Note: This post was originally published November 21st of 2009. As I reviewed my entire blog, I realized how important this one is.
A "false friend" had the following on her myspace account. It's attributed erroneously to Ralph Waldo Emerson. Scholars can't agree who actually wrote it, but it doesn't really concern me. I read it years ago, but it had slipped my mind for quite a while. I think it's good to consider, though, because it's at major odds with what contemporary society considers success.
What is Success?
To laugh often and much;
To earn the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal
by false friends;
To appreciate beauty;
To find the best
in others;
To leave the world a bit better,
whether by a healthy child,
a garden, or a redeemed soul;
To know even one life has
breathed easier
because you have lived;
This is to have succeeded.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Breakfast
Breakfast is one of the two most important meals of the day. Period. The other one is your post-workout meal. In other words, it's what you eat after the gym. But let's concentrate on breakfast, because so few people seem to get it.
Don't show up to class without first eating breakfast. It's just utterly ridiculous to get to class on an empty tank. You slept about eight hours, and you haven't eaten for at least that long. Now you're going to add a few more hours on top of that without food? Eat breakfast.
When I tell my guys to eat breakfast, they make it sound like they don't have a clue what I'm talking about. People! It's not rocket science! Here's what I'm eating while I write this: a bowl of oatmeal, two eggs, a glass of orange juice, a glass of water, a banana, and whole wheat toast. And I will admit, I'm on my second cup of coffee. I don't recommend the coffee, but that's just the way it is.
Have a bowl of cereal with skim milk. An egg or two, however you like them. (And if you don't like them, start liking them. And forget about all that nonsense of not eating anything but the whites. Crack some eggs and get to it. Yoke and all). Have some fruit juice. REAL fruit juice. If you don't want the cereal with milk, eat oatmeal. I recommend that over the other anyway. And get creative. Don't force yourself to eat the same thing day in and day out.
Eat breakfast. Quit being a complete idiot and eat.
Don't show up to class without first eating breakfast. It's just utterly ridiculous to get to class on an empty tank. You slept about eight hours, and you haven't eaten for at least that long. Now you're going to add a few more hours on top of that without food? Eat breakfast.
When I tell my guys to eat breakfast, they make it sound like they don't have a clue what I'm talking about. People! It's not rocket science! Here's what I'm eating while I write this: a bowl of oatmeal, two eggs, a glass of orange juice, a glass of water, a banana, and whole wheat toast. And I will admit, I'm on my second cup of coffee. I don't recommend the coffee, but that's just the way it is.
Have a bowl of cereal with skim milk. An egg or two, however you like them. (And if you don't like them, start liking them. And forget about all that nonsense of not eating anything but the whites. Crack some eggs and get to it. Yoke and all). Have some fruit juice. REAL fruit juice. If you don't want the cereal with milk, eat oatmeal. I recommend that over the other anyway. And get creative. Don't force yourself to eat the same thing day in and day out.
Eat breakfast. Quit being a complete idiot and eat.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
True Jiu Jitsu
I have taken some heat in the past saying I don't believe in sport jiu jitsu, and that such a sport mindset can get you killed. I even suggested that true jiu jitsu isn't just grappling, but striking, too. A lot of people said I didn't know what I was talking about. I will let the words of Royce Gracie speak for themselves:
"When I tour the country and give seminars, I am surprised by how many people who are experts in sport jujitsu but do not know the most basic self-defense techniques of jiu-jitsu. The problem with this is that you can get a false sense of security from what you know. Just because you can handle yourself on the mat doesn’t mean you’ll know what to do when attacked. In that case, sport ju-jitsu can actually be a detriment because you’ll be overconfident. We were shocked by how many longtime students had completely forgotten, or even worse never learned, the very important self-defense aspects. For my father Helio,the self-defense moves are far more important than the sport moves. Every time I see him, he always tells me that students are not being taught enough self-defense moves.”– Royce Gracie, Grapple Magazine
That is why I have always been hard on what passes for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Gracie Jiu Jitsu isn't sport jiu jitsu, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu isn't fight jiu jitsu. That might seem overly simplistic, but that's the way I've always seen it. When someone says he practices Brazilian Jiu Jitsu I know he means jiu jitsu for NAGA, or some other mat event. Go back and read Royce's words.
"When I tour the country and give seminars, I am surprised by how many people who are experts in sport jujitsu but do not know the most basic self-defense techniques of jiu-jitsu. The problem with this is that you can get a false sense of security from what you know. Just because you can handle yourself on the mat doesn’t mean you’ll know what to do when attacked. In that case, sport ju-jitsu can actually be a detriment because you’ll be overconfident. We were shocked by how many longtime students had completely forgotten, or even worse never learned, the very important self-defense aspects. For my father Helio,the self-defense moves are far more important than the sport moves. Every time I see him, he always tells me that students are not being taught enough self-defense moves.”– Royce Gracie, Grapple Magazine
That is why I have always been hard on what passes for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Gracie Jiu Jitsu isn't sport jiu jitsu, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu isn't fight jiu jitsu. That might seem overly simplistic, but that's the way I've always seen it. When someone says he practices Brazilian Jiu Jitsu I know he means jiu jitsu for NAGA, or some other mat event. Go back and read Royce's words.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
No Guard
No guard, no jiu-jitsu. That's something I try to remind everyone in my jiu-jitsu classes. Even though there are numerous styles of classical jiu-jitsu that don't use the guard, the way I see it is that jiu-jitsu begins with the guard. It's not the mount, side control, or even the back position. It's the guard.
