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17 Things I Learned as a Blue Belt In BJJ

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blue belt and purple belts

17 Things I Learned as a Blue Belt in BJJ

After nearly six years on this journey, I recently celebrated my graduation from blue belt in BJJ to purple . I wrote a similar post a few years back, entitled 49 Things I Learned as a White Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I believe it helped a few people in their journeys as this was one of the most popular in my blog’s history. I hope to do the same with this post. Here are the things I learned as a blue belt in BJJ.

I am learning how to breathe. This is one thing I have noticed among the great ones in BJJ. At a JJ Machado seminar, I watched him roll with countless guys one after the other, and was absolutely amazed at his stamina. I started to hear his breath, and it was amazingly deep and slow. I then realised how he did it. You hear Rickson Gracie breathe the same way when he trains, and when I trained with Saulo Ribeiro, the same breathing pattern was unmistakeable. I have taken yoga about as long as I have taken BJJ and they get the same result and relief from very uncomfortable positions using the focus on breath. As a wrestler in high school, I used to gas out. I always chalked it up to a lack of stamina. But in a rolling session as a white belt, a black belt told me “Matt, you are not breathing, you are holding your breath”. It really hit me like a ton of bricks, and from then on, my game changed for the better. I am finally learning how to breathe when rolling, and it’s paying big dividends. I am not getting gassed out like I used to. The video below, illustrates Rickson Gracie’s use of yoga and breathing, and are a big reason why he became a legend in BJJ.

I am learning how to relax. Being an ex-wrestler I always thought the game was about strength, and work rate, but this is counterintuitive in BJJ. I learned “flow rolling” from Andrew Nerlich, a black belt with whom I train. The benefit of this style is that instead of getting locked up in one or two positions throughout the roll, you can see literally dozens of situations, in which you can try your escapes, defences, or attacks. Since your opponent is not resisting 100 percent, this combines the best elements of drilling and rolling. And it is fun! To an outsider or white belt, it really shows the skill and mastery of the techniques. As I am learning to relax, I am starting to look for mistakes my opponent’s make. The inexperienced will make them. The experienced will look for my mistakes.

I am starting to chain attacks and defences. I have found a few submissions that suit my game. But this can hinder your progress if you rely only on those, and you will become predictable. I have found that having a few backup submissions that feed off my favourites can pay big dividends. Whenever I find a new submission that works well for me, I constantly look for related submissions. The same can be true of escapes, depending on your opponents’s reactions. The higher belts have mastered this, and it is why they always seem “one step ahead” of you. This is not magic, it is the fact that they have been in this position and dealt with it dozens of times more than you have.

I am learning the importance of pressure. This is how a 150-pounder feels like a 200-pounder when they are on top of you in side control. By keeping nothing other than your feet on the ground, you are learning how to make your opponent tired by carrying your weight. It also makes you realise how important all those hip escapes are that we endlessly drill. You need to create space, when on the bottom.

Defences and escapes are key. As the great Saulo Ribeiro said, white is the belt of survival. Blue is the belt of escapes and defences against the worst positions and submissions, and I have focused a lot on this. You can never comfortably attack if you have no confidence in your ability to defend, as you will never take a chance of losing position. Embrace the bad positions and see it as a challenge to work your escapes and defences. You are learning to threaten your opponents to get them to back off on gaining a superior position or trying to submit you. Many times all you need is one hand attacking the collar and they know they cannot let you get the other hand in. For example, as they are trying to pass your guard, threaten the cross collar choke or baseball bat choke.

I am losing the fear of rolling with the beasts. I am learning how valuable it is to roll with a variety of people, and especially the importance of rolling with really good grapplers. There are always some guys who you cannot really threaten, and they will go light and “coach” you as you go along. Seek these guys out as often as possible for rolling. They will be flattered when you start using moves they showed you when you roll.

I am learning the value of mastering a few moves at a time. When I find something that suits my game, I recognise it immediately. I begin drilling it heavily and this is way better than knowing a lot of techniques without any real understanding of them. I look for the opponents reactions to these moves once I master them, then adapt them further.

I am learning how to be comfortable in most positions. Although I see the wisdom in keeping it simple, I have learned that you need at least two or three “go to” techniques from each position. This is so you will never really end up in “unchartered territory”. There is nothing more frustrating than having no answer to an attack without any idea of a response. I make it my business to find at least a few good moves in any possible position. This is also how you stay one step ahead.

