I am strangely proud of the fact I think I am coming to age in my declining age. I was talking to a good friend after my BJJ class about athletic endeavors at our age (i.e. post 35). He was a great athlete, heck we were great athletes in College and the Army and I explained that when all you remember about yourself in your youth is success, when you take a break from formal sports, you appreciate you are out of shape, but your mind doesn't really accept the change. I outlined I was finally in a good place per my recovery of my second injury- I feel I'm close to graduating from the destructive process of aligning my mental sense of self in sports with my physical reality. It is a good thing- I do believe that even with future injuries I have the mindset to endure, to survive. The best advice I have for a person in their 20's who are in sport is to never stop training, participating- if you burn out per one sport, change activities- a person who loved sport in their youth will forever be incomplete with out it and the easiest path is to retain the abilities you have. If you were like me and took a long hiatus- get back into whatever you enjoyed. It won't be a fun journey 100% of the time, but focus adaption and persistent. Recognize you won't be the best - but you can be your best and that is enough.
When I started BJJ- I immediately craved competition. I wanted to be the best in my age group and I started to obsess. Granted, with 3 x Midgets, a very full time job and competing responsibilities in my community I had to go back to the basic prioritization of Physical Fitness then BJJ- this is the priority that remains to day. If I am going to stay fit for Family, for reducing career stress- remaining injury free is a high priority. So I do BJJ for fitness and thus I must approach it so I can survive. This doesn't imply you can't be competitive- you just have to establish a very deliberate, technical path to success. For example- I've lost 5-8lbs since I got injured. I can tell the weigh is off, even out of shape w/ less mat awareness- I feel purty good. My mat sense and timing are off- but reading up on BJJ, coming to class to just sit and watch when I could- I can tell that really helped. Although I'm not 100% and can't go full bore- I force myself to Gi-Up, do conditioning, do some basic drills, just stay in the rhythm of the class- it is humbling, can even be embarrassing not being up to par w/ everyone else- but even this humility is a good exercise to train the spirit and reinforce my sense of self. I feel at the end of this journey- I will be stronger and will have a better / stronger game and will persist. In BJJ past your prime you really can't think of the next rank and it is really unfathomable to think of achieving one's Black Belt. A Black Belt is feasible- but it is an exercise of committment and persistence. My goal, isn't a Black Belt per se- but to persist, to have a comprehensive tool set where I can adjust/adapt per my circumstances and establish reasonable parity with whomever I am training with. The key to success in this regard is survival, to not get injured to come every day I can train and train and incrementally succeed.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
On the path to Recovery.
My two month classroom hiatus ended last night with me gi'ing up and actively participating in class again. I injured my shoulder- it was first diagnosed as a partial rotator cuff tear and I had to take an MRI to verify and then we, positively, learned it was more my bursa (whatever all these things are) and a cortisone shot was recommended with physical therapy. Unfortunately, the biggest snow storm in ages kicked in and I went a bit overboard with the activities and maybe compromised the positive effects of the shot, e.g. shoveling & snowblowing over 5 x driveways (I have many elderly neighbors) and the respective sidewalks, sledding, snow fort/man opns with my midgets, biking (poor attempt) and a great 6+ mile XC Skiing through the community. I realized I was pushing it for the weekend when my shoulder started to ache a bit. Anyway, I'm in Physical Therapy learning quite a bit- I'm really paying attention to the exercises which I can do every day and will help me with Injury Prevention in the long run.
I have to confess- in November, realizing a SECOND show stopping injury in a year, I felt like it was time to hang up the Gi, that at then 38 (now 39) I'm too old for this sport. However, I really love this sport- I thought I liked martial arts before- but BJJ has proven to be all the things all the years of Combatives really didn't live up to, i.e. effective! Plus, after 2-years I'm still in the clueless phase. As a blue belt, I think you understand enough to survive to a certain extent, you are familiar w/ the positional hierarchy (or at least you should be) and a respective understanding of base & posture, have a tool kit of basics to work your way up and down the ladder with an array of submits here and there.
