The way you learn makes a difference!

I have been training with a few newer students during the daytime, one in particular has come in from another school. We have had several people join from this school, people with previous experience, that have been training for a bit and the response has always been the same.  They are shocked at what they learn here with us and the methods we use to teach. Yesterday I trained with the guy I was referring to above and after drilling and talking about the positions we were in for about 30 min, he just looked at me and said he was blown away by how much he was learning at FargoBJJ after only a few classes. He follow this up by saying he couldn't believe he trained at this other school for as long as he did without covering the stuff we were doing as it seemed really basic. And it was really basic, all things that are covered in our fundamentals program which just goes to show you the importance of the method and environment in which you learn. Coming from the line of excellent instructors that George and Sarah come from, we are truly lucky to have all there experience and methods brought to us! We are also lucky to be able to learn in the environment that they created here. A relaxed comfortable environment :) An environment in which you have a chance to learn without getting roughed up, where everyone is encouraging and helpful. This is what makes a great academy. This is why FargoBJJ is great!

Fundamentals Class is the Place to Be

The title of this article sums it up, when you want to learn something you start with the basics.  This holds true to life not just Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and as you advance in life or BJJ you always go back to the basics.  Einstein started with 1+1=2 not E=MC^2 and do you think he never played with simple addition again after he realized how much energy was contained in an object?  Last week in the Fundamentals program at FargoBJJ we learned different escapes from the mount and the same thing happened to me that happens to me every time this class comes around. I realize that instead of working on x, y,or z move that what I should be working on is bridging. My bridge is weak, my bridge form is sloppy I lead with my chest instead of my hips, and no time is this more glaring than when I try to buck and roll people! And when I look back my BJJ game reflects this too, I would be so much better if I could fix this thing, and its a huge thing! When I introduce people to BJJ at the academy the first thing I tell them is that the single most important attribute in BJJ is the ability to move your hips. So it is embarrassing that I haven't been working on my hips, everyone says work on the basics if you want to be good, I say that, but do I. Not often enough! So what should I do about this? I need to practice my bridge. Where is the best place to practice this? In fundamentals class where my partner is giving me minimal resistance and I have the time to realize my mistakes and attention I need to correct my mistakes. If I were to just come in and train I would be less apt to concentrate on the little details as things would be moving much faster. So when its time to improve the game, you should look to fundamentals class and we will be killing it in no time :)

The Importance of Training with the Big Man

Yesterday was a full day of teaching and training for me. I woke up in the morning to this schedule: 10am Chiropractor, Noon teaching Fundamentals B Day, which was a great class by the way! 1pm Intro, 2pm another intro, 6pm open mat, 630pm KickBoxing, 730pm Masters Class. Now this is a long day with some running around and a very late lunch, it would be easy and understandable to not want to do something to wear you out before it even started. I had the opportunity to train with Matt at 11am before I started teaching; now Matt at 230 is 40lbs heavier than me, extremely flexible, very technical, and does not have the typical "big guy movement" but is very fluid. All my goals on the other hand need this training to accomplish, not only do I love competing but I love competing in the open weight and absolute divisions of tournaments too! Most bigger guys are slower and if they are bulky with muscle tire much much faster than me, but I do have a hard time dealing with their strength and sometimes get stuck and over powered. I need to confront this problem now as it only is going to get harder in the future. So I asked Matt if he wanted to train in the am Tuesdays and Thursdays 11am before I teach. And so it starts and Matt asks me what I wanted to work on. I chose the position opposite the one Matt's A-game revolves around. I need to get smashed and find a way out. So bottom of half guard it was... and I suffered... A LOT! I got tapped every couple of minutes over and over again, and the one or two times I got on top Okay Okay just the one time  I got on top, I swept and passed then stopped and went back to bottom. Why? Because a champion doesn't take the easy route he studies, works hard, and evolves. A champion is always looking for the next challenge to overcome. A champion does not stop trying, and I want to be a champion so I must follow this path. Its a hard path to start and and even harder path to follow but if you can find a way to make it fun, your rewards will be incredible. I had fun training with Matt yesterday and will again on Tuesday, I am sure of it. And you know what, what do you think I will feel win I step out on the mat to compete next time, when I face a weaker, less skilled opponent than my training partner? I will feel relaxed, I will feel comfort, I will feel my hard work pay off, I will feel victory, I will feel happy!

So Train with those who are better than you, those who smash you, Train with the Big Man and you will feel it too!

Midday Training with Kris F

Today while I was sitting at work, I had this sudden urge to do some drilling. At first I just kept working but the desire was persistent.  I just knew that if I trained something good would happen, something really good. So I made a few calls, put up a desperate plea on my facebook page and thankfully Kris F. was nearby and responded. First we worked breaking down strong posture in the guard, and where to go from the particular technique that we were using. Where did we go... to the back! Everything I have been training, drilling, and even thinking about involves going to the back. It was awesome, and it is really paying off! Next we worked on setting up the arm triangle from anywhere we could think of, and what to do if we couldn't finish from there. I bet you can guess where we went if we didn't finish; yeah that is right, we went to the BACK. Ask me any BJJ question, from now on, my answer will be go to the back LOL! Then as Kris headed out Joe came in and me and Joe picked right up working on taking the back from the arm triangle position. What a great attack, I am putting together an entire series from finish to start so stay tuned for more, but if you want to learn it come on in!!!

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