It was a busy week at Team Third Law BJJ & MMA, with testing in all classes on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Everyone from 3-year-olds in the Tiny Ninjas class to adults in the BJJ and MMA programs had a chance to show off how much they’ve learned this month, earning stripes and, in some cases, moving up the ladder of white belts.
If you’re a new student, remember, don’t hesitate to come on Test Day. There’s no pressure — just the opportunity to see what you picked up in the classes you’ve attended and what you need to work on. Here’s a link to the test application. Just fill it out, bring your ID card and come to class for a great workout and some good feedback.
Test day is always a hit at Team Third Law BJJ & MMA in Naples, Florida. Here, you see the Little Ninjas, ages 7 to 10
Tuesday: No Gi BJJ / Submission Wrestling Test
Tuesday kicked off the testing week, with new, No Gi testing in all Adult No Gi BJJ classes. During this test, Head Instructor Roberto Torralbas looked for key details in the guard passing techniques we learned this month that make the moves more effective for grappling without the gi.
No Gi testing will continue in the coming months, getting the Naples school’s serious competitors ready to represent Team Lloyd Irvin at the No Gi Pan-American Championships in October and the No Gi World Championships in November.
Students had three opportunities to take the test, during the 7 a.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. No Gi classes.
Wednesday: Little Ninjas Test
Andrew Mendello shows off his cartwheel during the Little Ninjas test at Team Third Law in Naples, FL
Then, on Wednesday, it was time for the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu White Belt Basics test, and the tests in the kids and teens martial arts program: Little Ninjas (ages 7-10) and Juniors (ages 11 to 14).
Click Here to see Photos from Team Third Law’s Little Ninjas Test Day on Facebook
During the Little Ninjas class we had 12 students take the high-energy, super-fun test — and what must have been a record number of belt promotions to celebrate after.
The kids ages 7-10 started by showing their progress in the mobility drills we’d been working all month, including cartwheels, roundoffs, walking on their hands and doing flying armbar drills on the climbing rope.
They showed off their BJJ techniques, working in pairs and doing closed guard techniques including bump sweep, cross choke from closed guard and cross choke from mount. Then it was time to beat up Master Roberto, demonstrating their Kickboxing techniques: Jab, Cross, Hook, Uppercut, Roundhouse and Push Kick.
Kellyanne Hodge works on her boxing with Master Roberto during the Little Ninjas test at Team Third Law BJJ & MMA
Next up were the Life Skill and Manners of the Month. When they remembered the Life Skill (Confidence), they got a patch to put on their gi.
The Manners were #13 Don’t Use Foul Language and #14 Don’t Call People Mean Names.
Then, at the end of class, Master Roberto handed out the stripes and 6 new belts!
Anthony Feliciano received his grey belt with one black stripe, Emmanuel Cruz received his WHAT, Paula Vazquez received her green belt with one black stripe, and Andrew, Alston and Bella Mendello received their green belts with one black stripe.
Wednesday: Juniors Test
Jacob is getting good at walking on his hands... but will he ever be able to beat Master Roberto, who can walk on his hands the length of the mat twice?
Click Here to see Photos from Team Third Law’s Juniors Class Test Day on Facebook
The Juniors (ages 11-14) worked hard during their test, kicking it off with mobility drills including cartwheels, roundoffs, walking on their hands, forward and backward rolls and more.
Then they moved onto the four points drill, a mobility drill, to get them ready for their next set of techniques from the closed guard. Like the Little Ninjas, they worked bump sweeps and cross chokes from closed guard and mount.
As Master Roberto added up their scores, it was time for some grappling matches.
There were some belt promotions in this class as well, with Brandyn Hampton getting his grey belt with one white stripe, Bautista Vazquez got his green belt with one black stripe, Jacob Hurd got his gold belt with one black stripe and Camila Cruz got her gold belt with one black stripe.
Brandyn, Camila and Bautista all got new belts in the Juniors class after earning enough stripes and getting good reports from home and school on their promotion forms.
Also, the students worked so hard and showed so much progress, that Master Roberto did something he doesn’t usually do in the Juniors class. He picked three students for Student of the Day: Brandyn Hampton, Genie Matthews and Connor Matthews.
Wednesday: BJJ White Belt Basics Test
Mikhail Dye, Crystal Bradley and John Rivera all got their next-level white belts during the most recent test day at Third Law.
Click Here to see Photos from Team Third Law’s BJJ Class Test Day on Facebook
The Adults kicked off the testing on Wednesday in the 7 a.m. BJJ class, and continued with more tests at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
They tested on the Guard Passing curriculum designed by Head Instructor Roberto Torralbas, working with partners and demonstrating the moves they’d been practicing all month.
In the morning class, Crystal Bradley earned her next white belt, moving up to the half white / half blue belt and in the afternoon class Samuel Delbrouque moved up to his white belt with two blue stripes.
Samuel Delbrouque, who usually trains in Third Law's afternoon classes, also got his next-level white belt.
In the evening class, John Rivera earned his white belt with two blue stripes and Mikhail Dye got his white belt with one blue stripe.
Each month Third Law’s BJJ students take the test, and those who pass earn a stripe on their current belt. To earn each new belt they have to get four black stripes.
Many students get their blue belts before they progress through all the white belts by competing or demonstrating to Master Roberto that they’re ready, but there is always the option to progress slowly and then do a very intensive test at the end.
Thursday: MMA Test
But it wasn’t over yet — there was one more day of testing for the students at Team Third Law. On Thursday, students took the MMA test in the 7 a.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. classes.
They were tested on five combinations they worked on all month, as well as wrestling and BJJ moves: the Iowa, peek out, and Monson choke.
Thursday: Tiny Ninjas Test
Third Law BJJ & MMA's Tiny Ninjas (ages 3-6) go over their Life Skill of the Month, Confidence, and their two Manners of the Month, #13 Don't Use Foul Language and #14 Don't Call People Mean Names. On test day, they are tested on the Life Skill and two Manners.
Click Here to see Photos from Team Third Law’s Tiny Ninjas Test Day on Facebook
And, we can’t forget the Tiny Ninjas. The class was packed on Thursday for test day, with about a dozen kids there for the class with Master Roberto and Coaches Joey, Crystal and Katy.
It was a high energy class filled with important mobility drills, games, grappling and, of course, some time talking about the Life Skill of the month and the two Manners.
The Skill and Manners are the same for the Tinys as the Littles, so they had to remember the Life Skill (Confidence)and Manners #13 Don’t Use Foul Language and #14 Don’t Call People Mean Names.
Brycen shows off his Confidence Badge, for learning the Life Skill of the Month in the Tiny Ninjas class at Third Law BJJ & MMA in Naples, Florida.
Then, the class ended with some great grappling by the Tinys. Everyone earned their stripe, and there were two belt promotions: Nicholas Cruz was promoted to white belt with one gold stripe and Solomon to white belt with one yellow stripe.
