I drove in silence. That's the hardest part, but the most educational. The quietness after a loss or a hard training session is essential to my growth. Those moments alone with my mind where I can not make any excuses; only the truth exists in those moments. Jamie Webster told me once that "while men walk, angels speak to them." I guess that could be said of driving, too.

When I was in college I went to a church every Sunday morning with about 250 black folks; me and my best friend were the only 2 white people in the building every week. These are some of my fondest memories from college. There was an old Southern black man, distinguished and proud, that would hobble to the front every week and pray with all the wisdom and experience that only a man in his 90's could pray with.

"Lord, thank you for the sunshine, and thank you for the storms that help us to appreciate the sunshine."

Despite what he had grown up seeing in the South, and what he had learned the hard way that humanity was capable of, he believed that our struggles bring out the best in us; that without tribulation we will never rise to the top and become all that we are capable of being. That old man had a powerful spirit, and he is dead and gone now. But his legacy is fully alive this morning.

"Lord, thank you for the sunshine, and thank you for the storms that help us to appreciate the sunshine."

Amazing post bro. This is jiu jitsu too. It's not all technique videos and reps and seminars. The mental game is important. Wisdom like this goes a long way. Great post.

[Slick Rick]

Rise and shine! Time to pack up and leave for LAX and then Sweet Home Alabama. I hate that song when I'm home, but it's amazing after a week on the road.

The trip home from San Jose was long. Slick Rick and Sean rode in the backseat and me and Brian "The Barncat" Debes rode up front. Lots of talk about woulda, coulda, and shoulda. But then they slept and I drove in silence. That's the hardest part, but the most educational. The quietness after a loss or a hard training session is essential to my growth. Those moments alone with my mind where I can not make any excuses; only the truth exists in those moments. Jamie Webster told me once that "while men walk, angels speak to them." I guess that could be said of driving, too.

When I was in college I went to a church every Sunday morning with about 250 black folks; me and my best friend were the only 2 white people in the building every week. These are some of my fondest memories from college. There was an old Southern black man, distinguished and proud, that would hobble to the front every week and pray with all the wisdom and experience that only a man in his 90's could pray with.

"Lord, thank you for the sunshine, and thank you for the storms that help us to appreciate the sunshine."

Despite what he had grown up seeing in the South, and what he had learned the hard way that humanity was capable of, he believed that our struggles bring out the best in us; that without tribulation we will never rise to the top and become all that we are capable of being. That old man had a powerful spirit, and he is dead and gone now. But his legacy is fully alive this morning.

"Lord, thank you for the sunshine, and thank you for the storms that help us to appreciate the sunshine."

Ahhh nice!!! This is a great read brotha. Thanks for the post.
Man Brandon, you and Sean are some cool peeps. Then mixing Brian in conversations was awesome. Is was great listening to all your ideas, stories and great just being around cool, down to earth people. I still gotta get to Alabama so I'll be heading there soon I'm sure.

Take care brothers!
Rick

[Kyle Spalla]

Hard fought! Tough opponent. Awesome display of heart Brandon. I thought he was done for a few times there but doing 13 minutes of anything full blast can take it out of you. I have a feeling next year there will be a gold medal with your name on it to bring back to Bama, still awesome performance and awesome experience!

[Cody Kietzman]

I don't have the best angle on that necktie at 4:20 but damn it looked tight....

[VJ Bella]

congrats man...awesome fight...i thought you had him a few times. I love reading your posts and the way you analyze things. We have very similar philosophies on jiu jitsu. Just getting down to 155 is a mental battle all in itself (a battle I have do not currently have the mental fortitude to win). Congrats again on a great match and giving it everything you got.

[John Mejia]

Hell Yeah Brandon! This is what some of the people around the Tournament had to say on the Inside BJJ Podacast. I was getting Ice for my room and they decided they wanted to interview Josh Passini and I. Have a listen.
http://www.insidebjj.com/2012/07/15/...n-henry-akins/

[Liquidrob]

Great job Brandon, fun match to watch!

I thought you had that Japanese necktie

[Brandon Mccaghren]

Ahhh nice!!! This is a great read brotha. Thanks for the post.
Man Brandon, you and Sean are some cool peeps. Then mixing Brian in conversations was awesome. Is was great listening to all your ideas, stories and great just being around cool, down to earth people. I still gotta get to Alabama so I'll be heading there soon I'm sure.

Take care brothers!
Rick

Rick, you are hands down one of the coolest and kindest people I've ever had the privilege of meeting. Thanks so much for showing a couple of rednecks a good time while we were in the big city!

[Brandon Mccaghren]

I don't have the best angle on that necktie at 4:20 but damn it looked tight....

Yeah, I thought he was done for sure. The mounted guillotine was crazy tight, too.

MUST IMPROVE CRUSHING POWER

MUST ADD WRESTLING TO MY ARSENAL.