There and Back

A journey. A return. Probably tired.

Tag: jiu jitsu

  • Got Your Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Now What?

    So you got your blue belt, now what?

    This post is sort of a companion post to this one https://downculture.com/2023/04/10/how-i-became-a-blue-belt-in-brazilian-jiu-jitsu/ – kind of like a part 2.

    As a white belt you were told to just “keep showing up” and to defend and survive. Well, you kept showing up, defended like your life depended on it, and survived the white belt phase. Now, after all the mat burns, cuts, and bruises, you’re on to a new belt phase. The Blue Belt Phase.

    After I got promoted to blue belt, I thought to myself…

    “What am I supposed to be focusing on?”

    “What are my new goals?”

    “Am I supposed to get tapped less often?”

    “Do I need to be good at Z guard?”

    “Will I all of a sudden be way better than my white belt friends?”

    I had many questions about what I should be expected to work on once I got my blue belt. On the one hand, all the things I’ve been doing as a three and four stripe white belt, got me promoted. So do I just keep doing that’s stuff?

    For example, I’ve had enough people at my gym tell me how good my defence is and how hard it is to submit me (but it’s certainly not impossible, that’s for sure.) So do I keep up my solid defence and survival skills?

    Expectations

    Being a blue belt feels cool. I feel like I’m a white belt again, in the sense that there is even more new stuff for me to try and learn. Sort of like a white, blue belt. I mentioned in a recent blog post that my focus is now on offence, learning to attack. This is a good new goal for me to work on. Other then offence being my new focus, my own expectations are pretty much the same: show up, try my best, defend, survive, do a competition or two, and be safe.

    Trust your head instructor’s judgement. They promoted you because they believe you’ve earned it. Celebrate your success! But after you get done telling all your real life friends and your social media ones you got your blue belt, give it a rest and get back to the mats.

    Mindset

    Don’t quit. Sure, life gets busy and you may not be able to train as much anymore. But keep at it. For example, Life got busy recently and I only went once this past week, one hour. It’s better than nothing. And I plan on going 4 hours next week. I’m trying to adopt the attitude or point of view of a life-long-leaner.

    For example, I love reading about many different subjects and I don’t plan on quitting reading anytime soon or ever. Similarly, jiu jitsu is always evolving and the intricacies of the basics are so deep that I probably can’t learn them all.

    That’s fascinating to me, but like the reading, there are many different types of subjects, or in the case of BJJ, instead of subjects, there are: concepts, techniques, methods, styles, and details that will keep my interest in the sport for many years to come. That’s the plan anyway.

    Technique

    Depending on your gym or academy, qualifying for your blue belt can require different skills. I received my blue belt about a month ago so, I don’t know what I don’t know and I don’t know what you should know or work on when you get your blue belt. But for me, knowing the fundamental positions, and perhaps some escapes from each position. Lately, I’ve been working on my attack and escaping. But I would refer to your head instructor, what they want you to learn or what they have been teaching you lately. Trust them.

    Staying Humble

    Don’t be one of those new blue belts who quits because they think they know everything about jujitsu. They’ll be one of those new blue belts who thinks they’ll never be tapped by white belt again. WRONG. Still getting attacked by the people I’ve always got tapped by. And I will probably keep happening for many years to come. But just because I have my boo belt now, doesn’t make me any better than any of the white belts that I started my journey with, the ones that are still here anyway, and I couldn’t be more excited for them to get their blue belts which I’m sure it’s just around the corner.

    The screenshot below is of a tweet I posted recently, asking folks what their experience being a blue belt was/is like and if they have any advice for four stripe white belts. I got some great answers! Click the screenshot below to read the comments…

    Conclusion

    This post is from the perspective of a new blue belt. Someone who has had more experience being a blue belt could have a deeper understanding of what you need to do. But so far, I’ve been given good advice about what you and I should expect being blue belts.

    You and I have a long grind ahead of us. Going from white belt to blue belt was pretty straight forward: Survive.

