There and Back

A journey. A return. Probably tired.

Tag: jiu jitsu

  • 25 More Random Thoughts on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

    Where I live, as of writing this, the fitness gyms are closed and the BJJ gyms are closed. But I can’t stop thinking about jiu jitsu. Here are 25 + more random thoughts on Brazilian jiu jitsu. (read here for the first 25)

    1. I put my gi pants on an hour before jiu jitsu training. Is this normal? I wonder if other white belts do this.

    2. The techniques in jiu jitsu are endless. For example, you could smell really bad to distract your opponent, or you could smell really good to distract your opponent. So many possibilities

    3. You will get submitted, choked, and bruised in jiu jitsu. Learn how to take a beating and you will get better. Focus on survival. One day the tides will turn in your favour. Apply this to life in general.

    4. “Jiu jitsu shows men that they are not as strong as they thought, and it shows women that they are much stronger than they thought.” -Unknown

    5. As a white belt in jiu jitsu, I need to learn to Survive before I learn to Attack. Defence before Offence. Fundamentals before Complexity. Basics before Sophistication. Showing Up before Showing Off.

    6. A good book for jiu jitsu white belts is called, ‘Jiu Jitsu University’ by Saulo Ribeiro and Kevin Howell. “It is not important that others are watching while you are failing. It only matters that you try.”

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    7. Tonight in jiu jitsu, I learned that you can use your opponents gi to isolate a limb to try and pass their guard. For example, trapping their arm and shoulder while moving to half guard or full mount. This is fascinating to me, my white belt brain is blown.

    8. Going to the long Saturday jiu jitsu class today. One hour technique practice followed by one hour rolling (five, five minute rolls with breaks in between). Open to all belt levels. My gf said, “please don’t get injured for Cuba next week. What’s that saying, tap a lot tap often”

    9. Just got out of a jiu Jitsu class. It was 10 five minute rolling sessions. I rolled with men, women, white belts, blue belts, purple and brown belts. I got submitted by all of them, but I survived longer than I expected to. I learned a lot. Saturday’s are my new favourite class.

    10. I have almost no idea how to attack or submit my opponent in jiu jitsu. I only attempt simple collar chokes. I’m focusing on learning defence first, survival. I get submitted a lot, but I last longer before I do. That’s progress.

    11. I rarely watch jiu jitsu Youtube videos. I feel it’s not practical for a white belt like myself. I need experience in the fundamentals, not to try a cool looking choke I saw online.

    12. Instead of watching endless videos on technique, I’m reading one of the most popular books on the martial art, Jiu Jitsu University. Practical info I can actually apply, slower pace so I can digest it, and first focuses on defence and survival. Great for white belts like me.

    13. Reminder: you don’t HAVE to go to jiu jitsu class if you don’t want to. Also, you should probably go to jiu jitsu class.

    14. If you don’t go to jiu jitsu class, at least go to the gym.

    15. Tonight I came to the gym instead of jiu jitsu class. Better to do something rather than nothing. And believe me, I didn’t want to do either. Now I’ll definitely sleep well tonight.

    16. Working out at the gym will make me better in jiu jitsu class. And vise versa.

    17. I’m glad I don’t smoke pot or drink booze anymore. I would never have joined a jiu jitsu class. And if I did, there’s no way I would have lasted two months at it. Good decisions all around, give it a try.

    18. There is a jiu jitsu tournament hosted in my city late next year. That’s a new fun goal for me. Might even go to one in T.O. before that and see how I do. 2022 is the year of Competition and Testing myself.

    19. A goal of mine for 2022, is to enter at least one jiu jitsu tournament. No matter how well I do, the experience alone will be worth it.

    20. Some fun afternoon reading on jiu jitsu. Survival is my goal, Defence is my mindset.

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    21. Jiu Jitsu Rolling > Jiu Jitsu Books > Jiu Jitsu Videos

    22. Thinking of opening my own jiu jitsu school on a beach. We’d roll in sand and the belts would be ranked by sea shells.

    23. If they close the jiu jitsu gyms, I’ll riot.

    24. Update: Looks like I’ll be rioting.

    25. Things I’ve done since the pandemic started…
    -Moved in with gf
    -Got engaged
    -Picked up one new client
    -Joined Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
    -Visited Cuba
    Don’t stop living.

    BONUS 5!

    26. Hopefully the jiu jitsu gym opens again soon. So I can go back to tweeting about jiu jitsu.

    27. Why did I join a jiu jitsu gym and not a running club or pick-up basketball league? It’s not just because I have flat feet and too short. There’s another, deeper reason. I must ponder on this…

    28. Why did I join a jiu jitsu gym? I’ve been thinking about this more often lately. I don’t like being choked or having my limbs broken. It’s not just the learning to defend myself. It’s all the other things I learn about myself, that I either didn’t know or forget. Even now at 36.