The most important skill in jiu-jitsu, to me at least, is guard replacing. Guard replacement simply means getting to guard from any and all positions. After all, if you can't get guard, how are you ever going to use it? If you suck at guard replacements, what's the point of learning to submit from it?
Guard replacement is a rather simple science, but like all skills it requires dedication to repetition. It should be the skill that precedes all others. Learn how to get to guard while you're mounted, side controlled, etc. Work three or four solid replacements and then you're on your way to learning how to use the guard. Instead of learning the upa, (the bridge-and-roll mount reversal), learn how to go from being mounted to getting your guard. Once you have confidence in replacing your guard, only then try to learn other escape methods.
Since we're on the subject of the guard, let me say that the second most important skill is breaking your opponent's posture and establishing solid control. Instead of learning how to submit, learn how to shift in such a way as to set him up for those submissions. We tend to be too eager to learn submissions at the expense of the foundation that provides for them.
Learn to replace guard, and then learn how to break your opponent down in the guard. Only then worry about your submissions. Just a thought.
The most important skill in jiu-jitsu, to me at least, is guard replacing. Guard replacement simply means getting to guard from any and all positions. After all, if you can't get guard, how are you ever going to use it? If you suck at guard replacements, what's the point of learning to submit from it?
Guard replacement is a rather simple science, but like all skills it requires dedication to repetition. It should be the skill that precedes all others. Learn how to get to guard while you're mounted, side controlled, etc. Work three or four solid replacements and then you're on your way to learning how to use the guard. Instead of learning the upa, (the bridge-and-roll mount reversal), learn how to go from being mounted to getting your guard. Once you have confidence in replacing your guard, only then try to learn other escape methods.
Since we're on the subject of the guard, let me say that the second most important skill is breaking your opponent's posture and establishing solid control. Instead of learning how to submit, learn how to shift in such a way as to set him up for those submissions. We tend to be too eager to learn submissions at the expense of the foundation that provides for them.
Learn to replace guard, and then learn how to break your opponent down in the guard. Only then worry about your submissions. Just a thought.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
The Triangle Part Two - Three Triangle Principles
Be sure to read the post beneath this one first. This is part two.
The triangle is a very simple submission. Few might agree with me on that, but oh well. I should be accustomed to that by now. Anyways, the triangle can be done in just one step, or up to three, depending on the application, set up, and positioning. But it should NEVER take more than three steps. If your triangle requires more than this, go back and look at your triangle. Start cutting out the superfluous movements.
The triangle, the way I see it, is based on three principles (ESR). Expose, Secure, Rotate. You must expose the head and one arm. You must have an immediate hold on your opponent with your legs and hands (Secure). And you must rotate your body in order to sink it in deep and to avoid getting slammed. Notice I didn't mention getting his arm across his neck or pulling down the head? That's because if you get these three principles down, those things are usually unnecessary.
The three principles that make the triangle work do not require three distinct steps. In fact, there are ways of getting all three in a single motion. This isn't always the case, but it often is. Also, once you learn how to use the three principles the way we teach them here at the gym, you will avoid things like getting slammed Rampage Jackson style, or getting stacked and dumped wrestler style, or fighting for his arm to cross his neck standard jiu-jitsu style. And you won't sap your resources by yanking down on his head to force the tap. Though we sometimes will pull the head if it's the expedient thing to do, we seldom do that. I find it far more efficient to do it the way we do it.
When you are taught the triangle, start looking at how many steps you're being taught. If there are more than three, your instructor may not have simplified the triangle enough. That's not a slam against him, it's just that I believe anything more than three is too much. Usually you should get the triangle in two motions. Often just one. Look at ways of simplifying it, making it faster.
Learn the triangle well. Because like I've said before, the rest are just details.
The triangle is a very simple submission. Few might agree with me on that, but oh well. I should be accustomed to that by now. Anyways, the triangle can be done in just one step, or up to three, depending on the application, set up, and positioning. But it should NEVER take more than three steps. If your triangle requires more than this, go back and look at your triangle. Start cutting out the superfluous movements.
The triangle, the way I see it, is based on three principles (ESR). Expose, Secure, Rotate. You must expose the head and one arm. You must have an immediate hold on your opponent with your legs and hands (Secure). And you must rotate your body in order to sink it in deep and to avoid getting slammed. Notice I didn't mention getting his arm across his neck or pulling down the head? That's because if you get these three principles down, those things are usually unnecessary.
