BJJ / Grappling tips: Stop Wasting Time in Jiujitsu!

Do you want to stop wasting time while training jiujitsu? Spring Clean your life!

An old saying goes: You don’t measure water with a sieve! In other words, in order to know how much time you will need to get something done, you have to manage where your time is disappearing.

We grow attached to clutter. It’s a simple as that. Garfield the cat says in one his cartoons: Food a funny thing, because the moment you are full it turns from temptation to garbage. The same goes for objects. The moment we attach a value to them, we practically hand them an unquestioned invite to clutter our lives (and steal our valuable time).

An excellent example is the £2.99 I paid for one of the best Judo books ever published: The Secrets of Judo: Text for Instructors and Students: Test for Instructors and Students. It's where I learnt all my top game pressure principles. I got it at the local used-book store. Whoever owned prior to me had not attached any further value to it and was happy to part with it (or perhaps they loved it but it was time for it to make its journey to me!)

Here is something that I recommend you do at least once and preferable 2ce a year. I call it the Spiritual Spring Clean:

• Take a hard look at everything you own (and I mean everything!)
• Within 2 seconds place it in one of the following three piles:

1. Keep for a specific (near-future: upcoming 6-months) purpose
2. Give to someone specific
3. Throw away in the bin

(PS. These piles are listed in increasing order of size!)

Uncluttering your life will have a trickle down effect on your mental state and help you re-focus your training.

Remember the Pareto rule? 20% of what you own will provide 80% you need (and 80% of your issues are born out of 20% of your activities!)

While you chew on that, watch professor Ryan Young's analysis of what's fundamental in jiujitsu and what's advanced. This may help you "spring clean" your arsenal of jiujitsu techniques.

--------------------------------------------------

ZHOO ZHITSU IS FOR EVERYONE!

Check for more resources on Amazon.com:

BJJ Interview: Champions of the Labs Interclub October 2012

Recently, our club, The Labs @ Fighting Fit Manchester, ran their first BJJ gi interclub competition. The whole day was sponsored by Black Eagle Martial Arts, Brutal TShirt and iMMAculate Fightwear. I contacted the various category winners and the interview below is the result of our conversations around BJJ, life and the balance of the two. I hope you find it useful and enjoyable.

Hello guys. Why don’t we start by you telling us a little about yourself?

Patrick Leung (The Labs) PL

I'm Patrick Leung, 26 and I'm from Blackpool.

Rich Cadden (Chokdee Academy) RC

My name is Rich Cadden and I am 36 yrs old and I live in York

Oliver Von Herder (The Labs) OH

Hi There. I'm Oliver von Herder, I'm 24 and live in Manchester

Gaz Louth (Stealth) GL

I am from Audenshaw, I am 29 (nearly 30)

David Minto (Stealth) DM

Well my name is David Minto I’m 33 years old and I am a full time firefighter with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service although I’m actually a Brummie* (the only West Bromwich Albion FC supporter in the whole of Manchester I think!)

Are you currently working / studying? Is that Full time / Part time?

PL

I work full time as a forklift driver, about 45 hours per week.

RC

I was made redundant in 2008 and I have since set up 4 businesses. I am a degree-qualified Engineer, Master NLP Mind Coach, Hypnotherapist, Nutritionist and Personal Trainer. I am also a two-times world champion thaiboxer having competed since the age of 18. I have had over 60 bouts with a large percentage being in Thailand.

OH

I work full time as a Wing Chun Instructor

GL

I work in IT for a  bank I used to be a Personal trainer at virgin active, I have just finished a foundation degree at night school this September

DM

I’ve always wanted to be a fireman since being a little kid so it was definitely a lifetime ambition achieved when I got accepted as a fire-fighter. The main benefit of the job can also be the negative. That is, I work shifts so some weeks I can train BJJ lots then some weeks hardly at all, although my girlfriend would say I still train most days! Another benefit is I get quite a good amount of holidays each year, which for me means more training time!

You also set aside time to practice a sport. Which sport(s)?

PL

MMA, BJJ, No-Gi and Boxing.

