Submissions 101:Blog

News, Updates and Rants

Aug 2007 30: The Works DVD..sold out.

The Works DVD is now sold out. I was producing everything from my home and it became quite daunting doing by myself. I need to focus my energy on the new DVD LIGHTS OUT. I will have this one professionally pressed and labeled so I don't have to spend 3 hours a day making them on my home machine.

It's a good problem to have! Will I release the Works again? Probably, but not right now as for the reasons I gave above. My target date for the DVD is the end of Sept 2007.

In October, I hope to start revamping the website. If any of you are good web designers and want to help a brother out, send me your resumes (other pages you've done) as I am shopping around and don't have time to do Submissions 101 ver. 2.0 by myself.

Aug 2007 27: Triangle Choke Escape Week

This week I will be uploading 5 escape videos from the triangle choke. As many of you realize, jiu jitsu is much more than just submissions. Position, sweeps and escapes are essential to make you a complete fighter.

You know, I really enjoy making these videos. When Saturday's roll around (the day we usually film), my students and I have a a great time. In fact, I let 2 of my students do some videos this week. Aaron and Dylan will appear this week on the site and they did pretty good for their first time around (Aaron did the flying armbar and a triangle escape video and Dylan will appear in a belly down armbar escape next week). We also had a couple of bloopers which will also appear on the site shortly.

I was recently asked via email if I get "paid" to do this or how I "make money" in order to stay online and pay for my time. The question was asked because "all your videos are free and there are no strings attached. It seems too good to be true." Here is the skinny:

I use Google Ad Sense and Revver Video to generate some money. Every time a visitor clicks and ad on the page or clicks an ad after one of my videos, I get a couple cents. The more visitors and the more people who are interested in the ads (via clicks), the more $ I get. Listen, this isn't a huge money making venture but I would be lying to say that it would be nice to generate some income through this project. Why not get paid for something you love right? I also sell ad space and I am sure as the site grows, more companies will take notice and want to advertise on it. I also sell my DVD right now to help out in hosting fees and time.

So, if you want to help, check out my sponsors or buy a DVD. The videos will remain free either way.

Train hard....have fun!

Aug 2007 23: Oops..OVER 100 videos online!

So, on a whim, I decided to actually count how many videos I have online and it seems that I was a few short in my last count. I have broken the 100 video limit and I didn't even realize! I was going to make some fancy 100th video for Submissions 101 too. Maybe I'll just do that anyways. That's 4 months online, 25 videos on Average per month.

This project has lived up to my expectations. I look forward to providing more videos. Thanks for the support everyone (if you read this blog, send me an email and tell me!)

Aug 2007 20: Guard Pass Week

I am doing a little experiment with the videos this week. I am grouping a batch of 5 together and calling it guard pass week (kinda like Shark week on Discovery!). Only guard passes will show up on the site. Hope you guys like the variations.

I just noticed that I am closing in on 100 videos. It seems kind of surreal in a way. If you took all the techniques and put them back to back, it's almost 3 hours of continuous Jiu Jitsu techniques.

I can't wait for the next 100....

Aug 2007 17: Full speed ahead!

The past couple of weeks have been soooo crazy for me and I think I've got everything under control now. Look for a big update over the next few days on the site. I have about 40 requests that I will be systematically running through. On top of that, we are starting filming of the LIGHTS OUT DVD which I hope will be out by late September.

That's it for now. I'm off to my gym to train and make some more videos for your guys. Look for the new banner hanging on our wall. It's bad ass!

Aug 12 2007: Returning from the inferno!

I'm back! First, I do not suggest nor recommend traveling whilst hung over. Today was a LONG day. Anyway, I just got back from the seminar with Eddie Bravo and it was off the hook. There were 24 of us on the mat and we had 3 BJJ black belts there as well! That is a high number of BB in one place. Could it mean that the established BJJ guys are finally taking notice of Eddie's stuff???? They were all super NICE guys.

The only down side (aside from the aforementioned wooziness that I felt) from the trip was that it was 108 degrees at 11 pm at night. UGH!

I first have to thank Tom Gavrilos for being such a great host over the weekend. Tom's an amazing guy who also happens to own Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Gear Clothing Company (www.reproots.com). In fact, the NEW SUBMIISSIONS 101 LIMITED edition Tee shirts will be up on his site within the next few days. If you want to get your hands on one of these, I suggest you order them quick (we really only did a limited number). They look amazing and I think they'll be great sellers.

