Why Train Jiu Jitsu

Why Train Jiu Jitsu?  It is a fair question to ask whether you are thinking about starting or have been involved in BJJ for years.  It is hard.  It takes physical and mental energy.  It costs money and time.  It can be rough on your ego since there is probably no one practicing who hasn't been beaten.  When you do experience defeat in Brazilian jiu jitsu it happens in a more immediate, intimate, and personal dimension than most other experiences.  With this in mind what brings people who have families, successful careers, and limited time onto the mats on a regular basis?  What makes the young guy who isn't going to make his rent payment at the end of the month give up all the cash in in wallet for a new gi?  Why does such a tough sport attract enough new competitor each year to make it  one of the fastest growing sports worldwide?

In order to try to answer this question I have to first come back to my story and look at why I started Jiu Jitsu.  I got into jiu jitsu because I realized, after finishing my collegiate wrestling career, how much I enjoyed wrestling. One thing I enjoyed about wrestling was learning the techniques and testing them out to see if I could really execute them.  It is something like the joy some get from playing video games.  It is a fun challenge to see if I can execute the right techniques.  Jiu jitsu seemed like a whole new technical world to explore and my learning curve was steep when I began.  Everything I saw was something new.  Although wrestling is a very technical sport and anyone could spend a lifetime studying it, I believe jiu jitsu presents even more technical possibilities to explore.  Jiu jitsu has almost all the positions of wrestling with the addition of submission holds. And because gi and "no-gi jiu jitsu"  have distinct technical modifications and it creates a rich field of possibilities to learn. Some have likened it to the game of chess with more dimensions, or, to an infinite series.

Another reason I started was that, like many people in my generation, I travelled from place to place relatively more often than probably most people did in previous years.  Work and a desire to see the world keep me moving often. In jiu jitsu I found a community in each place I moved to. As jiu jitsu continues to grow worldwide I know that anywhere I go I have a group of friends already, before I arrive at a new place.

 Learning to fight was another bonus for me.  Notice that I don't use the term "self-defense".  Self-defense is a perfectly legitimate goal and learning to fight certainly can be an asset in a self defense situation.  I believe they are two different things.  Self defense is about using appropraite force and strategy to save your life or someone else's in an unexpected violent situation.  Fighting is a contest between two or more people (on the street, in a cage, ect).  It may not be politically correct, but, I think there is intrinsic value in knowing I can win a physical fight.  This makes some people uncomfortable and may be a masculine sentiment.  I could write an entire post about this and having this knowledge definitely changes my outlook on the world and other people.  I know Jiu jitsu has taught me how to fight because I have fought MMA and been in a couple of fight situations outside of a sport setting.  I also know that I possess  real skill because of the daily feedback I get when training.  Recent studies quoted by noble prize winning author, Dr. Kahneman, in his book "Thinking, Fast and Slow" , point to the necessity of training our automatic response by repeated immediate feedback.   Live jiu jitsu training gives this type of feedback.   Jiu Jitsu effectively teaches fighting skills.  It teaches them in a relatively safe way unlike striking arts where to get the feeback that develops skill you must subject yourself to being hit, which can  do damage the body and brain.

What has keep me going in jiu jitsu?  An interesting thing about jiu jitsu (and any form of grappling) is that you have immediate and real feedback if your work has paid off.  Many efforts in life produce results that are ambiguous.  For example, working at my job or other jobs in the past, I understand that doing the job a certain way is good and having certain habits like promptness are necessary.  I don't get immediate feedback though as to whether doing "A" works versus doing "B".  In jiu jitsu you get that feedback.  If you execute a sweep it means that you had the correct grips and timing, for example.  You know this immediately even on a subconscious or, to use Kahneman's terminology, "system one" level.  This quick feedback, telling me that my that effort produces results has had a very positive impact on how I live my life and how I feel about the world.  It constantly SHOWS ME that I can affect my outcomes.   I've not found any other education method, mental or physical that reinforce this idea like jiu jitsu.  Unlike often times in school/academia and even non-contact martial arts, my understanding of my progress doesn't rely on external approval from a teacher.  I believe this personal experience makes it more powerful as a self development method.

