We are in the middle of what the meteorologists are calling the hottest year in Florida…EVER.  Dang!  This is a perfect lead in to one of the most important topics that I discuss with my patients.  Not only is water required for each and every function (even at the cellular level) of our bodies, but it is vital to spinal and joint health.  Without getting too much into anatomy, those with chronic back/neck/shoulder/knee pains are usually in some state of dehydration.  After all, the discs (those little cartilage shock absorbers between the vertebrae) are mostly filled with water, so when we’re dehydrated, we begin to feel the disc injuries (that we all have) just a bit more.

The amount of fluids you require is a simple formula:  ¾ of your body weight in ounces of water.  So, when I finally reach 200lbs, Ill need 150 ounces of water daily.  That’s a bit over a gallon per day, or over 4 liters for you metric fans.  If you’re not presently getting that and you start in with the proper amount, yes, you will be in the bathroom A LOT…no worries, after a couple of days, your kidneys will have self regulated and everything will be back to normal.   And NO… beer, espresso, Grey Goose, cola, and iced tea is not an appropriate way to hydrate.

Lets throw a wrench in the equation…when we train, roll, run, or hang out in the sun, we sweat out lots of water and electrolytes.  Electrolytes are vital in the firing of nerve impulses to the muscles, muscle contraction and for the prevention of cramps.  Sports drinks have them in abundance, but honestly, none of us need all of the processed sugars in drinks like gator/powerade.  I prefer the no sugar varieties of those.  Best of all is nature’s own sports drink, coconut water.  It has no added sugar and far more electrolytes than any commercial sports drink.

Finally, you may wonder how important hydration is to your jiu jitsu.  It’s been clinically demonstrated time after time that dehydration will sap up to 75%, no that’s not a typing error, of your strength and endurance during athletic competition.  None of us can afford to be sapped during a roll, especially during a competition or a tournament.  So, figure out how much water you need on a daily basis, stock up on some kind of sports drink, and roll hard!!!!

Feel free to contact me anytime at any of the email addresses or phone numbers below to discuss this or any other issue you may be having.   See you at training!

Dr. Paul Goodkin
(954) 202-9009
navychiro@aol.com
www.Goodkinchiro.com

The 30-year-old today spoke up about his winning the VIC tournament, in a chat with GRACIEMAG.com, explaining why he and buddy Jeff Monson didn’t face off in the absolute final, opting to split the 1,500-Euro prize money.

“I had eight matches and won most of them by submission, taking the under-84kg title and the absolute, closing out with Jeff in the open weight division. Shoot, we’ve been training partners and friends for over ten years; there’s no way we could fight each other,” he explains.

Pablo has a date for his MMA debut marked on the calendar. On June 4 he’ll be in a co-main event at Rock and Rumble 3, to take place at the Hard Rock Café in Florida. And his eight fights were good prep work for the challenge.

“This championship served as preparation for my coming fights. My MMA debut is coming up June 4 as a co-main event at Rock and Rumble 3, in Florida. But I’m also going to compete at the Grapplers Quest 32-Man tourney in July, which will be high level. But I’m training a lot and I hope to have a great MMA debut,” he says in closing.

The Grapplers Quest challenge with 32 big names in no-gi grappling takes place on the 10th and 11th of July, with a 10-thousand-dollar payout for the winner. Among the names aired by the promoters, Xande Ribeiro, Josh Barnett, Jeff Monson, Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu, Daniel Moraes, Bill “The Grill” Cooper, Vinicius Magalhães, Chris Moriarty, and other should be there.

Team Popovitch Black Belt Fighter James Brasco  submitted Mitch Whitesel via rear naked choke in round 1 during the main event at World Extreme Fighting on 01/08/2010. The event was held at the Robert Morris College Arena, Pittsburgh, PA.

Per Brasco ” the guy caught me with a knee and I recovered with a sweep to MOUNT-rained down blows and he gave his back ……then i just squeezed !!! ”

Congratulations Brasco!

