In many ways, the white belt is the best belt in Jiu-jitsu. It's a clean slate, there are no expectations. You're expected to mess things up and there is no pressure. In addition, everything is brand new, so the learning process is very engaging and exciting! Often when people start training, they are very eager to make it to the next belt so that they are no longer considered a "beginner". However, many new blue belts quickly discover that with that next belt comes added pressure to perform at a certain level of proficiency, and an expectation that they are familiar with fundamental techniques. A lot of this "pressure" is self-imposed, and it can be a good tool for further growth if approached with the right mentality. However, I think it is also a big part of the reason that many students end up quitting training around blue belt. It is a very common syndrome in many Jiu-jitsu academies.
As you progress in Jiu-jitsu, you will get to a point where you've seen most of it before. In the upper ranks, it will become rare to see something completely new that you've never been exposed to before. Some of the initial excitement you had as a new student can begin to fade as you get into the routine of training. Becoming proficient in Jiu-jitsu requires consistent drilling of the fundamental techniques over and over again to develop timing and reflex. So, how do you keep training fun and exciting and not get bored with the repetition of the daily grind? I believe that the key is in your mental approach to training. Try to maintain the white belt mindset.
When you are in class and the instructor is showing a technique that you are already familiar with, don't tune out and assume that you already know that move. Rather, take the approach of the white belt. Try to really focus on the details of the movement. If you've already done the move before and you have the general concept of the movement, you have more capacity to try to understand the movement at a much higher level of detail. The secret to the moves of Jiu-jitsu are in the fine details. Students will never understand these fine details the first few times that they do the move. But as you have a lot more experience with the technique, you can more easily start to understand the deeper concepts of the technique. Try it in live training, pull it apart, really analyze every part of the position. See where it fails, work on the entry points, the follow ups. When you can successfully replicate the technique in live training with every single person on the mat, then you know it pretty well. Don't assume that you already know it all. There is ALWAYS room for improvement!
One of the coolest things about Jiu-jitsu is how you can work on a move for 10 plus years, and one day, pick up another small detail that completely changes your perspective on the technique and makes it more efficient. I just got back from a weekend of training with Royce Gracie, Royler Gracie, Crosley Gracie, Leticia Ribeiro, Fabricio Camoes, and many other Gracie Jiu-jitsu black belts from all over the world during our annual Royce Gracie Jiu-jitsu Network gathering. This is such a valuable experience to share the mat with so many other like minded people. Outside of the opportunity to network and spend time with such an amazing group of people, every single time I attend an event like this, I walk away with just a few small details that make the entire trip worthwhile. These are like little nuggets of gold, and are invaluable! As you get more experience on the mat, it is easy to think that you already know it. This type of thinking will cause you to miss opportunities to pick up on these small details. Try to maintain a white belt mindset, be humble enough to look at things from a different perspective, and don't be hindered by your pre-conceived notions of a particular technique or concept. Jiu-jitsu is infinite! Learn from everyone, keep an open mind, pay attention to the details, and you can maintain the excitement of training Jiu-jitsu for your entire life!
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Sunday, September 15, 2019
How to Make Lemonade....Dealing with Injuries in Jiu-jitsu
We all know that practicing Jiu-jitsu has some amazing benefits. However, nothing in this life is free, and you can't get the benefit from practicing Jiu-jitsu without some potential risk of injury. Of course, we do everything that we can to avoid taking injuries on the mat. However, if you do this long enough, chances are, you will, at some point, have to deal with the reality of an injury. Injuries can range from mildly annoying, to catastrophic. Hopefully we avoid any major injuries, but even a minor injury has the potential to have a detrimental effect on your training....if you let it. The reality is, MOST injuries should not take you off the mat entirely, and MOST injuries can easily be worked around. And, you will often find that, if you approach it with the right mindset, an injury can sometimes be a blessing in disguise. When life on the mat gives you lemons, learn how to make lemonade!
First, understand the difference between being SORE and being INJURED. Especially if you are newer to Jiu-jitsu, you WILL be sore. Even if you are in great physical shape, your body is not used to moving in the ways demanded by Jiu-jitsu practice. Even for those who have been training for a long time, occasional soreness, bumps, and bruises are a reality of training from time to time. If you are new, take it slow. Your body will naturally adapt to the training, and you will find that, in general, your overall soreness level should decrease the longer you train. Sometimes, the best way to deal with this soreness is to get back on the mat and train. This will usually reduce the duration of any residual soreness. However, you have to listen to your body. Overtraining is a thing. It is ok to take a day or two off from time to time. In some cases, you may need to take a week off to recoup. Try to avoid taking multiple weeks off the mat. The longer you are out of training, the harder it becomes to get back on the mat. Training is a habit. So is not training. All too often, I've seen students who take an extended "break" from training ultimately quit altogether, despite the best of intentions.
Now, if you are injured, you need to determine the severity of the injury. For minor injuries and soreness, use the RICE formula-Rest, Ice, Compression, & Elevation. A major injury will likely need to be seen by a medical professional. I recommend finding a good sports medicine doctor, who is familiar with these types of activities and injuries, and can give you a realistic expectation of what your limitations are and if you need to take time off completely or if you can work around the injured area. Keep in mind, most doctors lean towards being ultra conservative with regard to taking time off of training. More than anything, you know what you are capable of, so let common sense and experience guide you. A good general physical fitness regimen, proper hydration, supplementation and a proper stretching routine can help to prevent many injuries and manage chronic injuries.
If you do have a major injury, make sure to talk to your instructor and let them know, and see what recommendations they have. In most cases, you can still do something productive, so don't automatically assume you need to take weeks off of the mat. It is very likely, with most injuries, that your instructor can help guide you in ways that you can work around the injured area without further aggravating it, while still making progress and staying on the mat. If this is the case, make sure that you take reasonable measures to protect the injured area (tape, braces, etc) and make sure to inform your training partners, so that they know to help you protect the injured area as well. In some cases, it may not be prudent for you to participate in live sparring, but you can often still drill technique at a controlled pace. I personally have been on the mat in crutches; I've been on the mat in a cast... Obviously, use common sense and don't further aggravate an injury. However, don't let it become an excuse to miss training either. Show up to class, put your gi on, step on the mat, and do what you can, within reason.
It is very often the case that students who find a way to safely train through an injury will find that the injury actually benefits them in the long run. Sometimes if forces them to work on other areas that they may not be as comfortable with, or to work on the other side of the body. For example, if you have a leg injury, you may not be able to safely work on takedowns or guard work. But, you CAN work on defending from bottom side mount. Usually there is SOMETHING that you can do.
In the rare circumstance that you feel you are unable to physically participate at all, I HIGHLY recommend still showing up to class. Don't make it an excuse. Even if you can't physically train, you can still learn a tremendous amount by watching class and taking notes. Often, it will give you a different perspective. Watch how the instructor teaches the class, pay attention to the details. Sometimes only being able to watch and visualize yourself going through the move in your head will actually help you to pick up on small details you may have otherwise missed. Watch as the instructor goes around the room and makes corrections to other students during drilling. When you're on the mat physically practicing the move, you are usually only focusing on yourself and your partner. You probably won't see the small correction that the instructor gives to the people on the other side of the room that you may very well be able to benefit from as well. When you are watching class, you get to see all of this.
In addition, showing up when you are injured helps keep you engaged with the rest of the team, and keeps you in the habit of coming to the academy. Remember, you are not just training for yourself, you are training for your teammates as well. So don't skip class just because you're injured. We should always be training with a mindset of mutual welfare and benefit. Be there for your training partners. You may be able to help them out even if you are physically limited.
Roberto "Gordo" Correa, a well known Jiu-jitsu black belt, is widely credited for the development of the modern half guard position, to a much higher level than it had ever previously been utilized. What some people may not know, however, is that this development was actually due to an injury! When Gordo was a purple belt, he sustained a serious knee injury that could have kept him out of training entirely. However, he decided to return to the mat and make the best of his situation. Because he was not able to effectively utilize the full guard position, he instead adapted his training from the bottom position to focus on controlling only one of his opponent's legs, and thus developed a highly effective system of attack and defense from the half guard position, which is now a staple of most Jiu-jitsu practitioners arsenal. Without having sustained this injury, it is unlikely that he would have been forced to think outside the box in this way and developed this position to such a degree.
So, the next time life on the mat gives you a bunch of lemons in the form of an injury, try to find creative ways that you can adapt and overcome, and turn it into a positive. Learn to make lemonade!
