Tap Today, Train Tomorrow

On Saturday, we heard an arm snap around the world. At the ADCC North America west coast trials, in his second match of the day, Ethan Crelinsten had his opponent Dimitri Salem trapped in a Kimura armlock. Salem refused to tap and Crelinsten eventually broke his arm. Crelinsten went on to fight again and secured his spot at the world championship in Finland. 

Regardless of whether this was the finals match or a live sparring situation in class, the refusal to submit to a brutal arm lock will now cost Salem an indefinite time off the mats. You have to ask yourself, "is it worth it to not tap?" Most people will say no, it's not worth it, yet their egos will say otherwise when they are put it in similar situation.

Getting humbled on the mat is completely necessary and a natural part of our progression in BJJ. It is impossible to NOT tap... ever. So despite the ADCC trials being one of the more prestigious competitions, why would anyone risk injury by refusing to submit? 

Here's what some notable black belts had to say:

"The truth can be hard to swallow when you're choking on your pride."

"I think it's horrible that Dimitri refused to humble himself and accept the defeat. And I feel bad for Crelinsten because he had to be caught up in the incident. I honestly understand it's the ADCC trials but I mean come on, that injury could set him back or maybe even ruin his career. I mean even though I would want to win everything, I rather live to fight another day instead of ruining a chance to never compete again."

"I have been there... my foot popping like crazy from a straight ankle lock in Chicago. I kept a straight face but inside was dying... I won the match then the absolute, but at what cost? To this day, my foot is not the same. I double golded but my foot felt like shit for a loooong time. It still bothers me on occasion but I learned something about myself that day -- that perspective is a clarity not found in diamonds and worth more than gold."

We all have our own physical and mental limitations. It is apparent that our willingness to tap in training is greater than in competition when all eyes are on you. However, at the end of the day we all have to ask ourselves if we'd rather tap today and train tomorrow or not tap today and see what happens. Or maybe we'll get lucky and we'll get out of it or they'll let go... yeah, right. 

The Flow Roll

The “Flow Roll” in Jiu-Jitsu has often been misconstrued to mean all different kinds of things to different people, hence the many memes about “let’s just roll light.”  The official meaning of the word flow is to move in a steady or continuous way. Much like how the ocean flows with the tides, it is a steady but constant movement - a fluid movement.

So how do we translate this steady, constant, fluid movement into BJJ? Well, it’s simple. You roll in a relaxed manner, build upon movements (i.e. action/reaction movements with your partner), you experiment with techniques that you are hesitant to try in a “live” situation, and most importantly, you are moving much slower and with much less intensity as you would in a live roll. In a flow roll, you often practice “catch and release,” a term used to catch submissions but release them before the finish.

Seems pretty simple right? Unfortunately the execution for many is not so simple. This is not to say that the reason why people can’t flow roll properly is because of their ego – sometimes that’s part of it – but a lot of it has to do with self and body awareness that (depending on the ego/belt level) we have not quite gotten the concept of yet. Having to maintain that control throughout the entire duration of a round may also be difficult, especially if your partner starts to increase the intensity of the roll.

There is a time and a place for more intense training and there is also a time for more exploratory movement that we can all benefit from. After all, a flow roll could be seen as a way to execute the techniques you’ve drilled into a live, but controlled situation. It also gives you and your partner a chance to problem solve, but at a much slower and less frantic pace than in a live roll. If you think about it, BJJ is problem-based learning. You are given potential solutions to the problem (i.e. getting out of a submission, etc.) but based on your body type, flexibility level, etc., you have the ability to figure out which solution effectively works for you. But the way that you get to those answers lies in drilling and in the flow roll.

So before you ask someone to “flow roll” or “roll light,” or before you answer someone who is asking you the same question, be sure that both you and your partner keep each other accountable during the flow because once one person picks up the intensity, so will the other… which will lead to an all out sparring session with the chance of someone getting hurt, especially if you’re flow rolling because you’re nursing an injury. Injuries tend to be able to withstand going harder when your ego forces it to so don’t let that be a reason to sit out on the sidelines for longer than you have to.

Flow with the go, jiu-jiteiros…

Gender Equality in Jiu-Jitsu

In recent years and notably in the last month, gender equality for females in jiu-jitsu has become a hot topic. Starting with the disparity in prize money for female black belts to the UAEJJ capping the heaviest female weight class at 90 kg (198.6 lbs) and abolishing the absolute division, females are definitely getting the short end of the stick.

Multiple World champion Dominyka Obelenyte has been the voice of equality in BJJ for women. In November 2016, she entered the NY BJJ Pro, a tournament that she stands against because of the lack of equal pay, primarily in the black belt division. She says that we now see an improvement in not only skill but division size. Very rarely will you see larger tournaments with one or zero fights in the women's divisions. With more ladies starting to compete in the sport, the push for equal pay can no longer be ignored. 

Following competing at the NY BJJ Pro, Dominyka took to her social media to "rant" about the inequality and stereotypes that women face in BJJ:

"Jiu Jitsu as a Woman" -- We didn't sign up for this sport to enter a beauty contest. We don't put in hours working, training, sweating, risking injury, sacrificing time and energy and money, giving up claim to our bodies as objects for the practice of this sport to be seen as dolls. I train because I want to be one of the best competitors out there, not because I want someone to take notice of my body or face and comment on how pleasing or non pleasing it could be to the eye. Stop reporting on things that don't matter, especially when women that have gotten far in this sport went through a whole lot of bullshit to be recognized as warriors. Stop talking about our hair and makeup and start talking about who has the most exciting matches. Stop trying to tell us the most important thing we can do is show off our bits, start giving us more credit for the flying arm bar attempts. Rant over."

More recently, the 2017 Pan Am black belt absolute champion, Tayane Porfirio, took to her social media to express her disdain for the UAEJJ and their prejudice of the "obese." Porfirio has competed in Abu Dhabi over the last five years since she was a blue belt. This year she will not be fighting because she is over the association's 90 kg weight limit for her weight division. The UAEJJ also abolished the absolute division. 

Photo cred: Flograppling

She says on her Instagram (translated): 

"5 years that I would be fighting in Abu Dhabi and unfortunately this year I am out! I've been competing in Abu Dhabi since the blue belt, it was my first trip to fight, I realized dreams there in that place and this year unfortunately they made my dream die. The reason they do this is because of the fact that I have more than 90 kg !! I'm not obese !! My exams are great, better than an athlete who weighs 60 kg, but as many know now the limit for the female is up to 90 kg. They killed not only my dream, but the dream of many athletes who entered Jiu-Jitsu thinking of one day going to Abu Dhabi (I'm talking about heavy people) and the only excuse they gave me was this: We can not have obese people in our event, this is a way to prevent your health !!! "HELLO?" This is a way for you to show prejudice within a sport. As far as I know, the sport is exactly to make you feel good about yourself and the only thing I'm watching you do is diminish people's dreams!!! I'm sorry for the text people!!! I needed to vent. I can not change my body because of you, I'm sad to be out, but life goes on, I'm in search of other goals!!! What I had to do there is already done, now just watch your friends win!

