Dojo Discernments
Hi all, here is this weeks edition of Dojo Discernments, where I share nuggets of thought earned on the mats.
IBJJF Pans
This past weekend I was in Long Island, NY coaching a student at the IBJJF Pan-American Championships, the first major of the year as we round the corner toward Worlds in December.
For such a big tournament, there were no warm-up mats. Unfortunately, that’s not rare at these large events. So we found the only mat in the gym a, small square in front of a vendor booth, made friends with the hosts, and ran our warm-up there.
The student I was cornering was a purple belt, so we stayed after to watch the brown and black belts compete. What I noticed was that every world champion was doing the same thing. Using that same mat, running through their routines, getting their sweat going before stepping on the stage.
Different divisions, same habits. The best all know what it takes and they find a way to get it done.
What's Behind the Greatness?
These days, I look at Jiu-Jitsu through a different lens.
You ever have an instructor show a move, and you can tell they just watched it on an instructional? That kind of regurgitation is what we want to avoid when we study.
When I’m learning now, I ask myself two questions:
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What’s the core concept behind what this person is showing?
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Where does that concept connect to my own game?
Then I work on , and share my answer to the second question. That way, I’m not just copying technique. I’m studying ideas behind systems, extracting principles/concepts, and crafting something original from them.
Instructor List
When I'm looking for simplified instruction, not comprehensive material like Gordon Ryan, John Danaher, Lachlan Giles this is where I go
- Brandon "Bmac" McCaghren
- Brian Glick
- Karel "Silver Fox" Pravec
These are instructors who make the complicated simple, who teach in a way that sharpens understanding instead of overloading it.
Concept I'm Pondering
I've been focused on now for somewhile on the concpet of restricting movement. So much so that I've fallen in love with getting pressure taps. It started in Side Control, then in scrambles, now in half-guard. Then I stumbled onto a new idea.
Restricting movement, then allowing resistance to channel into a certain direction.
Now I am no longer fighting my partner to isolate their limbs or to expose the strangle. Now THEY are choosing to do that for me.
New Favorite Page I'm Following
Focuses on a multidisciplinary polymath approach with emphasis on fitness, coding, language learning, mindset, study, martial arts. Presents a “whole life growth” image.
Very Josh Waitzkin esque.
Looking forward to bringing a fundamentals section to the website soon!
Have a blessed weekend!- Isaac
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