The Benefits of Competition

There are three primary benefits to competing:

It will improve your ability to persevere in adverse situations.
It will help you focus your attention on weaknesses.
It will improve your training by giving you short term goals to focus on.

Improves Your Ability to Persevere in Adverse Situations

There are so many situations where you will be uncomfortable in jiu-jitsu and want to give up. That’s especially true when you first start learning, but giving up in the gym and giving up in a tournament is different. We all have pride. We want to win, and that desire will push you to persevere, even if it’s just a little, but every time you do, you’ll learn that you can go further.

In a way, you get desensitized to difficulty, and you start to realize that there is often a way forward even when no path seems visible. That is a change in mindset that you gain as you compete more and more.

Over time, you become confident in yourself, and your experience helps you calmly assess situations and move forward with the hand that you’re dealt. It’s possible to gain that same perseverance elsewhere, but competition is one of the safest environments to do so.

Helps Focus Your Attention on Weaknesses

Win or lose, you sometimes run into situations where you could have done things a little differently. In competition, there is an increased likelihood of that happening since you may compete against individuals who have different styles than you are used to in your gym. It’s a great thing when it happens since it can focus you like a laser on areas that you can improve in. It can also serve as motivation for you to improve since you likely want to do better the next time you compete.

Improves Your Training by Giving You Short Term Goals to Focus On

When you compete, you want to win. If not, you wouldn’t invest the money and time required to do so. Now given that fact, competition can focus your attention on the question of how you can improve in the shortest time frame possible. Any extra effort you’re putting into your training for a particular competition is speeding up your progress towards being a master of your art even if it’s only by an inch. It all adds up over time, and you become better than you would have been if you had never competed.

Invest in Your Art

This is not a benefit of competition, but it is a reason to compete. Once a long time ago, after a class, a question was asked about the difference between gambling and investing. The answer stuck with me, and I’ll explain it.

When you gamble, all that matters is winning and losing. There is no benefit that can be attained from loss, and no matter the odds, that principle still holds true.

Investment, on the other hand, is different. When you invest, you can benefit even from losses because luck isn’t the primary determinant of the outcome, and you can apply the lessons learned.

So if you go into competition with the mindset that you are investing in your skills, you will benefit. There is no doubt of that.

7 Reasons Why Jiu Jitsu is Awesome

Ever wondered what’s so captivating about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? Let’s dive into why it’s special and discover the joys and benefits of learning the art. It’s more than just a sport; it’s a thrilling journey for your mind and body!

It Can Help You Unleash A Fitter Version of Yourself

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) requires that we improve our ability to do two things simultaneously. On one hand, we have to control our opponent, either through trickery, pressure, speed or power. Then on the other hand, we have to control ourselves. So little things like our ability to maintain balance in a variety of situations goes a long way towards improving our effectiveness on the mat.

Every training session is a workout that targets so many muscles in the body, even little ones that often get little use. Just imagine how many calorie you’ll burn if you consistently train.

But wait, there’s more!

Every class is a different experience, so it never gets tedious, and you have the opportunity to improve every day. How awesome is that?

It can prepare you to defend yourself at close range

Here’s a reality about self defense: In all situations, avoidance is the best and safest course of action. There are no magic techniques that will work in all situations against any threat. But there are things that will help prepare you to protect yourself if you ever need to.

The first is physical fitness. If there is an opportunity to run, you want to be able to do so without collapsing within seconds, gasping for air. And on the mat, you will gain that fitness. But that’s not all. You will also improve your ability to stay cool under pressure and think fast.

Why?

It’s because that’s how we train. In class, you will experience pressure in a safe environment and learn how to deal with it. Then on top of that, you’ll also gain skills that will help you dominate and control unarmed opponents at close range.

It Can Improve Your Ability to Persevere Through Difficult Situations

Every time you step on the mat, you’re not just training your body but also your mind. You learn to push through tough situations, which builds incredible resilience, as mentioned earlier. And the mental fortitude you develop?

It’s unbeatable. BJJ teaches you to stay calm under pressure, to think clearly when things get tough. That kind of mental strength is invaluable, both in and out of the gym.

Through Training, You’ll Have the opportunity to meet Great People

When you train, you’re not alone. You’re part of a team where everyone supports each other, both on and off the mat. It’s this sense of camaraderie that makes BJJ special.

The friendships you form in BJJ are unique. They’re forged through shared challenges and victories, creating bonds that last a lifetime. Training together, helping each other learn and grow, it’s about more than just martial arts.

This sense of community extends beyond the gym. BJJ practitioners often find a family in their training partners, a group of friends who understand the dedication and hard work that goes into the sport. It’s a community that celebrates your successes and supports you through struggles.

Sometimes the best thing to make a bad day better is to train

Training Jiu Jitsu and Martial Arts Is Always A Joy

When you dive into Jiu-Jitsu, you’re signing up for one of the best stress busters out there. The physical exertion, that intense focus during training, it’s like a release valve for stress. You’re not just working out your body; you’re clearing your mind too.

And here’s the thing about BJJ: it requires your full attention. You’re so focused on techniques and strategies that there’s no room for those nagging thoughts. It’s like a mental cleanse every time you hit the mat.

Plus, there’s something about the rhythm of BJJ training – the grappling, the rolling – that’s incredibly therapeutic. You finish a session feeling lighter, more relaxed. It’s not just a workout; it’s a way to unload all that stress and just breathe easy.

