Above pic Reef Orlando flyin high on the homefront! Practice. More practice.
Proper Parenting Award goes to Leslie and Tom Orlando
Proper Parenting Award goes to Leslie and Tom Orlando
This kid will be Champion. He's come a long way via EFFORT Commitment. Discipline. From 2017 To Present, I've been fortunate to share many stoked sessions with Reef on the vert ramp. The kid has always been a Hard worker, and always loved the vert! We used to skate at the calvary, and it'd be just us on the vert ramp, yet 200 people on the street course ha. Vert is not for everyone, far from it! But The Fear offers another side to the scare, it is called Glory. Reserved for the few.
Reefeo instagram link here
Lake skateboards link here
Reefeo stealing the show? YES --Kids are the future !
And NO --scroll down for More GOLD
Reefeo instagram link here
Lake skateboards link here
Reefeo stealing the show? YES --Kids are the future !
And NO --scroll down for More GOLD
JIU-JITSU FIGHTER. Sacrifice. Discipline.
Above pic Dustin Denes v Rory Singer, opening Round 1
Evento World Extreme Fighting Championships WEFC
Clean sponsors ATT & SURFIGHT The original
Data 29 de Junho 2002
Evento World Extreme Fighting Championships WEFC
Clean sponsors ATT & SURFIGHT The original
Data 29 de Junho 2002
Have you ever been thrown out of the gym ?
I have, more than once. All I can recommend is to carry on immediately and Never lose sight of the BIG Goal.
May 25. 2002 victory over Tom Jones was a Saturday night. The following Monday I went to Contenders gym to train and coach said "Get outta here. Go rest." I didn't understand, my next fight was scheduled for June 29 and I needed to prepare. My coach at the boxing gym was a real Pro, he wanted me to rest for a couple days so I could prepare to rise again. I had no choice but to leave, they wouldn't let me train. Train Hard & Rest Hard Both are equally important.
I hit the road for training at Conan's gym in Miami. I showed up like usual ready to train and Conan called me in his office. He said "Clean, you need to get some rest, leave."
Carry on, I diligently trained Jiu-Jitsu with my friend Pablo Popovitch for couple o weeks, also spent time in the wrestling room and boxing gym. Then returned to Conan's in two weeks for training. Practice. More practice. Discipline. Sacrifice.
Training went well. Fast-forward to Friday June 28th when I was supposed to meet my sponsor and crew at the private airport. I received a call to meet at a bigger airport where we wouldn't fly via Learjet, but were scheduled to fly in a full size jet with an entire enterage of spectators (coaches, future fighters, friends etc). I didn't like it already. There had to be 50-75 people on that plane, and only four of us would be fighting. In addition, the constant train-fight routine caught up to me before this fight. Between the crowd and my burnout, I didn't want to be there. But that didn't matter. I had job to do.
"Discipline is doing what you don't want to do, when you don't want to do it." J Robinson
I recall my opponent nodding his head to me after the weigh-in. I blew him off proper and with the eyes of death. I didn't show up to make friends. Quite the opposite, I was preparing to destroy.
Fight time. I was ready to make quick work of Rory Singer. I had absolutely zero respect for him and his team. I proceeded to look for a quick knockout or finish, and got hit with a couple good head shots in the process. Things weren't going my way, so I became frustrated with the fight on the feet. I heard Conan "Take him down!" I clinched the fight and got the takedown, then finished the last minutes of round 1 in the mount position, punishing with punches and seeking a Katagatame submission. Bell sounded.
I have, more than once. All I can recommend is to carry on immediately and Never lose sight of the BIG Goal.
May 25. 2002 victory over Tom Jones was a Saturday night. The following Monday I went to Contenders gym to train and coach said "Get outta here. Go rest." I didn't understand, my next fight was scheduled for June 29 and I needed to prepare. My coach at the boxing gym was a real Pro, he wanted me to rest for a couple days so I could prepare to rise again. I had no choice but to leave, they wouldn't let me train. Train Hard & Rest Hard Both are equally important.
