The benefits of Jiu-Jitsu for Businessmen
Why Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is Good for Businessmen
In today's fast-paced and competitive business world, it is important to find ways to stay focused, motivated, and energized. One form of exercise that can provide numerous benefits for businessmen is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). In this blog, we'll explore why BJJ is so good for businessmen and how it can help to improve their work performance.
Physical Benefits of BJJ for Businessmen
BJJ provides a comprehensive full-body workout that can help businessmen to stay physically fit and healthy. The grappling and ground fighting techniques used in BJJ can help to strengthen the muscles in the entire body, providing a challenging form of exercise that can keep businessmen motivated and engaged. Additionally, BJJ training can also improve coordination, balance, and flexibility, making it a great way to stay in top physical condition.
Mental Benefits of BJJ for Businessmen
In addition to its physical benefits, BJJ also provides numerous mental benefits for businessmen. The mental focus and concentration required in BJJ can help to reduce stress and anxiety, improving overall well-being. Furthermore, the close-knit community often found in BJJ gyms can provide a supportive network for businessmen, helping to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. Additionally, BJJ training can also help to develop self-confidence, resilience, and a positive outlook, which are all important components of mental health and well-being.
Emotional Benefits of BJJ for Businessmen
The emotional benefits of BJJ for businessmen can be just as important as its physical and mental benefits. For many businessmen, BJJ provides a sense of accomplishment and mastery, helping to boost self-esteem and confidence. Additionally, the close-knit community in BJJ can provide a supportive network for businessmen who are struggling with emotional challenges, offering encouragement and motivation to continue their journey towards a healthier and happier life. Furthermore, the sense of accomplishment that comes from learning and mastering new techniques in BJJ can help to boost self-esteem and confidence, improving overall emotional well-being.
Boosting Work Performance with BJJ
In addition to its numerous physical, mental, and emotional benefits, BJJ can also help to improve work performance. The mental focus and concentration developed through BJJ training can translate into improved focus and productivity at work. Additionally, the physical and mental resilience developed through BJJ can help businessmen to handle stress and pressure more effectively, allowing them to perform at their best in high-pressure business environments. Not to mention how BJJ enhances your problem solving skills and ability to adapt.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a great option for businessmen who are looking to improve their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. With its combination of physical, mental, and emotional benefits, BJJ provides a comprehensive approach to wellness that can help businessmen to stay focused, motivated, and energized. So why not give it a try today and see the positive impact it can have on your life and work performance!
The Benefits of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for Police Officers
Police officers face a unique set of physical and mental demands in their line of work. The demands of the job can take a toll on their physical and mental well-being, which is why it's important for officers to engage in activities that can help them maintain their physical and mental health. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is one such activity that can provide a pathway for physical and personal transformation.
Physical Benefits of BJJ for Police Officers
One of the primary benefits of BJJ for police officers is its physical demands. BJJ is a full-body workout that requires strength, flexibility, and endurance, all of which are essential for officers who must be physically fit to handle the demands of their job. Additionally, BJJ can help to improve coordination and balance, which can be especially beneficial for officers who are required to engage in hand-to-hand combat. Furthermore, BJJ can help to improve an officer's overall fitness level, reducing their risk of injury and increasing their physical resilience.
Mental Benefits of BJJ for Police Officers
In addition to its physical benefits, BJJ can also be incredibly helpful in addressing the mental and emotional demands of the job. For police officers, the stress and trauma of their work can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. BJJ can help to reduce stress and anxiety by providing a physical outlet for pent-up tension and energy. Additionally, the mental focus and concentration required in BJJ can help to improve an officer's ability to stay focused and calm in high-pressure situations, reducing their risk of burnout and improving their overall mental well-being.
Building Better Relationships with Communities
Police officers often struggle with the challenges of building positive relationships with the communities they serve. BJJ can help to bridge this gap by providing a common ground for officers and community members to connect on a personal level. Through BJJ, officers can engage with community members in a safe and supportive environment, building trust and improving relationships. Additionally, BJJ can provide a unique opportunity for officers to understand and appreciate different perspectives, helping them to better serve their communities.
Practicality of the Art
Without the proper techniques to control, disarm and escort assailants safely, officers are left with aggression to get the job done. This can lead to more violent situations for both the assailant and the officer. Not only that, but when you can’t stay calm during intense situations, and therefore resort to aggression, your going to burn way more energy and fatigue much quicker which will put an officer in a very vulnerable situation. BJJ can provide effective controlling, disarming and escorting techniques that will build your confidence in these altercations, which will allow for you to stay calm, and not use more energy than necessary.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu offers numerous physical and mental benefits for police officers, making it an ideal activity for those looking to maintain their physical and mental well-being. By providing a physical outlet, mental focus, and a sense of community, BJJ can help officers to improve their physical fitness, reduce stress and anxiety, and build better relationships with the communities they serve. On top of everything else, BJJ provides practical techniques that will help keep officers safe while out on the streets. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a new recruit, BJJ can provide a valuable tool for maintaining your physical and mental health in the challenging and demanding world of law enforcement.
You Are Capable of More Than You Think
You are Capable of More than You Think
Too often, we are limited by our thoughts. But, we are more than that. We are capable of more good, more bad, and bigger things than we ever thought were possible. Our thoughts are often a hinderance for us, and as you begin to make a mental shift, you will adapt and change to adjust to your new mindset. Eventually, you’ll become a person that you never thought that you could be. If you set a goal and work towards that goal, you’ll be able to accomplish greater things than you ever thought were possible.
We are Capable of More Damage
Unfortunately, we are also often more capable of damage that we think. Sometimes, we tend to think that lack of action is a better course, but lack of action can be just as damaging as a wrong action. We have to remember that inaction is still action. Sometimes, we will tell ourselves that we are simply staying distant, when in reality, it is cowardice that is pushing us to not act.
We are Capable of More Good
We often will think that the small, good things we do are insignificant, but this could not be further from the truth. We can do small, good things that make an impact, but we also have to be intentional about doing them. You cannot say that, “well, I don’t do ‘blank, blank or blank’, so I’m a good person”. It takes more than not doing bad things to be good. Goodness requires both “putting off” the bad and intentionally “putting on” good.
