Preventing Bad Training Habits
Oftentimes, we think of Jiujitsu as techniques… however, it isn’t about techniques, contrary to popular belief. What’s it about then? Concepts. It’s about understanding the movements – the purpose behind each foot placement, each grip, each push and pull. Essentially, a student of Jujitsu needs to understand the mechanics behind each movement before having the ability to successfully pull it off. What’s the point of learning the Scissor Sweep if you don’t know what each step is for? You can drill it hundreds of times, you can become proficient at copying the steps and do it over and over again. Once resistance from your opponent comes into play, it’s difficult to complete the sweep if you don’t understand the mechanics behind the sweep. For example, when you pull the person over you, just before sweeping, the weight of your opponent is forward on their knees- it isn’t distributed equally amongst the four points he/she had on the ground (both feet, and both knees). Thus, when you sweep, they have nothing to base out with (you’re already eliminating their arm with their same side grip, right?). If you don’t know this concept, you will most likely not be able to execute the move neither in specifics nor sparring. If you learn the concept, the technique clicks easily rather than painfully trying to learn by copying. Instead of building bad habits, you start out with good ones from the get-go…no relearning necessary.
For me, not understanding concepts caused bad jiujitsu habits. Personally, I trained for three years before I started learning actual concepts. Wait…what was I doing for three years then? Honestly, I have no clue. Well, actually, what I was doing was learning bad habits by copying instead of understanding. I didn’t even know what the purpose of a hip escape was – I was told to copy a movement, and for six months, I didn’t even know why I was trying to escape my hips at the beginning of every class. I eventually put two and two together, but until recently, I still felt like it equaled five. 2 and 2 equaled 4 when I started training with Jei at WSFF a few months ago. It wasn’t even through private training that hip escapes made perfect sense – it was actually watching him teach the basics to white belts. This is why I still see myself as a white belt. The mechanics of a triangle choke is a good example to use when thinking of concepts. Most white belts, even some blue belts, complete the move based on copying other teammates. It is a choke that is very difficult to complete if you don’t get the “why” of it. Ultimately, you are cutting off blood circulation to the carotid artery in your opponent’s neck. This is done with the shoulder of your opponent (which is why you need to push their arm across your body) and your leg (which is why you need to get the perpendicular angle of your body to theirs). A lot of the students at WSFF didn’t quite understand it until it was broken down step by step in our fundamentals class – each movement was isolated and explained. Pretty quickly for them, 2 and 2 easily equaled 4. It was much quicker for them because they started learning the movement properly. Even though the triangle is my go-to submission from guard, it wasn’t until a few months ago (when I started learning concepts) that I could finish it.
This is why learning by copying rather than understanding is a waste of time because you’re setting yourself back. Think about what you’re doing, why you’re doing it, and understand the movement before drilling. Break down the mechanics of your technique, and check yourself by asking “what’s the purpose of this [insert move here]?” Basics + Concepts = Jujitsu.
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I would like to introduce Fabiana Borges, a world champion and an inspiration to women’s jiujitsu. She will be traveling from Texas to join us for the PNW Women’s training camp happening in two weeks! For those of you who haven’t heard of her… check out her bio HERE on BJJ Heroes. She was also recently the champion of the first women’s super fight in Texas, check out this awesome piece written about her process prior to the fight at AUSTIN SIMPLY FIT. Also, she is currently an instructor at Gracie Barra San Antonio, spreading her knowledge to her students.
INTERVIEW:
When did you start training Brazilian Jiujitsu and why?
I started it in 1999 in a free social project back in Brazil. At the time I was looking for some sport to do – I had tried volleyball, soccer, and didn’t find anything that I liked. Then I tried BJJ and LOVED it.
What do you think of women’s BJJ as it is currently?
I think it is growing a lot. We are getting more space in the tournaments, in the media. There is a lot to improve but I believe we are on the right track.
What is your goal as a woman in this sport?
My goal is to reach as many people that I can, as the Gracie Barra logo says, I want to show jiujitsu to everyone, especially for girls. I believe BJJ is a great self-defense too, because it is all based on leverage.
What made you decide to travel all the way from Texas to Washington for the PNW Women’s Training Camp?
I have lived in Washington before and I see a great potential there. The state has a lot of great schools, good professors, and a lot of female high-belts, so I wanted to be a part of that. Also, I love to support girls when it comes to BJJ – there are not a lot of girls out there, so when events like the PNW Training Camp happen, we have to stick together.
If you were to give advice to any woman starting this sport, what would it be?
Have fun with it! I always say to my students or the girls that I teach to, it doesn’t matter what is your reason to train – self-defense, lose weight, compete, bond with your family, etc – you will always fall in love with this art. And if you have never trained before, give it a try, you won’t regret it.
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Elena Stowell: An Inspiration
Elena Stowell, author of Flowing with the Go, is an inspiration both within the jujitsu community and out as well. Read this article on her struggles and how jujitsu helped her overcome the grief from her daughter’s death.
Read her story here: http://www.maplevalleyreporter.com/news/152313635.html
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Who is Amanda Loewen?
Curious about Amanda? Check out this video of her amazing technique and seamless transitions from Grappler’s Quest.
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New Beginnings
Here’s a little something about New Beginnings, an amazing cause to which 25% of the camp’s proceeds will be donated.
New Beginnings′ mission is to provide shelter, advocacy and support for battered women and their children; and to change attitudes and social institutions that foster and perpetuate violence.
New Beginnings provides services to those whose lives have been affected by domestic violence – physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. Some who use our services are in physical danger. Others are living with controlling partners in relationships that are emotionally abusive.
Check out the following link to read more about domestic violence and what services this organization provides. http://www.newbegin.org.
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Event Flyer
Check out this awesome flyer for the PNW Women’s Training Camp.
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Grapplin' Gals 
