Tag Archives: jiu jitsu

Is Jiu Jitsu Only a Fighting Art?

Posted on by
3

iStock_000000450441_ExtraSmallThroughout history the majority of martial arts have operated within a culture of honor. Warrior classes from Vikings to Medieval knights to modern military personnel have shared this tendency as well.  The ideal has always been to combine martial skills with ethical codes of behavior.

In Japan this ethical code of conduct was called Bushido (“Way of the Warrior) or Budo (Way of the Spirit.)  Bushido was intended to permeate the life of the samurai.  Specifically, it developed these seven character traits: right action, courage, benevolence, respect, truthfulness, honor, and loyalty.  Many modern day Jiu Jitsu practitioners still find the concept of “Bushido” to be an important component of their practice.

Why have codes of moral virtue been combined with martial skill?

Charles Darwin suggested an answer – he was puzzled by a phenomenon that seemed to contradict the most basic premise of his Theory of Evolution, that natural selection should favor the ruthless.

People who are kind and generous should therefore die before passing on their genes to the next generation.  Yet this is clearly not true, and all societies value kindness and generosity among their members.

Evolutionary biologists say that this seeming contradiction arises from the fact that we pass on our genes as individuals, but we survive as members of groups – and groups can exist only when individuals act not solely for their own advantage but for the sake of the group as a whole.

Neuroscientists say this dynamic has resulted in two patterns of reaction in our brains, a “Fast Track” and a “Slow Track.”

The Fast Track focuses on the individual.

  • The Fast Track focuses on potential danger to us as individuals.
  • It is characterized by the immediate, instinctive and emotional.

The Slow Track focuses on the group.

  • The Slow Track enables us to take a more considered view of the consequences of our actions for us and others.
  • It is characterized by the reflective, rational and altruistic.

The fast track helps us survive, but it can also lead us to acts that are impulsive and destructive.  The slow track leads us to more considered behavior – it brings moments of moral beauty into what might otherwise be harsh and lonely lives.  The Fast Track helps us survive, but it is the Slow Track that enables us to thrive.

The Importance of Bushido.

This puts us in a position to understand why bushido was an important component of martial arts in the past — and why we still need it in the future. By encouraging ethical behavior, Bushido strengthens and speeds up the Slow Track.  It reconfigures our neural pathways, turning moral behavior into instinct.

Bushido is the antidote to reckless behavior.  It replaces emotional outbursts with moral choices.  By metaphorically carving bushido into their hearts, the ideal samurai aimed to make “right action” automatic.  This guided them towards the appropriate use of violence.  Those who fell short of the ideal were more inclined to misuse their power and compromise their honor.

A strengthening of the slow track will highlight the honor in restraint.  Unmitigated violence without the balance of a moral code is self destructive to the individual and the community they reside in.

The idea that Jiu Jitsu can now do without some form of ethical code of behavior, or Bushido, not only flies in the face of history, it contradicts evolutionary biology.

Conclusion. 

The emotional strength and psychological fitness that is associated with the Slow Track will likely have a greater impact on our life than martial arts skill or physical strength.  This makes strengthening the Slow Track of our brains a supremely practical endeavor.

Philosophies such as Bushido are not a useless thing from the past.  In fact, when combined with martial skill, they provide a more well rounded knowledge that is the way of the future.

What do you think?  Do these moral codes still have a place in modern day Jiu Jitsu?  Can they still be effective in helping us balance physical capabilities with a strong moral character?

5 Reasons Why Jiu Jitsu is The Gentle Art.

Posted on by
6

Nothing is so strong as gentleness. Nothing is so gentle as real strength. – St. Francis de Sales

Jiu Jitsu is a Japanese phrase that is commonly translated as “the gentle art.”

At first glance this might seem misleading.  After all, the goal of Jiu Jitsu is to control and submit a resisting person. Limb attacks are designed to damage soft tissue and dislocate or break bones.  Chokes can render an opponent unconscious, and have the potential to kill.

It can seem there is nothing “gentle” about Jiu Jitsu.

At the same time, the Japanese were known for coming up with very descriptive names.  So lets take a look at 5 reasons why Jiu Jitsu is the Gentle Art.

