“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” - Joshua J. Marine

 September is here!  Increase the intensity and make that jump in your game!

Joey Beltran and Ray Sloan Brazilian Jiu Jitsu San Diego

Excel Jiu Jitsu San Diego, Ca

Let's train!


-Team EXCEL

Ray "Ray Gun" Sloan gets the win at the XPlode Fight series!

Armando Contreras, Jon Romero, Ben Jackson, Ray Sloan, Michio Grubbs, Bubba Pugh, Charlie Grant

 Congratulations to Ray Sloan and the Excel Fight Team on an awesome win at the Xplode Fight Series on Jul 20th!  He finished his opponent in the first round with a beautiful arm lock!

Ray Sloan displaying explosive power!

 Ray "Ray Gun" came out blasting with power and then picked his opponent up in the air in a double leg attack with a huge slam into the mount!  The opponent tried to escape and Ray took his arm in an arm lock to get the win!

Ray Sloan in full mount looking to finish the fight!

Ray Sloan with the post fight interview with Ben Jackson

Special thanks to MMA coaches & Partners; Bubba Pugh, Jon Romero, and Armando Contreras. Jiu Jitsu Coaches Michio Grubbs & Charlie Grant.  Boxing Coach Sio Makihele of Pound 4 Pound Boxing!  Thank you to all of Team Excel that bought tickets and came out to support!


-Team EXCEL

Oceanside MMA, Sunday workout!

Ray Sloan, Sam Holman, Mando Contrereas, Joey Beltran, and Bubba Pugh

The guys are training hard as they get ready for their upcoming fights!  Representing Oceanside MMA!

Scientific Art by Ezekiel "Zeke" Fernando

“Don’t only practice your art, but force your way to its secrets, for it and knowledge can raise men to the divine.” -Ludwig Van Beethoven

Oceanside Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is a martial arts system that focuses on the ground fighting range.  A Japanese Judoka and Jiujitsuka named Mitsuyo Maeda emigrated from Japan to live in Brazil. Maeda taught the Gracie family Japanese Judo/ Jiu-Jitsu.  Using the concepts and techniques Mitsuyo Maeda taught the Gracie family, the Gracie family developed their own system of ground fighting called Brazilian jiu-jitsu. In the 1990’s the Gracie family promoted the effectiveness of their ground fighting system through a competition called the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Due to the success of the Gracie family in the early days of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, it became clear that the Gracie family had developed the premier ground fighting system.

Since I have started training in martial arts, I have learned many things about myself that I would not have discovered, through any other modality. I have learned that it is better to avoid situations where I cannot obtain my goals. I have also learned that since I live in a dynamic environment, I cannot remain stationary, I must adapt to the selection pressures in my environment to become a better Brazilian Jiu-jitsu player, a better martial artist, and a better person.

Excel Jiu Jitsu!

When I step onto the mat, I remind myself that I am placing myself in to environment of learning; My own scientific laboratory, where I can test concepts and techniques to form my grappling game. Currently, my hypotheses are: Do I have the skills necessary to survive in an inferior position? Also do I have the skills necessary to impose my will, to achieve the goal of either improving my position or obtaining a submission?  I am not always successful in achieving desired results from my hypotheses, but the results from each experiment gives me a system of techniques that I know works for me as well as actions that do not work.  It is the crucible of training that helps us to adapt to the selection pressures of the Brazilian Jiu-jitsu mat.

As human beings, we are all unique but we have the same fundamental anatomical structures that can be exploited in order to improve our position or obtain submissions. I also have learned that we each have a distinct body composition and ways of moving our bodies. No two people are exactly alike. This means that each of us will have our own method of grappling that would be uniquely suited for us. We each have to discover our own grappling game.

            Practicing Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is not only a martial science but also an art, a means of uniquely expressing oneself through the modality of combat. Simply, the art of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is to use leverage instead of brute force to improve position or attain a submission. Through this medium of combative moving mediation, we learn to truly live in the moment as our actions could result in dislocated bone structures, unconsciousness or even death.  We learn to protect ourselves and our training partners from potential injury by always being mindful of the situations that we are in. When we improve ourselves, we improve the group’s ability to become better.

Zeke training hard!

