Down With The Sickness

Hey! It's been a while. Time to start this again I guess. With the world in lockdown due to COVID 19 there aren't many training opportunities. I've set up mats and a TV in the basement and started working on solo drills. When the schools reopen, I'll be ready. 

The quest for fitness, new challenges and swimming the ocean of doubt

My life of the past 4 years consists of challenging myself in one way or another. First was overcoming the fear of committing to parenthood. When Shannon became pregnant I recall a sense of elation, which was offset only slightly by a fear of the unknown. I have found that in many instances that when I embrace the challenge of the unknown that the best things happen. Being Lila’s Dad is certainly one of the greatest things that I have ever, or will ever do. It rewards me every day.

I feel much the same way about Jiu Jitsu. When I first stepped onto the mat I felt like a first time swimmer stepping into the pool. It was an environment I was unfamiliar, and a little uncomfortable with. After a little time, I found I could survive, and enjoy it. Now it is hard to imagine my life before BJJ, and even more difficult to imagine what it would be like without it. Jiu Jitsu is a sort of fellowship for me, and it’s study is something I look forward to, and think about every day.

I’ve often said that Jiu Jitsu gave me confidence. That confidence extends off the mat into my life. It drives me to put myself to the trial an everything I do. It has expanded my belief in my own abilities as an individual. Jiu Jitsu re-lit the athletic fire in my life. A fire that was long extinguished by the instant gratification of alcohol fueled adventure. Throughout my 20’s it seemed like the most interesting things happened with cold beverages, and drunken debauch. This takes a toll on the body, and it also takes a toll on the mind. When I hit my 30’s the adventures in drinking lost their luster. Recovery became rougher, and the same ole-same-ole became a bit depressing.

At my worst I was up to approx 220lbs, and looked old. I mean more than just grey hair- I felt old too. Fat in my face gave my eyes a sunken look. All my “best stories” took place in the past. The future was a boring subject to contemplate. That changed the first day I stepped onto the mat. I’ll be glad for that for the rest of my life.

After a year of training with Easton I began to look around for additional challenges. At that time I discovered Cyclocross. I also discovered Warrior Dash- which seemed a lot like Cyclocross on foot. I didn’t have money for a bike, but I could run so I decided to focus on Warrior Dash. About a week or so later my friend Kristi told me about Tough Mudder- which was like Warrior Dash, but triple the distance, with more difficult and more plentiful obstacles.

Last year when I committed to that first TM at Beaver Creek it was like I was standing on the shore of my island, looking across a vast ocean of doubt. It took all of my fiber to wade in and swim for what was then an unknown. This challenge intrigued me, and forced me to look within myself for strength- it challenged me more than just physically- it taunted my soul, and stirred me to action.

I’ve now run 2 Tough Mudder races in the past year, with a 3^rd on the horizon in June. I finished in the top 5% of the field at my second race and qualified for the World Championships. Tough Mudder doesn’t scare me anymore. Worse, it doesn’t challenge me. What was once an abyss now seems like a walk in the park. I need something new, and it needs to be something that I can build upon.

Even after that first Tough Mudder I remember feeling empty when I thought I should feel rewarded. There was so much build up to it that when it was over I felt like there should be some sort of spiritual reward- something, but instead it was more of a “done, dusted” sort of reaction. I signed up for the second one on a whim. It was reasonably close to my parent’s house so it seemed convenient, and I thought at that time I would have a team to run with. Why not sign up? I trained pretty hard for the second one. I had it in my mind to qualify for the World’s Toughest Mudder, and I figured with the flatter TX landscape I would be faster, and I was. I accomplished the goal of qualification. Still empty.

I now think I understand the emptiness I feel.  Milton said of Alexander the Great- "When Alexander saw the breadth of his domain, he wept for there were no more worlds to conquer."  Perhaps this is true. TM is supposed to be the most challenging adventure race series out there. They poke fun at the 5k races along the route (there is a sign 5k into the Tough Mudder that says “if this were Warrior Dash you’d be finished now”) Beaver Creek is arguably the hardest standard TM race in the country due to the elevation changes, but I beat it on my first time out. Worse was that I saw a lot of non-athletes beat it. Nothing says you really accomplished something by earning the finishers headband like seeing a woman wearing a finishers headband while smoking a cigarette at the bar… It kinda takes the wind out of your sails to see something like that. Of course, it’s not a “race” so really she could have very walked the damn thing and gone around obstacles and still “finished” I guess, but this is beside the point.  The point is I need something new to challenge me. Phil vs. What? Phil vs. Tough Mudder is done. I did that shit. I’m going to do it again too, but that isn’t an aspiration anymore. It’s the standard now. Right now I’m standing on the shore of this new island, looking across a vast ocean again- and this time I’m really (actually) going to swim for it. I’ve started training for an as yet to be determined triathlon, and after spending time in the pool I’ve just come to realize- I suck at swimming.

Challenge Accepted.