Jiu Jitsu is based on using skill over strength.  Jiu Jitsu is the gentle art because it does not meet force with force.  When engaged in a close struggle, Jiu Jitsu maximizes the role of skill and science over strength and aggression.  The best practitioners operate with a relaxed ease, and are adept at using their opponents force against them.

“Jiu means gentle or to give way, Jitsu, an art or practice, and Do, way or principle, so that Jiu-jitsu means an art or practice of gentleness or of giving way in order to ultimately gain the victory; while Judo means the way or principle of the same.” – Jigoro Kano

Jiu Jitsu is less violent than the striking arts.  Another reason why Jiu Jitsu is the gentle art is because it is substantially less violent and injurious than other forms of combat or martial arts. 

Effective martial arts for real world self-defense require a component of “live” sparring.  Sparring in Jiu Jitsu requires less violence and results in less serious injury than sparring with strikes.  With Jiu Jitsu there is an agreement to stop a technique short of permanent injury – which cannot be done with a punch or a kick.  This “gentler” approach to live training means sparring can be done on a daily basis – with much less risk of permanently damaging yourself or your training partner.

Jiu Jitsu promotes longevity.  The third reason why Jiu Jitsu is the “gentle art” is because it is more forgiving than many other athletic activities.  When done intelligently and at an appropriate intensity, it builds the body up without breaking it down.  So despite its capacity to inflict harm, Jiu Jitsu does not chew up the body like many western sports or other martial arts. Grandmasters Helio and Carlos Gracie embodied this principle, continuing their training into their 90’s.

Gentleman rules.  The fourth reason why Jiu Jitsu is the gentle art is because it abides by “gentleman rules.”  These rules are universally adopted in other forms of grappling as well.  They include no punching, slapping, kicking, biting, eye gouging, fishhooking, pinching, hair grabbing or individual finger locks.

Jiu Jitsu decreases stress and anger.  The fifth reason is that Jiu Jitsu generally promotes an easy-going, laidback attitude.  That is because Jiu Jitsu is known to reduce stress, anger and insecurities.

“A coward is much more exposed to quarrels than a man of spirit.” -Thomas Jefferson

Conclusion.  

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu emphasizes the use of science over strength and aggression.  This results in greater control, and allows the intensity to be varied to a level appropriate to the situation.  But this is not the only reason why Jiu Jitsu is the “gentle art.”

Although reality-based martial arts that include sparring will never be completely “gentle,” much of the appeal of Jiu Jitsu is centered around it being substantially less violent and injurious than other forms of combat or martial arts.

The techniques of Jiu Jitsu are geared towards incapacitating another person in the most effective and efficient way possible, yet Jiu Jitsu can still be a very pleasurable activity, and “gentle” enough to train on a regular basis for the rest of one’s life.

The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world. - Lao Tzu

4 Keys to Jiu Jitsu Success.

Posted on by
3

The task of controlling and submitting a resisting person can be quite challenging, especially when the other person is bigger, stronger or more skilled.  After all, they are doing all they can to defend themselves, while simultaneously mounting an attack against you.

On a technical level, the ultimate goal of Jiu Jitsu is to submit your opponent.  In order to achieve this goal, it can be helpful to have an awareness of the sequence of events that typically precede a submission victory.  This will enable us to break our task down to more manageable components.  By winning the smaller battles, we can win the larger one.

Here are 4 key elements that can increase our Jiu Jitsu success.

1.   Establish an Advantageous Grip on your Opponent.

Nothing much happens until you establish grips, but do not just settle for any grip.  Fight for a superior grip while denying your opponent the grips that they want.  Grips can quickly manifest as control.  When you sense that you are being controlled – break the grips that control you.

A significant amount of your success will depend on your ability to get the grips that you want.  Establishing a superior grip will increase your chances of a successful attack.

2.   Off Balance your Opponent.

Once you have your grip, look to off balance your opponent.  “Off-balancing” can have many manifestations.  It can refer to anything that upsets the opponent’s physical balance, or mentally confuses them.

Create reactions in your opponent that you can exploit.  Motion will create opportunity.  Draw him in, distract him, use fakes and combinations as set-ups so that the real attack can take place.

No matter your particular style of Jiu Jitsu, “off balancing” your opponent will take them out of their comfort zone and compromise their defenses – thus opening the door to positional dominance and opportunities for submissions.