    Now we know a little bit and need to refine our game and figure out how to do things like escape and attack, or whatever your head instructor is teaching you. This is going to take a while.

    I got my blue belt in a year and a half, but I don’t expect to get my purple belt that soon, I’m guessing three years at least. But if you and I stick with it there’s no stopping us on our road to black belt. Let’s take it one training session at a time.

    Good luck!

    Image generated by A.I. at hotpot.ai

  • Getting My Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

    I had a big dumb smile on my face on the ride home after practice. Then I thought to myself “wait a minute, now you have to compete in the blue belt division oh sh*t.”

    There was something in the air that night at the JiuJitsu gym. I noticed I was successfully sweeping more. I noticed that the partner that usually submits me didn’t submit me at all, and the blue belt that usually kicks my ass, I was on his back for almost 2 minutes. I thought to myself “wow I think you’re actually getting better” and wouldn’t you know it, I got my blue belt last night. I thanked my head instructor as he tied the belt around my waist, and he said “don’t thank me thank yourself you did all the work.”

    Getting my blue bell tonight was a surprise. While I was rolling with my partner, he looked over, and he saw one of the assistant blue belts, who helps out at the front counter, put a pile of blue belts, on the edge of the mat. “gonna be a bunch of promotions tonight I guess.” he says. I thought ‘no way too soon, me?’ I didn’t think I’d be getting my blue belt at least until the end of this year, boy was I wrong. And I’m glad I was.

    When the first person got their blue belt tonight, our instructor goes , “do you know what this means, nothing!” he and all of us laughed together because we knew he was joking, but there’s also some truth in that. Not much changes when you get a belt. Keep doing what you’re doing and eventually you’ll get better and eventually you’ll be promoted. Simple as that. But there’s nothing wrong with feeling good about yourself because we all earned our stripes and belts last night because we showed up and we tried our best. It’s cliché but it’s true.

    If you’re a white belt who’s thinking of quitting, keep at it. All those cuts and bruises and mat burns will be worth it. And don’t quit when you get your blue belt. Yeah sure life happens, but don’t give up.

    I try and show up to the bjj gym 3-4 hours a week, and the fitness gym 3 hours a week. This works for me and my schedule. It took around a year and a half to get my blue belt. Not to shabby, well done, D.

    I actually feel like a blue belt. This is where the fun really begins, and I can actually start doing jiu jitsu for real.

    Good luck to you white belts out there, I was one up until less than 24 hours ago. Keep surviving and that blue belt beauty will come. Hang in there.

  • How to Sign Up for a Free Trial Jiu Jitsu Class AND What to Expect on Your First Day at a BJJ Gym

    After reading my last blog post, I have successfully convinced you, with my incredible hypnotic powers of persuasion, to join a free trial jiu jitsu class. Now you want to see what all the fuss is about. You want to know why everyone is having so much fun without you. Don’t worry, I got you.

    Here is how you sign up for a free trial jiu jitsu class…

    1. Go to Google Search and type in, “Jiu Jitsu in (your city)“
    2. Search the list of academies that come up in the results. Just pick any of them to start.
    3. Go to the webpage or Facebook page of the bjj academy. Read the posts, look at the pictures. See if it looks like a place you might enjoy going to. (If they do not have a webpage or Facebook page, try a different academy).
    4. Locate the ‘Contact’ page or section on their website or Facebook.
    5. FB Message, Email, or Call the academy and ask if they have free trial bjj classes. Say “Hi, my name is (your name) and I am interested in trying out a free trial bjj class. Do you have any coming up soon?” If they say “Yes” then get the time and date of the next free trial class and say, “Thanks! I’ll see you there.” and hang up. Nice and short and sweet. Same goes for a Facebook DM or Email.
    6. Go to the free trial BJJ class!

