BMac Seminar changed my...

[Mike Dewitt Jr]

...changed my thought on 50/50 guard. If y'all don't know I run from that guard like its yardwork guys. Brandon sent me an itinerary of his seminar in an outline. Brandon put his newly reconstructed neck on the line in a tournament to prove his stuff works. Brandon put on such an amazing seminar I highly recommend bringing him to your school. The guy has great attention to detail and was incredibly responsove to questions and problems. He even dropped an incredible amount of knowledge at the open mat the nkight before. Get him to your school and learn from this man.

[Brent Smith]

Have him out for a seminar. Seriously y'all won't regret it. I still avoid the 5050 but theres a couple key concepts that he showed that blew my leg locks up. Mainly the texas cloverleaf. I hit it 4 times tonight and before I had never finished it.

[nathan orchard]

All true. An amazing seminar. Such a great time. Have this man to you school and elevate your game.

[Sam Davis]

Ttt

[Chris Herzog]

...pants.

[Brent Smith]

...pants.

...britches...?

[Josh Passini]

...britches...?

Definitely Britches!

[tobyshell]

It was a fantastic seminar. Brandon truley is one of the nicest, most humble and knowledgeable guys I've meet. He genuinely wants to help you progress in your jiu jitsu. I now understand first hand all the 10p man crushes on him! Also thanks to Mike and Brent for being great hosts, it made a 16 hour round trip well worth it.

[Andrew Alexander]

Totally the best weekend I have had ever, Brandon is super legit, on point and funny as hell! Amazing seminar great rolls after you fools better get him out ASAP,

[Brandon Mccaghren]

You guys are the best. Seriously. It's always amazing to be received with so much love and kindness from the 10th Planet Brotherhood. We are all a part of something really, really special. I hope y'all can see that.

This weekend was really important for me on a lot of levels, but I'm gonna just keep it strictly Jiu Jitsu here.

I got to spend all day and night Friday hanging out with Mike Dewitt. And then I spent all night Saturday rolling and hanging out with Nathan Orchard. To be able to pick their brains, hear their stories, see their games... To find out what brought them to Jiu Jitsu in the first place, what made them stay, and what drives them to continue was fascinating. And then to feel their philosophies and beliefs manifested in their play on the mats was as incredible study into what Jiu Jitsu even is in the first place. My appreciation for the art has been expanded tremendously. Both of these men are excellent Black Belts and represent our community very well.

As far as the seminar and the 50/50 guard are concerned I hope I made a few things abundantly clear. Chiefly, that we were studying Jiu Jitsu; 50/50 happened to be the requested setting. The true goal, as it always is, was to deepen our understanding of the principles and philosophies of Jiu Jitsu so that we can apply them in any setting.

Secondly, I hope everyone understood that I don't preach the 50/50 guard. I happen to understand it pretty well since it has been part of my game for a long time, but I don't believe it is the best leg lock position by a long shot. It just happens to be the one I am the best at. The Sambo style positions are, I believe, far superior. As is the 80/20 (that's what we call it in Decatur) and Nathan's Ashi Garame.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, I hope I adequately conveyed the point that I was simply passing along knowledge which has been given to me by others. In this case, our own Chris Herzog is one of my primary sources of not only specific techniques but also overriding leg attack and control principles.

Sorry for any typos. I'm on the ole iPhone on the plane.