The Desire to do Good
Even though doing good is important, the desire to do good could possibly be more significant. Good intentions do always lead to good actions and good actions do not always have good intentions. Do you get that? I would rather be the one who earnestly desires to do good but battles with good works than the one who does good works with bad intentions. The fruit of a healthy desire is discipline. In time, your desire to do good will lead to the discipline of actually doing it. If you desire to good, start with little things. Small deeds go a long way when done on a consistent basis. Don’t overwhelm yourself with trying to save the world.
Avoidance is Not Inherently Good
Many times, people attempt to avoid conflict and situations that are uncomfortable under the guise that they are doing good by simply avoiding the issue. Sometimes, the avoidance of a bad situation can actually make it worse. All words carry weight - those that we do and do NOT say.
The Importance of Being a Role Model
As a martial arts instructor, I have learned that whether or not I am aware, I am being looked at as a role model, and this can be said of all instructors. As such, it is important that we live up to a certain standard and a certain code of conduct. In the martial arts world, there is a lot of “fake respect”, meaning that respect is shown in public, but it is not taken to heart. The respect does NOt have good intentions. In martial arts, respect is often demanded on the mats, but is not reciprocated or taken outside into the world. The higher your belt, the more respect your should demonstrate NOT demand. As coaches and therefore role models, we have to stand against this trend of false respect and honor.
How We Show Respect
Marital arts is supposed to stand for honor, integrity, dignity and self control. As an industry, we are lacking in that and so I have implemented various standards to help that respect to be taken seriously both on and off the mats. For example, foul language sets a tone of lack of self control and disrespect. Therefore, no foul language is permitted here at Clinch Academy. Your level of self control is illustrated in your language, and dignity and respect are expected of our students. The atmosphere of the environment where a person trains makes an impact both on who they are and who they will become. What this boils down to is “Loving your neighbor”. We utilize self-control and self-discipline as tools to better love and serve our neighbor. That is respect.
The Impact You can Make
To achieve great things, you have to change your mindset. You have to know that the little things that you do can make a big difference. You have to learn to encourage others, and by doing so, you encourage yourself to grow. By supporting those around you. Small words carry huge weight, especially words of encouragement. However, in the midst of this, it is important to keep your pride in check. You need to put this into practice by changing your mindset and knowing that you are capable of both more good, and more bad, than you think. Think more, do more!
Martial Arts Teaches Us This
You may not think you can do something like martial arts. Martial arts teaches us that we a capable of far more than we think. The first step is to believe you CAN do martial arts. Once you begin the journey you will be continually reminded and often pleasantly surprised of the things you are capable of. We set goals, plan, achieve and repeat in martial arts. This type of lifestyle demonstrates and proves to us that when we are deliberate and intentional about what we do, we can do just about anything!
The Different Forms of Jiu-Jitsu
Forms of Jiu-Jitsu
Jiu-Jitsu is a sport that can meet many different needs, and as such, people have very unique and individual experiences with it. As some background, circa 1993 in America, Jiu-Jitsu was known as a very difficult and grueling fighting art where no holds were barred. This is the type of Jiu-Jitsu that I was first exposed to and I’m incredibly grateful for the experience I gained through that time. I learned how to push my body and my mental stamina to the limit. I learned to see through pain and how to conquer it. However, as I grew in knowledge about the sport and about people, I learned that this type of intense, physically demanding training was not for everyone. This is where I first started to consider the different forms of Jiu-Jitsu.
Our History
I first started Jiu-Jitsu with my father, the founder of Self-Defense Tactics Inc. We originally focused very heavily on practical self defense, but that is physically taxing, as well as mentally grueling. We did bare knuckle sparring with a very limited rule set to keep the training realistic. After all, what good are self-defense techniques if you don’t know 100% without a doubt if they work or not? This mentality was for a very elite group only. I took over running Self-Defense Tactics in the year 2000 and in 2003 changed the name to Clinch Academy, and began to also focus on the sports of Jiu-Jitsu and MMA. Practical self defense is still incorporated in our BJJ program, but it is not our sole focus.
Sport Form of Jiu-Jitsu
The sport form of Jiu-Jitsu focuses on the competition and training associated with Jiu-Jitsu as a sport. This training can be either very intense or it can be more relaxed, depending on the individual. Jiu-Jitsu as a sport is generally highly competitive, and success is mirrored in effort. However, highly intense competition and training is not for everybody, and that’s ok! Jiu-Jitsu is a personal sport and each individual has the opportunity to excel at a rate that is comfortable for them.
Art Form of Jiu-Jitsu
The next form is the art form. This form focuses on the beauty and meticulousness of each move. One of the trademarks of Jiu-Jitsu as an art from is minimum effort, maximum result. Here, the focus is on creativity and artistic energy that is applied to achieve the maximum results with minimum effort. When you are in the art phase, jiu-jitsu is no longer just about self-defense or competition, it’s a way of life. Self enrichment and personal growth are just as important if not more important in this phase. The art mindset is crucial to the long game.
Hobby Form of Jiu-Jitsu
Some people are jiu-jitsu hobbyists. As hobbyist, they may not have an intense focus on any of the other forms and therefore do not excel quite as quickly. When you have a focus, your goals become clear and your training has more intention. This allows for you to improve at a higher speed. Hobbyist tend to want to just have some fun and get some exercise and this is fine…if that is what they want. Not everybody has the same amount of time available to put into training. That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be able to enjoy training. A little jiu-jitsu is still better than no jiu-jitsu!
How This Applies to You
To get the most out of Jiu-Jitsu, it is preferable to go through each of these different forms or phases. However, I recognize that this isn’t something that is necessarily doable for a lot of people. Some start training at age 4 and others start at age 50 plus! The main reason that we offer so many kid’s programs is because I want to offer as many people as possible the opportunity to experience each one the these phases. Each person finds a form that suits them best personally, so it doesn’t matter if you are 4 or 50, you can still join in where you feel your passion lies.