The lessons that jiu jitsu teaches are very unequivocal.  There are no teammate to blame mistakes on.  If someone beats you it is on you alone.  If I drank too much beer and am feeling exhausted as a consequence, a jiu jitsu training session will bring that to my attention like nothing else.  Joe Rogan, UFC commentator, says:  "I think in life we can distort our perception of things in order to make ourselves more comfortable, in order to make ourselves accept where we are, and there are alot of people that are running around full of shit.    When you do jiu jitsu it is impossible to be full of shit because reality comes at you in the purest form possible."  Mr. Rogan makes an important point; that is, it is very easy to trick yourself.  Scientific research by behavior psychologists, decision theorists, and economists have proven this.   In order to grow I have to see my limitations and then push my comfort zones.  Jiu jitsu is a tool to do this.  Another lesson I believe jiu jitsu teaches is how to tolerate discomfort and endure uncertainty. It is not a coincidence that Renzo Gracie's motto is 'through endurance we will conquer.'  When you begin a live jiu jitsu training session or competition you don't know how it will develop.  If you are caught in side control and you can't breath because your training partners weight is pressing your lungs, the patience to wait for him to move out out of position so you can escape.  It is one thing to understand that you need endurance and perseverance but quite another to PRACTICE it.  The great Samurai and philosopher Musahsi ended every section of his "Book of Five Rings" with the statement: "you must practice every day."  Knowledge doesn't become vital and useful until it is practiced. This training has served me in all aspects of my life ranging form business to family life.

Another reason I practice brazilian jiu jitsu is for the health benefits.  I love the way my body feels because of the training.  After a hard training session what some call runners high sets in.  Because jiu jitsu develops flexibility and balance through movement it makes me feel more fluid just moving around when I'm not in class.  Jiu jitsu gives me an extra incentive to diet correctly (I know I feel better in training when I eat correctly).  It gives me functional strength.  It cleanses my body through sweat (think soaking wet gi).  It develops awareness.  Once I was mountain biking and crashed.  I broke just about everything in my pack and my camera I was carrying but rolled through the crash and was fine.  Jiu jitsu is the most efficient way to get all my fitness bases covered including strength, flexibility, balance, cardiovascular and lung health, cleansing, and coordination.  In order to get these benefits form other activities I would have to do yoga, lift weights, surf, kettlebells, rock climb, run, and sauna for example.  I like and do many of these activities because of their own merits, and, they can supplement jiu jitsu.  They are not though as efficient a way to get in shape if you are pressed for time.  Brazilian jiu jitsu is less hard on the body than other grappling arts such as judo, wrestling, and sambo.  This is because there are less high amplitude throws and, in general movements are smaller and less athletically inclined.

Those are the main reason's I do jiu jitsu.  I'm sure there are others, some good and some not as positive. Recently one of my main jiu jitsu teachers Rolles Gracie said to a group of Renzo Gracie Association school owner (my paraphrase);  "What if someone offered you $10,000 for your black belt, but not just the belt, all the experiences, friends, fun, and other benefits that you had along the way, would you do it?"  Everyone emphatically said no, some aloud and some to themselves.  Rolles then said: "I wouldn't sell mine for one million dollars, or, ten million, not any amount."  I believe most things/people have a price (an uncomfortable thought) but I found myself thinking I agree with Rolles and feel the same way.   If you train jiu jitsu, stop and think about why you do it.  If you have not tried it you at least owe it to yourself to look into starting and giving it a try.

Renzo Gracie Pittsburgh 2011 Recap

Two thousand twelve is here! The past year went really fast for me so writing this was a nice way to reflect on all the good memories. Challenges overcome are always good memories so I'll start with those. The toughest challenges were thrown at guys most of us respect. First, Lance Thompson had a very serious injury last December. I've heard that the number one reason purple belts don't move up the ranks is due to injuries. This is understandable having had one myself. It is amazing how such an obstacle can change your mental state. Injuries give some people a powerful reason to quit something, even when it is positive for them. Lance underwent surgery and came back even better than when he left! Mike Wilkins faced a different kind of challenge. After establishing himself as one of the areas best amateur MMA fighters, he decided to step up a level and go professional against the advice of the armchair critics and other people involved in mixed martial arts. He finally got a fight in Costa Rica. He lost at the very end of the first round (which he dominated) to a submission. It was a difficult way to lose after spending almost a year on improving his grappling. The critics and naysayers were vindicated, right? Wrong. Mike came back and had a dominating win in his first official pro fight right here in Pennsylvania. Heather Wiederstein also came back from injuries and losses.