"And there is one more things they said!!! "The heavy ones will hurt the slight ones"

1 - enters the absolute who wants! 

2 - why not make two absolutes?

3 - why not open a category over 90kg?

4 - Jiu-jitsu is for everyone!!"

Tayane is right. Jiu-Jitsu is for everyone. As we know, Jiu-Jitsu was created for the smaller person to defend themselves. It also proves that they can beat larger, stronger opponents. The IBJJF doesn't have a weight cap for females and no black belt competitor has been seriously injured by their opponent primarily because of a size/weight disparity.

Dominikya is also right. The female professionals of the sport arguably work just as hard, if not harder, than some of their male counterparts. So why not offer them equality in the sport? Particularly in payouts.

Ladies, it's time to start making some noise to break that glass ceiling. 

Big News for All Adult Black Belt Competitors

The IBJJF recently issued an announcement that starting next year, a new points requirement will be put in place for all adult black belt divisions to register for the European and Pan Championships.

Not only would these black belts need 50 points to be able to compete in the World Championship, they will be required to have at least 20 points to compete in the European and Pan Championships. 10 points will also be required to compete in the BJJ Pro. The only way around this point requirement is if the competitor is a former adult black belt World Champion. Former adult black belt World Champions and current black belts who placed first in an adult brown belt division during the last year of the World Championship are eligible to compete without the point requirements.

This new requirement is especially challenging for new up and coming adult black belts, as not everyone has the money, opportunity to travel, compete, and rack up points to qualify for three of the largest BJJ championships in the world.

Here is what some adult black belt competitors had to say about the new requirement:

“I’m not fully against it as it keeps the bigger tournaments elite and a way to earn your spot in there, but not all of us get paid to compete and train Jiu-Jitsu. The rank requirement is reasonable, the struggle is the travel expenses involved in trying to go out and meet the required points.”

“Well I have two opinions on that, first I think it's going to separate regular black belts from competitors black belts, it's a first step to make the sport more professional, but at the same time I think it's just the IBJJF looking to make more open around the world just to make more money, witch it's totally fine for me, but I think if there's people paying to compete they deserve something in return.”

“The new IBJJF points requirement for Euros and Pans for adult black belts has its pros and its cons. Pros: it balances the brackets of the big tournaments and makes it more professional as it comes to rankings. Cons: obligates lots of athletes to run the Open circuit all over, spending even more money to achieve that big tournament goal. Opinion: I like it better this new way.”

While this new change continues to ensure that the top black belts in the world earn a spot to compete at these prestigious events, some may say that its not fair or that it is a good money making strategy for the IBJJF. What do you think would happen if they made the same requirement for all the belt ranks?

The Great Knee Bar Debate

There is a reason why knee bars are only legal (in the gi) for brown and black belts… which is especially why I do not believe that white and blue belts should not be taught this submission (along with toe holds and all of the other submissions only allowed at brown belt or higher). 

To put things into perspective, as we’ve read in Vincent’s previous blogs, white and blue belts should really be focusing on their foundation and the fundamentals. Some can barely even complete simple techniques, let alone complete techniques without forcing it. So why would any legitimate instructor want to skip the basics to teach a technique that could seriously hurt others (if done incorrectly) and can’t even use in competition?

Sure, I understand that when rolling with upper belts in the academy, you may come across this position – mostly getting caught in it. This is where ego comes in. You either tap, learn to figure out how to escape (conscientiously), or you get hurt. There’s usually no other way around it. Even if you don’t know what is happening to you, you KNOW that something hurts. And when something hurts, you TAP. Right?

Most injuries that occur with the knee bar surround defending it. If you frantically try to twist out of it, you can pop your knee. And as we all know, knee injuries SUCK. If you’re lucky, you’re sidelined for a couple weeks while it heals. If you’re not, you need an MRI and surgery, which puts you out for six months or longer.

But back to white/blue belts rolling and applying submissions they are not allowed to do in competition… 1) it’s dangerous for themselves and their training partners because chances are, they are not doing it correctly; 2) making those “illegal” moves a habit will increase their chances of getting DQ’d if they do it live in a competition; and 3) isn’t the white/blue belt about defending and problem solving? If a higher belt (who is allowed to do knee bars, for instance) gets a lower belt in a compromising position, common sense would say that the lower belt should figure out how to defend – much like how they learned to defend an arm bar, triangle, etc.

I understand that when we finally start to “get” Jiu-Jitsu, we are excited to learn everything. Sometimes we’re impatient and need to know as much as we can as fast as we can… but BJJ is a process and it cannot be learned all at once, especially since the art keeps evolving the way it is. 

So if you are a white or blue belt, do yourself a favor and DO NOT ASK YOUR COACH HOW TO DO A KNEE BAR. Or a toe hold. Or any illegal submission at your belt rank for that matter. And if you are a coach, DO NOT TEACH a white or blue belt moves that they cannot do in competition. Unless they are a pro at the fundamentals, they shouldn’t be learning how to do moves that they can seriously hurt others with and that they cannot use in competition. If they were a pro at the fundamentals, they would be a higher belt rank that is allowed to do such moves.

Still don't agree with me that white and blue belts shouldn't do knee bars? Try rolling with one of them who does it to you and see if you can escape unscathed without any accidental injuries... 

The Faixa Roxa /// By: Vincent Inoncillo

The purple belt in Jiu-Jitsu is a symbol of the dedicated practitioner. Some say that this is the belt that takes the longest to reach. When you achieve this rank you are becoming an expert in the art. It is considered to be a professional belt. You may not be a brown or black belt yet, but you know what they know.

From the time you started your journey as a blue belt, you begin to learn and acquire many techniques. Your defensive and offensive techniques and knowledge start to grow and evolve. Toward the end of your blue belt days to the beginning of purple, your Jiu-Jitsu becomes more fluid and efficient. Fluid in your transitions between technique and positions, everything starts to click and is second nature to you. Your gas tank lasts a lot longer during training and you don't waste movement in favor reaching a position or submission.

Your Jiu-Jitsu game becomes more profound at the purple belt level. Even with the amount of techniques you amassed at blue, as a purple belt you start to use certain ones more than often. A lot of those moves turn into other moves (i.e. omoplata, triangle to armbar). The techniques and positions you favor become related in a way that suits you. This is your style, your game.

