BJJ “Light” Training

I think we all have experienced this, and have been guilty of it, especially at a lower belt: the promise to train light, to just flow and take it easy… And then BAM! Next thing you know, you and your partner are training hard, possibly even harder than if you two hadn’t mentioned anything about going light.

It’s most likely to happen with someone of close or equal skill. And most, if not really all of the time it’s unintentional. I think part of it has to do with one another’s expectation of what light training means- there needs to be the understanding that yes, you will probably have a more opportunity to sweep and move around, but if you are playing a slower, less outright defensive game that also means you are at greater risk of being the one swept, etc. I think sometimes the problem lies in being so absorbed in successfully executing something that we start to work hard on it, and that changes the nature of the training session.

I’ve actually for the most part stopped telling the other person if I want to go light and I just sort of do it. If they want to go harder, so be it. If they want to match my pace, that’s also their choice. If the other person suggests it I’ll definitely go along and work to match their pace.

Anyone else experience this? Anyone else want to own up to going harder than they meant to when someone wanted to go light?

The Importance of Having Women In Jiu Jitsu

While I don’t exactly agree with the tactics used in order to get them to join, I do believe it’s pretty crucial for academies to encourage women to train in jiu jitsu.

Actually, I feel like you need to have a good mix of people in general for a successful academy. But women are important to have training I feel for the following reasons:

1. It’s an opportunity to see the essence of jiu jitsu- watching a smaller, presumably weaker person against a heavier opponent. it also should force force those who train with women to be more technical. That’s what we’re all told, right? All of this was created with the smaller, weaker person in mind- technique over strength? Well now students have a chance to see these principles in motion, and better yet an opportunity to become more technical themselves. Granted, that’s not always the case: I’ve trained with plenty of girls who would much prefer to smash and use strength, but as it’s been pointed out, due to their size and muscle composition more often than not women are forced to be more technical.

2. I’m sure this is going to win me no favors in the jiu jitsu community and I hate to play into stereotypes, but we’re all adults here so I’m just going to say it: I feel like when you see a woman in an academy, or multiple women there is an image then that the academy is one that can be accepting of all types of men and women, a place of respect and a (somewhat) willingness to be accommodating. While I will be the first to admit that not all that glitters is gold and looks can definitely be deceiving, but let’s say you are Mr. Joe Average, wife, two kids, 9-5 job: you want to get fit and you abhor the idea of running on a treadmill. You hear about this thing called jiu jitsu and want to give it a try- what academy would you, a newbie, be more willing to attend? One with a bunch of 6 foot, 200+ pound dudes or the academy down the street that may have those huge dudes but also a couple of chicks in the mix? Personally as a woman I would go for the latter. I would think many guys would make the same choice, and not for creepy reasons. You’ll have people who would opt for the first academy, but I feel that is such a smaller group of people and really gives you a narrow customer base to work with.

3. And let’s be real, it’s better for the school owner’s profit margin- it makes absolutely no sense to ignore half of your potential customer base, in relation to the previous point. As much as we all love the sport, for many it’s also their livelihood. Again, there are some dudes who would be totally into the “boys club” sort of MMA/jiu jitsu gym, but that’s such a smaller pool of people to work with, you’re alienating potential customers and that’s money you are essentially letting walk out of the door.

So, in reference to the beginning, why don’t I agree with gym fees being waived, or discounts being given to women to take Jiu jitsu classes? Personally I don’t think it’s necessary- maybe i’m just nutty (just a little) but to me it shows a lack of faith from the instructor that they can impart that love and same amount of passion for the sport as they can to their male students. If the program is good, if the atmosphere and culture make women feel respected and welcome, it should stand on its own. At most, if the instructor is that worried about women rolling with guys he should sit them down for a talk and go over appropriate conduct when rolling with women.

And also in total honesty, even if academies do everything right, some women won’t stay, just like guys quit Jiu jitsu. It happens- the academy may be doing everything right and it’s just a scheduling conflict, or life events that keep someone, male or female from continuing in the sport. But, with a respectful, positive atmosphere I really feel academies can invite, and keep women in their Jiu jitsu programs, which is beneficial for the academy and sport as a whole.

Finding a Balance: Heavenly Footlock Fundraiser Results!

I’m seeing a lot of the dark side of the jiu jitsu community happen on the internet, not going to lie, it’s a little disheartening. So in an effort to focus on the good in the jiu jitsu community, I’m focusing on the super awesome fundraiser efforts of BJJHQ and Meerkatsu, who raised over $9,000 total through the sale of the Heavenly Footlock t-shirt. Which looks totally kickass BTW. Great job guys!

Forgot to get a t-shirt but still would like to do something? Meerkatsu is also pledging to grapple for 6 hours at a 24 hr grappling marathon, the same one slideyfoot is doing, to raise funds for Rape Crisis in the UK. So I urge anyone and everyone who may have just a little extra cash to throw some their way for a great cause.

Jiu Jitsu and Lady Parts

So Julia has a post about ladies, that time of the month, and jiu jitsu.

It’s a little awkward to write about, but it’s also a topic that I have been approached about a couple of times in the locker room actually, and even on the mat, as there are women who are very concerned about what to do in such a full contact sport. I am really trying to keep this mature and as possible, but just warning this may near dangerously close to the light hearted and almost silly. Mainly because as stressed as a lot of white belt jiu jitsu women worry about it, it’s really not a huge deal.

And for guys who are confused about this and wonder why women don’t seem to have this part of their bodies under control, ask yourself the same question the next time you get an unexpected erection in the middle of the day. Our bodies are a teeming mass of hormones that tends to run on a fairly regular schedule and react to a predictable set of responses, but there are times when the whole system seems to go haywire due to unexpected circumstances, such as a hiccup in hormones due to stressors, general health or environmental factors. The body is just that, a body; a group of organs that (other than the brain obviously) doesn’t understand not doing something due to social context. Just like sweating or blinking or several other functions.  And if you can stop sweating on command congratulations I wish you the best of luck with your superpower. Please use it for good, not evil.

