On the Second of October, Ryan Hall will give a 4 hour seminar @Point Blank Gym. The number of places is TBD, but the cost of the seminar will be 50 euro. I am giving everyone advance notice so there is no disappointment from people who want to go missing out this time, like there was with my friend Marcus Davis. Once the number attending is decided, I will start taking names for the seminar. Its not often we get to trian with someone of his calibre, and the best thing is, as well as being an awesome competitor the guy is a Black Belt in communication and instruction as well.

So who is Ryan Hall?

Black Belt under 2-time world champion, Felipe Costa, Ryan Hall is one of the most successful American-born Jiu-Jitsu players to date. Since beginning his competitive career in July of 2004, Ryan has cemented himself as one of the most promising up-and-coming submission grapplers in the world, defeating some of the sport’s greatest champions along the way (including UFC fighters and Black Belt World Champions, many of whom have been training decades longer than he has). Ryan is a CBJJ Mundial (world) and European champion who has also medaled at the Brazilian Nationals and twice been invited to compete at the ultra-prestigious Abu Dhabi Submission Wrestling World Championship where he is one of only a handful of American competitors to have come home with a medal.

In addition to his competitive exploits, Ryan is an accomplished coach, highly sought after for expert seminars all over the world. When Ryan isn’t training for competitions or learning from world class athletes from around the United States and the globe, he can often be found instructing Jiu-Jitsu and Combatives workshops for the United States military, helping to prepare the soldiers for any unarmed situation they may face while in the field. Ryan’s students have competed successfully at the local, national, and international levels, rising rapidly through the ranks. He has also produced a series of instructional DVDs that have garnered wide acclaim and is the author of “How To Master The Triangle Choke,” the definitive resource for training information regarding this signature technique of Jiu-Jitsu.

A brief summary of Ryan’s accomplishments:

• Over 300 victories in competition (over 275 via submission)
• Over 200 victories in competition via triangle choke
• 2009 Abu Dhabi World Championships <65.9kg Bronze Medallist
• 2007 Abu Dhabi World Championships Alternate Match Champion
• 2009 Abu Dhabi North American West Coast Trials Professional Lightweight Champion
• 2009 CBJJ Mundial Bronze Medalist
• 2008 CBJJ Mundial Champion
• 2007 CBJJ No-Gi Mundial Champion
• 2008 CBJJ European Champion
• 2008 CBJJ Brasiliero Bronze Medalist
• 2007 US Open Champion
• 10x Professional Superfight Champion (NAGA, NeverTap, US Grappling, et al)
• #1 RATED Competitor Overall Nationwide for 2006
• #1 RATED Advanced Submission Grappler Nationwide for 2006
• #1 RATED Purple Belt Competitor Nationwide for 2006
• #1 RATED Blue Belt Competitor Nationwide for 2005
• Many times Grapplers Quest, NAGA, U.S. Grappling, Mission Submission Advanced Division Champion
• Many times Grapplers Quest, NAGA, US Grappling Advanced Absolute (open weight) Division Champion

The gym had been buzzing for weeks about the imminent arrival of UFC star Marcus Davis. Some people had expressed reservations that it might not be the best seminar in the world as much of what Marcus is good at might be hard to pass on in a non-sparring environment. Okay, at the risk of being blown to bits by an Irish Hand Grenade, I was one of the doubters. My impression of Marcus prior to training with him was that he was phenomenal on the feet, and that while his ground and clinch were good, I didn’t think he would be able to pass on the majority of what he was good at without punching me in the face a lot to “learn” me. There was so much interest in meeting Marcus that I had pretty much written the seminar off as a celebrity meet and greet with some training thrown in. I have to admit I couldn’t have been more wrong!

Marcus is an affable, jovial guy and one of the most remarkably humble guys given his level of success. On the mat he is tremendously technical and is a natural instructor. He is able to convey the big picture in the context of the techniques he demonstrates, and he has as good a mind for detail as any BJJ black belt I have trained with. He is not a BJJ Black Belt of course, and though it is strange to note that, I do so on purpose because with Marcus this is undoubtedly his strength. He made reference to his different approach to the ground on more than one occasion, but had he not it would still have been difficult to ignore. His tactics on the floor are quite different from the standard ground game, everything he does is about creating a stable platform to deliver strikes and advance his position simultaneously.

There was no time for sparring this time around, but in answering questions he gave me a couple opportunities to experience his particular flavour of ground and it was impressive. In hindsight, and with context from speaking with Marcus, his ground game grew organically from necessity; a fighter learning the ground game while appearing on The Ultimate Fighter and attempting to start a UFC career had to have a very different approach, when compared to someone learning Jiu Jitsu for its own merit. Marcus was always looking at it from a focused goal of winning fights, no “maybe this will be useful later” or “if I learn this I will be more versatile”, his ground game is like a laser pointed at making his opponent’s night a bad one, that burns away anything even slightly irrelevant to that singular goal.