Last night the class began with a bit of frustration doing some guard drills- I was hasty, wasn't paying attention to my partners attacks and worked straight to trying to execute a sweep. I failed and my guard was passed (jammed my thumb also)- I rethought what I was doing and focused on making sure folks didn't get their grips, breaking posture and just settling into the flow of things again. Overall, it wasn't too bad of an evening- I almost got a triangle choke on a purple belt- he was passing my guard, I set up my right knee for the triangle on his shoulder and was able to get into the position. I had a hard time moving my hips so I could work to secure the triangle, but managed that and was able to look it in, however, the purple belt secured his chin to defeat the choke and worked a purty good escape. I wasn't excited about my seemingly relative success against a purple belt- he is someone who works his weak points in class, so I knew he was taking risks and thus my success. I'm just happy I was able to execute a plan. After class and icing my shoulder I reviewed some guard basics- I did a good job defeating folks securing grips, but I think I need to add some Gi Choke threats/attacks to ease set up breaking posture and ultimately going for a sweep. Just gotta get into the rhythm of things again.
I have 4-8 weeks of real recovery with my shoulder (because I'm old) so I've concluded that I'm really going to focus on my guard in this time and this year.
It is good to be back in a mood of working towards success. Injuries have a greater mental impact when you are older. It is one thing to get injured, however, recovery is much longer and two things happened to me- one the shocking realization of my vulnerability. I was a great athlete in my youth- I know this from my success in competition and just being an Airborne, Ranger Certified Infantry Officer demands quite a bit of a person. You learn how slow/weak you get in sport typically by failing to perform and or getting hurt. The second thing that comes with this awareness of vulnerability is self doubt. Once you learn how to train successfully and get results, you get a confidence in training and performing under pressure which erases doubt. I would only doubt myself under pressure if I didn't train enough or failed to succeed in a facet of training- however, it isn't that simple with age. Since my arm was out of action, I trained my lower body and strained my left knee in the process in November- that did nothing but to compound my sense of vulnerability and self doubt to whether or not I need to focus on more passive sports- like Mountain Biking. Master Dalla helped me stay focused and gave me some insight into how to change my game via less reliance on athleticism and I focued on the future- "Fight for Inches", i.e. focused on proper diet so I wouldn't get fat while off the mat (lost 5-lbs in the two months) and I maintained conditioning where I could. I also forced myself to come to class when I could and watch others- this really helped to keep your mind in the game (and the peer support is good also).
The future of my BJJ progression is a greater emphasis on Joint flexibility, sustain conditioning and also focused on maintaining these small joint/muscle exercises and incorporating more Ice post training when I have a little ache. As an "Old Grappler" you have to make adjustments and balance competing demand, e.g. Family, Work, Civic Duties (ack I volunteered be the Neighborhood Watch Coordinator), Physical Fitness, Grappling and FaceBook and XBOX - LOL...fight for inches.
I have to confess- in November, realizing a SECOND show stopping injury in a year, I felt like it was time to hang up the Gi, that at then 38 (now 39) I'm too old for this sport. However, I really love this sport- I thought I liked martial arts before- but BJJ has proven to be all the things all the years of Combatives really didn't live up to, i.e. effective! Plus, after 2-years I'm still in the clueless phase. As a blue belt, I think you understand enough to survive to a certain extent, you are familiar w/ the positional hierarchy (or at least you should be) and a respective understanding of base & posture, have a tool kit of basics to work your way up and down the ladder with an array of submits here and there.
Last night the class began with a bit of frustration doing some guard drills- I was hasty, wasn't paying attention to my partners attacks and worked straight to trying to execute a sweep. I failed and my guard was passed (jammed my thumb also)- I rethought what I was doing and focused on making sure folks didn't get their grips, breaking posture and just settling into the flow of things again. Overall, it wasn't too bad of an evening- I almost got a triangle choke on a purple belt- he was passing my guard, I set up my right knee for the triangle on his shoulder and was able to get into the position. I had a hard time moving my hips so I could work to secure the triangle, but managed that and was able to look it in, however, the purple belt secured his chin to defeat the choke and worked a purty good escape. I wasn't excited about my seemingly relative success against a purple belt- he is someone who works his weak points in class, so I knew he was taking risks and thus my success. I'm just happy I was able to execute a plan. After class and icing my shoulder I reviewed some guard basics- I did a good job defeating folks securing grips, but I think I need to add some Gi Choke threats/attacks to ease set up breaking posture and ultimately going for a sweep. Just gotta get into the rhythm of things again.