The three principles that make the triangle work do not require three distinct steps. In fact, there are ways of getting all three in a single motion. This isn't always the case, but it often is. Also, once you learn how to use the three principles the way we teach them here at the gym, you will avoid things like getting slammed Rampage Jackson style, or getting stacked and dumped wrestler style, or fighting for his arm to cross his neck standard jiu-jitsu style. And you won't sap your resources by yanking down on his head to force the tap. Though we sometimes will pull the head if it's the expedient thing to do, we seldom do that. I find it far more efficient to do it the way we do it.
When you are taught the triangle, start looking at how many steps you're being taught. If there are more than three, your instructor may not have simplified the triangle enough. That's not a slam against him, it's just that I believe anything more than three is too much. Usually you should get the triangle in two motions. Often just one. Look at ways of simplifying it, making it faster.
Learn the triangle well. Because like I've said before, the rest are just details.
The Triangle Part One - The Rest are Just Details
Master the triangle. That's what I tell everyone who comes into the gym. Master the triangle first and only then worry about the other stuff. That might sound overly simplistic, but I've used that advice for myself and others and it works. I would never be arrogant enough to believe I have mastered anything, but the effort to do so is there. So when I say "master" it, I'm simply saying get really damn good at it.
Master the triangle. In your effort to get a kickass triangle, everything else will be child's play. Forget about the arm bars, kimuras, key locks, ankle hooks, rear chokes and guillotines. That might sound blasphemous, but it works. I'm not saying don't use one of those techniques if it's staring you right in the face. And I'm not suggesting that you should never learn the other stuff. I'm simply saying that if you work on getting your triangle down, to just plain sick ability, all else falls into place.
One of my newer students was taught this. I had him focus on the triangle to the exclusion of all other techniques. Of course he had to know how to replace guard so he could actually be in position to pull the triangle off, but it was the only submission we worked. A student came in from another gym to roll with us. He had two years of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training. My guy, with only three months of training, all of it focused on the triangle, and weighing only 135 pounds, caught the guy four times in three minutes. At the end of it, the guy stammered in frustration "Is the triangle all he knows!?!" I told him yes, it was. (Many of you at the gym witnessed it. But those who didn't it, it was Geanne who did that. Good job young man).
Also, a student named Christian, after only two months of training, caught another jiu jitsu trained guy (one year of consistent training) with two triangles in a row. None of this is to boast. By no means. We are always improving and always have things to work on. And I'm not suggesting we are some kind of badasses compaired to other gyms. We're not. But the facts are the facts. I'm simply using them to illustrate my point.
And to re-emphasize my point: master the triangle. Don't worry about arm bars and all that other stuff until you can pull your triangle off from all positions against all kinds of fighters. Pull it off from the guard, the mount, back control, and even when caught in his side control, north-south, and others. Practice the standard set ups, and then the not-so-standard set ups. I guarantee you that your game will jump up considerably.
In the Spartan Gym the very first submission you will learn is the triangle. You will learn it until you're deliriously bored with it. But then you will start catching those people you thought were un-catchable. Then it won't seem so boring. Master the triangle. The rest are just details.
Master the triangle. In your effort to get a kickass triangle, everything else will be child's play. Forget about the arm bars, kimuras, key locks, ankle hooks, rear chokes and guillotines. That might sound blasphemous, but it works. I'm not saying don't use one of those techniques if it's staring you right in the face. And I'm not suggesting that you should never learn the other stuff. I'm simply saying that if you work on getting your triangle down, to just plain sick ability, all else falls into place.
One of my newer students was taught this. I had him focus on the triangle to the exclusion of all other techniques. Of course he had to know how to replace guard so he could actually be in position to pull the triangle off, but it was the only submission we worked. A student came in from another gym to roll with us. He had two years of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training. My guy, with only three months of training, all of it focused on the triangle, and weighing only 135 pounds, caught the guy four times in three minutes. At the end of it, the guy stammered in frustration "Is the triangle all he knows!?!" I told him yes, it was. (Many of you at the gym witnessed it. But those who didn't it, it was Geanne who did that. Good job young man).
Also, a student named Christian, after only two months of training, caught another jiu jitsu trained guy (one year of consistent training) with two triangles in a row. None of this is to boast. By no means. We are always improving and always have things to work on. And I'm not suggesting we are some kind of badasses compaired to other gyms. We're not. But the facts are the facts. I'm simply using them to illustrate my point.
And to re-emphasize my point: master the triangle. Don't worry about arm bars and all that other stuff until you can pull your triangle off from all positions against all kinds of fighters. Pull it off from the guard, the mount, back control, and even when caught in his side control, north-south, and others. Practice the standard set ups, and then the not-so-standard set ups. I guarantee you that your game will jump up considerably.
In the Spartan Gym the very first submission you will learn is the triangle. You will learn it until you're deliriously bored with it. But then you will start catching those people you thought were un-catchable. Then it won't seem so boring. Master the triangle. The rest are just details.
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