2 Years Training

Going from being THIS guy

To being THIS guy

They say time flies when you're having fun, and I've been having some fun. 2 years ago today I stepped onto the mat @ Easton Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for the first time. It's been an interesting journey thus far. I've learned a lot about myself, and the benefits of learning and practicing a martial art.
Some things that have changed noticably, for instance my weight- I was 210lbs on my first day on the mat. This morning I weighed in at 175lbs. It is interesting to walk around sans the weight of 2 bowling balls. I'm pretty happy to have gotten much leaner while getting stronger. This has also contributed to my activities. After 2 years in BJJ my "life" is hardly recognizable. I used to go out to the bar at least once a week and drink beer and eat chicken wings. Now I'm vegetarian, and drink about a 6 pack a month. I couldn't run a single lap around a highschool track back then. Last weekend I ran 14 miles, and tackled 29 obstacles at a Tough Mudder (my 2nd TM event). I didn't just jog it either- I kept pace with a couple Marines and kicked some ass.  Had I never made that decision to step onto the mat, none of this would have happened. I had to believe I could do it, and that confidence is one of the many things that BJJ has given to me.


Practicing BJJ may be training to fight, but it is also training to think. How to solve problems, and how to train your instincts. There are a lot of metaphors for life that can be drawn from BJJ- understanding the problem, applying the solution, being flexible and adaptable to the challenges you are confronted with, thinking through the problem before reacting. Understanding risk and consequence. This is all part of the "mental game" that is the Gentle Art.

BJJ has lead to a lot of friendships as well. I recall when I lived in Chicago and I felt lost in the crowd. I couldn't figure out a way to make new friends outside of work because my interests were so narrow. BJJ has enriched my life with a common interest that has allowed me to meet a wide variety of great people. It's a friendship built on mutual respect and I'm very grateful for that.

So where do I go from here?  I've decided not to set a final destination. I think the best plan is to just keep going, wherever this journey takes me will be the best place with the best result. In the mean time I'll continue to focus on my training, expand my skill set, and I'll keep looking for opportunities to enrich my life even further. Thanks for reading.

Tradesman Opportunity. Can a Mud Runner Get Some Wheels?

If you have been reading you may already know that Jiu Jitsu isn't my only hobby. I'm also a pretty avid runner, with a focus on Adventure Racing. Having competed in several events in 2011, I have double that number scheduled in 2012. I'll be starting with the January (Brrr) TX Coast Tough Mudder next week. You may not know that the world of cycling has an equivalent to these runs, and that is a sport called Cyclocross. Cyclocross or "Cross" as it is known is run on a mixed media style course, made up of combinations of paved of road, grass, snow and mud with obstacles that require rider skill to negotiate. The courses include climbs, and descents on loose and most times muddy surfaces. There are also hurdles that require dismount, and remount of the bicycle while on the run. The course is typically a  closed loop over a fixed distance, and the object is to lap the course as many times as possible in a fixed time period. It requires a combination of bike handling skill, endurance, and speed not found in other bicycle mounted sports. I've been fascinated by 'Cross since the first time I witnessed a race. The riders were hardy, tough people with considerable control, and skill. The observers in the crowd were rowdy cowbell ringing types who love to watch the riders test their medal, and drink beer. Everyone loves drinking beer (me too). Since my first experience I have wanted to ride 'Cross to be a part of the action. Riding requires equipment, and that is where I fall short. I just don't have the dough to drop on a good steed for this purpose. I have saved money to buy a bike, but every time I get close something seems to come up- a new transmission or tires for the truck, repairs to the house, or medical bills for my wife. Each time this happens I say "next year is the year" and I start saving again. Now I've figured out a way that I may be able to make this happen in the near-er future. Foundry Cycles is offering a "Tradesman" position, this position comes with a Foundry Brand bicycle. Foundry builds the Auger which looks to be a first class 'cross tool well beyond my means as a consumer. It's an exchange. I'd have to earn the bike by spreading the word about the brand all around Colorado, and here on my blog as well as other social medias. Foundry is a brand new bicycle brand, building carbon bikes that have a work-horse ethos about them. It appears they are looking for people like me who will not only torture test their equipment, but also evangelize for the new brand in environments where their market cross section would flock- places like oh say- Mud Runs. I honestly think events like Snow-Dash, Warrior Dash, Rugged Maniac, Spartan Challenge and Tough Mudder are like gateway drugs into a more rugged cross section of the population.  These are people who push themselves, and their gear to the outer limits of durability. These are the kind of people Foundry is looking for to consume their products. Why would I be a good Tradesman? I'm outgoing, and technically knowledgeable since I worked in a bike shop in High school and continue to follow trends in cycle technology. I'm "in the know" enough about the industry to have been following Foundry's brand development for well over a year. As has been proven with my experiences with other brands I have supported, I know how to do rep a product without being phoney. I'm already at the center of a market cross section. I have no less than 5 events scheduled for 2012, and if provided the means (an Auger) I'd enter regional 'Cross races as a means to demo the bike, meet with like minded individuals, and film for the planned upcoming web series "Phil Vs." which will be broadcast on YouTube. Think Man vs. Food without the calorie count. We actually plan to have me undertake a variety of challenges (cycling from Denver to Vail for instance) and film them under the auspices of "Here is an average guy doing things you wouldn't try- but maybe you could or should" The Auger would be prominently featured in the cycling episodes of the web show, as well as the Rocky style training montage we plan to include in every webisode.  I have already secured an editor to put together the episodes from raw footage to be shot via GoPro, and hand held cam. 2012 aims to be a big year for getting out amongst my fellow mud enthusiasts. I hope Foundry chooses to be a part of it.

