I’ve been pumping iron and getting swole for many years now. Going to the gym at least five times a week was the norm. This was also alongside playing competitive football every weekend. It is needless to say that I was pretty fit. These days, due to having a life I don’t go to the gym as much and finding a football team that is not full of chavs (link urban dictionary) is getting increasingly difficult. I needed a new motivation for my fitness.
My girlfriend has been practicing BBJ for just under two years now. She would regularly come home excited about the latest submission move she had learnt. There was one time when I a cold that was so heavy that I could only breath through my mouth. She came home from training and insisted on teaching me the latest choke move she had learnt. Needless to say, I was not as excited as she was about been “shown” the move. I was even less enthusiastic after the demonstration. It was some time after this that I decided I sought to learn the skills to stand up to my oppressor.
For the last three month I have been going to a couple of training BJJ training sessions a week. It has started to get addictive. I’ve found that my years of weight training have helped and I can compete with some of the biggest in terms of strength. At the same time I’m not very flexible and have realised how much my core strength is lacking. BJJ has given me real motivation to get fit in every aspect of the word instead of just getting hench.
Practicing BJJ has of cause taught me lots of physical techniques but it has also given me a lot to contemplate in terms of how to approach my BJJ development. I thought it might be useful and fun to collect these contemplations as have them. So here they are in chronological order.
Contemplation 1: Stop moving so much
Everybody else has been doing this longer than you. If they are taking their time, then there must be a reason. Jiu Jitsu is more physically demanding than anything you have every done. Remember to BREATH!!
Contemplation 2: Move more than that
Now you have slowed down you are not the direct cause of your blurred vision. Instead, you are giving opponents the time to pass your guard and do it for you. You are so obliging.
Contemplation 3: Fee Fi Fo Fum
Little people are quick so defend, counter and crush them. Big people are slower so try to be quicker, make sure not to get caught under them and hope your cardio lasts. If you do get trapped under a monster you might get a rib popped out of place. Too late.
Contemplation 4: The rib bone connects to the….
When it hurts to breath you may need to see a specialist. “Your rib doesn’t belong there”, they say as they crunch it back into the place that their fancy medicine rumours it should be. No Jiu Jitsu this week, only The Notebook and a box of tissues.
Contemplation 5: Free hugs
Close guard. Close guard. Close guard. Start every roll by pulling them into close guard. The tactic of those with no fitness or technique, just like me. If they break posture, then give them a hug. Nobody will choke me out whilst hugging. It’s an unwritten rule of life. Oh, wait. This isn’t real life, this is Jiu Jitsu.
Contemplation 6: Nobody f****ing touch me!!
You woke up on the wrong side of the bed. You don’t feel like hugging it out today. If somebody gets a grip, break that grip. If you have a grip of somebody, don’t faff about. If there is nothing on, then setup something else. And, for crying out loud, stop attempting techniques before you have you grip sorted. It’s pretty pointless against opponents who are better than you (everybody).
Contemplation 7: Have some respect for the champion
You’re having a good rolling session. Haven’t been tapped out. Held you own against all challengers. You even managed to get a white belt with some stripes to tap out a couple of times. Who cares if you have 20Kg over him?! You’re tired but feel like a Champion. The girlfriend wants a roll. She takes your back, has control of all your limbs and then chokes you. Where’s the respect?!
Contemplation 8: Remember now not later
Each training session has been great. Being taught new techniques and transferable principles. It would be really good if you could remember them, when free rolling at the end of each session rather than a week later. It would also be good if you could remember them when rolling with the guy who just taught them to you. Instead, your mind goes blank and you flap like a walrus with concussion. BREATH!!!!
Contemplation 9: Weight Categories
You are enjoying Jiu Jitsu. You are beginning to understand your place in it’s world. Out of interest you look at competition weight category requirements and realise you are an unhealthy 5Kg into Heavy Weight. The washboard abs of fellow heavy weights provides some perspective. Christmas has not been kind and bulking season has officially ended!
Contemplation 10: Technique trumps all
You are beginning to pick up some skills and a small measure of consistency. Then that cocky little blue belt pr**k uses you to break the world record for choke outs in a minute. It didn’t matter that your biceps are bigger than his head. It felt bad but it cemented the importance of technique. Brute strength will have little benefit when you compete against guys the same size. Technique, technique, technique!!!
Contemplation 8: Be more bendy and I GOT MY FIRST STRIPE!!
Today you are learning to sweep those audacious opponents who have managed to mount you. This training session is similar to one of your very first but at the time you weren’t even close to being self-aware in the world of BJJ. This is a good opportunity to improve and also to break your weekly routine of being mounted by monsters.
Learnt a few good sweeps for various situations. Having the flexibility of brick does not help when you want focus on your technique. Time to say namaste to bicep curls in front of a mirror get your Yoga on.
Side note: I GOT MY FIRST STRIPE!! This must be what Goku feels like when he evolves into s Super Saiyan. I’m even more motivated to improve on what I’ve learnt and get some new skills.