Old Man Jitsu (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu)

As a white belt there can be some preconceptions of what jujitsu is and what training in jujitsu should be like. For me, UFC 1 had just come out and some dude named Royce Gracie had just redefined the Ultimate Martial Art.

I’m mindful of white belts today, because majority of the evening classes of late are white belts! They’ve reminded me of how important they are to jujitsu. So unpredictable, and so eager to make their mark. You have to be sharp with these guys, as today’s roll proved. I could not rest a minute during our rolling session this evening. Three 10 minute rounds, back to back… Love it! And you never know what your gonna get (kinda like a box of chocolates) rolling with the new ones, are they green, wrestling background, does he think this is MMA? Im more apprehensive with the White belts than I am with the Black!

If your new, and thinking of trying out jiu jitsu, you owe it to yourself to just do it. I’m gonna paraphrase something I read yesterday. The jiu jitsu journey is somewhat like climbing a tree. You will first climb with caution searching and looking for which branch to step on, which one to grab, and during that initial climb you might fall and hurt yourself. And you will wipe yourself off and begin the climb again, remembering which branch was weak, which one was strong, and your climbing will be faster and more efficient every a time you do it. So will your jiu jitsu journey be.

Ever feel like just staying in bed and skipping that morning Saturday class? Me, all the time. Wife with the Flu, my young daughter throwing up, and waking up with sore throat and body aches…yeah, I was not feeling it today.

Remember this advise, your feeling weak and know you should stay home and rest, yet your mind keeps reminding you that the rest of the guys are gonna train wether you go or not, your gonna miss out and the rest are gonna have that one Xtra class on you… Yeah, sucks being me sometimes.. Dress up and just go to class, if after 15 minutes you still feel like crap then just sit out and observe.

15 minutes turned into finishing the entire class today, it was rough at the start but felt like a champ at the end of class, I even got some mat time in. If you ride like I do (road & mountain biking) you’ll experience this same thing on days you start a ride not feeling it but end the ride feeling brand new. I believe it’s just getting that blood moving is key, after hard workouts if you don’t cool down properly, the bad blood ( deoxygenated blood trapped in the muscles, the feeling it creates is generally soreness) just lingers, so when you get that blood flowing again, your body feels fresher because you finally got it out of your muscles…out with the old…In with the new ..just keep moving.

Rolled with white belts today, and was asked not to push it, to let them work mount escapes, I was happy about that really, with my body aches and all. Typing this I’m kinda feeling it but happy I got some work in. And found a missing piece to a puzzle I had trouble putting together, involving a closed guard sweep, works like a charm, so glad proffesor shared that detail with me at the last training.

It’s really easy to skip out on jujitsu, and it’s 90% mental. Getting there is the hardest part. Once there, just stay relaxed, you’ll leave with more energy.