Monday night intermediate Gi training with Peter Straub

I originally set out to take the black belt Gi class last night, but then got there plenty early and decided to start out with the intermediate group. We were working from half guard, and this is an area where i need a lot of work so I decided to stay with the intermediate class rather than switch out when the black belt class assembled.
Coach Peter has a really good way of breaking down technique. Not only does he go through the motions, but he also makes a point of explaining the "why" of the motion. ex: when you go from an underhook to a pummel your palm should be facing away from an opponents back- why? It has to do with how the arm bends. If you have palm down, it is easy for your opponent to clamp down with his elbow and render your pummel ineffective- but if you have palm up it makes the arm rigid against the opponents elbow and allows you to maintain leverage, and is more difficult to defeat. I've been training for nearly 2 years now, and I never understood that. It's the little things that change the game.

I feel like I am at a bit of a crossroads right now, like I need to do something differently than I have been for the past few months. I'm thinking that has to be getting my ass into the Black Belt classes again. Starting this week I am committing to at least one black belt class per week. Come februaray I will have been training for 2 full years, so at that point it will be about getting to 2 Black belt classes per week. i'll need to consult with Shannon as to how I can do that, but I feel like it needs to be done.

Not long for Broadway... AM training with Coach Boyle

The big news around Easton right now is the new 10,000 sq ft "Easton Training Center" which will be a full training center- BJJ, Muay Thai, Cross fit, Cardio- the works. the rumors say we will also have Showers at the new facility. Still, I was pretty much planning to keep coming to the school on Broadway since it is a bit closer than the new location. It's been nearly 2 years on the mats at Broadway, and the place feels like a home to me, but alas, my coach verified today Broadway is to close, and be replaced by the ETC. This raises some community questions for me, as it is widely publicized that MMA fighter Elliot Marshall will run the ETC. I like Elliot a lot, the few times we have met he has been awesome to work with- but this leaves me wondering where our current administrator will go. Professor King is a large part of the reason I started BJJ. Sure, Andrew "dragged" me in there for that first lesson, but honestly I had met Prof. Larry a few times before then and his genuine personality was definitely a factor in making training a permanent part of my life. I hope there are plans for him to continue in his role at the new facility- if they move him elsewhere, there is a good chance I would follow.

Monday AM training was the same drill focused workout I have come to expect and appreciate. I got my heart rate going, and learned a new drill. Excellent training partner once again- even more excellent than before because apparently he could be reading this (Ben) LoL

Interesting sidebar to Training Partner Ben, he will also be participating in the Boulder GORUCK in May. This is awesome because the more people I know who get involved the more driven I will be to train and be ready.

Also of note- the BEST MOTHER IN LAW IN THE GALAXY has gotten me a gift certificate to help me pick up my needed UA Coldgear for the Jan. Tough Mudder. Pretty psyched about that.

Day 5- the day that wasn't

Yes, I am pussing out on my own challenge. My wife has kindly asked me to spend this evening at home with her, and our daughter. I didn't really discuss this challenge with my better half before I embarked upon it, sooo... t is time to be realistic and honor thy family. 4 Days in a row was a good run, and I DO plan to be back training on Saturday morning, so really I am just taking a rest day to be one with my peeps.

Also, I forgot my mouthguard.



 Also, I do what my wife says.

GORUCK Challenge training and building a more well-rounded BJJ Player.

Bricks. Such a versatile, and useful building material. You can use them to build a house, a bridge, a road, or a fortification from behind which you can wage war. In a pinch you could hit an attacker over the head with them- but I'm pretty sure that isn't IBJJF legal. So how do simple bricks build a martial artist- or more specifically a better BJJ Player? We don't break bricks in this art- that's for demo squads. We use strength, endurance, and cunning when we roll. How will bricks help me develope that?
I went out and bought these 6 "training bricks" to use in my preparation for The GORUCK Challenge coming up in May. Last year the Tough Mudder CO was my non-BJJ related challenge. It was ambitious considering I was slightly overweight, and hadn't run a mile in well over a decade. With the help of BJJ, an improved diet, and the support of my friends I finished the 10 mile Tough Mudder in an above average time. I was proud of myself, but like Alexander I was conflicted once my campaign was complete. As I rode home I thought to myself- "what now?" By most measurements TM was the hardest thing I could find to challenge myself. Sure I could do another one (and I am in fact running TM TX Coast on Jan 28th) I could go for a faster time- but in my mind I wouldn't feel like I was pushing any new boundries. Enter GORUCK. It's a team challenge executed in groups of 30 individuals. 18-20 miles over 10 hours. There is "Cadre" on hand, and they are basically Drill Instructors who will lead us through the challenge.

Why am I going to do this to myself? Because CHALLENGE! Thats why. This is the next evolution- this is pushing myself.

