https://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/shawn-promotions-feature.jpg538788Chewyhttps://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChewJitsu-Logo.pngChewy2018-02-01 15:53:552018-02-01 15:57:59Take Away My Medals & Belts (You Can't Take This Away)
People are driven by all sorts of different motivators when it comes to BJJ. Often, what we learn through years of chasing goals is that. . .
It’s never enough. You’ll never really be satisfied by any exterior goal.
There is machinery in your body that helps motivate you and push you towards the attainment of a goal. And once that goal is reach.
Well. . . it turns off and then kicks back on with a new goal.
I found this out as a young man chasing medals and MMA. Moving from 1 medal or fight to the next expecting some sort of respite from the feelings of inadequacy that burned inside me which pushed me early in BJJ.
But no matter how cool the jiu-jitsu medal or how exciting the MMA fight win. The wins provided only a temporary salve for the feelings to push myself even further.
And so I’ve come to believe that if you’re going to do this stuff for the long haul. Eventually you have to find a transcendent goal. Something that overshadows all others. . . and it has to come from inside you.
Exterior goals will change, but something inside you. That’s special.
I’m sharing that with you because recently I uploaded videos of me training with some of my friends.
And in these videos you’ll see me training hard. But I was wasn’t training for anything other than my love for training.
Why Don’t I Compete More?
I also get asked from many of the people that watch my videos why I don’t compete more.As I told one of my students. I’ve been competing with a tournament at least every 3 months from 14 years old to 31 (I’m 32 now.)
When I started Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I was competing to prove something to myself about who I was. To find myself. This is an expedition we all have to take at some point in our lives if we are to grow as people.
If not through BJJ than through some other worthwhile challenge.
As I got older and had been to battle so many times. That drive to PROVE myself to myself had left me. I still have room to grow of course. That never ends. But the NEED to prove who I am to my own self was gone.
I had proven myself. Both through my own abilities, and through the impact I’ve had on others around me. My body has the deformities and scars to show my years of development.
If I compete now. It isn’t to prove anything. It’s merely a test to myself to see what’s working in my game. Maybe for a little of nostalgia. To step back into the fray and feel The Butterflies. They’ve become like old friends as I’ve grown accustomed to them since I was 14 years old.
Now, when I compete, I do it because I WANT TO. I do it when I feel like it.
Chewy with no beard (Circa 2012)
Why I Still Push Myself
I love figuring out new techniques and moves.
I love lying in a pool of sweat with my friend knowing that we just gave one another each other’s best. As a martial artist. This is the highest form of respect to me. I gave you my best, which forced you to give me yours.
I love the camaraderie than comes from the closeness created through training.
I love pulling myself and my students forward. If I get better, they get better. And I’ve dedicated myself to them in order to help them develop themselves through training.
And at the end of the night after everyone has left and I’m closing up the gym. Before I turn off the lights I have this odd habit of just staring off to the mats and appreciating the days work that was done. Because it was special and there will never be another like it.
I know this was a little all over the place. So, heres the 2 take aways.
1. Find a transcendent goal. Something that comes from your heart and pushes you to do better regardless of any exterior sources. Because as we said, the exterior goals will come and go.
2. Everyday that you’re on the mats is a good day. There are only a finite amount of them. You get only so many times to step onto the mats. Appreciate each one and be grateful for that opportunity.
https://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/No-beard-featured.jpg270640Chewyhttps://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChewJitsu-Logo.pngChewy2018-01-14 10:31:562018-01-14 10:41:27Find This Goal to Fuel Your BJJ for Years to Come
This morning I saw a video showing a guy at a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu tournament who simply REFUSED to use tapping out as an option. He continued even after being caught in several submissions. One leg lock attempt that left him visibly injured, to the point where he could no longer stand without a limp
Here’s the video if you haven’t seen it:
Why Didn’t You Tap???
I’ve run into the “Not Tapping” thing several times in my 14+ years of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu training.
There was this time when I was a White Belt. These 3 MMA fighters stopped by our gym for a grappling class. During the class one of my good friends who was nearing his Blue Belt (but was still a White Belt) caught one of the MMA fighters in a Kimura. As he cranked the guys arm the MMA fighter began to grunt and make sounds of discomfort. My friend sensing the pain eased up and held the position of the Kimura but stopped cranking it any further.
