I was introduced to Travis last August while getting ready for a fight at UFC 121 vs Patrick Cote. Me and him (and Joe Lauzon) work out at Mike Boyle's S&C together a few times a week and push each other pretty hard.
It wasn't until after a few months that I started to follow his results, check out a few vids, and start following his career. At first I figured with all the rule changes I hear about in judo (and complaining about quick standups on the ground) that his ground skills wouldn't be that great.
Fortunately for me, I was wrong. I've had the chance to train with him a few times recently w/o a gi on, and his ground game really amazes me. I will now defend judo's groundwork to anyone that badmouths it=) There are just slight variations to lots of things that he does (not sure if they are universal throughout judo) that makes it VERY hard to deal with when grappling him.
Not sure what really the point of me posting this is, but it was the first thing that came to mind when the forum popped up on the "training forums" menu.
TOm, Travis ground game is actually better than his standup game. What most grapplers don't realize is when you compete at the world class level in judo and fight the best judokas from around the world your skills, toughness are paramount. SO you have to be able to compete against the best throwers and the best ground fighters. As Jayflo says Canto is the best (all around) newaza judoka and there are a many just below him. But that won't do it by itself in judo. The BJJ guys who trash talk judo newaza never have won anything at a world clas level. Even the top BJJ world champions will not compete in world class judo because they do not have the standup skills.
Hi Tom,
What was the best thing you learned from Travis' Judo directly or indirectly?
dezflag - Hi Tom,
What was the best thing you learned from Travis' Judo directly or indirectly?
I'm trying to learn the unique way he transitions into armbars....he is quite a bit more flexible than me, but I had him show me what he does and it makes perfect sense and is unique when compared with most BJJ entries I have seen...
Canto in the match used his ground skills to dominate. Travis getting out of that first ground attack used much of his energy. Travis couldn't get his collar grip he rely's on to throw. These type of matches are extrememly tiring and if they happen at the beginning of the pool it makes it hard to keeping advancing. That is why you need world class throwing skills especially against a guy like Canto. Canto is the exception. He did get a penalty for "butt flopping" but most of his attacks were legit by judo rules even though this wasn't a classic judo match. Canto really avoiding being thrown thru his (negative)gripping.
TRAIN JUDO!