As you begin to fill in the gaps, the road to brown and black belt becomes closer. At purple belt you will use what is useful to you without disregarding other techniques as they may become useful later on or at times when everything else isn't working. This is the stage of refinement in your Jiu-Jitsu and where you sharpen your tools. This is where you become a well-rounded practitioner. 

Your offense is more effective at purple belt. The ability to pass any guard becomes more dynamic and your top game starts to flourish. Your become more dangerous off of your back as guard game also gets better. Your defense is more impenetrable as well. In some cases you may use your defense to create an offensive counter. Like everyone else you will hit some plateaus, but you will only get better from here.

Reaching the rank of purple belt not only shows your dedication to the art, but it also represents your own personal growth. You are now a well-rounded practitioner, an expert. Your ability to execute techniques and troubleshoot expands as your journey continues.

It is no wonder why some of the best and most exciting matches in the largest competitions are from the purple belt divisions...

The Skill of Teaching /// By: Josh Botkin

One of the most natural progressions for most Jiu-Jitsu practitioners is being put into the teacher/instructor roll. Train long enough and you will find yourself the most experienced guy in the room at one time or another. If you're a Purple belt and you get partnered up with a soon-to-be blue belt, there is a good chance you know more than them and if a road block comes up they are going to assume you might know the solution and might even attempt to ask you a question (it's fine... if they are new enough you can just make up an answer and even if it doesn’t make sense they will just act like what you just mumbled is a profound statement).

If you're a brown or black belt, you can easily find yourself the highest ranking guy at an open mat or the first guy in line to be asked to cover a class when the coach decides he/she needs a night to catch up on Game of Thrones… All you did is show up and train, now it’s your responsibility to lead everyone who bows in to that picture of Grand Master Helio and then 45 minutes of shrimping drills.  Follow that up with some stagnant drilling then have the guys bow out to Helio so you can call it a day.

Or let's not forget about the time you decided it might be fun to help the next generation of grapplers along and volunteered to help coach the kids’ classes. Coaching that “Lil Monkeys” class seemed like a good idea until you had to wrestle a half dozen 6-year-olds who are charged up off Mountain Dew Code Red and got dropped off by their parents who won’t return to get them until the gym is about to close. You couldn’t wear shorts for two weeks because of the bite marks on your ankles….

Photo cred: Donny Flowers

For ¼ scale humans with minimal training, they are a violent bunch. You have no idea how to restore order to this sugar-high group of misfits and their only attempt at teamwork comes when they are plotting your demise. Your skills mean nothing to them, collectively they are like a Terminator; they cannot be reasoned with, they don’t feel pity or remorse. And they absolutely will not stop!!! It doesn’t matter how high on the podium you get or how good your guard passes are or even how good your Jiu-Jitsu blog is (yeah, I know your last entry almost got 36 views), you’ve seen others command this kindergarten-swarming collection of giggles, but you quickly learn it has nothing to do with arm bars or your fancy guard play. 

You can advance in rank without advancing your ability to teach or coach a class. We could probably spend a bunch of time trying to sound smart by separating the differences between what a coach and what a teacher is. Unique skills are needed to answer a question after rolling with someone, to fill in and teach a class, to tame the savage fearlessness of the children or to be someone’s head coach, and those skills don't necessarily come from reps or rolls or being able to choke someone out.

No, you can’t teach Jiu-Jitsu unless you’ve practiced it. You’re not gonna stick around at a gym long if the head instructor just looks up YouTube moves and then tries to spit them back at you without hours of practice behind it. Part of teaching a technique is letting the recipients of your information know what you learned when you were adopting it, hopefully saving them time and a headache when trying to integrate it themselves. But aside from refined technical knowledge, what makes a good teacher is the way they can package that information. A good teacher knows that too much information may not always help, they know how to give details, how to describe and relay things in an easy to understand and digestible format. They can take command of the class and speak with confidence.

When you’re teaching can you connect the tangible move to a concept and strategy that can be adjusted from student to student?  Its one thing to be able to describe a sunset to someone but its much different to help them understand what they are actually seeing when the big bright orange things sinks back into the ocean.

So to everyone who wants to teach you should ask yourself, “Am I doing anything to actually improve my skills as a teacher? Do people still read books, and if they do, should I read a book on effective teaching? Does YouTube have any helpful entries on how to be a better public speaker or are all their videos just berimbolos and Copa Podio highlights? Should I start to document a curriculum or just continue to spout off randomness and something I thought I seen Eddie Bravo do?”

The best instructors in Jiu-Jitsu right now are people who are taking the time to be better teachers; breaking down the basics of communication and applying them to the classes they lead. When you go to Marcello Garcia’s gym in NYC, his World Championships and ADCC titles don’t teach any classes. The classes there are good because the refined techniques are delivered by someone who knows teaching demands its own practice.

Photo cred: Marcelo Garcia academy

Between backflips and moving his arms around all weird, Ido Portal says that in life we are all teachers. The more we do, the more we teach. The longer we are on the mats the more we end up teaching regardless if we are doing an incredible or terrible job. One incentive to teach better is that the better we teach and pass on information now, the faster everyone will get better and overall the quality of Jiu-Jitsu can improve. If nothing else, learning how to command the attention of a class might keep you from losing yet another battle to those 6-year olds.

Josh Botkin is a black belt and head coach of Eastside Grappling in Portland, Oregon.

Drilling for Success

The great Bruce Lee once said, “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” The same can be applied to jiu-jitsu. The more you drill the same move (correctly), the more you build it into your muscle memory which will allow you to be able to execute it to perfection in a live situation without having to think about it beforehand.

While this may seem like common sense to most of us – the intricacies of drilling are not so much. What I mean by this is, as an upper belt that teaches at least one class or more per week, I encounter the same issues with my students’ drilling – skipping necessary steps (which are key details to the move), drilling the move too quickly (hence skipping steps), and the inability to fix mistakes after it has been pointed out to them. I always tell them at the end of class: Drilling with bad technique will only make you good at a bad technique.

The top jiu-jitsu athletes such as the Mendes brothers and Andre Galvao, all spend hundreds or even thousands of hours of drilling and practicing techniques outside of class. You never see them live spar and try to figure out key details mid roll. The same goes for other professional athletes. In order to perfect their craft, they drill, drill, drill.

They key to drilling, however, lies in your ability to drill with intent and to perfection. Here are some details to keep in mind when drilling:

• Count the steps for the technique and repeat it in your head (or out loud) when drilling. Your instructor should do a pretty good job breaking down the technique into steps already so this shouldn’t be too difficult. By repeating it to yourself, you are less likely to forget key details such as where your hand placement should be or what you should be grabbing when transitioning between steps.

• Go S-L-O-W. If you are unfamiliar with a technique and are doing it for the first time, remember that it is NOT A RACE to see who gets it done the fastest. Often times we get excited to drill and forget small details that make the biggest difference. Once you get the technique down (and you remember ALL the steps), pick up the pace.