Things I’ve Learned
Since I’ve gone through all these phases, I’ve learned a lot, both about other people and about myself. I’ve practiced intense self-defense, gone through the season of competition, transitioned into having a deep appreciation for the art. As I’ve gotten older, my technique and skill has become more and more efficient but my body can’t quite do what it was able to do 20 years ago. I’ve learned to redefine my own physical limitations and I’ve grown tremendously through that process. As an instructor, you have to have a good understanding of these different forms of jiu-jitsu because you are going to have students coming in for different reasons and at different times in their life. You can’t expect someone in their later years to want to experience intense self-defense or even competition. Not everyone is going to want to do that! You are going to have different kinds of Blue Belts and different kinds of Black Belts depending on how many different forms or phases they have been able to experience. Their jiu-jitsu will be different. It will feel different and we have to be ok with that. Jiu-Jitsu can either be a rough sport that runs your body to the ground or it can be a life art that does the body, mind and soul good. For some of us it’s both and for others, it is what it is.
Life Lessons from Jiu-Jitsu
You have to be willing to learn lessons from Jiu-Jitsu that aren’t just self defense or sport related. In Jiu-Jitsu, you learn things like patience, perseverance, dedication, and commitment. Some people use it when they are on the mat but forget about it when they are off the mat. To get the most out of your training, you should strive to carry these virtues forward in the other areas of your life. There is much to learn and gain from your training. There is a time for wanting to be the best and the baddest, and I’ve been there before. But as I’ve gone through the different phases of Jiu-Jitsu, I’ve learned to appreciate it in all of its forms.
Jiu-Jitsu has no real power.
I have been urged to write this blog due to recent news of various criminal behaviours that have popped up within the jiu-jitsu community within the last few months. Considering that I own a jiu-jitsu Academy, this could seem like a counter marketing or anti-jiu-jitsu blog but it's the truth and I believe the truth always shapes out the best. Jiu-Jitsu is marketed like a god. You will see shirts like "Jiu-Jitsu saves.", or "In Jiu-Jitsu we trust.". Let me say first that I love Jiu-Jitsu! I believe jiu-jitsu has MANY great benefits but in the end Jiu-Jitsu has no "REAL" power.
When you create a culture of self-empowerment, you also tend to create a culture self-entitlement. While it is nice to feel empowered, there is much responsibility that comes with it. Empowerment should be accompanied with other teachings like self-confrontation, respect and humility. As martial artists we need to teach people to how confront themselves and to act with honor and dignity. Currently our culture hardly understands the meaning of these. What is Honor? What is Respect? What is Obedience? The culture is too focused on self-empowerment, achievement and personal status. The martial arts community emphasizes the same concept perhaps more than anywhere else because advancement and empowerment are built in to the system of Martial Arts! It is a benefit of Martial Arts! However, this means that we need to be actively teaching the basics of obedience, kindness, goodness, respect, humility, gratitude & self-control. These are all things that traditional martial arts are known for and should accompany the natural benefit of self-empowerment through all martial arts!
I love jiu-jitsu and I believe it CAN BE a great instrument for teaching these things but jiu-jitsu itself knows NOTHING of it! Martial Arts as a whole knows nothing of it! Jiu-jitsu is no better than the "ONE" who is teaching and practicing it. I could easily say that Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has changed the way people view Martial Arts. It has strayed so far from Respect and Honor that many schools don't even promote or practice such things. Just fighting. In fact, you could simply call many Schools, "Gyms". That's all they are is a gym. A place where people go to improve their physical attributes and feel self-empowered. It is easy to go that route but all though the more traditional Martial Arts have an "IMAGE" of developing Honor, Respect and Self-Discipline or to have a warrior code... the same power corruption and immoral behaviors have existed in Martial Arts from the beginning. Way before MMA! That being said, MMA certainly hasn't done much of anything good to promote respect and good virtue. Don't get me wrong. I DO believe that MMA, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) or any other Martial Art CAN absolutely be used as an instrument to teach good virtue but once again...the arts themselves know nothing of it. It is up to the ones who teach and the ones who practice!
At my School, the Clinch Academy, I work diligently to promote and teach good virtue. We are not a Gym but an Academy. A place of learning and growth. A place where virtue and life lessons are attached to the art we practice. This in no way means that our Academy is perfect, that I am perfect or that my students are perfect. I'm sure many of my students are doing things in their own lives that are not in line with what we promote at the Clinch Academy. You can't monitor everyone, change ANYONE or force people to do as you want. All one can really do is create an environment that promotes, teaches and practices such things and then walk the talk! Maybe then, at least maybe in that environment, people will conform. Hopefully, it will even have an impact in their personal lives. But we all make mistakes. Bad things happen everywhere! It is not up to us to be anyones judge. People CAN change, but certain behaviours (like sexual assault) simply can not be tolerated. Boundaries have to be made. They MUST be made. To knowingly allow someone convicted of sexual assault to teach at your Academy is like having a recovering alcoholic work at a bar! You are setting them up for failure and putting your students at risk! You don't have to and shouldn't hate sexual predators or bash them. In fact we should pray for such people and try to be a good influence and a helpful resource. But there must be boundaries and those boundaries must be maintained! We ALL have sins! Who is to say that YOUR sins are any better? I'm sorry but in God's eyes YOU are no better. I am no better.
“Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone.” -Jesus Christ / John 8:7
“There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. 12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one." Romans 3:1o-12
Don't get me wrong. I think man to man we can find plenty of "good people", but man to God there are none. This is a whole other topic within itself. Regardless we know it is impossible for anyone to maintain a morally controlled and disciplined life without
#1 the knowledge of good and evil,
#2 Repentance for the evil we do
#3 the conviction to do good and
#4 the desire to continue in this pattern.
And still, nobody can do this perfectly. We all fail everyday in multiple ways to love God and love our neighbor. While martial arts do teach control and discipline, they don't specifically teach you how to apply these attributes to relationships. Jiu-jitsu doesn't teach you how to love your neighbor. Yes, it can help you love your neighbor better, but it does not purposefully teach it.