Eventually our coach stepped in and broke it off. The MMA fighter then stood up screaming about how he hadn’t tapped and my coach calmly informed him that he was saving his shoulder so he could train tomorrow.
The man stormed out of the room.
Why Didn’t You Tap?
As a coach I’ve run into this before as well. I once had a situation with a student who REFUSED to tap to things. In a lot of cases till it was too late.
In one particular instance. One of my other student’s placed a wrist lock onto another student who refused to tap. As the wrist lock slowly got tighter and tighter, the student applying the lock asked verbally, “Are you alright?”
To which the non-tapping student replied, “Yeah, I’m fine.”
There eventually came a POP and my non-tapping student stood up clutching his wrist while wincing in pain. I quickly rushed over to look at the person and see what exactly happened.
The student who applied the submission was visibly shaken by the fact that he hurt a fellow training partner. Contrary to the hard nature of training and potential of submissions. Most people don’t enjoy hurting their training partners.
I quickly, took the student over to the side and asked, “Hey man, did it hurt when the wrist lock was being applied?”
The student’s reply came as he was still holding the injured wrist in his other palm, “Yeah. . .”
My face at this point had to have been one of just complete anger because I was so irritated by that response. Then I asked the question that got to the root of the issue. “Why didn’t you tap????”
His reply sums up why some people still insist on waiting till the last possible moment or refuse to tap at all, “Because I didn’t want to lose.”
After hearing this. . . I lost it a bit and went on a long rant about training properly.
Not Tapping is like Not Respecting The Check Mate in Chess
Even at my worst in regards to being overly competitive and going too hard. I still tapped all the time. Could you imagine all the injuries if I hadn’t tapped often. I wouldn’t be able to do BJJ today. Even today. I’ll tap very quickly than risk my long term ability to train and just be a human. No tournament or win during a roll is worth 3 – 12 months of time off the mat and away from my students as well as the possibly long term consequences.
Also, if you don’t tap. You’re not respecting the game of rolling. Rolling is 100% a game. There are players, with basic rules to govern the environment and finally there is a way to win and lose.
When you don’t tap to a submission. It’s like playing a game and not respecting the rules once you’ve lost. It’s as if you were playing a game of chess. And once your partner established a check mate against you. Instead of saying good game and rearranging your pieces. You begin to just start moving your pieces as if nothing happened.
The difference though is that where as in a chess game you can always just get your pieces back after the game. When you don’t tap to legitimate submissions. You don’t get those “pieces” you’ve lost back.
Tapping IS Losing, IT’S Failure
People use this saying that tapping isn’t losing, it’s learning. I don’t agree with that exactly.
Tapping is losing. You lost. . . plain and simple. You can doll it up however you want to in order to make yourself feel better, but it’s losing. We play a game and when you tap, you lose. When you get the tap, you win.
That said, tapping out is still learning. As is every loss and failure. And I feel like that’s one of the benefits to BJJ is becoming ok with losing.
Failures are like the scars that lay scattered around my eyebrows. Each one of them has a story of me doing something wrong. The only reason I have the scars are because I did something wrong. And you better believe that I learned from them and corrected the mistakes later on. And I wear the scars proudly.
There’s no shame in losing, and failure. Here’s the root issue that a lot of us have trouble with. Including myself at times. We act as if failure is so bad. But it’s not. It’s only bad if you perceive it to be so and give it that negative power. It’s the failures we experience that really push us forward and make us better. Nothing lights a fire under you or makes you get your shit together quite like screwing something up. And behind each failure is a story of you not doing something correctly. And you’ve got to be open to reviewing that story to get the most out of anything.
So respect your opponent’s by playing the game of rolling correctly. Respect your body and it’s longevity by tapping to legitimate submission attempts. And lastly, embrace your failures. Lose the aversion you have to failure and move towards it! Failing is what you’re supposed to do! Because that’s where you need to go to improve.
https://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/19400633_10155345764764029_628698927175676335_o.jpg10801080Chewyhttps://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChewJitsu-Logo.pngChewy2017-10-23 08:39:162017-10-23 08:39:16Tapping in BJJ IS Losing, IT'S Failure
When you first start as a new BJJ White Belt, it can be overwhelming. There is so much going. It can be overwhelming and somewhat confusing about where to start.