    Items you will need for the free trial Jiu Jitsu class…

    1. Active wear. Shorts and a t-shirt. It’s okay that you don’t have a Gi since it’s your first class. You may even have signed up for a No Gi class which would be great because most people wear similar attire like shorts and a tee (instead of a tee they call it a Rash Guard, it’s like a compression shirt for sports).
    2. Gym bag. Inside your gym bag should be a change of clothes, a water bottle, and flip flops/sandals. The flip flops/sandals are for when you are not on the mat and walking around the academy. It’s not a good idea to walk around when off the mats in bare feet as you could get bacteria on your feet and then bring it on the mat with you. You will take your flip flops/sandals off before going on to the mat.
    3. A good attitude! You made it all the way to the mat, you’re almost there.

    You have your tee and shorts on and you just took off your flip flops/sandals and walked on to the mat. Now what? I’ve only been to one BJJ gym since joining a year and a half ago. But from what I’ve heard, they are basically the same.

    Here’s what to expect at your first bjj class…

    1. As a brand new participant, you may notice people lining up against the wall. They are lining up in their respective belt ranks. Higher belts at one end, all the way down to the no-stripe white belts. It goes, Brown, Purple, Blue, White. I’ve never seen a black belt line up, even ones that were visiting our gym, not sure why but for the most part, the line up will be by rank. Since you don’t have a belt yet, you will go at the very end last spot. The gym might have a loner Gi with belt (I would recommend politely declining to wear the loner as I bet you’d feel more comfy in your own clothes), but you will still be at the very end of the line. Don’t let this dissuade you, it’s just the beginning. We’ve all been there.
    2. The head instructor will be standing in front of everyone in the middle of the mats. They will say their spiel, like welcoming everyone there and say what techniques everyone will be working on that day. Then everyone bows to the head instructor. Note: not every gym is as strict or by the book with how they incorporate the intricacies of addressing one another or doing everything by the book. But when in doubt, just call the head instructor “coach” and be polite and follow everyone else’s lead. If the head instructor demands that you call them “professor”, that is potentially a sign of a cult and I would not go back there.
    3. After you and everyone bows or after the head instructor says their spiel, now it’s time for a warm-up. In the gym I go to, which is a Gracie Barra (it’s quite chill, for example we don’t have to bow before going on or coming off the mats, people do bow but we aren’t required) for our warms-ups we run back and forth across the mats, jogging forwards, backwards, sideways, knees up, kicking legs back, then sliding on our butts back and forth, maybe some rolling forward and back wards but not always. It depends on your gym but if you can make it through the warm-ups, the rest of the class is a breeze.
    4. After warm-up, is some simple stretching. Usually focused on the body parts that you will be using most that day.
    5. After the stretching, the head instructor will demonstrate on an Uke, the techniques you will be learning that day. Everyone stands or sits or kneels and watches.
    6. Here comes the fun part: finding a partner. I get it, this can be hard for some people. But don’t think about it too much. Just look around for someone that is roughly the same weight as you, lock eyes with them and say, “You want to partner up?” In my experience 10/10 times the person will say Yes. Just go for it!
    7. Now the fun really begins! Now you will be working on the techniques on your partner. You’ll take turns trying the moves on each other.

    Tips for surviving your first day at a BJJ class…

    1. Have fun.
    2. Be polite.
    3. Talk to people. If you want, you can tell people this is your first class and your excited but nervous. That’s okay.
    4. Respect the Tap. There are a few ways you or your partner can tell each other that you submit to their technique because it is staring to hurt you. You can tap them a few times with one of your hands, you can stomp with your feet on the mat if your hands aren’t available, or you can verbally say the word “Tap” and they will let go. If your partner does any of those, you let go of them immediately. So you can both continue practicing the techniques safely.
    5. Ask questions. If you have a question, ask! Let your partner know you are new and ask if you are “doing it right.”
    6. Don’t give advice. Yes, you may have watched tons of MMA and you used to wrestled back in the day. But this isn’t the time to show off. By all means, if you remember what the head instructor said, word for word, when they were showing the technique, then go ahead. But I would always defer to telling your partner to ask the head instructor or a higher belt.
    7. Survive. Even if it’s your first day, it might be a class that has live rolling/sparring. Remember, you’re basically fighting a stranger. If it’s your first time it’s going to feel weird. Your body will go into Fight Or Flight mode. Your breathing will become erratic and you will panic. THIS IS NORMAL. Just stay with it, remember the little bit of training you have, and respect the tap and tap early and tap often. Try not to think of tapping as quitting or losing, think of it as a restart, you get to restart and try the techniques again.

