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Alright, as promised: Here's my thread on starting up Jiu-jitsu for beginners.
What you'll find below:
Why Jiu-jitsu?
It's unlike anything you've ever done (Unless you've done wrestling or Judo)
What you'll find below:
Why Jiu-jitsu?
It's unlike anything you've ever done (Unless you've done wrestling or Judo)
What to consider when choosing a school?
You are not a fit for all. Not all are a fit for you.
Mindset approaching BJJ
Is it a skill or a workout? (This attitude makes a difference)
What should you focus on?
Submissions are sexy, but unnecessary to start
You are not a fit for all. Not all are a fit for you.
Mindset approaching BJJ
Is it a skill or a workout? (This attitude makes a difference)
What should you focus on?
Submissions are sexy, but unnecessary to start
My biggest mistake starting out and lastly, the secret to why I've lasted so long
Alright so let's dig in.
1. Why Jiu-jitsu?
Alright so let's dig in.
1. Why Jiu-jitsu?
BJJ, otherwise known as "the gentle art" is a non-striking martial art. You'll be grappling.
Most people aren't comfortable with this level of contact and will purposely go out of their way to get into striking arts. Totally ok.
Each has its place.
Most people aren't comfortable with this level of contact and will purposely go out of their way to get into striking arts. Totally ok.
Each has its place.
At this level of contact, however, I believe there is much more potential for growth and development.
You'll have to learn how to problem solve when the pressure is much higher (literally, mentally and physically).
You'll have to learn how to problem solve when the pressure is much higher (literally, mentally and physically).
Personally, when I started, I did Muay Thai AND Jiu-jitsu. I did about 4-6 hours of bjj and 2 hours of muay thai each week. It wasn't until my blue belt where (2 years later) where I ONLY trained bjj consistently.
Why?
I loved it.
Why?
I loved it.
I realized that anything else I did in life would take away from bjj training.
I wanted to devote myself to jiujitsu and take private lessons in boxing or kickboxing from time to time to keep my skills sharp.
So there's my reasoning
I wanted to devote myself to jiujitsu and take private lessons in boxing or kickboxing from time to time to keep my skills sharp.
So there's my reasoning
Now, what to look for when choosing a school?
Not all schools are created equally.
Some are better than others with more decorated instructors, sure and this is a HUGE PLUS if you're in an area with a legend.
Not all schools are created equally.
Some are better than others with more decorated instructors, sure and this is a HUGE PLUS if you're in an area with a legend.
When I started in NY, I was around Renzo, Marcelo Garcia, Vitor Shaolin and quite a few other legends but I chose another, smaller school.
Why?
Because the person who got me into Bjj in the first place was a Renzo purple belt.
Why?
Because the person who got me into Bjj in the first place was a Renzo purple belt.
He talked all about how i would LOVE RENZOs but if I wanted to succeed long term, it would probably be better for me to train with one of his black belts at a smaller school.
I did a ton of research on various schools and I finally agreed that his advice was appropriate for me.
I did a ton of research on various schools and I finally agreed that his advice was appropriate for me.
I chose a smaller gym with a decorated black belt who meshed well w/ me intellectually. The smaller gym vibe was great because you could really sense the community.
Community is probably THE MOST IMPORTANT THING becau se at the end of the day, this isn't golds gym.
Community is probably THE MOST IMPORTANT THING becau se at the end of the day, this isn't golds gym.
This is a tribe.
You're going to want to make sure you vibe with everyone, including the instructor.
My suggestion is do a TON of research on various schools in your area. Take the following into consideration:
You're going to want to make sure you vibe with everyone, including the instructor.
My suggestion is do a TON of research on various schools in your area. Take the following into consideration:
Location (the closer the better, but driving further for the right place can be worth it)
Instructor (Make sure you see someone who is passionate about what they do. The passion should permeate through their being)
Morale of students (Pay special attention to the group dynamic)
Instructor (Make sure you see someone who is passionate about what they do. The passion should permeate through their being)
Morale of students (Pay special attention to the group dynamic)
Think of your school like a relationship:
Don't jump into the first place you see bc of looks. Dig deep. If you manage to stick around past your first year, you could be here upwards of 5 10 yrs.
Last note here: If you don't have many options w/in 40 min, just train anywhere
Don't jump into the first place you see bc of looks. Dig deep. If you manage to stick around past your first year, you could be here upwards of 5 10 yrs.