Now, if you are injured, you need to determine the severity of the injury. For minor injuries and soreness, use the RICE formula-Rest, Ice, Compression, & Elevation. A major injury will likely need to be seen by a medical professional. I recommend finding a good sports medicine doctor, who is familiar with these types of activities and injuries, and can give you a realistic expectation of what your limitations are and if you need to take time off completely or if you can work around the injured area. Keep in mind, most doctors lean towards being ultra conservative with regard to taking time off of training. More than anything, you know what you are capable of, so let common sense and experience guide you. A good general physical fitness regimen, proper hydration, supplementation and a proper stretching routine can help to prevent many injuries and manage chronic injuries.
If you do have a major injury, make sure to talk to your instructor and let them know, and see what recommendations they have. In most cases, you can still do something productive, so don't automatically assume you need to take weeks off of the mat. It is very likely, with most injuries, that your instructor can help guide you in ways that you can work around the injured area without further aggravating it, while still making progress and staying on the mat. If this is the case, make sure that you take reasonable measures to protect the injured area (tape, braces, etc) and make sure to inform your training partners, so that they know to help you protect the injured area as well. In some cases, it may not be prudent for you to participate in live sparring, but you can often still drill technique at a controlled pace. I personally have been on the mat in crutches; I've been on the mat in a cast... Obviously, use common sense and don't further aggravate an injury. However, don't let it become an excuse to miss training either. Show up to class, put your gi on, step on the mat, and do what you can, within reason.
It is very often the case that students who find a way to safely train through an injury will find that the injury actually benefits them in the long run. Sometimes if forces them to work on other areas that they may not be as comfortable with, or to work on the other side of the body. For example, if you have a leg injury, you may not be able to safely work on takedowns or guard work. But, you CAN work on defending from bottom side mount. Usually there is SOMETHING that you can do.
In the rare circumstance that you feel you are unable to physically participate at all, I HIGHLY recommend still showing up to class. Don't make it an excuse. Even if you can't physically train, you can still learn a tremendous amount by watching class and taking notes. Often, it will give you a different perspective. Watch how the instructor teaches the class, pay attention to the details. Sometimes only being able to watch and visualize yourself going through the move in your head will actually help you to pick up on small details you may have otherwise missed. Watch as the instructor goes around the room and makes corrections to other students during drilling. When you're on the mat physically practicing the move, you are usually only focusing on yourself and your partner. You probably won't see the small correction that the instructor gives to the people on the other side of the room that you may very well be able to benefit from as well. When you are watching class, you get to see all of this.
In addition, showing up when you are injured helps keep you engaged with the rest of the team, and keeps you in the habit of coming to the academy. Remember, you are not just training for yourself, you are training for your teammates as well. So don't skip class just because you're injured. We should always be training with a mindset of mutual welfare and benefit. Be there for your training partners. You may be able to help them out even if you are physically limited.
Roberto "Gordo" Correa, a well known Jiu-jitsu black belt, is widely credited for the development of the modern half guard position, to a much higher level than it had ever previously been utilized. What some people may not know, however, is that this development was actually due to an injury! When Gordo was a purple belt, he sustained a serious knee injury that could have kept him out of training entirely. However, he decided to return to the mat and make the best of his situation. Because he was not able to effectively utilize the full guard position, he instead adapted his training from the bottom position to focus on controlling only one of his opponent's legs, and thus developed a highly effective system of attack and defense from the half guard position, which is now a staple of most Jiu-jitsu practitioners arsenal. Without having sustained this injury, it is unlikely that he would have been forced to think outside the box in this way and developed this position to such a degree.
So, the next time life on the mat gives you a bunch of lemons in the form of an injury, try to find creative ways that you can adapt and overcome, and turn it into a positive. Learn to make lemonade!
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Mutual Welfare & Benefit
There is a Japanese term, "Jita Kyoei", which translates as "mutual welfare & benefit". This is a fundamental principle of martial arts training, which was formally adopted and made doctrine by Judo founder Jigoro Kano. Judo, as you may know, is a form of martial arts that grew out of Jiu-jitsu, emphasizing more sportive practices, and a treatment of the practice of martial arts as a "way of life" or "Do" in Japanese. However, the philosophical principles that were formalized by Kano have always been a part of Jiu-jitsu practice. This concept can be understood in many different ways, both on and off the mat.
The reality is, for us to effectively practice Jiu-jitsu, we need training partners. Therefore, it is for everyone's welfare and benefit to cultivate good training partners, and to contribute to the overall well being of the training academy. There are many facets to the concept of "mutual welfare & benefit". A very rudimentary example can be seen in how we drill techniques. If you are working on drilling a new move with your partner and you apply full resistance, it will be very difficult, if not impossible, for your partner to learn how to do the move correctly. Of course, one of the things that makes Jiu-jitsu so effective is live training with resistance. However, it is very difficult to learn techniques in this manner. We need to first learn the techniques working with a cooperative partner, who is feeding us the position, and giving good feedback so that we can make adjustments to the technique. This practice benefits both training partners.
You are on the mat to get better at Jiu-jitsu. But, you should also focus on trying to make your training partners as good at Jiu-jitsu as possible too. Remember what it was like to be a white belt. Help the people who are coming up below you. Yes, you are helping them, but you are also helping yourself! The new student who walks in the door today could become one of your best training partners in the future. It is your job to help cultivate this. Even if you are newer on the mat, you can help your training partners, and the academy, just by showing up! The more bodies we have on the mat, the more fun training is, and the more different training partners everyone has available. Regardless of how long you've been training, YOU are an integral part of the team.
Loyalty is an important, and often misunderstood concept in the martial arts. Loyalty is not something that is demanded, it is something that is freely given, out of gratitude. I have loyalty to my instructors and my team, not because it is asked of me, but because I am grateful for all that they have done for me. What I have been given through martial arts training can not be bought. Yes, I have personally invested countless thousands of dollars over the years for tuition, private classes, seminars, uniforms & equipment, etc. But, I cannot put a price on what I have gained through the years of training. I personally feel a tremendous sense of gratitude to those who have helped me along the way, and the best way to compensate them is to not only give them my loyalty, but also to pay forward to others the many valuable lessons that were given to me.
When former President John F. Kennedy said famously in one of his speeches, "Ask not what your country can do for you; Ask what you can do for your country..." he was speaking of the concept of mutual welfare and benefit. I recommend everyone to take this approach within your academy. If you are training at an academy that you find to be a good environment for you and you value the instruction that you receive, make it your personal mission to make you academy the best training environment for everyone. Spread the word with your friends and invite them in to try out a class. Help out when you can, whether that means emptying a trash can when you see it needs it, staying after class to help clean the mats, helping greet a new prospective student who walks in the door, helping a new student on their first day of class, helping out with the kids classes, etc. Be an active participant in team functions and events. And most importantly, BE THERE. Make a real effort to be a consistent part of the team. Not because it is demanded, but because you want to. Ultimately, it will all come back to you with interest! I am constantly amazed by the quality of people that share our mats and the numerous examples of this type of behavior I see on a daily basis!
What you get out of training is directly proportional to what you put into it. You can certainly take the approach, as some people do, that being a member of the academy is simply paying your tuition and showing up when you want. After all, you are paying for a service that is being provided. While that is true, I have never seen people who take this type of an approach make is long term in Jiu-jitsu. I promise, if you go the extra step, and really make a concerted effort to not just support your academy and instructor financially so that they can continue to provide the type of training environment that you want, but also share your time and talents, as you are able to, with your academy and your teammates, you will reap great benefit in the long run. YOU are an important part of the team. An academy is not the building or the mats, it is not the instructor. It is the people that make up the team!
In any academy, there is a "core" group of students, and then there are also those who just show up occasionally. That is not determined by the instructor. It is up to the students. In any reputable academy, the instructor doesn't play favorites. Rather, they have the highest hopes that each and every student that walks through the door will fall in love with being on the mat, and they look forward to helping everyone achieve their individual goals and maximize their potential. It is up to you which group you want to be part of. Your time on the mat, can become part of that core group. Anyone, regardless of your time on the mat, can become part of that core group. All you have to do is put forth the effort. Show up regularly, help your training partners and help your academy, participate in team events and be a leader in your academy. If you don't feel you're ready yet to take on a leadership role, just be a good follower first. You will find that the more you become invested in your teammates and your academy, the more it will benefit you-Mutual Welfare & Benefit.
The concept of Jita Kyoei extends beyond the walls of the academy. It is important in any group of people with a common goal, from something as small as a family, to an entire nation, or even an entire planet! As true martial artists, we strive not only to develop effective fighting skills, but more importantly to become better humans. Become a positive influence in your academy, in your family, in your community, in your world. Be the person that picks up that piece of trash someone else left behind, the person that holds the door open for someone else, or returns their shopping cart, the person who lets someone merge in traffic; Be the person that goes out of their way to help someone else out, without expecting anything in return. But, if you make it your practice to do these types of little things that can benefit your fellow human beings, the return on your investment will be very rewarding, indeed!
