Cole Miller victorious at Tuff 17 Finale

Even though Cole Miller has won many big fights in the UFC, this may have been the biggest of his entire career.  Coming off two straight losses, it was no secret that Miller was fighting for his job.

There are no easy fights in the UFC – and this proved to be no exception.

Bart Palaszewski has 35 professional wins… is well rounded… and is as tough as nails.  Many thought finishing Palaszewski would be close to impossible – but once the fight hit the ground… Miller dominated.

Miller looked good striking early – finding his range with a his jab.  But Palaszewski starting backing Miller up with big power shots.  Miller responded with a double leg takedown and quickly transitioned to the back.  Palaszewski defended the rear naked choke by tucking his chin, but Miller switched the grip… went palm-to-palm (gable grip) and Palaszewski was forced to tap.

“You don’t know how good this feels.  I was coming off two loses in a row… certainly considered to be on the chopping block.  I’m really emotional because if I would have lost this fight I would have been in the unemployment line.  I just earned myself… I just kept my job.” said a teary-eyed Miller in the post fight interview.

When asked if he belongs at 145lbs Miller said, “This is where I belong in the UFC and in the featherweight division.”

Cole Miller received his black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from Marcus “Parrumpa” DaMatta in December  2012.  Parrumpa is a 4th degree black belt and known as one of the best jiu-jitsu coaches in the world.  When Miller received his black belt, it was only the second ever given by Parrumpa.  Clearly, not all black belts are created equal.

One thing is crystal clear about Cole Miller – he is no point fighter.  He is a true martial artist and always goes for the finish.  Watching Cole Miller fight reminds me of the reason I fell in love with MMA when I saw Royce Gracie dismantle his opponents at UFC 1.

I’m glad  that spirit is still alive.  And I’m glad we will see Cole Miller in the UFC again.

Cole Miller choking out Bart Palaszewski Tuff 17 Finale

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Caio Terra thinks accurately and has a great “mental approach” that anyone can use to drastically improve their jiu-jitsu game and become the best that they can possibly be.

This video is only 7:18 but it might change the way you look at jiu-jitsu and train.

How To Be Great At BJJ Caio Terra VIDEO

Here are a couple of the most important concept from this video:

“Things that people don’t understand is that they want to be the best and the best right now.  Being the best at the moment doesn’t mean they are going to be the best of themselves.  People want to be good right now and they want to get better… instead of getting more technical they want to get stronger, they want to get faster… you know they want to take those short cuts to do so.. but in the future you’re gonna be all old… you know and you are going to be all slow… and you might be strong but you know it’s different than someone  that is technical and can play jiu-jitsu forever.”

“If you don’t care about losing.  If you don’t care about being smashed at the gym you will focus on technique.  You may be smashed for a long time… but when you really get the techniques… when you really get it… there is no strength that will stop you.”

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How To Pass Half Guard Marcelo Garcia

Here is a little secret to success: if you want to be as good as humanly possible at something… find out who is the best at that thing… and study them.  Find out what they are doing.  Find out what makes them tick.  And then do what they are doing.

This method, of course, has it’s limitations.

For example, if you are learning jiu-jitsu, you cannot just pick someone to learn from because they are “good”… or they “win.”  There are WAY too many factors involved.

Size, flexibility, strength and athleticism  all play a MAJOR part in “winning.”

If you weigh 145lbs you may not want to emulate the technique of someone who is 250lbs and relies on that size.

If you are not flexible – you will not be able to do some of the techniques that a super-flexible person does.

Same goes for the freaky athletic and strong person.

I have seen many people be successful IN SPITE of poor (or not optimal) technique simply because they were bigger, faster, stronger, more athletic, etc.

That’s why I always try to find someone who is using the best possible technique to win.  And by “best possible technique” I mean the technique that has the highest percentage of working for that given situation.

Sure, there are many ways to accomplish something.  And sometimes two techniques are equal and simply a matter of personal preference.  But many times they are not.

A great example is in the video below.

For years I passed the half guard from the exact postion in the video differently.  And it “worked.”

Then I saw Marcelo Garcia doing something different.

I tried to figure it out myself, but was missing a few details until I saw a video of him teaching it. I immediately changed and have been doing it this new way for over a year now. My personal experience shows that this change of technique is much more effective than what I used to do.

And here’s something I have personally found to be true of Marcelo Garcia’s technique:  He not only wins with it – there is nothing I have seen I physically cannot do.  And I am 44 years old weigh 165lbs and pretty physically beaten up from a lifetime of sports and doing dumb stuff

Nothing requires great speed, strength, weight, athletic ability, flexibility  etc.