    All these lists are a general guide to your first day at a BJJ class. It’ll probably be a bit different, but for the most part, it will have most of the elements from the lists above in one way or another.

    I think it’s great that you have decided to try a free trial jiu jitsu class and you should be proud of yourself, most people don’t do this!

    Also let me know how it goes, I’d love to hear about it!

  • I will convince you to go to a free trial jiu jitsu class

    Imagine yourself, walking around with confidence, your chest sticking out, your shoulders back, your head high, your stride strong. As you walk by other people, they notice the smirk on your face, a tiny grin that suggests you know something they don’t, an inside joke or a secret that they wish they knew. The people you walk by wish they had what you have, they wish they knew what you know.

    Imagine being part of a secret society or furtive fellowship, where you have created a better version of yourself and learned how to protect yourself if you ever needed to, by participating in fun physical activity that has put you in the best shape of your life. Your family and friends will ask “What’s your secret? And, can I join?!”

    Of course they can. So you go the BJJ gym together and discover what you’re all truly made of…by choking a complete stranger!

    Look, we all have fear and doubt and uncertainty. Fear of getting hurt. Doubting ourselves about what we can do. And uncertain if you’d ever be good at a martial art. Guess what, almost everyone that has ever joined a martial art started that way! Nobody was born a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. But those that have achieved that prestigious belt, started right where you are, at the free trail jiu jitsu class.

    So what are you waiting for? It’s free! Join a free trial jiu jitsu class now in your city and let me know how it goes! But I already know how it will go, you’re going to love it!

  • Getting My Fourth Stripe on My White Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

    You’ve come a long way since walking into the gym and signing up for a jujitsu membership.

    Just walking through the doors and deciding that this is something you want to dedicate your time to, is a feat unto itself.

    A reminder that most people don’t do jujitsu, most people who do join end up leaving for various reasons, and most people who stay for a bit end up quitting at blue belt. At least that’s what they say.

    Just over a week ago I got my fourth stripe on my white belt in Brazilian jujitsu. It means a lot more than the other three stripes.

    This fourth stripe I actually feel like I’ve earned it and deserve it. That’s not to say I don’t trust my head instructors judgment, when giving out stripes. I think it has more to do with my lack of self-confidence from when I first started my martial arts journey.

    Who knows how long I’ll have my fourth stripe for before I get the coveted blue belt. Then the fun can really start.

    How many stripes do you have on your white belt? If you are a higher belt, do you remember what it was like having four stripes on your white belt?

    Here are some observations about being a four stripe white belt:

    Survival

    I’ve had enough white belts and blue belts and the rare purple belt tell me I have good defence.

    That’s a wonderful compliment at this stage in my game. That being said, I almost never go for or attempt a submission finish.

    The only technique I try for is a head and arm choke from side control or mount.

    It works less than fifty percent of the time. I’ll take it, that’s pretty good for me.

    Escapes

    With survival usually comes escaping. At least that’s what I’ve experienced. Or you’re saved by the buzzer, which is a white belts best friend.

    At this stage in my game as a four stripe white belt, escaping from someone taking my back is getting easier. It’s not easy though.

    But it’s now not impossible. Escaping from side control is still challenging and I haven’t found my favourite way of escaping that, in no gi it’s a bit easier for some reason. I think because we’re sweatier.

    I still get caught in arm bars and triangles. From white belt to higher belts. I must be doing something wrong.

    I think that I tend to put my hands out when passing and lean over too much, what can I say I love putting the pressure on when I pass.