I hit the road for training at Conan's gym in Miami. I showed up like usual ready to train and Conan called me in his office. He said "Clean, you need to get some rest, leave."
Carry on, I diligently trained Jiu-Jitsu with my friend Pablo Popovitch for couple o weeks, also spent time in the wrestling room and boxing gym. Then returned to Conan's in two weeks for training. Practice. More practice. Discipline. Sacrifice.
Training went well. Fast-forward to Friday June 28th when I was supposed to meet my sponsor and crew at the private airport. I received a call to meet at a bigger airport where we wouldn't fly via Learjet, but were scheduled to fly in a full size jet with an entire enterage of spectators (coaches, future fighters, friends etc). I didn't like it already. There had to be 50-75 people on that plane, and only four of us would be fighting. In addition, the constant train-fight routine caught up to me before this fight. Between the crowd and my burnout, I didn't want to be there. But that didn't matter. I had job to do.
"Discipline is doing what you don't want to do, when you don't want to do it." J Robinson
I recall my opponent nodding his head to me after the weigh-in. I blew him off proper and with the eyes of death. I didn't show up to make friends. Quite the opposite, I was preparing to destroy.
Fight time. I was ready to make quick work of Rory Singer. I had absolutely zero respect for him and his team. I proceeded to look for a quick knockout or finish, and got hit with a couple good head shots in the process. Things weren't going my way, so I became frustrated with the fight on the feet. I heard Conan "Take him down!" I clinched the fight and got the takedown, then finished the last minutes of round 1 in the mount position, punishing with punches and seeking a Katagatame submission. Bell sounded.
Above pic Dustin Denes mount position on Rory Singer, To closeout Round 1
Evento World Extreme Fighting Championships WEFC
Clean sponsors ATT & SURFIGHT The original
Date 29 de Junho 2002
Evento World Extreme Fighting Championships WEFC
Clean sponsors ATT & SURFIGHT The original
Date 29 de Junho 2002
I returned to my corner to receive a scorching from Conan. He was pissed that I veered the strategy and chose to strike. I got hit with a few good punches as a result of it. He re-emphasized the strategy and I executed it in Round 2. Clinch takedown followed up with punches, then a straight arm-lock submission from top half guard. I secured the victory for ATT.
Noticed my head down while getting my arm raised. I was burnt out, tired, and wanted to go home. We took the jet home later that night. It had to be 5Am when I got home. My girlfriend at the time, she woke up and saw my face, she screaaamed! My face was battered from the punches, but no problem. I WON!
ART
Above ART South African Cape Cobra for CHOPCERTIFIED
Spray painted wall by longtime brother and professional artist Luis Valle
Instagram el_chan_guri link here
Locale Florida 2020
Spray painted wall by longtime brother and professional artist Luis Valle
Instagram el_chan_guri link here
Locale Florida 2020
SURFER
Taken from my notes on the day: May 9. 2018 the waves were firing on south shore Oahu. Afternoon session was spent at Kaisers with both peaks working. I scored a few lefts out of the Kaiser bowl (steeper) but my main focus was surfing the Kaiser left from Far outside (bigger waves).
I positioned far outside and deep, so prepared for the next set of Kaiser lefts. I was sitting at the top when the set approached. I turned to go on the second/better wave of the set and started to paddle hard, however surf sister Gail was directly in my way. It was all happening so fast, and I had to make a decision. First thing first, the left was out because I would've collided with sister. I had two options 1) Go the longshot right from far outside 2) Abort. The longshot is very dangerous, that's why most rule it out. It rides over a huge pillar of cement then bowls fast and hollow over the shallow of Kaiser reef/shipwreck with insane power.
When it comes to Commitment, ask yourself. Are you in, or are you really IN ?