3.   Achieve Positional Dominance.

Jiu Jitsu theory clearly outlines a hierarchy of positions that two opposing people can fall into.  Successful Jiu Jitsu practitioners seek out dominant position.

Establishing positional dominance translates to having greater control over your opponent than they have over you.  The greater the Positional Dominance, the more a person can maximize their potential for generating effective attacks, while minimizing their vulnerability to being attacked.

Once a dominant position is established, look to attack with finishing holds or submissions.

4.   Be Submission Minded. 

Submissions are the ultimate success in a Jiu Jitsu contest.  They are a reflection of the capacity to control and incapacitate a resisting person.

To be successful in Jiu Jitsu you should be submission-minded.  Constantly seek submissions and apply them in combination.  As Braulio Estima once told me, “do not go to war with just one bullet.”  Have combinations of attacks.

Theory Over Tactics.  An awareness of the core principles that underlie Jiu Jitsu strategy can be more important than the specific techniques we use to carry out our goal.  The specific tactics will vary depending on our physical attributes and individual style.  But these “4 Keys” remain the same.

Conclusion.  They are not written in stone, but these 4 keys are present in a high percentage of submission victories.  Keeping these 4 elements in mind will enable you to put the odds of a favorable outcome on your side.

Success is Built on Failures.  Along the way you can expect to be frustrated.  But do not allow your self to get too frustrated – remember, success is built on “failures.”

The Greatest Technique.

Posted on by

“With a lot of technique and a lot of faith, you can beat anyone.” – Caio Terra

We Jiu Jitsu practitioners are always looking to increase and improve our techniques, and that is a wonderful thing.

But what is the most important technique that will help us reach our goal?

That’s debatable.

Could trust be the greatest technique?

What is trust?  Trust can be defined as a feeling of confidence in the predictability of a result.  Trust is confirmed by a track record of success.

How can trust be the greatest technique?  The answer has to do with how our levels of trust in certain key areas can impact everything else in our training.

By consciously adopting a trusting mindset, especially in the 3 critical impact areas that we will look at below, we can accelerate our progress and increase our chances for success.

On the flip side, so many of the shortcomings and frustrations in our Jiu Jitsu practice stem from a lack of trust.  Lacking trust in these 3 areas will negatively impact our performance.

Here is a list of the critical impact areas that we will focus on:

  1. Trusting the Techniques
  2. Trusting your Professor
  3. Trusting Yourself.

The list could go on.  Trusting the tapout and trusting our training partners are some other important areas.  But let us use these three as a starting point.

The first critical impact area is trusting the techniques.  Trust in the techniques is a large part of what distinguishes the advanced student from the beginner.

“Before you can achieve, you must believe.” Although we use our bodies to execute our techniques, it is the mind that moves the body.  So it is an important psychological point, that in order for a technique to be successful, we must trust that it will succeed.  Expectations influence results.  The mental side of high-level athletic performance cannot be overestimated..

The best Jiu-Jitsu players trust that they can create predictable results.  They trust their techniques to such a high degree, that even when they know that you know what they want to do, they still feel that they can do it – nd they are usually correct.

Commitment.  Additionally, for a technique to work against a formidable opponent, one must commit to it.  Trust is the forerunner to commitment.  Without trust, we will not be able to commit to a technique.  Therefore, as our trust and commitment in relation to a given technique increases – so will our success rate.

Not trusting our Jiu-Jitsu techniques can leave us very frustrated – and stressed.

So, how do we build trust in our techniques?  The same way we develop any skill, by practicing.  But recognize that this process can take a while.You rarely trust someone just because they say, “trust me.”  Trust is built up over time by consistent action.  We build trust in our techniques by practicing – which means drilling them for many repetitions.  The trust we develop in drilling should be confirmed by the success we have in live training.

Key elements for building trust by drilling:

  • Gain familiarity with the technique by drilling it.
  • Be detail oriented.  Do not omit important details.
  • Keep going until you develop a level competency.

Key elements for building trust in randori:

  • Trust is the result of action taken over time, so be patient.  (Learn to trust your techniques, even if they betray you.)
  • Keep it simple, focus on only a few techniques.
  • The more success you have in Randori, the greater your trust will be in a given technique.