The reality is, for us to effectively practice Jiu-jitsu, we need training partners. Therefore, it is for everyone's welfare and benefit to cultivate good training partners, and to contribute to the overall well being of the training academy. There are many facets to the concept of "mutual welfare & benefit". A very rudimentary example can be seen in how we drill techniques. If you are working on drilling a new move with your partner and you apply full resistance, it will be very difficult, if not impossible, for your partner to learn how to do the move correctly. Of course, one of the things that makes Jiu-jitsu so effective is live training with resistance. However, it is very difficult to learn techniques in this manner. We need to first learn the techniques working with a cooperative partner, who is feeding us the position, and giving good feedback so that we can make adjustments to the technique. This practice benefits both training partners.
You are on the mat to get better at Jiu-jitsu. But, you should also focus on trying to make your training partners as good at Jiu-jitsu as possible too. Remember what it was like to be a white belt. Help the people who are coming up below you. Yes, you are helping them, but you are also helping yourself! The new student who walks in the door today could become one of your best training partners in the future. It is your job to help cultivate this. Even if you are newer on the mat, you can help your training partners, and the academy, just by showing up! The more bodies we have on the mat, the more fun training is, and the more different training partners everyone has available. Regardless of how long you've been training, YOU are an integral part of the team.
Loyalty is an important, and often misunderstood concept in the martial arts. Loyalty is not something that is demanded, it is something that is freely given, out of gratitude. I have loyalty to my instructors and my team, not because it is asked of me, but because I am grateful for all that they have done for me. What I have been given through martial arts training can not be bought. Yes, I have personally invested countless thousands of dollars over the years for tuition, private classes, seminars, uniforms & equipment, etc. But, I cannot put a price on what I have gained through the years of training. I personally feel a tremendous sense of gratitude to those who have helped me along the way, and the best way to compensate them is to not only give them my loyalty, but also to pay forward to others the many valuable lessons that were given to me.
When former President John F. Kennedy said famously in one of his speeches, "Ask not what your country can do for you; Ask what you can do for your country..." he was speaking of the concept of mutual welfare and benefit. I recommend everyone to take this approach within your academy. If you are training at an academy that you find to be a good environment for you and you value the instruction that you receive, make it your personal mission to make you academy the best training environment for everyone. Spread the word with your friends and invite them in to try out a class. Help out when you can, whether that means emptying a trash can when you see it needs it, staying after class to help clean the mats, helping greet a new prospective student who walks in the door, helping a new student on their first day of class, helping out with the kids classes, etc. Be an active participant in team functions and events. And most importantly, BE THERE. Make a real effort to be a consistent part of the team. Not because it is demanded, but because you want to. Ultimately, it will all come back to you with interest! I am constantly amazed by the quality of people that share our mats and the numerous examples of this type of behavior I see on a daily basis!
What you get out of training is directly proportional to what you put into it. You can certainly take the approach, as some people do, that being a member of the academy is simply paying your tuition and showing up when you want. After all, you are paying for a service that is being provided. While that is true, I have never seen people who take this type of an approach make is long term in Jiu-jitsu. I promise, if you go the extra step, and really make a concerted effort to not just support your academy and instructor financially so that they can continue to provide the type of training environment that you want, but also share your time and talents, as you are able to, with your academy and your teammates, you will reap great benefit in the long run. YOU are an important part of the team. An academy is not the building or the mats, it is not the instructor. It is the people that make up the team!
In any academy, there is a "core" group of students, and then there are also those who just show up occasionally. That is not determined by the instructor. It is up to the students. In any reputable academy, the instructor doesn't play favorites. Rather, they have the highest hopes that each and every student that walks through the door will fall in love with being on the mat, and they look forward to helping everyone achieve their individual goals and maximize their potential. It is up to you which group you want to be part of. Your time on the mat, can become part of that core group. Anyone, regardless of your time on the mat, can become part of that core group. All you have to do is put forth the effort. Show up regularly, help your training partners and help your academy, participate in team events and be a leader in your academy. If you don't feel you're ready yet to take on a leadership role, just be a good follower first. You will find that the more you become invested in your teammates and your academy, the more it will benefit you-Mutual Welfare & Benefit.
The concept of Jita Kyoei extends beyond the walls of the academy. It is important in any group of people with a common goal, from something as small as a family, to an entire nation, or even an entire planet! As true martial artists, we strive not only to develop effective fighting skills, but more importantly to become better humans. Become a positive influence in your academy, in your family, in your community, in your world. Be the person that picks up that piece of trash someone else left behind, the person that holds the door open for someone else, or returns their shopping cart, the person who lets someone merge in traffic; Be the person that goes out of their way to help someone else out, without expecting anything in return. But, if you make it your practice to do these types of little things that can benefit your fellow human beings, the return on your investment will be very rewarding, indeed!
Monday, July 15, 2019
Mastery & the Value of Repetition
You may have heard the quote "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit". Regardless of the controversy surrounding where this saying actually got its origin, it still bears out a lot of truth. And so it is with Jiu-jitsu. After spending years, perhaps decades on the mat, Jiu-jitsu is not just something you do. It becomes a part of you. The art of Jiu-jitsu is extremely complex. It is for this reason that, many beginners struggle just to start to comprehend the basic positions. If you are going to truly devote yourself to learning Jiu-jitsu, you are committing yourself to a lifelong study. So how do you even start to approach something so potentially overwhelming? The answer for how you get "good" at a particular technique or position is the same, whether you just stepped on the mat for the first time, or have been training for many years-repetition.
One of the hardest things to develop in Jiu-jitsu is reflex; an automatic response to a given stimulus. This is the idea of "Mushin" (literally "no mind" in Japanese), a kind of a flow state where your body reacts without conscious thought. The ONLY way to ingrain this type of response is through thousands of repetitions. However, often times, students work on a move or a position at a much lower level, and that is simply learning how to perform the move. Often times, once they can perform the movement smoothly and completely, they feel that they "know it". While this may be true on a very rudimentary level, really knowing the move means developing not only the ability to perform it under stress with a variety of different body types and different levels of resistance, but having it become automatic, so that you can perform it with no thought. And understanding the details and concepts that make the move work, as well as all of the variations that can occur. And, understanding the move completely means also understand the counter to the move, and where to go when it fails!
One of my favorite quotes regarding Jiu-jitsu training comes from Rickson Gracie, when he said, "Don't do the move until you get it right....do the move until you can't get it wrong!" Herein lies the secret to getting "good" at a particular movement or sequence....it really isn't a secret at all. It's just that most people aren't willing to put in the work. It's all about repetitions. A good example is former UFC Champion and Judo Olympian Rhonda Rousey. She is very renowned for her ability to successfully apply the armbar on most of her opponents, to a point that it appears almost unstoppable. However, what many people don't know, is that her mother, who was also a Judo black belt, had her practice something like 100 armbars every single day, as a part of her daily routine, from the time she was a young child. It is almost impossible, then, for her NOT to have an awesome armbar.
This same mentality can be applied to almost any position or technique. If you want to be really good at a particular position, put in the time. Drilling is NOT the same as learning. Learning the move is the first phase. Drilling the move means repeating it over and over AFTER you have learned it well, in order to develop muscle memory & reflex, so that you can perform it automatically and seemlessly, even under stress. It is said that, in order to master any physical skill, it takes, on average, about 10,000 repetitions. This is why developing "mastery" of something as complicated as Jiu-jitsu takes a lifetime.
In the beginning stages of Jiu-jitsu, everything is very new and exciting. Every time you show up to the academy, you are learning some new move. However, if you stick with it long enough (and hopefully you will), that will start to wane. Over time, once you get into the upper ranks, it will be rare for you to see something completely new that you haven't ever seen before. However, if you can look at the techniques that you already know through new eyes, trying to always glean another detail and refine your understanding, training never gets boring. Approach training a move you already "know" more as drilling, to refine your technique and develop reflex.
There is no secret to getting good at Jiu-jitsu. Just show up consistently, train hard, and get lots of repetition. That's it. If you can do those things, everything else will fall into place. Oh, and one more thing....DON'T QUIT!!
