February 28th
Very good training session today. For the past few weeks, I felt as if I was getting a bit cocky, just by my choice of training partners. I wasn't choosing enough people who either give me a hard time,...
View ArticleMarch 12th
Felt rather out of my element for training. Chose to not play guard, but let my training partners advance positionally on me, and let them transition to whatever. The more I let them move, the more I...
View ArticleThe path to the purple belt.
It's been over a year I've got my blue belt, and so far, I've trained two years and a half, give or take. In the last year, I've trained quite a bit, and very regularly. I've been exposed to quite a...
View ArticleIntegrated a new technique tonight!
Thanks to my training partners, I've started integrating a new technique into my arsenal. The most exciting one, is the tomoe-nage from DLR. I start off with my regular 2 on 1 grip. If people choose to...
View ArticleNew focus
I've decided to re-focus my energy to maintaining the top position, instead of just gunning for the submission right away. I find that when in a bad position, people will try their escapes two or three...
View ArticleApril 18th
After a little while of thinking over a problem I'm having, I have come up with a new sweep. I mean it's new to me, as in I've never seen it applied, but someone somewhere may have developed it as...
View ArticleTook a good beating
As childish as it may seem, I sometimes care about getting tapped left and right. This is notthe mentalityI had when I made mybiggest improvements as whiye belt. Instead, I focused on what made the tap...
View ArticleNew technique !
I have chosen to develop and integrate a new technique shown to us by Thiago tonight. It's a back take from turtle that I've wanted to learn for the longest time. From the seatbelt, put the back of...
View ArticleEnough techniques!
I have come to realize that there are many many variations for each move in brazilian jiu-jitsu. Maybe there are too many for someone to master them all in a competitive environment. At the same time,...
View ArticleIt's not just about myself anymore !
I genuinely think of ways to improve my teaching. Different students have different needs, but the technique needs to be shown once for everybody. Should I use increasing levels of detail, or...
View ArticleA great training week
So this marks the second week I train using my new methodology. I am again starting to learn from every class and every Roll. Vas just taught me two things again. I can break a strong half guard with...
View ArticleBit of a down
Hit some sort of psychological low today, most likely due to mental fatigue. Trained only one hour today, to let myself rest up for tomorow. Had some very nice rolls with very technical people, and I...
View ArticleNatural talent
I have never experienced natural talent before these couple of weeks. We all put the time in, and for the most part, mat time is king. However, every couple of years, some freak of nature walks in. He...
View ArticleNatural talent
I have never experienced natural talent before these couple of weeks. Weall put the time in, and for the most part, mat time is king. However,every couple of years, some freak of nature walks in. He...
View ArticleNew perspective
I am finally making even more progress linking moves together when attacking. If the opponent goes one way, he exposes something. If he overcompensates on the other side, he gives me something else.I...
View ArticleLast competition... at blue belt
So I had a blast competing at the submission arts United tournament this weekend. I did a little better than I expected. Finished first place in the lightweight division. I didn't spend much effort...
View ArticlePurple
I guess that at some point at blue belt, everyone hits a significant plateau, and will ask themselves honestly what are they aiming for, why should they keep walking through that door given that they...
View ArticleSelf-discovery
We all train for different reasons, and with different methods. All I know, the more I train, the more I find jiu-jitsu is about self-discovery.My journey as a beginner white belt was all about...
View ArticleTraining with white belts ?
My fellow "higher" belts, there's nothing to be learned from white belts in specific training, right? You couldn't be more wrong !We're lucky to have specific training every single day at Gracie Barra....
View ArticleGiving up
Have you ever been intimidated by a darker belt than yours, or that other guy or girl who is supposedly "better" than you? You are not alone! My last post was about how higher belts should perceive...
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