Here’s a little imagination and mental planning. You’re at open mat, and you’re going against your mat nemesis (whomever that is, name them if you’d like), and the round goes exactly how you planned it. You hit a takedown, control and then get the submission. What is the takedown that you used? 

What do you value more during a roll, control or the submission? 

I’d rather be in complete control the entire roll with no submission, than catching a lucky submission in the first minute. 

I’m talking in a training session.. in competition by all means catch that lucky submission and conserve energy! 

I am currently on a work trip which has inspired this question, when you are out of town for work or for fun, do you find a place to train? 

I personally do not but that’s only due to the lack of free time. I would love to be able to get a class in while away. I’m curious how many savages we have that make the time and the effort to bring their Gi and attend a class. 

If you could attend any seminar for free, who would you pick? Would you have a specific topic request?

My top pick would have to be Gordon for obvious reasons. But If we eliminated that option, I’d pick JFlo followed closely by Lovato Jr. All three of these names would be a world class experience! I personally wouldn’t even request a topic, just learn whatever they are best and most passionate about. 

If you walked in to class and Professor asked you to pick the topic to work on, what would you choose? 

For me, it would be anything takedown related. I’ve been very focused on stand up grappling for the past couple of months and loving it! Anything to learn or drill from judo or wrestling is fine by me. 

If you could go back in time and watch any combat sport (jiu jitsu, boxing, mma, etc) match up live and in the front row, what would it be? 

I’d choose the Max Holloway vs Justin Gaethje fight for the BMF belt. Seeing Max knock out Justin with a second left in the 5th round and hearing the pop of the arena would be absolutely insane! One of the top sporting moments in my book. Right up there with Scotty Pods hitting a walk off in Game 2 of the 05 World Series. #GoSox

What has been the most difficult belt for you along your BJJ journey? Is it the belt you are currently at or a different one?

I think a newly promoted blue belt was the most difficult time period for me. You’re fighting your own expectations, white belts see you as an opportunity to prove themselves and you start to discover that many of the upper belts weren’t giving you their A game before… now they are and the taps don’t seem to stop! 

If you didn’t have to worry about work, family or any other personal obligations, how many times a week would be your ideal number of days to train? 

Question of the week. 

What are you doing off the mat that you think will help you with your training on the mat? Are you strength training, watching instructional videos, watching sparring film, managing your nutrition, or something else? 

Personally I’m a huge advocate of strength training. If you look at any of the big time tournaments, all the top practitioners look like superheroes. I feel that this can’t be ignored. I heard a quote somewhere that said “Jiu Jitsu is for the little guy… but then the big guys started learning Jiu Jitsu too”. 

Do you have a favorite Jiu Jitsu practitioner to watch? Is there a Jiu Jitsu practitioner’s game that you try to emulate? Are they the same or are they different?

For me, I really enjoy watching the Ruotolo brothers compete. They are both very aggressive and exciting. They push the pace and are always looking for a submission. Like a pair of Vipers. 

But the game I try to mimic more would be Gordon Ryan. A much slower and methodical approach to submission hunting. Trying to eliminate all variability while not assuming much risk. The excitement is in the details, not necessarily in the explosive nature.