As a Christian, I learn everything I know about virtue and goodness from the Lord. The One who wrote the book on life and the purpose of it. The One who descended from above and became a man so that He could provide the means for us to repent (from our inability to love him and each other as we should) and be born again into a new life in relationship with Him through the power of His very own Spirit Who convicts us daily of our sin and empowers us to CONFRONT OURSELVES in order to Love and to do good as He has done and continues to do to us.
God DOES for us what jiu-jitsu, any other martial art, Yoga, religion or even the Ten Commandments CAN'T do.
He CHANGES our HEARTS and DESIRES and CONFORMS THEM TO HIS WILL. In this, he is also providing for us the means and the power to not only love Him, but to love one another in the same way that he has loved us. He teaches us to love with commitment, patience, faithfulness, kindness, humility, gentleness, joy and sacrifice! If you ever want to be empowered to do anything worthwhile, be empowered to do these! He invites any man, women or child of all races and of all colors to be His children. In Him, In Christ, we are all brothers and sisters. We are ALL sinners saved by grace! I say that like its good news because it is! This is the "Gospel" or the "good news", that God has provided Christ to take on both perfection and wrath in our place. Through his obedience Christ became the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Our record has been wiped clean, permanently in Christ! Now in humble joy we can respond back, not in obedience to the law (as we have failed since the beginning), but in love. Christ fulfilled the law (10 commandments) on our behalf and gave us a new law...To believe in Him, in His works, to love the Lord your God with all your heart, all of your soul and with all of your strength AND to love your neighbor as yourself!
Because man is imperfect, you will never find a Martial Arts Academy that is perfect. You will never find a Church that is perfect. This is simply more evidence of the truth of God's word, that we are sinners. But regardless, God's Word IS perfect AND it proves true to those who seek it. I am speaking boldly about this because we need it! The world needs it! His Word holds the only true power to transform anybody's heart and mind to his good will. I wrote a blog once on "Self Discipline vs. Sanctification" and what the difference is. When it comes to self-discipline and desire, desire always wins! Thankfully in Christ, our desires can be transformed. He replaces our wicked unhealthy desires with righteous healthy desires (for us and toward others) that we discover everlasting joy in pursuing.
All things exists because of God and for God's glory. When you understand this and you truly desire to glorify God in all you do, you are going to seek out how to better love him AND your neighbor in everything you do! Jiu-Jitsu just becomes another way to glorify God, not seek your own glory, power and especially not to abuse others in any way. Instead of assaulting others, you are going to want to use jiu-jitsu to care for them and serve them the best you can with honor and dignity to God's glory. Jiu-jitsu and other Martial arts Academies should be SAFE places as we are in the self-defense business!
God is good. His word is good and those who seek it will find goodness. Jiu-jitsu doesn't SAVE. Jesus does. Yes it may save your life one day but you are still going to die. There is more to life than this life. Jiu-Jitsu, like anything else, has no real power. Jiu-Jitsu has no knowledge of goodness. Jiu-Jitsu is no greater than the one who teaches or practices it. And don't get me wrong, this is NOT and Anti-Jiu-jitsu Blog...I love jiu-jitsu and will continue using it every way I can to Glorify God and serve my community!
Defining the Center Line
In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu I have some core principles I like to focus on. I have mentioned some of these principles in other blogs I have written. For instance, I talk with my students a lot about their grappling GPA which means their ability to Grip Fight, Posture, Angle & finally Attack! One of my sayings is that the moment you stop grip fighting…you lose. Once you stop the grip fight you are going to lose either the immediate take down, pass, sweep, escape or possibly even the whole match. Once you have established your grips you want to focus on using those grips to set up your posture and angle. As an example, I may be in the top guard position and the first thing I want to do is secure my grips on the biceps to establish center control and then I can use those grips to begin posturing up. To go a step further I would want to continue bettering my grips by possibly grabbing the belt and pushing it up towards my opponents chin as I then posture up and back further toward the legs. In doing this I also want to pay attention to the angle that I am posturing as it can create more or less leverage. Now that I have gained the dominant grips which have allowed me to posture up effectively, I am in position to begin my attack which in this situation would be the guard pass. An attack can be an escape, pass, sweep, take down, submission or any reversal in this wording.
The order of events here is so important because if you don’t have good grips and posture before you attack you are always exposing yourself to an attack in the process. Beginners do this all the time. They are so focused on getting out, or attacking that they forget all the necessary steps that allow for them to do this effectively and they end up making their situation worse.
There is a brief moment between posturing and attacking that is also extremely valuable to your attack. In this moment you want to Define the Center Line. Defining the Center Line allows for you to determine which attack will work the best. There is both a vertical and horizontal center line. The vertical runs from your head down the center toward your feet. Your horizontal runs across your hips. Defining the Center Line can be done in so many different ways based on what situation you are in. Let me give you a real obvious example.
Let’s say you are in under the mount and you want to do a bridge escape. Once you have won the grip fight by trapping your opponents arm and leg and have postured your feet and body to perform a strong bridge, you have to take note as to whether your opponent is more on the left or right of your vertical center line. If I have trapped my opponents arm and leg on the left side but he is leaning real heavy to the right side to defend, to then continue the bridge to the left would be a waste of time & energy. Maybe I would rather bridge to the right quickly without trapping his arm or leg and as he bases out to defend, I would shrimp out on the right side where space is created. Defining the center line can help me preserve energy & make my efforts way more efficient.
In short, you must focus on your Grappling GPA and in that moment between posturing effectively and attacking, you want to make sure you define the center line in order to choose the best attack.
Since there is so much to discuss when it comes to defining the center line, I have created a video so that we can get into more detail without confusion. I want you to have a clear picture in your mind of the examples given in the video because Defining the Center Line can drastically improve the effectiveness of your attacks. Check it out…
Learn to Submit Anybody
Position before submission is a common phrase in the jiu-jitsu world but what does it mean? It may not mean exactly what you think. It is a phrase that carries different meaning as you progress in your jiu-jitsu. A lot of things tend open up and carry a new meaning as we mature. That doesn't necessarily mean that what you originally thought it meant was wrong.
