Train with the Force: Revenge of the Sith Edition /// By: Anthony Chin Loy

If you thought that this series was over, you have much to learn about the Living Force young one. All Jedi must know that there must be balance in the universe and when there are Jedi, there must always be the Revenge of the Sith. Don't mistake this entry as an excuse to tap in to the dark side in all aspects of your training, though this is tempting! We cannot merely expect that the dark side of the force (jiu jitsu) does not exist, but we must do our best to understand it. If you are neck-deep in Star Wars lore, you may know that the 7th form of light saber combat, Vaapad, was created by Jedi Master Mace Windu. What makes this form so bad ass is that the form is actually so offensive and aggressive that it taps in to the darkside! We must be careful, as it has been known to drive a Jedi trainee permanently down the path of the Sith. With careful training and much meditation it can be harnessed with great strength like Master Windu. You may be wondering why I would be in favor of using Sith powers at all! In my post about the light side of Jiu Jitsu, I made it sound as if this was a jerk move! Ah, young one! We must be very wary of the dark side, but in competition we must tap into our most primal instincts, we must be at peace with our connection to the Force that we can tap into our emotions and return to ourselves. Let's see how Sith philosophy can benefit our training.  

Peace is a lie. There is only passion
Through passion I gain strength
Through strength I gain power
Through power I gain victory
Through victory my chains are broken
The Force shall free me

 

Peace is a lie. There is only passion

A well trained Jiu Jitsu Jedi knows the power of their training. As with most martial arts, by training combat, we learn that we should not use what we learned to hurt another (except in extreme cases, of course). Naturally, when you train Jiu Jitsu, you have greater confidence in potentially violent situations and you learn to diffuse situations using the Force and not application of force! However, in competition we cannot give our opponent the benefit of rolling without passion. When we square off against another in the arena for glory, it is our duty to bring the best of our abilities. This is not a roll in the academy, our emotions must come into play. Most times our emotions are misguided. They betray us! Have you noticed that in competition, it seems that your muscles gas much faster? You feel more tired in 5 minutes of competition compared to in your academy where you are ready to go again instantly after a 10 or 15 minute roll? Fear, nervousness, misplaced hate for your opponent completely drain you after a roll in competition. The wasted energy robs your body of strength, the arms definitely feel dead after a competition roll.  

In competition we must forego the peace we've attained in our combat meditation. We must control our passion but be willing to temporarily release the limitations for the love of the arena and our opponent. This does not mean to allow yourself to go out of control. Instead, take time to enjoy the moment. Appreciate that another has decided to share the stage with you but you cannot treat this as another Sunday roll in the academy. While being in the moment, release your inner peace and release the passion to fully express your art. Your opponent deserves this, and your best Jiu Jitsu, not a lazy round. While we all want to progress in the tourney for the win, do not be concerned with the outcome. Instead be concerned with expressing your passion fully without tapping into resentment, fear or anger. These are the path to the dark side. 

Through passion I gain strength

We all know the famous saying by Master Ribiero, "if you muscle, you die..." Well, I'm paraphrasing a bit, but there is a thought that we must not use any strength in Jiu Jitsu. In reality, it's about using the right amount of strength combined with superior technique and leverage. Many times, competitors say that they didn't get to play their game but it's really the lack of well directed energy that saps them of their strength. To direct their emotions towards truly expressing the Jiu Jitsu they practiced so many hours before the tournament. It is less the pure strength, like that of dead lifting 300 pounds, but more of confidence to feel secure in their Jiu Jitsu.  

Through strength I gain power

Continue to develop and gain confidence in your Jiu Jitsu. Remember I said confidence is strength. By this I mean when you express your true self through Jiu Jitsu it will not matter who is standing against you. Take for instance the Garry Tonnon vs Palharas match. A David and Goliath matchup surely. Garry consistently believes in his training and technique and though at a disadvantage in size, strength and power he took Palharas to the limit. His confidence closed the physical distance and leveled the field battle. Though differences exist, your ego should not balance on it. We are all outmatched in one way or another. Strengthen your resolve and continue to improve. To fall into the trap of pitying your Jiu Jitsu is surely the path to the dark side.  