RC

Now that I run my own academy, I partake in pretty much all the classes from kettlebells to skipping, from yoga to muay thai....this is when I discovered Brazilian Ju Jitsu. Historically I have partaken in Judo and also played professional rugby league

OH

I train Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu

GL

I currently train in judo and BJJ, I rotate them daily and do either of them every day resting when my body tells me to.

DM

I train (BJJ) Brazilian jiujutsu mainly and any other training ie strength and conditioning revolves around this we have BJJ focused strength and conditioning classes at Stealth BJJ so I attend a few of these classes to supplement my BJJ training.

BJJ Tips: How do you define success in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?

Our advanced BJJ sessions at the Labs - BJJ always include a huge chunk of sparring / rolling. The objective is not to win every grappling sparring bout at the gym. That would be ridiculous. Not only will you run into several athletes of a similar if not higher level (especially if this is at a big, healthy BJJ academy / gym), but you are constantly swimming against the current of resistance. After an hour and 30 minutes or so, the semi-dead grappler will easily get tapped by a stronger / fresher* / more skilled opponent. So what does that mean in the grand scheme of things? Well, nothing naturally!

That brings us to the question, how do you define success on a BJJ mat?

I have asked this question to a number of athletes** / BJJ enthusiasts and here are a few of their suggestions, please remember that none are more right than the others:

1. Number of rounds won in a row against equals in skill (irrespective of size, gender…etc.)
2. Winning is not losing (made famous by Helio Gracie)
3. Keeping someone stronger at bay
4. Keeping someone more technical at bay
5. Positionally dominating someone stronger (with or without a submission)
6. Positionally dominating someone more technical (with or without a submission)
7. Doing what you used to do but with less energy expenditure (efficiency)

Add to this specialisations within the Grappling-orientated game (Gi v No gi – v MMA) and the multitude of brackets that the Sport (an activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively) bring to the table (such as age, weight and round durations) and the question becomes very big. Answering these questions is important to outline your progress in the grappling game but more importantly to stay happy and motivated.

It seems to me that the healthiest way to look at this is to keep an open mind and rotate your priorities in line with your progress. Someone just starting may have self-defence and general health at the top of their list but after 6-7 months of rolling, they value the mental challenge that grappling provides. Suddenly, they don't try to muscle out of mount bottom but patiently look for the technical solution. The attractant is different, but the game is the same. Keep your goals fresh and you will be able to enjoy this wonderful game your whole life***.

*Not everyone can / wants to train the full two hours so some people only manage to attend the second hour, which does mean they are much fresher and fuller of energy
**and athletes from other sports
***that's my only goal: to actually continue training BJJ my whole life (or until I no longer want to). Funny thing is, every time I step foot on the mat, I can tick that goal :)

--------------------------------------------------

Liam "The Part Time Grappler" Wandi

Proudly sponsored by Predator Fightwear: Built for the kill and Brutal TShirt: Made By Grapplers For Fighters

----Did You Like This Article?--- Click here to add The Part Time Grappler to your Favourites / Bookmarks

BJJ / Grappling Tips: mat time - fundamentals v combinations v crazy jiu jitsu

Here is an example of three technique sequences that are aimed at different levels of proficiency in BJJ:

Americana from mount: Everyone should know how to perform this technique. It's a basic and very very effective Brazilian jiu jitsu attack from mount and while there are many good instructionals on how to perform the Americana from mount, I feel that Ryron and Rener show it best in the Gracie Combatives (watch here for free, courtesy of Gracie University) course. If you don't want to go the link, this clip from 2007 Gracie Insider is very good too.



Amrbar counter to the americana prevention: No technique will work all the time and on everyone. Every technique in grappling and BJJ has counters and counters to the counters and here is a beautiful example. It's beautiful because of it's simplicity. It's almost impossible to finish the americana shoulder lock with one of your arms still trapped under the opponent's head so a simple way to prevent them from finishing it is to trap that arm there with a heavy head and a death grip. As you progress in grappling and BJJ it's important to learn to combine your attacks and the counter demonstrated here by Mr James Smart at the Gracie Academy in Cape Town (I trained privately with James during my last visit there and he is very good) is an excellent transition.