Last note here: If you don't have many options w/in 40 min, just train anywhere
OK, so you've made the decision to train and you found yourself a school.
What next?
Well, take as many trials at as many places as you can before signing up. Once you sign up, you're ready to move into the next phase of your journey:
TRAINING
What next?
Well, take as many trials at as many places as you can before signing up. Once you sign up, you're ready to move into the next phase of your journey:
TRAINING
"Training" is the operative word here.
We don't "workout". This is not a gym. It's not an exercise. It's not calisthenics.
We are TRAINING.
What's the difference?
Working out is often mindless.
Weight goes up, weight goes down.
We don't "workout". This is not a gym. It's not an exercise. It's not calisthenics.
We are TRAINING.
What's the difference?
Working out is often mindless.
Weight goes up, weight goes down.
Jiujitsu will be MINDFUL.
In order to get good at jiu-jitsu, you will need to focus on skill acquisition. This is MUCH different than hypertrophy or fat loss.
YOUR NUMBER ONE KINESTHETIC GOAL IN JIUJITSU IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF SKILLS. THAT'S IT
In order to get good at jiu-jitsu, you will need to focus on skill acquisition. This is MUCH different than hypertrophy or fat loss.
YOUR NUMBER ONE KINESTHETIC GOAL IN JIUJITSU IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF SKILLS. THAT'S IT
That being said, your mindset approaching training should be academic, NOT entirely physical.
At the end of the day, the name of the game is EFFICIENCY.
The LESS calories you burn, the better.
When ppl approach bjj like a workout, end up not getting it, they get hurt/quit.
At the end of the day, the name of the game is EFFICIENCY.
The LESS calories you burn, the better.
When ppl approach bjj like a workout, end up not getting it, they get hurt/quit.
Approach jiujitsu as a vehicle to aqcuire more skills and you'llstick around much longer.
You'll be more open minded/ have a better understanding of the nuances that govern jiujitsu.
The "workout" is just a byproduct of the training.
So focus on focus on skill acquisition
You'll be more open minded/ have a better understanding of the nuances that govern jiujitsu.
The "workout" is just a byproduct of the training.
So focus on focus on skill acquisition
What skills, you ask?
To answer this question it is IMPORTANT to understand what jiu-jitsu is at its essence.
It is a SELF DEFENSE
The foundation for Jiujitsu is self-defense.
That's it.
To answer this question it is IMPORTANT to understand what jiu-jitsu is at its essence.
It is a SELF DEFENSE
The foundation for Jiujitsu is self-defense.
That's it.
Once you can appropriately, efficiently and effectively defend yourself, you can work on other things, but for now, the number one focus should be self-defense.
Now, what does that nebulous term mean?
I take it to mean simply making sure you're protected at all times.
Now, what does that nebulous term mean?
I take it to mean simply making sure you're protected at all times.
Your number one goal is to make sure first and foremost, that you can keep yourself safe and protected AT ALL TIMES
Too many beginners are caught up in submissions.
I was.
I had a damn good guillotine but my fundamentals were terrible
Too many beginners are caught up in submissions.
I was.
I had a damn good guillotine but my fundamentals were terrible
"If you don't have fundamentals, you will run into someone else's" -Danaher.
In jiujitsu, fundamentals are the building blocks of what makes everything else work. This is the idea of "strategy v. tactics".
You need to have a stellar fundamentals and this starts with defense.
In jiujitsu, fundamentals are the building blocks of what makes everything else work. This is the idea of "strategy v. tactics".
You need to have a stellar fundamentals and this starts with defense.
1. Learn how to escape bad positions and submissions
2. Learn how to keep yourself safe in bad positions while maintaining your mental composure.
Master this and everything else will follow, I promise. Don't make the mistake of chasing submissions to start.
2. Learn how to keep yourself safe in bad positions while maintaining your mental composure.
Master this and everything else will follow, I promise. Don't make the mistake of chasing submissions to start.
I developed a lot of bad habits I still struggle w/ but, I've managed to overcome or overcompensate & still work on these things.
Which brings me to my next section: What was my biggest mistake coming up?
I got my black belt which means I must've done something right, right?
Which brings me to my next section: What was my biggest mistake coming up?
I got my black belt which means I must've done something right, right?
Well, yeah sure. I did one really important thing right... for you, it will be the most important thing you'll HAVE to do right in order to survive.
I'll get to it later though.
