Popovitch-Spangler

Match of the day is 2x No-Gi World Champion and ADCC Champion Pablo Popovitch vs. Sean Spangler in a ADCC Trials match some years back. This is a rare match where you will see Pablo pull guard and he finishes a very tough Spangler w/ one of my favorite moves, a half guard sweep into kneebar.

“Sweat plus sacrifice equals success.” – Charles Finley

Garcia-Aoki

Match of the day is the legend himself, Marcelo Garcia vs Shinya Aoki in a 2005 ADCC match. Aoki is a blackbelt under Yuki Nakai and is the former DEEP and Shooto Champion. He is consider one of the best grapplers in Japan but is no match for Marcelo in this one.

“A goal properly set is halfway reached.” – Zig Ziglar

Congrats to Danny “Newskin” Lleonart and Joe “Google” Mannarino on earning their purplebelts and Eric Estevez and Mike Gonzalez on earning their bluebelts tonight. I’m very proud of your sacrifice and dedication. Keep up the great work!

Almeida-Margolis

BJJ match of the day is 2002 match between Ricardo Almeida vs Todd Margolis at a US Grappling Tournament in 2002. This tournament was run by my friend, the late Joe Priole, one of the best men I have ever known. This is an awesome match, one of all-time favorites. They were 2 of the best grapplers in the US at the time and show it early w/ Ricardo playing a deep half that is popular today and Todd defending w/ kimuras. Todd always had an underated guard IMO (he once triangled Pablo Popovitch from his guard) because he was such a good wrestler.

“I’m not telling you it is going to be easy—I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it.” – Art Williams

Tonight was possibly my favorite night ever at my Academy. Some of my most dedicated and hardest working students got promoted, both classes had over 30 people in them and i was told by more than 5 students that I gave my best and most inspirational speech yet. In the words of Ice Cube, “Today was a good day!”

Drysdale-Marcello

BJJ match of the day is the 2007 ADCC Absolute Championship final between 2 of the best grapplers in the world. Robert Drysdale, a 2005 World Champion vs. Marcello Garcia, a 5x World Chmapion and 3x ADCC Champion, considered by many to be one of the best pound for pound grapplers in the World.

“Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Half effort does not produce half results. It produces no results. Work, continuous work and hard work, is the only way to accomplish results that last.” – Hamilton Holt