Friday, January 31, 2014

Super Body Care-- you'll never go back!

Cheri, owner of Super Body Care, sent a huge care package last year with presents for the NYE rape survivor, and duplicates for me.  I have been sorely remiss in telling you all how much I loved her gift and appreciated her thoughtfulness!

Cheri Final soap low res About


Super Body Care is a completely new approach to natural skin and body care. Everything is made with pure plant oils of Peppermint, Rosemary, Tea Tree, Lavender, and Bergamot to make your skin the healthiest ever.  It smells delightful-- not overly herbal or minty or peculiar in any way, just very fresh, green, and light. And it doesn't really stick with you once you rinse, which is nice because it doesn't compete with my perfume.  It kills ringworm and germs and bugs and everything you want dead, too.  And leaves your skin feeling smooth and your hair happy....

My package had shower gel, walnut scrub, body lotion, bar soap with loofah bits throughout, antimicrobial body wipes, lip balm, air freshener packs (perfect for gym bag, sneakers, and the car!) AND a unique perfume/lotion/liquid talc that leaves a hint of shimmer, is scented like heaven and jasmine, and that I'm pretty sure was a one-time thing since I can't find it on her site right now.

 The shower gel, which doubles as shampoo, is free of sodium lauryl sulfates and aluminum lauryl/laureth sulfates.  I have this riding around in my gym bag (who needs to tote extra bottles? not me) and I do notice a difference when I wash my hair with it.  (I'd buy more and use it at home, except I have a ridiculous stash of shampoo, shower gel, and so on in my bathroom closet and my husband and I have vowed to use it all up or die trying before buying any more even if I don't like the scent.  But when I finish that stuff up... I tell you there's nothing like the feeling of hair that hasn't been stripped of all the natural oils.  Especially for curly girls and guys, colored/treated/processed hair, etc.)

I don't use the walnut scrub very often, maybe once or twice a week on a body sponge, but it makes my skin super soft, and doesn't have that "scratchy" feeling like sugar and salt scrubs.  I think her process does something nice to make the grains more rounded.

One SUPER awesome thing for us combat athletes... OR, people who go hike with friends around the lake, then hit the farmer's market, then find brunch (and no shower between)... is her natural antimicrobial body wipe.  She uses cold pressed, steam distilled essential oils known for antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial properties in all her products, but the body wipes are just super handy for when you've walked right off the mats (or trails) and want to slick away all the creepy crawlies and smell good.  And she's paid for lab testing of her products, with solid results proving her claims.

Generally speaking, aside from loving how well her stuff works and smells.. I love the idea of supporting a woman-started, woman-run small business, and I love her philosophy on customer service.  It's a little bit "warm and fuzzy," some might even call it hippie... but I dig it, in this era of money-comes-first.  In part, she says:

  • By way of my abilities, talents, and learned knowledge, I will always and continue to educate, inform, and provide objective opinions on the art of health and caretaking of the human body.
  • I will create, innovate, and advocate products for the good of my consumers, to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone.
  • I will not create a poisonous, toxic, or lethal product intentionally or, if I am asked, nor will I advocate such a product.
  • I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts.
  • I acknowledge there is a time and place for allopathic medicine (Western medicine), and will leave that to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art.
  • In every house, place of business that I go, I will act on behalf of the welfare of my consumers and my altruistic integrity, keeping myself far from all intentional unethical acts regardless of culture, gender, orientation, etc of the consumers.
Go check out her stuff.  She even offers a free collection of trial sizes if you pay shipping.  You can't get better than that.


Wednesday, January 29, 2014

You're not a unique, delicate snowflake. Time to commit.

The fabulous advice from Mark Twight, the trainer for the cast/crew of the movie "300," bears repeating again, and again.  Yes yes, I know you have read it before.