On the mat, there will always be room for improvement

BJJ is like an endless puzzle. Every class, every roll, brings new challenges and opportunities to learn. It’s not just about perfecting moves; it’s about adapting and evolving your style and strategy as you grow in the art. No matter how skilled you get, there’s always something new to discover. It keeps things fresh and interesting, no matter how long you’ve been training.

What’s more, in BJJ, learning goes beyond techniques. It’s about learning about yourself, your limits, your strengths, and how to overcome obstacles. This constant learning keeps the mind sharp and engaged, making BJJ a truly enriching experience.

OPportunities Abound for you to Test Yourself Competitively

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned practitioner, BJJ offers numerous opportunities to test your skills in a competitive setting. This aspect of BJJ is great because it caters to all skill levels, ensuring everyone gets a chance to experience the thrill of competition.

Competing in BJJ is more than just winning or losing; it’s about setting personal goals, overcoming nerves, and learning from each match. It’s a safe and structured environment where you can push your limits, learn from your opponents, and celebrate your progress.

What’s unique about BJJ competitions is the sense of community and respect among competitors. Even in a competitive setting, there’s a strong camaraderie among practitioners, making these events not just a test of skill but also a celebration of the art.

So Give it a try

If you’re near Laurel and hunting for a healthy hobby that’ll truly grip you, BJJ could be it. Why not start your BJJ adventure with a complimentary trial class? It’s a journey that keeps giving!

An Effective Loop Choke from Half Guard

In the gi, the loop choke is an attack that you can use anytime you have a cross collar grip. It can be sneaky, but when done well, it is definitely effective. The key is that you have to understand the specific conditions that allow the choke to happen. Once you have that knowledge, though, you can both create those situations and take advantage of them when they arise.

Additional Details

There are two tests for the cross collar grip placement. The first is aligning your index finger with their collar bone. And the second is pulling the grip across towards the head and checking to see if you thumb aligns with their chin.
The wrist of the cross collar grip should flex towards the chest, similar to a limp wrist or like holding a coffee mug. That allows your arm to contour around the neck better when you go for the choke.
The path of escape is always towards the secondary grip. That’s why taking their head towards your primary grip against your hip or rib improves your finish percentage. That’s why the video mentions treating it like a guillotine. That is not the only way the finish, but all finishes requires some obstacle that blocks their head from ducking under the second grip.

Common Challenges

A smart and logical response to a cross collar grip is to break it right away. That means that you will run into individuals who refuse to accept that grip. If they succeed in breaking it, the loop choke is taken off the board.
If you successfully set the grip and maintain it, the next challenge lies in their posture. You have to get their head lower than yours. Sometimes they will do it for you, but the surest path lies in making them react in a way that brings their head into your strike zone. The sweep attempt shown in the video above is just one method. But sweep attempts in general are great for getting big reactions.
The last hurdle is securing their head, and as a general rule, you want to fall towards the side of your secondary grip. If you can get on that hip, it becomes possible to block the head with your elbow, even when you can’t tuck it towards your first grip.

Hitting the Wrist Lock Off Of The Armdrag

Hitting the Wristlock Off Of The Armdrag

The wrist lock is a versatile attack that works in a wide variety of positions.

But where it really shines is in its sneakiness. In the right hands, it’s an attack that can creep up on opponents suddenly and without warning.

And everyone can use it.

You just have to understand that if the elbow can’t move, the wrist is vulnerable. And that is a situation that can be created in many different ways.

Case in point:

Check out this setup from Joc, a man who is known to have absolutely no chill when it comes to the wrist.

Execution Tips

Establish firm control by cross gripping the sleeve (left on right or right on left) and behind the tricep on the arm you want to attack.
Shift your hips towards the same side of the arm while pulling it across your body. Aim to get the elbow all the way to ground and lock it in this position with your body.
Switch the tricep grip to an overhook with your hand cupping their bicep.
Slide the grip on sleeve up to the hand and apply pressure to force it to flex towards the wrist for the finish.

Fair warning.

Live by the sword, die by the sword. Once the wrists are in play, the intensity of the training goes up.

How to Do the Hip Bump Sweep from Closed Guard

When you first start learning Jiu Jitsu, one of your goals should be to improve your ability to get to more dominant positions like the mount.

And there are many different paths to that objective.

One is to sweep directly into the position from closed guard.

Imagine that.

One technique is all that’s required to take you from the bottom (where your opponent can make you suffer with the pressure of their weight) to the top (where submissions like the armbar and the cross choke become significantly easier).

And of the many options for achieving that objective, there is one that is easier to learn, and it is the hip bump.

In fact, we often teach it to our kids, and they pick it up fast.

But in order to assist all students in mastering the movement, we also put a quick breakdown on tape, and you can check it out here:

Execution Tips

The first and most critical objective is that you must sit up to the hand. That means that your palm of your hand (not elbow) is on the mat behind you and your body is upright with your arm over your opponent’s shoulder (armpit to shoulder contact is key). How you achieve that outcome can vary, but it must be accomplished. One thing that helps, though, is angling your hips to the side and lifting your bottom elbow above your shoulder on the mat. It allows you to push off the elbow to sit up with speed.
Once that first objective is achieved, it becomes imperative that you control your opponent’s arm. It helps to palm their elbow and glue it to your chest.
Then the finishing motion is a rotation. You’re not knocking them directly back (even though that can work in some circumstances). When you focus on dropping the knee on the side of their trapped arm and spinning them like a top, the attack becomes so much more difficult to stop.

Hope this helps, and if you wish to learn more, the best place to do it is in class. And if you’re not a student yet, fill out one of the request more information forms and start the process.

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