I’m very fired up to introduce Allen A. Causevic. He is a single of the best competitors primarily based out of the Chicago spot. Several of you know him, some of you really don’t, but you’ll hear additional and more about him as time goes on.
Allen is extremely eloquent and thoughtful in his answers. We examine “fighters,” gi vs. nogi, Austrian Economics, staying a major male, his favored grapplers, and his hair.
BJJinChicago: Allen, thanks for having the time to do this interview. You currently practice with Jay Valko. How long have you been teaching there and what do you like most about the academy?
Allen Causevic: I have been with Mr. Jay Valko because May perhaps of 2005. I experienced started at Carlson’s Academy Downtown and would generally attend the afternoon class that Jay would teach. Following Jay went on his very own, I experienced adopted him around to his new school in 2007. Due to the fact then, the college has grown dramatically. I attribute the growth to the identical good reasons why I enjoy the academy. We are quite open up about sharing know-how and the trade of thoughts. I have visited quite a few universities across the state and several instructors stick to that pure jiu-jitsu sport. Sadly, this is a detriment to the activity. MMA is evolving. So is Jiu-Jitsu. With the addition of RJ Cohen and his planet-course Judo capabilities, along with Timothy Foley’s Division 1/All-American wrestling abilities, we are evolving.
The transition from a top rated stand-up video game to a top rated ground sport is the upcoming. This will take the trade of tips and expertise I stated prior to, and for several, a journey out of their comfort zone. Jay has carried out a great task of developing this useful ecosystem. This “ideas helpful” ecosystem is very best observed throughout the Saturday open mat sessions, which are totally free for all to show up at. As a consequence, we do see a wide array of people today pay a visit to with unique ability stages. Staying uncovered to distinct styles from area, national, and global readers has created all of us greater grapplers. As the sport evolves, I’m fired up to see the upcoming and our successes.
BJJiC: What are some of your finest event achievements to date?
AC: I will not look at Jiu-Jitsu as a battle. The mentality I stick to is that it is a aggressive match. Having explained that, I generally glimpse to carry out well in the course of any match. Becoming in a position to carry out beneath strain is what sets champions aside and I work very really hard to keep composure and get the job done the procedures that put the odds to earn in my favor. As a result, my ideal performances have been for the duration of the:
2011 NYC Global Open Purple belt Super Weighty: Gold
2010 Chicago Worldwide Open Purple belt Tremendous Hefty: Gold
2009 NYC Intercontinental Open up Blue Belt Tremendous Major: Gold
2009 Abu Dhabi Professional-Gi Qualifiers- Blue Belt-Weighty-Gold
BJJiC: What are a few tips for greater men who are just beginning jiu-jitsu?
AC: Don’t be discouraged when the conventional knowledge you’ve got been following turns out to be false. When I started training, I was 240 lbs., power lifting, and regularly consuming a put up exercise session food consisting of a Whopper from Burger King and the initial Muscle Milk. Of course, that is approximately 1700 calories. We are led to feel that there is a correlation among how substantially weight you toss close to in the bodyweight room to your battling ability. How many times have you heard, “Wow, he’s huge! Never mess with him!”? Effectively in 2007, I was fed the purple capsule and my world was turned upside down. I was destroyed by men 50 % my sizing. Tapping to a rear-bare choke to an individual who weighs 135 lbs. surely destroys types moi. You shortly realize you have been adhering to the completely wrong path in lifetime. It’s devastating for some. My suggestions would be to get the job done approach as a great deal as possible and to not get discouraged when dropping to scaled-down opponent. Last but not least, perform your guard as substantially as probable. Doing work your weaknesses and taking away yourself from your comfort zone will pay out off afterwards on in your occupation.
BJJiC: If you could go back in time…what would you say to on your own as a white belt?
AC: End having Whoppers. Will not start off competing No-Gi right until right after you are promoted to blue belt. There is a long discussion on the Gi vs No-Gi advantages. I am of the college that believes a very good Gi activity will trickle down to a very good No-Gi match. I would test to knock some sense into my old self to start working really hard on my Gi base, and then shift to doing the job No-Gi afterward.