One of the hardest things to develop in Jiu-jitsu is reflex; an automatic response to a given stimulus. This is the idea of "Mushin" (literally "no mind" in Japanese), a kind of a flow state where your body reacts without conscious thought. The ONLY way to ingrain this type of response is through thousands of repetitions. However, often times, students work on a move or a position at a much lower level, and that is simply learning how to perform the move. Often times, once they can perform the movement smoothly and completely, they feel that they "know it". While this may be true on a very rudimentary level, really knowing the move means developing not only the ability to perform it under stress with a variety of different body types and different levels of resistance, but having it become automatic, so that you can perform it with no thought. And understanding the details and concepts that make the move work, as well as all of the variations that can occur. And, understanding the move completely means also understand the counter to the move, and where to go when it fails!
One of my favorite quotes regarding Jiu-jitsu training comes from Rickson Gracie, when he said, "Don't do the move until you get it right....do the move until you can't get it wrong!" Herein lies the secret to getting "good" at a particular movement or sequence....it really isn't a secret at all. It's just that most people aren't willing to put in the work. It's all about repetitions. A good example is former UFC Champion and Judo Olympian Rhonda Rousey. She is very renowned for her ability to successfully apply the armbar on most of her opponents, to a point that it appears almost unstoppable. However, what many people don't know, is that her mother, who was also a Judo black belt, had her practice something like 100 armbars every single day, as a part of her daily routine, from the time she was a young child. It is almost impossible, then, for her NOT to have an awesome armbar.
This same mentality can be applied to almost any position or technique. If you want to be really good at a particular position, put in the time. Drilling is NOT the same as learning. Learning the move is the first phase. Drilling the move means repeating it over and over AFTER you have learned it well, in order to develop muscle memory & reflex, so that you can perform it automatically and seemlessly, even under stress. It is said that, in order to master any physical skill, it takes, on average, about 10,000 repetitions. This is why developing "mastery" of something as complicated as Jiu-jitsu takes a lifetime.
In the beginning stages of Jiu-jitsu, everything is very new and exciting. Every time you show up to the academy, you are learning some new move. However, if you stick with it long enough (and hopefully you will), that will start to wane. Over time, once you get into the upper ranks, it will be rare for you to see something completely new that you haven't ever seen before. However, if you can look at the techniques that you already know through new eyes, trying to always glean another detail and refine your understanding, training never gets boring. Approach training a move you already "know" more as drilling, to refine your technique and develop reflex.
There is no secret to getting good at Jiu-jitsu. Just show up consistently, train hard, and get lots of repetition. That's it. If you can do those things, everything else will fall into place. Oh, and one more thing....DON'T QUIT!!
Thursday, June 13, 2019
Ritual, Ceremony, and Culture in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu
Every Jiu-jitsu academy is different, and of course, every instructor is entitled to do as they best see fit for their students. This month, I wanted to talk a little bit about why we do things the way that we do at our academy, and the reasons for some of the way that our classes are structured.
The practice of martial arts has a rich history of respect & discipline. A lot of this can be attributed to the culture in which they developed. While fighting arts have been developed all over the world since the beginning of recorded history, they really were most highly developed, organized, and perpetuated by the Japanese, and it is here where Jiu-jitsu has its origins as well. The Japanese culture and the martial arts culture are inseparable. Since the Feudal era in Japan, the warrior class, known as Samurai, developed a moral and ethical code, known as Bushido, which determined the right course of action, not only in battle, but in everyday life. Even back then, it was recognized that possessing deadly fighting skills came with a responsibility to live in a righteous manner. This warrior code lives on today, through our Jiu-jitsu philosophy, represented in part by our 7-5-3 code.
As the Feudal era in Japan came to an end, the culture and philosophy in which these martial arts originated remained very much in tact, and is still very pervasive in Japanese society. It is a culture of order, structure, cleanliness, politeness, and respect.
As Jiu-jitsu made its way from Japan to Brazil, the culture of the art changed. Brazilian society is very different than that of Japan. The Brazilian culture, in large part, does not have the "formality" that Japanese society does. Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, developed, in large part through "toughman" contests at carnivals, through fights on the streets and beaches of Brazil, and no holds barred challenge matches in the academies. This led to the infamous "Gracie Challenge" in which the family publicly called out anyone who was willing to accept a challenge match to test their metal against a family members or student of the Gracie clan. This was the predecessor of what would become the UFC. While this was crucial for the development of the art in its current form, it also came with some negative side effects.
The culture in many Jiu-jitsu academies became very "loose", with very little ritual or formality, and in many cases a complete lack of any structure. In many academies both in Brazil and in the United States, this is still very much the case. Again, this was a byproduct, in large part, of the culture in which the art developed. In Brazil, Jiu-jitsu started to earn a bad reputation, and many Jiu-jitsu students were looked at as "thugs". This became a part of the reason for the movement to rename Jiu-jitsu to Judo, with "Do" in Japanese, meaning "Way" signifying the practice as more of a philosophy and way of life, than simply a practice of fighting techniques. It was considered to be more dignified and refined.
At our academy, we have established certain rules, format, & structure specifically designed to keep the martial arts culture of discipline, respect, and order, as a part of our Jiu-jitsu training. We all wear the same uniform, classes run on time, with a set schedule and curriculum, we bow when entering/leaving the mat area and at the beginning and end of class. During technique instruction, students stand "on the line" at the edge of the mat. This level of formality is in place for several reasons. It makes sure that everyone can get the most out of the technical instruction, and provides the proper mindset for training. Training Jiu-jitsu is, and should always be, fun! It is fine for us to joke and laugh and have a good time while training. However, it is also something that should be taken very seriously. Remember, we are training techniques with our partners which can be very dangerous, if applied recklessly. I like to think of it like going to the shooting range. Going to the range with your friends can be a very fun activity. However, the first thing that you learn when going to the range is that there are rules and protocols that need to be followed, to ensure everyone's safety. Horseplay, carelessness, and inattention in that environment can have disastrous results. The same is true of the mat.
I don't believe in ritual for its own sake. There is a reason for the way that we do things in our academy. Bowing on/off the mat, lining up and maintaining proper posture and attention during technique instruction also helps us all to focus on what we are there to do. There are so many distractions in our everyday lives. Jiu-jitsu training is an opportunity to get away from all of that stuff, even just for a short time. Maintaining proper posture and attention helps to set the proper tone and mindset for training, to really focus on the details of what is being shown, and 100% focus on Jiu-jitsu. Never forget, we are training potentially deadly techniques. We are trusting our training partners to take care of us. Maintaining a culture on the mat of discipline, order, respect, and humility helps to ensure that we approach our training with a serious mindset. The techniques of Jiu-jitsu, if taught apart from its philosophy and focus on character development and self-improvement, can lead to creating dangerous people, who are more likely to use the techniques of Jiu-jitsu in an inappropriate manner. We want to not only develop ourselves as skilled fighters, but, even more importantly, as better people! These mat protocols also serve as a filter to ensure that we are attracting the right type of people into our program, who are going to be good representatives of our team, as well as Jiu-jitsu as a whole.
The culture of any academy is key in determining the type of clientele that it attracts, and the focus of the program. Jiu-jitsu has rightfully developed a reputation as one of the most effective and efficient fighting and self defense systems ever developed. However, at its core, it is much more than just fighting. To get the maximum benefit from training, we should strive to see how we can apply the principles of Jiu-jitsu to our everyday lives both on and off the mat. Jiu-jitsu ultimately is about self-improvement. The culture of our academy is set from the top down, and everyone of our students is a major part in maintaining and developing that culture, so that everyone who walks onto our mat feels welcome, and has the opportunity to gain the maximum benefit from their Jiu-jitsu training, in every aspect of their life!
The practice of martial arts has a rich history of respect & discipline. A lot of this can be attributed to the culture in which they developed. While fighting arts have been developed all over the world since the beginning of recorded history, they really were most highly developed, organized, and perpetuated by the Japanese, and it is here where Jiu-jitsu has its origins as well. The Japanese culture and the martial arts culture are inseparable. Since the Feudal era in Japan, the warrior class, known as Samurai, developed a moral and ethical code, known as Bushido, which determined the right course of action, not only in battle, but in everyday life. Even back then, it was recognized that possessing deadly fighting skills came with a responsibility to live in a righteous manner. This warrior code lives on today, through our Jiu-jitsu philosophy, represented in part by our 7-5-3 code.
As the Feudal era in Japan came to an end, the culture and philosophy in which these martial arts originated remained very much in tact, and is still very pervasive in Japanese society. It is a culture of order, structure, cleanliness, politeness, and respect.