• Ask questions. If you get stuck and forget what to do, ASK your instructor for help. Ignorance is not bliss. At least not with BJJ. By showing your instructor what you understand of the drill, they are better to help show you what you are missing and explain where you went wrong.

• Consistency is key. Just because you drill it once during class for 15 minutes does not mean you are a pro at it. Drill it during open mat, after live rolling, at home, etc. Aim to get 10,000 reps in. That may sound ridiculous but if you are consistent in going to class, you can be consistent in drilling as well.

Drilling has many benefits. Not only does it consistently keep you goal oriented, it is also there for you when you are injured and cannot give 100% to your training. Each time you drill, have it revolve around one position with 2 to 3 variations. Visualize what you want to accomplish or what submission or sweep you want to land. This should carry well into competition, as you have gone over each aspect of a match and you should have the confidence that you can attain your goals during that match. With hours of organized (and consistent) drilling sessions of specific techniques, your game WILL improve. 

Four Poses for the Yoga Newbie /// By: Calvin Corzine

As a follow up to our previous blog about Yoga as a Natural Compliment to BJJ (http://www.alldaybjj.com/blog/2017/1/24/yoga-a-natural-compliment-to-jiu-jitsu), here are four poses for those of you who do not already practice yoga to incorporate into your warm up and cool down.

1. Side angle - Turn the front leg out so the toes point forwards, bend the leg towards 90 degrees and make an effort to press the entire bottom of the back foot into the floor, but turn the back toes slightly forward and put emphasis on the outer edge of the foot. Take the feet far enough apart that the front knee does not go past the ankle. The bottom arm can be on the floor, on a block, holding the inner leg as pictured or the forearm can be on the thigh and the top arm behind the back working towards the crease on the front thigh. Firm the front hip in and turn the chest away from the lead leg.

2. Thread the needle - Cross the right ankle over the left knee and flex your right heel. Reach the right arm in between the legs and left arm around. Keep your head and shoulders on the floor and draw the legs towards your body instead of rounding the back towards the legs.

3. Malasana - Take the feet a little wider than hip width apart and turn the toes out slightly. Keep the heels rooted on the floor and squat while trying to lift the chest towards the ceiling. If your heels can't touch the floor, either take the feet wider until they can or roll up a towel a few times and place it underneath your heels as illustrated in the photo.

4. Salabasana - Lay on your stomach and reach the arms back alongside the body. Press the tops of the feet down (try to press the tops of all 10 toes into the floor) and lift the chest up. Turn the biceps out so the palms face down to broaden the chest and draw the navel in slightly to support the lower back. 

These four poses will both strengthen and stretch your hips and also strengthen and traction the lower back. Try to do each pose for 1 minute each side and breathe slowly in and out of the nose. Do them before and after your training session and see how it helps your performance and recovery. 

Oss and Namaste!

Social Media and Sponsorship in BJJ

Social media avenues such as FaceBook and Instagram make it easier than ever to “brand” ourselves in relation to our jiu-jitsu. This can be both a good or bad thing, depending on what your goals are.

Some people look to social media to become overnight superstars for whatever reason – ego, finding sponsorship, etc. In BJJ, it is common to find hobbyist BJJ practitioners (including kids) actively looking for sponsors. Yes, having a lucrative social media profile does increase your chances of getting noticed by potential sponsors. BUT, this also means that you need to have the personality and the talent to back it up – especially if you’re eyeing larger, more established sponsors.  

With that being said, the way that people are “branding” themselves on their social media can be misleading. For example, let’s say you have Joe Jitsu with 15K followers on Instagram. Joe posts on a daily basis – what he’s eating, what he looks like before/after training, or what gear he is repping today. Joe sounds kinda cool right? He wears all the hottest BJJ gear, eats clean, and always has positive and motivational things to say. Yes, he has a lucrative social media profile… but would you change your mind if you knew that Joe used an Instagram bot to like random people’s pictures so that he can get more likes and followers? Or what if you found out that while Joe is posting how “hard” he trained today, his teammates would say otherwise? 

Or what about the children under the age of 10 who have their own Facebook "athlete" pages and Instagram accounts where they regularly post motivational/inspirational things? You have to really wonder how many of those kids are actively on their own social media accounts (actually, you don't because it's pretty obvious whose account it really is).

Photo cred: Sally Arsenault

This overnight stardom for some people creates a sense of entitlement. They think that just because they are winning tournaments (large or small) and have a large social media following that they should be sponsored. This is the wrong attitude to have - especially when approaching potential sponsors. While confidence can be attractive, cockiness is not.

A lot of small and large companies I have talked to about what they look for in potential athletes/brand ambassadors all similarly say the same thing. If someone legitimately believes in and supports the brand, works hard, is a good person (this also goes along the lines of having a good personality to fit the brand), and represents well in competition – this is the type of person that is more attractive than the social media star who messages them every other day about what they can do to be sponsored. You don’t need to build your social media profile in order to get noticed. Sometimes the little things that you do are worth more – and the social media following will come later if you want it to.

So what’s the moral of the story? Be real. Not fake. Nothing is worse than meeting someone you thought was cool on Instagram only to find out that they are nothing like what they portray on social media. This also doesn’t always sit well with sponsors – especially the ones that you want to have a good relationship with. Just train, support the brands you believe in, and stop trying to become an overnight internet superstar.

The Blue Belt Journey /// By: Vincent Inoncillo

Now that you've read our post on the stages every white belt goes through (http://www.alldaybjj.com/blog/2017/2/19/stages-every-white-belt-goes-through), we'll now take you through the next chapter of your jiu-jitsu journey - the blue belt. During this stage, you will be the hammer while white belts are the nails... and at the same time you are the nail for higher belts. You should be confident in your game as you continue to develop it. During your time as a blue belt you will begin exploring your curiosity with different techniques, allowing you to build off of the foundational basics you acquire as a white belt. Blue belt is where you are no longer a beginner and have made it to the next chapter of your journey. 