You must specialise in something. For me, it was sweeps. I saw the value of being able to quickly reverse the positions without the effort of passing a guard. Sweeps are also extremely valuable to get a heavier person off of you. I made it my business to learn every sweep I could, but master about 5 or 6 really well.

I am learning to use my feet like hands. It is said that you must learn this as a purple belt. It is never too early to begin. I can really see the wisdom in this as you need all weapons at your disposal, and especially since your legs are stronger by far than your arms. But it is easier said than done. How can you force yourself to do this? For me, it was simple. I focused on the positions, like bottom half guard and butterfly guard that rely on using your hooks. This has started finding its way into other areas of my game, which has created a positive result.

You must be proactive in every position. For instance, in half guard bottom—don’t get flattened, stay on side, prevent cross face, prevent under hook. Start attacking from this position. Sweep, take back, or submit. I start working it as soon as my opponent has transitioned into the position and before they have had a chance to “relax” in it.

Your instructor does not expect you to be his or her protege. What works for them could be completely different than what works for you, depending on body style and attributes. You are starting to develop a game of your own. Your body style, athleticism, coaching, and background all play a role in this. Don’t fight it and don’t copycat others. Your game is unique. But all things being equal, I prefer to learn from a smaller instructor, as they have to be more technical.

Find a way to train solo. For me, a grappling dummy was the best investment I ever made in my game. In a matter of months my half guard bottom, sweeps, and submissions from all positions improved dramatically. If I was injured, I just used the other side of the body and learned to become ambidextrous more quickly.

The ego is finally being conquered. By the time you have reached high level blue, you have literally tapped dozens BUT have been submitted by hundreds. You have learned to not make a big deal out of it when you tap someone, but have embraced getting tapped, as it is the quickest way to progress. I make it a point to ask the higher belts how they got that submission on me. Only the most selfish refuse to tell me. As well, I have learned many things from white belts, as I am open to everyone’s wisdom. At this level, you will start tapping white belts, even if they are very strong, and some lower level blue belts pretty regularly, if you relax, and let them either gas out or make mistakes. They will usually do one or the other.

I am learning the power of yoga. As I mentioned above, I have been doing yoga as long as BJJ. It has kept me relatively injury free for two important reasons. My range of motion is better and I am learning to be comfortable in bad positions. Without it, you are more likely to get submitted and more likely to get hurt. It helps balance, strength, and especially breathing. 

I am learning that you must take responsibility for your own success. BJJ guys and girls really are the coolest in the world. They love helping other BJJ people out with anything and this art attracts the best people. But you must take responsibility for your progression. No one is going to take you aside and say “I am going to make you a better grappler” or “I am going to find your weaknesses and strengthen them”.  This is especially true with regards to your diet and lifestyle. You must take responsibility for it.

I am learning to love giving it back. My instructors and higher ranks have given so much to me. I now feel an obligation to help the newer students, just as there were so many who helped me. I love the opportunity to teach, and it really helps me learn the game so much better by teaching its principles.

I preface all the above with “I am learning”, because even as a purple belt, I am still learning these principles, and will never master them fully. That is what I love about this art. What did you learn as a blue belt in BJJ?

A Hidden Benefit of BJJ and Yoga That You May Have Missed

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Learning how to escape an uncomfortable position

Professor Rodrigo Antunes shows how to escape from an uncomfortable position, a very important skill in BJJ

I laid down on the cold table in my hospital gown that never quite covered the rear end (who designed those silly things anyway?). I felt a wave of panic when the MRI technician said “you need to stay still for twenty minutes”. Ha! How could I move? They strapped my legs and midsection onto the table and told me to draw my arms in tight to my body. As the sliding table moved me into the tight-fitting tube, I knew how the Viet Cong felt when they entered the tunnels of South Vietnam back in the Sixties. My arms felt the cool sides of the tube as it seemed to close in around me, and I knew this was going to be a long twenty minutes.

Claustrophobia in Rio!

But wait a second, I thought…. I have been here before. That first trip to Rio I rolled with black and brown belts. They were very good at holding me in the mounted position. I struggled in the muggy tropical heat not only to escape, but also to breathe. I looked up at the timer and thought to myself, “how am I going to last five more minutes pinned under this 210-pounder with my mouth covered by his sweat-soaked gi? Why did I take up this silly sport? People come to Rio for the sun, surf, pretty women, and relaxation, not this!

