New opportunities and "Don't just lie there!"

So far this has been a really fun week at the academy.

Tuesday night we ended up spending the class working self-defense from the original system designed by Helio Gracie. Helio and his brothers learned the martial arts originally from Mitsuyo Maeda, a former sumo and well respected Kodokan Judo practicioner of the time...but Helio was considered frail by not only those who he trained with but also physicians who had him sidelined while his brothers taught. This led to Helio modifying and adapting Judo to a smaller frame and focusing on the groundwork aspect and through him and his brother Carlos, Gracie Jiu Jitsu was born.

Why the history lesson?

Because in self defense classes of Gracie Jiu Jitsu they are key in my humble newbie opinion. Many of the throws, locks, trips...heck EVERYTHING is not based on muscling your way through them. These moves are designed to eliminate the Brute Factor and establish a dominant position for the person who was being attacked. Without Helio and some of these techniques there would potentially be no help for a thin, tall wuss like me.

Needless to say I pay attention to every tiny detail and request additional help from my partner to drill these over and over and over again because until I can do it without too much effort I don't believe I truly have it. This isn't the first time I've done "self-defense" though...I practiced Shaolin Kempo (unfortunately, a style associated with this guy...) for a little over a year before moving to Florida. While it may not be the best martial art, it had its redeeming factors and our instructor was constantly pushing us to find things in the system to make it work. Some of the self defense moves we learned Tuesday night were VERY similar to what I had done in Kempo with one huge difference. When I told my partner to resist or not let me throw them...THESE still worked!  Again, hear me...I'm not insulting Kempo. It just isn't as effective for this type of self defense as GJJ appears to be to my (still) untrained eyes. This could also be a simple "what have you done for me lately" perspective but something just feels more....effective.

Finally, one last little epiphany from last night's after-class rolling session. (Amazing class taught by Phil Cardella BTW). Blue Belt J who kicks my ass was watching me roll with another Blue Belt J who kicks my ass and noticed that every time I start rolling I don't "commit" to a plan and go with it. He advised me to either shoot for one top and go for it, or if I'm going to go onto my back at least fight for hip control, spider guard, etc....apparently I appear to be a fish helplessly flopping on the mat at the start of every roll. While not the most confidence inspiring thing to hear, he took the time to show me and demonstrate and I plan to completely change how my rolls start from now on because of it. Thanks Blue Belt J who kicks my ass, your advice will be heeded.

Until after Friday's seminar... (with Relson Gracie!)...

Overcoming through technique

Welcome back readers....(silence)...hello? Anyone out there..? No?

Last night was the first night back after last week (life gets in the way sometimes) and I was looking forward to it as, for some reason, I love training with the gi jacket. I guess for a beginner like me it gives me more stuff to hold onto while trying not to be attacked...or maybe it just makes me feel like the ninja I always wanted to be growing up.

The gold ribbon really sets it off

Anyway, I was excited. 

We worked on escaping side mount when the person on top has the underhook (a common position for yours truly)..basically, for any non-jiu jitsu playing readers, it's almost the worst position you can be in. I typically hate this position because there are a few guys in my academy who are similar rank to me but MUCH MUCH stronger and former wrestlers to boot so this position is impossible to break for me using brute strength. I usually end up just defending and defending until I get submitted. I've got a couple of escapes that work from time to time but needed more and needed to understand how to attempt to overcome someone who is so much stronger than me. (I'm about 6'2, 190lbs).

Thankfully, I have an amazing professor at the academy, a Relson Gracie black belt who sees the value in showing proper technique over and over and over again. The escape we worked last night was one we've gone over before but there was a very important piece that I hadn't grasped the first time. 

Pull...don't push. In this case it's with your bottom (inside) shoulder that you pull underneath you to create the base. Combined with a rooted, planted foot, the transfer of energy through a good connection and proper alignment you can't be broken down and it allows for space to be created to establish guard or escape underneath.

It was like someone showed me how to walk. Instantly my game changed. Changed to point that I was not worried about being in side control when we rolled afterward. Confident that given the right timing I not only COULD, but WOULD escape and improve my position. Also, it allowed me to do so being "mellow" (thanks Blue Belt J who kicks my ass). 

One major point that my professor pointed out was that Helio Gracie was NOT some huge, buff wrestler. He was a much smaller man than most and it never stopped him from destroying bigger opponents. Our sport and art is not based on having to be bigger and stronger, it's based on technique, that when applied correctly, essentially nullifies the "brute factor" (pending trademark). 

The GM himself...at around 90 years old.

So what do I take from this? When a technique is not seeming to work for me...ASK WHY NOT. Take the time to go to the professor, express that it's not working against larger opponents and get to the essence of the technique. It's truly a game changer. 

See you after next class...

This one is for...

From time to time I will make reference to other members of our academy, I will identify them as "(belt color) + (first initial) who kicks my ass".

This post is for Blue belt K who kicks my ass. He said this during training one night when talking about when/how to use our Jiu Jitsu...always for defense but make sure you use enough of it to end the confrontation and ensure the person is not going to come at you again. When he said it, I loved it and came across this on Pinterest. (Insert laughter at being a dude on Pinterest...yeah, I'm a male nurse too, what of it?!)

Enjoy: