Dojo Discernments
Here is this weeks edition of Dojo Discernments where I share nuggets of thought collected on the mats.
For New Reasons
I'm seeing this a lot. Blue belts developing a competency in the sport where they can submit a large number of blue belts and white belts, then they experience an injury, and they fall out of love with the sport.
This or life just happens in some other way and they stop training.
It's at this stage that the blue belt can't love the sport for the reasons they originally fell in love with it. The exhilaration, the workout, the newness.
They need to look for the new aspects of the sport to get captivated with. The community, the systems, the life lessons.
When life takes your body off the mats, don't let it take your mind and heart off too.
Terminal Point
Iā€™ve been thinking a lot about the concept of terminal points.
The last node within a system.
From there, Iā€™ve been working backwards, reverse engineering every movement to arrive there faster.
To reduce entropy. To practice a more refined, honed game.
Endlessly guard passing is not the goal.
Passing the guard is.
Endlessly back taking is not the goal.
Securing the back is.
But when the terminal point is clearly defined, movement direction is better controlled.
By defining the terminal point first, we shorten the pathway. We collapse options early and reduce chaos.
A refined game isnā€™t built by adding more techniques, but by controlling the flow.
Tension
A lot of times a new student needs time to settle down. Early injuries come from too much tension. Here are a couple questions you can ask to help you balance that out.
Am I pushing or pulling more often?
Am I giving or receiving more often?
Am I focused on inhaling or exhaling?
Let me know how they work.
Slowing Down Time
We are training to slow down time- Jon Cho
I get glimpses of this from time to time. The latest one was when I started to see my blue belts be able to rest and relax in top half-guard and mount against the newer rambunctious white belts and breathe.
That's the super power of being able to slow down time. To see chaos and to be able to control it to the point where you can relax within it.
Have you felt this before?
Reel I'm Watching
We have been studying De la Riva guard in our 11am class. I remember at last year's No-gi Pans Championships in New York watching Gabbi Pesanha execute the cleanest back take and finish from DLR and affirming a lot of theory I'd been having.
Interesting note. That person she looks off screen at mid-sequence is her older brother who was helping her note by note. So cool
If you enjoyed this week's newsletter and are in a place to give. Please consider the "Recondo Hundo" push in which we raise funds for Gold Star Families, those who have loved ones lost within the Reconnaissance community. The fundraising efforts will continue until 03/21 day. 0321 was our Job Designation number as Reconnaissance Marines. Any support is appreciated and heartfelt. God Bless. -Isaac
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