Feedback on BJJMap.com
July 2, 2009
Warning: this post is not so much about Brazilian jiu-jitsu as it is about our family of BJJ sites. No hard feelings if that’s not as interesting to you. 
A typical email we get here at TheFightWorksPodcast.com headquarters here in San Diego is a very kind note. We hear about people’s suggestions for new shows, and maybe some kind words about the work we do. But not every communcation we receive is a compliment. Sometimes they’re recommendations, like this one we received from Europe regarding our new sister website, BJJMap.com, a directory of BJJ schools and BJJ school reviews.
One comment about the bjjmap site. Could you please add “Country” field to the submission form. It is allways a bit annoying to put your country to the State field - as we are not part of the United States….
Great suggestion! I’ve made the fix already. Here’s another comment about BJJMap.com we received from a long-time listener, Ross Finlayson.
Caleb,
Great idea, but a *terrible* UI. (For starters, there’s no ‘map’ at all…)
Ross.
Good old Ross! Back in 2007 he was the first to email me after I posted an interview with Cesar Gracie that was un-listenable because of poor audio quality (I was so upset I pulled it from the site and transcribed the whole thing). Ross’ comments compelled me to find a new audio recording service and since then I think we have done a pretty good job in that department.
This time around he voices another legitimate issue. Because of the domain name BJJMap.com, he was expecting one giant Google map showing all schools everywhere. As I was writing this very post, a training partner of mine here in San Diego offered a similar critique. The domain name BJJMap came about because the site already existed under different owners who appeared to cease work on it and let the domain expire. So I apologize if that was misleading. It was certainly not intentional.
Unfortunately, I’m no software coder. My web development skills are a bit like my top game in jiu-jitsu: limited So regrettably I don’t have the resources to display the giant map you guys ask for. If any one out there is a really smooth web developer and has time and an urge to volunteer some assistance, we’d love to talk.
In the meantime although it is admittedly not perfect, I do think BJJMap offers some utility to the jiu-jitsu community. Remember that in addition to offering a searchable index of BJJ schools (currently over 400 in 14 countries), you can leave and read feedback about the schools to help make decisions about where to train. There are already a handful of such reviews on the site, but I am excited about the information it will provide once there is a little more inertia in the reviews.
I hope this clarifies things a bit. Regardless, keep the feedback coming!
Win an Isami Gi in the Tournament Review Tuesday Contest!
June 30, 2009
Who doesn’t want a new gi? Most of us probably don’t need a new gi but I think most jiu-jitsu people are always eager to have another one in our arsenal! Well here’s your chance to get one shipped to your doorstep!
Yes, it’s time for another contest here on TheFightWorksPodcast.com! Unlike Brazilian jiu-jitsu techniques, which have seemingly infinite layers of details, winning this brand new Isami gi is really a pretty simple process:
- Write a review of a Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournament for us to publish in our Tournament Review Tuesdays column and you’ll be entered into the contest!
- Multiple entries are allowed! Compete and send us five TRT columns and you’ll have five opportunities to win!
- Yes, if you’ve already written a TRT piece in 2009, those count as entries.
- We will draw a winner at random from the entries in December and soon after you will have this new Isami gi on your doorstep.
So what are you waiting for? Find a jiu-jitsu tournament on iCompete.org, and let us know how it went!
Many, many thanks to ChokeSports.com for their generous contribution of the Isami gi!
Please Keep in Touch with Us!
June 26, 2009
At this point in our humble Brazilian jiu-jitsu internet radio show’s history, the income we earn from on-site banners and the occasional paid audio commercial is still probably less than I pay annually for hosting, travel, and other services used to make The FightWorks Podcast. When you add in the hours required every week to put together a show, it doesn’t come close to justifying itself, much less being a revenue generator.
And that is fine. The emails and messages I get from you, The Mighty 600,000, prove to me that what I do is valued. It really feels good to produce something that makes others happy. So it’s a true statement that the emails and voicemails we receive from you are the fuel that powers The FightWorks Podcast.
Don’t get me wrong. No part of what I wrote above is me asking for donations, and I am not soliciting ideas on a new business model for podcasting. (Although if you really think you’re on to a new idea, feel free to email me). What I am saying is that your feedback is really important to us here at The FightWorks Podcast, so please keep in touch!
Preview of Sunday’s Show
June 12, 2009
Alliance Jiu-Jitsu’s Tarsis Humphreys, who took silver in the medium heavy division of the 2009 BJJ World Championship in Long Beach, California.
This coming Sunday’s episode of The FightWorks Podcast promises to be a big one. After all, it is the one following the biggest Brazilian jiu-jitsu event of the year, the 2009 BJJ World Championship! I hope the coverage we have put together over the past week has been indicative of what an incredible event the Mundial turned out to be. I just wanted to give you a quick teaser of the content we’ll include in this coming Sunday’s show.
While I don’t want to give away too much (the surprise is part of the fun), let’s just say I think I was able to speak with everyone you probably wanted to hear from. Let’s put it this way: the interviewees in this coming Sunday’s show received nine medals in black belt competition, and multiple interviewees earned medals in more than one division (hint hint! hint big-choke-from-the-mount-hint!).
So make sure you tune in! If you haven’t yet, subscribe to our weekly Brazilian jiu-jitsu internet radio show in iTunes, so you never miss an episode! It’s free!
BJJ Theme for Your iGoogle Homepage
June 11, 2009
Family, among all this coverage of last weekend’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championship, I just wanted to quickly mention a Brazilian jiu-jitsu theme for your Google homepage, courtesy of your favorite BJJ internet radio show. This was finished up and accepted into the Google homepage theme directory last week sometime.
The BJJ picture at the top of the theme will change every three hours on a daily basis to keep your iGoogle homepage interesting. You can check it out here!