By now you should have a basic understanding of jiu-jitsu and how to demonstrate your knowledge. In the same token, you are developing the foundation of your game by trying out different moves and learning the offensive and defensive aspects of them. Certain positions you will feel comfortable and confident in, while there are others you may not. The blue belt is where you will obtain a wealth of knowledge of techniques that will shape you. Here are some beneficial areas to build on during your time at blue belt:

• Guard Passing: Learning to break open the guard and initiate a pass is something you should have learned early as a white belt. Different people will play off of the bottom differently and you should be prepared to react accordingly. Knowing at least one guard pass for each guard situation will be helpful as you can change up and combine your passing.
• Defense: Having a couple go-to escapes from each position helps to fortify your game. Along with that is defending guard passes, or retaining your guard. Practicing guard retention will become natural after awhile and will help preserve your gas tank instead of being put into compromising positions where you would have to escape.
• Offense: Reaching dominant positions will be likely in this stage of jiu-jitsu. From here maybe you imposed your will on another person or maybe they just let you get there to see what you can do. The challenge here is for you to take advantage of this opportunity and submit them or maintain your offense by transitioning to another strong position if they happen to get out of the first one. The submissions you hit will vary depending on the person and how they react or defend against you. 
• Basics: Throughout your entire journey in jiu-jitsu, the basics is always what it will come down to. If you can play worm guard effectively, but cannot escape the mount or side control, then maybe there's more room for improvement. Always keep a sharp foundation, as that is what will help with your progress and succession through the ranks.

This is just a simplified guideline of what blue belts will encounter during this belt period. There will be a lot of self-recognized progression, plateaus, and even times where you don't feel either and nothing feels like it's working for you. Look at this as an opportunity to evolve your game, because at the same time your training partners and opponents in competition are also getting better. This is why the importance of having a strong foundation of the basics is always encouraged. You can always go back to it. 

Every student, teacher, and academy is different, so the meaning of "foundation" may differ as well. What you learn during white and blue may be different than what someone across the country or other side of town is learning. Experimenting and asking a lot of questions also help. As mentioned earlier, blue belt is where you will obtain a wealth of techniques and you may only use a portion of it during this time and that's okay too.

You will have good days and bad days. You will feel invincible and other times not. Just remember to keep learning and keep training. Even when you feel nothing is changing, it is always changing. Being a blue belt means you are a student as well as a teacher. You may not always have the answers right now, but eventually you will. 

The Jiu-Jitsu Nomad

Somewhere in between the academy loyalist and the creonte, there is the BJJ nomad. While it’s technical meaning is a person who does not stay long in the same place; a wanderer – the BJJ nomad can be someone who hasn’t quite found their place in a new place just yet or like the true nomad, cannot stay in one place for longer than a minute.

There are a couple types of BJJ nomads. The first is someone that just moved to a new place. They were loyalists at their old academy back where they started jiu-jitsu but haven’t quite found the time or the place to commit to. These nomads do not train consistently. They will drop in here or there and may even often train in the comforts of their own home (portable mats are a great thing). More importantly, these nomads often don’t care too much about promotions. They just enjoy training and when they are ready to commit to an academy, they will have no problems doing so.

The second is someone who is truly a wanderluster. Every chance they get, they are always traveling to somewhere new for long periods of time. They will jump from gym to gym because they are just visiting or have friends who train there. In any case, these BJJ nomads are always moving around. Hence, the real meaning of a “nomad.”

Lastly, there is the “friends with everyone” kind of nomad who have friends that train at every academy near them but they can’t quite make up their mind about where to train because they don’t want to disappoint their other friends who train elsewhere. They often do open mat sessions here and there, or may train at home with friends. Same like the first type of nomad, this person enjoys training but is not too concerned about getting promoted. They are also just along for the BJJ ride… for now.

No matter the type of BJJ nomad, they should not be considered creonte. Because they haven’t committed to an academy, there is no need to question their loyalty. If you really think about it, these BJJ nomads have a pretty good life. Aside from possibly not receiving a promotion because their training consistency is questionable, they get to cross train with different academies and learn each school’s “style” of jiu-jitsu. They expand their social network amongst the BJJ community and are usually welcome everywhere they drop into. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

However, this is not to say this nomad lifestyle should trump the academy loyalist, but it does offer a different perspective of jiu-jitsu that could be helpful in truly understanding the beauty of the art and its community rather than focusing on the “status” part of BJJ.

Whatever the case, to each their own. It doesn’t matter where you train… as long as you don’t stop training ever.

For the Love of BJJ: Couples Who Compete Together

While most of us wish that our significant others would catch the jiu-jitsu bug along with us, there are couples out there who epitomize a seamless partnership on and off the mats. It's one thing to train together, but it's another to be able to compete together.

Two couples who recently competed at Pan Ams shared their thoughts on how training and competing together has changed their relationship and improved their jiu-jitsu. Hillary and Brian Van Ornum and Raquel and Renato Canuto related: 

“We aren’t sure that competing has been what’s changed our relationship, but more the fact that we both train jiu-jitsu changed it. For 6 years, I was training and competing and Brian was not. For the past 4 years our lives have changed dramatically in that we are both training and getting ready for competitions. Which has really strengthened our marriage. As for competing, Brian says that by having me always there coaching him while he has competed, that his trust in me has been reinforced. When you’re competing, you trust that your coach has your best interests behind what they are telling you, and that they know more than you do." - Hillary

“Our lives are definitely much different than the average couples. Renato is my husband but he’s also my coach. I am his wife, nutritionist/chef but also his student. There are days that we leave the house upset but when we get to the gym those problems have to be left at the door. There we are student and coach, always. Even when we get home and I want to kill him again, I still make sure his diet is right, he;s eating and drinking enough and his weight is on track. Being so involved in the preparation of competition and the actual day itself has definitely made our relationship stronger Marriage in itself is a selfless union. But in a sport that requires you to be mentally focused 100% of the time, I believe your home life has to be in order as well.” - Raquel

Naturally, watching your significant other compete is exciting, but pretty nerve wracking. However, the feeling you get when you see them win makes it worthwhile.

“I think it’s safe to say that we both get more nervous when the other is competing than when we are competing ourselves. And when each of us has won major tournaments (Pans, Worlds, Masters Worlds) we are probably more proud of each other than we have been of ourselves.” – Hillary

"Watching Raquel compete makes me feel excited but a little nervous. I always feel like it’s me fighting in there with her. Wanting to do the things I see is there. Recently I watched her fight MMA live for the first time. She kept asking me if I was nervous and I lied every time. I kept saying, “babe you’re going to smash her! I have no doubt you’re going to win!” I felt that… but I was really nervous! I felt like I was going to war. I was really inspired watching her. I turn into her fan. When she won I was so happy because I knew what that fight meant to her.  I was so proud that she was MY wife.” – Renato

Who better than the people who know you best to help improve your jiu-jitsu?