"If you weren't given the gift you can't get the gift so the best you can do - if your goal is important - is work as hard as you possibly can, pay attention every hour of every day and then maybe, maybe if you've done enough and been smart enough you'll emerge from the muck of mediocrity to shine a bit brighter than you shone before. Then, upon reflection you might decide your goal is a bit more important so you'll start paying attention every minute of every hour of every day. You'll find people who are better than you and you'll take an empty cup when you meet them. Their example will destroy or inspire you and if it's the latter you may stay and learn. You might imitate, doing as they do because you've already accepted that you do not know best - if you did you'd be leading the group they were trying to join. Perhaps being exposed to their superior ability will drive you to work harder than you thought possible, or necessary. Maybe you'll overcome your self-imposed (or worse, society-imposed) limitations and shine even more brightly. Wow, you're getting it: positive reinforcement for hard work and suffering. So maybe you give your goal even more significance and you begin cutting away the ideas and the expectations and the people who you believe prevent you from achieving it. Now you become a real selfish prick, and you begin paying attention every second of every minute of every hour of every day, and you sustain your awareness for weeks and months at a time. You no longer think yourself a unique snowflake, you're a steel-edged blade shaped like a snowflake and you're spinning at warp speed. You're the biggest fish in the pond. You're a badass. Now you have options.

If you think you haven't yet done enough, and you could do more, you might begin to understand that, the more capable you become, the higher the mountain rises ahead of you. At that moment you may recognize the existence of a legitimately serious group, ahead of you, above you, somewhere you're not. They are silent, implacable, constantly improving and evolving and because they are truly capable they are accessible to those who are genuine. Among them there's no defensiveness, no posturing or pretending, and they aren't interested in anyone else's. Selection for such a group isn't based on physical performance alone. Issues of character and commitment, and discipline and persistence balance physical talent. Because you clawed your way out of the muck, were "up all night, dedicated" and maintained interest for long enough to differentiate yourself from the short-attention-span sporting dilettantes who commonly brush up against this group they might accept you as an apprentice. If you empty your cup your chances are better. If you redouble your efforts your odds improve again."

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Interviews with Nick Schultz and Alvis Solis tonight....

Tonight (Sunday January 26) for the Bullshido podcast at 5pm CT I will be interviewing Nick Schultz and Alvis Solis...

I'll have Alvis appearing live to discuss his actions in getting Nick ejected from the World Grappling Circuit tournament in Houston on January 18, and I will also be playing a short excerpt from my interview with Nick which was conducted earlier this week by telephone.

I do plan on playing more excerpts from my interview with Nick in the future-- Probably on the Bullshido podcast on Sunday February 9.

Anyway here's the link to the podcast--

Blogtalk Radio Bullshido Podcast.

Tune in and thanks for listening!

Friday, January 24, 2014

Discount codes for my readers....

Two great suppliers, one BJJ-specific and one more general martial arts/muay thai/MMA oriented, have offered some discounts for readers of my blog...


The first is Ok! Kimonos.  Started by my friend Brendan Hufford, it focuses on kids' gis and gear (though they have adults' as well, plus some seriously badass spats and rashies, designed by Meerkatsu, and cool tshirts too.)  Brendan also runs a kids' gi exchange program (when your kid outgrows theirs, send it back in gently used condition, and you'll get 20% off a new gi.  Plus your old gi goes to a program in the favelas of Rio to support underprivileged youth training BJJ.)  And all gi orders get free shipping!  The discount code is "RedMenace" and you'll get 10% off.

The second is KarateMart.com.

Martial Arts Supplies

My friend, Patrick Williams, created the coupon code "Georgette" for a 10% discount on everything except the shipping-- which is free if your order is $60 or more.  When you’re training you may need mouthguards, gloves, handwraps, headgear, knee andelbow pads, and shin guards.  You can get all of the right gear at karatemart.com and save some money too.    

Ladies' Predadora gi back on the shelves! review coming!

As you know I am sponsored by Black Eagle, a premium supplier of all kinds of gear in the UK.  And as you know I have long been in love with their Predadora ladies' gi... because I have some junk in the trunk, and their pants fit like a dream.  And the jackets are great... and lightweight, but strong...