The members of Renzo Gracie Pittsburgh participated in many competitions. In MMA we saw Mike Wilkins make his pro debut. Sean Clair made his amateur debut with a decision win over a tough 2-0 jiu-jitsu fighter. Lucas Burdette returned to the cage, fighting in the NAAFS organization after a long layoff. He came back strong with one of the most inspiring victories I've seen in my years watching MMA.

Heather Wiederstein and Curt Uniatowski stepped in the cage for the first time and fought hard but dropped decisions. In jiu-jitsu competition, I surprised myself by placing third in the black belt adult division (middleweight) at the Nogi Pan-Ams and third in the Miami Open black belt absolute division (www.ibjjf.org). While these are not the best tournaments in jiu-jitsu/grappling (that would be the IBJJF Worlds and ADCC), they are certainly top-tier competitions that few Americans (and no one training out of Pittsburgh) have placed in before. I have to thank all my training partners at RGA for getting me ready to compete successfully at a world level, especially considering the limited time I have to spend on my own training. On a less happy note, I was invited to compete in the Kerberus Pro Absolute and lost by footlock so quickly that I made Atos's highlight reel. As a team, we had a great showing at the Kumite Classic in Monroeville this past May. We dominated the white belt adult gi division. Individually we had many champs including Heather (gi and nogi), Jonas (gi and nogi), Phil, and Jarret Lewis (blue belt gi). We had several other place winners. At a local West Virginia tournament, Dave Ziegler took first place in blue belt gi and second in advanced nogi. Phil Norbeck took second in white belt gi. At the IBJJF New York Open, Dave took second in the blue belt division. He showed technical skill as well as toughness winning three matches in a tough, high-level event. Check out videos of the action on YouTube. We miss you, Dave! Jonas and Alex (youth division) also took first place finishes at Steel City's tournament during the summer. I think everyone who competed learned something valuable.

Some good friends and training partners are no longer training at the academy. Hopefully some will be back in the new year. Our membership numbers doubled. Heather organized some women's only training which brought women from other academies. Our kids program really took off in 2011. Jarret took the conditioning program to a new level. He continued his learning with a TRX certification and lots of hard training. Jarret also organized the David Clancy kettlebell seminar.
We had a world-class instructor from Brazil, Roger Ambrosi, join us for a few months. He brought a different perspective to classes and his championship technique to our school. He also did many private lessons and helped me with my training. I could not have competed at a high level in 2011 without training with Roger. Daniel Gracie awarded him his black belt in December at his home academy in Brazil. Roger and his wife Mel returned to Brazil not long ago so that he could undergo orthopedic surgery. We hope to see them back in Pittsburgh sometime in 2012.

We had plenty of social events and good times watching the UFC at bars and at our fellow members houses. Our year-end party was fun and lots of nice gear was won.

We hosted two seminars this year. The first was Igor Gracie. Since my son Jake was being born in Costa Rica, Logan helped organize the seminar. Everyone said Igor was an inspirational but down-to-earth guy and that they learned some valuable jiu-jitsu lessons. I think Mike Wilkins already dangerous guillotine got even meaner. I was really happy to bring my old teacher Shawn Williams to Pittsburgh and host his seminar. He showed us why he is such a respected teacher. We are still working on lots of the stuff he showed us.

Thanks to CPAMMA for attending the seminars and stopping by to train every now and then. We like having you! We have had many visitors who have added to our school by training with us and sharing technique. Will Durkee (adult purple belt pan nogi champ) and Garry Tonon (brown belt world gi and pan nogi champ) gave us great training and tips when they were in town.

We had many belt promotions in 2011. Here is a list:

Purple: Brendan Lupetin and Jarret Lewis



















Blue: Anthony Previte, Jason Coligan, Sean Clair, Chris Ripple, Casey Stapleton, Mike Mehalko, Doug Placko and Geoff Hogate.

Brendan and Jarret were the first purple belts I have given so they are extra special for me. Jarret got his blue from Jean Jacques Machado and Brendan got his from Renzo himself. Jason and Geoff started at Renzo Gracie Pittsburgh and are "home grown" (not in a Rastafarian way I don't think).

Thank you for the great camaraderie, great workouts, and for being members of the Renzo Gracie Pittsburgh Academy. I sincerely thank all of you. Unless the Mayans and ancient Indian Vedas writers are correct and the world ends, we are going to continue to grow and get better in 2012!