If I am talking about position before submission on a beginner level, I am talking about securing and maintaining your core positions like the guard, cross body, mount, back mount, exc.. and then, after wearing your opponent down, look for the submission. It is important in the beginner level that the students learn to use these positions and develop them. If you don't learn your positions, transitions and escapes, than in the long run you are going to pay. You won't be able to gain any sort of dominant position on the ones who are well versed in their positional game. You could break jiu-jitsu down into two basic categories
1. Grappling Game
2. Submission Game
The grappling game includes your take downs, positions, transitions, sweeps, passes and escapes. It has everything to do with your ability to dominate your opponent positionally and wear them down. Your submission game has to do with your ability to submit your opponents. Learning your submissions and being able to set them up and finish them. In the beginning it is important to keep these two groups separate. You need to learn your positions and then learn what submissions work in each position. In the beginning it is more important to learn to get a mount and hold a mount than it is to get a mount and try to submit your opponent. In the end, the liberty to submit your opponents relies completely on your ability to control them. The better you learn to control your opponent, the more ways you will eventually be able to submit them. One of the best things you can do as a beginner is to grapple without submissions frequently.
As an intermediate student position before submission begins to carry on a different meaning. The positions I am talking about here are the arm bar position (Spider Web), omoplata position (Rodeo Control), triangle position (Diamond Guard) ankle lock position, exc.. These positions are submission positions. In order to really develop a good arm bar it is imperative that you learn the arm bar position. In order to drill and develop your arm bar position you should start in the arm bar position...
and then tell your partner to try and escape. As your partner works to escape, your job is only to keep some variation of the arm bar position. Don't try to finish the arm bar but try to keep him from escaping. Eddie Brave calls this the spider web position and you can certainly do more than an arm bar from it. Once you get good at controlling this position you will be able to easily finish an arm bar. Most of the time at the beginner and intermediate level students don't have a very hard time getting to some sort of submission position. The problem is that they are in such a hurry to finish that they leave to much space and their partner not only escapes but usually gets to a better position. Submission position drills will take care of this issue. You should drill it frequently from core submission positions like the ones listed above.
Lastly, when I am speaking with advanced students about position before submission, I am talking about control in general. An advanced student who has perfected their core positions and their submission positions can control people in what would look like a very loose or un-secure position. Advanced students have a much better sense of feel and know how to use every part of their body to control their opponent. They begin to develop positions that a beginner could never use because they haven't developed this awareness of movement yet. If an advanced student took some one's back and sunk in the choke before the hooks it wouldn't matter because he knows how to control his opponent without the hooks. He knows how to position his body to prevent from being thrown off. He also knows how to secure a good squeeze on the choke in order to get a quick tap. It takes many hours of drilling and sparring for a student to develop this ability.
As you continue to mature in your jiu-jitsu you will begin to understand these concepts and will take them to an even deeper level than what I have explained. Turn every situation into a position and learn to master it. This is how you can learn to submit anybody!
The Art of Fighting without Fighting
While on a boat on his way to Han's Tournament as an undercover agent, "The Dragon" Bruce Lee is gathered together with other men who also plan on competing in this tournament of elite fighters. One of the fighters on the boat happens to be a bully and is bullying some of the other fighters. At some point he looks at Bruce and says, "Do I scare you?". Bruce just stares. He then says,"What's your style?". Bruce replies, "I call it the art of fighting without fighting". The bully asks Bruce to show him some and Bruce said that there was not enough room. Bruce then suggests that they take the little safety boat that was attached to the big boat to an Island close by where they could practice. They bully agreed and Bruce began to help him down into the safety boat. Once the bully was in the boat, Bruce untied it and made sure the bully knew he had lost the battle. This was a classic scene from "Enter The Dragon".
I see Jiu-Jitsu as an art where this principle of fighting without fighting can be displayed very well. You can take the techniques of jiu-jitsu and use them in an very rough and aggressive manor or you can take them and use them in a very gentle, patient, methodical manor. To apply the art of fighting without fighting in your every day jiu-jitsu training you must learn to be gentle, patient and methodical.
The best way to practice this concept is to literally go into a rolling session with the mind set of not fighting. The idea is to NOT USE FORCE. That's right. Don't use the force Luke. You Simply let it happen. You are not going to create your own opportunities or situations to attack, you are going to focus only on what's given. Even when you do attack, you are not going to use much energy at all. You are just going to relax and go with the flow or as Rickson Gracie once said, flow with the go.
As spoken about in another blog post, in order to apply any of the techniques you learn in jiu-jitsu you have to have the opportunity first. What I mean is that you have to:
1. Be able to identify the right situation to use a move.
2. Be able to create the right situation to use a move.
An arm bar, for instance, can either be given by your opponent posting on your chest or you may have to work to set it up and trap the arm order to get that opportunity. The art of fighting without fighting relies on you learning to focus on identifying what is given. So often when we roll we are trying to force situations and end up wasting a lot of energy when in fact a different situation or opportunity is all ready given. Be aware and willing to go where your partner leads you.
One of the best ways that I have found to practice this is with your eyes closed. When you close your eyes you tend to FEEL more of what is given rather than trying to create. It is important to explain this to your training partners before you roll. Tell them that you want to practice rolling with your eyes closed and ask them to keep theirs open so they can keep you from bumping your head into anyone or anything. When you roll you will use some energy. You can't just play dead and expect to gain anything. You have to use some energy but the idea is to use as little as possible. Use a partner that is a little less skilled than you and try your best not to fight to keep a grip, hold a position, escape a position or submit your partner. Do not struggle to do anything. Be technical. Be aware, gentle, patient and be methodical. Then when people ask you what style you practice, you too can say, the art of fighting without fighting.
Principle vs. Technique
Jiu-Jitsu is probably one of the most technical martial arts on the planet. The more you pay attention to detail and master your technique the more efficient you will be on the mat. Although Jiu-Jitsu is so well known for it's technical effectiveness there are many other factors which come into play. While technique plays a huge role we can EXCEL our game TREMENDOUSLY if we enhance our overall fitness, muscle memory, mental health/stability, spirituality and understanding of Jiu-Jitsu principles. I would like to focus in on the understanding of Jiu-Jitsu principles in this article. Although the title and essence of this article is "Technique vs Principle" I will also explain why they go hand in hand.