Taking myself into the breath

I slowly learned not to panic, and that sooner or later I would either get out (in many cases, I think they felt sorry for me, and let me escape) or tap to their submission. Either way, I learned, I would survive. Life goes on. I learned to breathe slowly, especially the exhales, and turn more onto my side to create space. I built a frame over my chest with my arms to make even more space. The process soon became a mental game as I moved from one escape attempt to another, depending on my opponent’s reaction. Focusing my energy and thoughts on the process of escape reduced the feelings of panic whenever I was trapped under someone.

Back to the MRI

They gave me headphones so I could listen to music during the procedure and a panic button to push, but as the loud thumping of the machine started, I realised the headphones did not work and I was alone in my thoughts…my thoughts! How did prisoners of war handle the feelings of aloneness, panic, and claustrophobia? How did they calm their minds in times of stress? They played mental chess against imaginary opponents, they performed mathematical equations, they wrote music, they recited poetry, all in their minds. It kept them sane.

Human chess

I started to breathe deeply, just as I was taught in yoga and BJJ. Long exhales, shorter inhales, I took myself into my breath. I began to play human chess. I was caught in a vice-like closed guard and I had to fight my way out of it. I replayed four ways of passing the guard, that Leonardo Xavier showed me. I broke them down into the finest details I knew. I pretended to demonstrate the process to my students, narrating as I went along. Once I passed the guard, I imagined myself in side control, but quickly was swept and ended up in mounted position. I then had to escape. In my mind I went through the step-by-step process of the elbow-knee escape, upa, combination of the two, foot drag, bench press, and two other really cool escapes, one that Eliot Kelly showed me which ended in half guard to sweep, and another that Rodrigo Antunes demonstrated, ending up with me taking a footlock! I managed to free myself from bottom side control in four different ways, including a stiff-arm escape from Henry Cho. As I escaped from bottom half guard using a nifty move from Owen Kee Gee, a state of calm took over. Suddenly the headphones, which surprise, surprise, now worked, blared out “Okay Matt, you’re finished”.

Three years after that first trip to Brazil, I still get a mild sense of panic when pinned, but I know how to deal with it, both mentally and physically. Thank you yoga and BJJ, and thanks to all the great instructors who showed me a most valuable skill–how to relax in an uncomfortable position. You never know when you might need it!

Breathing For Top Martial Arts Performance

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Just breathe for martial arts performance

Breathing properly is the key to martial arts performance

On the wrestling mats in high school I threw guys around like rag dolls. For about 30 seconds. It was then that I usually gassed out and it was a great relief when I inevitably got pinned. Of course, the coach was not happy, as our team was a perennial powerhouse, and I was one of the few losses. You see, I was always one of the strongest guys on the mat, but lacked stamina. Or so I thought.

Was it the oppressive tropical summer heat in Rio, or was I just out of shape? 4th Degree Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt Rodrigo Antunes and I were rolling on the mat in the morning for my private lesson. He of course was just toying with me, tapping me right and left, but I was so tired I was just sucking eggs. All of a sudden he stopped, looked at me, and said “Matt, you are holding your breath. You need to breathe”. I started thinking about it. Maybe that was my problem.

Jean Jacques Machado was having a friendly roll with many of the students who attended his seminar in Sydney. He was merely playing with all comers, and sliced through them like butter, tapping all without much apparent effort. I knew he was good, but how could he go against so many guys in a row without even BREATHING HARD? It occurred to me all of a sudden. His breathing was loud, so loud the whole class could hear it. It was also deep, and slow. It was a revelation for me. He would breathe in for a couple of seconds very deeply, and then release it slowly and loudly. He seemed to possess unlimited energy.

In yoga they tell us that you must focus on the breath. After two years of this I am starting to understand the wisdom of it. If you focus on the breath, and control your breathing, not only does it slow your heart rate down, but it also takes your mind off any uncomfortable position you might be in. Another benefit—by bringing your focus on your breath, it helps you to relax, which is what you need to avoid gassing out.

I started to practice a deep breathing method while working out at home. A big fan of body weight exercises, I would breathe in for two reps and then breathe out for three. I concentrated on focusing on the breath, not on the total number of reps. A very interesting thing started to happen. I usually did about three sets of twenty. But I now found myself counting to 36, 37, 38 without even realising it. I was so focused on the breathing I forgot about the discomfort of the exercise or even that I had to stop when I reached twenty.