I had to make a decision immediately. I Committed and went on the longshot right. Locked-in the power pocket, up and crouched full speed down the line. The surfers positioned in the bowl scattered because the right had me heading straight towards them.
Remember, I was supposed to be going left. I made a bold choice to take the right, extremely hazardous. The big risk offers big return for the one's who are willing to take it. It could be death, but it could also be the ride of your life. I F%ckin made it!
All the way down the line. Practice. More practice. Sacrifice. Discipline.
Then I was presented with another choice 1) ride it to the channel and return to position 2) ride it straight and maybe catch a reform on the inside. I went straight, but I made a mistake that could've ended my life. *The offshore winds were cranking that day so it was necessary to move forward on my board at take-off. The extra weight forward would keep the board properly weighted down so I could get in and catch the waves. Necessary to move forward on a day like so, but once up to your feet, you gotta shuffle back.
Absolutely stoked on the longshot that I made, but still overrun in my mind. I had forgotten to shuffle back on my board. The closeout thrusted the back-end of my board up. I then watched the nose dive and lock into a heap of shipwreck. I prayed for my life just before I got shackedd. The last words in my mind "fall parallel!" The board locked into the iron bars, buckled and broke. I got violently launched into the shallow, but physically I made it out just fine. I paddled in to see the one guy who consistently offers helping hand on south shore. The man. The surfer. The south shore legend, Uncle "Mooch" Fernandez. Thanks uncle, always.
Above pic Uncle "Mooch" Fernandez
Played a major role in the development of many south shore Professional surfers (example, Carisa Moore)
Keepin it Clean with cold sparkling water on a hot summer day
Locale Kaisers / Rock piles / Ala moana bowls
Played a major role in the development of many south shore Professional surfers (example, Carisa Moore)
Keepin it Clean with cold sparkling water on a hot summer day
Locale Kaisers / Rock piles / Ala moana bowls
Testimonial
Dustin is a trailblazer for American Jiu-Jitsu, a mentor and motivator to all. As I was a young white belt I read an article of Dustin living in Brazil, training multiple times per day and crushing the tournament scene in the late 90s. This motivated me to follow suit. Dustin has a passion and knowledge of a true master.
Jeff Messina, 3RD Degree Black Belt, Revolution Dojo
Dustin is a trailblazer for American Jiu-Jitsu, a mentor and motivator to all. As I was a young white belt I read an article of Dustin living in Brazil, training multiple times per day and crushing the tournament scene in the late 90s. This motivated me to follow suit. Dustin has a passion and knowledge of a true master.
Jeff Messina, 3RD Degree Black Belt, Revolution Dojo
The Article
Full Contact Fighter
November 2000 Volume 5, Issue 11
Full Contact Fighter
November 2000 Volume 5, Issue 11
Above pic Minotauro, Clean, Sperry, Arona, and Amauri
Evento Campeonato Brasileiro 2000
Foto Marcelo Alonso
Locale ICJG Rio
Evento Campeonato Brasileiro 2000
Foto Marcelo Alonso
Locale ICJG Rio
UNITED STATES ONCE AGAIN
BJ Penn put his name in Jiu-Jitsu history after being the first North American World Jiu-Jitsu black belt champion. American Dustin Denes (Brazilian Top Team) showed that he has some of the same stuff. Completely addicted to Jiu-Jitsu, Dustin Denes left his family, and a degree in business administration to come to Brazil and learn Jiu-Jitsu.
"I started training with Conan and Brutus, but my life really changed when I met Rodrigo Nogueira. The guy brought me to Brazil and I decided to live to learn Jiu-Jitsu. So I went to live in Brazil," says Dustin, nicknamed by Brazilian friends as "Clean." As soon as he got to Brazil four months ago, Clean started to train all day long. "I train with Brazilian Top Team fighters in Murilo Bustamante's Academy from 11 to 3 o'clock, then I take some açaí and go straight to De La Riva's school in Copacabana from 5 to 10, sometimes I train 15 times," says Denes. Besides training a lot, Dustin is known for recording all of the details of his training sessions. "He has everything he does in the computer," says Rogério Minotouro, twin brother of Rodrigo Minotauro. Rogério shares an apartment with Dustin in Rio de janeiro.