Omoplata counter: This is just crazy. This is just mad ape-shit jiu jitsu from Mr Paulo Sandsten and I mean that in the bestest way possible. I honestly have no idea what the hell is going on here but I find it very intriguing. Becoming creative with your jiu jitsu is a beautiful process that everyone should "indulge" in. I say "indulge" because I don't think this is where the majority of mat time should be spent but when someone with solid jiu jitsu fundamentals invests in his or her creativity in grappling, you get this kind of beauty. The fact that the clip comes from somewhere in my homeland of Sweden is the cherry on top.



I don't feel beginners should only ever practice fundamentals or that black belts should never dedicate time to the good ol' elbow knee escape et al. In fact, Stephan Kesting said it best recently when referencing the way the staff at Google work - They spend the majority of their time of productive activities. Maybe 70% or so on the fundamentals. They also invest 25% of their time on projects that may or may not lead to productive outcomes. These are not fundamentals but they rest firmly on them. The last 5% is spent on totally bonkers and out-there activities. Crazy shizzle that is not necessarily aimed at producing anything of use but, funnily enough, sometimes does!

--------------------------------------------------

Liam "The Part Time Grappler" Wandi

Proudly sponsored by Predator Fightwear: Built for the kill and Brutal TShirt: Made By Grapplers For Fighters

----Did You Like This Article?--- Click here to add The Part Time Grappler to your Favourites / Bookmarks

BJJ Tips: The Difference between blue belt and purple belt in BJJ and a gem by John Will

What is the difference between a blue belt and a purple belt in BJJ? Many well-respected black belt instructors will tell you that a modern day blue belt has more or less all the tools she needs to become really good at grappling. Learning more and more BJJ techniques is no longer the number one goal, but rather getting good at what you already know. How do we do that? We practice. We put in the hours on the grappling mats. That is hardly a secret. What you do on those sacred mats, however, is up to you. How and how much you dedicate yourself to your grappling journey is all you. Your instructor or coach can guide you and show the way, but you always have to put in the graft yourself. Think about the following for starters:

If you waste 3-4 minutes of every BJJ session this could mean the difference between being a blue belt and a purple belt in BJJ!

Here is the maths.

Interview with Shama Ko, BJJ purple belt, champion competitor, blogger, photographer and all around really cool gal - second part

There are lots of BJJ blogs around and I must admit I'm very picky with which one I read. What I look for is honesty and an interesting story. Shama's blog has these qualities aplenty.

The adventure I've been following (Shama's recently been changing academy and has therefore been around to many Austin academies) has been very intriguing to say the least and it got me interested in interviewing the girl behind the words and I was NOT disappointed. Shama was honest and very generous in her replies and I thank her for that. I give you here part two of two:

The Part Time Grappler Interviews Shama Ko:

Do you compete in your sport(s)? Have you won any competitions?

I've been competing in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since 2004. I've placed in twenty-seven competitions. The most rewarding accomplishments were winning the 2009 Pan Ams and placing 2nd at the 2009 World championships. I've been out of and on for over six months with a reoccurring injury that has put competing on hold, but I'm looking forward to making a comeback at the 2012 World Championships.

What is the greatest thrill you have gotten out of practicing your sport?

Overall it has been the discovery of realizing what I am capable of by pushing my limits. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu has provided me with the tools and opportunity to explore who I am, gain a deeper appreciation for myself and helped shape me into the strong and confident woman I consider myself to be now. I am a huge believer in positive visualization and affirmations. We don't have control of a lot of things in life, but we can achieve anything with the right attitude, believing in ourselves, hard work and a willingness to never give up or settle.

Give us your top 5 tips for time-management (to fit exercise around life)

Time management is a constant battle for me with all I have going on. I tend to prioritize what's most important or time sensitive and find a balance with everything else. I live by my organizer. It's my daily bible. Being organized is crucial when managing a juggling act.