BJJiC: Royal Rumble – Your hair, Jay’s beard, RJ’s hair, and Mike’s beard. Who wins?
AC: My hair palms down. I could be rolling in a jiu-jitsu course at evening, then getting a Gray Goose on the rocks in a entire world-class country club right afterward with my great hair component. It doesn’t move no subject how considerably I exert myself. It is really the resource of my ability. 2nd put goes to Mike Cornille. His beard presents 1 of the most protecting shields acknowledged to person.
BJJiC: Who is the most effective particular person you have ever rolled with?
AC: This award goes to Mr. Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu. I experienced visited his college in Miami, FL in December of 2010 and was humbled. I was impressed to feel his ability amount in motion. The journey of Jiu-Jitsu is a extensive 1, and that experience assisted me understand that I was not at the level I would like to be. Observing in which I was has assisted me educate in a different way and function more challenging in a lot of distinctive features. It can be always fantastic to choose a step again and see the place you are and choose in which you want to go in the long term.
BJJiC: Who is the very best man or woman you have ever competed versus?
AC: This title would go to Mr. Luke Costello of the United kingdom. He is my latest reduction that took location at the 2011 Environment Jiu-Jitsu Championships. Immediately after watching movie, we have a very very similar recreation but he was far better that day. He took me down with a fantastic Uchi Mata, which has not happened in a tournament placing to me in a prolonged time. I missing my composure and was submitted by way of bow and arrow choke. It truly is ironic I was thrown with a person of my beloved throws and choked out by my favorite submission. Taking in a taste of my individual medicine was not delicious. I search forward to a re-match in the long run.
BJJiC: How a lot of times a week do you coach?
AC: For the duration of down situations I am typically there 4 to 5 days a 7 days. If I am teaching for a event then I’m in the health club 6 days a 7 days. I have additional toughness and conditioning 3 to 4 days a 7 days to my regiment as very well. Ideally this new mix will direct to new found achievements in the potential.
BJJiC: What sorts of activities do you do exterior of jiu-jitsu?
AC: The like to do the next in no unique buy:
1. Men and women viewing at Wholefoods.
2. Filmmaking and graphic style.
3. Enhancing my awareness of the Austrian Faculty of Economics.
4. Taking in foodstuff that have not been processed or altered in any way.
5. Volunteering at animal shelters.
6. Sharpening my culinary competencies.
BJJiC: Who are some of your preferred grapplers to look at (and why)?
AC: I adore to watch Cyborg Abreu and Braga Neto. I am a even bigger guy so of study course I like to watch the major canine. Observing their online games has helped me turn out to be a superior grappler.
BJJiC: What are your plans for competing in the long term?
AC: I am planning on competing in the 2011 Chicago Intercontinental Summer season Open of training course. But the large tournament at the stop of the calendar year I am on the lookout at is the Melbourne Open up in Australia. I have hardly ever been, so I would like to get the possibility to contend at these a large intercontinental event and see the sights afterward.
BJJiC: What else can we anticipate from you in the long term?
AC: I want to strengthen my Judo sport to the highest level attainable. I do see myself touring and competing at the substantial stage tournaments in the United states of america Judo scene in the long term. Schooling with the most effective Judoka will just take my Jiu-Jitsu activity to a new amount and I am enthusiastic to discover the new procedures.
BJJiC: Any last feedback?
AC: Of course. With the explosion in popularity MMA & Grappling has witnessed in recent decades, the conduct and actions of the sub-tradition that has risen in parallel is appalling. The crazy graphic t-shirts to the full sleeve/body tattoos have significantly decreased the esteem of the sport. All too often I see these men and women in social configurations bragging to individuals on how they are ”fighters.” This disillusioned mentality needs to cease. Athletes should really carry by themselves to a larger diploma and attempt to be gentlemen. Poor sentence construction and inappropriate grammar is not neat. This of course is no relation to SubCulture apparel. They have carried out a good career supporting neighborhood athletes and are really active in the BJJ community. SubCulture is the only Gi I dress in for competitions and schooling periods. I extremely advocate them.
Quick Hits
Favourite Takedown: Uchi Mata
Favourite Submission: Bow and Arrow Choke
Most loved Position: Knee on Tummy
