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10th Planet comes to Albuquerque

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Nate Harris doesn’t see himself as a business owner rather first and foremost he sees himself as a jiu-jitsu coach.

“I love jiu-jitsu so much that  I want to help it become as great as it possibly can,” Harris said.

This summer Harris along with fellow owner Brendon Baca set out to do just that as they introduced Albuquerque to 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu.

10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu stands out among others as it’s non-traditional system of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was  developed by founder and American martial arts instructor Eddie Bravo. The system excludes many commonly found practices in Jiu-Jitsu such as the use of a gi.

While Bravo is known for the unorthodox creation of a system with no gi’s within the world of jiu-jitsu he is also well known for making his mark on the world of jiu-jitsu often in regards to  competing at the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship , known as one of the world’s toughest submission wrestling tournament, as a brown belt. Bravo after returning to the United States was gifted a black belt upon his return and then opened the first 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu.

“Eddie will for sure go down in history as one of the greatest jiu-jitsu minds ever, one of the best innovators and for sure one of the best competitors obviously,” Harris said. “He’s done more for jiu-jitsu then so many people. I 100 percent know he will go down as one of the most influential jiu-jitsu guys in history.”

While a newer jiu-jitsu gym itself, Albuquerque’s 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu still hold close ties with it’s founder as the mats lining the floors of the business are actually the first mats ever used in Bravo’s first location. Both Baca and Harris noted the significance of this.

“These are the mats that 10th planet was born on,” Harris said. “Which to me, I’m kind of sentimental guy so I think is really cool.”

Challenging common practices of Brazilian jiu-jitsu while still respecting the traditions of jiu-jitsu is something 10th planet strives for, Baca said.

“10 Planet is 100 percent focused on growth and evolution,” Baca said.

10th planet embraces ideas of learning and innovation with coaches willing to learn from their students just as they do from them. The teamwork Harris and Baca use to run Albuquerque’s 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu is largely tied to these concepts as Baca was originally one of Harris’s students in 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu’s Santa Fe location. He has been learning from Harris just short of two years before the two made the decision to open an Albuquerque location together.

From their working off of each others strengths the team utilizes their experience to ensure the success of their students. Often the focus on working on their strength enables them to learn from students.

“Our whole thing is based  on that feedback of being able to say hey you could have done this better and being open to that because that’s how we grow,” Baca said.  

While Albuquerque’s 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu is a recent addition to Harris’s life his journey to jiu-jitsu is one he said was often filled with happenstance rooted in his desire to become healthy rather then take steps towards a future career in jiu-jitsu. Despite this both Harris and Baca express enthusiasm in bringing 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu to Albuquerque.

“It was pure coincidence that I walked into that gym and started training under Tait (Fletcher) I just think it’s amazing because I happened to walk into that gym, with zero concept—–happening to go into that gym I got to join one of the most prestigious and best jiu-jitsu systems in the world,” Harris said.  

 

Big message and big sound as Imagine Dragons took over Isleta Amphitheater this week

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Sweeping into the Albuquerque Isleta Amphitheater on July 18, American pop rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada, Imagine Dragons played to a cheering crowd for their Evolve Tour.

With the show beginning at 7 p.m. the 14-year-old musician who won America’s Got Talent in 2016, Grace VanderWaal opened for Imagine Dragons creating a soothing atmosphere while fans shuffled in. Lines were still packed to get into the venue long after VanderWaal’s opening act took to the stage as attendees adjusted to new rules set at the Isleta Amphitheater barring bags longer than six inches as well as items such as lawn chairs and large umbrellas. Attendees of the concert were offered the option of purchasing rental lawn chairs or see through bags in the cases of purses. Alternatively a ziplock bag was provided for people to carry there positions in if they declined to purchase the see through totes.

Despite the long lines seats were quickly filled and the lawn was flooded with excited onlookers. After finishing up with her new song “Clearly”  a reimagining of Johnny Nash’s “I Can See Clearly Now” Grace VanderWaal thanked the cheering crowd as she introduced Imagine Dragons.

Smoke flooded the stage at 8:20 p.m. and the band erupted with popular 2012 hit “Radioactive”. After the song lead singer Dan Reynolds addressed the cheering crowd asking if they were ready to let go along with the band.

“Work, school, politics, leave it, leave it, leave it. This is a place of safety,” Reynolds said. “This is a place of equality. This is a place of no judgement of anyone, where you can be yourself unabashedly and I will be mine.”  

The crowd cheered as Reynolds and the band began 2012 hit “It’s Time,” stopping at parts to allow audience members to sing the words. The band’s segment included drumming solos, guitar solos and confetti shooting into the air. At one point Reynolds himself disappeared from stage only to be seen running through the crowd with security guards close to him. Fans cheered and many ran towards him as he made his way back towards the stage.

During the concert Reynolds shifted the tone as he took a moment to address depression along with the stigma connected to it. He urged concert goers to realize that acknowledging depression was not a weakness but a strength.