“We each take what the other needs to work on and try to give each other the feedback that will help them improve. For example, Brian has studied Dominkya and pulled guard like her and worked her guards and omoplatas. In turn, it’s made his guard better, while also getting me ready to face her (which hopefully we will again once we are both healthy!).” – Hillary

“Renato has helped me grow so much. Sometimes he’s a little hard on me and expects perfection but it’s what I need. I didn’t ever think I could possibly teach Renato anything but one day I came to pick him up from teaching and one of the guys walking out said, “Renato showed your triangle setup today in class! Sh*t… it’s sick!” Haha. His game is really well rounded so I see him taking little things from my game and adding it to his, which makes me feel useful! Because I know his game so well I think I am one of his tougher training partners. Not because I’m better than him or even close to his level! I just know him so well. I know what he’s going to do next. So I think having someone to challenge his positions has made him tighten up certain things in his game as well.” – Raquel

“Raquel and I drill together a lot. Helping her to make a position fit for her style has helped  my game grow. It has made me think differently and open my mind to other ways outside of my “game.” I have actually learned a lot from her. Things about wrestling and the way she does her triangles and guillotines I don’t see anybody else doing it that way. Some things I taught her, but she does it better than me and made it her own. So she’s always there reminding me to fix the little parts of the position to make it better.” – Renato

There are many great reasons to train together as a couple, but as you’ve just read from these world champions (all of them), there are some great reasons to compete together as well. 

Takedowns vs Pulling Guard /// By: Vincent Inoncillo

Whether you're in a jiu-jitsu competition or sparring in class, the focus is to achieve a submission. In order to get a submission a dominant position needs to be established beforeband. With that in mind a game plan is necessary to get to those winning situations and top positions. There are a couple primary avenues to getting your opponent to the ground and that's with a takedown or a guard pull.

Takedowns come in a variety of methods and are a great way to score 2 points early in a jiu-jitsu match. When you think of takedowns, wrestling should automatically come to mind. A single leg takedown or a double leg takedown are a couple of examples. Judo style throws are also included in the category of takedowns. A couple of popular judo throws are uchi mata, which is a full hip toss and seio nage, a shoulder throw. These examples of takedowns are very common in jiu-jitsu competition.

Pulling guard is another system of getting your opponent to the ground. The objective of pulling guard is to establish grips on your opponent so that you can start employing the guard of your choice. Whether it's butterfly guard, half guard or spider guard you want to be able to sweep and end up in a top position. In some cases you can catch a submission from pulling guard such as a flying submission like a flying triangle or flying armbar. Flying submissions can also be considered pulling guard. Either way, you want to end up in a dominant position going this route.

The truth is that these methods do work, but they do have their flaws. Competitors that either pull guard or perform takedowns use them to their advantage because it's a strength in their game. Although some may be good at both they usually use one more than the other because of the success they've had using their chosen tactics. Each situation is different, depending on who's facing who, but it's also good to be aware of how both sides are played.

The types of obstacles that one can experience from performing takedowns is that their opponent may sprawl on them or stuff the attempt. On occasion when going for a single leg takedown it can be countered with a guillotine if not applied correctly or with a kimura grip allowing your opponent to threaten the submission or to sweep you. When pulling guard you may encounter an opponent who is keen on passing. Even if you establish your grips, sit down and even use a straightened leg to keep your opponent at bay - they may already have a game plan to neutralize whatever guard you pull. If you look to pull half guard they may kick out the leg you're trying to trap and go around your bottom leg and pass to knee on belly, side mount or even spin to the back if you turn in on your side trying to chase that leg. If you pull using spider guard you need to act without haste or your opponent will establish grips on your pants and push your legs out of the way and start passing. These are just a few examples of how pulling guard and takedowns can be defended.

I reached out to some black belt instructors and competitors and this is what they had to say:

When asked his thoughts on takedowns and pulling guard, Simpson Go, seasoned competitor and head instructor of Cobra Kai Jiu-Jitsu in Las Vegas, said, "I think it just depends on where your strength and weaknesses are. If you're a good guard player, pulling will be to your advantage and it'll definitely save you some energy. Taking someone down can be really tiring. With that being said though, you get to end up on top and you might even be able to end up in a dominant position off the takedown. Not to mention, you end up scoring first."

Donald Flowers, a competitor and black belt instructor at Gracie Barra La Cañada Flintridge in Southern California added, "I think it is important to be knowledgeable in both takedowns and guard pulling... You should understand how to initiate takedowns and defend takedowns. You should also know how to defend guard pulls and initiate guard pulls. But the most important thing, is to focus on what works for you. Everybody is different and certain people will develop guard pulls and attacks better than takedowns and vice versa. Do what's best for you, but also be aware of all aspects of the art."

Fritz Rodriguez, owner and head instructor at SoCal Fight Factory, says, "In my opinion, it really depends on what the situation is. A lot of top level Jiu-Jitsu competitors have had huge success in having the strategy of pulling guard to a sweep, reversal or even foot and leg locks. In competitions that are pure grappling with the gi or no gi, pulling guard makes sense for someone who is s proficient from this position. 

To be a complete Jiu-Jitsu fighter, you have to be able to adapt and know the different situations you are placed in and be knowledgeable of what techniques to apply. If it's sport Jiu-Jitsu and you know that you have an edge against a competitor if you play from your guard, then pulling guard is your best option. If you know your opponent can pass the guard well, then put him in his back. My point is, you have to practice how to do both if you want to be well rounded."

In conclusion, it's a common notion among these three black belts that knowing takedowns and pulling guard along with everything in between is advantageous in competition success. Play guard if yours is better, take your opponent down if he prefers the top game. Each situation is unique for every competitor and having a game plan for competition is a tool that can be sharpened over and over. Understanding the offensive and defensive aspects, along with how to counter each one can play in your favor.

The Top Ways to Annoy Your Instructor and Higher Belts

In Jiu-Jitsu, respect is not just a word, but an action that goes far beyond the mats. We are taught to respect our instructors, training partners, and the hierarchy of the belt system. Sometimes our attitudes, egos, and ignorance get in the way and we do things (most times unintentional) to annoy our instructors and training partners...

Talking while the instructor or higher belt is demonstrating a technique.

This is one of the most disrespectful things someone (not just a lower belt, but anyone) can do. Sometimes people take it a step further and “correct” the instructor because it is not the same way that they saw it on YouTube, learned it from someone else, or because their way works better. Everyone has their own way of doing something and we adapt our BJJ to our size and strength, however, there is a time and place to discuss the intricacies of a position. During an instructional is not. And don’t bother trying to re-teach the move to your partner in the way that YOU learned it or like better – trust me, your instructor can hear you… and is annoyed.

Using size as an excuse to explain why they just got dominated by a higher belt.

“Hey, you’re really strong. How much do you weigh?” after a roll can be taken as a backhanded comment after rolling with the higher belt whose technique and proper use of pressure was misinterpreted for using too much strength or pushing their weight around. And never avoid rolling with a higher belt because you don’t want to “lose.” The best way to get better is to learn to adapt in different situations.

Talking too much during a roll.

