At Gracie Barra Mansfield, we bring you the best Jiu Jitsu training in the DFW area. But Gracie was not always a thing in these parts. I recall training in traditional Japanese Jiu Jitsu back in the early 90s. No one had ever heard of Jiu Jitsu. Texas was firmly Tae Kwon Do country.
Then the Gracie family brought us into a new era for martial arts with the UFC.
Who were these little guys from Brazil who were just laying waste to competitors? Year after year, the Gracie family decimated the competition and it became clear fairly quickly that if a fighter did not cross-train in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, that fighter didn’t stand much of a chance in the octagon. If the fight went to the ground—and against a Gracie it ALWAYS went to the ground—then it was GAME OVER.
Since the Gracies took the world by storm, Jiu Jitsu has become a far more common sport which we love to see because we believe in Jiu Jitsu for everyone. Jiu Jitsu studios abound. As we like to say in Texas, “You can’t swing a dead cat without hitting one.” I have no idea who came up with this saying or why anyone would want to swing a deceased feline…but Texans do all kinds of weird things.
Case in point.
Suffice to say that while Jiu Jitsu studios might be common, I can tell you from experience that there is nothing quite like going to the source.
I began my Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training at another dojo, but after training there a year, I felt I needed something more. When I took a trial class at Gracie Barra Mansfield? No comparison.
Now that I’ve been in Jiu Jitsu long enough I’ve found my goals have shifted from, “OH DEAR GOD JUST STAY ALIVE!” to thinking more strategically. For those who spend any amount of time in Jiu Jitsu, you will find that there will be periods of plateau, where you just don’t seem to be improving no matter what you do.
I used to think that was just being a white belt. But, now that I am a blue belt, there are days I feel I might actually know what I am doing and then…*screeching brakes*
Thing is, we are often our own worst enemies. Thus today, I’d like to share with you some tips from the masters over at Gracie Magazine to help you always be improving your Jiu Jitsu game.
***
You’ve been training for a while now and despite all your efforts, you don’t seem to be improving a lot on the mats.
So, we decided to compile 10 valuable pieces of advice to get you back on tracks and have your game improving by the day.
1. Be Curious
Speak up when you have a doubt and you need your Professor or instructor to explain it. Many times, the devil is on the details and a quick explanation is all you need to have that technique clarified.
2. Keep a Notebook
Write down what you learned every week and then revise. Find your weakness and the ways to overcome them. Don’t trust in your memory alone, specially if you are a beginner.
3. Have a Game Plan
When you are a beginner and it’s time to spar, don’t just ad lib as you go. Have a plan and aim for your specific targets with specific techniques. Leave improvisations for further ahead in your learning process.
4. Know Your Limits
Don’t mix toughness with stupidity. If you are injured, don’t make it worse by training before it’s healed. If you are caught, tap and live to train another day.
READ the rest of the article at Gracie Magazine…
Thanks for stopping by the blog and hope you enjoy the tips. Please join us for a free trial. I did it a year ago and it was the best decision I ever made. If a 41 year old mom can have fun and find new life with Jiu Jitsu, you can too!
See you on the mats!
Dojo Diva