For now, I'll talk about my biggest mistake and temporarily forget about the countless others.
I'll get to it later though.
For now, I'll talk about my biggest mistake and temporarily forget about the countless others.
Let me first suggest the following:
We are all different and we all will have different paths.
My weaknesses may be your strengths and vice versa.
BUT, these are the things that I personally struggled with on the come up --these things culminated in my biggest mistake:
We are all different and we all will have different paths.
My weaknesses may be your strengths and vice versa.
BUT, these are the things that I personally struggled with on the come up --these things culminated in my biggest mistake:
1. I didn't go all in.
Most of my white/blue belt tenure was spent trying to do other things.
Grad school, career exploration, etc.
I never realized I could make a FT living w/ jiujitsu until I was a purple belt, teaching private lessons almost full--time
Most of my white/blue belt tenure was spent trying to do other things.
Grad school, career exploration, etc.
I never realized I could make a FT living w/ jiujitsu until I was a purple belt, teaching private lessons almost full--time
I had one foot out the door so that I could find other opportunities.
Life, however, kept pushing me back to the mats until one day, it became my livelihood.
In hindsight that I should have gone all in, but at the time, it was difficult. I always compromised training
Life, however, kept pushing me back to the mats until one day, it became my livelihood.
In hindsight that I should have gone all in, but at the time, it was difficult. I always compromised training
This is obviously a unique situation
Not many others will relate to this because of other established priorities (family, career, etc)
But I bring this up to suggest that this lifestlye is NOT for everyone.
Not many others will relate to this because of other established priorities (family, career, etc)
But I bring this up to suggest that this lifestlye is NOT for everyone.
Jiu-jitsu will take a very long time to excel at and you'll need to make sacrifices to get there.
The good news is you don't need to adopt this lifestyle to practice.
If your goal isn't to become a world champ, instructor or school owner, it means you don't HAVE to go all in.
The good news is you don't need to adopt this lifestyle to practice.
If your goal isn't to become a world champ, instructor or school owner, it means you don't HAVE to go all in.
You can get by simply w/ 2 days (minimum) of practice.
The major issue, esp for high achievers will be the learning curve.
It's going to suck for a very long time before it gets better. You better embrace the suck and embrace learning over ALL ELSE or you won't last long.
The major issue, esp for high achievers will be the learning curve.
It's going to suck for a very long time before it gets better. You better embrace the suck and embrace learning over ALL ELSE or you won't last long.
So, can you make it on 2-3 days per week? The answer is yes.
Will you be on par with others who train 4-5 times per week? Probably not
You will have to make peace with these discrepancies.
So now, what's my secret?
What was the ONE THING that I did to get my black belt.
Will you be on par with others who train 4-5 times per week? Probably not
You will have to make peace with these discrepancies.
So now, what's my secret?
What was the ONE THING that I did to get my black belt.
It's the secret all black belts share and the answer WILL SHOCK YOU
You ready?
Here goes....
My big secret is...
I just showed up.
Constantly. Consistently.
I showed up.
That's it.
I showed up consistently for 8 years and then got my black belt
You ready?
Here goes....
My big secret is...
I just showed up.
Constantly. Consistently.
I showed up.
That's it.
I showed up consistently for 8 years and then got my black belt
This is the secret all black belts have in common:
We just continued to show up.
Just like anything else in life, if you want to get good at it, you need to show up and practice.
Practice often,
Practice consistently
Practice deliberately.
We just continued to show up.
Just like anything else in life, if you want to get good at it, you need to show up and practice.
Practice often,
Practice consistently
Practice deliberately.
As I did, you'll have a million reasons to quit/move on BUT
the only thing that separates me from others who moved on was that I kept showing up.
I'm stubborn. I refuse to give up. I kept training.
You'll need this level of resilience, stubbornness, and at times, stupidty.
the only thing that separates me from others who moved on was that I kept showing up.
I'm stubborn. I refuse to give up. I kept training.
You'll need this level of resilience, stubbornness, and at times, stupidty.
So there you have it:
This has been fun and I promised some others to comment on injuries and cross-training.
I will create other threads but for now, this one has run its course.
If you enjoyed, RT and comment below. Happy to help!
This has been fun and I promised some others to comment on injuries and cross-training.
I will create other threads but for now, this one has run its course.
If you enjoyed, RT and comment below. Happy to help!
Here is the accidentally deleted tweet from above