“There is a stigmatization in our society today that is hurting our children, it’s hurting our youth, it’s killing our youth,” Reynolds said. “We must speak openly and honestly about depression.”

The crowd cheered at his words and continued to as he told his story about his own diagnosis and urged those struggling with depression to speak to friends, family and therapist.

“Your life is always worth living,” he told the crowd shortly before launching into the 2012 hit song “Demons.” The song marked a more soothing and calm part of the concert as members of the crowd sang along. Throughout the show the band played songs from both their 2012 album Night Visions as well as their 2017 album Evolve. Long after dark, lights filled the stage as they performed encores of many of there popular songs.

“Thank you for being here tonight,” Reynolds said. “What an incredible thing it is to come out to a new city every night, to feel at home, to feel amongst family. Thank you for providing us with that. It’s not every night that happens.”  

ABQ SUMMERFEST 2018 preview

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Since the first Summerfest came to Civic Plaza in 1980, the city wide event has returned each year featuring free community events, children’s activities, an artisan market full of handcrafted goods, and discounts from local businesses.

From their Summerfest has only grown in size with now four local Summerfest events widespread across Albuquerque. The first of the events kicked off on June 9 with Heights Summerfest located in North Domingo Baca Park. Still three more events have yet to come with Route 66’s Summerfest located in Nob Hill on July 21, Downtown Summerfest located on Civic Plaza August 4 and Westside Summerfest at the Cottonwood Mall on August 18.

“The goal of the event series is to offer free, family-friendly safe events for the community,” said Bree Ortiz, Events and Operations Manager with the city of Albuquerque, Cultural Services Department.

A large part of summerfest includes music from performers who are both national and local. One performer is Grammy Award-winning singer, Irma Thomas who will be the headliner for Route 66’s Summerfest.

“For the national acts, we work with talent agencies to get an artist within our budget that is available at the time of the event,” Ortiz said. “For the local artists, we have most bands reaching out to us for an opportunity to perform.”

With  hundreds of local businesses involved in each of the Summerfest events attendees can expect artisans, food trucks, and breweries at the event. Additionally, each Summerfest will have its own unique atmosphere such as Route 66’s Summerfest which will be showcased on the streets of Nob Hill.  

This allows for attendees of the event to support local businesses while enjoying the outdoors and other events offered. With this, all of the Summerfest events are different and continue to be a quality event series that the community can look forward to, Ortiz said.

“This series had grown and evolved over the years by taking best practices and current desires into consideration,” she said.

Owner of Nob Hill Bar and Grill, Nicole Kapnison describes Summerfest as an event that truly supports local. This done through local food, local drinks, local art,and local talent., she said

Her business has been part of Summerfest for as long as she can remember, Kapnison said.

“It (Route 66’s Summerfest) really is the best summerfest in the city because it incorporates so many local businesses,” Kapnison said. “It’s rare that we get to shut down central and set up a party in the middle of the streets. It’s a great event for family and friends and great for the local economy.”

Anything that drives business away from large chains, even only for a night to Nob Hill and historic Route 66 is something Nob Hill Bar and Grill loves to be a part of, Kapnison said.  

As a local business owner herself Kapnison emphasizes the importance of local business as they are what keep Albuquerque alive and flourishing, she said.

“Events like this, where almost all the businesses are local, give us all a chance to showcase our hard work, talent, and dedication to the city,” Kapnison said.

Kapnison hopes this year’s Summerfest will be bigger and better than ever as past Albuquerque Rapid Transit (ART) construction has caused many to avoid downtown Albuquerque, she said.

However with the upcoming Summerfest stretching down Nob Hill, Kapnison urges attendees to come and enjoy the event while drinking responsibly, taking Uber or Lyft, and spending their your local dollars on Route 66. “Construction is over, the streets are beautiful, and we want people to remember that supporting local is what drives our economy,” Kapnison said.

Check out more photos from past Summerfest‘s in Albuquerque HERE

Meet local boxer Fidel “Atrisco Kid” Maldonado Jr

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Native New Mexican born and raised in Albuquerque, Fidel “Atrisco Kid” Maldonado Jr’s path to boxing began as a young child as he fought with his cousins. His uncle would watch his nephew foreseeing back then that he had the potential to be a boxer. It seemed only fitting  that years later at eight-years-old Maldonado would be presented the choice between boxing and baseball.

He chose boxing and has stuck with it since.

Now at 26 years old and a professional in his field Maldonado said he has never played another sport aside from boxing. Since entering the field at a young age Maldonado has accomplished quite a bit even before going professional holding the rank of number two and number one in the nation among ameteur boxers in 2008.

The following year Maldonado went professional and as a teenager often fought men older them himself or even twice his age. Now as a seasoned professional Maldonado said his relationship with boxing is a love hate relationship.

“There’s days you hate it but you gotta push through and there’s days you love it and those days I can’t see myself doing anything else,” he said.

For Maldonado boxing is like a second in time where individuals are given a second to box before becoming older and passing on the mantel, he said.

“I want to put my legacy down in boxing and hopefully make some good moves outside of the ring,” Maldonado said. “I want to have smart people around me, make good moves and have my money as I make money.”