Andres No Gi 1st Match

Eric 1st Match No Gi

Felipe 3rd Match No Gi

Mike’s 1st Match No Gi

Mike Gi Match

My first match was against Don Ortega who was an all american wrestler in college and is also a blackbelt.  He had won many titles such as the IBJJF world Brownbelt title and I knew he would be tough.  I decided to just go out there and take it too him right off the bat with no hesitation.  I hit him with a hard double finishing it and ending up getting his back where i was able to finish him quickly.

My second match was against Ben Askren.  Ben is as good as a wrestler as you will find in the world today. He was an Olympian for the US just last year.  He has been training his ground alot and i knew he would be playing strategy with me to keep it on the feet as much as possible.  I went out there tied up and pulled guard quickly and then was able to secure the kneebar right away for the finish.  At that point I had had two submissions and less than three total minutes on the mat for the first day and was satisified with my performance but knew the tough part was gonna be the next day.

In the semis I went against Gregor Gracie who was having an outstanding tournament and came well prepared to compete at a high level.  The match started with some tieing up and Gregor working some faints and moving his head looking aggressive for the takedown but ended up pulling guard.   His guard was solid but I was waiting for the right opportunity to pass.  With about 3 minutes left in the match , he gave his back on a pass attempt and I took it looking for the choke immediately.  I had the rear naked sunk in deep and he was about to tap and time expired.  The match ended 3-0.

At this point i felt I was having a perfect tournament and was ready for “war” with Garcia in the finals !!!  It was my third time meeting him and I was not gonna be denied.  I trained for this as hard as possible and had good strategy.  In 2005 I was injured 6 weeks before the tournament and got food poisoning the week of the ADCC which forced me to play alot of strategy.   After the first day i was done.  Then in 2007, My strategy was to pull guard right off the bat and play bottom for the first half of the match and i just got caught. My conditioning was no where near where it is now.  This year I had no doubt I was ready with no excuses. Everything was hitting on all cylinders for me.  I was at my best ever.

The match started and I was able to blast thru him for an early takedown.  I stayed on him and was looking at how he was reacting to my offense and he was able to sweep me putting me on my back where we stayed for abit.  I was then able to hip sweep him back but my feet where caught abit and he was working for a footlock.  There was no threat but i never fully got set or comfortable on top in his x-guard and he was able to sweep me back again.  It was a battle to this point and only 5 minutes into the match !!! From there I was able to start working my half guard sweep where I was again able to finish the sweep and gain top position where he was sitting down and alot of hand fighting was taking place. During the 2nd half of the match when points were being scored I was constantly trying to engage from the top but he did a great job of keeping me off.  He eventually swept me with an omoplata for 2 points.  I was able to come to my feet and instead of contesting the takedown, he just sat and took the penalty point.  The score at that moment was 2-0 with him holding a negative one.   I was confident I could pass his guard  and I felt him wearing down just holding on a bit.  With about a minute left I was able to get to half guard and lock him down.  This was where I wanted to be and I was not gonna lose this position.  I was able to pull my leg thru and explode for the pass !!!  He fought hard to replace or hip out but i was able to hold for the points. That put me up 3-2.  Which technically was 3-1.  In the last few seconds he desperately came at me trying to score and I defended losing a point and the match ended 2-1  !!!!  I had reached my goal of winning the ADCC !!!!

Rear Naked Choke  Against Gregor Gracie

The Guard Pass that gave me the win-Final Score 3-2

The Drama Begins-

What people dont realize and I never complained about was the amount of eye poking that was going on during the match.  If you watch it around the 4 to 5 minute mark was how much he was defending with his hands in my face.  I received a finger in the eye many times including 2 very hard pokes.  I had to stop once and put water on my eye to clear my vision as I couldn’t see. Heck, I had two black eyes the next day !!!  I also was kicked in the chest a few times.  All of that is ok when two great competitors go at it with high stakes and especially an ADCC title on the line.  With that being said, I want to confront these accusations that have been put on me about  “short grabbing” during the match.  I do not remember pulling the shorts and have watched the video many times to see where I did and haven’t been able to see it. When Garcia complained to the referee, the referee told him that I he did not see any short grabbing and that I was not doing that.  If he felt any type of pull it was accidental and was for a split second, that had no effect on the match.  There were 5 judges at the table and a referee.  If there was any type of short grabbing, they would have saw it.  That hurts me because it is unfair to my effort and performance. Also his hand in my face/eyes made it very difficult to guard pass and engage in any sort of attack from the top position. I’ve never faced anyone that did that. Unreal for someone to believe that a match could be affected by grabbing shorts, specially since we train with the gi everyday. Where grips are part of the game.