The 2nd critical impact area is trusting your teacher.  The student-teacher relationship is sacred and ancient.  It is one of the things that separate us from the animals.  The ability to pass down information and refine it is an integral part of what makes us human. By trusting your Professor, you are positioning yourself to have greater trust in the techniques.

The main criterion for choosing a teacher is their ability to give you a greater understanding of Jiu-Jitsu than you already have.  Once you choose someone, it is important to trust him or her.  Consider them to be the messenger of your Jiu-Jitsu potential.

The benefits of trusting your Professor:

  1. You will progress faster.
  2. You will be more coachable
  3. You will create the opportunity to become a Master yourself

Progress faster.  The best in the world have a history of whole-heartedly trusting their Masters. Students who develop this trust will progress faster than students who do not.  Relative to their individual abilities, the student that trusts their professor 100% will progress at a pace almost twice as fast as the student who has a 50% level of trust.

Be coachable.  Trusting your professor allows you to be coachable.  Someone whio is coachable generally progresses faster then others.  How can you increase your coachability?  By trusting the teacher, and trusting the techniques.

Become a Master.  99.9% of the time, before a person can become a master, they must first fully trust a Master.  You have to have the experience of fully trusting a Master before you can become one.

Being half-hearted in this 2nd critical impact area can be a serious drawback and the cause of much frustration.  Not trusting your teacher will be a distraction – which creates a hindrance in your ability to learn.  Students who do not trust their professors think they are making their professor wrong and themselves right – but it is the student who ends up losing out.

The 3rd critical impact area is trusting yourself.  Successful people set a goal and usually wont give up until they achieve it.  They trust that they can do it.

Regardless of your current level, develop the ability to trust in yourself.  Some key areas:

  • Trust that you are physically capable.  If not, improve your conditioning.
  • Trust that you can handle challenges.
  • Trust that you will improve with practice.
  • Trust your ability to solve problems.
  • Trust your creativity.
  • Trust that you will get to black belt and beyond.

Conclusion.

As martial artists who practice self-defense, we can be of the mindset to trust no one.  True, there is an inherent vulnerability in allowing yourself to trust – and commitment can leave you over-exposed.  But life itself is a risk – and the value of allowing yourself to trust far outweighs the risks.

By consciously applying the technique of trust to these 3 critical impact areas, you can take your Jiu-Jitsu to an entirely new level.   Remember, trust is a “feeling” or a mindset, but it is the result of actions taken.

What do you think?  Is trust an important component of your training?

Do you trust your Professor?  Do you trust yourself?  Have you built up a few moves that you really trust?

I think that we may safely trust a good deal more than we do. – Henry David Thoreau

Creativity comes from trust. Trust your instincts. And never hope more than you work. – Rita Mae Brown

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a High Leverage Habit

Posted on by

HABITS

A large percentage of what we do in our lives is automatic.  Our daily activities are often the product of the habits that we’ve carved out for ourselves over time. All habits have one fundamental thing in common: they were learned by repetition – much like our Jiu-Jitsu techniques.  When we repeat an action enough times it creates neuronal pathways in our brains – at which point we are pretty much on autopilot.  These habits can be good or bad, resulting in a positive or negative consequence. The effects of habits in people’s lives are incalculable.

HABITS AND JIU JITSU

Grand Masters Carlos and Helio Gracie were well aware of the impact of habits.  For nearly a century they propagated a way of life that promoted positive habits.  In particular they stressed proper sleep, diet and exercise.

That’s why it is not uncommon to hear certain Professors say things like:  “Eating right is Jiu-Jitsu.”  “Taking care of your body and mind is Jiu-Jitsu.” “Saying no to negative influences is Jiu-Jitsu.” In essence, the cultivation of positive habits and avoidance of negative habits is one of the higher forms of Jiu-Jitsu.

JIU JITSU AS A HIGH LEVERAGE HABIT

Habits and their effects can be big or small.  A high leverage habit is something that can have a major impact on your life.  Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a high leverage habit. Why? Because it is a single activity that can positively affect a wide range of critical habit areas.