If you are considering training in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, I wholeheartedly endorse training with the Excel Jiu-jitsu team. Each Brazilian Jiu-jitsu professor at Excel Jiu-jitsu is completely devoted to improving the grappling game of each team member. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Professors facilitate a constructively competitive environment that is conducive to learning Brazilian Jiu-jitsu regardless of your background or learning style. The training philosophy is that as I better myself in the practice of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, I am able to positively contribute to the group’s understanding of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, thereby improving my own game. It is like a friendly arms race with the aim of improving our Brazilian Jiu-jitsu games.  So come in and try a class. I am confident that you will not be disappointed. Excel past every limit! 

-ZEKE

Oceanside Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

 Come in for a great Experience...make friends, get a great workout, and grow as a person!

Oceanside Jiu Jitsu Free Classes

After a tough workout!

 Congratulations to Paolo on his 2nd stripe White Belt Promotion!  This man works hard and has made big jumps in his game!

Paolo Rendon and Instructor Charlie Grant

Hard Work + Dedication = Success!


-Team EXCEL

Why I train at Excel Jiu Jitsu -Joe Pugh

Joe has been with the team for a long time and represents the nice guys that like to get in and mix it up and get that combat athletics  training.  Joe is 50 years young and continues to train hard every week.  Here is a short article by him...

Joe Pugh, EXCEL Jiu Jitsu Oceanside

 I was first introduced to Jiu Jitsu by my son, he would set up mats in the garage and have some friends over. I couldn't resist the urge to roll with them, I am heavier than my son so how bad could this go? His Jiu Jitsu was so effective and efficient that I was saying hey that hurts within the first couple minutes! He laughed and said "I know". I joined a gym that offered Jiu Jitsu the next day. My intent was to get better, build cardio, strength and be able to roll with both my son's. So off I went training at a different gym than where my son trained. I did that for awhile but I couldn't get to the level of training that I was happy with. I wanted to be as good as my son. So I talked to him about his gym and joining him with his training. His response was "I dunno it's kinda rough there" he was right. I was pushed further than I thought I could go. I would go into training thinking, ok don't embarrass your son today, try to survive. Every session was exhausting, exciting, extremely educational. Every person I've met has been extremely polite, humble and caring. I am older than most of the guys I train with, actually I may be the oldest guy at the gym right now. I have these young guys and girls training me, coaching me and pushing me to be better. It's actually fun to see a group of young men and women setting and exceeding their goals.

Joe training hard, at EXCEL Jiu Jitsu Oceanside

So my first reason to train Jiu Jitsu was so I wouldn't get beat by my son. I still get beat.... I didn't factor into the equation he was going to get better too, now both my sons train... Yea that's not any better for me either but I'm lasting longer during our rolling sessions now at least Along they way Jiu Jitsu has introduced me to some of the best people I've met

Joe Pugh, gets the win, EXCEL Jiu Jitsu

Now I train at Excel Jiu Jitsu for many reasons, I love watching both my boys be amazing men even though I will pay for their progress it's what I love to do most, I enjoy Jiu Jitsu, it's a great workout, its healthy, it's a it's a workout for your mind, body and soul, my best friends and family train at Excel. Training at Excel under these coaches is one of the best decisions I've ever made.

-Joe Pugh, TEAM EXCEL

What Brazilian Jiu-jitsu means to me - By Mathew Liebovitz

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training in Oceanside

            To me Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is more than a hobby, its more than a sport; it’s a way of life, a true martial art. Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is a constant challenge that I present to myself on a daily basis; it’s the challenge to eat healthy foods, to keep my mind sharp, and to keep my lifestyle clean. The challenge from Brazilian Jiu-jitsu comes from within; the true source of the challenge is not external.

BJJ Oceanside, Ca

For me, I do not compete with my training partners, but with myself, to be the best grappler that I can be, the hardest worker that I can be, the best version of myself in the moment, in every moment that I can be. In Brazilian Jiu-jitsu one cannot hide from themselves, from the reality of who they are, as ones true self comes out on the mat. Those who cannot be constantly humbled never seem to make it, but those who are secure with themselves spend a lifetime perfecting the art.

Mat with Michio Grubbs and Corey Bennin

Brazilian Jiu-jitsu has given me more than I can ever give back to it. It gives me the confidence to reach my goals in life, and the ability to protect my family without any pretense. Brazilian Jiu-jitsu has also given me the confidence to reach all of my goals in life, to live what I believed once were just far away dreams. What does Brazilian Jiu-jitsu mean to me? It means everything.

 

By Mathew Liebovitz