-Warren

New to Jiu-Jitsu? What to expect Q & A:

Q: What should I do if I would like to try a Jiu-Jitsu class, a fitness class, or a private class?

A: Fill out the simple contact form under the contact tab on our webpage. Someone will get in touch with you soon. Alternatively, just stop by the school 10 minutes or so before a class and speak with an instructor. See our schedule page on the website http://www.renzograciepittsburgh.com/for class times.

Q: What should I do once I arrive?

A: Introduce yourself to the instructor, fill out the participation waiver completely, tell the instructor a little about yourself and your background in athletics and fitness if any, and ask questions.

Q: Who can do Jiu-Jitsu?

A: Anyone who is healthy enough for exercise can participate. In your class you will find people from ages 14-50+. Most fundamentals classes include beginners as well as a few more experienced participants who often help new students with the techniques. Both men and women participate in our classes. Our women students can elect to train with other women or with anyone in the classes.

Q: What is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?

A: It is a grappling-based martial art that teaches how to control a resisting adversary through the use of leverage, timing and creating situations that utilize strength imbalances. As a sport and activity it is one of the fastest growing worldwide. Mixed martial arts (MMA), of which BJJ is a integral part, is the fastest growing sport in the world in terms of revenues and viewership.

Q: Will I get hurt in class?

A: Our Fundamentals Jiu Jitsu program is designed though years of experience to minimize the chances of injuries. Instructors monitor students training constantly and also ensure that the environment is safe. For example very large and athletic people are paired with people of similar stature. There are no strikes in the fundamentals program. As with any contact sport there is some risk.

Q: Do you have women in your school?

A: Yes. We have several women members.

Q: What does it cost?

A: We offer beginners a free introduction lesson. After the introduction lesson you can stay and watch a class. If you can't make a class just come by and watch. Meet the intructor and talk to other members. If you would like to try some classes in a more hands on way before joining us they we offer a 5 day unlimited pass for just $20 for new prospective members. If you would like to stay with us after that ask an instructor to go over payments options with you. Our prices start at $89-140 month for adult classes and start at $65 for youth.  Those with at least 6 months of Brazilian Jiu jitsu, or extensive grappling, judo, or wrestling get 5 days unlimited training free. Visitors from other academies are free.

Q: Do I have to be an athlete to do your classes?

A: No! Most people are fit enough to start our classes. You can go at your own pace.

Q: What is a typical class structure?

A: 10-minute warm-up, which is designed to create heat in the muscles and develop basic movement skills from Jiu-Jitsu. 40 minute of instructions and drilling techniques. 10 minute of live positional training.

Q: Do you have showers?

A: Yes, we have two showers.

Q: I’m new in the area, is your school a good place to meet new friends?

A: One of the best things about Jiu-Jitsu is that it brings people together. We cultivate a friendly atmosphere in class and often have events which can include an informal get-together at a bar to watch the UFC, a group trip to New York City main Renzo School, an academy party, or going to an MMA event to watch your friends compete.

Q: What is a “gi”?

A: A “gi” is the training uniform used by Judo and traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Unlike some martial arts that use uniforms for dress only, our gis are very functional. They are a training tool that teaches skills. Grips and holds use the gi so it is much heavier and stronger than uniforms used in Karate for example. In addition to being a teaching tool the gi is also important for building self-defense skills since in Pittsburgh we often wear jackets when we are out on the street. We also have classes which are no-gi . Ask an instructor how you can get a gi.

Q: Should I train with the gi or without (no-gi Jiu-Jitsu)

A: You should do both no matter what your goals are. The gi teaches posture, help make your defensive skills crisp and builds certain types of physical strengths. These are just some of the benefits. Training without a gi builds speed and sharpens certain offensive skills to name a few benefits. It is a lot of fun to learn different holds and movements for each discipline as well as seeing where techniques intersect or need to be modified. There are competitions both with and without the gi. Most of the top competitors are champions in both. Most good MMA fighters train both gi and no-gi at different times.

Q: How do I get a gi?

A: Ask an instructor at Renzo Gracie Pittsburgh when you arrive and they will help you. We sell top quality gis at good prices.

Q: Do the classes teach you how to fight like fighters in the UFC and other MMA events?

