There and Back

A journey. A return. Probably tired.

Month: March 2022

  • White Belt Mindset

    Since c*vid sucks and we were kept from our loved ones, friends, and hobbies we enjoy doing (like jiu jitsu), Gracie Barra Online offered their members free access to their online courses. If you couldn’t go to your gym mats, or if you didn’t own your own set of mats at home, then online videos were the next best thing.

    While perusing the site, I stumbled upon a video from Braulio Estima – 4th Degree Black Belt in jiu jitsu (also former training partner of UFC star Georges St-Pierre) on some lessons he learned when he was a white belt that helped him throughout his jiu jitsu career.

    Here is a transcript from the video that I took that I thought was a good way to approach having a positive mindset when it comes to being a white belt in jiu jitsu…

    “I remember there was six months that I was new to the academy and had no clue how to fight, what was my objective, and what I was supposed to be doing right, and I remember that I end up all the time on the bottom. And that’s why I ended up having the closed guard as my safe zone where I could control my opponent without being surprised. Also my main game was going to the lapel chokes and for the arm bars, a technique that I am going to share with you guys today after this okay. So, but one lesson that I had that was very important lesson for me which was How to Deal with Expectations. You know I remember, there was a seminar coming and I was sure I was going to get my blue belt, I even bought a blue belt and put it in my backpack and left it in the sitting area. The seminar goes, and I don’t even remember what the seminar was about, I was thinking about was – the belt, the belt, the belt – and the seminar finishes, the professor closes the class, didn’t give no belt to nobody. I passed in front of him a few times just make sure maybe he forgot about me. Ignored, nothing happened. I go home, I cry, you know three days no training. And I realized that expectations just makes you open up doors to frustrations and for disappointment right. Since then I decided when I’m going to train, I’m going to train to be as good as I could ever be, do my best, not expecting no belt and when it’s time will be. And I blink my eyes I’m here black belt and with a very good lesson that I took for life as well.“

    I’ve gotten discouraged in this sport more that a few times. I’ve had injuries that kept me out for weeks. I’ve been choked and submitted in front of the head instructor while he was telling me how to not get choked and submitted. I’ve had to postpone my training due to the pandemic. But I’ve also had little wins, like my training partners telling me it was hard to pass my guard. Or having the head instructor praise a technique I demonstrated that I just learned. All of this combined has helped develop a positive healthy mindset towards my journey so far in jiu jitsu.

    Will I keep getting hurt? Yes.
    Will I miss time due to injury? I hope not but probably.
    Will I keep getting choked and submitted? Yes.
    Will I keep showing up regardless? Yes absolutley.

    Since joining in October 2021, I’ve had to learn to temper my expectations and be realistic about my improvement in this sport. I have to slow down my movements and be present on the mat. White belts tend to be frantic and panicky. That will lead to injury and possibly quitting. And I want to be in this sport as long as I can, and you do too.

    Give jiu jitsu a try. The snow is melting, the days are longer, and it’s getting warmer. Time to get out there and learn something new while challenging yourself. And what better way than to try and not be choked or have a limb broken by a sweaty stranger while rolling around with them!

    See you on the mats, fellow white belt.

    UPDATE, March 21: I found this cool website called BJJ Mental Models. After listening to a podcast episode with Brailio Estima as the guest, I checked out the website https://bjjmentalmodels.com

    There is a section about having a beginners mindset. Here is a great list for white belts like me to remember and help keep our egos in check:

    To cultivate a Beginner’s Mind, catch and prevent your self from:

    -adding your two cents to a lesson if you’re not adding any value

    -getting defensive or angry when someone criticizes your technique

    -getting upset when you are dominated during sparring

    -avoiding sparring partners because you think they’ll beat you

    -feeling the need to explain or defend every decision when you make a mistake or receive feedback.

    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beginners-mind/

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  • 30 More Random Thoughts on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

    Yesterday the Ontario government dropped all vaccine mandates and capacity limits. Hallelujah. Although many people are still effected by the pandemic (is it still a pandemic now?), I’m glad we’re going back to somewhat normal. We have to move on the best we can. And one way to do that is to get back to rolling on a mat with a sweaty stranger while you try to choke each other and break their limbs (or if you’re a white belt just surviving)!

    Here are 30 more random thoughts on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu…

    1, Going back to jiu jitsu tomorrow! After a month off because of the stupid shutdowns/lockdowns. In celebration I will be wearing my gi all day today during my tutoring sessions and then at the gym. This feels right.

    2. It still hasn’t hit me yet that I go to a martial arts school. I still consider jiu jitsu as ‘wrestling but with choking.’

