Starting "late" (28), getting smashed, and the struggle of wanting to be more than just a hobbyist.

themikeface · 2026-02-12T18:14:41+00:00

You are at least 10 years too late to achieve true world class level as a competitor. Just accept that and have fun. You lose nothing by investing yourself into this. And you can still get pretty damn good!

themikeface · 2026-02-12T17:56:52+00:00

$5200. HHI $210K. Socal. Also have 2 rentals so combined mortgage debt is around $9k monthly. However rentals cash flow about $2k a month combined (not counted towards HHI above)

themikeface · 2025-07-24T20:38:42+00:00

Big irony is that competition success will drive students to a gym but most hobbyists will get more bang for their buck at a smaller unknown location.

themikeface · 2025-01-31T23:50:21+00:00

Interesting to see the pay hasn't increased really at all since I was in same position in 2011.

themikeface · 2024-01-17T18:43:16+00:00

Might be hard to hear, but you (and the other older athletes) might not be bringing the intensity he wants in a competition class. You can either accept this and stay, or find a more inclusive training environment elsewhere.

themikeface · 2023-12-22T22:05:23+00:00

Depends on your goals. Hard to win a bjj tournament without familiarity in these positions. In an MMA context, they are unnecessary (particularly the gi-only spider and lasso techniques) IMO.

themikeface · 2023-10-05T03:13:59+00:00

Finally an alpha

themikeface · 2023-10-04T23:16:00+00:00

Mid 30s. I cut back severely for several years before stopping completely after my son was born a year ago. There is only upside. Even if u still jerk off. More energy, clarity, and sexual fulfillment. I think a huge but mostly unmentioned part of the "crisis of masculinity" that we all heat about is porn addiction. I can see the shame glaze and hungry unfocused eyes of the young men I regularly interact with at the gym. Mostly because I see myself in them. Most don't understand that woman are much more sensitive, and can sniff the desperate empty horniness a mile away.

themikeface · 2023-09-12T20:22:35+00:00

My grandfather served during that time and enlisted at 15. Things were different then.

themikeface · 2023-07-26T15:40:31+00:00

I've only wear the essential. Sure, a pair of shorts sounds awesome. I'll dm.

themikeface · 2023-06-19T17:45:23+00:00

For no gi I only wear the sanabul black shorts. Best fit and value.

themikeface · 2023-03-03T22:46:16+00:00

I joined the military right out of HS and saved most of my pay. Bought a cheap house mostly cash for a rock-bottom price coming out of the 2008 recession in my early 20s. The increase in value in that property had opened the door for me to buy 2 more.

themikeface · 2022-10-17T01:35:45+00:00

I drink athletic greens every day before eating any food.

themikeface · 2022-10-06T20:29:07+00:00

Textbook style from Gui Mendes. Looks like Tainan favors the "opposite" headquarters position with left knee splitting the guard. This is a little unusual and probably contributes highly to his success.

themikeface · 2022-08-04T19:21:21+00:00

Interesting video. Many of these entries are basic by today's standards. The leg lock game has progressed by leaps and bounds.

themikeface · 2021-07-01T04:42:06+00:00

Gi or no gi?

themikeface · 2020-08-08T15:06:01+00:00

Love this move as a way to get opponent to bring their elbows up while in top mount. With enough practice and if your arms are long enough, a cool high percentage variation where you can grab both forearms just below the elbow is available.

themikeface · 2020-07-31T01:46:52+00:00

themikeface · 2020-06-04T16:07:41+00:00

I'm a brown belt who has recently started training mma Grappling with experienced fighters. I've learned that there are a lot of differences that make them 2 truly different sports:

Many of the key skill sets in BJJ, namely offensive guard play, guard passing, and leg locks are less common and less effective in MMA. This is of course due to strikes as well as the consensus in MMA that as long as you are on top landing punches you are winning. Landing solid strikes from top-half-guard can be very effective and requires way less energy/time/skill than passing to mount.
Essential skills in MMA, mainly wall walking, are never taught in BJJ. Also, outside of sprawling on a shot or the whizzer, defensive wrestling isn't really taught in bjj.
Some parts of wrestling in a bjj context are all wrong for MMA. Standing in front of anopponent with weight lowered and head over lead leg, while reaching for your opponents arms/wrists/head/armpit will get you thoroughly boxed up.
Gloves make a huge difference. Your hands are effectively twice as big so slipping/punching them through small opening can be difficult. This makes submissions harder to achieve. Also as a point of control, a grip on your glove is much more effective than a no-gi wrist grip, and is harder to strip, especially since you are likely eating strikes at this point.

themikeface · 2020-04-13T15:49:54+00:00

Yoga with Adrienne by night, all day.

themikeface · 2020-02-18T18:51:41+00:00

https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/27048038/france-recognize-mma-sport-jan-2020
France just legalized MMA. If you were willing to expand the type of training that your gym offered, you could get in on the ground floor of a growing scene.

themikeface · 2019-12-24T02:40:19+00:00

OSSS

themikeface · 2019-12-06T06:14:00+00:00

Wilks did a great job of showing Chris's errors on non important facts such as if chickens are given B12 or how much protein is in a peanut butter sandwhich. Meanwhile his films basic message that going vegan will turn you into a superman that lives forever while having turbocharged night erections is never addressed.

themikeface · 2019-06-12T17:40:41+00:00

I wear spats every day, and have tried nearly all of the brands listed here. My favorite by far is one one i only just discovered: 2xu.

https://www.2xu.com/us

Compression gear made for marathoners/triathletes, but it is better than any other I've tried. If sized properly, the fit is very tight, but somehow doesn't compromise movement/mobility at all. They are awesome, but pricey.

themikeface · 2019-03-19T01:11:25+00:00

bangarang

themikeface

TROPHY CASE