    It’s the wrestler in me I guess. Gotta keep them arms in.

    Mindset

    Why keep showing up in the first place?

    I like to say I have a white belt mindset. Always eager to learn, being a newbie in an ever growing and evolving martial art.

    I bet even higher belts still have that mindset. There were times I really struggled with wanting to keep showing up.

    But after I got my third stripe I knew I was on the right track. After getting my fourth stripe I can see the blue belt in my sights.

    I still have a long way to go to get there but I am not stopping. Not now when I’m so close.

    What do I think blue belt is like?

    I feel like being a white belt in bjj is the tutorial in a video game. And the real game hasn’t even started yet until blue belt.

    My defence will still be a work in progress but it will be harder for whites and blues to submit me. It will happen but not as much. The higher belts will still destroy me, of course.

    At blue belt that’s when I will get my attacking and escaping game going. With a tight defence I can feel comfortable and confident in attempting attack techniques and submissions. Maybe something OTHER than a head and arm choke.

    What do YOU think it will be like when YOU get your blue belt?

  • Signed up for another Jiu Jitsu tournament for January 2023

    I signed up for a No Gi AND Gi competition. Round Robin. I’ve never done a No Gi Comp but why the heck not. This will be my third competition ever. I’m currently 0-2 in competing in bjj. I have a good feeling about this next one.

    I have to make sure I don’t psych myself out either. Looking at the brackets everyday is not a good idea. Fear can keep people from competing. Fear of embarrassment can keep people from even joining or trying Jiu Jitsu.

    Why the heck am I going to train for a martial arts competition at the age of 37? Why would I put my body and mind through that? Am I trying to prove something to myself? Not sure. But I know I want to have fun. And BJJ is fun.

    I’m going to train on the mats AND in the gym. I need to be lifting more weights this next seven weeks since I will be in a heavier weight division, 170lbs, I’m currently 160lbs.

    I now have a focus and motivation for going to the fitness gym. For years I haven’t been able to make weight-lifting a habit. Hopefully now that I have a goal of actually being competitive this time around it’ll motivate me to keep going to the gym at LEAST three times a week.

    I got to say I’m excited about this next competition. I feel my wrestling skills will be more prominent in No Gi since there is no material to grip when hand-fighting and for my stand-up. But when I’m in someone’s closed guard in No Gi, like what the heck do I even grab? In training I sort of grab on to my opponents arms or wrists and try to post on them, is that correct? I’m need to look in to that. No Gi is like a different martial art than Gi.

    Anyways, have you tried a free trial jiu jitsu class yet? Try it out!

    Fun in Adobe Illustrator…

  • Should White Belts Give Advice?

    People have opinions about everything. Jiu jitsu is no exception.

    At least the people on BJJ Twitter are far more reasonable and nicer than MMA Twitter. Go see for yourself. You would think people with no fighting experience wouldn’t get so upset about the intricacies of a pay per view bought. I try and stay away from MMA twitter. But I do like interacting with folks from BJJ twitter. At least that group of people share photos of themselves at the gym rolling and sparring, proof that they aren’t arm-chair martial artists.

    I recently asked Twitter if BJJ white belts should give advice to other white belts. I got a bunch of replies and they span from Yes to No. And people kept it cordial.

    So let’s dive in and see what these jiu jitsu’ers had to say about the question…Should white belts give advice in technique if asked by another white belt?

    “You probably want to be careful with that. Maybe end your sentence with “but check with Coach”. 98% of the time that I overhear a white belt advising another student, I cringe. But then again, it’s often the worst students who are the quickest to give advice.”

    “This is like the blind leading the blind”

    “If it’s the modern day white belt who spends hours a day studying Jiu-Jitsu instructionals from BJJ Fanatics… the answer is hell yes. You’d be shocked at the breath of knowledge of some white belts out there.”

    “If they are offering something they understand clearly and the advice is sound… Why not? I believe as a teammate, if your partner is doing something wrong or missing a detail you do know, you should tell them. It’s about collaboration and not ego.”

