What was different this time around?

• Started to invest in some Jiu-jitsu podcasts and books
• Signed up for BOTH no Gi and Gi.
• Inspiring moments

Podcast/Books

No Gi Bracket (3 Fighters)

No Gi bout caught me off guard as the time for it switched to closer than on time. I didn’t have much time to stretch or warm up so I was high-strung but it might have been to my advantage.

No Gi Bout 1

My opponent looked very intimidating but skills always triumph as well as having Coach in my corner (he didn’t have a Coach – I know how that feels based on my 1^st competition .

No Gi Bout 2 – Round 1 + Overtime

“Won by decision” in the second bout meaning we tied 2-2 but the ref said I won (Cool, new experience).

Gi Bracket (3 Fighters)

Should have made use of the downtime. Was stalling too much and I think also was in a cooldown phase after the unexpected adrenaline showdown from being caught off guard before a match in the first No Gi bout. Or maybe I was tired from those two bouts. Now I understand that there’s some strategy in pacing myself throughout the competition.

Gi Bout 1

Gi Bout 2

Inspiration Aftermath

My Coach shared a voice message from my first opponent in No Gi taking the time to show respect to me, Coach, and the Academy. Much thanks to coach and thankful for the opportunity to represent my Academy!

One of my close friends of 10+ years took out time in his busy schedule with a newborn and all to come watch me. He kept his word and came. He couldn’t stay for my Gi matches but still came for support! He told me how inspired he was while watching me and how it made him want to practice Jiu-jitsu.

It was awesome to watch and cheer on my teammates who I’ve been training for the past 6 months. Seeing them compete too was a great end and test. One of my teammate said it was fun watching me fight. A lot of sweat and hours was poured on the mats and seeing them compete for the first time as White Belts and comrades was a special moment…

Till’ next time,

Ossu!

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1. The Ability to Use Visualization for Jiu-Jitsu
2. Learning from Other Coaches and Sources
3. Making a Decision to Compete
4. Conclusion

This is a continuation post after 3rd Month of Learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Growth Recap and My First Time at a Jiu-Jitsu Event (IBJJF) as a Spectator.

The Ability to Use Visualization for Jiu-Jitsu

You’ve heard the term shadow boxing before when someone train by themselves – throwing punches in the air fighting against an imaginary opponent. In similar I noticed that I was able to adequately imagine the execution of different techniques in detail as I close my eyes for Jiu-jitsu.

Visualization is common in sports and success. I still remember the time my Cross-Country coach told the whole team to shut our eyes and visualize running our 5K District Cross-Country race mile to mile.

I couldn’t visualize in such details before but I believe all the time in beginner’s class for intricate instructions while going through the motion physically has allowed me to visualize better. It’s a mind and body connection and I felt that this ability to visualize is as fun as it is productive and can be done anywhere and anytime.

Memory and drilling is important to retain knowledge absorbed in learning Jiu-jitsu to be able to execute the proper techniques on demand or when under pressure.

Learning from Other Coaches and Sources

Furthermore, I started to seek out other sources online. I would follow BJJ or combat related profiles so when I open my social media my news feed would consists of snippets of awesome techniques.

Before when I started BJJ, there was a lot that I didn’t know and so I just wanted to focus on one source – the classes offered at my martial arts school, but ever since I started blogging and kind of doing some extra homework on the side it allows me to also refresh my memory of what I learnt.

On the topic of memory, watching videos on particular techniques is a type of mind training in itself which aids into the ability to use visualization.

By other sources I also mean learning from other fighters I have not met before or receiving instructions from another coach (Gi classes) within the same school.

Making a Decision to Compete

After my first time at a Jiu-jitsu event as a spectator, I felt ready to test my skills. I had saw how aggressive the opponents were in competition. Coincidently Coach taught us a Portuguese term, “parrada” meaning; “Go hard!”

So in my 4^th month as a beginner in BJJ, I signed up for my first competition giving me a month to prepare mentally and physically.

I decided to focus mainly on Gi because for me going between Gi and No Gi class confuses me. I wanted to be selective in order to be effective.  Coach also recently hired new coaches (more Gi classes) so I saw a great opportunity to hop on and train Gi for five days a week.

I pretty much went from rolling no Gi often to switching over to rolling in Gi often. Doing Gi five days a week did take a toll in particular to my biceps. I think it was because my training partners weight about 20 lbs more and so my arms felt shot for a couple days a week.