As stated in #1, there is a time and place to discuss the intricacies of a technique or position. During a live roll is not one of them. Don’t ask how your partner did something in the middle of a roll. Also, if you accidentally hit them in the face or body, do not over-apologize. Say sorry and move on. Ask for details after the live sparring is over when you can dedicate more attention to what the higher belt can teach you.

If you don’t know the basics, don’t ask to learn fancy moves.

Before you learn to walk, you need to learn how to crawl. The same goes for BJJ, if you don’t have a solid foundation of the basics, it will be very difficult for you to learn advanced moves (i.e. the berimbolo). Just because you saw it on YouTube and it looked like a really cool move, it doesn’t mean that it’s going to work for you – at least not right now if you don’t know the foundation of the move. We have an unlimited amount of time to learn BJJ – why rush it and cheat yourself?

As we progress through the belts, it is likely that we see less of these annoying behaviors (although they still exist). It is important to understand that while “joking around” with friends at the academy adds to a fun BJJ experience, there’s a time and place for everything. Sometimes it is acceptable and sometimes it’s downright annoying. Know when the difference is and spare yourself being “that guy” (or gal) in class. 

Why Consistency is Key in Jiu-Jitsu

Every martial art requires respect and discipline. In order to become successful in the martial arts, particularly jiu-jitsu, consistency is key. Unlike most martial arts, to earn a coveted black belt in jiu-jitsu, it can take anywhere up to 10 years and you have to be over the age of 18. That means that if you have any desire to improve and progress through the respective BJJ belts, you need to have patience… stay positive, and be consistent.

If you are a BJJ newbie, there are some things you should know about consistency in BJJ:

At some point or another, you will plateau. This means that you will suddenly feel like you aren’t improving or you aren’t getting concepts as quickly as you did before. Your confidence dips and you lack the motivation that you had before. But before you decide to take a “break,” just remember that nothing can prepare you mentally (or physically) for BJJ… except actually doing BJJ.

You will see some of your favorite training partners disappear. Not everyone is meant to stay on the path to black belt, even if we all hope to. Sometimes they want to, but lack support to stick with it. If you notice you haven’t seen one of you favorite partners around, check in on them. It might just be the pick-me-up they need to stay the course.

You will have BAD days. But if you can keep the mindset that every day is a new day -- a new training opportunity to work on your strengths and weaknesses, you will have more good days than bad ones. Again, the key is to keep showing up. Just like rainy days, there are no ways to avoid it, as it’s a part of life. Rather than let the bad days get you down, help use it to motivate you to keep on going.

Jiu-Jitsu is life changing, but a lot of people never get to realize this because they stop training. It takes the right mindset to be consistent in BJJ. No matter what stage (or belt) you are in, if you can keep a positive attitude and keep showing up, you will become successful. But if you expect to move through the belts or often compare your progress to those who have started at the same time as you, perhaps Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is not the right sport for you.

To put things in perspective, would you expect a heart surgeon to earn their medical degree in less than 8 years? I didn’t think so. 

The Faixa Preta

We all begin our jiu-jitsu journey for many different reasons. For some, it is to learn how to defend themselves. For others, it is to stay in shape or to become a fighter. Whatever the case, in the end, we most always realize that jiu-jitsu is so much more. It is no longer a hobby, it is a lifestyle… and if you can be patient and diligent, you will make it to the black belt. 

Photo cred: Alexis Terrosa 

In an interview with Caio Terra about his jiu-jitsu journey, he talks about winning a prestigious championship in Brazil as a brown belt and was upset for not receiving his black belt. After not being promoted, he stopped training and lost his desire to compete. His instructor saw this and told Caio to prove himself and enter a competition one weight higher against the world champion to test himself. He registered Caio and made him do it. His instructor brought all of the students to watch because he was confident that Caio would lose. At the podium in second place, Caio was promoted to black belt. He didn’t want to get a black belt when he lost because he had won everything in the past. He asked his instructor why he would promote him now when he had all of these other “happy days.” His instructor said, “I never trained you to be a champion. You are a champion because you dedicated yourself to it. I trained you to change people’s lives like jiu-jitsu changed yours. I am promoting you to black belt because your jiu-jitsu has helped so many people at the gym. It’s time for you to change people too. And if I promoted you in one of the days that you won, you would just think that you are just getting promoted because you are a champion. And I wanted you to see that I’m promoting you because it’s time now for you to become a teacher. If you are going to be a champion one day… great, you’re going to have to pass the right message to others.”

A black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a coveted thing. An estimated 2% of all BJJ practitioners have made it to the black belt level. But what does it really mean to have a black belt in BJJ? Here is what some people think a black belt means to them:

“A black belt is someone who is a role model that leads by example. I know it’s not common, but I find it pretty humbling when the black belt instructor still warms up with the class. One who rolls with their students so they can learn through experience. One who can teach a technique or game catered to all different types of bodies/physiques/personalities. I mean that they should be well rounded and can help everyone develop at their own pace.” – white belt

“A black belt means to me that you understand the path that everyone at a lower belt is taking. They are strong and kind in the same breath. Patient and willing to share the art with anyone who walks through the door. They should embrace what Jiu-Jitsu represents, community.” – white belt

“A black belt means to me, that the person is mentally strong and has dedicated a huge chunk of their life to something that most people will never do. A black belt should exude confidence without ego. Humble, and a positive role model in their academies and communities.” – blue belt

“A black belt should embody confidence without ego, humility and patience. They should respect everyone.” – purple belt

“I’ve asked two of my friends who are doctors if they would be more proud of becoming a doctor or becoming a black belt and both told me without question their black belt. A black belt in jiu-jitsu is one of the hardest and most rewarding things in the world. A black belt shows you’re committed, tenacious, loyal, hard working, a student, teacher, and leader. “ – brown belt

Not all black belts are created equal. But if you are on the path to black belt or already are one, there are some standards that you should hold yourself to – not just what you can prove on the mat, but in every aspect of life because, after all, you are someone’s role model.

Recovery After Hard Training

We have all been there at some point or another, whether it was after a hard BJJ training session, gym workout, or playing an old sport for the first time in awhile… our bodies feel like it was run over by a truck. Your muscles ache, your joints are stiff (and sometimes swollen), and it’s hard to even think about going to training feeling like this because you just can’t move.

When we first start training, our muscles hurt because we aren’t used to using them in those kinds of ways. The more we start training, the more acclimated our body gets and we get less sore after each training session. However, the moment that you begin to increase the level and pace of training (i.e. competition training time), you start to exhaust your body.

Photo cred: Marcus Buchecha 

So, what are some ways we can help our bodies recover from hard training? Well, if you follow any professional athlete, you know that they cannot live without their supplements. If you are not trying to build muscle mass, but rather, maintain it, branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) is what you’re looking for. BCAAs benefit is primarily for post-training recovery from muscle damage or fatigue. This is especially important if you are cutting weight and want to maintain your strength but not build any more muscle mass that will make you heavier. BCAAs can be found as a supplement in itself or can be found in other recovery specific formulas that include protein (i.e. ATH POST). Consuming BCAAs directly after a training session will reduce the infamous next day or second day soreness.