Part of the GORUCK is the fact that I will be hauling 6 bricks on my back based on my weight (over 150lbs). GORUCK provides the backpack for the challenge, but I need to BYOB (bring my own bricks) so, since I need to haul these bricks for the challenge I decided to pick them up early in order to train with them. Allow me to introduce- The Octogon, James Westfall, and Dr. Kenneth Noisewater...
These fellas are going to ride on my back during training for the next 5 months. All together they only weigh 25lbs, which means that when I have strapped them on I will still weigh less than I did at this time last year, of course, adding it all as dead weight hung over my shoulders does make it a bit more tricky. I am training using my Camelback hydration pack as my brick carrier. I hope it holds up to the strain.
The training plan for now is to add  sets of pushups in the evenings with the weight strapped on. Right now I am working my way to a hundred doing sets of 20. Next evolution will be 100 in 3 sets of 33, then 2 sets of 50. Once I am comfortably there, then I'll remap my game plan. I don't think I need to be breaking off sets of 100 pushups in sequence just yet. I'm not Hershel Walker.

So how does all this relate to BJJ? Well, if you read my "rag doll" blog post, then you know I am in deep water on the mats at Easton as of late. Its definitely what you call a "tough room" down there when it comes to Black Belt classes. For this reason, in addition to technique I am looking to improve strength and endurance. I can't tell you how many times I've just been flat tuckered out in the middle of a roll. Mostly this happens with bigger guys. I run out of gas, and then I start getting sloppy. I let my arms get loose, and then I get submitted. It's frustrating. So while I practice at "staying safe" on the mats, I will also be working to increase my stamina in my workouts off the mats. Participating in the GORUCK Challenge is as much mental game as it is physical. You have to endure the strain- push through it- just like you do when you roll. So there you have it- Strength of limb, Endurance of the mind and the body.

 This is how I will use bricks to build a more well rounded BJJ Player.

BREAK OVER

In the end of September I re-dedicated myself to training BJJ on a full time schedule of 3x classes per week minimum. Throughout much of July, and the first part of August I was only training 2x per week. My training consisted of being an Oki during private lessons, and thus getting free private lessons with a Brown Belt instructor, and a loosely formatted positional drilling session on Wednesday nights. I was helping a buddy prepare for tournament, and I was having a problem with my low-back which kept me from really pushing too hard during that time-frame.

Excuse time is now officially past. For the next 2 weeks i will be rigidly sticking to my 3x training schedule Attending Black Belt class on Monday, Intermediate Tuesday, and Intermediate Saturday mornings- after that Shannon is done with Softball and Thursdays will again be open for BB training. I am still a bit Ronin from my normal schedule, as I have been working out sessions at the South School Intermediate level classes as well as attending at my home academy in Denver. I like the crowd in HR, and I like to train down there so I am splitting time.

As I am returning to class I am also working in a lot of the things I had been working on in the private sessions, and drilling- mostly sweeps. Last week I got a lot of good results from the pendulum sweep, which feels very natural to me.

I was pleasantly reminded last weekend of just how effective BJJ is against the uninformed opponent- I swept a guy at will while training with a Fundamentals / Intermediate group in Boulder. This guy had at least 50 lbs on me- was bigger / stronger ect- totally helpless in my guard. Of course sweeps become less and less effective once you are rolling with someone who actually knows some BJJ, but it was heartening to realize how simple it was to work game on an unwitting opponent. I saw a guy fight in a UFC prelim over summer who said of BJJ "I don't believe in it" He was a striker, and apparently hadn't come up against a real BJJ player yet. He won his fight due to strikes and seemed to reinforce his belief. This past weekend during the UFC prelims I watched a solid BJJ player- a record holder having finished 7 fights in a row by triangle, and then the next 3 via heel hook to be 10-0 in his MMA career. He finished his opponent via heel hook- and you KNOW his opponent knew it was coming, but just couldn't get away from it. Tell THAT guy you "don't believe in BJJ" and I predict a life altering outcome for you...

BJJ is intelligent, and resourceful. It's fighting, but it is also methodical, thought provoking and strategic. It is an art.

Taking a break

It's been a while since i posted, and that is mostly due to having taken a significant break from my traditional training schedule. Leading up to July I was rolling up to 4 times a week. Attending classes on Wednesday Morning, Wednesday Afternoon, (yes twice in a day) Thursday evenings, and Saturday mornings. This was pretty hard on my body, but I was liking it, and so i was content to keep getting after it every chance I got. Around mid July I started helping my buddy get ready for a tournament that is coming up at the end of this month. As such we have been attending private sessions with one of our most competitive coaches, and then meeting up mid-week to drill positions. Since this happened i have been training only during those sessions.

I'm not exactly sure why I slowed down so drastically. I mean, sure Saturdays have been busy, but that shouldn't stop me from getting to the school on the other days. Work has certainly played it's part. My old 2-a-day schedule on Wednesdays is just a fantasy now. No way I can escape for the class at noon with the load I have been pulling. Getting to class in Denver has been a traffic nightmare too. Excuses excuses I guess. I sure do have plenty.