OK... so they had some troubles with a supplier and some other misconnections.. but the second version of the Predadora is back on their shelves, and I'm getting one for review any day now.  Just wanted to highlight what they offer...



The Predator range of BJJ gi has proven itself at the highest level. Cut to the limits of IBJJF rules, our Predator offers competitors significant benefits in reducing unnecessary advantages for opponents.
Completely IBJJF legal.
Jacket is made from 450 gram Pearl Weave, pre-shrunk, and with all usual re-enforcements. Trousers are RipStop, with rope style drawstring.
Embroidery only to shoulder and upper arms, for a clean looking gi!
Available in sizes F1 to F4.  Review is coming!!!!

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Sexual abuse of minor at New Hampshire BJJ academy...

This is semi-old news since it happened in May 2013 but I was just made aware of it... so sad... I was contacted by one of Aldo Batista's former students who wanted some help in getting the word out so that potential future students might be made aware of it.  Aldo was apparently arrested on 9 counts of rape of a minor; one of his BJJ students was 13 at the time.

http://nashua.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/man-faces-multiple-rape-charges

http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/thread/2208532/Local-bjj-school-owner-accused-of-raping-13yo-girl/?page=1

The truth of the matter is this: BJJ is just a microcosm of the rest of the world.  No better, no worse.  We are shocked to find out how often these things happen in our neck of the woods because, well, it's US and we thought we were better than that.

We can be, if we push for standards and background checks and make it miserable for offenders to remain in our community.


Sunday, January 19, 2014

Nick Schultz thrown out of BJJ tournament

The World Grappling Circuit held a BJJ tournament in Houston on Saturday.  This promoter is one of the most well known and highly regarded in the Texas-Colorado area.  They innovate, recently making two referees per match a standard as well as making a challenge mat available (with refs and scorer) if you didn't get enough or you want to take on a friend.

Well, now there's another reason to have great respect for owners Brett Boyce and Seth Daniels, as well as local blackbelt and respected coach Alvis Solis:  They booted Nick Schultz.

Here, in Alvis' words:

" So, I was coaching one of my guys and thought I saw Nick out of the corner of my eye across the mats. I finished with my guy and looked in that direction..didn't see him..so I walked in that direction, and saw that he was trying to hide behind this guy.

So as I was walking towards him, he was talking to (...), so I walked right up to Nick and asked what the f--- he was doing here? I told him you don't belong here and that no one wanted him here..he said I didn't do anything, I said both you and I know that's a lie..and (...) pulled him away.

I then ran into Seth, he talked to Brett and they got this huge guy to escort Nick out..Nick argued the whole time that he didn't do anything..Afterwards, talking to Seth, I found out that Nick had asked Seth if he could compete, Seth said no, and that he shouldn't show up either..Nick didn't respect that...oh, and I have gotten a lot of favorable responses from people, but also some that feel I should leave Nick be."

That's Alvis' report, and according to a friend who was table ref at a mat nearby, Nick was in attendance "coaching" for Paul Thomas aka Judo Paul, who I've written about here previously.  In fact, last time I worked this tournament in November, Paul swore up and down he'd never let Nick back in his academy.

EDITED TO ADD: as of Monday, this is what Paul Thomas had to say...

"Why are you dragging my name through the mud again? I had no competitors at the tournament... Nick is training with Draculino. Why don't you just call Nick or Draculino?"

I asked Paul if he was there and if Nick was affiliated with his school and he said he (Paul) wasn't there and Nick was not affiliated with his school. I asked Paul why would Nick say he was affiliated with Paul, to which he replied: " I coached Seth when he was a kid. Maybe he thought he could get in good with him."

I'm on the east coast attending a family funeral, or I'd have been there to see it myself.  As it is, I'm told Nick insisted he will be competing at the IBJJF Houston Open next month.

Please let the IBJJF and your local tournament promoters know how you feel about the kinds of people attending, competing, coaching in our community.  Speak up and let World Grappling Circuit (Brett and Seth) know you support their decision.