I experienced this issue when I began training. And it is a question one of my new White Belts named Taylor recently asked me about. His question was essentially asking what to focus on as a new BJJ White Belt.
So in this video, I share several tips about how I personally went about the initial phase of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu as a brand new White Belt with little to no submissions in my useable technique arsenal.
Tips for a Brand New BJJ White Belt
I share some tips for people who are more comfortable on the bottom playing form Full Guard and I share some options for people who are more comfortable playing from the top positions.
The general idea in this video is that if a brand new BJJ White Belt. Your goal should begin as just being able to control position as best you can and survive initially.
If you can control the basic positions (holding full guard, maintaining top position, etc) then overtime you’ll find that you’ll be able to mount some sort of offense attacks afterwards. Brazilian Jiu-jitsu has the old saying of “position before submission” and this is so true. If you can control the position consistently and reliably. You’ll be able to have more opportunities to attack or defend yourself effectively.
But in the beginning, if you don’t have the ability to maintain positions properly. You’ll be hard pressed to mount any submission attacks or offense techniques. So this should be one of your main focuses in the beginning of training. So if you are brand new, and you’re wondering what to focus on during rolling or Bjj training. This is a basic answer.
So for all the newcomers to BJJ, I hope this video is useful to you!
-Chewy
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If you’d ever like to train with the team and I. Check out my gym Derby City MMA in Louisville,KY.
https://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/maxresdefault-1.jpg7201280Chewyhttps://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChewJitsu-Logo.pngChewy2017-10-04 14:47:272017-10-04 14:47:27What to Focus On as a New BJJ White Belt with No Submissions
Are you a White Belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu who feels better when they roll with a Higher Belt?
This is the question I received from our BJJ White Belt friend Brianda who asked, ” I’ve been training for four months and I know I’m improving a lot (everybody tells me), but when I roll with white belts. Why do I feel like I can’t do anything? When I roll with higher belts everything goes better and I can practice all the movements and submissions I’ve learned, is it normal?”
In this Chewy ramble video I discuss this common situation in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.
So Why Do I Roll Better Against Higher Belts?
When it boils down to it this is caused by a couple things.
A higher belt (Blue Belt, Purple Belt, Brown Belt, Black Belt) is in much better control of the roll and is much more relaxed. This relaxed state is usually fueled by the fact that the higher belt can finish the roll and gain the upper hand at any point. This oftentimes leads higher belts to play down a little bit during BJJ training to allow the newer student to move around and attempt their techniques.
The roll takes on a back and forth flow dynamic. Rather than the super intense style of roll that happens when two people of the same level are rolling with one another. So if you’re a White Belt and you’re rolling with a higher belt who is playing around a bit. This is why you feel like you’re doing better against them during BJJ training.
Why Do I Roll Worse Against White Belts?
In contrast you might feel like you roll worse against a White Belt. This is because a fellow White Belt does not have the security of being more advanced technically. They don’t have the same control a more experienced grappler does. So, instead they are fighting life and death when pitted against another beginner during a Brazilian Jiujitsu class.
The roll then takes on a much more aggressive nature and makes it more difficult to execute techniques. And this would lead you to think that you are doing “worse” during the roll.
I go into more detail in the video and share a few stories. But don’t worry, in short, yes this is a normal situation.
If you’re running into this as a BJJ White Belt. I hope the video is helpful!
https://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/1st-match.jpg531689Chewyhttps://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChewJitsu-Logo.pngChewy2017-08-30 12:53:162017-08-30 12:54:52This is Why You Roll Worse against White Belts in BJJ
Want 3 tips on how to use your BJJ book effectively for training? Maybe the book is just filled with awesome content and BJJ techniques. Well how do you decide on which BJJ techniques to focus on and implement?
In this video I give several tips on how to use a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu book effectively. I focus my attention on Jiu-jitsu University, as an example since it was requested by one of the viewers.
He said that he bought this particular BJJ book in order to help him develop his grappling abilities and is wondering on how to make the best use of it for training and his BJJ development.
The Basic BJJ Book Tips Are. . .