Maldonado’s family have been his supportive net in regards to his boxing with extended family members coming to fights to cheer him on. Now as a father of three children himself ranging from three to nine years old Maldonado has stepped beyond boxing professionally and now works as a barber alongside his boxing career.

“I cut hair, I fight and I’m a family man,” Maldonado said.

The three aspects of his life often mix in unexpected ways as clients will recognize him as a boxer when they come to get there hair cut. One particular incident that stood out to Maldonado involved a man who went for a haircut and spoke about a boxing match that stood out to him.

The match it turned out was one that Maldonado was in and had won.

“I didn’t say nothing I just kept cutting his hair and the other barber said ‘that’s him’ and he (the client)  turned around and stopped and said ‘That is you’. He got my autograph and everything so that was pretty cool,” Maldonado said.

While Maldonado has faced losses he said that each one humbles him and helps him grow.

“If you live a humble life it will humble you,” he said.

Maldonado’s next match will have him defending his WBC Fecarbox Super Lightweight title and his current score of 24 wins to 4 losses with 19 knockouts.

With the support of his family and notably his fiancee, father and grandfather Maldonado is not looking to lose anytime soon as he puts down his legacy, he said.

“My family supports me in everything I do and that’s just what it is,” he said. “If you have the right support you can do anything.”

 

By Nichole Harwood

Undefeated Boxer Shoots for the Stars

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By Nichole Harwood

Ronnie “The Mongoose” Baca is currently undefeated in his career as a professional boxer but it’s just a stepping stone towards his goal to be a world champion, he said.

“It’s a newbeginning right now, I’m just extremely focused it keeps me level-headed it keeps me ambitious and I’m just shooting for the stars,” Baca said.

Baca admits that his goal is every fighters dream and at this point right now he is just learning as he goes by but despite that he’s keeping his eye on the prize, he said.

Baca was born and raised in Arizona but he officially moved to New Mexico around the end of 2014.

At 24-year-old today Baca said he has always had strong ties to New Mexico as his father is originally from Santa Fe and so Baca has a lot of family in the state from his father’s side.

Due to this Baca has always been familiar with Albuquerque or Santa Fe due to family visits growing up as a kid.

His decision to move to New Mexico in 2014 was made after speaking to his father and deciding to focus on his boxing career, he said.

Officially Baca started boxing as a freshman 14-year-old going on to 15, he said.

“My father was the one who was very enthused with boxing,” Baca said. “As a kid I always used to watch saturday night fights growing up.”

Baca’s father introduced him to boxing to teach him self-discipline as Baca was not very focused in school, he said.

“Ever since then I just stuck with it,” Baca said. “I’ve been adapting to it skill wise, heart wise and things like that brought me here now.”

Not only did introducing his son to boxing introduce him to his future career the self-discipline he learned through boxing helped Baca with school as well.

“I moved to different schools while I was training.. and ever since then I have been extremely focused and I graduated with 3.0 so it helped me out a lot,” he said.  

While most of Baca’s amature fights were in Arizona, all of his professional fights have been in New Mexico.

“It’s a big difference between the amateur league to the professional,” Baca said. “The amateur league is a school house and where you see yourself in the sport and well you know once you step up to the pro rinks then you learn the business side of it because it is a business. So it’s a big leap and a tough atmosphere.”

Baca has had multiple memorable fights both as an amateur and professional. His fights as a amateur have stood out to him as those were fights where he second guessed himself, he said.

During those moments Baca said he told himself to just stick through it and committed himself to working harder next time and learn from his mistakes.

In his amateur career Baca has had 18-19 amateur fights which isn’t much as a lot of others, but he noted that he has never been knocked out or been dropped. A fact he hopes continues in his professional career.

Baca’s family has been supportive throughout his career even when they have been worried about him getting hurt, he said.

“There has been times where my family’s been very emotional towards it (boxing career) they’ve been scared or they second-guess me being in the sport just for the fact that they don’t want me to be hurt which is understandable,” Baca said.

Despite this Baca’s family has found ways to be there for him both emotionally and physically. His father being his first manager and his mother and her family flying to New Mexico to support him in his fights.

“I can’t complain,” Baca said. “I’ve been really blessed with my family.”

In the beginning of his professional career Baca was being managed by his father alone but Baca has as of recent received a second manager with many connections in the community, he said.  

“It’s always best to be around people you know and have them support you because when you know a lot of people it’s much easier, it’s much better for you as well.  They get the name out and they can help explore who you are,” he said. “Now I feel like it’s skyrocketing more than ever.”

Baca has emphasized that as a sport boxing has a uniqueness to it that can not be shared by other sports.

“The sport, the victory overall at the end of this fight, it’s all on you. You’re the only one in the ring and that’s why I enjoy hearing the saying ‘you can play basketball but you can’t play boxing’,” he said.  

Ronnie “The Mongoose” Baca is set to fight in the Route to Glory Bad Blood event on June 23rd.

Contact us: info@abq-live.com

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