    “If its something basic sure but if its anything complex id say no more often than not they mess up a fundamental part of it”

    “Proby depends on experience n technique. I had my first comp after only 3 months of training as a white belt. Naturally newer people would ask for advice when we were paired in training. If it’s basics like grips or fundamentals then go for it I think!”

    “Depends on the white belt. Big difference between 6 weeks in and a couple of yrs in. I’d like to think when I was a 4 stripe white belt 3 yrs in I had something to offer in supporting newbies. That said I’d help them with the more fundemental/basic stuff not advanced techniques.”

    “As a white belt I do a lot of tip giving. And then we talk to the coach to approve it. We may not have much knowledge. But we also have eyes.”

    “Only if said white belt is absolutely sure they understand the technique fully.”

    “Well we had few whitebelts who had brown- or blackbelts in judo also. Sure as hell asked them tips for stand up grappling”

    “Sure why not. If that person has mastery of the technique. I think people focus too much on what a belt is as opposed to what makes sense from the move. Don’t focus on a belt but focus on proficiency.”

    “Nope.”

    “I’m a white belt, and I’ll only give advice on what we’re drilling in the moment, and repeat exactly what my Coach has instructed. Even still, I don’t shy away from asking my Coach about specifics, more details. We’re hear to learn, so I soak up as much information as I can.”

    “I give feedback on what I feel (is it tight, does it feel off balance) by saying and showing, but the only time I talk about technique is to say “I think the instructor said…” I also talk myself through every move out loud when I’m first learning. Guess I’m pretty annoying.”

    I think it depends on the situation. If we drill armbars for example it is ok for one student to help another if they figured out something the other student didnt (like in any school class). But I don’t like when a white belt goes in and try to correct people during sparring.

    “Nope white belts coaching white belts is like boiling pizza”

    “From a submission and form perspective i wouldnt.
    But if someone is spazzing out and you tell them to relax a little, it can only help them (and prevent you from getting hurt in the meantime)”

    “Yes, if they know how to do it with their eyes closed against an unwilling opponent. Maybe, if they kind of know it and say ‘but check with [INSERT instructor / higher rank here] to make sure.’ No, if your spider-sense tells you they’re full of shit. Trust your spider-sense.”

    Some great input there. Thanks to those who responded!

    So what do I think?

    Well as a three stripe white belt myself, I have given advice to other white belts when they ask for it. For example, a couple of weeks ago, I no gi sparred with a new member. After the roll he asked, “So how was that, did I do anything illegal, or do you have any feedback for me?”

    I said he had natural athletic ability and he instinctively did some positive movements. I mentioned that he shouldn’t make a habit of sticking his arms out and pushing his opponent when he is mounted, as a higher belt would have put him in an arm bar. He said thanks and we fisted bumped.

    White belts have eyes and ears and for the most part listen to their head instructors. I think it’s okay for white belts to give advice to white belts, but to make a habit of referring any detailed technical questions to a higher belt or instructor. Also, in general, white belts should not give advice to higher belts on bjj technique. But, if that white belt is a D1 wrestler, or a black belt in judo, I would definitely hear what they had to say about grappling stand-up.

    What do you think, should white belts give advice? Let me know!

    And see you out on the mats!

  • Losing a Match in a Jiu Jitsu Competition

    I’m 0-2 in jiu jitsu competition.

    Remember when I said not to get discouraged in jujitsu? I should’ve taken my own advice.

    “Our Jiu-jitsu game is so personal to us that we take losing personal. We need to approach it more from a scientific approach. You don’t suck, you just haven’t figured out the answer yet. The failures are going to bring you to enough knowing that you can then formulate the answer.”

    Jiu Jitsu journal coaching (username)

    I was pretty bummed out after my competition loss a couple weeks ago. Haven’t been to the mats since. But hey as long as I show up this week it’s all good. Another chapter in my jiu jitsu story.