THE MOST POPULAR POSITIVE HABITS

Here is a list of some of the most popular positive habits that people would like to have.  Let’s take a quick look at the impact Jiu-Jitsu can have in these areas:

  1. Exercise.  This is by far the most popular habit that people would like to incorporate.  Most people want to lose weight and be more fit.  BJJ is one of the most complete forms of exercise available.  People who regularly train Jiu-Jitsu will likely get into the best shape of their lives.
  2. Diet / Healthy Eating. This is easily the second most popular positive habit.  Ever since it’s inception, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has been associated with healthy eating.  After a Jiu-Jitsu training session, you will have a natural desire to eat healthy.  Improving your diet and being more informed about nutrition in general becomes a habit for most BJJ practitioners.
  3. Sleep.  Proper sleep has a major impact on our physiology, and is therefore a major factor in human performance.  Few things teach you the importance of getting adequate rest as a physically and mentally demanding Jiu-Jitsu training session.
  4. Learning a New Skill.  Many people have the desire to learn a new skill as a way of testing themselves, improving their lives, and keeping things interesting.  Perhaps they even want to gain the benefits of being on the road to mastery. Not only does BJJ captivate your mind and body, BJJ is a skill that could literally save your life!
  5. Stress Reduction.  Stress is a known killer.  Many people would like to reduce the chronic stress and anxiety that they feel.  Is there anything better than Jiu-Jitsu for reducing stress?
  6. Meditation.  There are many benefits to be had from meditation, and many people would like to make it a part of their lives, but find it challenging.  BJJ is Moving Meditation.  After training Jiu-Jitsu you will likely find yourself in a more meditative frame of mind.
  7. Brain Exercises.  Jiu-Jitsu stimulates the mind because it is a problem-solving activity.  Some people like Sudoku, other people may enjoy a crossword.  BJJ is like human chess – it is never boring, always changing, and always challenging.

If you were to incorporate these desirable habit areas into your life independently, it might take 4 – 8 hours of your day.  Yet you can reap all of these benefits simultaneously from one activity – Jiu-Jitsu.  Plus we get the added bonus of being able to defend ourselves or others.  That is a pretty big bonus!

It is for these reasons and more that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a high leverage habit.

We sometimes need to remind ourselves of all the benefits we receive from our practice.  We should not take our training for granted.  It can be surprising when we realize just how much value our Jiu-Jitsu training gives us.  Keep the values and benefits of your training in mind – they provide healthy motivation on those days when we would rather be lazy.

What are the habits you find most important to you?  What do you think is the highest leverage habit that you could institute in your life?

“Sow an act, and you reap a habit. Sow a habit and you reap a character. Sow a character, and you reap a destiny.” – Unknown

“Without health in its whole meaning, there can be no complete happiness.” – Master Carlos Gracie Sr.

“If you do not take care in regard to matters of health, there is no benefit in practicing judo.” – Jigoro Kano

The Elegant Paradox of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Posted on by

Paradoxes and Japanese koans create a beautiful tension – they also can be very revealing about human nature.   Some examples of this are: Less is more.  The hours are long, but the years are short. Everything matters; nothing matters.  Shakespeare’s Hamlet states, “I must be cruel to be kind.”

An important Japanese concept is wabi-sabi, which describes the perfection or special beauty of the flawed, the incomplete, and the transient.

Niels Bohr, one of the most influential scientists of the 20th century, observed: “There are trivial truths and great truths. The opposite of a trivial truth is plainly false. The opposite of a great truth is also true.”  This statement proves the greatness of Jiu Jitsu – because BJJ is a paradox.  A couple of examples:

  • Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is violent.  Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is non-violent.
  • BJJ may trace its origins back to ancient India.  Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu sparked the modern day MMA revolution.
  • BJJ is therapeutic.  BJJ is the most effective method of unarmed combat.

More importantly, some of the most valuable lessons to be learned in Jiu-Jitsu are paradoxical.

  • To succeed you must fail.
  • Have fun. But take it seriously.
  • Slow down to progress faster.
  • “Flow with the go” – but make sure you have a strategy.
  • Improve your skills, so you can help others.
  • Attain mastery by practicing the basics.
  • Relax, so you can be more powerful.
  • To learn more, empty your mind.
  • The better you get, the more humble you should be.
  • Control the inside, in order to control the outside.
  • The best lessons are implemented off the mat.
  • There is nothing new.  Make sure you know what is new.
  • Know violence, to know peace.
  • The biggest skill is shrimping.
  • The mountain has no top.