One of many hand in the face accidentally poking me in the eye

Congratulations To the Champion!!!

James Brasco is a mixed martial artist fighting out of Team Popovitch in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where he is also the wrestling instructor. He is a Pennsylvania native where he was a PIAA state runner up with a high school record of 127-10. His wrestling achievements not ending there, he is also a Pennsylvania State Freestyle Champion, 3-times NCCA Eastern Regional Champion and ranked #6 by Amateur Wrestling News. Taking up Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu just to see what it was about, he quickly excelled and is a six-time N.A.G.A Champion, 2007 World Brown Belt Jiu Jitsu Champion. He also recently received an invitation to participate in this year’s ADCC. Coming up on September 4 he will be fighting Herbert Goodman at Shine 2: ATT vs The World from the James L. Knight Center in Miami, Fla. He is currently 5-1 in MMA, but his accolades and skill level supersede his record. He took the time to answer a few questions and gave his thoughts on issues such as why he has a hard time getting fights, The Ultimate Fighter tryouts, and Brock Lesnar.

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MMA Spot:  How much do you know about your opponent Herbert Goodman and how do you see the fight going?
Brasco:  I know he was an NFL player and obviously is a great athlete. I know he doesn’t have a wrestling background or much grappling experience outside MMA and throws hard. But when you’re an athlete like him, you can compensate pretty well for any weaknesses. I am definitely not taking him lightly – I expect a war!

MMA Spot:  From my understanding, you’ve had a hard time getting fights and generally take fights on short notice; do you think it is because of your credentials and accomplishments in grappling circles?
Brasco:  My credentials definitely are intimidating. I am sure, to a fighter who is trying to build a record and gain experience in MMA, so fighting against me is sometimes not in their best interest as even if they are a favorite to win, it isn’t a sure thing. I have taken fights on short notice…most notably the one I lost, that was also held in a boxing ring, which I haven’t ever even trained in. I also took the Bellator fight on six days notice and I won that one. So I am even so to say.

MMA Spot:  You had a tough fight with Yosmany Cabezas last year. It appeared you were poked in the eye while going for a takedown, did that effect the fight and how you approached it from then on? Is that a rematch you’re looking for sometime in the future?
Brasco:  I was poked in the eye on a takedown attempt, but that is MMA, and was ruled unintentional. It did throw me off balance for sure and affect my attack. But to say I am looking for a rematch is a bit of a strong comment; because as a mixed martial arts fighter, you gain from every win and loss and cannot dwell on any of them. It is definitely a fight I would take but he and I are a lot further ahead in our careers now and it would have to make sense for both of us, or at least be a stepping stone. So I am not really looking to fight anyone, I am just going to take what comes my way.

MMA Spot:  Having won titles such as the World Brown Belt Jiu Jitsu Championship and a six-time NAGA champion, what accomplishment stands out the most?
Brasco:  I have had a few experiences that stick out that I think defined me such as winning the Worlds. That was such a great moment and a fulfilling one. Also, competing against Jeff Monson and losing by referee decision after overtime…that showed that I am at a world class level. It put me on the map for sure.

MMA Spot:  You have a really good background in wrestling, What motivated you to get into BJJ and ultimately MMA?
Brasco:  I have always had an interest in styles versus styles type fights. I always felt the wrestler had the advantage due to our toughness and strength. I started doing BJJ to see what it was about, and to become a better street fighter if I ran into that situation. It was interesting to learn grappling from a different perspective. So I would enter tournaments when I lived In Pennsylvania and would do really well. Actually, my first grappling tournament was the Arnold Worlds in 2001. I entered the pro division and didn’t even know what a triangle was. I won my first match against some tough judo guy from Orlando, then I was winning against this brown belt and with a minute left he put me in a triangle. I went to pick him up to slam him and the referee told me not to slam him and I had to tap. I was sooo mad [laughs].