    “Don’t get hung up on electrical tape [belt stripes] used for student retention. Be content in the feeling of improvement”

    -raging cheddar(username)

    I’ve benefited a lot from jiu jitsu since starting it just over a year ago. Some weeks I would train almost everyday. I watch grappling matches online, I will tell people they should go to a free trial class, and I often write about my experiences with bjj on this blog and social media. I guess you could say my identity was wrapped around being a person who does jiu jitsu. I have to remind myself that jiu jitsu is a part of me but doesn’t encompass everything about me. So when I lose in a bjj match that doesn’t mean I’m a bad person or that my current bjj skills cannot improve. Most people who compete in jiu jitsu are supposed to lose, so they can get better.

    “First at jits, got my ass kicked – the guys surrounded me after class and said “you coming back right?” I said, “yeah, why wouldn’t I” – they said “most people don’t, they can’t handle getting dominated” – you are the few, just remember that #Respect”

    -CRYPTOFIT (username)

    Losing in a jiu jitsu match and getting your ass kicked in front of a bunch of strangers sucks. I have to remember that no one cares and to make sure to sign up for another competition. Feeling bummed after you lost another BJJ match is normal. Just make sure you show up to class again and not let that loss define who you are. I’ll be back this week.

    photo taken from this rulebook.pdf

    RELATED POSTS…

    FULL ARCHIVE…

  • Have You Ever Switched BJJ Gyms?

    Here are some thoughts from other people (on Twitter) about staying or leaving their jiu jitsu gym:

    “I switched due to moving (changing states) – but did a fair amount of research & drop-ins before picking my “new home.” Don’t listen to any #Creonte type BS – Bottom Line, it’s a business & you’re the customer. Pick a place that suits you, your training needs/goals, etm.” -Matt

    “I switched gyms and never looked back. Didn’t realize just how toxic my old gym was until I got out and got into a much healthier environment.” -Becky

    “I’m on my third. No reason, just wanted to get different perspectives and training partners. Still friendly with my former academies and teammates.” -Nicolas

    “Coming back to the mat after 20 years away, I switched gyms. I’ve had 35 lessons so far. All good. The previous gym is where I received my blue belt which in the grand scheme of things is low level. My new gym – Professor says “train where every you want”. I go to open mats.” -Peter

    “I’ve moved academies twice. 1st time was from an affiliate to the HQ so was not too hard. Went as a blue and was promoted to purple there. Covid/post covid moved to my current gym been 2 years and promoted to brown. Took a bit to get use to though” -Ray

    “In December I moved from the DFW area to northern Indiana. I had been training for 7.5 years there was a blue belt. I have been here 9 months now and have been accepted and promoted to purple. My approach was to focus on being a good student and teammate. And let everything else play out on it’s own. I’m happy with where we landed. I do miss my old gym and teammates (planning a trip to visit soon). Happy to be a further resource if any questions arise.” -Brad

    “Yup. Your gym is a business that provides a service. If another gym’s service makes more sense to you, then go there. I switched due to location. It was between a 40 min drive and a 20 min drive. My new one also has more class times, so I can train more often.” -Tommy

    Here is a question I got from Twitter:

    “What has your experience been like switching gyms? I love where I am but there’s another nice place that I’ve visited that’s much closer to where I live.”

    I’m still at the Gracie Barra I signed up with. I like the people and the instructors there. I also like how many people there compete, which is where I’d like to focus my BJJ game towards as opposed to just the self-defence aspect of jiu jitsu.

    There are five (I think) other BJJ gym in my city. A blue belt recently told me he’s been to all of them and think this Gracie Barra is the best in terms of the calibre of the jiu jitsu being taught. Sounds good to me!