Marcus was a professional boxer and trains now with Sityodtong under Mark Delagrotti, and his striking instruction was just as detailed. Marcus’ good nature lasted well after he finished instructing as when the session ended he was beset with requests for autographs and pictures from almost every member at the gym and he was very happy to oblige each and every one. He made strong representation of his Irish heritage later that night; his country of birth may have been the United States, but he could drink with the very best of the Galwegians!

For many people a four hour drive is a daunting prospect, especially when you are coming back the next day, but for Paul Hickey, Paul Delaney and Jason Quinn it was only the start of the adventure. The first promotion run by Top Pro Kilkenny Lightweight stand out Myles Price in White's Hotel, County Wexford. The event entitled "Hell's Rage" took place in a fantastic venue, the ballroom in White's hotel suited the event, plenty of room for fans and the cage, long bar to keep dehydration at bay, and two big screens so any action on the ground that unsighted the fans and good changing rooms, warm up areas for the fighters. The only hiccup was the event didn't get started until half 8, an hour after the scheduled start time. The delay was caused by the doctor taking too long to do pre-fight checks, but as he was only drafted literally the night before, we can't really blame him either!

First fighter up for Point Blank was Paul Delaney. Paul had put in a tremendous amount of work for this fight and was fiercely determined that he take home the win. Round one started fast with Paul's opponent, Brendan McGarry of Top Pro working into clinch from a lead leg turnging kick, after some scrambling he got Paul down, and worked hard to try and net a submission from on top and guard. Paul remained calm, killed the angles negating any attacks and worked back to his feet. After some more scrmbling the pair wound up on the mat again with Brendan back on the offensive. As round 1 came to a close, Paul hadn't been able to land much offence.

Round 2 told a very different tale however, Paul had figured out McGarry's range and timing and was now able to circle off form any takedown attempts, landing shots in the process. Round 2 was a big round for paul as he began landing heavy shots towards the end of the round as well as dominating throughout. Round 3 had the visibly tired McGarry on the back foot more and more, he attempted a scissors takedown which Paul stepped back out of. Paul landed some big shots again and put the Kilkenny man to the canvas, Brendan couldn't answer referee Dave Jone's calls to get back to his feet and Paul got the win by TKO. Paul semed to have enough in the tank for another two rounds, so all his extra trainign defintely paid off!

Second out was Jason, facing a bit of an unknown quantity in Shootfighter Andrew Connolly. The first round started with a blistering exchange betwene the two big men. Andrew was making use of his slight reach advantage ot land strikes but Jason negated it by closing to clinch and putting the dubliner on his back. Jason kept him down for the duration of the round landing damage and working for submissions that although not successful took a toll on Andrew's cardio. Round 2 and Jason started to land his strikes as Andrew began to slow down. Jason began following up jabs with right hands and started landing more often.The damage accumulated on Connolly and as Jason sent him crashing to the mat after a tremendous barrage the referree called a halt to the contest awarding Jason the win by TKO. Though Jason had certainly felt the effort of dealing with a game opponent like Andrew his fitness carried him to the win for a tremendous debut performance.

Last out was Paul Hickey facing Dean Barry of Next Gen Arklow. It seemed as though Dean had brough the majority of Arkolow with him as calls of "There's only one Dean Barry" clarified that its not as common a name as one might think. Round 1 started badly for Paul as Dean began landing strikes from his slightly superior range right from the off. Paul began trying to implement the game plan and get the taller man on his back, but struggled in doing so, as the Arklow man had great savvy in the clinch. Paul's continued efforts were rewarded toward the end of the 1st round as he got him down and immediately began to land damaging ground and pound. The second round started with Paul struggling from the weight of his constant takedown attempts in round 1. Dean landed a flurry of shots that rattled Paul long enough for Dean to get top position on the ground and force Dave Jones to step in, a disappointing night for the Pitbull, but a good performance nonetheless against a very talented fighter. The main event was particularly entertaining, though unfortunately not for the usual reaosns. BJJ purple belt Marchin took on Miles Price, no stranger to us in Point Blank. Marchin ran across the ring at the start of round one landing a strike then jumping up to pull guard. Marchin's ground was top notch, no doubt abotu it. Myles struggled to keep safe as submission setup after setup were thrown by the groundfighting Pole, but keep safe he did, twice more Marhcin threw guard against Myles and tried to submit him, at one point he had Myles in butterfly guard and had control of Myles weight briefly, this obviously gave Marchin renewed confidence as he shouted "Ha ha I have you now". Myles escaped and got back to his feet. From then on the match consisted of Marchin throwing an ineffective strike and jumping to the ground or being punched by Myles and him jumping to the ground (occasionally being knocked to the ground), each time he would stay there and gesture Myles to come into his guard. Myles would wait for him to stand up and then score with more strikes. The Referee eventually had to dock a point from Marchin as he was continually stalling the fight and very slow to return to his feet. In round two Marchin continued with his antics, which looked to be down to a lack of cardio, and in the end after Myles had landed him on the ground with a particularly solid combination, he stopped the fight awarding Myles the TKO victory. A tremendously succesful night for Myles as a promoter and a fighter!