Jiu-jitsu Mindset

A hand shake and a hug, this is how you’ll end your class (at least the handshake, sometimes the hug).

This is the way we end, face to face with a grip and a smile, by acknowledging everyone in class, by recognizing them and appreciating them. This is the way we build brotherhood.

You have just spent the last hour or two trying to conquer your partner, trying to learn and sometimes we bruise our partner’s ego.
But in the end, we are friends, we are family.
This is jiu-jitsu, a simple connection between two people.

The handshake and hug are gestures of our art, they are symbols of our relevance, of our unity.

by Mark Johnson

BJJ Workouts!

I often get asked for advice with regards to conditioning for BJJ.
It can be a really difficult task balancing everything, work, family, training, recreation time, studying...and then still find the time and energy for conditioning outside of Jiu-jitsu.

A lot of routines dont work for the average guy who has a life outside of Jiu-jitsu but still wants to be in as good a condition as possible for Jiu-jitsu (allowing us to get the most out of training, stay injury free and be in shape to compete). Routines often demand too much of our time, time we often just dont have, and also cut heavily into our recovery ability.
While others arent specific to the demands of our sport (for Jiu-jitsu should read - way of life).

Ive been training Jiu-jitsu for going on 14 years now and have always had an interest in physical training, especially for sport and especially Jiu-jitsu.
Ive read, watched, studied, worked with and spoken to a lot of peaople about conditioning and even lecture on an Exercise Science Degree.
But Im a big believer in the concept of Mentorship in self-developement.
Having someone we can turn to for advice and guidance in certain areas of our life.
There are a lot of good strength and conditioning coaches out there now, but only a VERY small handfull with not only the know how but also the experience of designing conditioning routines for, not only Jiu-jitsu athletes but Jiu-jitsu players with "real lives", those who dont have the luxury of training twice a day every day.
But one of the best Ive come across and have been fortunate enough to call "Coach" is Jason C. Brown.

I first came across Coach Jason several years ago when I got a dvd on Kettlebells For Combat Grapplers, which he had done with Zac Evan Esch (another great strength coach!).
I emailed Coach Jason for some training advice and was blown away with the results I achieved, since then he's been my go to Coach for strength and conditioning advice.
Jason has years of experience not only working with both high level Jiu-jitsu athletes and the rest of us, but also training and is a Purple Belt in Jiu-jitsu himself.
Jason is an expert in the field of fitness and conditioning training and a really good person.
I cant recomend Coach Jason C. Brown highly enough, (thats why I turn to him for advice :-) ).
His sight BJJWORKOUTS.COM which has a link here on my site is a great source for training information and advice, he also offers a couple of awesome products such as his new online programs KETTLEBELL TRAINING FOR BJJ 2.0, Expert Program Critique coaching by email and his new product with Brown Belt Josh Vogel LEVERAGE: FIRST BLOOD.

Leverage:First Blood is awesome! Although aimed at people fairly early on in their BJJ careers, I believe it's focus on the FUNDAMENTALS of Jiu-jitsu AND conditioning make it a great product for everyone.
Fundamentals are the core concepts, the basics behind everything we do in Jiu-jitsu and are the things that the high level guys have mastered and allow them to do the amazing things they do on the mat.
They are our foundation!

Ive spent a lot of money over the years on both Jiu-jitsu and conditioning tuition and instructional material and this is, in my opinion, a definate must.
There is a link to both Coach Jasons BJJ Workouts site and the Leverage program on my blog page where you will be able to get lots more info about him and the programs.

Check them out, train hard and train smart.
Have a good weekend
Micah

Self Confidence...

One of the Jiu-jitsu players I admire most, and was tanks to my mate Jimmy, fortunate enough to meet and train with briefly is Fernando "Tererê" Augusto da Silva.

I recently re-watched his 2003 JIU-JITSU WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP match against Marcelo Garcia who was rapidly establishing himself as one of the new pound-for-pound best Jiu-jitsu players in the world.
A lot of people expected him to beat Terere' but Terere' went onto dominate Marcelo, pass his guard and submit him with a triangle.
In this match you can see he’s really confident; afterwards you can see him go off celebrating and saying, ‘I told you! I told you I’d get him.’

This match for me always serves to remind me of the importance of believing in yourself. Having confidence in yourself makes a big difference.

A Secret To Success in Jiu-Jitsu

“The key to success is to keep turning up.” Brian Houstan (Hillsong church).

WINNERS TRAIN...LOSERS COMPLAIN...

It's an old saying but at the start of a new year it's time to evaluate your training and decide what aspects of your game need work. Have you got a gameplan drawn up yet that you are working on? Are you happy with your flexibility, your conditioning, your passing, top game, bottom game, escapes?
What do you plan to do about it?
Are you going to commit to getting on the mat as often as possible? I know this is tough sometimes, working a full time job, kids, relationships... but you have to ask what it means to you, commit to a training routine you can maintain yet still make progress and stick with it.
WINNERS TRAIN...LOSERS COMPLAIN...and make excuses.

Happy New Year
Train Hard

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL FRIENDS AND FAMILY!
GOD BLESS.

the mind is the best weapon

I was talking to one of the guys in class the other day telling him I want him to focus more on finishing his opponents in class.
I believe Jiu-Jitsu is as much mental as it is physical.
I try emphasize this in my classes.
I think if you lack a focus in your training you will only go so far. And conditioning your mind is as important as your body.
He responded with something very interesting. He told me that he thinks he has issues with the finish because when he gets close he lets go. He explained that he has a mental block that hits him right before he goes for the finish. He continued saying that he feels if he sets his mind to finish and misses it he will experience a blow to his psyche.

This reminds me of some students that hold up the wall. When some students get tired they sit against the wall. Many times they complain about being out of shape. And I respond by reminding them the best way to stay out of shape is to stay on the wall.

It is the same with the mind. If you allow mental blocks to control the finish, you will rarely get there. But if you break through them you will strengthen your abilities beyond expectation.