After 4 months of training really hard, Dustin got a big gift...the Brazilian national title in the brown belt open division. He won the bronze medal in the category; he defeated 2 opponents, and lost to Erick Wanderley in the final. Dustin ran after the gold on the last day of the competition. To get there, Dustin choked out two highly respected fighters: first, Anderson Leal (Carlson Gracie), then "Marcelinho" (Alliance) in the final, who had defeated Max (Gracie Barra) and Claudio Godoy (Godoi/Macaco). After winning the gold medal, Clean gave us the following interview:
BJ Penn put his name in Jiu-Jitsu history after being the first North American World Jiu-Jitsu black belt champion. American Dustin Denes (Brazilian Top Team) showed that he has some of the same stuff. Completely addicted to Jiu-Jitsu, Dustin Denes left his family, and a degree in business administration to come to Brazil and learn Jiu-Jitsu.
"I started training with Conan and Brutus, but my life really changed when I met Rodrigo Nogueira. The guy brought me to Brazil and I decided to live to learn Jiu-Jitsu. So I went to live in Brazil," says Dustin, nicknamed by Brazilian friends as "Clean." As soon as he got to Brazil four months ago, Clean started to train all day long. "I train with Brazilian Top Team fighters in Murilo Bustamante's Academy from 11 to 3 o'clock, then I take some açaí and go straight to De La Riva's school in Copacabana from 5 to 10, sometimes I train 15 times," says Denes. Besides training a lot, Dustin is known for recording all of the details of his training sessions. "He has everything he does in the computer," says Rogério Minotouro, twin brother of Rodrigo Minotauro. Rogério shares an apartment with Dustin in Rio de janeiro.
After 4 months of training really hard, Dustin got a big gift...the Brazilian national title in the brown belt open division. He won the bronze medal in the category; he defeated 2 opponents, and lost to Erick Wanderley in the final. Dustin ran after the gold on the last day of the competition. To get there, Dustin choked out two highly respected fighters: first, Anderson Leal (Carlson Gracie), then "Marcelinho" (Alliance) in the final, who had defeated Max (Gracie Barra) and Claudio Godoy (Godoi/Macaco). After winning the gold medal, Clean gave us the following interview:
How did you find out about Jiu-Jitsu ?
I trained free-style wrestling for 7 years of my life. One day a friend of mine took me to Conan's Academy and I started to train with him and his brother Brutus. I loved that, in Jiu-Jitsu I started using muscles that I don't even know that exist.
When did you realize that your Jiu-Jitsu had improved ?
When Minotauro took me to Brazil. I always wanted to come to Brazil, but Conan never took me there. I knew that if I wanted to learn, I should come to Brazil where the best trainers are. When Minotauro brought me here and I had the opportunity to train with the best, I decided to move to Brazil and live to train and learn Jiu-Jitsu.
What your parents say about that ?
They supported me. Actually, they are very proud of me because they always taught me that I should run after my dreams, and that's what I did.
So what's your dream ?
My dream is represent Jiu-Jitsu in Vale Tudo, represent the Brazilian Top Team in Vale Tudo and all the people who helped me like Minotauro, Conan, and Brutus. They built the fire in me and now the Brazilian Top Team added gasoline.
Is it true that you have thousands of computer disks with notes of your training ?
Yes, I like to save the positions in the computer, Jiu-Jitsu is a very complex sport, there are thousands of positions. It's difficult to memorize everything.
I've heard that you train all day long...