Conclusion

Overall, I believe my knowledge of BJJ has expanded through doing extra homework outside and inside of class. The decision to compete allowed me to set my eyes on a goal to work towards which also made me a more dedicated student of Jiu-jitsu. It’s this fire of enthusiasm and love of learning the art. It’s the building upon knowledge like laying brick after brick as a foundation but for BJJ. It’s the constant growth, challenge, and community that keeps this fire burning within.

Ossu!

*On a side note, I’m still amaze at how much slimmer I’ve gotten. I thought I was already slim and fit but training BJJ/working out has gotten me even slimmer as my pants felt loose without a belt. I went from 7% body fat to 5% body fat in my 5^th month.

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I went on Day 1 out of a 4 Day event. There weren’t that many people as I expected. There were booths in the outer the arena selling acai bowls and BJJ rash guards. There was also the podium for Top 3.

Inside the arena there were about 10 mats total with 5 on each side. Judges wore black suits and masks while the competitors who were blue belts wore rash guards that were blue/black. It was a cool sight to see as there were many different variations of shirts and pants in blue and black. At the time of my visit that morning it was all men competing. I have yet to watch a bout between two female BJJ gals nor children live.

Two final things that I noticed was for one, distinct cauliflower ears and two that the competitors were very aggressive. Some fights had no one cheering for the fighters whereas in other fights, the winner had a whole team to root them on.

Sadly, I did not spend a lot of time at the event nor multiple days because I had other plans and it would have costed a ridiculous amount just to watch with $15/day parking and $17/day passes. Not being able to bring in snacks or water at the gate sort of killed my excited vibe, plus it was COLD – maybe it was just this venue that had tightened up their security as there were shootings here in the past.

Takeaways

– Attending as a spectator at IBJJF sort of calm down my nerves in preparation if I were to attend a competition to fight. I wanted to get a feel for a fight and whether I should compete or not. I didn’t feel like I was ready at the time because I wasn’t “winning” at my home gym.

– The guys there were really aggressive and held nothing back.

– I need to look up the rules and point systems.

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Greetings! Welcome back to bjjears.com. I was compelled to write a follow up to 2nd Month of Learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Growth Recap. As you can see in the table of contents below, this article will focus more on the “outer” aspects than the 2nd month recap which was about adapting to learning and acquiring BJJ instructions. We will discuss about the importance of regular attendance, opportunities, what community means for BJJ guys and gals.

Table of Contents

1. Attendance
2. New Opportunities
3. Sense of Community

Automatic Attendance Habit for BJJ Classes

It takes 18-254 days to create a habit and 66 days (two months) on average for a new habit to become automatic. Interestingly enough this seems to be true from my experience. Coming onto the third month is like a speed bump; People fall off during around this time if they haven’t maintained the habit of going to class regularly for two months. A couple of faces I would see in the beginning either dropped out and stop showing up or they showed up only once in a while.

I myself have also missed a couple of classes and felt inconsistent in attendance at times due to outside forces such as invites from friends, visiting family or personal reasons.

The thing that makes me keep on going back though is that for the most part I look forward to going to BJJ class or Muy Thai class because I enjoy learning it and am at awe many times when I am in class absorbing new information. It is also good to relearn things as it makes it easier to stick in memory.

Opportunities Opens Up

What I mean by opportunities are that there were competition and sparing with another school available. There’s actually one really big event coming up in October that I have yet to buy tickets for but the competition is only for blue belts and up (recently got my 2^nd strip as a white belt). I wasn’t ready for any of these opportunities nor had time to prep for these events.

The BJJ school that I go to also teaches Muy Thai and some Judo. We started to practice knees and elbows so that was new. Also, I learned two Judo throws one called the Uchi Mara. It is just so cool and satisfying to throw someone I can’t explain it. I would prefer to learn to throw someone rather learn takedowns which in my opinion leaves me too vulnerable to being attacked or injured 😊.  

BJJ Community Immersion

No longer a stranger I felt that I could call this school a community. I’m not from this town and these are the folks that I get to spend time with while learning this amazing self-defense art.

What is a community? To me it is a team, a family, a brotherhood, and sisterhood. A place to learn, grow, have fun, and socialize.