Although I am more of a creative type, I need to have a structured routine and with that comes the prioritizing of my life. It is good to have a plan of execution. Lastly, although I am a self-starter and tend to work better alone, I am learning to never be afraid to ask for help when I need it.

Now let’s balance that with what you consider the top 5 time-thieves.

My day-to-day life isn't structured or dictated by having a "job" and a boss telling me what to do. I am my own boss and having discipline and structure is a must. The five worst thieves for me are: Procrastination, taking on too much, not checking my schedule daily, being too rigid with my planning and "farting around" as my mother would say.

There is a delicate balance between being flexible and having a structured game plan. I’ve learned with time and experience, that life is always throwing us curve balls. The inability to go with the flow is perhaps most damaging to time management. But I know I need to stay focused and remember to check my organizer on a daily basis. Procrastination or finding excuses to put things off can throw my whole week off if I'm not careful. I also sometimes tend to take on more than I'm capable of realistically accomplishing. Learning to say no and being honest with myself has helped me be more productive. “Farting around” on social media sites like Facebook and surfing the web is another time stealer.

Do you have any regrets?

We all have some regrets in life. I think that is a common human quality. Of course, I sometimes find myself thinking about what I could of, should of or would have done differently, especially after a competition. However, my philosophy is to keep moving forward and learn from my past. After all, it is our experiences, good and bad that make us who we are. Living in the moment and learning from our mistakes instead of harping on them is what brings growth and helps us in finding our weaknesses which in turn builds on our strengths. Having faith in yourself whatever your beliefs may be and always being grateful for the blessings you have, is a much healthier and happier way to go about life than worrying about things we can't control or things that have already happened.

Finally, why do you train? What drives you?

Having goals are great and they kept moving forward, but primarily I truly love what I do. I am genuinely passionate about everything I do whether it is photography, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, building the community, empowering women, or competing. Everyone loves something and whatever that love is, a person, a place or an activity, it is being honest with yourself and letting it develop organically that will fulfill your life most. Having that genuine fulfillment and never giving up no matter what life throws at you, leads to opportunities that can make your wildest dreams come to life.

I really thank Shama for taking the time to write this interview and wish her all the best in her adventures. Make sure you read her blog regularly.

--------------------------------------------------

Liam "The Part Time Grappler" Wandi

Proudly sponsored by Predator Fightwear: Built for the kill and Brutal TShirt: Made By Grapplers For Fighters

----Did You Like This Article?--- Click here to add The Part Time Grappler to your Favourites / Bookmarks

Interview with Shama Ko, BJJ purple belt, champion competitor, blogger, photographer and all around really cool gal

There are lots of BJJ blogs around and I must admit I'm very picky with which one I read. What I look for is honesty and an interesting story. Shama's blog has these qualities aplenty.

The adventure I've been following (Shama's recently been changing academy and has therefore been around to many Austin academies) has been very intriguing to say the least and it got me interested in interviewing the girl behind the words and I was NOT disappointed. Shama was honest and very generous in her replies and I thank her for that. I give you here part one of two:

The Part Time Grappler Interviews Shama Ko:

Hello. Why don’t we start by you telling us a little about yourself?

My name is Shama Ko. As a kid I always wished I had a "normal" name, but now as an adult, I can't imagine my parents naming me anything else. My name comes from the Shama-thrush bird. I'm told that when my mom was pregnant with me she would sit in the rain forests on our goat farm in Palolo Valley and sing-talk with the Shama-thrush for hours on end. Needless to say my parents are hippies. I was born and raised in the island of Oahu, Honolulu, HI. Like most people from Hawaii, I'm a “mutt”. I am Korean, Irish, Ukrainian, Hungarian, German, French and a little Native American. I currently reside in Austin, TX. I've been here for over a decade so I guess I'm a Hawaiian-Texan now.

Are you currently working / studying? Is that Full time / Part time?

