Grappling with Grappling: 2025 Done!

My competitive grappling year ended with a trip to compete at the always excellent BJJ 247 Brighton Open at the weekend. I’ve had days where I’ve been smashed at this event. I’ve also had days where I’ve caught my positions and won.

At Masters 6 Brown Belt, it’s often hard to get opponents, so I ended up in Masters 4 Brown Belt. I lost the opening fight by a solitary point, then won the bronze medal match 10-6. Whatever the results in competing at martial arts, the takehomes and the very frequent loss-learnings are invaluable.

The plus points at this event were that I fought from the off to get my position. I then fought for submissions and escapes when I faced adversity. I also finally used cradle in my competitive game and the weights training showed. I feel I found something in terms of mindset, too.

The negative points were that I relied on my closed guard too much. And I didn't chain attacks or sweeps together well enough from this position until it was too late.

Anyway, it all begins again next year. And there will be chances to put that right. I'll never be a great competitor. But I will be an improving one. And that's OK.

Spellbound by Siouxsie Sioux: Part II...

Our new cat, Siouxsie Sioux, can be a bit of a fussy eater. She will eat normal cat food of the pricey variety. But in an effort to win her heart, we have spoilt her a bit. So cat food in the morning, then cooked chicken and expensive treats in the evening.

She is also partial to Lick Licks, which are like yogurt tubes for children but chicken flavour for cats. In the house, I refer to them as 'Cat lick-licks' or 'Pussy lick-licks' and I will wander around the house asking the cat if she would like 'a cat lick-lick' or 'a pussy lick-lick'. 

The Missus has, obviously, banned me from saying the second phrase out loud. Because we may have guests that I haven't registered. Or 'because a fucking child of nine would realise why that is an entirely inappropriate thing to say. Anywhere.'

Spellbound by Siouxsie Sioux: Part I...

We have a new cat. She is called Siouxsie Sioux in honour of the punk icon beloved by The Missus. We were looking for a five-year-old feline who was a bit nervous and had no interest in going outside. Instead, following a microchip mix-up, we got a 15-year-old who may have some underlying medical conditions. 

But she's utterly beautiful and she's happily settling in at Brooks Towers. I'd forgotten how relaxing it is to have a cat in the house. She'll just come into the living room and flonk on my lap or on the lap of the Missus. She'll jump up on my desk if I'm working and just lounge.

It's been a busy four of five months at work. Other stuff hasn't been easy in the last year either. But having a new cat makes life seem so much better.

Holiday Reading...

In 2024, I read very few books. Mainly because I was busy trying to become a better brown belt at BJJ. And also because I wanted to prove my worth in a new job.

Courtesy of a much-needed two-week in the Dominican Republic, I have started 2025 strong on the reading front. So here are some potted reviews:

The Elephant of Surprise by Joe R Lansdale

Book 12, plus several novellas, in the Hap and Leonard series by the award-winning thriller writer from Texas. Like its whip-smart and hugely entertaining predecessors, unlikely best pals and full-time shit magnets Hap and Leonard again see a good deed land them in all sorts of trouble. This time, it's a gang of hired killers on their tails during one of the worst floods LaBorde and the surrounding area has ever seen. Reading this makes me feel like I'm back with old friends. But old friends who'd probably get me killed...

Medieval Wrestling by Jessica Finley

A beautifully researched and presented book that translates a 15th-century wrestling manual from Germany. One of my favourite foot sweeps and a defence against a rear hold I first learnt in hapkido 20 years ago are both included. Very little is new in martial arts. It's just rediscovered. Although the foot sweep also adds in a throat strike variation. Which is quite nifty...

Origins by Neil Degrasse Tyson

As a novice (like shiny new white belt two classes in) astronomer, I'm still embarrassingly late to the Degrasse Tyson party. But he's a thoroughly captivating guide when it comes to navigating the astonishing world of cosmic discovery. Understanding how the Universe evolved and why we are where we are in it, and discussing the best theories science has to explain this, is mind-blowing at the best of times. Degrasse is the constantly engaging tutor who entertains and informs in equal measure, making the complex seem much more digestible. He's basically the science teacher I needed as a teenager. But probably wouldn't have appreciated at the time.

Revenge of the Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

Have loved his previous books and also adored this one. A sequel of sorts to 2000's The Tipping Point, it's a hugely entertaining and thought-provoking read that analyses drug scandals, robberies, teen suicides and many other phenomena as social epidemics. Wonderful stuff.

The Rise and Evolution of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: From Vale-Tudo to Carlson Gracie to its Democratization by Robert Drysdale

Fascinating and incredibly well researched book on the growth of BJJ from a niche fighting art in Brazil to its global adoption. It makes a hugely convincing argument to reposition Carlson Gracie as the key figure who opened up the practice and drove its development long before Royce Gracie fought in the UFC or the birth of the IBJJF. Loads of interviews with lots of key people, too. Will now read his other book, Opening Closed Guard: The Origins of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil. A very worthwhile read if you roll with folk.