I have 4-8 weeks of real recovery with my shoulder (because I'm old) so I've concluded that I'm really going to focus on my guard in this time and this year.
It is good to be back in a mood of working towards success. Injuries have a greater mental impact when you are older. It is one thing to get injured, however, recovery is much longer and two things happened to me- one the shocking realization of my vulnerability. I was a great athlete in my youth- I know this from my success in competition and just being an Airborne, Ranger Certified Infantry Officer demands quite a bit of a person. You learn how slow/weak you get in sport typically by failing to perform and or getting hurt. The second thing that comes with this awareness of vulnerability is self doubt. Once you learn how to train successfully and get results, you get a confidence in training and performing under pressure which erases doubt. I would only doubt myself under pressure if I didn't train enough or failed to succeed in a facet of training- however, it isn't that simple with age. Since my arm was out of action, I trained my lower body and strained my left knee in the process in November- that did nothing but to compound my sense of vulnerability and self doubt to whether or not I need to focus on more passive sports- like Mountain Biking. Master Dalla helped me stay focused and gave me some insight into how to change my game via less reliance on athleticism and I focued on the future- "Fight for Inches", i.e. focused on proper diet so I wouldn't get fat while off the mat (lost 5-lbs in the two months) and I maintained conditioning where I could. I also forced myself to come to class when I could and watch others- this really helped to keep your mind in the game (and the peer support is good also).
The future of my BJJ progression is a greater emphasis on Joint flexibility, sustain conditioning and also focused on maintaining these small joint/muscle exercises and incorporating more Ice post training when I have a little ache. As an "Old Grappler" you have to make adjustments and balance competing demand, e.g. Family, Work, Civic Duties (ack I volunteered be the Neighborhood Watch Coordinator), Physical Fitness, Grappling and FaceBook and XBOX - LOL...fight for inches.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Saulo Ribeiro's Jiu-Jitsu University
I've been busy and neglecting the blog action of late, but I'm going to try and get back on my game and post at least once a week. In my hiatus, I continue to balance training with the challenges of Age, Work, Family and other life Challenges.
First and most importantly, my MMA School has a new location and schedule. It is really nice to NOT be training out of a Gym Racket Ball court and having significant floor space to liberally roll- plus it has much better air circulation! The good old days of training in human sweat created atmosphere are hopefully over. The new location is in Woodbridge and it is quite easy for me to get to in the evenings even w/ DC traffic. If you live in the DC Metro Area and you want to learn bullet proof Jiu-Jitsu techniques then Dalla's studio is one of the, if not the best offering in the NoVa area. I've tried out a couple of schools before giving up two months paid tuition at a previous location to switch to Dalla's.
Although training continues to be disrupted with work related travel and family requirements, I find if mentally staying in the game and doing some basic conditioning and individual/dummy drills outside of the school I can maintain enough to steadily grow. When I come back after a week or two off I find myself physically challenged, but I feel I don't loose too much ground per my technical aptitude and I have a list of goals/experiments to test out on the mat. This has made it really rewarding for me in the face of life's challenges.
Per the blog post title - I have found this resource to be very useful: "Jiu Jitsu University" by Saulo Ribeiro. I've bought quite a few books to build my training framework (which I'll review in good time) - but this one stands out and is worth mentioning. I think the biggest challenge to learning BJJ is that there is no simple technique Matrix out there for folks to focus their training on. The Gracie system has their 30 odd baseline techniques- but I view BJJ from a X-axis of the positional hierarchy (per how you want to define it) and a Y-axis of transitional techniques and submissions that work for you. Etching out your personalized BJJ technical framework is no minor task and this book by Saulo is a good reference to compliment your school house training and also inform how you should focus your training as you grow, i.e. SURVIVAL, ESCAPES and then SUBMISSIONS.
