We have been working the hook flip this week. For the longest time I had always felt that the hook flip was a staple in our training.  The ability to lift and sweep a  person still inspires me today. 
   I love to sweep!!  For me, sweeping a guy is better than a tap. At least at this point in my training.  I personally don't mind giving up a tap in training to pull off a sweep I might be working. The feeling of off balancing your guy, feeling the sudden weight shift, seeing the look in their eyes as they realize the mistake they made.  Priceless!
   I realize Jiujitsu is about the tap. The newer guys especially, really want the submission. Don't get me wrong, so do I, but the sweep is where it is for me. Taking a larger and stronger opponent, and forcing them on to there back at times with little effort.  It still amazes me today.
  I think we were known for awhile as the school that would hook flip you.  Alvis really focused on the application and technical aspects behind the hook flip.  Like in all Martial Arts, as in Jiujitsu, the way we hook flip today has evolved. The application, variations, and even the transitions have changed.
   At Davis Martial Arts we try to focus on all aspects of the game.  Not just the physical, but the mental as well. The mental aspect I am talking about here is the feelings and emotions that occur, when your swept. Your were just on top, crushing me, now, I am on top pushing the pace, looking to pass, hunting the submission. Man when I get swept, I want it back.  No way this guys gonna beat me at the sweep game.  You may tap me, but bro, really, you want to sweep me.
  We're focused on the hook flip this week in our advanced class. Looking at the setups, variations, combinations, and transitions that go along with the Hook Flip.
   Start in guard. Double sleeve control. Bridge up on your shoulders clearing your rear off the ground. Shrimp to your right sliding down your partners legs. Insert your right foot to the hip. Left knee comes inside your partners arms. Insert the left foot under the right thigh of your partner. Make sure you are on your right side here. As you sit up, your right foot comes across the outside of your partners right leg, hugging the knee. Sitting up, still controlling the sleeves, your left arm bends, digging with your elbow under your partners right armpit, hunting for the belt, back, or collar. GET YOU GRIP!!!! Keep your head under your partners head, Scoot to your left, opening up some space for your partner to fall. Begin to drop in a circular motion to your right, aiming your head towards your right knee . Falling on your side hip to shoulder, don't forget to tuck your right elbow, punch your partners right sleeve into to the knot of his/her belt. Start to lift your left leg as to kick, making sure to keep your toes pulled back the entire time. Looking to your right, your partner balance starts to breakdown, his shoulder drops. YES!!!! Your partners hips begin to tilt. KEEP KICKING!!! Your right foot turns down to base and help push.  SWEET RELIEF. Follow your left foot. Come on top. Either side control, mount, or half guard. Choices are endless, and dependent on how your partner counters.  Either way, you just got HOOK FLIPPED baby!!!!
      Davis Martial Arts
      Practice Makes Permanent!
  

    My name is Roy Davis.  I am 42 years YOUNG.  I am now owner and head instructor of Davis Martial Academy in Humble Texas.  I have been training Jiujitsu for 16 years under the instruction of Alvis Solis, 3rd degree blackbelt under Carlos Machado. I received my blackbelt from Alvis in 2009-2010.  Needless to say that was an awesome day for me. It was a 10 year journey. I can say I earned every belt I received.
    I can remember starting out at SMAA as a white belt.  Actually I thought I was a B.A. back then.  I came in wearing my TKD blackbelt.  The first day was a rough one. I was thrown to wolves and was lucky to have made it out in one piece. I realized then that Jiujitsu was for me and I never wore that belt in there again.I walked in and Alvis was still purple so I new I was about to show those boys whats up. Back then when you came in with a chip on your shoulder you were taught a lesson very quick.  Then they threw you to the newer blue belts and they showed no mercy. I learned a lot in short time. First lesson, TAPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!
    It wasn't long before I realized I was hooked. I started my boys there at 4 and 5.  The oldest(Roy Lee) really didn't take to it but the younger one(Shane)really has. He is now a blue belt at 17 and is very tough on and off the mats.  My wife started about six months after me and now has her black belt as well, both of us receiving them from Alvis. 
   Training back then was intense. We didn't know a whole lot but what we did know, we did well.  At that time I had the pleasure of training daily with an up and coming phenom in Travis Tooke. He was just a kid then but still trashed everyone. 
   We always had the advantage as well because we had the secret weapon, Carlos Machado.  He came down and did seminars quite often.  Alvis and Travis would also go train with him at his school in Dallas so what we were getting was straight from the source. Alvis always said when Carlos walked into a room, your Jiujitsu would improve 10-20% just from being around him.  It is true.
    I have really seen the Jiujitsu phenomenon take off here in the Houston area. I am proud to be a part of it.  I have been around from the beginning.  When 100 guys at a tournament was huge. When a black belt would enter, the room would get quiet, everyone would whisper. You were star struck.  It was the time of Pe de Pano, Margarita, Terere. The emergence of the legends Jacare, Roger Gracie, and Marcelo Garcia.
   My name is Roy Davis.
   I am a Jiujitsu black belt!!!!