I think I'm just looking to regroup, and get reinvigorated regarding my training. Twice a week isn't horrible or anything, but 3 classes a week used to be my minimum and I'd like to get back to that. I am thinking of switching up and going Ronin between schools attending more classes at Boulder, Arvada, since those schools are reasonably closer to the office than Denver. and South School on the weekends. It sucks, because I feel like I have relationships in Denver, but even that seems to be changing this past month. The coaches and professors I have grown accustomed to have been playing musical chairs with class times, so it is growing more difficult to get my schedule to match up with theirs.

Warrior Dash is this Sunday, and then next week is a new week. I plan to draw out a new training plan and get back to the mats at least 3 times per week even though each class may be at a different school. I'll blog how that goes.

What's your name again?

I've been training for a year and a half now, mostly at the same school location during that time, and I've seen a lot of people come and go. I try to remember peoples names. I'm bad at it, but I DO legitimately try. I am a pretty friendly guy in general, so that isn't unusual.

Since i have been training at Intermediate and above for some time now, most of the "new" faces i see have actually been around for several months attending Fundamentals classes prior to entering the Intermediate program themselves. When new faces show up I try to be welcoming, and help them out if they are just rolling live for the first time. I feel like it is important to make people feel comfortable, and I also find that when I'm a nice guy, then they tend to be nice back to me, and that is good for drilling, and training together.

I think BJJ class is actually a great place to make friends- as adults it is tricky to meet up with cool people you don't work with, and I have found training is a great social common ground.

I do tend to gravitate toward the people from my "class" meaning the folks that started right around the same time I started. There are several people I genuinely like from that group, whom I am friends with on Facebook, or have met up with off the mat. Others I just have a respectful acquaintanceship with on the mat, and it gets left at that until whenever.

i really believe you need to approach this sport with an open mind. I roll with all sorts of people- different races, educations, religions, professions, political affiliations, personal ethos, and socio-economic circumstances. I generally like everyone, so I feel pretty good about that.

I am humbled, but while the road ahead is more difficult the journey will surely be more interesting

So I am in Black Belt classes now, and it's an education for sure. I had a pretty good humbling on Monday night that has threatened my "this is definitely where i belong" theory. Let me put it like this- I'm still going to go, but damn Monday basically felt like the nightmares I was having before attending my first white belt introduction. The beatings come swiftly, they are merciless and basically I was left feeling like I never knew what the fuck I was doing in the first place. LoL. The up side is that after 3 more months of this I will probably be surviving again, and 6 months after that I'll be gaining some advantages. It's a crazy steep learning curve, but I gotta just keep on showing up, and keep on processing the lessons.

I now understand why so many new blue belts cling to the relative safety of the intermediate group. While I empathize I can't see myself doing the same. Fear is a killer, but there is nothing to fear. Pride is a bitch- but you gotta get over that if you want to make progress. My plans moving forward remain the same- to split time between intermediate and black belt. I'll begin this with the 3 class per week rotation ratio of 2/1. To begin I'll go 2 x Intermediate and 1 x Blackbelt, then I'll carry it over to 1 x intermediate and 2 x black belt, and then finally 3 x black belt. My intent is to make the full transition within the next 3 months.

We shall see how it goes.

And this is pretty much how it happens- from resistance to obsession with Ed O'Neill

It's been 15 months and you're STILL a White Belt??? LoL

I have been signed off on my Blue belt for about 3 weeks now. I’m waiting on the Belt Promotion Ceremony to tie on my blue, but my journey continues as a 4th stripe white belt until that time. This has given me some time to reflect on the past 15 months I have invested in my training, and in the belt promotion process as a whole. I also helps that my internet BJJ aquaintance Julia "Jiu-Jiu" Johansen posted some very relevant thoughts, and asked some very specific questions regarding her own belt promotion. Congrats again to Julia if you are reading this.

One of the first things you realize when you undertake the study of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is that there are very few steps in promotion. there are only 4 belts for an adult practitioner to earn.
1st Belt isn't an "earned belt"- Everyone gets a white belt- it signifies that you have begun your training AND it keeps your Gi closed. I don't have any facts to back this up, but based on my observations in my own school, I'd say 70% of the student body is at some level of white belt (the student body is also 100% bruised, but thems the facts of life in BJJ right?).
Q: How is it possible that there are so many white belts, and so few higher ranking belts?
A: There is attrition that occurs over the course of training. Mostly this happens during the White Belt conditioning. I think students come to realize that maybe they aren't cut out for the physicality of BJJ, or maybe they don't have the time that they thought they had to dedicate to training. Economics can also come into play, as can life changes like having children, or relocation to other cities, countries, planets... There are also those who lack the patience- they want that validation of belt promotion ASAP, and the fact that it can take over a year really wilts their determination. This all combines to create a factor- and that factor is that the vast majority of white belts probably won't get to Blue Belt.

From what I have seen, there is a similar attrition among Blue Belts. Many will not make it to Purple, although that seems to be where the attrition rate decreases. Many purples go on to Brown, and I honestly believe most Browns go on to Black. This progression takes an average of 10 years.

