Guest post by Evolve MMA, Asia’s premier championship brand for martial arts. It has the most number of World Champions on the planet. Named as the #1 ranked martial arts organization in Asia by CNN, Yahoo! Sports, FOX Sports, Evolve MMA is the best Singapore BJJ gym.
Ever wondered how some Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belts eventually moved on to become World Champions? Well, it comes as no surprise that they are the ones who stuck to it through the toughest moments, and stayed dedicated to it. After all, it takes 10 years to earn your black belt! This is why not every BJJ practitioner would end up getting his/her black belt.
However, if you hope to someday get that black belt, and wish to improve in BJJ, then read on – because we’ve compiled a list of some important principles that you should understand and implement into your training and life.
Today, Evolve Daily shares 7 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Principles That Will Make You A Better Fighter In Life:
1) Size doesn’t matter
BJJ is a great way to bully-proof your child.
BJJ is anyone’s game. So you could be the smallest person in class, but still thrive on the mats. After all, BJJ is designed to enable a smaller, weaker person to overcome bigger and stronger opponents.
The next time you roll with a smaller partner, don’t underestimate him/her. Likewise, don’t be so quick to throw in the towel if you get paired up with someone twice your size. Instead, keep calm, focus on your technique and find opportunities to pass the guard!
2) Technique always overcomes strength
A smaller person can overcome a bigger and stronger opponent with good technique and leverage.
Apart from size, strength is another thing that can be overcome by good technique and strategy in BJJ. Regardless of whether you’re a BJJ newbie or a seasoned practitioner, it’s crucial for you to grasp as many techniques as you can during your training. Think about it: when you execute a submission with the correct technique, there’s a high chance that it would work out in your favor – and your opponent would very likely tap out.
It helps to take note of the finer details of each technique you learn. So make sure you pay close attention to your instructor and ask questions if you’re ever unsure about anything.
3) A good grip gives you the upper hand
When you establish a good, firm grip, you’d be able to execute your techniques more effectively. Also, you’ll have better control over your opponent and hence, have a good chance of getting into a dominant position and getting a submission.
If you wish to build your grip strength, try working out with kettlebells or do pull-ups. We promise you’ll see results and have a stronger grip over time!
4) Press on, no matter how tough it gets
Ask any BJJ practitioner about their journey and you’ll discover that they all struggled at some point – whether it’s during their days of being a White Belt, or when they hit a plateau after training for awhile.
Unfortunately, this might happen to you, or there might be moments of frustration, perhaps when you take a longer time to learn a technique or when you constantly get submitted. But when you find the strength to keep going, you’ll eventually be able to push past your limits and achieve your goals. What’s more, this persistence you gain will help you overcome the obstacles you face in life.
5) Focus, and be present in the moment
Like most things in life, BJJ requires you to be focused – so that you can take in all the important information about the techniques and execute them correctly. Also, when you’re present in the moment, especially during live sparring, you’d be able to think and react quickly.
The beauty of being able to live in each moment is that you can leave your worries behind and concentrate on whatever you’re occupied with in that moment.
6) What you give is what you get
You can’t expect results if you aren’t willing to put in the hard work and stay disciplined in your training. For starters, you should ensure that you make a training schedule you can stick to (and of course, show up at the gym).
When you’re actually training, make it a point to always put your whole heart into it – especially during those days when you don’t feel like going at all. Speaking of which, it always helps to remember why you started, on days when you feel lazy or disheartened.
7) Always be kind to yourself
When we say “be kind”, we mean treat your body with the respect it deserves. After all, without it, you wouldn’t be able to execute those armbars and hip escapes! So make sure you get sufficient rest for muscle recovery and munch on nutritious food so that your body can get the fuel it needs.
Of course, you also shouldn’t be too hard on yourself if you take awhile to figure out a complicated technique. At the end of the day, you’re on your own special journey – and the only person you should compete with is yourself. So keep working towards becoming the best martial artist you can be!
So tell us, which of these principles are you going to apply to your training?