As of this writing Google is saying that there are 158 users of this theme already. I’m not sure how there are that many users in such a short time but I won’t complain! Also, if you didn’t know already, you can embed our BJJ Radio audio player right into your Google Homepage as well!
Pre-Mundials Coffee Last Sunday
June 10, 2009
Some of the Family who showed up for coffee. Photo courtesy Ross Finlayson.
A few days before the 2009 BJJ World Championship, I posted a note asking if anyone wanted to get together for a coffee. About six or seven members of the Mighty 600,000, some from as far away as North Carolina, came for a quick cup of joe and we got to chat about all the great jiu-jitsu we had seen on Saturday.
I just wanted to get together post a quick note to say how much I appreciated getting together with you guys. I get emails from folks sometimes and the occasional voicemail on our toll-free line (877-247-4662), but it’s really a pleasure to meet our humble BJJ internet radio show’s listeners face to face. It makes all the hard work very rewarding.
Muinto obrigado to Ross for taking the photos, more of which can be seen here.
Looking forward to next time!
Coffee Predictions of the BJJ Black Belt Absolute Division Champion
June 1, 2009
The 2009 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championship is this coming weekend! It is the highlight of all jiu-jitsu practitioners’ year. Here at the FightWorks Podcast, we are as giddy as can be. And anxious. And mentally preparing ourselves for the marathon of jiu-jitsu coverage!
But one thing we love about these events is the opportunity to get face to face with the Mighty 600,000. Last year we did breakfast, which was a lot of fun. This year we’re going to do something different: we’re getting together for coffee.
Here’s the deal: stop in and grab a coffee with us from 8 to 9am at The Daily Grind Espresso on 5590 E 7th St, in Long Beach. It’s just down the street from the Mundials. If you’re up for it, we’ll record audio of you telling us who you think will win the 2009 black belt absolute division champion that day. Later we will draw a name at random among the other folks who correctly guessed the 2009 black belt absolute division champion and send the winner a FightWorks Podcast gi patch!
Even if you have no prediction, please stop in and say hello. It’s really rewarding to put faces to the Mighty 600,000.
Don’t worry, we won’t be there long enough for you to miss any of the black belt action on Sunday. That begins at 10am. But this way we get to connect with the Family a bit, generate some content for our next show, and caffeinate before another long day of BJJ reporting! See you there!
p.s. You can recognize me because I’ll be the guy with a scar on his knee and a brace on his foot!
UNIJJ Prepares for the 2009 BJJ Mundials
May 21, 2009
Click to enlarge
Just a sneak peak for you - this coming Sunday’s episode of The FightWorks Podcast will feature Saulo Ribeiro and Xande Ribeiro’s University of Jiu-Jitsu. San Diego’s UNIJJ will be preparing some of Brazilian jiu-jitsu’s toughest competitors for the upcoming 2009 BJJ Mundials, which take place June 4-7 in Long Beach, California. In Sunday’s show we will hear from Saulo, Xande, and Leo Santos, who after winning the brown belt ultra-heavyweight division in the 2008 BJJ Mundials, was promoted to black belt a few weeks ago.
The FightWorks Podcast Heads to China
May 20, 2009
I received a phone call from FightWorks Podcast cohost Dan yesterday morning from the airport in Northern Virginia as he waited to board the plane for a 14 hour ride to Beijing. Why in the world is Dan heading to Beijing?
The Chinese mixed martial arts promoter Art of War contacted The FightWorks Podcast headquarters recently and offered to bring one of us to cover their MMA event this weekend, which is being generously funded by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed al Nahyan, who also recently funded the World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Cup in Abu Dhabi.
I have obligations and am not able to attend, but Dan said he was up for it and realized that in addition to covering the event (which is flying in some serious star power from MMA to attend), we could also take the opportunity to document how Brazilian jiu-jitsu is progressing in China. As an added bonus Rickson Gracie, Royce Gracie, and Renzo Gracie will be in attendance. Dan mentioned Royler Gracie going as well but I haven’t confirmed that. So there will be no shortage of Brazilian jiu-jitsu content waiting to be captured too.
So I want to be candid in stating that Dan’s travel and hotel room were paid for by the promoters. We are very conscious of the conflict of interest that is present whenever a promoter makes it possible to cover their event when financial constraints prevent us from doing so on our own. Rest assured we will do what we can to prevent coverage from being affected. I know there may be some in the Mighty 600,000 saying, “Who cares if Dan’s trip was paid for by them? It’s not like this is international affairs! It’s an MMA event!” I understand that sentiment but when it comes to our journalistic integrity here on the show I play things pretty conservatively.
In any case the plan is for Dan to bring back some audio and photos of the Art of War event this weekend that will likely be covered in Episode 157 of The FightWorks Podcast. [This coming Sunday's show (#156) is already finished! More on that tomorrow!]
BJJ Dinner with the Family - May 19
May 16, 2009
I was thinking the other day that it would be fun to get together with friends once in a while, sit down, grab some food, and oh, I don’t know, talk about, oh, let’s see… jiu-jitsu. There’s no time like the present, so if you are in the San Diego area, come on out to grab a bite to eat and to talk shop with other members of the Mighty 600,000, aka the Family.
We’ve got tons to talk about - I don’t need to list them all as you are probably talking about them already, but: the Mundials are coming up (hello!!!!), there is the ongoing gentleman’s agreement controversy, we all have injury stories to sympathize with each other about… The list goes on forever.
I’d like to make this a semi-regular thing in the future. So come on out on Tuesday! Don’t be shy! You’ll know us when you see us - it’s easy to spot jiu-jitsu people.
If you can make it click “I’m going” in the Google Event Box above so I’m not the only one!
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