Compare that to my little cousins ascension to Black Belt in TKD- I think it was under 2 years to get her 1st dan Black Belt. She worked hard for it. I'm sure the testing standards are rigorous, and challenging- but then she quit. With no more worlds to conquer she moved on. Now those of us schooled in Martial arts know, there were in fact PLENTY more worlds to conquer- 1st dan begets 2nd dan and so on and so forth- these are the "degrees" in the progression, but she IS a Black Belt on record, and in title. Anyone who doesn't know jack shit about martial arts will bow down to that. To me, she is a Blue Belt that quit- just my opinion.

So there are very few Belts to progress through in BJJ, but each is extremely significant on your journey.

The next question is always about promotion. Why does it take so long?

For the sake of contrast lets look at the promotion model of Tae Kwon Do (or TKD as I often refer to it)

I don't claim to be an expert on this, but I do know that Tae Kwon Do has a very rigid structure regarding promotions. I know this because when I was 10 I took TKD for a few months before my parents chose to discontinue my martial arts activities. You go to class, learn and practice the "Kata" or "Forms". It is all Pass/Fail. On test day (usually about once a month) you show up and perform the movements before a jury. The jury then awards you with a rank, or you go back and practice some more and test again next month. There is very little sparring in beginners TKD. I remember this, but I also remember that I was pretty good at sparring, and not so good at the kata... Either way, I did achieve some rank while I was practicing, and then I was abruptly withdrawn.
not to get to far off the subject, but I recall being told that my Mother was unwilling to subsidize my training, hence the activity was no more. At my current age and maturity I can clearly understand that my Stepmonster was actually becoming concerned for her safety (as an abusive parent, she certainly should have been) and had pushed for my training to end. either way, TKD would have done little good to assuage the torment of bullies I would encounter in my teen years, unless I were a practicing Black Belt at that time- which would likely have given me a protective aura of mystery, and unpredictability.... Nah, those motherfuckers would have jumped me anyway, and no kata will defeat 4 or 5 guys attacking one. I'm no Chuck Norris. I digress...

In BJJ Promotions happen differently.

Easton has a formal/semi-formal type of promotion. We DO have check sheets for each stripe on the white belt, and those check sheets are signed off on by our Coaches and Professors during scheduled Randori for Checklist sessions that happen several times per week. There is also a standardized number of classes a student should have attended to be eligible for their next stripe. That would be the “formal” methodology. The “informal” is the part where a Professor is watching, and rolling with you in class. He knows where you are, and sometimes even though your check sheet isn’t fully signed off- the Professor promotes anyway. It goes the other way too though. Sometimes even when the check sheet is fully completed, and class attendance requirement is met a student still doesn’t get promoted. I can only guess that their head just isn’t “right” yet. I have seen at least one example of this in my school. The guy has been a 4th stripe for 9 months, He knows his stuff, but he is terrible to train with. If we run a full speed drill- like a reversal, or replacement from half guard- he will set himself up to succeed before the drill starts so he can “win”. I think a person with the right mind frame can understand the problem with that mentality. He doesn’t- hence, no promotion. We don't drill to "win" we drill to learn. You can still learn from a loss- in fact I think sometimes I learn more from a loss. The gist here is that BJJ isn't pass/fail at all- it is more than that. BJJ is about how you are learning as much as it is about what you have learned.

This guy I have described above has taken the longest road possible to get to his 4th stripe- and the road to his Blue Belt has been, and will continue to be equally arduous. This is the beginning, and I bet once he gets his blue, it will be the end. I don't think this is really the logic, but in that mischievous part of my mind I wonder if the Professor doesn't realize this as well and is therefore sandbagging to continue collecting mat fees... NAH. LoL.

What are my thoughts on standardizing belt testing in BJJ?
I dislike this idea for the very reason I stated above. I like that the Professors have latitude to promote students who are “worthy”, while holding off on promoting students like the one I mentioned above. A standardized “test” removes that subjectivity- and while that might lead to faster promotion for some students, or more clarity of expectation- I don’t think it makes for a “better” school environment even though it would probably lead to a larger student body (and profitability for the school). Even having only trained for a short while I can say I understand it is good that some students “wash out”. Sometimes it is better for the whole school that some guys get frustrated and quit- whereas standardized testing might keep them around. Also, standardized testing, and gratuitous promotion is very "McDojo" while the tradition of BJJ promotion is the antithesis of that business model.

I honestly believe in the current “schedule” of promotion being left to the instructor. The instructor knows his/her student far better than the student sometimes even knows himself/herself- they have a much more objective point of view regarding the students progress. With that said, when you get your blue belt, purple belt, brown belt, or black belt it isn’t up to you- it is your instructors decision, and I am sure it is based in a very clear understanding of where you stand in your progress.
My Professors have always said- getting your blue belt doesn’t mean you have to be able to tap out every white belt in the room, or that you “win” every roll in class or comp. Blue Belt is a way point in the journey- It means that you have embraced and understand the fundamental aspects of the art (moves), and you understand what it is to “train” as opposed to “fight” when you are on the mats in the school. A blue belt should have the mentality of a professional student, and a teacher/facilitator. This will keep the students "safe" from one another. We spar all the time- it is important that those who posses the advanced knowledge are responsible with that knowledge. LoL at the Spiderman "With great knowledge comes great responsibility" reference, but seriously it applies. The professors are judicious over who learns what- and for a very good reason. Who wants a meat head injuring their new students? Not me!