    29. A great way to step out of your comfort zone is to step onto a jiu jitsu mat.

    30. I said No to antidepressants and Yes to jiu jitsu. This is the way.

    Related Posts:

  • Why You Should Try Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

    Last September I got the urge to go back to freestyle wrestling. The no-pot and no-booze has helped with my health a fitness, I wondered if I could do it. So I reached out to an older wrestling mentor of mine via Facebook. He went 197-0 in high school. I asked if the local wrestling club allows older people (like me) to join these days. I thought his mom still helped out there. I was nervous but I reached out anyways.

    I sent an email to his mom about registration for the local wrestling club. I asked if I could go to a practice to see if I have what it takes to make the commitment to the club. Turns out, she is no longer involved with the club, but forwarded my email to the two head coaches. The wheels were in motion! Until they weren’t…

    Unfortunately, the local wrestling club wasn’t allowing outside individuals to join, as the training facility is part of the local University. “Damn, this pandemic” I thought to myself.

    https://twitter.com/disonhiatus/status/1442506748900696068?s=21

    My Twitter friend, Ed, made a good point…

    I wanted to do some type of sport I’m good at. And they’re aren’t many. I pushed forward. I gave the local Gracie Barra gym a call. The head coach mentioned on the phone something similar, that my wrestling skills would help. I suggested I do the class, the coach said it shouldn’t take long for me to transition to the Advanced class with sparring, because of my wrestling background. I name-dropped some people I used to wrestle with in high school that were purple belts in bjj at their facility. I told him I’d be there the next day to introduce myself and check out the gym.

    https://twitter.com/disonhiatus/status/1442614443385425921?s=21

    I should mention, a few years go I tried jiu jitsu. Signed up for twelve classes and bought a gi uniform. But I only went to maybe eight classes then quit. I’m sure I had many excuses not to go. “I’m no good.” “I don’t know anyone.” “This is too hard.” “I’m too busy.”

    But this time, I wanted to commit. I was a year and a half sober from booze, and a month had gone by with no pot. Quitting weed was a big deal for me, as I’d been consuming it regularly for many many years. I signed up for a year membership. I was locked in. Good, no more excuses. Until I got hurt…

    https://twitter.com/disonhiatus/status/1451372181066297345?s=21

    Up until my rib injury, I still had it in my head that I “could take it” and that I could be as phyically demanding on my body as I was in my 20s. I turned 36 recently and this experience was eye opening. I have to take it easier at the gym and bjj. Be aware of your body and its limitations. Or find out the hard way like I did. I was excited to get into wrestling again. That didn’t pan out, so I looked into bjj. Was excited to start that. During all of this, I never once stopped to think if I could get injured. Went hard every practice for a month. That wrestler mindset of “go go go” doesn’t transfer to bjj as much as I thought.

    I waited anxiously for my x-ray results…

    https://twitter.com/disonhiatus/status/1455245623377252355?s=21

    Messaged my the head coach via Facebook about my rib injury. He said rib injuries are the first Bjj injury. Glad to know other newbies have been in my situation as well. Good news soon followed…

    https://twitter.com/disonhiatus/status/1453128847243808774?s=21

    No fracture, just bruising! Thank goodness. I was either going to be out for months, or only weeks. I got lucky. During the time off for my ribs to heal, I found a book from a person I used to follow on Twitter. The book is called, “The White Belt Survival Guide”

    https://twitter.com/disonhiatus/status/1457696221146005509?s=21

    So far the book has some great input on mindset, strategy, and what to expect being a white belt. You can grab a copy here (not an affiliate link)

    After two weeks of thinking about jiu jitsu everyday, I finally felt like I could go back. There was some residual pain and uncomfortableness, but I popped two ibuprofen and was good to go. Kept it nice and easy and slow, what I should have been doing from the start. As a matter of fact, I was so pumped to be back, that I bought myself an early birthday present…

    https://twitter.com/disonhiatus/status/1458807700960296963?s=21

    It fits, real tight…

    https://twitter.com/disonhiatus/status/1459702057523363842?s=21

    Why Jiu Jitsu?

    • A great way to get out of your comfort zone is to put on a uniform, roll around on a mat, and sweat all over a stranger. Learn bjj.
    • BJJ teaches you more than self-defence. It teaches you to…Be punctual, Look presentable, Show respect, and Meet new people.
    • After a month of bjj, I’ve noticed that I don’t get discouraged or disappointed that I can’t do a move correctly, get taken down, or not being able to make someone tap. I’m focused on the long game. I want to compete one day. Just realized I should apply this to life in general.
    • I’m nervous when I go into bjj class. Don’t know anyone, they have more experience, and I barely know what I’m doing. But I still show up early. Fears and doubts can literally hold us back from learning how to defend ourselves. Ignore and go on the offence against your fears.
    • Try a free bjj class. Nothing to lose and it might be exactly what you’re looking for.

    The list can go on. Learning how to protect yourself is a bonus.

    Hopefully I see you out there on the mats. If you have any questions about joining a bjj gym, feel free to reach out in the comments here or DM me on Twitter. Let’s roll!