1. USE THE INFORMATION! Don’t let the books, dvd and videos you consume go to waste. Put into motion the things you’re absorbing. Remember, information is just information. Execution of this information is what matters.
2. Focus on problems you’re encountering during your Brazilian Jiujitsu training. Oftentimes when we have a deficiency in our game. We somehow seem to find ourself there constantly. So it’s very helpful to plug the holes in your game. Find areas to help you focus on those areas is a good idea.
3. Focus on positions where you’re already effective. This will allow you to easily slide new techniques into the mix. Often if you’re already good at a particular position. Adding another technique you see in a BJJ book won’t be a problem.
3. Augment the training your BJJ coach is already covering. So for instance if you’re covering Guard Passes. Find more options on Guard Passing in the book to go along with what you’re already doing. This will help you further develop those areas and stay on track with your coach in your gym.
I also share an idea on how you might use a BJJ journal along with a BJJ book to hold yourself accountable in regards to the techniques you’re trying to add to your game.
https://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Screen-Shot-2017-07-17-at-8.19.23-AM.png8681486Chewyhttps://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChewJitsu-Logo.pngChewy2017-07-17 08:21:212017-07-17 08:21:213 Easy Ways to Use a BJJ Book to Boost Training
When you’re an older BJJ practitioner on the mat. Often you have to do things a bit differently than your younger training partners. Like moving a bit slower. Now, does moving slower during BJJ training make you lazy? This is a worry that one of our friends has currently with his training.
He is a 40 year old 2 stripe white belt and is wanting to move towards a slower Brazilian Jiujitsu game. This is because he often putters out during the Bjj rolling session when he tries to match the pace of some of his training partners. The issue he is having though is that he feels like his coach will look at him as if he is lazy and not progressing.
He also shares that he feels like he is kind of hanging on to his younger self and that part of the reason he goes so fast during training is because he is still trying to be that younger person.
In this video (below) I talk about slowing down your BJJ game to adapt to being an older guy or woman in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. While this is directed towards an older BJJ White Belt in particular. The same tip could be used for anyone in BJJ who is trying to make their game more efficient.
An Older BJJ Practitioner and Being Slower Doesn’t mean Lazy
As I share in the video. Moving slower when you’re doing BJJ doesn’t mean you’re being lazy or not progressing. In many cases, it just means you’re attempting to become more efficient with your movements and making everything count. Rather than expending lots of energy unnecessarily with movements that don’t really get you anywhere.
So whether you’re an older BJJ practitioner who is in the thick of Brazilian Jiujitsu and is looking to adapt to a slower game or if you’re just looking to slow down your game a bit when you’re rolling. Hopefully the tips in this video are helpful to you!
https://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/older-bjj-coaches.jpg10801080Chewyhttps://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChewJitsu-Logo.pngChewy2017-07-05 07:40:582017-07-05 07:40:58Common Fear of an Older BJJ White Belt
Are Leg Locks in BJJ really that Dangerous? Some people avoid them like the plague citing that leg locks are so destructive that they shouldn’t almost not be practiced at all. As if they are some evil section of grappling that should be avoided at all costs.
But in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, as I think we all know, all submissions are dangerous and have the potential to alter someone’s life in a very profound way. I’ve met people who have had permanent caused by things like armbars or rear naked chokes (improperly applied), which many unanimously agree are “safe” submissions to use in BJJ training.
Rolling is a Serious Game
Because of this inherent danger in everything we do on the mats. I think it’s always important to remind ourselves of just how serious the game of Rolling can actually be. We have a blast and it’s so much fun. But when it comes time to finish our training partners in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. We have to be smart.
Accidents happen in BJJ and people get injured. It’s just how it is and there is no way around it completely. But one goal we should always keep close to home as a training partner is to do everything in our power to ensure our partners leave in the same shape they came in. So if they were healthy and uninjured walked into the gym. They should be that way walking out.
Aversion to Leg Locks in BJJ
Many people have a certain aversion to Leg Locks in BJJ. I know that during my first few years of BJJ. A lot of coaches at this time talked about the techniques as if they were evil and just bad! It reminded me of the Dark Arts of Harry Potter or something.
