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I had the honor of hosting and training with grappling legend Owen Livesey at Casa de Luta Saarbrücken. His world-class judo and No-Gi techniques brought incredible energy and learning to the AbelBJJ team in Germany.
A Day to Remember at Casa de Luta Saarbrücken
There are seminars that you attend — and then there are seminars that change the way you look at the game.
Hosting Owen Livesey at Casa de Luta Saarbrücken was one of those unforgettable experiences.
From the moment he stepped on the mats, you could feel the intensity, the focus, and the professionalism that make him one of the most respected grapplers in the world. The energy in the room was incredible — athletes from different academies came together to learn from one of the best.
Who Is Owen Livesey?
For those who might not know, Owen Livesey is a multiple-time Judo champion, Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Polaris Champion and ADCC Europe medalist known for his explosive takedowns and seamless transition into No-Gi grappling.
He’s competed against the best in the world — from Nicholas Meregali to Nicky Rodriguez — and his ability to blend judo grip fighting, wrestling, and BJJ control makes his style truly unique.
Having someone of his caliber teach and train with us at Casa de Luta Saarbrücken was both an honor and a challenge — in the best way possible.
The Focus of the Seminar
Owen structured the seminar around the principles that define his game:
- Efficient Takedowns – Judo-based but adapted for No-Gi and BJJ competition
- Control & Pressure – How to maintain dominance after hitting the ground
- Transitions to Submissions – Seamlessly connecting throws into passing and submissions
- Mindset & Strategy – Staying calm, aggressive, and technical under pressure
Each detail mattered.
He didn’t just show “moves” — he explained how to build a system, how to think, and how to apply his concepts against resistance.
A Few Personal Highlights
At one point during the session, Owen demonstrated a simple off-balance grip that looked effortless — until we tried it. Everyone in the room immediately understood how effective small adjustments can be.
Later, we did live drilling sequences, and watching how Owen controlled every exchange was inspiring. He emphasized grip fighting discipline, base awareness, and using posture as a weapon — lessons that stuck with every participant.
After the seminar, we also had a chance to roll. His pace, timing, and control were incredible — not just physical but highly technical.
The Atmosphere
What stood out most to me wasn’t just the technique — it was the community spirit.
We had almost 70 practitioners on the mats from Saarbrücken, Kaiserslautern, and other regions — all training together, helping each other, and learning as one team.
That’s what Casa de Luta and AbelBJJ are all about:
bringing people together through Jiu-Jitsu.
What I Learned from Owen
Every instructor leaves something behind — a perspective, a habit, a principle.
Here are three key lessons that stuck with me:
1️⃣ Grip fighting is everything — Control the grips, and you control the match.
2️⃣ Pressure doesn’t mean force — True pressure is balance and direction, not strength.
3️⃣ Stay adaptable — Judo, wrestling, and BJJ aren’t separate; they’re tools that work better when connected.
Gratitude
Thank you to Owen Livesey for traveling to Germany and sharing his knowledge with us.
It was an honor to host you and have our team experience your world-class instruction firsthand.
A huge thank you as well to everyone who came to train — from white belts to black belts, your focus and respect made this event unforgettable.
This seminar reminded me how lucky we are to have such a strong community here at Casa de Luta Saarbrücken, and how much there is still to learn.
What’s Next for AbelBJJ
This event continues to push our academy forward. We’ll keep hosting top-level seminars and workshops — blending Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, and Wrestling to give our students the complete grappling experience.
If you missed this seminar, don’t worry — there’s more to come. Follow @abelbjj on Instagram and join our mailing list to stay updated on future events and training opportunities.
📍 Come Train at Casa de Luta Saarbrücken
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced grappler, you’re welcome to train with us.
At AbelBJJ, we focus on technical growth, discipline, and community — the same values that make Jiu-Jitsu special.
🥋 Gi & No-Gi Classes
💪 Competition Training
🌍 Seminars and Guest Instructors
📧 Contact: info@abelbjj.com
📱 Instagram: @abelbjj
📍 Location: Casa de Luta Saarbrücken, Germany