MMA Spot:  What was the experience like at The Ultimate Fighter Season 7 tryouts and did they give any reason as to why you were passed up?
Brasco:  That tryout was kind of ridiculous, as Dana White knew who he wanted already, and I feel it was more for publicity than anything. If you notice, the guys who mostly make it are Randy Couture or Matt Serra guys for example. Former UFC guys that recommend their guys usually get the shot. I also was only 1-0 at that point and that didn’t help either. I only had 45 seconds to show my grappling skills as did everyone else and he called names from there. I don’t know how that is any indication of who should be picked – its political like anything else. I am sure if I lived in Vegas and trained under a former or current UFC fighter I would have snuck in by now, but it doesn’t bother me, as I wouldn’t want to be in that crazy house anyway.

MMA Spot:  What are some of your short and long term goals?
Brasco:  My short tern goals are to finish this fight Friday with a win, then compete in the ADCC World tournament, which I got invited to last week. I am looking to place in the top three there for sure. As far as long-term goals, I am looking to get my shot in the UFC. I know I am good enough now, and have the record to show for it. After that I would like to open a school of my own, and teach while living an active lifestyle molding people to become better in every way.

MMA Spot:  Being the wrestling coach at Pablo Popovitch CJJ center, are there any young guys we should keep our eyes on?
Brasco:  Yes for sure. I have some guys in mind that are getting better every week. I love that part of it because some of them never wrestled and are really becoming good wrestlers now. I won’t mention any names as I don’t want to put the pressure on any of them. But I assure you that you will start to see a long line of top guys.

MMA Spot:  Who are some of the guys you train with on a day-to-day basis?
Brasco:  I train with Pablo, Vagner Roche (PanAm champ), Cyborg, our other instructor and black belt Jay, as well as a whole list of tough purple and brown belts. The training here is second to none, and we train very hard. There are no easy goes, they are all wars! As far as stand up, I train with Larry Boden( kick box coach) and various up and coming amateur kick boxers weekly.

MMA Spot:  What is it like training with someone like Pablo Popovitch?
Brasco:  It truly is amazing. He is so driven and focused. Also, sparring with him is interesting because just when you think you have a handle on him, he pulls a new technique out or finish. I always said he can beat you a hundred out of a hundred times and win a different way each time. He is a perfectionist and being around him can only make you better. Not just as a fighter, but as a person. He wants what is best for us, and lives his life very clean and structured. It has really straightened me out.

MMA Spot:  What are the positives and negatives about being a mixed martial artist?
Brasco:  The positives are the great people you are around, and the physical fitness you receive from it. Also testing yourself, and finding out who you are inside; such as if you can take a punch or not. The negatives are the time spent training. To be at a high level, you have to train hard and develop all your skills. I also would say the time it takes to get where you are relevant also is tough, as well as the injuries that come with training.

MMA Spot:  How do you feel when fighters act such as Brock Lesnar did recently at UFC 100? Is it bad for the sport, or are people simply overreacting?
Brasco:  That is a mixed bag, because it definitely brings entertainment to the sport. That was a guy acting out the way he truly felt after a huge win where everyone doubted him and gave him no respect. The guy trains his ass off and truly wants to be the best. He even stands in there and throws punches. It also was very funny the way he acted if you ask me. Some of those lines he said were really hilarious especially about the “horse shoe”. If you didn’t see, Frank Mir approached him after the fight and started jawing . On the other hand, you have to remember kids are watching this and some sense of responsibility has to have a presence.

MMA Spot:  What do you like to do in your spare time when you’re not training?
Brasco:  I am resting and relaxing. I like to go to the movies and read. I also love to spend time with my family.

A few quick questions:

MMA Spot:  Best guy you have sparred with?
Brasco:  Guys at the Armory (all of them).