Through power I gain victory

I have not mentioned results while discussing the Sith code applied to Jiu Jitsu. This may strike you as funny as the true desire of the Sith is to crush their enemies and sit alone at the top. Wiser people than myself have said "it is not the destination that matters, but the journey..." The competitive mindset is different from everyday training. We are all competing for glory, recognition and the like. All of this is not tied to tournament victories however. Competitions are a means to sharpen our sword and steel our mindset. So often we are disappointed in the results if we are not on the podium. I assure you, we cannot win them all. Lost in the shuffle is the path we took to arrive at the tournament. We worked on our game, improved, created a game plan and visualized our optimal outcomes. Though they may not have come to reality, think of the progress you made before competing. I related power to confidence in our Jiu Jitsu. If you can understand that the preparation for the tourney deepened your connection to your art and strengthened your skill you have already won regardless of the result of the tournament. 

Through victory my chains are broken

When you realize how far you've come just by stepping onto the mat and how your Jiu Jitsu has progressed, you see that you have a limitless future ahead of you. Freeing yourself from the ego that restricts your potential is paramount to truly expressing yourself. Ego on the mat causes us to force technique instead of flow, disrupts our relationship with our training partners, and breeds frustration when we are not progressing according to our timeline. We are disconnecting while trying to bend the Force to our will. Many times we see the results of this in the gym: when a powerful opponent steps on the mat with ill intent and is subdued, only to quit training within weeks. Though they may have had the right attributes to be competitive they lacked the mental fortitude to roll with the punches. The disconnect between them and the Force did not allow them to understand the essence of The Gentle Art. Be wary of this, avoid temptation of the dark side and unleash your potential.  

The Force shall free me

If you couldn't tell by now, I love Jiu Jitsu. I also love Star Wars. To express my feelings on Jiu Jitsu through Star Wars has been indescribable. I know it has been done and maybe you don't agree with what I've said through two articles now. This is perfectly ok. Like the path of the Jedi and the Sith, no two journeys are the same. Interpretation of the Living Force is what you make of it. It is constantly flowing and changing. Jiu Jitsu is not stagnant. Right now, new positions and techniques are being created and refined. New padawans are being taught by their Jedi masters, a Sith Lord has taken on an apprentice. It is up to you to choose your path. When I'm on the mat, I forget about what's troubling me, I try to stay present in the moment. I appreciate the energy that is shared between my teacher and my training partners and that, my friend, is what I mean by the Living Force—The connection you develop to the art and the people that surround you. Jiu Jitsu allows you to see the world in a different light, changes your everyday interactions and reactions to situations. For me, it has all been for the better.  

May the force be with you, always....

It’s About the Process, Not the Destination /// By: Lea Young

A week ago, I came across a post from Piet Wilhelm, black belt and owner of Triton Fight Center in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. It said: “Don’t get a black belt, be a Black Belt. It’s a never-ending process, not a destination.”

These words resonated with me for a long time as I reflected on not only my jiu-jitsu journey, but also the impact left on me by black belts that I’ve met along the way. It made me think back to when I started training and how much I’ve changed and how much jiu-jitsu has changed my life for the better.

With Bryant Pangelinan, James "300" Foster, Kurt Osiander, Piet Wilhelm

I first learned about jiu-jitsu when I started kickboxing in 2004. I just graduated with my Masters’ Degree and finally had free time. The academy that I trained at had a great MMA program, which wasn’t nearly as popular as the sport is nowadays. It was at that time that I was introduced to jiu-jitsu and to be honest, I didn’t like it. I preferred hitting things instead of rolling around with a bunch of sweaty dudes. I thought that by being able to hit things, I was more powerful. After years of training standup, I finally committed to the gentle art in 2010 after takedowns and wrestling were incorporated into our standup classes and I began to feel more comfortable training on the ground. I started to feel empowered being able to do chokes and submissions.  

Back then, I had no idea how jiu-jitsu would change my life. As a newbie white belt, I was more concerned about “getting it” and keeping up with my training partners then actually trying to build a solid foundation without my ego getting in the way. At that time, the black belt that I had been training under was well-respected and had trained notable fighters. But I felt that something was missing… even though I wasn’t sure what it was. 