Rehydration is key and often overlooked. If you are prone to cramping either during or after training, this is probably one of the reasons why.  Proper hydration throughout the day prior to training and rehydrating with electrolytes and minerals post-training is key. Studies show that a drop in water as small as 2% of your body weight can reduce your endurance. At a 4% drop, your muscular work declines.

The term “you are what you eat” is not a lie. Eating clean and having a healthy diet is the foundation to your performance. Sometimes we don’t always have the time to meal prep, but we do have the time to make better choices when we dine out. Instead of a burger with all the fixings, order a salad. Instead of dessert, have some Greek yogurt with fresh fruit. Fueling your body can be comparable to the type of oil you put in your car. A lower and cheaper quality oil will affect its performance, much like what junk food does to your body and how you feel after.

No matter how good you eat, how great your supplements are, there are limits to what your body can handle. Varying intensities in your training will allow you to get the most of your training without overtraining (which leads to injuries). Even the BJJ pros who are notorious for savage training have rest days.

Speaking of rest, sleep is essential. Studies have shown that athletes require more sleep than the average person, as it is a significant factor in achieving peak performance. If you get less than 8 hours of sleep per night, increase it to 8 hours. If you get 8 hours of sleep, increase your nightly sleep to 10 hours. You will feel the difference.

Even if you aren’t trying to be a professional athlete, these recovery tips apply to everyone. The more that you take care of your body, the more it will take care of you years from now. You’ve already taken the first step by getting on the mats to stay healthy, now it’s just a matter of helping your body recover so that it can perform at it’s peak level.

Jiu-Jitsu in the Pacific Northwest: The Revolution XXXIII Recap

If World Clan Portland was an indication of how quickly jiu-jitsu in the Pacific Northwest is growing, this past weekend’s Revolution tournament in Tacoma, Washington, definitely hit the nail on the head. With over 700 competitors in this two-day event, adults and kids from all over the Pacific Northwest (Oregon to Canada) gathered at Pacific Lutheran University to showcase their skills and dust off the pre-comp jitters before Pans next week.

The Revolution is run similarly to IBJJF events and it is a good practice run for those wanting to compete on a larger scale. Competitors weigh-in right before their matches, ring coordinators lead them to their respective mats, and most of the referees are IBJJF certified. Even the medics on site all train too! Safety was paramount at this event, especially during day two (kids) of the event.

This event is definitely helping to advance BJJ competition in the Pacific Northwest. Due to the quality of tournaments like these, it helps create and develop amazing world-class competitors outside of the BJJ hotspots like California and Brazil. It is hoped that we see more of these events all over the world to help grow Jiu-Jitsu even more. 

Why Good Hygiene is Key in Jiu-Jitsu /// By: Vincent Inoncillo

In Jiu-Jitsu, being a pleasant training partner and conducting yourself in that manner goes without saying. Without training partners, we wouldn't be able to train jiu-jitsu. A key ingredient to that recipe is maintaining good hygiene in the academy. The reason for this is because various skin infections can be spread if one's personal hygiene isn't take care of. These infections can keep you or your teammates off of the mats for some time and can be costly. As the saying goes, cleanliness is next to Godliness, and on the mats that couldn't be more true.

Being a pleasant training partner isn't limited to just being a good human being or someone to practice moves on, but also being a clean person. In the academy, you will encounter the partner that has the same kimono top hanging in the dressing room and uses it during every class and hangs it up right after and doesn't take it home. When you roll with them and make contact with your gi, you can smell the odor that's been building up in their top. It doesn't smell good and doesn't correlate with pleasantness. The same goes for no-gi. Maybe it's the same partner or a different one, but rolling with someone in a smelly rash guard isn't the best either.

Another unpleasant characteristic is training with someone with open wounds. Whether it's no-gi or in the gi, it's not worth the risk. This is where germs and infections can spread. When you're really sweaty, your pores open up so sweat can excrete itself to cool your body. Sweating is a good thing, but contaminating your sweat pores with germs may not fare well. This is why as individuals and teammates along with our respected academies should be attentive to our cleanliness for the longevity and well-being of our jiu-jitsu experience.

Infections are inevitable, but it's up to us to make sure they don't spread. Because of the nature of our sport, it's typical, yet an unfortunate aspect of jiu-jitsu. Some common infections that occur are ringworm, impetigo, and staph.

Ringworm is one of the most common skin infections that can be acquired anywhere on the body. It's a fungal infection that can be treated with most over-the-counter medications and sometimes oral medication if the infection is strong.

Impetigo is a bacterial infection caused by streptococcus or staphylococcus that can be found anywhere on the body. It's usually obtained from one of the two bacteria entering a wound or open sore or neither. Impetigo is spread through skin touching skin or being in contact where it's prevalent. It's very contagious, but can be treated with topical or oral antibiotics.

Staphylococcus or Staph/MRSA, is a group of bacteria that produce several infections, impetigo included. It enters the body the same way impetigo does and can also make its way into the bloodstream, causing other infections. Staph is treated with topical or oral antibiotics. Some cases require seeing a doctor for further diagnosis. MRSA is a mutated form of staph due to the overuse of some types of antibiotics and is also resistant to some as well. 

Here are some tips to preventing the spread of skin infections in your academy:

1. Make sure your fingernails are trimmed - no one wants to stop in the middle of a sparring match to grab a band aid to cover a wound or maybe even check their eye in the mirror to make sure they didn't get scratched. You get to train less and so does your partner. So make sure your fingernails are trimmed before training. We don't want to scratch our partners' skin, making them more susceptible to getting it infected.
2. Clean clothes - make sure to wash your gear after training! This will help kill germs. Coming to train in a clean gi or nogi gear is good for you and your partner. Your clothes smell good and don't deter anyone from wanting to train or drill with you.
3. Take a shower - after a training session make sure to take a shower as soon as you can. This will help with any bacteria settling into your skin and is a good precautionary measure from preventing infection.
4. Sweeping and mopping mat space - keeping your mat space clean means you're keeping everyone safe. The mat is where everyone's face, skin, feet, hands, and sweat touch. Along with taking a shower immediately, cleaning and sanitizing the mats you train on is beneficial as well.

Now that you've been made aware of the different skin infections that can be contracted through training, it is our duty to prevent them. Preventing these infections is easier and less costly than to treat them. Just follow these few tips which all work in conjunction to having a pleasant jiu-jitsu experience. Actively practicing good hygiene and staying accountable will result in less time off the mats for you and your training partners.