What is Technique?
To have technique is to have a certain skill or ability to perform a specific task. We can look at technique from two different perspectives.
1. One can have a lot of techniques.
2. One can have a lot of technique.
In Jiu-Jitsu, the one who has a lot of "techniques" has numerous ways to take down, control, sweep and submit his opponent from each position. He is like a walking Jiu-Jitsu Encyclopedia.
The one who has a lot of "technique" in Jiu-Jitsu may or may not have a lot of "techniques" but in either case is very masterful in his performance.
What is a Principle?
The word principle can take on different meanings. When I use the word in this article I am referring to the law and understanding of how things work. The concept of understanding how things work in Jiu-Jitsu could be broken into these 5 areas:
1. Balance
2. Leverage
3. Timing
4. Motion/Direction
5. Flow/Resistance
Ex: Basic Principle of Balance - The more points of balance a man has, the stronger his base will be.
Unless your this guy at least!
This is a basic principle of balance but when you apply it to your take downs, positions and sweeps in Jiu-Jitsu you become much stronger. When I am on top controlling my opponent I want at least 2 points of balance at all times. If I can have 3 or 4 than it's even better. If I am on the bottom of the guard I want to focus on eliminating my opponents points of balance to sweep him. With a proper understanding of how these concepts work, good technique can manifest naturally.
So which is greater, technique or principle?
As stated in the beginning, one can have a lot of techniques and another can have a lot of technique. There are some grapplers who have an enormous amount technical knowledge. They can give you over 10 set techniques from any position at any given time. They have been taught techniques and have repeated them over and over again and have developed good muscle memory to execute those techniques swiftly without thought while on the mat. Yet when you ask them why they do something a particular way, they don't really have an answer. They may even get defensive about it. You might call this type of grappler, a "Book Smart Grappler". We all know plenty of kids who go to school and get straight A's because they are very book smart. They learned and memorized the answers but when you ask them a question that wasn't in the book they just stare at you with a blank look on their face.
There are also grapplers who don't have such a wide range of set techniques but have a real in depth understanding of the techniques they know. This grappler may not have learned and memorized all the answers in the book but if you ask him a question he doesn't know he could probably still come up with a really good answer. This is the "Common Sense Grappler". If you ask him a question concerning a situation that he has no specific technique for, he can give you and explain his answer in great detail because of his understanding of how things work.
The Book Smart Grappler is a very effective grappler in that he has technique after technique to fall back on when his opponent does this or that. He has answers for almost every situation and his body uses the techniques he has trained automatically. The Common Sense Grappler may or may not have this vast knowledge of techniques but truly understands and focuses on the principles of Jiu-Jitsu and is also a very effective grappler because the techniques he does use are almost unstoppable. He has such a great understanding of how to use his body to manipulate yours that you feel like your wrestling with an immovable force. The Common Sense Grappler understands how to shut down your game and pursue theirs. This grappler also has the ability to adapt and create techniques on the fly.
So which one is better? This question is to general to really have a decisive answer. I can not simply say one is greater than the other. Good technique must include principle and an understanding of principle must lead to good technique. The difference is that you can have someone who has good technique which must include good principle but they may not necessarily focus on understanding the various principles of Jiu-Jitsu. They have been taught techniques and have repeated them over and over again. They have learned the techniques very well but may not ever have studied the principles of those techniques.
In the end you can have good technique without a detailed understanding of how things work but you can't have a detailed understanding of how things work and not in time have good technique. Applied principle always leads to effective technique. This is the difference between learning technique and studying it. It is not that one is greater than the other because in a sense you can't have one without the other. However, if you focus on understanding the principles of Jiu-Jitsu, the technique's you do know will be very pure and effective. Not only that but you will have the ability to create and express techniques in a way that is inspiring to others. To me, that is true art. My hope is to have a lot of technical techniques. To be a common sense grappler with book smarts!
Not IF but HOW
When we are rolling on the mat we often find ourselves in positions or situations that could possibly be the beginning of the end. We all get stuck in bad situations but what is it that gets a fighter out of these bad situations? Better yet, how can they even be turned into a good situation? It all begins with your mind set. If you move into a negative mind set, chances are that this situation will be the beginning of the end. It is important that we learn to keep a positive mind set even in times of trouble. So what does a negative and positive mind set look like?
Negative Mind Set
A negative mind set can manifest in many different ways. What I want to focus on right now is one that doesn't necessarily seem extremely negative but it is certain to lead down the wrong path. Often when someone passes our guard or mounts us or what ever the situation may be, we begin to wonder IF we can get out.
"Oh man, he feels heavy! I'm not sure if I can get out of this!"
Once we begin to think in this way a downward spiral begins to occur. We begin to focus on what our opponent is going to do instead of what we are supposed to do. If we are not focused on what we are supposed to do, we will not succeed.
In training there is nothing to worry about. Your training! Your not really competing or defending your life. Training time is for learning, trying new things and establishing your game plan. It is just as important that you learn to train your mind as it is you learn to train your body. You may learn the techniques but do you have the mind set to implement them correctly? There should be no reason to fall in a mental downward spiral when training with your team. There is nothing to worry about. There are only things to be gained during training. Nothing to lose.
Positive Mind Set
A better road to take when stuck in a bad situation is to focus on a few steps that direct you on HOW to get out.
1. Assume the correct defensive posture. Your posture shouldn't just be defensive but should allow for you to advance your position. Grip fight!
2. Remind your self that you do know how to get out and that everything is fine. It's important to focus on staying calm mentally. Remind yourself that you have been here many times before and that you know what to do. Start taking the right steps.
3. Begin to pressure your partners base by properly attemping your escapes. Be sure to keep a good defensive posture through out your escape attempts. Remember that it is rare that you will escape with your first attempt. Use combinations to create opportunities.
