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About Me

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my many faces
My name is Romeo Barnes. I'm an author and a BJJ black belt with cerebral palsy. This blog is about my life balancing existence in two worlds. My latest book, My World is now available Amazon.com. Glad you're here, enjoy the journey.

write and roll

For the many who don't know who I am, my name is Romeo Barnes. I have two goals in life.
1)Use my artistic skills to become famous
2)Use my fame to change the world

I've wanted to be a writer since I was 14. Trying to become a published author and get your BJJ Black Belt at the same time is not an easy task. Today as I type this I reflect on my position in both areas. As a self-publishing author I must market and promote my own work; yet, as a martial artist I am dependent on someone else to evaluate my skills and promote me to the next level. This is the paradox that is my life. On paper I have complete control, on the mat I must force things to happen as I control nothing.

I don't mind living in this paradox as this a simple one compared the other paradoxes of my life which I'll get into in later installments. Its the balance of this paradox that is complicated. Are you comfortable with the paradoxes of your life?

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top vs. bottom

This is post that has been in my head since Georgette blogged her time at the Pan back in April over at her blog georgette's world . I don't quite remember the name of the post(just search her April posts) but in it she stated that sweep+submissions is better than takedown+pass therefore she implied unintentionally or not that playing the bottom is better than playing the top. Her reasoning being there are more options on the bottom which is completely true but thats only because you can transition to a different guard should the one you're using currently not be working not because the top player doesn't have submissions. Therefore, I must disagree with her statement. Firstly, if you pull guard and I knee-cut/step over into your half and flatten I get an advantage meaning all I have to do is stay there until time is up and I win. All leglocks can come from the top and in fact do especially the ankle lock. The toe hold and Heel Hook are the most common leg attacks from

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