Inverted Gear Blog
Tag: Meet the Pandas
Meet the Pandas – The British Bat – David ‘Morcegão’ George
Daniel Bertina interviews David 'Morcegao' George to talk about the British BJJ scene and other British things like cricket and football.
Meet the Pandas – The Panda Viking – Halldór Logi Valsson
The fight scene in Iceland recently exploded, and Halldor Logi Valsson is one of the talented forces driving BJJ forward. Daniel Bertina has the interview!
Meet the Pandas – From Grasshopper to Valhalla – Valerie Worthington, PhD
The Panda Nation is not only comprised of mat savages and sneaky-jiujiterios like Alex da Silva, who we introduced earlier, but it also includes true warrior-scholars. For this edition of Meet the Pandas we talk to Valerie Worthington. Black belt under the Carlson Gracie lineage, certified life coach, PhD in educational psychology, jabbing voice of reason in the BJJ blogosphere. Second degree black belt Valerie ‘Valhalla’ Worthington (47) has been involved with the art since the late nineties, learning under the legendary Carlson Gracie Sr. – amongst others. Known for her highly effective instruction at Princeton BJJ and Groundswell Grappling Concepts, Val is also a prolific writer on the gentle art with two influential books published. More importantly, thanks to...
Meet the Pandas – The Power of Sneakyjitsu – Alex Da Silva
Not every member of the Panda Nation is a lean and mean competition death machine, like purple belt Abi Pacinelli, who we spoke to in the previous edition of Meet the Pandas. In this new interview, we shed light on Alex Da Silva: purple belt kids’ instructor, full-time dad and working man, photography black belt and aficionado of sneaky-jitsu. Growing up in Brazil, you sort of assume that purple Alex Da Silva (40) got into jiu-jitsu at a young age. But after immigrating to the United States at nine years old, it took many years and a trip back to the motherland to get his first real taste of the gentle art. Plagued with injuries and with life responsibilities getting...
Meet the Pandas – Civilize The Mind, Make Savage The Body - Abi Pacinelli
Panda Nation has many faces. In the previous installment of Meet the Pandas we spoke to Kevin Sheridan, the Master Yoda to many Inverted Gear Pandas. Now, we’d like to introduce Abi Pacinelli: full-time business owner, mother, lean mean killing machine, and purple belt medal chaser. In her previous life, Abi Pacinelli (38) couldn’t care less about martial arts. But after building up the confidence to make a few radical life changes, and losing a whopping 50-something pounds, she finally got the courage to take her first BJJ self-defense class. She developed into a fanatic competitor in the best mental and physical shape of her life. Also, the art gave her the strength to start her own company: Big Dogs...
Meet the Pandas – A Selfless Quest for Quality - Kevin Sheridan
In this series we shed light on the many members of the Panda Nation. Last episode starred brown belt Ro Malabanan of Overthrow Boxing. Now, we spend some time with Kevin Sheridan: former D1 wrestler, all-round BJJ entrepreneur, and black belt guru of many Inverted Gear Pandas. As a lifelong wrestler, Kevin Sheridan (46) took to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu like an anaconda to the Amazon rainforest. The art helped him to open his mind, and navigate his way through business and life. After building up several accomplished black belts, he now has his sights set on providing disenfranchised inner city kids with free jiu-jitsu. How did you get your first exposure to the art? Kevin Sheridan: It was thanks to...
Meet the Pandas – ‘Open Your Mind & Kill Your Demons’ - Ro ‘The Show’ Malabanan
The Panda Nation abides. As we continue our series Meet the Pandas, we shed light on the many awesome Inverted Gear athletes. Last episode focused on black belt speed cyclist David Phimsipasom of Maximum Athletics. Now we like to introduce Ro Malabanan: master of the sweet science, general manager at Overthrow Boxing, and jedi apprentice under Marcelo Garcia. As a teenager, brown belt Ro ‘The Show’ Malabanan (39) got beat up often for being a ‘pretty boy’. After becoming a boxer and breaking some ribs here and there, he found Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to channel all his negative energy. The art kept him sane, while everything in life was falling apart. Was boxing your first martial art? RB: Yes. I...
Meet the Pandas – Biomechanical Jiu-Jitsu with Nerd Power – Matt ‘Aesopian’ Kirtley
In this series, we shine light on the many members of the Panda Nation. Last episode we spoke to David Phimsipasom of Maximum Athletics. Now, we focus on black belt Matt ‘Aesopian’ Kirtley: computer wizard, walking BJJ encyclopedia, and unabashed Magic: The Gathering-aficionado. Back when he was a blue belt, Matt Kirtley (32) almost broke the internet with one of the first great BJJ blogs: Aesopian BJJ, a groundbreaking resource of free online BJJ-tutorials. Ever since then, he’s been known as a highly technical and analytical instructor – who’s embraced his inner nerd. Did you practice other martial arts before you found jiu-jitsu? Matt Kitley: Nope. I roughhoused as a kid, but I never got any formal training. My only...
Meet the Pandas – From YouTube to Paramount – Phil Mento
In the previous edition of Meet the Pandas, we introduced Chris Ulbricht of Garden State Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, black belt in jedi mind tricks. In this chapter, we talk to purple belt Phil Mento: guardeiro, part-time longboarder, and King of Pull-Ups.Purple belt Phil Mento (25) used jiu-jitsu to overcome his shyness and lack of confidence. After being bullied for years, he discovered the art on YouTube and found his way to the BJJ mat. Under the tutelage of his instructor Brad Court of Paramount BJJ, Phil became a fanatic medal chaser and dedicated instructor. So Phil, you’re nursing a foot injury. You don’t like to tap? Phil Mento: Well, kind of. I fought in the New York Open. I got footlocked....
Meet the Pandas – ‘Positive Mind Tricks’ – Chris Ulbricht
In our previous showcase of members of the Panda Nation, we spoke to videographer and purple belt assassin Kyvann ‘Guapinho’ Jimenez. In this episode, we introduce black belt Chris Ulbricht, owner and head coach at Garden State Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and occasional Tekken aficionado.Chris Ulbricht (26) got into the art by accident. He wanted to learn Capoeira – the original Brazilian martial art, but he got confused and ended up on a BJJ mat somewhere, learning the upa-escape in his jeans and shirt. It was the best mistake ever. After earning his purple belt, he dropped out of college to train BJJ full-time, and has been on the path of improving himself through martial arts ever since. You’ve just won...