I am finally learning how to slow my breath down in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes. Believe me, I am now having much more fun on the mats. I wish I would have learned this years ago. Thanks Rodrigo, thanks J.J. Machado, and thanks especially to my yoga instructors who finally drove this point home. What are your secrets for breathing correctly in the martial arts?

49 Things I Learned as a White Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

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A white belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

I recently traded my white belt in for a blue belt, but I learned a few things along the way.

You are a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu white belt, but you aspire to work those spectacular moves the black belts and brown belts use when they roll. You imitate Marcelo Garcia and try to memorise those rolling sweeps and submissions. You buy the same gi as Andre Galvao and watch all the BJJ videos on YouTube. You think you can become an expert overnight. The first time you roll with a purple belt reality bites.

That cross-lapel choke you saw perfectly executed by Roger Gracie took him years to perfect, drilling it over and over to the tune of thousands of repetitions. Hate to burst your bubble, but becoming an expert in BJJ takes time; many years and thousands of hours on the mat. You get discouraged every time you get tapped, but you also get better. As Roy Dean said in his excellent Blue Belt Requirements DVD, white belt is a frustrating time, but it starts getting fun when you have been doing it for awhile.

Patience is virtue, but there are a few things you can do to accelerate the process. As a recent white belt in BJJ, and “wanna get better fast newbie”, I have done a lot of research into how you can improve your game. I picked up some valuable tips from the most knowledgeable people in BJJ.

Much of this knowledge came from books, DVDs, websites, and most importantly, actual instruction in classes. Primarily featured here is the work of several top BJJ experts: Saulo Ribeiro, whose book Jiu Jitsu University I highly recommend; Stephen Kesting whose website is outstanding for novice and experienced players alike; John Will, one of the top BJJ experts in Australia, who also has an outstanding blog and website that explores the mental game of BJJ in much detail. John is a huge inspiration with his high level of energy; Roy Dean, whose DVDs are the best out there in my humble opinion, and his instructor Roy Harris; Also Royler Gracie, whose organization, Gracie Humaita, is one of the best in the world; Rodrigo Antunes, a fourth-degree black belt who has helped my game on a personal level. Last but not least, my instructors Rick Spain and Andrew Nerlich, who have taught me so much.

General BJJ Tips

Get Saulo Ribeiro’s book Jiu-Jitsu University. It is extremely valuable for players of all levels.

Build a solid defence before you do anything.

Have at least two solid escapes from Mount, Back Mount and Side Control. Spend lots of time practicing these, because as a white belt you will find yourself in these positions often.

Hip escapes (shrimping) and bridging are core movements that will really improve your game. Practice them all the time.

Move yourself, not your opponent. It is much easier, especially if you face a larger opponent.

Grip near the joints as this will give you more leverage.

Use the 90 degree rule for leverage.

Look where you want to go. In the Upa, for instance, look over your shoulder first.

Build your core.

Strengthen your grip.

Posture is everything. Always be aware of it.

Pushing anchors you to your opponent and prevents your hip movement. Don’t do it!

Train regularly. Your body will grow accustomed to it and you will prevent injury this way.

Stretch and stay flexible. Always warm up and stretch before and after training this will prevent injuries, and as a bonus increase your range of motion for better mat performance.

Use your hips to generate power, not your hands.

Master positions and transitions before attempting submissions.

Pay for a few private lessons with a renowned black belt. It is well worth it.

In jiu-jitsu timing is everything. While your opponent is transitioning to an attack, that is often the best time to make your move. If you wait too long, it will take too much strength to escape.

Drill, drill, and drill your moves. The techniques you are comfortable with will become your “go to” when pressured in BJJ.

BJJ Guard Position Tips

Guard Top Position

Never one arm in–one arm out. Both arms in or both out.

Master two techniques for passing the guard, and start using them the second you find yourself in the position. If you wait, you are asking to be swept or submitted.

DON’T put your hands on the ground – keep your hands on your opponent!

DON’T put your elbow across his centerline – keep each arm on its own side of your body!

Grip belt, lapels, or biceps for leverage and control.

Keep your weight low with knees spread and feet flat on the ground to avoid sweeps.

Keep your back straight and look up to avoid having your posture broken.