These are just a few basic steps to think about that will help guide you through a bad situation rather than lead you in a downward spiral. It takes practice. You need to remain calm and know that your are only training. Don't get too excited about whats going on. Don't focus on IF you will get out. Focus on HOW you will get out.
Same principle applied to drills.
To often when people drill they worry about whether they will complete the task of the drill or not. For instance, if we are doing a guard drill where we are trying to pass and our partners are trying to sweep, we focus too much on making sure we pass. It becomes a competition. How fast can I pass or how many times? As the clock ticks you begin to wonder IF you will pass and start to force your movements. My advice is not to focus on IF you pass or not but focus on HOW you pass. Are you passing with technique? Are you using a lot of energy? How are you passing? Don't worry IF you pass or not. Worry about HOW little energy you use. Worry about your technique. It takes some humility to be in someones guard and not accomplish much if you are taking your time and trying not to use a lot of energy. Especially if you knew that if you worked a little harder you could do it. There is a time to work hard but it's not all the time. When you are training to compete you have to get used to the intensity of competition as well as the time limits. When your not competing most of your time should be spent on sharpening technique. That is going to be what makes you better in the long run. It will allow you to use less energy when you do compete.
The Importance of Repetition
Repetition is a key factor to mastering any movement or technique. However, we tend to forget how important it really is. Every sport requires constant repetition of movements. If we look at basketball for a moment you can see just how important repetition is. When you are first learning to shoot a foul shot in basketball your coach can show you how to shoot the ball properly but that does not mean you will make a basket. Once you know how to shoot the ball properly it is then up to the repetition of shooting the ball to build the other elements that, when they all harmonize, will put the ball in the basket...
The technique of shooting the ball is only one element of actually making a basket. A player needs to understand force management. How much force should they use to make a shot from the foul line or eventually the 3 point line? If to much force is used they will over shoot and if to little they will under shoot. They need to know exactly how much force needs to be used. A player would also have to understand posture and alignment. Accuracy is dependent on force management, posture and good alignment.
After many repetitions the player will eventually develop a good foul shot. Now they need to figure the same elements out from every angle and distance of the court to be able to apply them without thought at any given moment to be a good shooter. It's pretty amazing that we can even do things like that but repetitions build muscle memory and that's what it takes. To go even further, the player now should start back at the foul line with a defender in front. Sure they can make a foul shot but can they make it with a defender? This adds the elements of timing,set ups, and balance to the equation. They should start drilling the shot over and over with defenders now. Once they get good at that they should work it from every where and try new creative drills in order to ensure that when the game time comes, they can make that shot.
A players coach can only tell them so much before he says," Now just stand at the foul line and start shooting.". In jiu-jitsu it is the same way. You have to constantly be repeating your movements over and over again to get the feel of it. It is one thing to know how to do it but to get the feel for it is essential. You have to understand force management, posture and alignment just to succeed in a cooperative drill. Then after you develop the feel for a technique you need to begin drilling it with aliveness to learn the timing and balance. Lastly, you will then drill it with resistance to understand how to set it up and link it to the rest of the game.
If you skip out on the repetition of your techniques, you will still be that player who knows how to shoot a ball but can never make a basket. What good is it to know how to shoot a ball if you can not make a basket? In class, your instructor teaches you the moves and you rep them and drill them but you need to be constantly doing that on your own as well during open mat sessions or whenever you can. The down fall of jiu-jitsu is that live sparring can be so much fun that we choose to do that instead of doing focused drills when we should be. Repetition drills are what better your game in the end. You don't have to just keep repeating a move over and over again. Once you can make 5 out of 5 foul shots you can start adding different elements to the foul shot to make it a better drill at that point. So when you learn a new guard sweep, it is important even after you get the basic idea of how to do the move, to keep repeating it over and over again until you don't have to think about the steps anymore. Understand your force management, posture and alignment. Once you smooth it out you need to add some movement with your partner to develop timing and balance. Eventually, add some real resistance to learn your set ups and pace of the technique. If you do these things and become more and more creative with them as you excel in the move, you will reap the benefits of repetition training and EXCEL MUCH FASTER in your BJJ GAME!
Here is an old video I made back in 2008 demonstrating this very idea.
How to Gain the Most with your Training Partners
If you have read my home page or e-mails you will have gotten a general idea of what I am about to explain. In this blog I am going to go a little deeper into the concept of how to EXCEL QUICKLY in your jiu-jitsu game NO MATTER what LEVEL training partners you have. Generally in Jiu-Jitsu, there are 3 basic levels in comparison to yours.
1. Lesser Skilled
2. Equal Skilled
3. Greater Skilled
When a lesser skilled partner is rolling with a greater skilled partner, realistically, the lesser skilled partner is always practicing defense while the greater skilled partner is working offense. Of course the greater skilled partner can allow the lesser skilled partner to work offense but an allowed offense and an allowed defense will never be the same as that which has to be forced.For instance, I can allow a lesser skilled opponent to be offensive on me and I can learn and gain from that experience but it will never be the same as when my opponent is forcing me to defend. On the same note an offense that is allowed will be the same as an offense that is created and established by enforcing your will on another.
When two equal skilled partners roll or drill, the offense and defense goes back and forth and the end of the match is unpredictable. This is great for the emotional or mental part of the game. The roller coaster of action often causes a lot of thoughts to cross through your mind as you roll and it helps to mimic how you will feel in competition. This trains you to stay focused no matter what the situation. If you roll with a higher belt it is not as emotional when you get tapped or put in bad situations because it is expected. So in short,
- Rolling with a greater skilled partner builds your defense
- Rolling with a lesser skilled partner allows you to practice your offense
- Rolling with an equal skilled partner allows you to work both and often creates more of an emotional roller coaster.
Some people say that you should roll with higher levels all the time if you want to get better but I think all three are equally important.
Because this is the natural flow when rolling it is important create drills that can break this natural flow when paired up with unequal leveled partners. Here are some different situations that may occur when training.
Situation # 1
You are lesser skilled and paired with a higher skilled partner.