In this book Saulo breaks down BJJ by rank based perspective, i.e. White Belt - Survival, Blue Belt - Escapes, etc. It will be obvious that your classroom instruction won't parallel how he has laid out techniques- I just focus on the underlying rank based philosophy, e.g. as a white belt understand the basic survival strategies for respective positions. Per my experience as a white belt- just knowing enough on how not to get submitted readily allows you to get a frame of reference of what is going on. I like how, as a blue belt, focusing on my escapes and progression up the positional hierarchy in class. When we get a chance to free spar I'm all about getting into a less dominant position and working my way up to the Mount. I really don't focus too much on Gi submits and submitting in general unless someone wants to give me one- I'm just focused on solid escapes and advancing up the hierarchy. My perspective is that getting the 360 degree situational awareness to feel good positional transitions will allow me to better focus on submissions when I get to that point (likely very mature Blue Belt / Purple Belt). Pragmatically, I find aligning my training focus w/ this reference allows for my progress in class. Many of the White Belts are focused on being Submission Artists w/out positional foundation- even out of shape, I find controlling the position game vastly eliminates submission opportunities. I typically go for a subordinate position when sparring w/ White and Blue belts and work my way up the hierarchy. When I roll w/ Advanced Belts the good one's typically have something they are working on and I work against the puzzle and traps they are giving me and do my best. I find I have a harder time rolling w/ Advanced Belts who want to just feel me out- I really don't have a strong BJJ offensive game plan just yet. My approach to BJJ is to compliment my MMA - so when I see I can punch, that's what I'm thinking offensively. I see Grappling as my plan B in a real fight scenario.
In summary, I'd give Saulo Ribeiro's offering 4 out of 5 x Stars, a must have for a beginner's out of class reference. Saulo's book has achieved a notable position as a permanent reference that sits by my bed stand and I review it for solutions to something I encountered in class and/or reinforce key points of a technique. I also take it w/ me on longer work related travel ventures:
Pros - a systemic summary of critical Jiu Jitsu perspectives respective to Rank, which Saulo truly associates to a practioner's maturity in the sport. Lower belts are focused on survival and escapes and higher belts on submission and defeating one's opponents. The book has great illustrations and is on Par w/ the quality of most solid MMA offerings.
Cons - I feel this is more biased to the Gi-based, BJJ sport practioner. Saulo references competition more then real combat and if you are focused on MMA and Street Fighting I recommend you assess each technique or solution for their all around effectiveness.
I'll post another review in a few months/years as I get deeper into the book at a pragmatic level. This review reflects 6 x Months of wiggling around in the White/Blue belt chapters w/ an occasional foray into the Purple Belt section.
More later.
First and most importantly, my MMA School has a new location and schedule. It is really nice to NOT be training out of a Gym Racket Ball court and having significant floor space to liberally roll- plus it has much better air circulation! The good old days of training in human sweat created atmosphere are hopefully over. The new location is in Woodbridge and it is quite easy for me to get to in the evenings even w/ DC traffic. If you live in the DC Metro Area and you want to learn bullet proof Jiu-Jitsu techniques then Dalla's studio is one of the, if not the best offering in the NoVa area. I've tried out a couple of schools before giving up two months paid tuition at a previous location to switch to Dalla's.
Although training continues to be disrupted with work related travel and family requirements, I find if mentally staying in the game and doing some basic conditioning and individual/dummy drills outside of the school I can maintain enough to steadily grow. When I come back after a week or two off I find myself physically challenged, but I feel I don't loose too much ground per my technical aptitude and I have a list of goals/experiments to test out on the mat. This has made it really rewarding for me in the face of life's challenges.
Per the blog post title - I have found this resource to be very useful: "Jiu Jitsu University" by Saulo Ribeiro. I've bought quite a few books to build my training framework (which I'll review in good time) - but this one stands out and is worth mentioning. I think the biggest challenge to learning BJJ is that there is no simple technique Matrix out there for folks to focus their training on. The Gracie system has their 30 odd baseline techniques- but I view BJJ from a X-axis of the positional hierarchy (per how you want to define it) and a Y-axis of transitional techniques and submissions that work for you. Etching out your personalized BJJ technical framework is no minor task and this book by Saulo is a good reference to compliment your school house training and also inform how you should focus your training as you grow, i.e. SURVIVAL, ESCAPES and then SUBMISSIONS.