It simply requires an open mind and practice.

How To Pass Half Guard Marcelo Garcia VIDEO

Jiu-jitsu is one of the most humbling things you can ever do.  As far as I’m concerned – you never “master” jiu-jitsu.  Jiu-jitsu is constantly evolving.  The basic fundamentals may be the same – but the techniques are developing and improving every day.

For most people it is more humbling to be a black belt “master” who must change his or her technique to something better – than it is for a white belt to leave their ego at the door and train correctly.

That’s why I don’t consider the people I train with my students.  I consider them my jui-jitsu peers.  And many times someone training a fraction of the time I have trained has opened my eyes to something better.

One more thing – it’s important:  Marcelo Garcia has an amazing training program online.  It has THOUSANDS of videos showing the best jiu-jitsu technique in the world.  It is only $25/month.  That is ridiculously cheap.  I am not associated with Marcelo and do not get any money from him.  I simply think it is a great product. If you would like to check it out go here:  mginaction.com

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UFC Fighter Cole Miller: My Feelings On Lance Armstrong Steroids And Cheating

Hello all.  Hope everyone is good.  Recently I’ve had a few people ask me what i thought about Lance Armstrong, and his coming clean, along with the interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Well its no secret how I feel about PED’s.

It’s CHEATING.

It’s illegal and unethical.

There have already been several interviews with me stating my disgust with them and the lack of respect as a martial artist and athlete I have for those that use them.  I can honestly say I was not surprised in the least, of the outcome of the test results.

Being in a sport that is over saturated with people that use PED’S, I know what the human body is capable of. Also through my being involved with triathlon, even as a hobbyist, I’ve been exposed to just how tough and competitive the world of cycling truely is.  I also know that at the highest level of this sport much like in MMA, many if not MOST are using or have used at some point in their careers.

Being a 7x Tour de France champion and being clean is about as unlikely as a Major League Baseball player hitting 200 home runs in a single season All Natural.
I do appreciate him coming forward and manning up and admitting that he was using, along with many other details he did not have to give up about his personal life.

As for the interview with Oprah, several people i know were saying how especially in the Part 1 interview that he was not very candid, and was back pedaling from the questions.  I’m going to clue in the general public that apparently must’ve all been home schooled as children….”Snitches get stitches.”

One should notice that in every single question Oprah asked him where he came off as unrevealing, involved admitting facts of the names of specific people and situations.  He was not going to throw the people associated him to the wolves because he was taking the full blame on himself.
As for the punishment, do i think that it is justified?  I most certainly do.

What I have a problem with is other people getting lesser sentences, not that he got one that was so severe.

I’m in a sport that does the same thing with its athletes, so let me shed some light and perspective on this topic. If a fighter tests positive for a PED and receives a 6 month suspension, that is NOTHING. A fighter, especially a high profile fighter, will only fight 2 times in a year. Hell, Ive been with the UFC for 6 years, and although I have a special circumstance to having MANY injuries, it’s only permitted me to fighting twice a year.

So basically its saying that a fighter will only get a 1 fight suspension. At the most a year long suspension will only mean a 2 fight suspension. You see where I’m going with this?

So if a cyclist gets a 6 month suspension, It means he can’t race and likely loses sponsors.  Then, they are able to join a new team and get new sponsors.

What I would aim to do is that EVERY SINGLE person that tests positive for a PED get a 5 year, 10 year, or LIFETIME ban from their sport.

The current suspensions are made purposefully to make the public care less about the use of these PED’S.  Id be interested to see how many athletes an average sports fan could list of being convicted of the use of PED’S.  I guarrantee it would be an insanely small one. We only remember the highest profile cases, of MLB stars sitting before US Congress which is ridiculous in its own right.  Hell in boxing and MMA its ok to be injected with Testosterone if you have a doctor’s prescription…DISGUSTING.

This world is not fair.  What makes athletes of a high caliber worth the big bucks they are being paid, is because they have something in them that “normal” people do not.

It may be explosive strength, speed, uncanny hand/eye coordination, passion, heart, courage under fire, determination,Endurance through the roof, unbelievable balance, or the special kind of person that has all of these things.

When we allow 6 month and year long suspensions of people abusing PED’S , we are saying that it is ok for one to use them. “It is okay, because you weren’t born with enough to make you great, you can now inject that into your body to make it fair.” 