Yes, I really love to train. Normally I train from 10 to 3 in Murilo's Academy (Leblon) and after that I take açaí and go straight to De La Riva's Academy (Copacabana) where I stay until the last training session. Unfortunately in competition time I cannot go to train with De La Riva because now (after the Top Team was created) I can compete against his fighters. But I love to train there, it is the best place to learn new positions. De La Riva is very knowledgeable and is one of the nicest person I've ever known.
How do you feel after winning this medal ?
I have no words. I feel really great because in the Brasileiro, you can face the very best that this sport has to offer. It has motivated me to train more and more.
Is is true that even the day after the competition you went to train ?
Yes man, I never stop because the enemies are always training. I relaxed my body by running one hour on the beach.
How is living in Brazil ?
Amazing, Brazil is a natural country, I'm really feeling good here. Besides Brazilians being very friendly, you can train and go to the beach or take some açaí, I really like it.
You intend some day bring everything you learn here to the American people ?
Yes, some day in the future I intend to come back and give my experience to Americans and help Jiu-Jitsu grow around the world.
Congratulations and good luck in the next one. FCF
I trained free-style wrestling for 7 years of my life. One day a friend of mine took me to Conan's Academy and I started to train with him and his brother Brutus. I loved that, in Jiu-Jitsu I started using muscles that I don't even know that exist.
When did you realize that your Jiu-Jitsu had improved ?
When Minotauro took me to Brazil. I always wanted to come to Brazil, but Conan never took me there. I knew that if I wanted to learn, I should come to Brazil where the best trainers are. When Minotauro brought me here and I had the opportunity to train with the best, I decided to move to Brazil and live to train and learn Jiu-Jitsu.
What your parents say about that ?
They supported me. Actually, they are very proud of me because they always taught me that I should run after my dreams, and that's what I did.
So what's your dream ?
My dream is represent Jiu-Jitsu in Vale Tudo, represent the Brazilian Top Team in Vale Tudo and all the people who helped me like Minotauro, Conan, and Brutus. They built the fire in me and now the Brazilian Top Team added gasoline.
Is it true that you have thousands of computer disks with notes of your training ?
Yes, I like to save the positions in the computer, Jiu-Jitsu is a very complex sport, there are thousands of positions. It's difficult to memorize everything.
I've heard that you train all day long...
Yes, I really love to train. Normally I train from 10 to 3 in Murilo's Academy (Leblon) and after that I take açaí and go straight to De La Riva's Academy (Copacabana) where I stay until the last training session. Unfortunately in competition time I cannot go to train with De La Riva because now (after the Top Team was created) I can compete against his fighters. But I love to train there, it is the best place to learn new positions. De La Riva is very knowledgeable and is one of the nicest person I've ever known.
How do you feel after winning this medal ?
I have no words. I feel really great because in the Brasileiro, you can face the very best that this sport has to offer. It has motivated me to train more and more.
Is is true that even the day after the competition you went to train ?
Yes man, I never stop because the enemies are always training. I relaxed my body by running one hour on the beach.
How is living in Brazil ?
Amazing, Brazil is a natural country, I'm really feeling good here. Besides Brazilians being very friendly, you can train and go to the beach or take some açaí, I really like it.
You intend some day bring everything you learn here to the American people ?
Yes, some day in the future I intend to come back and give my experience to Americans and help Jiu-Jitsu grow around the world.
Congratulations and good luck in the next one. FCF
Быть знаменитым некрасиво.
Не это подымает ввысь.
Не надо заводить архива,
Над рукописями трястись.
Цель творчества самоотдача,
А не шумиха, не успех.
Позорно ничего не знача,
Быть притчей на устах у всех.
— Борис Пастернак, Сестра моя — жизнь
Не это подымает ввысь.
Не надо заводить архива,
Над рукописями трястись.
Цель творчества самоотдача,
А не шумиха, не успех.
Позорно ничего не знача,
Быть притчей на устах у всех.
— Борис Пастернак, Сестра моя — жизнь