But overtime they’ve become more and more prominent in BJJ and because of this more and more people are practicing them as part of their Brazilian Jiujitsu. I believe their prominence was caused by the gaping hole that was created by the lack of people in Brazilian Jiujitsu actually focusing on the lower body submissions.
I personally had to let go of the consistent idea that I had about leg locks in BJJ. That idea was mainly that they were too dangerous.
I’ve actually found through years of coaching that with proper knowledge they’re just about as safe as anything else. In fact, inside our gym over the last 3 years I’ve seen less injuries related to Leg Locks since we started practicing them on a weekly basis.
People are more sensitive to them now, they know how to escape and they know how to apply them with control. They know when to tap and how to adjust their body through the technique.
I know you may not agree. But I hope you at least consider the way you think about Leg Locks. Are they you’re own thoughts based on your own experiences, or are they the beliefs of another person?
Because through my experience as a BJJ Black Belt and Coach. Whether we are talking about an Armbar, Kimura or a Heel Hook in BJJ. . . they are all dangerous.
https://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/leg-lock-in-bjj-dangerous.png5541200Chewyhttps://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChewJitsu-Logo.pngChewy2017-06-26 11:00:522017-06-26 11:00:52Are Leg Locks in BJJ More Dangerous Than Other Submissions?
One of my favorite submissions in Brazilian JiuJitsu is the Kimura. It’s a versatile BJJ submission that can be done from both bottom or top and a number of different Brazilian Jiu-jitsu positions. It can be used as a standalone BJJ submission or as a setup to other attacks and positions. And there are so many variations of the technique itself.
The Best Body Type For The Kimura
Just as a quick side note. From my experience in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. The Kimura seems to favor people with shorter stronger arms. Which is a physical quality I have. I’ve seen tall people use it. But it isn’t common.
In this video I take a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu question from Jeffrey from Twitter who inquired about tips on finishing the Kimura against someone who is pushing against his hip which prevents him from stepping over. I didn’t have a video of it but I assumed he’s trying this from side control.
Tips On This Effective Kimura
In this video I show one of my favorite Kimura finishes to use in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. I do it in BJJ competitions and rolling in the gym. I bypass the stepping over the head part completely in lieu of just going around to North South to execute the technique.
What I like about this particular finish is that even if the person is grabbing their belt, or if you just can’t get their arm away from their body. You can still finish it. Just based on the way you twist the arm and attack the shoulder. Also, the way I am pulling on the arm usually does well to break the grip if there is one.
Just be careful with it, because they catch comes fast on this one. <====== Seriously, be careful with Kimuras. They’re incredibly dangerous if executed too fast!
So if you’re looking for another variation of the Kimura in BJJ. Give this one a try. If you do, I hope it works for you!
If you’d ever like to train with the team and I. Check out my gym Derby City MMA in Louisville,KY.
https://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Effective-Kimura-bigger-people.png6371200Chewyhttps://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChewJitsu-Logo.pngChewy2017-06-16 16:18:142017-06-16 16:18:14Effective BJJ Kimura Finish (Even Works on Big People)
What is the most efficient way to train BJJ? Is training yourself Brazilian Jiu-jitsu an effective way to learn the martial art? Should you teach BJJ to yourself?
In this video I touch on this subject.
Our friend Nate on Youtube sent a message saying that he wants to maximize his time and save money by training with his friend in a basement first before he eventually joins his local 10th Planet BJJ gym.
He’s doing this to sort of bypass the White Belt phase of his training and prepare for his Blue Belt. So he plans to do this by using his friend to teach BJJ to each other.
Why Is Smart Not To Teach BJJ To Yourself
As I share in the video I think this is a bad idea for your BJJ growth. Primarily because I’ve done it.
When I started training Brazilian Jiujitsu. I started like Nate is thinking about and piecing together moves in my basement with my friends. This was the way I began my Brazilian Jiujitsu experience.
We did this for about a year.
I found a BJJ gym in Louisville where I would eventually train. And when I did eventually step into an actual BJJ program led by an expert. I realized I wasted so much time training myself! I learned more in that 1 day of training than I did in the year of trying to teach BJJ to myself.
In any form of Martial Arts. It’s always a more effective means to growth to learn from someone who has been there before.
If you’re contemplating joining a BJJ gym or training yourself. I hope the video is helpful to you!