I know MANY people in my sport, and fans of sport in general that do not care if athletes “juice” or not.  Maybe I’m the one that is wrong here, maybe life isn’t fair, but it should be.

Maybe kids should be allowed to use “cheat sheets” at the National Spelling Bee.

Maybe because I clearly can’t play in the NBA I should be able to opt to have my legs surgically replaced with a bionic pair.

Where do we draw the line?

I don’t have a cause or a “Steroid Awareness” fund for anyone to donate to, I just want people in general to start thinking about what it is you’re supporting when your favorite athletes are guilty of taking someone else’s job, of keeping money out of the pockets that deservingly belonged to someone else and his or her family, of keeping glory out of the reach of those that choose not to juice. Just think about it.

If you want to support drug free cycling specifically or just drug free sport in general check out this link.http://bikepure.org/what-is-bike-pure/get-the-wirstband/
I do not get a percentage of sales in fact i think the wrist band is free. Although these guys are a Triathlon Sponsor of mine, i fully believe in their cause in keeping the sport CLEAN. Check out their facebook page at Bike Pure

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How To Beat X Guard With Berimbolo Guilherme Mendes VIDEO

In this short (1:15) video – Guilherme Mendes shows a simple way to counter the x-guard and take your opponents back with a berimbolo attack.  This technique is easy to learn and execute and is extremely effective.

Guilherme Mendes is only 24 years old and is already one of the best jiu-jitsu competitors in the world.  Here are some of his achievements…

• 3x Black Belt World Champion (2009, 2011, 2012);
• 2x European Champion (2010, 2011);
• Pan American Silver Medallist (2012)
• Pan American Bronze Medallist (2009);
• Brazilian National Champion (2010)

How To Beat X Guard With Berimbolo Guilherme Mendes VIDEO

And Guilherme said this in Graciemag – it is one of the most important things you should know if you want to be good or great at jiu-jitsu

Posture before technique

“At seminars we’re always talking a lot about ‘posture,’ how you position yourself so that even if you’re light you make yourself heavy, and even when you’re heavy you manage to be quick. Posture comes first, before pass techniques, since if you have good posture, you can frustrate your opponent, keep your base firm and attack at the right moment; when you don’t have good posture, even if you know thousands of guard pass variations, your opponent will sweep you before you get to try the first of them.

Clearly – most students of jiu-jitsu spend WAY too much time on fancy moves when they should be focussed on the basics.

P.S.  How lucky are these little kids to get this kind of instruction at such a young age?  I’m jealous!!!

If you like this, please share it and make comments below.

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How to pass half guard drill Marcos “Parrumpa” Da Matta

Half guard is one of the most common positions in BJJ.  There are many sweeps and attacks available if the top peson does not react appropriately.  But if the top person knows what to do – half guard can quickly become a dominant position leading to a guard pass.

If this video, Marcos “Parrumpa” Da Matta shows a great drill for passing half guard.  He breaks down the 5 steps that should be drilled over and over until this pass becomes part of your muscle memory.

 How To Pass Half Guard Drill Marcos “Parrumpa” Da Matta VIDEO

Parrumpa is a 4th degree black belt under Carlson Gracie and head instructor of American Top Team West Palm Beach.  Here are some awards from Parrumpa’s impressive career:

• Recieved black belt in 1997 from Carlson Gracie
• Ginastica Natural Certified Instructor
• 1996 BJJ World Champion
• 2000 BJJ World Championship Runner-up
• 2000 BJJ Brazilian National Champion
• 7X NAGA Superfight Champion – wins over Baret Yoshida, Allan Teo, Jared Winner, John Stutzman, Mike Cardoso
• FL ADCC SWO Superfight Champion – Broke ADCC score record 44X0 over 2003 ADCC Japan Qualifier winner
• 2005 ADCC Competitor
• MMA Record: 8-2
• WFO Featherweight Champion
• ISKA Bantamweight Champion

ATT West Palm West is located at:

1900 Okeechobee Boulevard
Suite C6
West Palm Beach, FL 33409

For more information or to train with Marco’s “Parrumpa” Da Matta give them a call at 561-855-2178 or go to BJJ West Palm Beach.  You can also see him on Facebook at: ATT West Palm Beach Facebook.

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In this video, Rafael teaches an awesome spider guard pass.  He explains the correct posture, how to change the grips, how to pass the legs and then how to properly secure side control.

This instruction is world class…

Success in jiu-jitsu all starts with the correct posture.  If you do not have the correct posture – nothing else will work.

