The single best resource for beginners

When you are new at something, naturally you have a lot of questions. In the old days, due to a lack of more advanced students to model yourself after, and often a language barrier between you and the instructor, getting started in jiujitsu was all about trial and error...and a whole lot of frustration. I know that I made many missteps on the path.

Things eventually got better, as teachers became more organized in their approach and older students took on the responsibility of helping along the new ones, but until now there hasn't been a comprehensive resource for the beginner to use as he takes his early steps in the martial art/sport.

Stephen Kesting has put together a great...GREAT...e-book for white belts that will definitely help them avoid wasting time and effort in the wrong direction. I would say that the best part is that it's free, but the best part is actually the information itself...and as a side benefit, it's FREE.

So, go there: http://www.beginningbjj.com/

Climbing!

I'm hoping this will improve my grip and core strength!

My wife was an expert from her first try.

The secret method for dramatic improvement

This weekend I climbed a tree outside my apartment and found an old Brazilian master of Japanese descent meditating on the tiniest of branches.

I noticed he had cauliflowered ears, so I asked him the question I'd been seeking an answer to since starting on the Double Dragon Way in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu many years ago: "How can I get good?"

"My son," he answered. "The only way is the way."

Disappointed, I climbed down and called the cops. He was scaring the kids, and it's never a good idea to have a vagrant in a tree outside your place. The cops arrived and dragged ol' Charlie "Tipsy" Tanaka off to a holding cell so he could sober up in safety. As the car pulled away and Tipsy turned to wave a solemn goodbye, I flipped him the bird and clicked my teeth--glad to be rid of the bastard.

It wasn't until later, while rolling with some friends, that I realized the wisdom in Tipsy's words.

The way we get better is to train jiu-jitsu. There aren't any shortcuts--there is only time on the mat. The guys who improve the most are the guys who train the most. No secret methods, no special techniques, just a lot of hardwork with good instruction and the toughest rolling partners you can find.

This point should have been the first thing I understood when I started, but it was lost on me early on. When the instructor answered my question with, "You just have to train harder," he was probably right. I probably wasn't ready for the technical answer at the time.

I've been training just about every day since I started teaching in the mornings. The effect on my game has been noticeable, AND I'm not sore and wiped out like I was when I trained 2 or 3 times a week.

If you can't find the opportunity to train in the evening several times a week, consider finding a morning class or starting one of your own. You'll see the difference in your game in just a couple of weeks. It's not easy at first, but you'll be guaranteed to not miss a training session because something unexpected came up during the day.

Which brings me to my shameless plug: If you are in the South Bay area of Southern California, please check out my 6am-7:30am class at VMAT (http://www.vmat.tv/). You'll love the results you'll get from starting your day with a good workout and some fun rolling.

VMAT - Vladimir Matyushenko's school

I've been one of Vladdy's sparring partners in preparation for his upcoming title defense against Jamal Patterson in the IFL. In addition to training with Vladdy, I've begun to teach classes there twice a week. I'm still, and will always be, a loyal Rey Diogo student and team member, but this was a chance for me to teach some classes 5 minutes from my work, and to learn some incredible wrestling and MMA from "The Janitor."

Tonight, Oleg Taktarov joined us as he prepared for a fight he has coming soon with Pat Smith.

Half Guard Sweep with Marcelo Cavalcanti

Marcelo Cavalcanti recently opened a school in Carson, California. He's a great guy with excellent technique, so I wanted to take a quick video to help him advertise his school and skills a bit. We did this on the fly, and it was my first time editing a video, so please be gentle if you have any criticism of the presentation. Next time, I'll be better prepared.

Tightening up the Margarida pass

A couple of weeks ago I gave a seminar with Carlos Eduardo "Cadu" Francis at the Xyience Training Center in Las Vegas. It was an honor to be asked to teach there, especially considering my respect and admiration for the head instructor, Ricardo Cavalcanti.

I actually learned a lot in the process. Cadu gave me a great tip about the Margarida guard pass that I'll pass along here. I think I was doing something similar, and I know Saulo discusses it as a part of his X-pass sequence, but Cadu explained it well and I'll pass it along here for anyone who isn’t already doing it.

Many people do the Margarida pass with the knee pushing through the legs close to the groin, as shown here:



Cadu made the point that doing so allows the person on the bottom to prevent or slow the pass by keeping his hips squared up because the leverage against his inside leg isn’t enough to prevent him from doing so. Cadu said that the passer should instead drive the knee closer to the guard player's knee rather than hips so that the knee is forced down and the opportunity to square up is taken away.

I hope that makes sense. It's a small detail, and perhaps a common one, but it was helpful to me.

Fresh Start

What a year!

I can honestly say that, despite the great joy that came with receiving my black belt in jiu-jitsu, I am really glad to see an end to 2007. To say it was my worst year ever, would be putting it lightly.

But I'm tired of talking about the negative, so I'm starting fresh even though the stink of 2007 is still in the air.

First, about the site: I erased all of my old posts. As I sluggishly climbed through the belts, I tried to spare my ego as often as possible by rationalizing every loss and overanalyzing both the good and the bad. In short, I've gotten over myself and I'm sick of all the introspection so I've erased all traces of it.

Which brings me to my second item. A lot of friends have asked me what it's like to finally reach the black belt. Here are my thoughts: I'm cool with the black belt. There are black belts who are better than me, much better, and black belts who are worse--yeah, much worse. There, I said it. I'm fine with who I am, and I wasnt sure I would be when I got the black belt. The thoughts raced through my head, "Will I live up to _______'s standard?" and "What's going to happen when I roll with ____?"

Screw it. I'm just happy to have the belt, and I'm glad I stuck with it long enough to reach this point. God knows it isnt an easy road for anyone.

And finally, to start things off right, I'm directing this toward anyone who reads this: Life is short and hard enough, so lets not make it any harder with all of the petty finger-pointing and gossip that has somehow made its way into the sport. I have friends who are charming and gracious, yet get them talking either online or in person about any given black belt or competitor and they become cynical and downright cruel. I've even known one black belt from another school, someone I've always respected tremendously, to have cut down the skills of just about every other black belt out there...even his friends. It is the worst part of jiujitsu. I'm even going to shut my mouth about a certain black belt who I've criticized for shopping around for belts. This is the last Ill mention of him because I just dont want to contribute to the negativity.

I'm going to try to keep this blog about mental, technical, and physical improvement in jiujitsu. As I learn something from a training partner, instructor, competitor, priest, or the homeless guy who's always offering to wash my windshield, I'll try to share it--not as an authority, but as a fellow jiujitsu player who has too much time on his hands and a penchant for writing about the thing he loves.

Thanks!