Thanks :-)

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Mateo in NYC

How many of us ladies have hung out with an "alleged" rapist (perhaps someone who was acquitted? or who was never formally charged?) and not known it?


Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Instructor formerly at Brandon Quick Jiu Jitsu charged with sex offense





Twenty-three year old owner Samuel Lewis of BQuick Jiu Jitsu in Stephenville TX was arrested on Monday January 13 and charged with sexual assault of a child (a 14 yr old female student).

BQuick Jiu Jitsu is Brandon Quick's dealio.  The Stephenville affiliate run by Lewis was just opened in October 2013, according to the scrolling ticker on BrandonQuick.com.

I have emailed Mr. Quick asking for a statement and I'll update here....

EDITED TO ADD:  Brandon Quick posted a statement disavowing Samuel Lewis on his facebook page...




  Thank you Brandon Quick.



Friday, January 10, 2014

The Pan is coming right up...

For those of you maybe a little newer to jiu jitsu, or who haven't competed much in the bigger tournaments, you may be wondering what the heck is the Pan.

I know when I first went, I called it the Pan Am or Pan Ams.  Technically it's the Pan American Jiu Jitsu Championship, and it's (I believe) the largest jiu jitsu tournament in the world- larger than Mundials (the World Championship) because it includes masters and seniors divisions whereas Mundials is just adults (the Masters and Seniors Worlds is separate.)

So yeah... after you go a time or two you may realize, as I did, that most people instead refer to it as "The Pan" or even Pans.

And... I'm going, again.  And working it, again, and not competing, again.   I haven't competed since the 2011 Pan.  I just have way too much work, work travel, and personal travel interfering to be able to devote myself to a solid competition training plan.  The Pan starts on Wednesday March 12 and finishes up with "blackbelt day" on Sunday March 16 (a misnomer since blackbelts start on Saturday; Sunday is mostly the semis and finals of most of the bb divisions.)  It's held in Irvine, CA (the closest airport is Orange County aka SNA but some people fly into LAX and drive.)

So, if you're thinking about doing the Pan (which I highly recommend, it's a lot of fun, the environment is exciting and the people watching and match watching is superb) you should start training.  The Houston Open (February 22-23) is a good warmup tournament, imho...  The IBJJF website says Pan registration is open, but I didn't see a link and I'm too busy/lazy to hunt it down at the moment.

Two oldies but goodies to read about designing your training schedule to avoid overtraining and hit your peak at the right time:

http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2012/04/perfect-peaking-part-1-overtraining-and-its-prevention-in-mixed-martial-arts-conditioning/

http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2012/04/perfect-peaking-part-2-tapering-and-peaking-for-mma-and-grappling-competition/

Wednesday, January 08, 2014

Should tournaments allow TLI to compete?

I received this from a friend in November, but due to work and family obligations, I failed to write this up until now.

I offer this principled stand for your consideration... personally, I will not compete in any tournament that permits TLI competitors to fight.  At least that's my opinion, thus far.  What do you think?  Comments are moderated, be polite. 

---- his story follows ----

Today (11/12/13) at 1:16 PM CST, I called the phone number provided on NAGA’s “Contact Us” page: 860-295-0403. I had attempted to call at 5:46 the previous evening, but got no answer and felt that leaving a message would do nothing.

A man answered the phone; if he gave me his name, I do not remember it. I introduced myself as a former competitor and asked him why Team Lloyd Irvin was still permitted to compete at his events. He asked me why they wouldn’t be.

I listed various reasons, among them Lloyd’s support of the rapists, Nyjah Easton’s questionable testimony, D.J. Jackson being a fugitive sex offender, and Lloyd’s massive liens from the IRS. He responded by telling me that he was not a judge or jury.

After a brief period of awkward silence, I asked him if it even bothered him what Lloyd had done. He responded by asking me what had held up in a court of law. I reminded him that D.J. Jackson was indicted and pled down, Nyjah’s testimony was on record, Lloyd’s liens were public knowledge, and that even if Schulz and Maldonado were acquitted, they still left an unconscious, bruised, half-naked girl in a 38 degree concrete parking garage.