Guard Bottom Position

For shorter guys, perfect the open guard, half guard, and butterfly guard.

Play more from side instead of flat on back.

A good grip is one lapel high centerline behind neck and the other on the sleeve behind bicep/elbow or low on sleeve near wrist.

Don’t sit in the guard, waiting for your opponent to try to pass it. Look for sweeps or submissions straight away.

Try to break your opponent’s posture by pulling him forward.

BJJ Side Control Position Tips

Side Control Top Position

Make yourself heavy by staying on your toes.

Go for the cross-face to exert pressure and control.

Keep your hips glued to his hips in side control, or block hips with arm or knee.

Side Control Bottom Position

Do not allow the cross-face. Control of head means control of body.

Use your elbows to make room for escapes and to enable you to breathe.

Use bridging and shrimping to create space.

BJJ Mount Position Tips

Mount Top Position

Squeeze your knees together but don’t lock yourself to your opponent, and touch your toes together if possible.

Roll your hips forward like a cowboy riding a bull.

If you put your hands on the mat for base, keep them wide so your opponent can’t reach them easily.

Mount Bottom Position

Keep arms bent, elbows in to prevent arm bars and to allow for breathing room.

Avoid being flat.

Get in the correct defensive posture before your opponent can settle in. This actually applies to any time you are put in a poor position suddenly.

BJJ Rolling Tips

Relax and don’t worry about winning or losing.

Tap out. Don’t fear it. Learn from it. Escape from the bounds of your ego.

Slow down for better sensitivity and to avoid gassing out.

Breathe! Inhale when body is straight, exhale when body is balled up (knees close to shoulders). Empty lungs completely on exhale.

As you progress, learn to stay on the attack. It makes it hard for the opponent to mount an attack if he has to defend.

And the most important tip of all, enjoy the whole process of making mistakes and learning, because you are only a white belt once.

What did you learn as a white belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?

How To Be a Great Martial Arts Training Partner

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A black belt helping their martial arts training partner to learn

A good martial arts training partner will help their opponent taste success by letting them perform their escapes.

What Makes a Bad Martial Arts Training Partner?

A bad martial arts training partner is easy to spot:

“The big white belt was completely exhausted by the end of the three minutes of rolling. I held him in mounted position for almost the whole time, stifling his every attempt at escape. Gee, won’t the black belts be impressed.”

“I tapped the dude out seven times in three minutes. Man, I’m awesome. Wait until I tell everyone”.

“The guy did not score a single point on me. Wow, am I getting good! I wonder who was watching. Where is the teacher when you need them?”

Unfortunately, there is one in every academy, dojo, kwoon, or training hall. A big ego has gotten in the way again. One result: many of their martial arts training partners will quit before they have had a chance to develop their skills, out of frustration and a feeling of failure. A crying shame, and not only that, they will tell everyone they know about the “cruddy school where they took martial arts”. Another result: no one will want to spar with “that guy” anymore, and he will not progress.

Saulo Ribeiro, one of the world’s top Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu experts, puts it best in his book, Jiu-Jitsu University; “I cannot have a top student take the Mount and expect a white or blue belt to escape. This is because the school’s blue, purple, and brown belts all know the same techniques. With everyone sharing the same knowledge, the upper belts can stifle the progression of new and white belts! How can a white belt progress? By feeling how a good student can put him in danger and then working the escape. That’s the only way for him to train escapes as a white belt. The upper belt benefits by fine-tuning his timing and sharpening his submissions.”

John Will, one of Australia’s top BJJ coaches, added this; “Great partners are those kinds of people that will work with us to help us solve problems – and we are great partners when we respond in kind. Problem solving is more often than not, a collaboration. Two minds working on a problem are far more likely to come up with a workable solution than is a solitary effort. A great martial arts training partner has us leaving the mat with a smile on our face and looking forward to geting back there as soon as possible – a bad training partner has exactly the opposite effect”.

The moral of the story: put your ego aside and let your training partner taste success, and everyone will benefit. Even you.

Please read my post for more on ego in the martial arts.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Drills With One Arm

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Those that know me are aware I broke my arm in a karate tournament a month ago. It could not have happened at a worse time. Two months ago I made my final payment for my January trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to train with Royler Gracie, one of the top Brazilian Jiu-jitsu experts in the world. When the arm was fractured in three places and the doctor said it would require surgery, I just assumed the trip would be an impossibility. I had a plate inserted in my arm with seven pins holding the bones together.