In this book Saulo breaks down BJJ by rank based perspective, i.e. White Belt - Survival, Blue Belt - Escapes, etc. It will be obvious that your classroom instruction won't parallel how he has laid out techniques- I just focus on the underlying rank based philosophy, e.g. as a white belt understand the basic survival strategies for respective positions. Per my experience as a white belt- just knowing enough on how not to get submitted readily allows you to get a frame of reference of what is going on. I like how, as a blue belt, focusing on my escapes and progression up the positional hierarchy in class. When we get a chance to free spar I'm all about getting into a less dominant position and working my way up to the Mount. I really don't focus too much on Gi submits and submitting in general unless someone wants to give me one- I'm just focused on solid escapes and advancing up the hierarchy. My perspective is that getting the 360 degree situational awareness to feel good positional transitions will allow me to better focus on submissions when I get to that point (likely very mature Blue Belt / Purple Belt). Pragmatically, I find aligning my training focus w/ this reference allows for my progress in class. Many of the White Belts are focused on being Submission Artists w/out positional foundation- even out of shape, I find controlling the position game vastly eliminates submission opportunities. I typically go for a subordinate position when sparring w/ White and Blue belts and work my way up the hierarchy. When I roll w/ Advanced Belts the good one's typically have something they are working on and I work against the puzzle and traps they are giving me and do my best. I find I have a harder time rolling w/ Advanced Belts who want to just feel me out- I really don't have a strong BJJ offensive game plan just yet. My approach to BJJ is to compliment my MMA - so when I see I can punch, that's what I'm thinking offensively. I see Grappling as my plan B in a real fight scenario.
In summary, I'd give Saulo Ribeiro's offering 4 out of 5 x Stars, a must have for a beginner's out of class reference. Saulo's book has achieved a notable position as a permanent reference that sits by my bed stand and I review it for solutions to something I encountered in class and/or reinforce key points of a technique. I also take it w/ me on longer work related travel ventures:
Pros - a systemic summary of critical Jiu Jitsu perspectives respective to Rank, which Saulo truly associates to a practioner's maturity in the sport. Lower belts are focused on survival and escapes and higher belts on submission and defeating one's opponents. The book has great illustrations and is on Par w/ the quality of most solid MMA offerings.
Cons - I feel this is more biased to the Gi-based, BJJ sport practioner. Saulo references competition more then real combat and if you are focused on MMA and Street Fighting I recommend you assess each technique or solution for their all around effectiveness.
I'll post another review in a few months/years as I get deeper into the book at a pragmatic level. This review reflects 6 x Months of wiggling around in the White/Blue belt chapters w/ an occasional foray into the Purple Belt section.
More later.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
38 going on 39 New Game Plan!
It is a bit shocking to realize you are 38 and going on 39 and doing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu! I have to travel on a monthly basis and my routine can be disrupted with 1-2 weeks off the Mat- which has it impacts. I suffered a string of injuries from approaching the Mat with too competitive of an attitude- the results partial torn ligament in writs (12 x weeks), strained shoulder and strained groin - LOL!
Injuries and Age almost encouraged me to "act my age" and focus on endurance sports- however, I decided to commit to another year of training with a different game plan:
1. Fitness and Strength is not an option. I have been blessed with some natural aptitude and ability and I find mentally I lean on this and can force opportunities w/ brawn versus technique with less and equally inexperienced practitioners. Jiu-Jitsu is the soft art, the art of yielding and thus I focus on yielding and attempting "solutions."
2. Winning is improving not "beating" my class mates. It is easy to fall into a competitive mindset where rolling is judge by number of submissions and sustaining a dominant position. I know focus on improving my game- I like starting from positions of disadvantages and moving up the hierarchy- defending submission attempts and working my escapes. I also am not a big fan of Gi-based chokes and/or heavily using the Gi to advance- I just think you need more technique avoiding the Gi and this improves my game.
3. Finally- the goal is Mental health and fitness. I have challenged my fitness enough in life through sport, martial arts, life in the Infantry - which includes Airborne, Ranger Certification and then some. It is hard to admit I am older and I need to now factor in my constraints and formulate a winning game plan.
Overall this may seem hard to do- but it makes the challenge more so. Fitness will always decline, however, fitness alone doesn't define my capability.
I go to bed with sore ribs, recovering shoulder and groin anticipating another day on the mat.