When it is your turn to pick a drill it would be silly to practice something like mount escapes against a partner who can hold you there all day. They have two options. One is to hold you down all day and the other is to make you work and eventually let you out. Neither one of those options really benefit you. It would be much smarter for you to put the greater skilled opponent in a more vulnerable situation so that you can make them work a littler harder and so that you can engage a little more. A good option might be to start in a submission and try to finish it. You should at least start in a solid offensive position.
Situation # 2
You are greater skilled and paired with a lesser skilled partner.
As a greater skilled partner you can look at this in two different ways.
1. Create a scenario with the lesser skilled partner that allows you to work on that specific technique in a live drill. This will give you the ability to relax while focusing on the technique you wish to improve on. If your trying to improve on a new technique it may be very difficult to stay within the parameters of that technique against some who is equal or greater skilled. With a lesser skilled partner you can really take the time to study and enhance your technique even in a live drill.
2. Limit your options so that you are forced to work harder.
A good example of this might be a guard drill where your lesser skilled partner is trying to pass your guard and you are unable to use your arms. Grab your lapels and tuck your elbows and try to sweep or submit your partner without using your arms while they try to pass using all they have. This will benefit both partners because you will have to work harder to defend and your limitations will allow for you partner to be more active in passing your guard. You can create many drills like this. You could simply roll and only allow for yourself to do one submission. Preferably a complicated one.
Situation # 3
You and your partner are equally skilled.
In this situation you can do just about anything because there is always the possibility that you can escape or that you can finish your partner given any situation. One thing that I think is always a good option with equal skilled partners is positional drills. When two opponents are really close in skill it is often hard to establish and maintain really solid positions. So in this situation it is always a good time to practice drills that focus on establishing and maintaining positions.
These are just some brief ideas to get you thinking about how to get the most out of your training partners. These ideas are meant for mainly mixed group sessions such as open mats that allow for some freedom in your training. They are made to help counter what happens naturally when you are paired up with a different level opponent. If you are purposeful in your training you can always gain from ANY training partner and they from YOU.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Base Development
Balance comes in many forms. You can stand on one leg, do a hand stand, balance on a stability ball, ride a unicycle, surf, balance objects on your hands or get trapped in someone X-Guard or De La Riva Guard! Just because you can stand on one leg doesn't mean you can do a handstand. It's important to practice balance in as many forms as you can in order to develop a true sense of balance.
Did you know that one definition for balance is to be in a state of rest when two points are equally distributed over a point of leverage? When I first discovered the idea that Balance = Rest it helped my Jiu-Jitsu TREMENDOUSLY! It's not that you are NOT working. You are always working but eventually you learn to work in a manner that is more subtle, efficient and restful. Maximum results with Minimum effort. This is your goal in jiu-jitsu.
I use this example all the time in class when I am trying to explain core movement in jiu-jitsu so I figured I would go ahead and blog it. When you are grappling it is absolutely necessary that you keep active. You do not want to be over reactive and chaotic but you must always be working. When I use the term "working" I want to be clear that I don't mean burning alot of energy or using a lot of force. What I mean is to keep moving forward, keep pressing toward a goal. Your goal, however, is to do this with minimum exertion. As an example, I say it is like balancing a broom stick on your the palm of your hand. I am sure we have all done this as kids. You take a broom stick or any big stick and vertically place it on your palm. Try to balance the stick and keep it from falling off your palm. You can't use anything other than your palm to balance the stick. At first, you end up running all over the place trying to keep that stick from falling. The reason is that we wait to long to respond to the stick as it begins to lean. This causes us to over react in order to make up for the timing. As you get better at balancing the stick, you are eventually able to stand still and even keep your hand pretty still with out having the stick fall. This is because you are learning to feel the stick and your senses pick up on where and when to move your hand. You also learn not to over react but to be very subtle in your movements. The more subtly you can move your hand the easier it will be to keep the stick balanced. All though it looks like your not working, when you are good at balancing the stick, you are actually working a lot. You are just not over working and using more energy than needed.
This is jiu-jitsu. The gentle art. Always working but only as much as needed. Never over reacting. Never forcing. If you learn to use your hips like you use your hand when you balance a stick you will develop very dominant grappling ability. Your ability to stay active with your hips and use them to control your opponent (as your would control the stick) will allow you to use minimum effort to hold people down, to scramble or to attack.
It is important that we do exercises like balancing a stick that allow us to practice balance and sensitivity. Stability balls are great for learning core balance. Doing hand stands will really help you understand balance and the right type of work ethic. The truth is that when you are balanced you are not working in the sense of burning a lot of energy. When you learn to stick a hand stand it is almost as if some one is holding your feet. They feel locked into place and all though you have to work subtly to keep them there, your not burning a lot of energy. Balance is strength. When you have good balance you feel strong. Just because you can stand on one leg doesn't mean you can do a hand stand. Just because you can do a hand stand it does not mean you can balance a stick. Try it all! Learn to balance as many ways as possible. I GUARANTEE it will BOOST your jiu-jitsu game!
The Art of Grip Fighting in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
While the concept and intent to grip fight goes a long way within itself, there is also an art to grip fighting. If you have read my e-mails you know that my # 1 rule is that when you stop grip fighting, you lose. Plain and simple. The moment you stop grip fighting you will lose the immediate situation at hand. In turn this could cost you the whole match.
Grip fighting can be exhausting. While it can be exhausting on your fore arms I don't even mean so much the physical exhaustion. Grip fighting can be mentally exhausting. You have to stay focused to grip fight. Sometimes I will be grappling with people and they start off putting up a good grip fight but eventually they fade and lose focus. Once that happens they lose.
Having specific systems in place in different positions helps you to be a more efficient grip fighter. Here I am going to show you one way I like to grip fight from the top guard.
You can apply grip fighting strategies like this in every position or situation. I once did a special 90 minute workshop just on grip fighting strategies for my students and it made a HUGE difference in the WHOLE feel and level of their game when I would grapple with them afterward. If you are not currently focused on the intent of grip fighting and grip fighting strategies, you need to start implementing it NOW!