    3. Gyms opened up yesterday. First time back in almost a month. And no jiu jitsu during that time as well. Oh man was I out of shape. But I slept well last night and feel great today. Glad to be back on track.

    4. How to Prep for a Jiu Jitsu Class:
    -make a delicious dinner for your fiancé
    -muck some stew
    -have a shower
    What else…

    5. I’m back to tweeting about jiu jitsu. The world is whole again.

    6. Supported students. Recorded a podcast episode. Made dinner for my fiancé. Went to jiu jitsu. Tidied the kitchen. About to read some high-fantasy. Helped others and got healthy. Little things. Today was a win.

    7. I’m back at jiu jitsu and my fiancé is starting back up with a personal trainer. Getting healthier together is the way to go.

    8. Joined a Twitter Spaces tonight about wrestling and jiu jitsu, great convo. I even went up to speak a bit and it was tons of fun. Hope to do it again soon!

    9. I wonder what we’re going to learn in jiu jitsu class tonight…

    10. Great roll tonight. We reviewed the same moves as Tuesday’s class: double leg, collar chokes. And learned a new arm bar as well. Also exchanged numbers with a fellow grappler. We are now jiu jitsu friends.

    11. I just got home from jiu jitsu. My fiancé is working out in the living room with a Zoom group online and personal trainer. Both of us are getting healthy in our own way. Love it.

    12. Capacity limits have us waiting outside in the cold, before being let in to the jiu jitsu gym. Whatever I got to do to get that sweet sweet rolling in.

    13. I’m looking into how to sign up/register for an Ontario Jiu Jitsu Association tournament in Toronto in March. Need to see the fee, transportation, hotel, etc. The wheels are turning, let’s make this happen!

    14. Update: I need an Ontario Jiu Jitsu Association membership, $150 for the year. Not bad. Then it’ll be $150 for two nights for the hotel. Much to ponder…

    15. Just got out of an open mat jiu jitsu sparring class. Oh man. Got dummied by all ten partners. Arm bars, triangles, legs locks, and something called an anaconda choke. BUT I had a few higher belts says I had good defence. That’s a win in my books.

    16. My hope is that doing more things in the real world (jiu jitsu, tutoring, support work, spending time with fiancé, etc) will help me tweet less in the digital world.

    17. Worked out at the gym around people last night. Rolling on mats with people at jiu jitsu tonight. Let’s get back to normal being around other people.

    18. Last Saturday at jiu jitsu during the open mat rolling, my partner and I were the last to spar. We looked up and saw everyone getting ready to leave. I’m glad I’m getting passionate about a sport again.

    19. Last Saturday in jiu jitsu during the open mat sparing session, I rolled with almost everyone. 10 people. I only took breaks during the allotted 1min between the 5min rolls. Did that for 50mins. My cardio is getting better.

    20. Not my best rolling in jiu jitsu tonight. But hey I will be back at it again on Thursday. Don’t despair, just keep showing up.

    21. Cook meals for yourself and fiancé, workout sometimes, tutor people, do jiu jitsu, drink hot chocolate, read high-fantasy, record a podcast, go to bed by ten, chat with your fam when you can, and stay sober from booze and pot. Just reminding myself to keep being awesome.

    22. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I worked out. Tuesday and Thursday I went to jiu jitsu. Saturday I’m going to an open mat bjj rolling session. This week has been a massive win for my fitness.

    23. Unsubscribe from all your online newsletters and join a jiu jitsu gym.

    24. My fiancée says while I leave for jiu jitsu: “Don’t come back injured, but if you’re injured still come back.”

    25. The feeling of accomplishment after jiu jitsu class, even when I get my butt kicked which is often, is worth the cuts, scrapes, bruises, mat burns, and joint pain. Join a class today and see if you have what it takes, you may even love it.

    26. You will get submitted. You will get your butt kicked. You will get injured. But you’ll also meet new people, get fit, and learn a self-defence. Go to a jiu jitsu class and try it out.

    27. It’s easy to get discouraged in jiu jitsu. It’s happened to me more than a few times since starting my martial arts journey. I will keep getting submitted until I don’t. I have to focus on the long game.

    28. I wonder how I’ll be submitted in jiu jitsu tonight. Can’t wait 💪

    29. Tonight in jiu jitsu we learned a single to double leg takedown (easy for me because of background in wrestling and I’m awesome). Then a knee-slice guard pass to side control. Then knee-slice guard pass to collar choke. Being a white belt is fun. The world needs more white belts.

    30. Whenever partners tell me I have good defence or it took awhile to submit me, that’s a win in my books. I get by butt kicked a lot, but as a white belt I look at my improvements instead of focusing on what I lack. Getting discouraged in bjj will happen, but always look forward.

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