A: UFC fighters and most professional MMA fighters spent years training and are full time fighters. Many are also exceptional athletes. Most of the best ones train or started training in a school like Renzo Gracie Pittsburgh. You will immediately be more of an educated fan of MMA by participating our classes. After more time you will learn to use many of the most important skill that top MMA fighters use.

Q: What should I do if I want to compete in mixed martial arts or sport Jiu-Jitsu?

A: Join our school and participate in our classes! UFC champions Frank Edgar and George St. Pierre are often seen in public classes at Renzo’s in NYC. You should be prepared to dedicate lots of time and work. It is not an overnight process but months and years of training. Anyone who wants to compete can do so at some level if they can dedicate the time and effort. Many of our members do not compete. Some of the most respected Jiu-Jitsu practitioners have never competed.

Q: Will I get in shape and lose weight by doing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?

A: Without a doubt, yes. We have had many members loose over 20lbs in a couple of months and change their body composition to one with less fat and more muscle. There is no other activity that, in one hour, does as thorough a job of mixing resistance training, endurance/cardio, balance, coordination and flexibility as BJJ or grappling arts. Other benefits are breath control, hand and core strengthening and mind/body connection. Almost all muscles are worked. Metabolism is raised so calories are burned not just in class but also throughout the rest of your week. Our conditioning classes offer an extra boost to get you in shape even faster since we feel physical fitness is so important.

www.renzograciepittsburgh.com

Watching a Cagefight

I first met Mike Wilkins at Mad Dog Gym a few years ago. It's a little gym in the back corner of a tattoo parlor. Inside, you'll find mats, punching bags, and screaming death metal. I was new to the world of MMA, and in between getting slammed, spraining my neck, and being caught in bicep slicers on a nightly basis I met Mike. He was a friendly guy with an oddly likeable alpha-male persona. These days, we train together at the Renzo Gracie Pittsburgh Academy in Lawrenceville.

Two weeks ago, a bunch of us drove out to Altoona, PA on a chilly fall Saturday night to support the "Monongahela Miracle". I made the two hour drive with two whiny teenagers, and was all too happy to arrive at the arena. As soon as I parked, I literally ran to the door of the auditorium.

I arrived 45 minutes late, but it was no big deal. There were a bunch of amateur fights on the card, and Mike's fight was second to last. As I entered the auditorium, the first thing I heard was the sickening slap of a shin guard against another man's cup. The crowd booed and groaned, and the hapless victim had a minute to recover. I surveyed the surroundings, looking for my friends. The seats were packed with folks from every walk of life. I saw casual fans, hardcore fans, nursing mothers, guys in XXXL Tapout shirts, and numerous old folk.

I found my friends from the Jiu-Jitsu Academy and sat down, getting cozy and catching up with the results of the previous fights. Only 8 feet away from me was the cage, and I could see two men locked in fierce combat. One man was pressed against the fence, defending the takedown, while the other man was working tenaciously to plant his opponent on his back. After a while, the ref broke them apart for stalling. Time to grab a beer.

Later in the event, they finally announced our teammate Mike Wilkins. We all stood and cheered--unbridled screaming, beer cans spilling, strobe lights inducing far away seizures... I could go on with this, but the English language has only two words which adequately sum up the experience: BUCK WILD. Yes, we ALL went BUCK WILD.

The fight started like I'd imagined. Mike was a ferocious southpaw, and immediately worked his clinching game. I've sparred with Mike in the past. He's one of those guys that doesn't hit you as hard as he can, but only as hard as you need to be hit. The high point of the fight was watching Mike and his opponent just a few feet from us, clinched against the cage. You could hear them grunting and trying to knee each other. I felt like Mike was the DJ and I had requested my favorite song, "Knees to the Head". Mike must have worn his tin foil hat that night, because he instantly whipped those knees up in the face of his poor foe. In the second round, Mike got his opponent belly down and battered him like a lanky white blonde gorilla. He slipped in the choke, his foe tapped, and the ref stepped in.

As the fight ended, I could already imagine tomorrow's updated Sherdog MMA profile: "Mike Wilkins-Win-Round Two-Rear Naked Choke". I feel like those quick factoids we see on the profiles of our favorite fighters fail to capture the immense drama of two men (or women) locked in a cage in the fiercest struggle imaginable. It's a glorious thing, this challenge of the human spirit we call a "cage fight"- to battle your equal in the most fundamental score-settling manner as humanly possible.

If you haven't ever seen a cage fight live, you should.

-Casey