That’s why the most important lesson in the video is the posture Rafael teaches in the beginning.  He immediately changes the game from one where the bottom guy is attacking with possible sweeps and submissions - to one where the top guy is attacking to pass and the bottom guy is defending.

Another HUGE concept taught in this video is how Rafael does not continue to go around the legs to the head. This will allow the botom guy to spin and replace the guard.

Instead – he gets his legs under his opponents and backs up.  This twists his opponent and achieves the pass.  This concept can be used with great success for many different passes.  With or without the gi.

If you get 90% passed someone’s guard and end up chasing them in a circle – but never completing the pass – this “backing up” and driving the opponents legs to the other side concept will solve that problem in many situations.

It is more important to understand concepts than it is to memorize moves or techniques.  If you understand WHY something works – you can apply it in many different situations.  And you can apply it in brand new situations with success.

Good, technically sound basic principles work all the time when set up and done correctly.  Tricks only work when the universe and stars align every now and then.

A trick may look cool that one time it works – but bascis executed to perfection win consistently and on all levels.

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For details of my “Secrets of  Striking For MMA seminar ill be conducting the following day… go here:  Cole Miller’s Secrets of Striking For MMa Seminar

Get ready to learn how to ATTACK with nasty intentions!

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Twelve time UFC veteran, Cole Miller will be teaching a private seminar at the Chicago Muay Thai Kickboxing Club. The seminar will be held on December 2, 2012 from 1pm – 4pm and will cover topics for beginners, experts and everyone in between.

Cole will show you his inside secrets, tactics and little known tricks that will instantly take your game to the next level and give you an almost unfair advantage against your training partners and opponents.

Here are the three major topics Cole will be covering:

Kicking With Confidence - Many strikers are hesitant to use kicks against a wrestler or grapplers because they are afraid to be taken down.  AND THEY SHOULD BE!!!!

If you do not know how to set-up and throw kicks properly… FOR MMA… you will end up on your butt with the grappler sitting on your chest.

But if you know what to do – kicks can actually be used as a serious weapon to scare the wrestler or grappler and keep them from shooting.

Cole will show you exactly what to do.

Fighting In The Clinch - Clinch fighting is a HUGE part of MMA.  If you cannot control the clinch… your success in MMA will be extremely limited.  But, if you know how to dominate the clinch and HURT your opponent every time they try to gab you – it will open up your striking game and lead to knock-outs.

Cole will show you easy ways to win the clinch with TECHNIQUE not STRENGTH.

Making The Wrestler Pay - This is Cole’s favorite.  ”Pure” strikers can have very big problems with wrestlers.  We have seen this over and over from the early days of the UFC.  But as MMA evolved – techniques were adapted and discovered to stop wrestlers dead in their tracks.

One of the keys is to make a wrestler pay every time they attempts a takedown.  In no time he (or she ) will stop shooting… and then its over.

Cole will show you the best ways to punish wrestlers when they try to take you down and force them the strike with you.

To get in on this one-time only event, call Jim Glasgow at 773-270-3084.

It is only $65 now and $75 at the door.  But we expect spots to be taken quickly and there may not be any left if you wait too long.

Cole will also be teaching a BJJ for MMA seminar in Chicago on Dec 1, 2012.  For details go here:  Cole Miller’s BJJ For MMA Seminar

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UFC Fighter Cole Miller with 4th degree black belt Jiu-Jitsu master Marcos “Parrumpa” Dematta.

Cole Miller UFC Fighter – Here is my BJJ thought for the day 10-12-12.

New jiu jitsu doesnt always mean innovative, revolutionary, or better.  And “old” jiu jitsu does not necessarily mean outdated or ineffective.

I am a huge fan of sport jiu jitsu, I like to watch it, I like to train the style from time to time, and I occasionally compete (would do more if MMA and or injuries didnt get in the way as much).

But remember, BJJ is a martial art that should be practiced YES for competition and sport environment, but also for MMA competition, or SELF DEFENSE, where weaponry, wrecklessness, and no rules come into play. (survival with as little damage possible is #1)

If you are a blue belt that can do inverted reverse flying berimbolo to omaplata, that’s great. But you should also be able to block some standing strikes, clinch, do some judo/greco or have effective guard pulls and be able to defend strikes from the bottom. the main key for this is controlling posture.

Point being, to be a true practitioner of This fine martial art, is to be able to explore the entire spectrum of what it was made to do. #1 SURVIVE #2(could be #1 in some situations) KILL/MAME to ensure your survival.

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