Injuries and Age almost encouraged me to "act my age" and focus on endurance sports- however, I decided to commit to another year of training with a different game plan:
1. Fitness and Strength is not an option. I have been blessed with some natural aptitude and ability and I find mentally I lean on this and can force opportunities w/ brawn versus technique with less and equally inexperienced practitioners. Jiu-Jitsu is the soft art, the art of yielding and thus I focus on yielding and attempting "solutions."
2. Winning is improving not "beating" my class mates. It is easy to fall into a competitive mindset where rolling is judge by number of submissions and sustaining a dominant position. I know focus on improving my game- I like starting from positions of disadvantages and moving up the hierarchy- defending submission attempts and working my escapes. I also am not a big fan of Gi-based chokes and/or heavily using the Gi to advance- I just think you need more technique avoiding the Gi and this improves my game.
3. Finally- the goal is Mental health and fitness. I have challenged my fitness enough in life through sport, martial arts, life in the Infantry - which includes Airborne, Ranger Certification and then some. It is hard to admit I am older and I need to now factor in my constraints and formulate a winning game plan.
Overall this may seem hard to do- but it makes the challenge more so. Fitness will always decline, however, fitness alone doesn't define my capability.
I go to bed with sore ribs, recovering shoulder and groin anticipating another day on the mat.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Drilling...
I'm stuck back in out of class training mode. My Wife is about to deploy our third child and I really need to be at hand to ensure we avoid having a highway baby. The good news is a big and good friend of mine who loves martial arts is willing to come by twice this week and hopefully next to work out. He is new to the sport, i.e. Jiu-Jitsu, so the first couple of times we've trained he goes at it w/ the aggressive enthusiasm of a competitor which is all good, but no good for efficient learning so I change up our sessions so we would Drill.
Some folks think fighting and/or full throttle sparring is the only way to train- no this is the only way to polish and refine your combative skills. Near combative/competition level training is critical at the advanced levels but us novices really need to Drill, Drill and Drill so that we get some subconscious competencies and are able to compete/spar w/ perspective and thus grow. Here are some thoughts on the different kinds of drilling- I'll use the Army Proven "Crawl, Walk, Run, Race" decomposition.
Crawl Phase: Learning a new technique. I have seen it in stand up martial arts and see it in Jiu Jitsu- folks lack attention to detail and just focus on the "money shot" or submission. In Jiu-Jitsu the pre-condition is very important- who is in what relative position, what is the options available for each position and what "controls" or event pre-cedes the technique. I kinda call these details "site pictures" - just mental/physical images you have to learn/train so you know an opportunity for the technique exists. The next detail is what are the transitions to go from one set of controls to the next until you are in the position to submit, sweep, escape, etc. whatever is the goal of the technique. Thus you have to pay attention to these details before drilling. At this stage your partner is participative by being somewhat passive. The establish good baseline posture, but provide minimal resistance for you to take your time and progress through the technique to get a cognitive grasp of what the heck you are supposed to be doing. I believe in at lest doing the technique 3 to 5 times from one side, relatively slow to just get the mechanics right. The key detail, your partner isn't going- oh, I can do this or you are wondering how to defeat counters and what not- just focus on the technique in a box. If you don't get it- grab the instructor, get demonstrated on, but "crawl" until you have the mechanics down and can execute w/in your physical limitations.
Walk Phase: You partner still doesn't provide much assistance, granted, the partner is also training, they should be paying attention to what you are doing, what are the controls, what should be tight, what feels right, etc. Getting a cognitive perspective of what is occurring against them. You should be focused on achieving all the controls and transitions smoothly and really working on setting the foundation for smooth execution. You should get progressively faster/deliberate at this phase- this phase is focused on training mind/body, i.e. conditioning your self to move a bit more subconsciously. If you have a physical limitation- flexibility, lack of strength in muscles at a particular angle- this phase works all this out. Once you get to the point, you aren't thinking through each control/transition and can do things relatively smoothly - you are ready to run.
Run: This is competitive drilling- two stages. The first is partner is willing, but not permissive. Your partner will now seek to disrupt any lack of control or smooth transition created by you. This allows you refine precision a bit. The second phase is competitive drilling. Starting in the pre-condition and you and partner just going after different goals. You are trying to apply the technique, they are working a counter and escape. Once either of you achieve the contradictory goals- start over. You can also make this more complex by adding in multiple options- like some techniques have complimentary flowing techniques based on what is available and what gets shut down, e.g. Kimura- guillotine- knee bump from the guard...you try to work those in a constrained by competitive scenario.
