Brazilian Jiujitsu is classified as a grappling martial art. For the layman, I usually explain it as wrestling with a different goal; you try to choke or compromise a joint to cause your opponent to submit rather than pin him on his back. The style includes takedowns and even some basic strikes/kicks, but is almost completely focused on positions on the ground.
Common finishes:
  • the rear naked choke, or lion choke, which is occasionally seen in movies.
  • arm bar - use your whole body to snap opponents's elbow
  • triangle choke - choke opponent using your legs
  • shoulder lock - torque your opponents shoulder to cause eventual dislocation
  • gi chokes - a whole family of chokes using the cloth of the martial arts uniform or lapels/collars on conventional clothing. wrap it around opponents neck in some secure way.
  • knee bar - use your whole body to snap opponent's knee
  • ankle lock - catch opponent's ankle and apply pressure to joint
  • heel hook - torque heel so ankle will snap
    • Training history:
  • Summer 1999: Started training at Seattle School of Brazilian Jiujitsu under Glenn Barber (purple belt). Brian Johnson was blue belt there and often instructed beginners. My brother Chris also trained there.
  • Summer 1999: Seminar with Rigan Machado (amazing blackbelt)

  • September 1999: Seattle School closes. Brazilian Juliano takes over location and students.
  • Fall 1999: Teach my friends in college my new tricks. We practice.
  • Thanksgiving 1999: Visit Seattle School location. Another beginner student sprains muscles in my lower spine. Leaning back, sleeping, and chairs suck for 4 months.
  • Spring 2000: Teach a class in beginning brazilian jiujitsu at Bates College. Attendence is great - 5-12 students/class, student body is about 60/40 split of men to women (Brazilian is a very male dominated sport, so I'm all proud).
  • Fall 2000: Join Omilion Japanese Brazilian Jiujitsu Academy in Seattle. Brazilian (Gracie cousin) teaches frequently because Sensei Omilion is very busy at work.
  • Spring 2001: Sensei Omilion takes over teaching.
  • May 2001: I get first stripe white belt.



  • June 2001: I get 2nd place in a submission wrestling tournament in amateur class. 2 wins by submission, 1 loss, 6 to 5 points.

  • Spring 2002: Buy 100 square feet of mats for home training.
  • Summer 2002: Discover Glenn Barber is teaching at Seattle Holistic Center. Go there some, get to roll with Sensei Bruce Bookman (rokudan in Aikido). Good old time!
  • Summer 2002: Discover Brian Johnson has his own school. Start going sometimes.

  • November 2002: I get blue belt. Woo!
  • Early 2003: Teach class sometimes.
  • July 2003: Visit Relson Gracie school in Hawaii. Good old time, although Relson is back at a tournament in Brazil.
  • Nov 2003: Left ankle makes a pleasant popping sound when someone over-vigorously applies an ankle lock to it.
  • Jan 2004: Physical therapy and healing time = okay to go back to jiujitsu now.
  • Mar 2004: !@#$%#!! Rolled my OTHER ankle while hitting bag.
  • May 2004: Physical therapy and healing time = okay to go back to jiujitsu. sigh.
  • May 6th, 2004: Start officially teaching class when Sensei is busy.
  • May 10th, 2004: Visit Carlos Machado's school in Irving. Carlos is out, but a Rigan student is teaching. Lots of very skilled people there, great practice! Get whipped.
  • May 14th, 2004: Visit Travis Lutter's school in Fort Worth (TX) with Nokians Paul Kearney and Ken McClure. Practice no-gi. Get whipped. Whee! (face hurts for days)
  • Sept 11th, 2004: John Will and David Meyer grappling seminar at MKG.
  • Sept 12th, 2004: Reality Based Training level 1 seminar. 7+ hours training real world focused techniques under the awesome direction of John Will and David Meyer at Korbitt Miller's academy.
  • Jan 22nd, 2005: Triangle seminar at Miller's, taught by Mr. Meyer. Covered 15 triagles in 4 hours. Dave literally (co)wrote the book on triangles, and it showed.
  • Mar 10th, 2005: Awarded blue belt one stripe by Omilion!
  • May 11th, 2005: Visit Pacific Kickboxing in Oakland on recommendation from David Meyer. Purple belt Stephen is teaching while Eduardo Rocha is in Brazil - very technical class. 4 blue belts present, and all whomp me.
  • May 25th, 2005: Teach first class at Lee's Martial Arts on capitol hill (13th & Pine). Goes great!
  • Nov 24, 2005: Roll my ankle on a devious pine cone during the Spokane Turkey Trot run. Ugly.
  • Dec 2, 2005: Get ankle professionally taped so I can teach class as normal.
  • Jan 12th, 2006: Back to sparring, feels SO good. Muahahah!
  • Feb 16, 2006: Bust little toe teaching. Haha! (Sucks)
  • Jun 7, 2006: Change teaching format at Lee's Martial Arts, switch to Wed evenings and co-teach with Master Eric McCray. I cover mostly ground, he covers mostly standing/throwing.
  • Jul 10th, 2006: Attend BJJ (hooks in guard sweep, and escaping 4 quarters position) seminar by John Will at NWJJC.
  • Jul 11th, 2006: Attend "Getting to the Clinch" seminar by John Will at Miller's Martial Arts. Amazing! Foxhole & spike, or Visor? Hmmm...
  • Jul 13th, 2006: Promoted to 3 stripe blue belt (2 stripes at once) by Brian Johnson. Woohoo!
  • Jul 19, 2006: Injured left shoulder - AC sprain (separated shoulder) during silly game. Silly games, sigh.
  • Sept 6th, 2006: Promoted to shodan (surprise!) by 7th dan Gordon and 5th dan Eric McCray in jujitsu (not Brazilian). Yowzah!
  • Nov 21st, 2006: Promoted to 4th stripe blue belt by Brian.
  • Jan 20th, 2007: Promoted to purple belt by Brian J. Johnson!
  • Feb 27th, 2007: Bend thumb generously.