Tom and I (did you know that he is number #4 on Myspace celebs??? He's above Paris Hilton...sorry Tom..I had to let everyone know ;-)

Secondly, I have to thank Grand Master Eddie for doing another wonderful seminar. I picked up even more stuff and I look forward on being one of his first affiliate schools for 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu. Now, I know many of you are Bravo fans and you already know how crazy his shit is. I learned so much more this time and it just seems to build every time we hook up. Thanks Bro, it was fun as usual.

Tom Gavrilos , Grand Master Eddie Bravo and I

Thirdly, I want to thank John Botello, instructor at Sitan's Gym down in AZ. John and I hit it off right away and I realized that he and I had a lot in common with our jiu-jitsu philosophies. Thanks for the hospitality and holding the seminar at your place. All your guys are top notch!

Ari and John Botello...er...after a long night!

Lastly, I want to thank some of the guys on the mat for the kind words about Submissions 101. I traveled 10 000 miles (inside joke...it's only 2) and to be frank, I went to the seminar to 'learn my stuff'. I never, EVER expected 3 independent guys to come up to me and say " Are you Ari as in the guy who owns Submissions 101?" That shit was crazy. It is nice to hear that the site is providing real help to grapplers. I couldn't be happier.

I will be getting back to the site over the next few days and adding some more videos and some 'special pearls of wisdom' from Eddie too! I've just got to get settled.

Peace!

Aug 9 2007: Off to the Desert

This weekend I am flying to Arizona to attend a seminar with Eddie Bravo and hang out with my new buddy Tom from Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Gear. This weekend therefore, will not have any updates but I'll have some good footage when I return. Eddie is a blast to hang with and I'm sure Tom, Eddie and I are going to get into some trouble. I'm traveling 7000 miles to go to a seminar...where's the logic in that?!!

I have been collecting all your requests and write them down in my book that I have next to the computer. I will tackle them as I have time. I usually tape a whole bunch of stuff on Saturday's and release them through out the week and on You Tube. Speaking of You Tube, it has been great getting exposure on it. However, so many of my subscribers don't realize that there is a main site which has more videos and info on it. I always release my newest content here first.

Our new tee shirts are done and I am going to go pick them up when I go to Arizona. I think Tom's going to put them up on his site (www.reproots.com). We only have a limited number (36) to see how they sell. If they do well, we'll print more. Check out his site next week to see the pictures.

See you all next week with some good stuff to put online!

Aug 7 2007: We're getting bigger...

I decided to start this blog because it probably is the fastest way to answer basic questions sent to me (and everyone can benefit) and tell you what's going on at Submissions 101. The first thing I want to touch upon is that this site has become bigger than the sum of its parts. I get emails everyday from fans and people who want to thank us or request a technique. Everyone who has sent emails has been amazing and supper cool. I want to thank ALL OF YOU for the support you having shown us. We try very hard to get to all the techniques in time.

I am trying really hard to build a library of jiu jitsu techniques so I can add them during the week and keep the content fresh. But there are only so many hours in the day. I do all the stuff myself (videos, editing, web design) and as many of you know who do this, it takes time. My students graciously help me out and become my video partners. But this is all done in our free time. I have a Jiu Jitsu school to run and I also am the head of security for my cities largest Night Club. Add life and it becomes a bit crunched.

I decided to start selling a compilation DVD about 2 months ago to help pay for website stuff and give me 'some freedom' to work from home. I am in the process in creating a full featured DVD called Lights Out (all choking stuff) and have plans for several other DVDs. However, I will continue to bring you free videos as quick as I can produce them. Why you ask?

I wanted to share jiu jitsu with anyone who was interested. There were so many questions I had as I was learning that I wished there was a site out there to answer some of them for me. This is how this site was born. Listen, I'm just a guy who loves jiu jitsu and has learned a thing or two along the way. I'm not a world champion nor have stared in a reality mma program. I'm just a guy who has the ability to teach martial arts in a clear and concise manner. That's my gift. The reason this site has done so well is because viewers can understand the videos. I teach like I want to get taught. I figured that the viewers aren't idiots but want quick, clear and detailed tutorials. There are many 'world champs' out there that have DVDs but I can't for the life of me understand what they are trying to project. Sure they're great grapplers but that doesn't make great teachers.

I answer every single email sent, but it could take be a day or two. Tell your friends, link to us, blog us, write about us in forums..anything to spread the word that" Submissions 101 is now on the block and ain't going anywhere.

Again, thank you everyone who has sent us a message. We never get tired of it. And if you pick up a small detail from the videos and can incorporate it into your training, we've done our job.

Peace

Ari Bolden-President