Luckily, the accident also could not have happened at a better time. You see, I was in the best shape since my university days when it happened, thanks to training in BJJ, MMA, and teaching our kids karate classes. The doctor said he had every reason to believe that with the proper rehabilitation of my arm, I could still go to the camp. I was ecstatic. He said that due to my fitness I should heal quickly and be ready to go, even if I am unable to do everything at the camp.

My main goal in the next month is to keep myself grappling fit so that when the arm is ready, the rest of the body can cope when I get back on the mat. I Googled and You Tubed all variations of the theme “training with one arm” or “training with a broken arm in BJJ”, but nothing really came up. So I decided to build a program for myself or someone else who has had the misfortune of being able to use only one arm in their training. Here is what I came up with.

So far the exercises have kept me in pretty good shape, even though I am not ready to roll.
Below is a list of exercises in order of their appearance in the video.

BJJ Functional Drills

Bridging (static yoga pose)

Bridge (opposing arm touches ground)

Bridge to hip escape (above, plus hip escape at the end)

Stationary hip escapes (to side only)

Moving hip escapes (down the mat)

Reverse hip escapes (down the mat backwards)

Circle shrimps

Wrestler Sit-outs (one side only)

Technical lift (one side only)

Hip bump (one side only)

Two points movement (only two points)

Sitting thrusts (one leg curled hands in front, push off onto the knee)

Triangle Choke (up on shoulders and neck, triangle)

Same, but sit forward like wrestler’s takedown

Leg circles on back (hips off ground)
Bridge to knees (under and over)

BJJ Conditioning Drills

Crunches

Double crunches

Alternating toe touch (feet off the ground)

One-armed plank (two variations)

One-armed push-up

Crunches on sides

One-armed burpee

BJJ Stretches

Hip flexors

Sit on feet for low guard posture

Does anyone else have good exercises for a one-armed BJJ student who can’t wait to get back to full fitness on the mat?

Since I wrote this post, Dirty White Gi has given me many good ideas for exercises with one arm. Check them out at http://dirtywhitegi.com/2011/12/15/training-bjj-mma-with-one-arm/. An excellent BJJ blog as well.

Learning About Teaching from the Best in the World

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Abmar Barbosa has won his share of titles in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Abmar Barbosa is one of the world's best at Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and is also a fine teacher.

Abmar Barbosa is one of the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitors in the world. He is known for being a bit out there on the edge with his technique. I would say that is putting it lightly. His DVD is known as Jiu-Jitsu Outlaw, because he likes to shake it up and do things differently.  His seminar this Monday at Gracie Sydney started with one hell of a warm-up.

Upside down, between our standing opponents legs, literally doing the plow pose from yoga while rolling around and through the legs. I struggled big time, and it didn’t help that the other white belt I was partnered with (though with three blue stripes) seemed to know what he was doing. Not only did I struggle with the technical details of the move, but also the flexibility required seemed to be out of my range of motion. I thought to myself at the start of the seminar, “I am in for one long night, this is way too hard”. I underestimated Abmar’s teaching ability.

Breaking moves into the smallest details.

Abmar worked his way around the room, and although the techniques were now part of his instinct, took the time to break them down for us in the smallest possible detail until we were able to understand and perform them. On one particular technique he had me copy the motions in parallel with him without an opponent until I was able to master it. Then I tried the move against my partner. It worked like a charm. Brilliant!

Being aware when the students are struggling.

The mark of a good instructor is he or she is sensitive enough to know when students need more assistance. He had us re-group many times to go over a technique with which we were having difficulty. He then broke it down into even smaller detail until we could grasp it.

Knowing when to offer praise and encouragement.

I perservered with the moves. After what seemed like eternity, I nailed one of the sweeps, just as Abmar walked by. He smiled and said, “You got it, no problem”, and put out his hand to give me the low five, as I was in a prone position. My heart rose up, and I was immediately filled with confidence. The rest of the seminar was challenging to say the least, but with my new sense of purpose, I pushed on and learned a great deal of material. Sensing I was having great difficulty with the movements, he waited until I did one right to offer his encouragement. It would not have meant anything if he had praised me for doing a move half-heartedly.

Making the class challenging yet also drilling important skills without being boring.