I am a full time freelance photographer and own my own company called Shama Ko Photography, which was established in 1999. I've recently launched a new brand called Mean Streak, which is primarily focused on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA photography. Photography, like any other technology-based industry, is constantly evolving and in order to keep up with the times I’ve returned to school to study the latest photography methods in the field. In addition, I am an organizer for two Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Women's groups called, Girls in Gis and Austin Women's Open Mat. In addition, I also do freelance writing for TXMMA and my blog, The Adventures of Shama Ko. I also periodically contribute to Gracie Magazine and BJJ Legends. As if I didn't have enough going on, I have a few other ventures in the works.



You also set aside time to practice a sport. Which sport(s)?

I got my start in Martial Arts with Muay Thai, which I trained in for three years before discovering my passion for Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Currently, I only train in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. For fun, I also enjoy cycling, snowboarding, surfing and rock climbing.

How long have you done that?

I've been training Gracie Jiu-Jitsu since 2003. I am a purple belt. I got my start in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with Phil Cardella at Relson Gracie Austin. I trained with him until last year. I currently study and train Gracie Jiu-Jitsu at Gracie Humaita Austin with Donald Park and I’m loving it!

Do you follow any special diet? Do you use any dietary supplements?

I don’t exclusively subscribe to any of the popular diets like the Gracie, Paleo, Eat Right for Your Blood Type or Raw diets. However, I have incorporated elements from all of them. I eat a balanced diet with low carbs, sugar, dairy and no packaged or processed foods. However, I'm far from perfect and I admit I cheat from time to time.

For the most part I try to only eat organic, cage free and fresh foods. My diet consists of lots of veggies and protein. Eating healthy is crucial when an athlete of any kind. The old saying "you are what you eat" is 100% true. I also take Neocell Collagen Sport on a regular basis. It’s made with “nutrients you can trust”. It’s made a huge difference in my recovery from my injury last year.



How do you manage to fit your training around work, study and family time?

I think the more accurate way to say it for me is, how do I fit work, personal time and school around my training schedule. Training is a must! I have to train for my mental and physical health. It's my release. Of course sometimes work takes priority over training, but for the most part I structure my life around GJJ class times. I especially structure my life around training when I'm actively competing in tournaments. The time, energy and resources invested in GJJ can take on the role of another job.

I'm not the best tight rope walker. Keeping a balance with all my activities is tough. I have to work hard and diligent at being organized, having structured routines, planning ahead, being flexible and make time for "me".

Making a living is a big priority, because everyone needs to eat and pay the basic necessities. However, I've realized lately that taking time out for me is what is most important. Even machines need regular maintenance and upkeep. If you don't care for your own needs everything can quickly fall apart. Running on high non-stop is dangerous mentally and physically. Sometimes you have to just press the “pause” button on life and enjoy the things you want to do and not always focus on the things you have to do.

End of part one

Stay tuned for part two where Shama shares her best tips on time management and the secret to her motivation.

--------------------------------------------------

Liam "The Part Time Grappler" Wandi

Proudly sponsored by Predator Fightwear: Built for the kill and Brutal TShirt: Made By Grapplers For Fighters

----Did You Like This Article?--- Click here to add The Part Time Grappler to your Favourites / Bookmarks

BJJ Interview: Balance in BJJ: Interview with Chris Moriarty, Alliance BJJ Black Belt

The Part Time Grappler Interviews Alliance BJJ Black Belt Chris Moriarty:

Balance in BJJ is very important. The reason is because this damn art is so addictive!


Chris Moriarty is an Alliance BJJ instructor and black belt under Romero Jacare Cavalcanti in Atlanta and while that is in itself a great achievement, he is also a multiple world champ and ADCC competitor. On top of that, he is currently studying medicine at university.


Over-achiever much?!!!


Listen to his fantastically insightful interview on The Fightworks Podcast


http://thefightworkspodcast.com/2010/03/07/chris-moriarty/


I was listening to it for the 4th time when it hit me: How come I've never approached the man for a Part Time Grappler interview? Afterall, he'd be ideal.


Tracking him down, the uber-busy Chris was kind enough to reply to my questions with some very insightful answers. I hope you enjoy them.

Hello. Why don’t we start by you telling us a little about yourself?