Race: Is open sparring. You roll w/ a goal. Like I try to fight from the bottom w/ smaller folks and lower belts. I try to attack if w/ upper belts always from any position. If I get owned by something w/ an upper belt, I find a lower/white belt to roll w/ and put myself in the position of disadvantage again to figure out how to escape w/ a less informed talent.
The final stage is true competition or real fight scenario. I'm an OG, Old Grappler, and competition is a goal if/when I can work it in post my 50-hour work week, family opns and whatever... Granted, for younger folks- you need to compete. I have fortunately competed in my youth and, at least, have the mental advantages of competition. You should TRAIN in the DOJO- compete in competition. Lots of young folks roll w/ the perspective of winning/loosing. You should train- the focus is improving yourself, your technique- that means some days you may submit more then you get submitted; granted you should go into class knowing that is a goal. Like you are going to roll w/ less capable folks to refine your submissions or roll w/ better folks to work your escapes. If you train cognitively- I think you just grow faster.
This is the ideal break out of training- granted, not necessarily the way schools can be run because folks like variety and this can be BORING to some- LOL! Granted, I'm a fan of drilling, drilling and drilling. Drilling w/ condition is just a proven winning solution.
Some folks think fighting and/or full throttle sparring is the only way to train- no this is the only way to polish and refine your combative skills. Near combative/competition level training is critical at the advanced levels but us novices really need to Drill, Drill and Drill so that we get some subconscious competencies and are able to compete/spar w/ perspective and thus grow. Here are some thoughts on the different kinds of drilling- I'll use the Army Proven "Crawl, Walk, Run, Race" decomposition.
Crawl Phase: Learning a new technique. I have seen it in stand up martial arts and see it in Jiu Jitsu- folks lack attention to detail and just focus on the "money shot" or submission. In Jiu-Jitsu the pre-condition is very important- who is in what relative position, what is the options available for each position and what "controls" or event pre-cedes the technique. I kinda call these details "site pictures" - just mental/physical images you have to learn/train so you know an opportunity for the technique exists. The next detail is what are the transitions to go from one set of controls to the next until you are in the position to submit, sweep, escape, etc. whatever is the goal of the technique. Thus you have to pay attention to these details before drilling. At this stage your partner is participative by being somewhat passive. The establish good baseline posture, but provide minimal resistance for you to take your time and progress through the technique to get a cognitive grasp of what the heck you are supposed to be doing. I believe in at lest doing the technique 3 to 5 times from one side, relatively slow to just get the mechanics right. The key detail, your partner isn't going- oh, I can do this or you are wondering how to defeat counters and what not- just focus on the technique in a box. If you don't get it- grab the instructor, get demonstrated on, but "crawl" until you have the mechanics down and can execute w/in your physical limitations.
Walk Phase: You partner still doesn't provide much assistance, granted, the partner is also training, they should be paying attention to what you are doing, what are the controls, what should be tight, what feels right, etc. Getting a cognitive perspective of what is occurring against them. You should be focused on achieving all the controls and transitions smoothly and really working on setting the foundation for smooth execution. You should get progressively faster/deliberate at this phase- this phase is focused on training mind/body, i.e. conditioning your self to move a bit more subconsciously. If you have a physical limitation- flexibility, lack of strength in muscles at a particular angle- this phase works all this out. Once you get to the point, you aren't thinking through each control/transition and can do things relatively smoothly - you are ready to run.
Run: This is competitive drilling- two stages. The first is partner is willing, but not permissive. Your partner will now seek to disrupt any lack of control or smooth transition created by you. This allows you refine precision a bit. The second phase is competitive drilling. Starting in the pre-condition and you and partner just going after different goals. You are trying to apply the technique, they are working a counter and escape. Once either of you achieve the contradictory goals- start over. You can also make this more complex by adding in multiple options- like some techniques have complimentary flowing techniques based on what is available and what gets shut down, e.g. Kimura- guillotine- knee bump from the guard...you try to work those in a constrained by competitive scenario.