MMA Spot:  Best guy you have rolled with?
Brasco:  Pablo and Robert Drysdale.

MMA Spot:  Who do you feel is the most dangerous grappler in MMA today?
Brasco:  Demian Maia, Jake Shields, and Jacare.

MMA Spot:  What about best grappler overall?
Brasco:  Overall, Pablo, because of his great wrestling along with great BJJ.

MMA Spot:  If you could pick one guy from the UFC to fight, who would it be and why?
Brasco:  Maia, because my wrestling is better than his as well as my stand up. It would be a great challenge, and I know if I lost it would just be a sub and not a KO [laughs], so kind of painless [laughs].

MMA Spot:  Anything you would like to say or people to thank?
Brasco:  I respect all styles and everybody deserves respect in this sport. Even the guys with losing records.

David McKinney

I’ve never seen Brian Fuery’s desk, nor do I even know if he has one, but I assume that the nameplate sitting atop would read Brian Fuery: Athlete. He’s at an early point in his career, so he probably hasn’t made time to get the promotional business cards, coffee mugs or t-shirts, however, the people will know soon enough.

Fuery started out as a defensive back for the Miami Hurricanes during their heyday in the 1990’s. Although some former football players let the fame go to their heads, Fuery would say of his football career, “The thing about being a football player at Miami is that there is a huge brotherhood.” No bragging about how good he was or dreams about how his football career could parlay into a lush insurance job where he could get clients based on his name. Instead of accepting the cushy office jobs that were offered to him post-graduation, Fuery opted to serve his country by joining the U.S. Air Force.

Upon his return from duty, gone were those cushy job offers. Intuition, however, prevailed careening him towards entrepreneurship as a personal trainer in the Miami area. It was fate for his endeavor as a personal trainer provided Fuery the opportunity to find what he was really supposed to do: train for professional fighting.

“I was actually lifting weights in the gym, and a guy from Team [Pablo] Popovitch was actually doing Russian kettle bells, and I walked into the gym, and he was asking me about Russian kettle bells. He was wearing a pair of Team Popovitch shorts, and I asked him where I could buy a pair. So I stopped by the school and sat down with Pablo, and I was pretty much a wrap. He told me to try a class, because he knew I was a really good high school wrestler. And from the very first class, I loved it.”

And now, Fuery is a two-time world jiu-jitsu champion, a Pan-Am Games champion, a North American Grappling Association (NAGA) champion, and a Grappler’s Quest champion. Now he is a fighter, and he’s a natural, not only because of his athleticism, but because he learned early in his life that there were a lot of people who could help him, and that he would go far if only he allowed himself to be molded into a bad-ass dude.

Perhaps Fuery even learned some of his humility from his coach, world champion Pablo Popovitch, who reigns as one of the most decorated players in the history of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. “The guy is super knowledgeable,” says Fuery, “he has an answer for everything. He’s very humble, and he’s the epitome of the martial way. I won’t train with anybody else. When he’s preparing you for a fight, the guy is so humble, and the great thing is that he’ll stop the entire class if you have a question in order to help you.”

Fuery is set to make his professional debut in mixed martial arts at Shine Fights II: American Top Team vs. The World, and he realizes that he’s already behind the game. “I saw that some guys that I beat in amateur went pro, and I decided that it was time for me too…the other thing is age…I don’t plan on doing this forever.”

This fighting thing may only be the next step in his life, but there is little doubt from the people around him that he will yet again be successful. It’s not every day that some former college football player becomes a jiu-jitsu world champion without ever trying to go out and make a name for himself.

Xtreme Couture heavyweight Phil Friedman will provide stiff competition for Fuery in his debut on September 4, but he isn’t worried. “I’m looking to take him down, and try to get the match over as soon as I can.”

The world is set to see the next step in the evolution of Brian Fuery: Athlete. Once again, we find he isn’t thinking about himself, “Being able to fight in front of my home crowd is a good opportunity for me, not only for me but for my family and my team. I want to make sure that my team gets the recognition that they deserve.”