My many faces

One of the biggest and most debated topics in the BJJ community is the turtle position. There are two big arguements about this position. 1) Is it an actual guard? 2) If it gets used as a guard how do we score it in tournaments? In my opinion for a position to be considered a guard, it must fit three requirements: 1) It must start from a defensive standpoint. 2) You must be able to defend yourself AND launch attack. 3) It must have at least one(1) self-defense application. 4) You must have a way to control your opponent/enemy. So let's see if turtle is a legitimate guard. On your knees not being able to see your enemy sounds pretty defensive to me. Your hands and elbows can keep you from taking punches and knees flush and you have access to kneebars, toeholds, kimuras, armbars, wristlocks and a boatload of sweeps. So that's points one and two covered. On to point 3 and 4 Self-defense application: When you turtle on the street you roll away immediately and sit to full guard or ...

A question I get a lot is: "Why do you compete against guys that can use their legs?" I answer simply "Because I can beat them." Asking organizations to create divisions just for guys like me(with limited lower body use) seems selfish and goes against the whole reason compete. Don't get me wrong I want the titles and fame that comes along with being among the best in the world. Black Belt World Champion is my ultimate goal in competitive BJJ. However, the real reason I compete is to show others like me that they can do the same. In truth, I started BJJ because was bored of being home everyday with nothing to do I felt stuck in place as I stopped going to physical therapy because it hurt so much and was boring as fuck. Needless to say i fell in love with the sport and I figured I could make a difference I know there are thousands of kids who are just like I was bored and in pain for their daily lives and physical therapy just makes it worse.

First off, I have no idea why I haven't been writing and I know I do a horrible job of keeping this blog up to date. Please forgive me. As you may know the Mid-Atlantic was hit with a blizzard about 3 weeks ago followed by a smaller snow storm the day after and being in Maryland I was caught right in the middle of it. Well, I'll let this be known now snow and wheelchairs aren't the best of friends. Needless to say, I've come to loathe snow with an intense passion. Due to the snow I was stuck in the house until yesterday. Where'd I go? Take a guess... You got it I went to BJJ practice. There's something majestic about rolling around on those ugly blue mats. You wouldn't think preventing your limbs from being broken when someone is trying to hyperextend or twist them to cause breaks would be something anyone would look forward to but as I said there's a majestic quality about it; it's really therapuetic. You really need to exprience it to understand wh...

With 2010 just days away. Everyone's setting a resolution to keep themselves on track at least for the early months of 2010. The problem with resolutions is they are given in a manner leaving too much room for interpation and therefore laziness due to over-modification. What is a resolution? In terms of the new year's a resolution is a goal for the year. However, webster defines a resolution as a finish or the end of plot/story. Resolutions are often changed because they are too hard and couldn't be completed the previous year. This is due again to over-modification and a vague picture. My goals for 2010: 1) Publish Emotions Volume 2: Better Days 2) Win Mundials 3) Make Purple Belt I list them in order of importance NOT the order of completion desired. This allows goals to carry over into 2011 if for some reason, they aren't completed in 2010. The truth is there is really no END, which is what a resolution is by definition. There are two schools of thought. Some say you...

I've been away for a while. Everything is cool I've just been getting things together for 2010. With Emotions Volume 2 now subtitled Better Days(yes, thats the official name) scheduled for a spring release and the fact that I'm still working on Secret Paradise which will be my first novel things have been busy. In BJJ News I just competed at NAGA DC on October 10 th , I've been playing my matches over and over in my head since I left the venue I'm still waiting on the videos from the teammate who recorded them. In 2010, I'll attend Mundials (The World Championships) and I'll be damned if I dont come back with a medal or two around my neck. Now the belt level of the aformentioned medal(blue or purple belt) is up to Maguilla and how he plans to handle promotions in 2010. Speaking of Maguilla he was away the entire month of October he went home to brazil on "vacation". I firmly believe he went to go take the test to get his 5 th degree stripe...

ok i've been away for a while I know. I've been working on my novel I should be able to release it within the next two to three years after the Emotions series is complete if all goes as planned. A lot has happened in the past two months the book sales are finally picking up and I'm working on a deal with a local store. I will let you all know when a deal is finalized please know the book will always be available on http://www.amazon.com/ and http://www.booksurge.com/ . There is no exact date for the release of Emotions Vol. 2, I'm shooting for Spring 2010. I'm also saving up to start my own publishing company I'm aiming for my novel to be the company's first release we will also re-release the Emotions series. In BJJ news as advertised I went to New Jersey June 27-28. I got there Saturday morning at around 8am we drove all night. Saturday I was not scheduled to compete so I stayed and watched the Pro submission fights even though I was going on literally n...

Collection of poetry reveals how emotions can heal pain Emotions: The Beginning of Turmoil by Romeo Barnes is the first in a poetry series that explores how creative expression can mend lives SUITLAND, Md.–Emotions: The Beginning of Turmoil by Romeo Barnes is a poetry collection that celebrates the healing power writing can have when dealing with the difficulties in life. Romeo Barnes was born with cerebral palsy. One dark night, when he was contemplating suicide, he began to write poems about his pain, and it was then he realized he has a creative voice and something to offer the world. This collection, Emotions: The Beginning of Turmoil, is what Barnes calls “the deepest release of his thoughts and feelings.” In poem after poem, Barnes explores how people can only be who and what they are, and to deny it is to face more difficulties in life. Using his life experiences as fodder for the poems, Barnes’ writing offers sage advice. Acting happy when you are sad can affect your well- be...