Race: Is open sparring. You roll w/ a goal. Like I try to fight from the bottom w/ smaller folks and lower belts. I try to attack if w/ upper belts always from any position. If I get owned by something w/ an upper belt, I find a lower/white belt to roll w/ and put myself in the position of disadvantage again to figure out how to escape w/ a less informed talent.
The final stage is true competition or real fight scenario. I'm an OG, Old Grappler, and competition is a goal if/when I can work it in post my 50-hour work week, family opns and whatever... Granted, for younger folks- you need to compete. I have fortunately competed in my youth and, at least, have the mental advantages of competition. You should TRAIN in the DOJO- compete in competition. Lots of young folks roll w/ the perspective of winning/loosing. You should train- the focus is improving yourself, your technique- that means some days you may submit more then you get submitted; granted you should go into class knowing that is a goal. Like you are going to roll w/ less capable folks to refine your submissions or roll w/ better folks to work your escapes. If you train cognitively- I think you just grow faster.
This is the ideal break out of training- granted, not necessarily the way schools can be run because folks like variety and this can be BORING to some- LOL! Granted, I'm a fan of drilling, drilling and drilling. Drilling w/ condition is just a proven winning solution.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Recovery
Tonight I was able to get in a light work out w/ "Bob," the submission dummy. I'm a big fan of this dummy. I bought a cheap judo gi for him and just drilling on the dummy is great for muscle memory and working conditioning. Again, it is not better then a real person, however, it is better then trying to work by yourself.
I also made two training aid investments- one is the TRX Training Straps. I don't have anymore floor space in my work out area because I gave it up for my 9 x 9 mats. This thing rocks. It hangs from the ceiling out of the way and I now have a strength conditioning tool. I travel for work and this can go with me- and I do work out on the road.
The other investment is a 90-lb Woody Bag. Primarily to do Power Cleans. I hate weight training, but love medicine balls and sand bag training. This isn't a ton of weight, but doing power cleans and should hoists are great total body work outs.
I like just doing simple full body exercises and I just need to build up my muscular endurance and power as I get old.
I'm also working depth. You watch videos and read books and get caught up in all these techniques and what not- but I realize I need to keep things simple and work a layered attack from each position. Just repeat and repeat and get solid on some straight forward techniques so I have a solid game throughout the positional hierarchy- it may be simple, but I have proven I am patient under pressure and I think this is the best way for me to go. I'm an old bastard and trying to learn everything is just too much.
I always think back to college and just curse the fact I didn't do the Judo Club versus the Karate Team (yes, I did well- ended up being the team captain)...but Judo would have been nice to be accomplished in. Then in 2004 I was working w/ a Jiu Jitsu brown- soon to be black belt. I just wasn't interested in sweating and hugging on a guy- my big mistake. Life is what it is and I should be thankful for this opportunity. I'll close w/ Eddie Bravo's chat on Work Ethic- I like it:
I also made two training aid investments- one is the TRX Training Straps. I don't have anymore floor space in my work out area because I gave it up for my 9 x 9 mats. This thing rocks. It hangs from the ceiling out of the way and I now have a strength conditioning tool. I travel for work and this can go with me- and I do work out on the road.
The other investment is a 90-lb Woody Bag. Primarily to do Power Cleans. I hate weight training, but love medicine balls and sand bag training. This isn't a ton of weight, but doing power cleans and should hoists are great total body work outs.
I like just doing simple full body exercises and I just need to build up my muscular endurance and power as I get old.
I'm also working depth. You watch videos and read books and get caught up in all these techniques and what not- but I realize I need to keep things simple and work a layered attack from each position. Just repeat and repeat and get solid on some straight forward techniques so I have a solid game throughout the positional hierarchy- it may be simple, but I have proven I am patient under pressure and I think this is the best way for me to go. I'm an old bastard and trying to learn everything is just too much.
I always think back to college and just curse the fact I didn't do the Judo Club versus the Karate Team (yes, I did well- ended up being the team captain)...but Judo would have been nice to be accomplished in. Then in 2004 I was working w/ a Jiu Jitsu brown- soon to be black belt. I just wasn't interested in sweating and hugging on a guy- my big mistake. Life is what it is and I should be thankful for this opportunity. I'll close w/ Eddie Bravo's chat on Work Ethic- I like it:
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