Each move, although complex, was built on the one before it. In this case, we worked the moves from the same spider guard over and over again. Although I had very little experience with the spider guard before the seminar, the constant drilling of it gave me a great start on this very important part of BJJ.

Being passionate about the subject.

Abmar was so wrapped up in the class, he went well past the time slated for the seminar. You could tell Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is his life. As I performed each new technique the body somehow started to limber up and the movements started to become easier and more natural. I gained a new respect for the spider guard. As an instructor I came away with a great perspective on how to teach, from a great competitor, but also a fine teacher. Did I forget to mention, Abmar is only 27 years old?

Never Give Up | Anything can happen in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

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Never give up

Never give up

In a no gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class a few weeks back a guy was monstering me all over the mat. He passed my guard like a hot knife through butter, got into side-control, and after a few seconds, mounted me. Was able to buck him off but soon ended up in his guillotine choke. Used a classic over-the-shoulder defence to shut it down, but before long he had me in back control, hooks in.

By then I was exhausted, as I struggled to fight off his attempts for a rear naked choke hold. But the battle was tiring him as well and fatigue invites us all to make mistakes. He made one—crossing his feet over my legs. Remembering the defence I learned years ago, I swung my right foot over his ankles and leaned back on him. Felt the tap instantly.

On more than one occasion I have been on the other side of this story. Just when I thought I was getting the better of someone on the mat, they turned the tide, and tapped me out. That is the nature of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

The moral of the story—never give up, even against a superior grappler. It ain’t over till it’s over. As long as you are fighting, you are still in the game.

“Never, never, never give up!”
~ Winston Churchill

“Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Don’t be discouraged. It’s often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock. ”
~ Unknown

“It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.”
~ Albert Einstein

A White Belt Again | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

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Position of discomfort in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Putting yourself in a position of discomfort is the key to growth in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, just like anything else.

Students always make comments about how my black belt is turning white. I often explain to them that one day when it is completely white I will have to start over. Why? Because I will then realise how little I know. I am aware of that now so I decided to accelerate this process. No, I did not bleach my belt. It is worn from years of use (and abuse).

I just started as a white belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). I am aware that this journey may be a long one. It is commonly known that ten years is the normal time frame to progress to black belt in this very difficult and technical art. I am not in it for this reason.

The time is now

Though grappling since before 2000, I decided my ground game could use an upgrade. I needed a new challenge. My MMA skills required better ground work. I see how Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can make you very fit and strong in a way that will actually improve fighting skill. I also realise that at 52, my stand-up skills are not as explosive as they once were, but a good ground game could offset this. BJJ is an important part of the martial arts puzzle, as we learn from watching MMA matches.

As a two-year student of yoga, my flexibility has improved greatly and will certainly help me in my BJJ quest. One of the things yoga has taught me is the power of living in the moment.  I love this quote from On Any Given Sunday; “Because that’s what livin’ is! The six inches in front of your face!!”

Putting myself in an uncomfortable position

Guys bigger than me and with more skill suffocating me in the north/south position or mount. I am learning not to panic, and just go with the flow. Struggling and stressing about it just wears you out quicker.

The instructor who is ten kilos lighter than me tapping me out seven times in a five-minute round. A five-minute round? For someone used to grappling for two minutes, a five-minute round is eternity. Getting tapped out is okay by me because I am learning, but getting tapped out three times with the same move is highly frustrating. I know I am not a quick learner, but this is ridiculous.

The instructor getting frustrated at me. After three attempts at the move, I still could not get it. He walked over and threw my leg where it needed to be. Now I get it!

Putting myself in an uncomfortable position is the key to growth, and also promotes humility. Humility is a quality that is necessary for success as a martial artist and especially as a teacher of the martial arts. Rolling on a regular basis with blue belts, purple belts, and especially black belts is a sure-fire way to get better, as I learn something from people who are so much better than me. I am clearly out of my comfort zone and out of my league on the mat.

The rewards are great

I am learning something new and am really pumped. Yes, I’ve bought the books, dvds, and cool Brazilian kimono. I look at this as an investment in an important part of my martial arts future. This is an exciting part of the process for me, the process of discovering something fresh and new. It has infused me with great positive energy.

I am getting fitter. Those last five stubborn “donut around my midsection ” kilos have nearly melted off. The five-minute rounds are like running mini marathons, I have not been this exhausted in a long time.

I am having fun. I am a white belt again. Yee-ha!

Stay tuned.