As Jiu-jitsu made its way from Japan to Brazil, the culture of the art changed. Brazilian society is very different than that of Japan. The Brazilian culture, in large part, does not have the "formality" that Japanese society does. Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, developed, in large part through "toughman" contests at carnivals, through fights on the streets and beaches of Brazil, and no holds barred challenge matches in the academies. This led to the infamous "Gracie Challenge" in which the family publicly called out anyone who was willing to accept a challenge match to test their metal against a family members or student of the Gracie clan. This was the predecessor of what would become the UFC. While this was crucial for the development of the art in its current form, it also came with some negative side effects.
The culture in many Jiu-jitsu academies became very "loose", with very little ritual or formality, and in many cases a complete lack of any structure. In many academies both in Brazil and in the United States, this is still very much the case. Again, this was a byproduct, in large part, of the culture in which the art developed. In Brazil, Jiu-jitsu started to earn a bad reputation, and many Jiu-jitsu students were looked at as "thugs". This became a part of the reason for the movement to rename Jiu-jitsu to Judo, with "Do" in Japanese, meaning "Way" signifying the practice as more of a philosophy and way of life, than simply a practice of fighting techniques. It was considered to be more dignified and refined.
At our academy, we have established certain rules, format, & structure specifically designed to keep the martial arts culture of discipline, respect, and order, as a part of our Jiu-jitsu training. We all wear the same uniform, classes run on time, with a set schedule and curriculum, we bow when entering/leaving the mat area and at the beginning and end of class. During technique instruction, students stand "on the line" at the edge of the mat. This level of formality is in place for several reasons. It makes sure that everyone can get the most out of the technical instruction, and provides the proper mindset for training. Training Jiu-jitsu is, and should always be, fun! It is fine for us to joke and laugh and have a good time while training. However, it is also something that should be taken very seriously. Remember, we are training techniques with our partners which can be very dangerous, if applied recklessly. I like to think of it like going to the shooting range. Going to the range with your friends can be a very fun activity. However, the first thing that you learn when going to the range is that there are rules and protocols that need to be followed, to ensure everyone's safety. Horseplay, carelessness, and inattention in that environment can have disastrous results. The same is true of the mat.
I don't believe in ritual for its own sake. There is a reason for the way that we do things in our academy. Bowing on/off the mat, lining up and maintaining proper posture and attention during technique instruction also helps us all to focus on what we are there to do. There are so many distractions in our everyday lives. Jiu-jitsu training is an opportunity to get away from all of that stuff, even just for a short time. Maintaining proper posture and attention helps to set the proper tone and mindset for training, to really focus on the details of what is being shown, and 100% focus on Jiu-jitsu. Never forget, we are training potentially deadly techniques. We are trusting our training partners to take care of us. Maintaining a culture on the mat of discipline, order, respect, and humility helps to ensure that we approach our training with a serious mindset. The techniques of Jiu-jitsu, if taught apart from its philosophy and focus on character development and self-improvement, can lead to creating dangerous people, who are more likely to use the techniques of Jiu-jitsu in an inappropriate manner. We want to not only develop ourselves as skilled fighters, but, even more importantly, as better people! These mat protocols also serve as a filter to ensure that we are attracting the right type of people into our program, who are going to be good representatives of our team, as well as Jiu-jitsu as a whole.
The culture of any academy is key in determining the type of clientele that it attracts, and the focus of the program. Jiu-jitsu has rightfully developed a reputation as one of the most effective and efficient fighting and self defense systems ever developed. However, at its core, it is much more than just fighting. To get the maximum benefit from training, we should strive to see how we can apply the principles of Jiu-jitsu to our everyday lives both on and off the mat. Jiu-jitsu ultimately is about self-improvement. The culture of our academy is set from the top down, and everyone of our students is a major part in maintaining and developing that culture, so that everyone who walks onto our mat feels welcome, and has the opportunity to gain the maximum benefit from their Jiu-jitsu training, in every aspect of their life!
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
Enjoy the Ride!
While on vacation recently, I had the opportunity to take a road trip. It was one that had been on my bucket list for a while, driving the "Overseas Highway" from Miami Florida all the way to Key West. Of course, I had a destination in mind, there was a purpose for the trip. So I typed "Key West" into my GPS and hit the road. It isn't an overwhelmingly long trip; a couple of hours. But I noticed that a lot of people were in a hurry. There seemed to be a sense of urgency. I had the luxury of not having a set schedule that day, so I was able to take my time and enjoy the scenery.
As I was driving, noticing people weaving in and out of traffic to get ahead of the person in front of them and in a hurry to get to their next destination, it made me start thinking about the process of learning Jiu-jitsu. It seems to me that a lot of people are in a hurry to learn Jiu-jitsu. I don't really understand this mentality. You've probably heard the saying that Jiu-jitsu is a marathon. This is very true. And it is a much longer journey than my little road trip. But, the reality is, even a marathon has a finish line. In Jiu-jitsu, there really is no finish line. A lot of people look at the "ultimate" goal as getting to black belt. And while this is, no doubt a very admirable and difficult feat, that most who start down the path will never achieve, it is not an ending point. It is simply another mile marker along the way. How many people do you know that make it to black belt and then quit training? While there may be rare instances, it doesn't really happen. Because, by that point, Jiu-jitsu has become something that you've dedicated yourself to as a lifetime study.
We can think of the various colored belts as markers along the path. Sure, they hold some significance as reference points in our journey, but they themselves are not the goal. They only help us to keep track of how far we've come since we started. As new students, there is often a lot of enthusiasm towards learning Jiu-jitsu because everything is new and amazing. However, the newness will wear off. Eventually, you will have seen most of it before. But that doesn't stop it from being amazing! As long as I have done this, I am still intrigued by the beautiful simplicity and efficiency of the gentle art!
It is not uncommon for new students to be very motivated to learn and progress as fast as they can. Everyone wants to be good at Jiu-jitsu right away. The problem is, you just can't. The art is so complex and intricate, and yet at the same time so simple, that it takes a lifetime of study to truly master. So, I would encourage everyone who is on the path to slow down, and enjoy the process! There truly is no ultimate destination, so what are you in a hurry for? Most black belts that I know wish that they had more time at the lower belt ranks. Don't be in a hurry to get to the next mile marker, because what is really important is where you are at right now! You will never be as good as you would like to be and there will always be someone better. This is what keeps us coming back and wanting to learn more. So, take your time, get the most out of every moment on the mat, and enjoy the ride!
As I was driving, noticing people weaving in and out of traffic to get ahead of the person in front of them and in a hurry to get to their next destination, it made me start thinking about the process of learning Jiu-jitsu. It seems to me that a lot of people are in a hurry to learn Jiu-jitsu. I don't really understand this mentality. You've probably heard the saying that Jiu-jitsu is a marathon. This is very true. And it is a much longer journey than my little road trip. But, the reality is, even a marathon has a finish line. In Jiu-jitsu, there really is no finish line. A lot of people look at the "ultimate" goal as getting to black belt. And while this is, no doubt a very admirable and difficult feat, that most who start down the path will never achieve, it is not an ending point. It is simply another mile marker along the way. How many people do you know that make it to black belt and then quit training? While there may be rare instances, it doesn't really happen. Because, by that point, Jiu-jitsu has become something that you've dedicated yourself to as a lifetime study.
We can think of the various colored belts as markers along the path. Sure, they hold some significance as reference points in our journey, but they themselves are not the goal. They only help us to keep track of how far we've come since we started. As new students, there is often a lot of enthusiasm towards learning Jiu-jitsu because everything is new and amazing. However, the newness will wear off. Eventually, you will have seen most of it before. But that doesn't stop it from being amazing! As long as I have done this, I am still intrigued by the beautiful simplicity and efficiency of the gentle art!
It is not uncommon for new students to be very motivated to learn and progress as fast as they can. Everyone wants to be good at Jiu-jitsu right away. The problem is, you just can't. The art is so complex and intricate, and yet at the same time so simple, that it takes a lifetime of study to truly master. So, I would encourage everyone who is on the path to slow down, and enjoy the process! There truly is no ultimate destination, so what are you in a hurry for? Most black belts that I know wish that they had more time at the lower belt ranks. Don't be in a hurry to get to the next mile marker, because what is really important is where you are at right now! You will never be as good as you would like to be and there will always be someone better. This is what keeps us coming back and wanting to learn more. So, take your time, get the most out of every moment on the mat, and enjoy the ride!
Thursday, March 14, 2019
Your Promotion Doesn't Matter
People often put a lot of stock in belt promotions. The belt promotions in Jiu-jitsu are so few and far between that it makes sense that its kind of a big deal when you get promoted, as it only happens a very few times in your Jiu-jitsu career. Obviously, it feels good to be rewarded and acknowledged for your hard work and dedication, so it is only natural to experience a sense of excitement and accomplishment.