My name is Chris Moriarty. I am 28 years old and I am from Atlanta Georgia.

BJJ / Grappling Interview: Rosi Sexton

Rosi Sexton is a mixed martial artist, ADCC grappler and BJJ brown belt under Chris Brennan. She's also a proud holder of a PhD in Theoretical Computer Science, an osteopath, a writer for Fighter's Only Magazine and a mother. Jeesh, I get tired just typing that! Oh and she's a cornerstone down at Combat Sports Clinic (a network of professionals – osteopaths, physiotherapists, massage therapists – with a special interest in combat sports and combat sports injuries).

Rosi is awesome. She's so many different shades of awesome, but she will never claim that herself. Over the years I've know Rosi she's always been as modest as she has been hard working. She was one of the first people to show me what BJJ and grappling really can do. It is the Part Time Grappler blog's pleasure and honour to bring you this interview:


Part Time Interviews Rosi Sexton:

BJJ - martial art or sport?

The difference between a martial art and a sport can be discussed and argued ad infinitum. Some say they are as different as night and day, that sport is all about winning while martial arts are about self improvement*, using combative techniques and other aspects of fighting as tools to challenge and sharpen the soul. Proponents of martial (or combative) sports criticise those who fly the "martial arts" banner with words such as "goofy", "silly", "outdated" or even downright "boring"! Likewise, budoka** highlight that most sports people only have a limited career within their chosen sport and since most martial arts are non-professional hobbies and most participants will never make a living off their sport it is an unwise use of their time and energy. Why train so competitively and risk injury when your life (or livelihood) doesn't depend on it? It's safe to say that both sides have lots and lots of arguments to support their point of view.

BJJ / Grappling Tips: Stay Hydrated!

As a Part Time Grappler, I don't do a huge amount of BJJ sessions per week, but I still expect good results from them and the secret, if there is one, is enjoying the sessions and making every BJJ session count. In a nutshell, train smart!

Doing anything the smart way, grappling and BJJ included, means you have to arrive prepared. Make sure you've packed your Gi, shorts, rash guard, groin guard ...etc. Forgetting even one of these items could spoil your session and proceeding without may indeed lead to some serious injury (fellas, ever trained Uchi Mata without a groin guard? Ouch!)



But remembering to pack and prepare your gym bag ahead of your BJJ session is only half the equation. You must remember to pack both your body and mind so that you arrive prepared to learn grappling the most efficient and safest way.

I could talk for hours about mental and physical preparation but since we are experiencing a heat wave, I'll focus on the often neglected topic of hydration. Here are some good tips I picked up over the years:

BJJ Tips: Best Judo Grips Demonstrated by Olympian Jimmy Pedro, Jason Scully and Nicolas Gregoriades

The first thing you do in any fight (BJJ, wrestling, MMA, thumb wars...etc.) is establish contact. In BJJ that's usually achieved thru gripping (gi or body). Great Judo players have taken this skill of gripping to a fine art. Here is the awesome Jimmy Pedro introducing the concept of gripping in Judo:

BJJ / Grappling Tips: Escaping Turtle Bottom

A question came to the Part Time Grappler inbox about strategies to escape the turtle bottom. There is a lot of material, videos and instructionals on escaping the turtle position in BJJ online.

This is just my start-up strategy for the initial defensive posture, reading the pressures your opponent gives you from the top and finally some escape possibilities



I hope you liked it. Thanks Allie for the inspiration to this video. It's queries like that this that really get me thinking (not just about BJJ and grappling but about teaching and streamlining my game) and I'm very grateful for the opportunity.


Liam "The Part Time Grappler" Wandi

----Did You Like This Article?--- Click here to add The Part Time Grappler to your Favourites / Bookmarks

BJJ / Grappling Tips: Learning from Instructionals

How to learn best from DVDs and other instructional media?

Invisible Jiu Jitsu!