    Pros of my current gym:
    – lots of people compete, opportunity to focus more on competition BJJ
    – it’s close to my house
    – my wife and her brother signed up there as well
    – the head instructor is chill and we don’t have to bow before we go on and get off the mats
    – instructors aren’t strict with the adult class while still following the curriculum correctly and we also sometimes learn new techniques that aren’t part of the curriculum
    – instructors aren’t assholes and enjoy having fun sometimes, friendly
    – If you don’t have a Gracie Barra Gi you can still join and train

    Cons of my current gym:
    – the change room is too small
    – there are so many members that I find it hard to get long, meaningful one-on-one instruction (although I haven’t asked about private lessons)
    – classes are only one hour, I would love two hour classes
    – there’s only one, one hour open mat a week, I wish there was one every day
    – there is only two No Gi classes a week
    – it’s expensive, $135 a month

    The pros outweigh the cons. Not enough reasons to leave my current gym. And thank goodness it’s not a McDojo (“McDojo is a pejorative term (in the same vein as “McMansion” and “McChurch”) referring to martial arts academies (generally located in the Western world) which, rather than being honestly committed to teaching students, are instead concerned primarily with amassing profits.“

    Have you ever switched BJJ gyms?

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  • Struggle, Pain, and Jiu Jitsu OR Why You Might Be Missing Something in Your Life

    There’s something fun about fighting everyday. It makes me feel alive. Everyone should learn how to fight. Preferably in a controlled, safe, and friendly environment (although not everyone can). To learn a martial art. If you have a friend who does jiu jitsu, they probably wouldn’t shut up about it when they first started. Telling you “You have got to try this!”

    There is a meme that refers to white belts getting really excited the first few weeks and months. Spazzy and high energy to the point of injury. Yes that happens and yes I’ve done it. Maybe there was something missing in our lives that the weekly grind of someone trying to choke us and break our limbs is giving us. Let’s dig a little deeper on that, have some fun with that idea of us missing something in our lives that struggling in BJJ (or any martial art) can give us.

    Fighting and Flying

    When you fight (called ‘sparring’ in jiu jitsu) your body and mind go into Fight or Flight mode. Your body and brain thinks you’re going to die. In a street fight that may actually happen. But in a controlled, safe environment like a bjj gym, your body and mind can’t tell the difference in the moment. They think you’re going to be killed by an attacker. Your body and mind are flooded with chemicals like adrenaline and cortisol. Your pupils dilate. You sweat. Your breathing quickens. Your heart races. Everything about you is telling you to “Get out of there!”

    When you start jiu jitsu, one of the first aspects about defence is controlling your breath. If you can slow your breathing down and control your breath when someone has full mount on you or has taken your back and is about to tighten a rear naked choke, your mind can plan your escape. If you’re a higher belt, this reaction becomes immediate (I’m guessing as I’m only a white belt at the moment). Second nature. They’ve been put in this situation so many times their body and mind are used to it. They know how to take care of themselves. Their Fight or Flight mode is tempered, or at the very least, managed to the point that it doesn’t negatively effect their BJJ techniques.

    Something is Missing

    Fighting and sparring every week is a struggle. Add in the fact that you have three different jobs, dogs to take care of, a relationships to maintain, a car that needs repairing, bills coming due, a family member is sick, etc. Why on earth would you also put your body and mind through jiu jitsu? Because we need struggle in order to know what is important to us. We need the right kind of pain that’s worth enduring. Struggle and pain makes us who we are. Don’t wish to not ever feel pain. Wish to have the right kind of pain.

    Brazilian Jiu Jitsu inflicts a specific kind of pain. There is the physical toll your body takes from sparring every week. There is the mental weight our mind endures by constantly getting submitted or feeling like you’re not getting any better at the martial art. And there is the spiritual beating we undergo as we wonder why we’re even here in the first place, if we are worth it, and if we made the right decision to put our mind and body through this weekly conflict.

    But this type of struggle is exactly what we need. Struggling in BJJ puts life’s other struggles into perspective. If you can endure someone trying to choke you everyday, you can endure those silly problems that come up at work or at home. Maybe what you’re missing is the physical, metal, and spiritual struggle that BJJ can provide.

    Struggling in BJJ shows us the right kind of pain we need to endure. Pain is life. Figure out what is worth struggling for. Try jiu jitsu.

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