But, I'm here to tell you that, in the grand scheme of things, your belt promotion doesn't matter. The belts are a byproduct of your dedicated practice, and a marker of your progress, but they are not, in and of themselves, the goal. Your goal should be to get better at Jiu-jitsu. Don't worry about when you will receive your next belt or stripe. That is solely the responsibility and concern of your instructor. Just train to be a little better than you were yesterday.
If you ask most of the upper belts, they will invariably tell you that they wished that they had more time in the lower belt ranks to hone their skills. Don't be in a hurry. With each promotion, the expectations go up. Honestly, white belt is the best rank, because there are no expectations. You are expected to mess everything up. So enjoy the time spent at the lower ranks. It will make you better when you DO make it into the ranks of the upper belts. Enjoy the journey of Jiu-jitsu, because the reality is, there is no destination! No matter how long you train, no matter what rank you are, there will always be more to learn, and you will always wish you were better than you currently are.
When promotion day is coming up, don't approach it with expectations. Sometimes students get upset because they didn't receive a promotion when they thought that they should. Or, on the contrary, I have also seen students avoid promotion days and even quit training altogether because they didn't want to get promoted to the next belt. Both of these attitudes are short-sighted. Trust your instructor. A good instructor has your best interest at heart and puts a lot of consideration into each and every promotion. It is their job and their desire to help you succeed and they want you to do well. If you don't receive a promotion when you expected to, you should actually take it as a compliment. It likely means that your instructor sees your true potential, and that they expect more out of you that you do of yourself! You should actually be happy that they set a high standard for you, so that when you ultimately do receive that promotion, you know that it is well earned.
As Royce Gracie famously has said, the belt only covers about two inches of your behind; it is up to you to cover the rest! Let's be real, it's just a piece of cloth with some strips of sports tape. What matters is your ability to actually represent that rank on the mat. There is no magic in the belt. If a Jiu-jitsu black belt was to put on a white belt one day to train, would you expect it to somehow diminish their skill set? Of course not! Likewise, putting on a higher rank doesn't somehow magically make you better. There is always a breaking in period, and you have to grow into each new belt rank, which gets harder each step along the path. And, when you do get promoted, you still earn the belt every single day on the mat. The newly promoted purple belt was a blue belt the day before. They didn't suddenly get better by changing belt colors. And, you should approach it that way. When promotion day comes, if you do get a new belt, you are going to do the same thing that you did the day before-show up the next day, train, and strive to get better. So don't concern yourself with whether or not you believe it is your time to get promoted. Jiu-jitsu is a marathon, not a sprint. All serious students who are in it for the long haul and stick with training are all going to be black belts eventually. And when you're a black belt, whether you got your next belt promotion today, six months from now, or a year from now, will all be pretty irrelevant anyway. If you are in this for instant gratification, you may have picked the wrong martial art, so you might want to re-evaluate your priorities.
If you want to get better at Jiu-jitsu, the formula is simple. Consistent, dedicated practice over a long period of time. If you want to be one of the upper ranks, put in the mat time and the work that they did, and you will get there eventually. Don't be in a hurry. Enjoy the process!
But, I'm here to tell you that, in the grand scheme of things, your belt promotion doesn't matter. The belts are a byproduct of your dedicated practice, and a marker of your progress, but they are not, in and of themselves, the goal. Your goal should be to get better at Jiu-jitsu. Don't worry about when you will receive your next belt or stripe. That is solely the responsibility and concern of your instructor. Just train to be a little better than you were yesterday.
If you ask most of the upper belts, they will invariably tell you that they wished that they had more time in the lower belt ranks to hone their skills. Don't be in a hurry. With each promotion, the expectations go up. Honestly, white belt is the best rank, because there are no expectations. You are expected to mess everything up. So enjoy the time spent at the lower ranks. It will make you better when you DO make it into the ranks of the upper belts. Enjoy the journey of Jiu-jitsu, because the reality is, there is no destination! No matter how long you train, no matter what rank you are, there will always be more to learn, and you will always wish you were better than you currently are.
When promotion day is coming up, don't approach it with expectations. Sometimes students get upset because they didn't receive a promotion when they thought that they should. Or, on the contrary, I have also seen students avoid promotion days and even quit training altogether because they didn't want to get promoted to the next belt. Both of these attitudes are short-sighted. Trust your instructor. A good instructor has your best interest at heart and puts a lot of consideration into each and every promotion. It is their job and their desire to help you succeed and they want you to do well. If you don't receive a promotion when you expected to, you should actually take it as a compliment. It likely means that your instructor sees your true potential, and that they expect more out of you that you do of yourself! You should actually be happy that they set a high standard for you, so that when you ultimately do receive that promotion, you know that it is well earned.
As Royce Gracie famously has said, the belt only covers about two inches of your behind; it is up to you to cover the rest! Let's be real, it's just a piece of cloth with some strips of sports tape. What matters is your ability to actually represent that rank on the mat. There is no magic in the belt. If a Jiu-jitsu black belt was to put on a white belt one day to train, would you expect it to somehow diminish their skill set? Of course not! Likewise, putting on a higher rank doesn't somehow magically make you better. There is always a breaking in period, and you have to grow into each new belt rank, which gets harder each step along the path. And, when you do get promoted, you still earn the belt every single day on the mat. The newly promoted purple belt was a blue belt the day before. They didn't suddenly get better by changing belt colors. And, you should approach it that way. When promotion day comes, if you do get a new belt, you are going to do the same thing that you did the day before-show up the next day, train, and strive to get better. So don't concern yourself with whether or not you believe it is your time to get promoted. Jiu-jitsu is a marathon, not a sprint. All serious students who are in it for the long haul and stick with training are all going to be black belts eventually. And when you're a black belt, whether you got your next belt promotion today, six months from now, or a year from now, will all be pretty irrelevant anyway. If you are in this for instant gratification, you may have picked the wrong martial art, so you might want to re-evaluate your priorities.
If you want to get better at Jiu-jitsu, the formula is simple. Consistent, dedicated practice over a long period of time. If you want to be one of the upper ranks, put in the mat time and the work that they did, and you will get there eventually. Don't be in a hurry. Enjoy the process!
Thursday, February 14, 2019
Walking The Gauntlet
The "gauntlet" is a topic that become somewhat controversial lately in the Jiu-jitsu community. After a recent belt promotion, some questions were brought up by a newer student who wasn't familiar with the gauntlet and its purpose, so I thought I would address it here and share my thoughts on the subject. If you are newer to Jiu-jitsu and haven't experience it yet, the gauntlet is basically the ritual in which newly promoted students walk down the line while their teammates use their belts to slap them across the back. Different academies have their own interpretations and processes, and while it is not universal, it is a tradition that is pretty standard in many Jiu-jitsu academies throughout the world. I'm not sure there is any real documentation on the exact origins of this rite of passage, but it is something that has been around as long as I have been training Jiu-jitsu, and obviously, as I came up through the ranks, something that I have participated in many times, and never really gave much thought to....it was just what we did.
In recent years, some academies have stopped participating in this practice, and there have been objections by some that the practice is barbaric or hazing. It is something that we still do within our academy and within our team, and something that I still support. I will address my personal opinion on the topic, but of course everyone is free to do as they please.
Society now is very different than it was when I grew up. Now, we have "safe spaces", "trigger warnings", etc. While I don't think it represents the majority of society, there is an element now that wants to live in a safe little bubble where they are free from any type of physical or mental stress, and can't deal with anyone even expressing an opinion that they don't agree with in fear that their delicate sensibilities might be offended. Unfortunately, this mentality has started to slowly creep into many aspects of life, including the practice of martial arts. The modern practice of many martial arts that have become more focused on sportive aspects, and marketing the arts to children has lead in many cases to a watering down of many martial arts, to a point where they have all but completely lost any real combat effectiveness. Especially in what are considered to be "traditional" martial arts, discipline & character development have become the primary focus at the expense of developing legitimate fighting skills. In my opinion, these things are not mutually exclusive. While the practice of martial arts certainly does have many physical, mental, and spiritual benefits, and the practice of martial arts can and should help us to develop into better human beings, we should never forget that the martial arts are ultimately about combat; the physical struggle between two human beings. We should not take the fighting aspect out of the martial arts, lest they become no more than a choreographed dance routine.
Jiu-jitsu has a reputation as one of the few martial arts that is still "real". It is one of the hardest martial arts to master and typically takes longer than any other to achieve a black belt. Unlike many arts where we now commonly see young children wearing black belts, the belts in Jiu-Jitsu still mean something. This is because the truly represent your physical skills on the mat. The live aspect of training Jiu-jitsu against a resisting opponent, by its nature, eliminates unrealistic techniques that don't work reliably in a live setting. The art first gained exposure and popularity in the U.S. primarily from those who watched Royce Gracie, the first representative of Jiu-jitsu in the UFC, defeat multiple opponents, all of whom were much larger, in one night in a true no-holds barred form of fighting.