Here is a list of things that makes it feel like a community:

• People would volunteer to bring crates of water bottle to class
• There’s opportunity to help work on the new school location
• There’s opportunity to help teach the kids class
• We have a group text
• Everyone is humble and respectful towards one another
• Coach would personally reach out through the phone to check up on me
• Coach would host extra classes on the weekends
• Coach would host events outside of class

I would have to thank my Coach for creating this amazing BJJ community.

Conclusion

For my 3rd month of BJJ, my BJJ skills improved drastically compared to month one or two – in particular I am more confident in the arm-bar, triangle choke, and defense. All of this wouldn’t be possible if I did not belong to this great BJJ community that I repeatedly come back to.

Ossu!

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Jiu-jitsu (Jujutsu or Ju-Jitsu) was used during the time of the Samurai in Japan. It was a form of close combat self-defense used against armored warriors. These techniques consist of pins, throws, join locks and the use of a knife.

What is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was the adaptation of Jiu-Jitsu by the Gracie brothers. The Brazilians made it their own in particular with the addition of ground fighting techniques such as fighting from the guard position.

Key Figures in the History Who Shaped Jiu-Jitsu

Jigoro Kano

Jigoro Kano was the founder of Judo or “the gentle way” who basically comprised and saved jiu-jitsu from extinction when Japan became westernized. The days of the samurai was over and so there was not a need for jiu-jitsu but Jigoro Kano learned and sought out teachers of the art. At the time Judo and Jiu-Jitsu were used interchangeably. There were more emphasis on throws and locks than the modern day Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu of ground fighting. Judo became Japan’s international sport.

Sada Miyako

Sada Miyako was the first to bring Jiu-Jitsu to Brazil. He performed matches in circus. He lost to a well-known Capoeira fighter. But the wave of Jiu-Jitsu did not catch on.

Mitsuyo Maeda

Mitsuyo Maeda or Conde Koma or “Count Combat” was a prizefighter who traveled internationally to spread Judo or Jiu-Jitsu in many countries. He was one of Jigoro Kano’s top students. Maeda eventually settled in Brazil where he started teaching Jiu-Jitsu to the public. He taught Carlos Gracie for three years. At the time, Maeda did not use the term Judo so the art was known as Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil. Also Maeda did not use any belt ranking structure – one would assume he did not try to follow the Kano lineage when he started his Jiu-Jitsu school. Maeda also knows how to fight without a kimino or gi which was commonly worn during practice. Without Maeda, Jiu-Jitsu would not have a strong foundation in Brazil.

The Gracie Brothers

There were five Gracie brothers who practiced Jiu-Jitsu. Carlos Gracie as mentioned above handled the business side while Helio Gracie fought and challenge many fighters from boxers, wrestlers, to capoeira often winning their matches. The Gracie brothers also challenged other Japanese Jiu-Jitsu fighters (there were many Japanese immigrants to Brazil) mostly ending in draws. The Japanese Jiu-Jitsu fighters would have the upper hand when it comes to throwing the Brazilian Gracie brothers but the Gracies adapted to ground fighting. The Gracies invented “the Guard.” This is where Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu became drastically different than Japanese Judo/Jiu-Jitsu with its emphasis on ground fighting. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu became Brazil’s international sport. This is the popular Gracie family name you hear often in modern day.

Masahiko Kimura

Masahiko Kimura also practiced under Jigoro Kano’s lineage. He was one of top fighters and immigrants to Brazil. Helio Gracie had a determination to challenge the best fighters so he sought out to face Kimura. Helio had to face a disciple of Kimura, Yukio Kato before he was allowed to fight Kimura. After winning his bout with Yukio Helio versus Kimura was a widely publicized Jiu-Jitsu event. Kimura won with a joint arm lock (called the “Kimura”) against Helio. Helio retired after his fight with Kimura. The significance of this story is this matched increased the popularity of Jiu-Jitsu and where the joint lock name “Kimura” originated.

Oswoldo Fadda

Oswoldo Fadda was a student who practiced under Mitsuyo Maeda (Japanese who taught Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil). Fadda opened his own Jiu-Jitsu school which became a rival school against the Gracies. Fadda stepped up to the challenge against the Gracies. Although it was reportedly a draw – some say Fadda’s students were decisively the victor. His students were specialized in the straight ankle joint lock. Fadda is worth mentioning because the Gracies were not the only prominent Jiu-Jitsu school around. The Gracies did however had a remarkable public relation and business marketing display of its brand thanks to Carlos Gracie and Helio Gracie.