When I also mentioned Lloyd’s SEO efforts, he spoke up, informing me that he was familiar with them. He told me he didn’t see the logic of banning a whole team based on one person’s actions, saying an NFL team isn’t banned from the league if a coach does something wrong. I reminded him that Penn State was ravaged by sanctions after the Sandusky incident. He said that the same response also occurred for gambling and that “it’s a totally different world” (direct quote).

As an aside, I am not sure what he meant here; if he was saying that the pros are different from college, he would be implying that NAGA is like the NFL, which is a frank overstatement of the former’s importance. He may have been saying that NAGA is a completely different world from football, which raises the question of why he made the analogy in the first place.

He concluded by telling me that he was “not having this conversation” and hung up. Being rather slow on the draw, I settled for giving the resulting static a piece of my mind.

I do not know if I spoke to Kipp Kollar, Joe Cuff, or Ryan Cook, all three of whom are listed on the contact page. In any case, I will no longer be competing in their events and will advise others to bow out as well. From what I can gather, their logic is every bit as poor as their morality, and if there’s one thing I hate more than bad people, it’s bad people who lack the capacity to at least somewhat justify being bad people..

Friday, January 03, 2014

Civil suit filed in NYE rape case

On December 30, 2013 "Jane Doe" filed a civil lawsuit against Maldonado, Schultz, the parking garage and the nightclub.

12/30/2013Service IssuedIssue Date: 12/30/2013
Service: Summons Issued
Method: Service Issued
Cost Per: $


PENN PARKING, INC.
1717 Rhode Island Ave., NW
WASHINGTON, DC 20036
Tracking No: 5000141265


MALDONADO, MATTHEW
681 West 193rd Street
Apt. 1H
NEW YORK, NY 10040
Tracking No: 5000141266


SCHULTZ, NICHOLAS
2003 Treelodge Pkwy
ATLANTA, GA 30350
Tracking No: 5000141267


MICHAEL ROMEO GROUP LLC
1219 Connecticut Avenue, NW
WASHINGTON, DC 20036
Tracking No: 5000141268

DOE, JANEPLAINTIFFSINCLAIR, WILLIAM N
PENN PARKING, INC.Defendant
MALDONADO, MATTHEWDefendant
SCHULTZ, NICHOLASDefendant
MICHAEL ROMEO GROUP LLCMIDTOWN LOUNGEDefendant

Here's the update on Schultz's criminal case:

01/07/201410:00 AMStatus Hearing

Docket DateDescriptionMessages
01/03/2014Order Entered on the DocketOrder Entered on the Docket- Granting Defendant's Unopposed Motion to Waive Defendant's Presence at Status Hearing. Signed in chambers by Judge Zoe Bush on January 3, 2014. Copies faxed to parties. JLT.
12/31/2013Judge Caseload Transfer-CriminalJudge Caseload Transfer-Criminal
The judge was changed from DEMEO, MARISA J to BUSH, ZOE .
12/31/2013Event ScheduledEvent Scheduled
Event: Status Hearing
Date: 01/07/2014 Time: 10:00 am
Judge: BUSH, ZOE Location: Courtroom 210
12/03/2013Event Resulted - Release Status:Event Resulted - Release Status: PR PSA. AUSA Peter Taylor present on behalf of the Government. Defendant was screened and determined to be CJA eligible. Court appointed counsel. Newly appointed counsel requests a status hearing to confer with client, investigate, and receive discovery, granted, Government not opposed.
The following event: Status Hearing scheduled for 12/03/2013 at 10:00 am has been resulted as follows:

Result: Hearing Held
Judge: DEMEO, MARISA J Location: Courtroom 210
NICHOLAS SCHULTZ (Defendant (Criminal)); ; GREY A GARDNER (Attorney) on behalf of NICHOLAS SCHULTZ (Defendant (Criminal)); Judge MARISA J DEMEO
I'll keep you posted as I find out anything else.