Do you love paradoxes?  Have you embraced the paradox of Jiu-Jitsu?  Do you know of any other paradoxical elements of BJJ?  Please let us know…

The 12 Commandments of BJJ

Posted on by

The 12 Commandments of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

-By Grandmaster Carlos Gracie Sr.

Promise yourself…

  1. To be so secure that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
  2. To speak to all of happiness, health and prosperity.
  3. To let your friends know that you value them.
  4. To look at the bright side and turn your optimism into your reality.
  5. To think only the best, work only for the best, and expect only the best.
  6. To be as fair and as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are of your own.
  7. To forget about past mistakes, and focus your energy on the achievements of the future.
  8. To always make those around you happy, and smile when someone is talking to you.
  9. To spend most of your time on self-improvement, and no time criticizing others.
  10. To be too complete to feel anxious, too noble to be angry, too happy to feel frustrated, and too strong to be fearful.
  11. To have a good opinion of yourself, and proclaim it to the world.  Not with loud words, but with good works.
  12. To strongly believe that the world is on your side, as long as you stay loyal to your best self.

The Power of the Gi

Posted on by

 

GI VS NOGI?

Most of the the “Gi or Nogi?” discussions have centered around the technical merits of each mode of training.   Some MMA athletes conclude that since they will be not be competing in the Gi, they should not train in one.  On the other hand, top BJJ players such as Roger Gracie, Marcelo Garcia and others inform us that training in the Gi will make you more technical in both Gi and NoGi settings.

THE POWER OF RITUAL

There is another benefit of Gi training that has not gotten much attention — wearing a Gi is more ritualistic.  When we put on the Gi and tie our belt, we are consciously or subconsciously performing a ritual.  It is the same ritual that grappling greats such as Rolls Gracie, Yasuhiro Yamashita and many, many others have done before us.

By consciously performing an act as ritual, our approach to the activity changes.

TEA VS TEA CEREMONY

Let’s look at it from the example of a tea ceremony.  There is a  big difference between drinking tea out of a plastic cup just to quench one’s thirst, and taking part in a tea ceremony.  A tea ceremony is more ritualistic.  As a result, the person involved in the tea ceremony will:

  1. Place a greater value on the process.
  2. Have a greater attention to detail.
  3. Have a heightened state of awareness.

Of course you cannot perform a tea ceremony every time you are thirsty.  Nevertheless, which person will likely gain greater enjoyment from their tea-drinking experience?  Which person will gain more satisfaction from the activity of drinking tea?  Who is more present and conscious of what they are doing?

HI PERFORMANCE

A complete grappler should be comfortable in and out of the Gi, but wearing the GI can help heighten our focus and attention, much like the tea ceremony.

Attention to detail adds another element to our Jiu-Jitsu training. Greater attention to detail allows you to get fully encompassed in your training – and science has shown that a more engaged mind is a happy mind.  So being fully engaged in the moment can heighten your productivity, and make your training even more fun.

It may seem like these concepts have no place in modern day training – and for some they do not.  But others will realize the benefit of increasing our focus on the thing we are spending our valuable time on. Being mindful and being in the moment is another way of saying, “being in the zone” or “mu-shin” (no mind), which is a state of increased performance.

If you are reading this, Jiu-Jitsu is probably important to you (although this principle can be applied to any activity in your life.)  Do not just go through the motions; give your Jiu-Jitsu practice the attention it deserves.  By consciously making it a ritual, you will attach significance to putting your gi on.  This will:

  1. Heighten your awareness – “zan shin”
  2. Increase your consciousness – “fu do shin”
  3. Put you “in the zone”  – “mu shin”
  4. Add importance to your practice
  5. Connect you to the Jiu-Jitsu greats of the past

 A ritual can be like a regular activity on steroids.  So while some of your training partners may be on actual steroids, you can make the act of putting on a Gi a ritual – which can feel like steroids for your mind!

What do you think?  Can consciously thinking of putting on your Gi and tying your belt as ritual have any impact on your training?