It’s been a little over 4 years since I had full time employment at a very famous post production sound facility, Danetracks Inc. Since then I made the move to opening up my own 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu affiliate in Van Nuys, California. I left Dane Davis, for Eddie Bravo, sound design for Jiu Jitsu. I went from Protools to The Twister. I won an M.P.S.E for best sound in a game., but we lost in the UFC title fight vs. Georges St. Pierre in New Jersey. I went from working inside the big blue Danetracks building, to training at the Van Nuys MMA Super Center. I walked away from the position of editor, and took up the title of coach. I traded the vibrant colors of West Hollywood, for dreary strip malls of Van Nuys. I went from an Academy Award winning sound studio, to cornering Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy in his title shot. I gave up a Kensington track ball and gained a cage panel. I swapped out sound effects for bone-breaking techniques. I left motion pictures, for pay-per-view events. I said good bye to interactive media, and said hello to “As real as it gets.” I went from competing for jobs, to competing for the challenge. I exchanged an Aeron chair for a Zebra mat. I went from networking at E3, to competing in ADCC. to went from bicycling to work, to flying around the world. I was work in a room by myself, then i was teaching seminars to full rooms of people. Punching a clock, to punching a bag. I went from recording the sounds of guns, to teaching how to use the body as a weapon. I went from insecure and scared, to confident and brave. I went from employee to entrepreneur. I went from being downsized, to running my own budding business. In my mind, I’m starting to feel like a success.
Along the way I’ve fallen, I’ve stumbled, and I’ve contemplated quitting. What keeps me moving forward you ask? I find my motivation in the moments. It’s the thank you and a smile from a new student. It’s the grappler’s realization of his/her progression over time. It’s the advice of a mentor, it’s being humbled by a black belt. It’s the camaraderie of a team. It’s the direct result of hard work. It’s the responsibility of those times when you have to be a leader and a role model. It’s reaching a goal. It’s visualizing the yet to come. It’s the win of a fighter, it’s a hug from a competitor. It’s the student confiding in you. It’s giving, and receiving the gift of knowledge. It’s in solving a problem. It’s making a difference in somebody’s life. That’s what makes being a coach such a rewarding job for me.
Thank you to everybody that’s played a part in my journey. Good, bad, or other, you all all added to the storyline, I’ve learn so much from all my experiences, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I’m looking forward to what the future brings. I have a feeling the party is just getting started. Enter the Alpha-Black era.
For the past month and a half over at 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Van Nuys, the competition team has been training for hours and hours on end for NAGA in Las Vegas on Saturday, March 10th. A training camp for a tournament is a huge key to success over at 10th Planet Van Nuys, whether it be no gi jiu jitsu or MMA. The team vibe has never been better, and the team is pushing each other to a whole other level when it comes to conditioning, drilling, and rolling in the gym. It is sure to sure on the mat come March 10th. Be on the look out for 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Van Nuys!
Mike Venturella went from playing World of Warcraft, eating fast food everyday, and weighing over 300lbs, to a lean mean, 170lbs. When he first started training with us, he may literally have been the worst student to have walked through my doors. Fast forward two years, and he’s made a complete turn around. He’s won gold at countless grappling tournaments, has fought in Muay Thai smokers and even fought his first full contact, MMA fight this year. It’s really possible to be just like Mike. If you have a hard time believing it, come down to the and ask to see his old drivers license. You’ll sign up on the spot!
That’s me on the 1’s and 2’s reppin’ 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Van Nuys! Not to mention a special surprise from everybody’s favorite 27 time mundial champion, Renato Laranja
Want to learn Jiu Jitsu? Need DJing lessons from yours truly? 😉 Call us today and take a free class! www.10thplanetvannuys.com
Mike Frausto, Gabe Calvento, and Ian Quinto all give the reason’s why they call 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Van Nuys, their second home. If you like what you see, come down and give us a try. The first class is ALWAYS free. We’re located in the heart of Van Nuys in Los Angeles’s, San Fernando Valley. You can “like” us on Facebook!
10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Van Nuys
16832 Saticoy St.
Van Nuys (Lake Balboa), CA 91505
We were on TV promoting the upcoming fight card, U of MMA, that Georgie Garci and Mike Frausto are fighting on. KTLA came down to Legends MMA to shoot the segment.
10th Planet Van Nuys fighters Mike “Lobes” Frausto, Gorgeous Georgie Garcia, Thor “TNT” Skancke and myself all showed up to Legends/10THPHQ this morning. We woke our sorry asses up at the but crack of dawn, or in my case just stayed up, to come down and promote Lobes and Georgie’s up coming fight at, U of MMA. Channel 5, KTLA was there covering all the action live for their morning news show.
While plugging the show they had us sparring, rolling, and going over technique in the background. They interviewed me talking about 4 of the basic styles in MMA: Wrestling, boxing, Muay Thai and of course 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu.
Take that mainstream America, Blowin’ the fuck up!!!
10th Planet Van Nuys fighters Mike “Lobes” Frausto, Gorgeous Georgie Garcia, Thor “TNT” Skancke and myself all showed up to Legends/10THPHQ this morning. We woke our sorry asses up at the but crack of dawn, or in my case just stayed up, to come down and promote Lobes and Georgie’s up coming fight at, U of MMA. Channel 5, KTLA was there covering all the action live for their morning news show.
While plugging the show they had us sparring, rolling, and going over technique in the background. They interviewed me talking about 4 of the basic styles in MMA: Wrestling, boxing, Muay Thai and of course 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu.
Here’s a fun little move to show your friends when they say Jiu Jitsu is boring. Mike Frausto and Mike Venturella show how to take the armbar off the Samurai in transition.
Legend has it, we were drilling armbars when I thought to myself. “Armbar from the Ninja? this move might just work.”
I tried to pull off the armbar from the roll to the Twister, but I couldn’t get enough momentum. I asked Mikey “Lobes,” our resident arm snatcher and all around badass, if he could do it. He bypassed the ninja roll, and went straight to the Samurai instead. Genious!. He locked it down, rolled, and BAM! The S’arm-urai was born!
Have fun!
Coach Alder
For more info on training with us at 10th Planet Van Nuys visit www.10thPlanetVanNuys.com,
Hey guys! Mike Frausto bringing you a longer overdue update on 10th Planet Watch and apologize to those who follow the blog for my inconsistency. Took some time preparing for a fight but am now kicking off the return with some 50/50 guard work! Enjoy!
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Posted by Alder Hampel