It's a family affair?

So my wife mentioned she would like to try out Jiu Jitsu after watching me roll in the tournament. This is a pretty big deal to me as I am excited to share BJJ with her. My wife's story has it's challenges. she was a college athlete (Track Team Captain) and is tall at 5'10. I actually think her frame is quite well suited for BJJ, but she will need to work hard to get herself into physical shape for the sport.

She is a cancer survivor- having had her thyroid removed 2 years ago due to an enormous tumor that had developed there. I am grateful that the cancer had not spread, but there were consequences including depression, and an irregular metabolism which promoted weight gain- also causing depression. Fortunately, these past few months she has fought her way out of that cycle, engaging in a diet program, and calorie monitoring as well as increased physical activity.

I made the call to Professor Larry to inquire about bringing Shannon in for the trial, and discovered that family membership was financially realistic. Soon Shannon was in her first class learning how to choke people. SHE LIKED IT!

in the following weeks our enthusiasm is shining through- for our 3rd anniversary She got a new BJJ Gi that she had mentioned she liked. We also got a 4x8 grappling mat for the house (will be great for practicing position) She has been to a few classes, and already hurt her shoulder a bit, but I feel reasonably confident that she is still enjoying it, and will continue for the long run.

So now we are a family of grapplers... Here's to it!

Learning to be at home with "losing"

I noticed last Saturday that I am doing something wrong. I noticed that over these past few weeks I have started to focus on winning, rather than training. During a roll, I could feel pride start creeping in when I am in a bad position, and then I find myself forgetting about position, and forgetting about the game- and that is when I start hunting for submissions. It's sloppy, and it isn't improving my game- it's just "winning". So what exactly do I win there? Nothing. In fact, I am losing out because I am spending my class time training improper technique.

This week I am focusing on position, and I am focusing on technique. I decided for myself that if I can get positioning right then it is ok to proceed- but if the position is bad and I can't get where I want to go- I'm gonna lose. When I lose I'm gonna be humble because I will learn more in failure from trying to work position correctly than I would from a sloppy success.

Tuesday was my first night working this way. I "lost" on all 3 rolls- but that is ok. I noticed something- when you submit your training partner is always more interested in helping you work out the mistake you made.

We are working on Knee on Belly this week (my favorite) this time the work is from the bottom- how to escape knee on belly. We also got a new attack, but it was designed more like preventative medicine- "Here is an attack an opponent could try from knee on belly- this is what you want to avoid". The escape works well- although every encounter with knee on belly reminds me that I need more core strength. Basically the escape is to get both elbows past the knee, then hip out while blocking with the hands. after the escape start looking to replace guard- maybe even a sweep if they are off balance.

Having come so far, but not really gotten that far- and being OK with that.

I celebrated one year on the mat last week. It felt good to finally have found something that I am still as more interested in after a year than day one. I have been tested. Dealing with hurting my arm was a bummer, I didn't enjoy my ear swelling up and having my best friend and training partner drop out for 6 months has taken 'buddy" aspect out of it- but still week after week I am showing up to train, and I am getting better. I'm making new friends, and developing even more respect for my training partners, Coaches, and Professors during each class.

I have a year into the Gentle Art- but that really doesn't mean much in the scheme of training in BJJ. Training in this martial art isn't something you ever really "finish", so there is no finishing chute over the horizon like there is for a runner. You make your goals short term- learn the movements, practice practice practice- get better- then suddenly a coach throws a variation at you that changes everything- it could be a grab, or a placement of leverage for a sweep and suddenly it's a whole new series of options added to your lexicon. One class can literally result in 10 new permutations to your game.

I have mentioned before in this blog that I was never really a "fighter". I was more of a negotiator, and I think that may actually help me in a way since being cool and methodical in approach seems to trump aggressive during a roll. Don't get me wrong- aggressive is good too- you don't want to get caught over thinking or watching the paint dry. BJJ has helped me tap some of that aggression as well- but in a controlled environment where it can be channeled to my benefit.

When I try to explain BJJ to my Dad I can tell he is wondering what the hell I am doing- 35yrs old, going to classes to learn fighting every other night when I have a family at home... All I can say is that this is making me a better father, and a better husband. I am not sure he "gets it"- how a martial art can do that, but really it is constructive- this is a positive channel through which the aggressive urge can flow without putting oneself at odds with society.

All I can think is that in some way we are all pre-wired for combat. Somewhere deep inside we all need to experience battle- for some guys it is debating issues or arguing over the internet, for others it may manifest itself as starting fights when they are drunk. Somehow I feel like this is the middle. BJJ is physically using skill to impose your will. We train to learn how to prevail in combat, but it is also sport, so we play by the rules. We treat each other with respect, and behave like sportsmen. It's not personal, and it isn't life or death but the combat is very "real" and genuine. For 5 minutes you are focused and pushing to win- in a controlled environment and within the rules that keep us safe from each other.