Grappling with Grappling: 2024 Nearly Done!

I gave myself three key goals as far as BJJ was concerned in 2024:
* To complete 150 classes
* To add strength training with 100 weights sessions
* To compete at 10 tournaments

The first two goals were met with something to spare. The only thing I’ve missed is the competition goal. I was on course for this, then I got injured a couple of times and I had to withdraw from four events. But seven tournaments isn’t a bad return for year one at brown belt.

My competition fight record from the year was 13 losses and one solitary win. But most of these were against younger or bigger opponents, and that sort of stuff does matter. I also made some bad mistakes. But these will be corrected. Because I entered so many events, however, I finished second in the National All Stars rankings and I won a lot of free entries to events in 2025. I'll be taking full advantage of that prize. 

Next year will see a repeat of my 2024 goals. But I’ll be adding in some IBJJF events to test the water at that level.

Teaching has remained one of the joys of the year. I’ve had to understand things on a different level. This means I’ve increased my knowledge of lockdown, pinch headlock throws and foot sweeps, and added new techniques into my game. At the same time, I’ve refined and improved the tried and tested positions and attacks I use all the time.

It’s been a great year. I’ll never be a competition animal. But I will be a continually improving student, competitor and teacher. The journey continues…

A Celebrity Christmas Letter to Santa...

Dear Santa Claus, Me Old Cock-Sparra, Salt-of-the-Earth, Working-Class Fella

I’ll tell you straight, it’s been a rough ‘n’ tumble couple of weeks.

(Shouting) I said eight spoons of sugar. Can you not fucking count?

There I was, flying high with two hit shows on the telly. I’d just finished exploring the work of a fish finger factory And I didn’t even know that fish didn’t ‘ave fingers. Until a researcher told me.

And, suddenly, I am persona non-grata. All thanks to a small group of several hundred middle-aged, middle-class women who can’t take a joke. Or think that borderline sexual assault is wrong. What is it with you people? I’m a working-class boy and that’s how we do things!

(Shouting) I said pan au chocolat. Are you fucking deaf?

Fortunately, there are people who respect my abilities and can see past the narrow-minded views of f... people. And I will be taking up a new position as a culinary guru. I just hope this bloke I’m working for likes potato-based meals. I love a potato. In all its forms: chips, mash, jackets, roasties, French fries, croquets, gratin… That sort of stuff. Lovely.

I hope my new employer loves it, too. He’s called Andrew Duke York something…

So thank you, Santa. For nothing. You red-suit-wearing slag.

More Funerals Than Christenings: Part II...

Travelling in the family car to my stepfather's funeral, I got a text from a former work colleague. He informed that his sister, a close friend called Rachel, was in hospital fighting for her life.

The illness that had taken hold of her was a rare one that was complicated by a previously undiagnosed condition. It was all very sudden. My stepfather's funeral was on Monday. On Wednesday night, Rachel was dead. She was younger than me.

I first met Rachel when we were working together at IPC Magazines. As I took on increasingly senior positions, we worked together more closely. In the last seven years at that company, the environment became increasingly toxic. My friendship with Rachel was the thing that helped keep my sanity. She was funny, kind and smart, and a calming influence in any environment she was put in.

A proud South London girl, she could also swear like a trooper if anyone annoyed her. And she took great delight in uncovering a family history of renegades and circus performers.

She had a spiritual side. Her interest in crystals was something I often teased her about. But this and her commitment to learning more about shamanistic drumming was inspiring. There was something just right about her interest in nature and natural rhythms. It worked for her and she wasn't too bothered if it didn't work for you. She knew who she was and what interested her, and she was confident enough to proudly own those elements of her life.

When I left the company where we both worked, we kept in touch. We'd have regular trips to our favourite cafe and nearby pubs, share news and set the world to rights. Time with Rachel was always a joy, easy and treasured.

After I heard she was dead, I tried to compartmentalise the grief for a few days and lock it away. I thought it was because I was dealing with another recent loss. Then I realised I was in denial. Her brother put a post up on Facebook a few days later expressing his grief. That helped. It enabled me to start the acceptance process. This was good. I needed a kick start.



I loved Rachel. She was my mate, my confidante, my sounding board and my favourite hippy. She was a woman who ran with the wolves, embraced that olde world of natural wisdom and found herself through it. It will take a while to fully accept I won’t be meeting her for a Thai curry or for a pint any more.

Her loss is so cruel, brutal and random that it will take time. There’ll be moments where I’ll be really angry about it. And times I’ll be sucker punched by unexpected bouts of grief. But there will be moments I’ll remember how she made laugh and smile. Which is what I’ll hang onto.

I can’t imagine how her brother and his family, her partner and her mum feel. I would assume it’s what I’m feeling multiplied by a few thousand. I hope the wave of genuine love that her friends have expressed after learning about her loss provides some comfort for them at some point. 

Because loved is something that she absolutely was.