I could write on this subject for a long time. The best place to start is...the beginning. I will use the first 40 seconds of Braulio Estima's video on chokes to demonstrate:



The way I see it, the best way to learn the jiu jitsu techniques that Braulio is showing is by:

1. Learning the grips and positioning he starts with (the Posture) - the first 40 seconds or so.
2. With a partner, start with that posture and try to move around with real energy (giving and recieving Pressure)
3. Repeat this with as many partners as you can for a few sessions until the posture and the pressures become second nature.

Then and only then, re-visit the remainder of this clip and start looking at the different techniques, or Possibilities, that can roll of this combination of BJJ posture and pressure(s). Next you can look into getting into that posture and start linking your game up - (integrating the technique / position in the rest of you BJJ or grappling game plan).

Not only will you learn fast, you will learn well. Very well, as a matter of fact. You will make the position your own.

Make sure you come back and let us know what you think.

Liam "The Part Time Grappler" Wandi ----Did You Like This Article?--- Click here to add The Part Time Grappler to your Favourites / Bookmarks

BJJ / Grappling Tips: How To Learn BJJ Faster?

For some reason, everything sounded muffled to Randy

I once read in a great little book that we spend 80% of our day communicating, half of which is spent listening. As you all know, there are many facets to communication: Listening, talking, reading, writing, gesturing, interpreting...etc. Here is a simple model of communication I once used here on the blog

Feeling - Thought - Idea - Formulation - Expression - Impression - Interpretation - Assimilation


The same book highlighted how strange it was that the first thing we are taught in school is writing. Often followed by reading. The subject of talking is sometimes touched upon and listening, well, I don't think I've ever been taught how to listen properly! It is always assumed that if you can hear, you can listen. Any wife will happily tell you that's not necessarily true!

BJJ Tips: How to Open the Guard from Standing

In this post, I will show you two versions of the same closed guard opening in BJJ.

The ever fantastic resource of BJJ and Grappling, and friend of the Part Time Grappler Blog, Mr Stephan Kesting consults with Numerous World BJJ, MMA and ADCC champion Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro on guard passing in a video called "A BJJ World Champion's Perspective on Guard Passing"*. The discussion between the two is worth gold, but I'll leave it to you to watch and take what you take. What really caught my attention was a small move Shaolin did at 6min 44 sec which immediately solved a problem I've been having with opening the closed guard from standing. Can you spot what I'm talking about?

The Part Time Grappler gets a potential new sponsor: BJJSports.com

If there is one thing we Part Time Grapplers are short on, it's time!

I have been approached by a number of BJJ vendors to advertise on the blog and I have a very simple criterion: How Part Time Grappler - friendly are you?

To check that, I place an order with them and track the ease and efficiency of ordering and delivery. The ones I'm happy with, I promote in the sidebar to the right.

http://www.bjjsports.com/

BJJ / Grappling Tips: How to recover the underhook and pass half guard. A Part Time Grappler Approach

Last night's session at the Labs BJJ Fundamentals was on passing the half guard. There is nothing special or unique about the techniques I use or recommend to control and pass the half guard in BJJ. What is different is that I try to stick to one (maybe 2) techniques to pass with. Instead of learning more and more ways to pass the half guard when people try to block my pass, I try to learn better technical details to make the pass smoother or alternatively more ways that can bring me back to that particular way to pass the half guard. If you're not sure why I do this (apart from the obvious "I'm lazy!" please see my previous post on building a BJJ competition game plan)

The pass I favour is the traditional half guard pass with the underhook, sometimes called the "tripod", "escrima" or "esgrima" as demonstrated below*:

BJJ / Grappling Balance: Holding the Position vs Flowing in BJJ

How do you balance working to maintain the position in BJJ vs. going with the flow of the grapple, or to echo legendary Rickson Gracie’s most famous words: “Flow with the Go!”

Balance in BJJ / Grappling & Life: Lessons from John B Will, head of Will-Machado BJJ

As mentioned yesterday, I recently attended a BJJ seminar by John B Will . The seminar was held at neighbouring BJJ academy (and top notch people) Factory BJJ.

John Will is much more than just a BJJ coach. He is a very accomplished martial artist and, most importantly, comes across as a very balanced human being which is the theme of this post.