However, even in Jiu-jitsu which is still respected as a legitimate fighting art, the focus in most academies today on the sport aspect has started to contribute to the decline of its combat effectiveness. There are certainly some positive benefits to the sport side of Jiu-jitsu. However, the increase in its popularity has led to more rules, more illegal techniques, and a loss of the mentality of what happens in a real fight. Many modern Jiu-jitsu practitioners train now solely for the purpose of sport competition, in an environment where learning to game the rules and take advantage of the point system and play the clock to stall the match and win by an advantage point has become the norm. There is no thought given to the use of striking techniques, the use of weapons, the possibility of dealing with multiple opponents. Practitioners now embrace things such as turning to their knees to avoid guard pass points, or letting their opponents pick them up from the guard because slamming is "illegal". To the dismay of many "old school" Jiu-jitsu practitioners, it has become an environment of double guard pulling, butt-scooting, and whining to the referee about points.
So, what does this have to do with the gauntlet? To me, the gauntlet is not only a rite of passage, it is a celebration of one's accomplishment. The physicality of it is a reminder that there is still a fight aspect to Jiu-jitsu. In a fight, you are likely to get hit. We should cultivate the mindset that we can get hit and keep going. If you can't handle getting slapped on the back with a piece of cloth, how are you supposed to be able to deal with the possibility of getting punched in the face, getting slammed to the floor, etc. We need to condition our bodies and minds to discomfort and physical contact. So this, from my perspective, is why the gauntlet IS still a relevant practice.
Now, obviously, we should keep its practice in the proper perspective. We should celebrate our teammates accomplishments. The point is not to torture or punish our teammates, and we have to be careful to not too get carried away, and keep in mind what it is all about. And, of course, I believe that it is and should be completely voluntary. No one is forced to participate in the gauntlet, but my experience is that most take it in stride and look forward to it as an acknowledgement and celebration of their hard work. It is a bonding moment for teammates. If you have seen the gauntlet, in its proper form, you will see teammates smiling, hugging, and applauding each other at the end.
Yes, the gauntlet can seem a little scary, yes it can be a little uncomfortable. But, part of Jiu-Jitsu is learning how to deal with fear and discomfort and move forward with confidence. This is a combat martial art, and, after all, we are training warriors!
In recent years, some academies have stopped participating in this practice, and there have been objections by some that the practice is barbaric or hazing. It is something that we still do within our academy and within our team, and something that I still support. I will address my personal opinion on the topic, but of course everyone is free to do as they please.
Society now is very different than it was when I grew up. Now, we have "safe spaces", "trigger warnings", etc. While I don't think it represents the majority of society, there is an element now that wants to live in a safe little bubble where they are free from any type of physical or mental stress, and can't deal with anyone even expressing an opinion that they don't agree with in fear that their delicate sensibilities might be offended. Unfortunately, this mentality has started to slowly creep into many aspects of life, including the practice of martial arts. The modern practice of many martial arts that have become more focused on sportive aspects, and marketing the arts to children has lead in many cases to a watering down of many martial arts, to a point where they have all but completely lost any real combat effectiveness. Especially in what are considered to be "traditional" martial arts, discipline & character development have become the primary focus at the expense of developing legitimate fighting skills. In my opinion, these things are not mutually exclusive. While the practice of martial arts certainly does have many physical, mental, and spiritual benefits, and the practice of martial arts can and should help us to develop into better human beings, we should never forget that the martial arts are ultimately about combat; the physical struggle between two human beings. We should not take the fighting aspect out of the martial arts, lest they become no more than a choreographed dance routine.
Jiu-jitsu has a reputation as one of the few martial arts that is still "real". It is one of the hardest martial arts to master and typically takes longer than any other to achieve a black belt. Unlike many arts where we now commonly see young children wearing black belts, the belts in Jiu-Jitsu still mean something. This is because the truly represent your physical skills on the mat. The live aspect of training Jiu-jitsu against a resisting opponent, by its nature, eliminates unrealistic techniques that don't work reliably in a live setting. The art first gained exposure and popularity in the U.S. primarily from those who watched Royce Gracie, the first representative of Jiu-jitsu in the UFC, defeat multiple opponents, all of whom were much larger, in one night in a true no-holds barred form of fighting.
However, even in Jiu-jitsu which is still respected as a legitimate fighting art, the focus in most academies today on the sport aspect has started to contribute to the decline of its combat effectiveness. There are certainly some positive benefits to the sport side of Jiu-jitsu. However, the increase in its popularity has led to more rules, more illegal techniques, and a loss of the mentality of what happens in a real fight. Many modern Jiu-jitsu practitioners train now solely for the purpose of sport competition, in an environment where learning to game the rules and take advantage of the point system and play the clock to stall the match and win by an advantage point has become the norm. There is no thought given to the use of striking techniques, the use of weapons, the possibility of dealing with multiple opponents. Practitioners now embrace things such as turning to their knees to avoid guard pass points, or letting their opponents pick them up from the guard because slamming is "illegal". To the dismay of many "old school" Jiu-jitsu practitioners, it has become an environment of double guard pulling, butt-scooting, and whining to the referee about points.
So, what does this have to do with the gauntlet? To me, the gauntlet is not only a rite of passage, it is a celebration of one's accomplishment. The physicality of it is a reminder that there is still a fight aspect to Jiu-jitsu. In a fight, you are likely to get hit. We should cultivate the mindset that we can get hit and keep going. If you can't handle getting slapped on the back with a piece of cloth, how are you supposed to be able to deal with the possibility of getting punched in the face, getting slammed to the floor, etc. We need to condition our bodies and minds to discomfort and physical contact. So this, from my perspective, is why the gauntlet IS still a relevant practice.
Now, obviously, we should keep its practice in the proper perspective. We should celebrate our teammates accomplishments. The point is not to torture or punish our teammates, and we have to be careful to not too get carried away, and keep in mind what it is all about. And, of course, I believe that it is and should be completely voluntary. No one is forced to participate in the gauntlet, but my experience is that most take it in stride and look forward to it as an acknowledgement and celebration of their hard work. It is a bonding moment for teammates. If you have seen the gauntlet, in its proper form, you will see teammates smiling, hugging, and applauding each other at the end.
Yes, the gauntlet can seem a little scary, yes it can be a little uncomfortable. But, part of Jiu-Jitsu is learning how to deal with fear and discomfort and move forward with confidence. This is a combat martial art, and, after all, we are training warriors!
Monday, January 14, 2019
Sport vs. Self Defense-The Pros and Cons of Competing
Just this past weekend, I attended a sport Jiu-jitsu competition at which several students from our academy were competing. So I thought it would be a good time to talk about some of the pros and cons of sport competition, as well as highlight some of the major differences in training for sport versus training for self-defense.
Sport competition represents only a very small part of what Jiu-jitsu as a whole is. Jiu-jitsu, as it was originally developed, is a fighting art. Particularly the brand of Jiu-jitsu developed by the members of the Gracie family out of Brazil, was intended to be a complete martial art for self-defense, which address all ranges and aspects of fighting. Unfortunately, today's "modern" Jiu-jitsu, which is taught in MOST Brazilian Jiu-jitsu academies, focuses primarily on the sport aspect. In most sport Jiu-jitsu competitions, there are weight classes, time limits, and a point system, all things which don't exist in a street fight. There are also rules that limit the techniques that competitors can engage in, which by nature, creates a situation where sport competitors train to not pay attention to these "illegal" techniques, which sometimes would be very common in a self defense situation. For example, most Jiu-jitsu competitions don't allow any type of striking techniques, and don't allow competitors to slam their opponents. However, these are the types of things that one would be very likely to face in a self defense situation.
