Man where do i start! I took a week off from coaching and I got a chance to head down to Coconut Creek, FL to train at ATT's Headquarters. I lucked up and pretty much everyone was in town. I got a chance to roll, box, or drill with some of the worlds best. I'll try to nutshell this as best i can.
My trip started Sunday. I got into town and hung out with an old teammate JP Reese and just kicked back. Monday i went to a local wrestling practice between two rival HS teams (Gibbon and St. Thomas). The tension was high as that thang! It was weird I thought the coaches were about to fight! I would have def whipped out my camera and youtubed it! Pronto:) Then i lifted upperbody. Monday night I helpled Yves Edwards run his Beginners MMA class.
Day two is the big sparring day. The call it "Blocao" don't ask me what it means. I think it trainslated into 40-60 pro fighter beating the crap out of each other in Portuguese. I got a chance to go with Marcello Garcia and Cole Miller. This upper body lift was not the wisest move. My shoulders where burning so bad. I almost couldn't keep my hands up. Wanted to go with Masvidal and JZ, but they were in the cage preparing Mike "Charlie" Brown for his title defense this Sunday in the WEC. That night we went to Parrumpinha's school and rolled. One of the best Jits coacheds I've seen. So Mike Brown, Thiago Alves, Jz Calvancante, Yves Edward, Michah Miller, Richie and some other guns all got our roll on. it was good.
Wed. we had JiuJitsu Class and then i got in the car and drove down to Port St. Lucie to go workout with my Homie Din "Mr. Fantastic" Thomas. We sparred five 5s and rolled like three 5s. Dude can box! I was like, "Dang G how many rounds can you go?" My shoulders were burning like fire. It was no kicking or takedowns, so i had to deal with his long jab and him being almost impossible to hit. Which accounted for alot of my being tired. I consider him and Yves like big Bros. Fulll of wisdom and good and bad experiences. Don't want to learn to rope from someone that hasn't experienced the "not so sweet" side of the MMA game. Cause its def out there.
Day 4 was Blocao again with small gloves. with a focus on the ground. Got to go with Marcello again. You know how they hype someone up and you go with them and you like, "Ah he wasn't that tough!" CLEARLY not the case here. Dude is from another world where all the do is JiuJitsu. They probably teach it in school there as a language. Cause i was in straight survival mode for two to three rounds. Later that night we drove to Pembroke Pines to Marcello's new school (as if i didnt get my butt kicked enough earlier!). He has some really good ground guy there. wasn't really a easy round there. Finished up, And then i decided to lock the doors and then slam my keys in the trunk! Hot mess! Yves didnt make it any better talkin bout, "if you believe the doors will open." Being sarcastic about a convo we had the day before. We finally got Pop_a_Lock to save the day.
My last day there Parrumpinha had one more class, so of course i wasn't going to miss it. We did guard pass drill with out using our arms. Nearly impossible. Pitbull might have came close, but i think he cheated and used his hand plus im not going to disclose his weight? J/K Pit..... mess around and get me kicked in the head:) lol. After that Yves Held the mitts for me and i was off to the airport. Short but sweet trip! Until next time