Conclusion

I find it fascinating that the founder of Judo, Jigoro Kano adapted Jiu-Jitsu from Samurai fighting to civilian-life fighting and how he was frail and weak but made the art work for him. This shift was also displayed by Helio Gracie who was also weak and frail yet he was very deadly in the guard or ground fighting. Both key figures were weak and frail but adapted and revolutionized Jiu-Jitsu for better.

That is one thing you will notice with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. If you practice long enough you will not fear an opponent who’s stronger or heavier than because you have good technical skills.

In a similar light Wing Chug was invented by a Chinese nun. What true warriors who never gave up but turn a “disadvantage” to an advantage.

Ossu!

Resources:

For an awesome YouTube video based on the highlights above check out: Part 1 and Part 2 of The History of Jiu-Jitsu from LateNightStories.

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Hello this is Sa again and I’m back and excited to share with you a recap of my 2nd month of taking upon myself to learn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I started out a complete beginner in grappling and getting choked left and right on the sweaty battle fields of the mat the first month but by the second month I have notice a lot of growth and changes so let’s go!

Table of Contents

1. A. Learning Curve in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
   • Organizing information
   • Building on Knowledge
2. Adapting to Obstacles in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
   • Bicep and Neck Soreness
   • Ear and Mouth Injuries
3. Attainment of a Relaxed Mental Coolness in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
   • Confidence
   • Perspective-Taking

Learning Curve in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Two key takeaways from helping me understand BJJ are labeling and organization of information as well as continue to build on acquired knowledge.

Labeling and Organization of Information

First and foremost, I can remember being the guy who just didn’t have a clue on a lot of things. I didn’t know the terminologies used like; “Get in the the guard!” There were some techniques with no names to them. Also, I’d get a total brain fart when it’s turn to drill in the technique taught as to how to go about executing the move. There’s actually a lot of details involve in BJJ. The beginning stages was not fun whatsoever. Even when some blue belts were giving me some tips on a technique, I’d just nod my head but didn’t get a full grasp of the idea (no pun intended). I heard from a blue belt to just keep going to class everyday like I have been (5 days a week) and I’ll eventually pick it up. Learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu requires patience like any other skill.

What I find that helped me was asking questions in class. I’d asked; “What is that called?” to find out the name of the positions or chokes. It definitely helps to hear coach using layman terms such as “turtle,” “push the pedal,” or “shave his neck” when explaining. In addition, after class I tried to visualize the moves that was taught. And another tip that helped me most was to write down what I had learn and how to execute the move as if I was teaching it with paper and pen, keeping a record in a journal. I would organize what I learn under categories such as chokes, positions, escapes, sweeps, takedowns, etc.

I started to realize that BJJ is a full body art of fighting with intricate details to make some chokes or techniques work. Unlike striking which consists of simply punching or kicking that BJJ required manipulation of a combination of my limbs with minute detail placement. It teaches body and spatial awareness.

Continue to Build on Acquired Knowledge

Because I started to organize BJJ information it made it a lot easier to build upon the knowledge. Every class I would try to come away with a nugget or tip not only learning from Coach but from my sparing partners. It’s definitely a cool community as everyone is giving each other tips even though we are rolling or “fighting” against one another on the mat.

It’s like organizing a puzzle to make a big picture. Once I learn what the name of the positions are I can add upon them to make the pieces fit together. With any subject the foundations are important. In BJJ what I would consider your basic foundations are the terminology which includes different positions then knowing which positions are dominate or not. Follow by how to go from one position to another. Then once you know the different positions you also learn about which chokes you can do in each position. After that you learn how to escape from each position. To build on knowledge be consistent going to class to acquire more knowledge, ask good questions, and roll on the mat for experience.

With the acquired knowledge, building on top of it helped me follow in class instructions easily – I can now see a technique and replicate it in detail.

Adapting to Obstacles in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Soreness and injuries can takeout a BJJ practitioner from practicing the art for the long haul that is why these obstacles need to be in check.

Bicep and Neck Soreness

During my first month of BJJ/Muy Thai there were days where my biceps were so sore yet I stayed back for Muy Thai. I’m talking about biceps being so sored that they felt like deadweight and I couldn’t even keep my hands up for Muy Thai. I learn that my soreness came from me using all my upper body strength because I didn’t know techniques. Imagine being crushed under an elephant and trying to push it off. Even a 12-year-old girl was pinning on top of me and I didn’t know how to get off. Using my full upper body strength not only did not work to get her off me but added to the soreness. But that also goes to show how effective BJJ is on the ground if a 12-year-old can pin me down (I weight about 145lbs).

