Interview with Randy Bloom

(aka ChokedOutSurfer)
By Michael Jen

Randy Bloom (center)

Can you give us a brief description of your background in BJJ?

It all started about 12 years ago,Ed Keller(another black belt under Joe)and I owned a photography studio and were on our way out the door with trash from that days shoot.Well,we saw three guys in gis coming at us and my heart just stopped,I turn to Ed and said you got the guy with the black belt,I'll take the one,we started to laugh at that comment, that's when Joe greeted us with open arms and brought us over to his new school, 3 doors down from our bez.

You have told me of your numerous injuries that have resulted from training. If you you could go back in time, what would you have done differently?

I trained like an animal from that day on,took on anyone that wanted to roll.One night a brazilian purple wanted to roll,I jump at the chance,I got lucky and tap the dude,he came back full force at me and I thought I knew what was up,he went one way and my leg went the other,my entire knee was separated from the joint,they had to hold me down as Joe put my leg back into into place so I could get home. 2 months later, I dislocated my right shoulder,4 months after that, I separated my left. Over the next years that followed, nose broke, teeth chipped and capped,fingers broke and fractured, ribs have been separated 5 times, black eyes and bloody nose, can't count them all. Now, if I was to start over and know what I do now, just relax, cruise and enjoy.

You went through a very difficult testing process before receiving your black belt. Some instructors have tests for promotions, some instructors base it on success in competition, and some instructors base it simply on watching your skill on the mat in class. What is your opinion on having or not having a formal test for promotions?

Belt testing is important,things that Joe has taught me over the years have been vital in what I show to my students,I want them to know the correct way in achieving the standards in belts,competition,watching and listening in what they need know to move on.

You have been involved in various aspects of promoting the sport of BJJ. What do you feel is is needed to make this sport grow? What do you feel is currently hurting or hindering the sport?

The sport is exploding all over the world,more competition events,a govern body here in the USA to direct the sport into a world event.

What goals in BJJ do you have? Is there any aspect of your game that you are working on or would like to improve?

I have been working with Bruce Borden of Island video to produce Jiu-Jitsu tapes that specialize in areas of intrust, like Joes passing the guard, Rey Diogo sweeps, Rodrigo Medeiros series and others coming very soon. I'm also looking forward to September 03 worlds event in Rio, going to put it on the line again.

Can you tell us about your Surf/Jiu-jitsu camp?

The camp came together from alot of different areas,the main one that made me do this was the lack of good instructors around the USA and other areas,I told the people on different forums from all over to make plans and come to southern Cal and I'll get some black belts together for free lessons and also teach ya how to surf,last years event was "HUGE"it will be in black belt mag. next issue from what I hear.

What is the biggest mistake, when it comes to training, that you see beginners make that hinders their progress?

Laying on their backs with there arms wrapped around there partners head,armbar waithing to happen.

You have a leglock instructional video. Even though you trained under Joe Moreira, I don't think that area is one of his specialties. Where or with whom did you learn legslocks?

This video came from all the years I have thought at Joes and other schools around the USA. Students wanted to know, so I just started to show what I knew. I saw alot of different attacks from Alan Goes, Fabio Iha, Tito Ortiz, Rickson and alot of other black belt fighters from Brazil.

You have trained in Southern California, which is one of hot spots of BJJ in the US. What would you consider one of the most interesting or amazing things that you have seen in all your years of training?

One was Joe tapping out these Black belts from his home town, the other was watching Rickson rolling non stop with about 30 people in this room, he tapped (us) all.