If your focus in training is to compete in sport tournaments, you are likely to focus on things that will give you a competitive advantage in that environment. That means, learning the points and rules, and tailoring your training around things that take advantage of the ruleset. While that doesn't sound like a bad thing, it can have negative affects on your Jiu-jitsu. Under stress, you will revert to your training, and it is very difficult to flip the switch between sport training and self-defense. For example, many sport competitors train to turn to their knees when their opponent is passing their guard, in order to avoid their opponent scoring points for the guard pass. While this idea may be useful in the limited context of a sport competition where the competitor is protected by the rules, this type of training results in a negative reflex for self defense. Turning your back to your opponent in a street fight is one of the worst things you can do, as you will be easily susceptible to your opponents striking techniques. Another commonly seen example is that of sport competitors jumping to the guard or allowing their opponents to lift them off of the floor. Because their is a rule limiting slamming your opponent, many competitors feel comfortable allowing their opponents to pick them up off the ground in a closed guard situation. This can have a devastating effect in a street fight, as your opponent will most likely slam you on your head, causing severe injury and possibly unconsciousness (something which unfortunately even happens within the context of sport competitions, even when there is a rule against it). Many modern "sport" techniques work great in a grappling only situation, but often expose you to great risk in a situation where your opponent can strike you with punches, knees, headbutts, etc.
Also, in a sport Jiu-jitsu tournament, you are competing against other people who also train Jiu-jitsu. Dealing with a trained opponent inside of your weight class, who is operating under a strict set of rules and time limits is a very different thing from defending yourself against an untrained opponent, who is likely bigger, stronger, and possibly more athletic. The trained opponent moves better, in a very predictable way, but this is not necessarily a good simulation for the average opponent in a street fight who, while they don't make technically correct movements, is typically much more aggressive and unpredictable. So, while Jiu-jitsu, as it was originally conceived self-defense art includes, on a technical level, striking techniques, takedowns & throws, stand up self-defense techniques against surprise attacks (including weapons defenses), and grappling techniques, the sport aspect focuses primarily on ground grappling, with some limited application of takedowns. Thus, it represents only a small part of what Jiu-jitsu is.
However, we shouldn't throw the baby out with the bath water. Even from a self-defense mindset, there is value to be found in competition. One of the toughest parts of competing is dealing with the emotional stress of the competition. You are stepping out on the mat with an opponent that, in most cases, you don't know and have never faced before. You don't know their game, you're not sure how they will react, and you are performing in front of other people (friends, family, teammates) outside of the comfortable environment of your home academy mats. The nervous energy and adrenaline dump that most competitors experience in competition closely resembles the physiological responses to stress that your body experiences in a street self-defense situation. So, while you are competing in a relatively safe and controlled environment, there is still an aspect of real danger (in competition your opponent generally doesn't have your best interest in mind like your teammates inside the academy do), and being able to perform adequately under the pressure of competition shows you what positions you feel comfortable with under stress and which ones you need to work more on.
In addition, preparing for competition usually means that you train more, you eat better, you pay more attention to not getting injured and rest/recovery, and that you work more on your general conditioning and fitness. All of these things are positive for your Jiu-jitsu overall. So, regardless of the outcome of the competition, if you approach it the right way, you will benefit physically, mentally, and emotionally, from the process of competing.
The bottom line is, there is nothing wrong with competition. If you want to compete, compete. Have fun, do your best, and try to learn something from the process of competing. You can still practice fundamentally sound self-defense based Jiu-jitsu and do well in competition. However, keep it in the proper context. Understand that training for sport competitions isn't the same thing as training for self-defense. It is no different than going to play soccer or tennis on the weekend. It can be a lot of fun, it can have some physical and mental benefits, but it is a game, no more, no less. Know what your goals are for training Jiu-jitsu. If your primary goal is to compete and win medals, you should focus on the things that are going to help you accomplish that goal. However, if your primary goal is to learn an effective means of defending yourself, you should train ALL aspects of Jiu-jitsu, and spend most of your training time of the things that are going to apply to a real fight, and avoid positions that would not be fundamentally safe in a striking situation. Explore all of Jiu-jitsu, but dedicate the majority of your training to the things that are going to help you accomplish your own individual goals.
Sport competition represents only a very small part of what Jiu-jitsu as a whole is. Jiu-jitsu, as it was originally developed, is a fighting art. Particularly the brand of Jiu-jitsu developed by the members of the Gracie family out of Brazil, was intended to be a complete martial art for self-defense, which address all ranges and aspects of fighting. Unfortunately, today's "modern" Jiu-jitsu, which is taught in MOST Brazilian Jiu-jitsu academies, focuses primarily on the sport aspect. In most sport Jiu-jitsu competitions, there are weight classes, time limits, and a point system, all things which don't exist in a street fight. There are also rules that limit the techniques that competitors can engage in, which by nature, creates a situation where sport competitors train to not pay attention to these "illegal" techniques, which sometimes would be very common in a self defense situation. For example, most Jiu-jitsu competitions don't allow any type of striking techniques, and don't allow competitors to slam their opponents. However, these are the types of things that one would be very likely to face in a self defense situation.
If your focus in training is to compete in sport tournaments, you are likely to focus on things that will give you a competitive advantage in that environment. That means, learning the points and rules, and tailoring your training around things that take advantage of the ruleset. While that doesn't sound like a bad thing, it can have negative affects on your Jiu-jitsu. Under stress, you will revert to your training, and it is very difficult to flip the switch between sport training and self-defense. For example, many sport competitors train to turn to their knees when their opponent is passing their guard, in order to avoid their opponent scoring points for the guard pass. While this idea may be useful in the limited context of a sport competition where the competitor is protected by the rules, this type of training results in a negative reflex for self defense. Turning your back to your opponent in a street fight is one of the worst things you can do, as you will be easily susceptible to your opponents striking techniques. Another commonly seen example is that of sport competitors jumping to the guard or allowing their opponents to lift them off of the floor. Because their is a rule limiting slamming your opponent, many competitors feel comfortable allowing their opponents to pick them up off the ground in a closed guard situation. This can have a devastating effect in a street fight, as your opponent will most likely slam you on your head, causing severe injury and possibly unconsciousness (something which unfortunately even happens within the context of sport competitions, even when there is a rule against it). Many modern "sport" techniques work great in a grappling only situation, but often expose you to great risk in a situation where your opponent can strike you with punches, knees, headbutts, etc.
Also, in a sport Jiu-jitsu tournament, you are competing against other people who also train Jiu-jitsu. Dealing with a trained opponent inside of your weight class, who is operating under a strict set of rules and time limits is a very different thing from defending yourself against an untrained opponent, who is likely bigger, stronger, and possibly more athletic. The trained opponent moves better, in a very predictable way, but this is not necessarily a good simulation for the average opponent in a street fight who, while they don't make technically correct movements, is typically much more aggressive and unpredictable. So, while Jiu-jitsu, as it was originally conceived self-defense art includes, on a technical level, striking techniques, takedowns & throws, stand up self-defense techniques against surprise attacks (including weapons defenses), and grappling techniques, the sport aspect focuses primarily on ground grappling, with some limited application of takedowns. Thus, it represents only a small part of what Jiu-jitsu is.
However, we shouldn't throw the baby out with the bath water. Even from a self-defense mindset, there is value to be found in competition. One of the toughest parts of competing is dealing with the emotional stress of the competition. You are stepping out on the mat with an opponent that, in most cases, you don't know and have never faced before. You don't know their game, you're not sure how they will react, and you are performing in front of other people (friends, family, teammates) outside of the comfortable environment of your home academy mats. The nervous energy and adrenaline dump that most competitors experience in competition closely resembles the physiological responses to stress that your body experiences in a street self-defense situation. So, while you are competing in a relatively safe and controlled environment, there is still an aspect of real danger (in competition your opponent generally doesn't have your best interest in mind like your teammates inside the academy do), and being able to perform adequately under the pressure of competition shows you what positions you feel comfortable with under stress and which ones you need to work more on.
In addition, preparing for competition usually means that you train more, you eat better, you pay more attention to not getting injured and rest/recovery, and that you work more on your general conditioning and fitness. All of these things are positive for your Jiu-jitsu overall. So, regardless of the outcome of the competition, if you approach it the right way, you will benefit physically, mentally, and emotionally, from the process of competing.
The bottom line is, there is nothing wrong with competition. If you want to compete, compete. Have fun, do your best, and try to learn something from the process of competing. You can still practice fundamentally sound self-defense based Jiu-jitsu and do well in competition. However, keep it in the proper context. Understand that training for sport competitions isn't the same thing as training for self-defense. It is no different than going to play soccer or tennis on the weekend. It can be a lot of fun, it can have some physical and mental benefits, but it is a game, no more, no less. Know what your goals are for training Jiu-jitsu. If your primary goal is to compete and win medals, you should focus on the things that are going to help you accomplish that goal. However, if your primary goal is to learn an effective means of defending yourself, you should train ALL aspects of Jiu-jitsu, and spend most of your training time of the things that are going to apply to a real fight, and avoid positions that would not be fundamentally safe in a striking situation. Explore all of Jiu-jitsu, but dedicate the majority of your training to the things that are going to help you accomplish your own individual goals.
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