Anyway, my first response is: don’t worry, you’ll be fine.  If you realize something is amiss, ask your teacher to use the bathroom according to whatever protocol your academy has, and I image they will let you go. Some have been touting the Diva cup, multi product/combo use has also been suggested, and I say it’s never a bad idea to keep some products in your locker or bag, for both yourself and that inevitable day someone asks for something. Really,  in all the time that I have trained, there has only been one occasion when someone needed to change their gi pants: it was a guy (the instructor actually) who caught it, didn’t make a big deal out of it and mentioned that she should go to the bathroom. That’s it. Didn’t bring extra pants? Not always, but some students have extra uniform parts in their lockers, and academies sometimes keep “loaner gi’s” for prospects receiving an introductory introductory session with jiu jitsu. See if your academy has loaner gi’s as well, and if the occasion ever arises, clean yourself up, ask to borrow some loaner gi pants and make sure to take the pants home, wash them, and return them to the loaner gi collection. Not something that should be abused, but a possible last resort depending on how early on you are in the class.

If you are hesitant about going to class during that week, I would say attend. I agree with Julia that BJJ helps with cramps, but I have to admit sometimes I have skipped class due to a bone-tired feeling I seem to get early on sometimes. Do try to make it in, because you’ll be glad you did more often than not, but don’t force yourself if you know in your heart of hearts that you just want to play hooky for a day. More than a day I would say take your pain reliever of choice (such as Tylenol or Advil), try to make it in and roll around. You may be surprised at how much better you feel.

For other tips check out her post, and they also seem to have a pretty good discussion going on in the comments.

(Intentionally) Stuck Between a Rock and a Bad Place

You know, fancy sweeps and smooth transitions are fantastic and all, but sometimes you need to get stuck into a bad place. It’s necessary for development: it sucks like crazy, but again they are necessary. Things won’t always go the way you expect them to, because that’s the nature of jiu jitsu: when you attack, there is a high chance that you are leaving something vulnerable. It’s a necessary risk that is taken. We always hope for a positive outcome to our risk, but sometimes the dice comes up snake eyes and the cards aren’t in our favor.

At our academy we tend to do positional training in both positions: the good and the bad, giving each partner something to work on.

Because sometimes it’s good to get yourself stuck between a rock and a bad place.

Counter to Berimbolo, Courtesy of DSTRYRsg

Hey, there’s a counter to the Berimbolo I can totally do! As long as I can also chant “light as a feather, stiff as a board.”

Check it out! 

Slideyfoot’s Marathon, Gas masks and MMA Training

Quick little blurb I just want to put out: Slideyfoot is fundraising for a Grappling marathon for Rape Crisis (England& Wales) and you should definitely donate something. Anything.

Secondly, not that I’m planning on training with a gas mask anytime soon, but I’m watching a video about MMA Training and the effectiveness of using a gas mask. Check it out:

 

The Scary World of Workout Supplements

So, when I first read about the IBJJF testing for steroids and immediately went to the Anti-Doping Agency’s website to see if caffeine was a prohibited substance (whatever, it was a legitimate concern), there was a video on site with an athlete who warned against illegal substances in supplements. And at first I scoffed a bit. I thought it was a rare event, if possible at all.

After reading this article on the death of soldiers who used the supplement Jack3d though, I’m not so sure. I knew the FDA rules were more lax when it came to supplements, but jesus, this is ridiculous. I know everyone is all about the brand new product to train harder, faster, stronger and all but there needs to be some testing done, and maybe a few more rules when it comes to the regulation of the ingredients that are put into these supplements.

And to put it crudely, it’s hard to sell a product to someone who’s dead.

 

Oldies but Goodies

While jiu jitsu is still evolving, and there are new guards, submissions and positions it feels like every couple of months,  it’s nice sometimes to see a “blast from the past” so to speak- an old technique that’s like that you loved and for some reason or another moved away from. It’s like that song you used to play all the time, stop listening to for a couple of years and then hear on the radio again. You may not remember every single word, every nuance, but everything has a warm, familiar ring to it and tends to bring back memories. Some probably good, some probably a little frustrating, but that’s part of the whole process, and advancing in rank.

Tonight’s Oldies but goodies were some sweeps from x-guard- have you gone through any techniques you would consider an old friend you were re-acquainted with recently?

Grappling Time is Sacred Time

I have to admit, I just may be a little bit of a workaholic. When I have a task to complete at work, I get super committed to getting it done. Which is good for my boss, which usually is good for me too. But, there is one time of the day where I refuse to pick up my phone, answer emails, or do anything work related.

And that, my friends, is grappling time.

As I have mentioned before, jiu jitsu is a great stress reliever, sort of my “reset” button after stressing out about the day. Which happens to all of us, of course. But there has to be a time in everyone’s day where they take a break, relax and get away from whatever was stressing them out. Granted, it’s a very rare occasion that I will pick up any work after jiu jitsu, but there have been a few occasions when something required my attention right up to class time.

Then it’s no can-do, friendo. Granted, I’m not a neurosurgeon, firefighter or brand new mother, so I can put these sorts of rules into place for my schedule.

People occasionally have commented how surprised they are that I have the discipline to maintain this schedule, but that’s not it: just like you take the time to brush your teeth in the morning because it’s good for your teeth, I take class because it’s good for my body, and mind.

Anyone else set these boundaries for themselves when it comes to class/training time? Does it work particularly well for you? Let me know!