The solution to bicep soreness is to learn how to “escape” or get out of locks and tough positions. Another tip is to only spar against your weight class.

On top of the bicep soreness was soreness around the neck. It got so sore I sought out a massage therapist. The reason for this soreness is because a lot of the times we are on our back on the ground defending or trying to get on top to a better position. It’s like doing sit-ups constantly without knowing that you are doing sit-ups. Plus, your sparring partner would likely try to choke your neck with the rear naked choke or the guillotine. Since I was a newbie in the first month, I didn’t know that I could simply defend by blocking my neck and tucking in my chin therefore I kept getting my neck squeezed.

Now I only get sore around my neck occasionally and when I do, I don’t force it by staying back for Muy Thai or continue going to class. The bicep soreness stopped because I apply techniques rather than pushing off with muscles. I rest and recover when the neck soreness gets out of hand. Also, during the first month Coach would allow us to pair up with any weight division – this was always an uphill battle for me as one of the few a welter weights amongst a handful of heavy weights. Now he suggests we pair up with our own weight class which makes a big difference in sparing too. This is how I overcome the obstacle dealing with bicep and neck soreness.

Ear and Mouth Injuries

The main injury I received was a hematoma to the ear or cauliflower ear from rolling daily the first month but what really did it was getting a lot into headlocks, triangles, and then face planting ear first onto the mat one day. I will not go into great detail about here but you can read about it in my cauliflower treatment post. In short, I bought materials to drain my cauliflower ear, Caulibuds, and Roar ear guard.

The second injury were incisions to the mouth since I got braces the second month. This was solved with a mouth piece designed for braces. In generally I would highly recommend wearing a mouth piece during sparing because I have had bit my tongue when a partner headbutted me to where I was bleeding. It was painful to eat anything after that and you know you need to be well nourished before any type of exercise… Talking was also excruciatin. A decent mouth guard will also protect your teeth from grinding top to bottom.

Attainment of a Relaxed Mental Coolness in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Last but definitely not least is the attainment of this wonderful state of mind which I called the state of relaxed mental coolness. Maybe the right term could be Zen but what I mean is this sense of calmness under high pressure such as sparing with an aggressive opponent. You know the calmness before the storm like Storm Shadow 😊? In this state I feel relaxed and cool perhaps because I am confident to deal with anything an opponent has to pull out in his arsenal of chokes on the mat. I became aware of my calm and coolness state after rolling with some newcomers who visited the gym.

New Sense of Confidence

I got this new sense of confidence because I have grown so much from the first couple of weeks I came to class. Having been able to apply the techniques learned successfully in class keeps me wanting to learn more and boost my confidence when I can choke my sparring partner or escape from his/her chokes.

It’s the ability to know that I can defend myself with my striking background as well as handle ground fighting by pinning someone down someone if push comes to shove.

It’s the vibe that a fighter gives off as he moves slowly, yet deliberately from one room to the other with head held high and a relaxed shoulder. He has great situational awareness, spatial awareness, and is in full control of his body.

Perspective-Taking

It was not until I started seeing newcomers and sparing with them that I noticed how much they reminded me of myself. They were very frantic like a crazy cockroach trying to make headway to the shadows when lights turn on. They didn’t know how to choke or what to do to get to a dominant position.

I drilled some techniques with someone on his second day compared to myself who have been training for two months and also saw how he behaved like myself in the beginning, missing minute details in executing techniques.

Generally, the newcomers are not used to the high pressure when rolling on the mat. I was like this – I had never done BJJ before and would be very gentle whereas my more experienced training partners would be very aggressive and pretty much man-handled me.  But throughout I started to acquire the sense of aggression and dominance gained by sparing with the more experienced partners. Also, they were very calm and cool dominating top positions and switching positions with ease.

So now when I roll with a blue belt or any belt I smile, breath, flow, and have fun in my relaxed mental coolness state of mind knowing that “everything will be alright” as Bob Marley would say.

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed the recap of the growth that I have attained through training BJJ for two months. As you can see, I love to learn and grow on this journey. It’s definitely a beautiful process from trying something new and then looking back to see how far I have grown.

Do you remember your first time trying out BJJ and then how was that compared to when things started to click?

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