Fresh off the arrival of his second child with wife Veronika this week, Brandon took the time to speak to us briefly about what else he’s been up to as of late and what Texas grapplers can expect at his upcoming competition on October 29th.
Interview with Brandon Quick
Brandon, this is your first event back since Newaza Fights: Inception. What have you been up to since then?
I reorganized and collaborated with Chris Carlino. He is who does the behind the camera and editing work for Killer Apps, the company that does my iPhone and Android Jiu Jitsu applications and my online training BrandonQuick.com. We have added to the Killer Apps business by adding tournaments and my new DVD Leg Hunter. I’ve known Chris since March 2008 and is a blue belt of mine. Very organized and trust worthy guy.
The current issue of Jiu Jitsu Magazine (Robert Drysdale on cover) did an awesome 8 page spread on me showing some leg lock attacks and counters. I am very grateful for that and appreciate Mike from JJM for giving me an opportunity to show some of my leg lock game. My Professor, Mr. Bruno Bastos, always instills strong fundamentals to us but also encourages me to practice the game I like to play.
I’m running 2 locations of Team Trinity in Cedar Hill and Waxahachie and trying to be a good coach to my students on and off the mats. I am very proud of a recent school victory for Trinity and Nova Uniao in that my blue belt, Edwin Lipsey just won both the 2011 Pan and Nogi Pan! We remain humble but are very excited for Mr. Lipsey.
What’s new with this upcoming tournament and what did you take away from the last one to help make the Nogi Fall Classic a success?
It’s Killer Apps’ – the company’s 1st tournament but it’s still me and I have ran tournaments before. Newaza Fights was good in the forefront but there was some logistical problems behind the scenes and that’s why I’m with Chris now. My old partner doesn’t know much about the sport BJJ industry and so it’s a better match for me, to be successful & give a quality tournament to our paying customers by being with a friend whom I’m already in business with and knows the BJJ world.
What I took that’s good, in my opinion, is the IBJJF format. I believe in pushing the sport forward by supporting the IBJJF and when tournaments are all lined up and in the same direction the sport will explode even more but most importantly, in the right direction. What I will improve on is we will have ring coordinators for all rings. Last time it was just Tara and I working together but we will have all 6 now. We will also stay with only 1 division per event until we get a bit bigger or do another division on Sunday. What I mean is we will do an entire event just Nogi this time. In January we will do an entire event Gi only. With weigh-ins right before your match IBJJF style it’s hard to do Gi and Nogi the same day. If we do Gi and Nogi it will be a 2 day event.
Have you gotten any feedback from competitors that rolled at your last event?
The people loved it! With the Federation-style format a competitor knows the standard rules – no rules meeting, doesn’t have to show until their division starts, and match weigh-ins prevent stress of cutting weight. It’s more professional. Most importantly, people like Tussa, Bastos, Pinhiero, Lutter, Draculino, Lovato, and other names who rep major organizations such as Nova Uniao, Gracie Barra, Gracie Humaita and others support this style of tournament and what I am doing. We are lucky to have the Houston and Dallas Open by the IBJJF here in Texas now and we want to go in the same direction. Look at the elite fighters that compete in those events compared to local events. Even my last event had Tussa winning the black belt absolute and several high level grapplers compete. Elite BJJ players don’t want to sit around all day not knowing when they will compete. Heck, I think it’s even better for lower ranks because there is less stress involved with an organized process.
Another factor a lot of people like is the safer rules for the kids divisions. No one needs or likes to see their kid hurt.
What else do you hope to bring to DFW with the Nogi Fall Classic?
Is there anything special we should expect from this event?
We will have IBJJF style tournaments but will always try to have something special for the competitors and/or spectators. We plan on having things such as cash prizes, super fights, consolation matches for kids, and people winning their right to compete for free for the rest of the year. This time we will have Absolute Cash Prizes! $500 black, $400 brown, $300 purple, $200 blue, $100 white, $100 juvenile. We will also have a separate mat for kids to do consolation matches all day long as well! We believe the kids will really appreciate this especially since the tournament is single elimination. Since it’s a pre-registration only event we will post the athlete list and brackets.
Also, at the BJJ Winter Classic we are looking for some Gi Superfights! Contact us if you are interested or have someone you would like to see! We have spoken to Robson Moura, Justin Rader, Vitor “Shaolin” Ribiero, and others but being so far out nothing is solid with everyone’s schedule. We would like to solidify something in December for the fans. One or two fights would be awesome!
Any last words before October 29th?
We are running a special for people who pre-register. We will give 1 person their $ back every week!!! We are also giving the opportunity for a discounted rate on spectator fees online
Check www.AKillerApp.com for tournament info and your iphone/Droid app needs!
Thanks to everyone who we already have their support!!! Thanks to our sponsors DOM Fight Gear, Fear Tapping Out, TXMMA.com, JiuJitsu Magazine and Lang Son Traders. Also, thanks to my friends Brett and Seth from F2W and WGC for supporting me! God bless and see you on the mats.
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