I go home tired. Sometimes I go home proud that I learned something new, or got something right. Sometimes I go home introspective- replaying a mistake and trying to reason my way through it- but when I get home I am that husband, and that father. Having just channeled that aggression I am now totally free to read stories to my daughter, and talk to my wife. I have very little inner tension so the time i spend with them is the highest it can be.

Shout Out

"I saw on his banner Amal Easton Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, a fantastic gym in both Boulder and Denver"~ Joe Rogan

Heard during telecast of UFC Fight for The Troops 2 Jan 22 2011

Getting down to it- Goals for 2011

So, I was a bit surprised (pleasantly) to receive my 4th stripe promotion prior to the end of 2010. There has been a lot of hard work and toil getting to this place where I am now, and I am nowhere near the end of my journey. I need to decide what are my life goals in jiu jitsu. Where do I want to go with this?

The Blue Belt

2nd year goals- Since I began training last February achieving Blue Belt has been an objective, but now that that objective is on the horizon I feel that I need some additional benchmarks for the next year. After some serious consideration I feel like I'd like to compete. I don't need to win but I would like to see how I stack up against students from other schools. I think the whole experience of grappling in an organized setting would be both beneficial to my game, and also give me the motivation to step up the intensity of my training. I'd like to compete prior to blue belt promotions...
I'd like to cut some weight. I think 180 would be a good walking around weight for me. I have no idea how far from that goal I am right now since i haven't stepped on a scale in over a month. I'd guess somewhere around 190-195.

Longer term goals
3yr goal- I'd like to compete in a national event before purple belt- so that ought to be a 2 year goal. I would also like to be coaching others by this time. I honestly feel instruction is my long term calling in BJJ.
6yr goal- I'd like to travel and train in Brazil sometime before brown belt. I would also like to place in a national event as well.

What about the "Black Belt" as a goal?

Of course, as a standard in all martial arts, Belt promotions are a good means to demonstrate achievement. The thing about BJJ is that they don't promote gratuitously. As you can see- I don't even expect to make my second color belt prior to being in the game at least 3 years- it just isn't that easy. There isn't a "test" you can take every two months to accomplish a promotion. If you endeavor to achieve in BJJ you are going to practice endless hours and fight tooth and nail at the end of each class. You are going to roll with people that are way bigger, and more experienced than you are and you are going to tap out thousands of times. The ignorant seem to believe that if your belt ain't black then your skills are seriously lacking, but that is a relative statement. This is because, even though many martial arts use belt rank to denote experience, not all ranks are comparable. For example- in TKD the black waist wear can take as little as 2 years to achieve, but I wouldn't put a TKD 1st Dan (1st degree black belt) on a Mat with a BJJ Blue belt- it would be cruel and inhumane to humiliate the TKD practitioner like that. What about a 10th Dan? due to mandatory age requirements to test for rank, a 10th Dan TKD practitioner is like 60+ years old- I am pretty sure he has mastered the art of "fighting without fighting" by then.

It will take upwards of 10 years to wear a BJJ black belt barring you being some sort of phenom. I am not a phenom- I'm on this ride for a long while if I want to wear the Noir. With the possibility of a Black Belt being a decade into the future it seems a bit too long range for a goal.

Still, I can't help but to be fascinated by the possibilities this sport bears with it. There is some discussion of bringing BJJ to the Olympics- given that Brazil is scheduled to host in 2016 I am hoping BJJ will at least make an appearance as a demo sport. We shall see...

2010 My first year in BJJ. What did I accomplish?

I'd say just getting involved with BJJ, and the positive changes it has brought about in my life would be an accomplishment.

As a husband, a Parent, and a Professional I have a LOT of very important responsibilities on my plate each and every day. It can be very easy to become overwhelmed and forget about taking time out for myself. BJJ has really given me an escape that is all my own. 3 times a week when I am on the mat I don't worry about work stress, or any of the little messes in my life that distract me. I just train. That escape actually aligns perspective for me. I can go home and play with my daughter, interact with my wife, and just engage my life with a clearer head because I had that time to "reset" my perspective.

I have tried other hobbies, but I was never captured by them the way I am with Jiu Jitsu. I think about it all the time- but unlike day-dreams the result of that thought is productive the next time I am in class.

I can also say that there is a social aspect to it that has been really good for me. I have met so many new, and great people in this last year thanks to training. Honestly, I haven't made new friends like this since college.

I also think we live in a time when there is a lot of focus on classifying people- It creates a segmentation within our society that files us into our separate classes which isolate and divide us. This is not so on the mat. I think the fact that we spar with each other regardless of what we do outside the gym builds respect for each other. I roll with doctors, construction workers, lawyers, students, line cooks, stock brokers, police officers, social workers, teachers- you name it. Some drive 80k cars to the gym, and others ride bicycles. We come from all walks of life, different races, religions, nationalities and socioeconomic backgrounds. We roll, and sometimes the guy that mops the mats, and cleans the locker room after class to earn tuition taps out the Neurosurgeon. This is usually followed with smiles, handshakes and maybe a brief discussion about what just happened. There is respect for each other as human beings. This is the way it should be.

I think the world would be a better place if everyone rolled. I know for sure my world is.

That is what I got out of BJJ in 2010.