  Becoming an owner and  head instructor of a Jiujitsu school was not on my "TO DO" list.  I had seen the amount of long hours, tireless work, and frustrations of owning a school puts on people.  I honestly felt I was not ready!
  I took over Solis Martial Arts about 5 months ago.  I had trained specifically with Alvis and our team for the last 16 years.  From white to black, he has been my only instructor in Jiujitsu.
  I was given the opportunity to take over as owner and head instructor and at first I was very hesitant.  I didn't know what roads lie ahead.  I could have easily said "NO WAY" and taken a much easier path.  Then I thought, where am I going to train???  Welllll???  I had a few choices worked out in my head like Kevin Henderson's ATA, Eddie Avelar's Grounddwellers, Mccalls MMA and Shawn Keys' Iron Mantis. They have their own gyms as well so I had options.  What was I going to do?
   My wife and I sat down and talked a little, but I am a kinda "shoot from the hip" kinda guy. So we decided to go for it.  Man was I in for an eye-opening experience.
  I had been teaching a couple of the classes at the Humble location for several years.  The no-gi and fundamentals was my area. I was able to come in, teach my classes, roll and drill as I pleased and then head home. Not anymore. Now not only did I have to teach all the classes, I had to prepare material to teach. and not only that, I had guys looking to me now for guidance and direction.  WTH!!!
   Needless to say the first month was overwhelming. I had truly thought of giving up. People were upset about the change, some were unsure of me as a Head instructor. The future for the TEAM and the school was very unclear.  We had a few guys leave for whatever reason.  I was truly worried about the future myself.
   The first thing I had to do was to assure everyone that I was there to stay and try and continue what we had started. Ugo Arimo helped a lot to assure people that we were trying to keep this going. Creating an awesome MMA program. We have Jiujitsu, kickboxing, and Filipino Martial Arts. Our main focus has always been on the Jiujitsu and continues still.
   Continuing the kickboxing and Filipino classes was not going to be easy.  I started teaching the kickboxing but really hadn't thrown any kicks and punches in years. Slowly but surely it started coming back.  But the Filipino Martial Arts program was another animal.  Luckily we were able to retain Billy Atwood as our head instructor in FMA program.
  Next was the morning classes.  I still work a day job and had quite a few guys who only trained mornings. I didn't want to lose those guys.  Some have been training here for years.  Man, if we didn't luck out again with Jacob Allphin.  This kid is amazing.  He took over the morning program and I have got to say, I am impressed.  This is a young guy with great Jiujitsu skill, and definitely one of the leaders around here for sure.
  We had to decide on a name. So, we went back and forth bouncing ideas around and ended up where we started. Davis Martial Arts Academy.  Not very original but it works.
  Next was a logo.  Dang. Thanks to Eddie Avelar, we have the logo we have now and its freakin awesome.
  I am not gonna lie.  This has been pretty HARD.  An uphill battle from pricing, scheduling, upkeep, buying gear and getting your name out there, IT IS TOUGH! Thanks to Ugo Arimo "The Black Spiderman", Jacob Allphin, Billy Atwood, Amy Hamilton and of my wife SARAH DAVIS!!!
   I am very thankful to all the guys that have stuck it out here with us. I am dedicated to building some quality Martial Artist and spreading the word of Jiujitsu throughout the Humble area. I love Jiujitsu and hope to train as long as humanly possible. This is now not just a hobby, but my Life. 
   Train hard. Make life long friends. Love what you do.

                               Davis Martial Arts is here to stay!!