Six months later, I left for Brazil by myself and my whole world changed. I spent the majority of my time training, learning Portuguese, and falling in love with the sport and just about everything about Brazil. It was at that time that I realized that jiu-jitsu wasn’t just a sport, it was a lifestyle. I became inspired…. something that I hadn’t felt before because I was too concerned trying to “get” jiu-jitsu and keep up. When I returned from vacation, I quit my cushy state job and decided I was going to move to Brazil to train and teach English. 

Fast forward to 2012 -- I left for Brazil again and then later moved back home to Kaua’i where I started training at a new academy. By this time, I had experienced training under multiple black belts in various places, but found stability in an academy that was more family oriented (although very much old school). When I received my blue belt later that year, I became even more committed to sharing the jiu-jitsu lifestyle and my experiences along the way. I was super involved in the academy. I began teaching the new beginner fundamentals class, started a women’s program, and held free women's self-defense seminars.  I also began networking with others in the community and committed to help organizations like Blackbelts for Butterflies and Mission 22 that use jiu-jitsu as the vehicle to bring awareness to autism and veteran suicide. 

Now that I have my purple belt, it has become clear to me that it has never been about medals, recognition, or being the best. Although those things are great, the real gratification comes from helping others and being able to share the things that I’ve worked hard for. So now, after hearing my story, ask yourself this: What kind of legacy do you want to leave on your jiu-jitsu journey or is it just about the destination?

Ego Is Not Your Amigo: Training With Injuries /// By: Lea Young

It doesn’t matter what belt color you are or how long you have been training – we have ALL been there before.  You get injured while training, and whether it is minor or severe, the pain of not going to jiu-jitsu hurts you SO MUCH MORE.

I used to think that this was a phenomenon amongst men, as I would often witness guys furiously taping up their fingers, toes, feet, and wrists before class.  I used to shake my head and ask, “Why don’t you just stay home and let it heal?” But then, slowly but surely, I became one of them.

It started with my finger last November. I was rolling with another blue belt who had not been training consistently and was known to use more strength than technique (mistake #1). My right index finger got twisted pretty bad on the outside of his pant leg while I was trying to pass from the top. When I started to feel pain and realized what was happening, I told him to stop. Apparently he didn’t hear me the first time and continued to fight to break my grip off his pants. Once I felt (and heard) a crack and my finger went numb, I finally yelled for him to stop. It swelled a little and I could bend it, so I went home, took Ibuprofen and iced it. I was back on the mats the following week… with taped up fingers. In my head, I thought that by not being able to use my right hand 100%, I’d be able to train my weaker grip to become stronger (mistake #2)… In any case, my finger took over 3 months to heal and the swelling appears to be permanent. But that’s life with jiu-jitsu fingers, right?

The next month, I had a cyst removed from my leg that left me with 4 sutures and 2-3 weeks of no training. At the 10-day mark, my doctor told me that my leg was healing nicely and that I could remove the sutures. So I did… and I went back to training (just to drill) one or two days later. Biggest mistake ever. The wound wasn’t fully healed and after “light” drilling (although I really did want to roll), the wound opened up and I ended up in the emergency room because I could literally see into the hole in my leg. The emergency room doctor explained to me that they could not close the wound again so I had to let the hole close on its own. Long story short, it took my leg almost one month to fully heal completely. Luckily for me, I was still promoted to purple belt (despite not being able to roll) and it was during the holidays so I didn’t feel like I missed out on everything.

So what’s the moral of this story? Jiu-jitsu is addicting. But for the majority of us, it does not pay the bills. So if your injuries are truly serious, please sideline yourself and let your body heal. Spend more time with family during that time (I’m sure they will appreciate that too) or geek out on BJJ videos all day. A week or two away from the mat is better than months away from the mat. But… if you do decide to train with injuries, use caution, know your limits, and communicate with your training partners so that you don’t increase your risk of getting hurt again. Ego is not your amigo, especially when your body isn’t working at 100%.

Train with the Force: Jedi Edition /// By: Anthony Chin Loy

Another Star Wars Day has come and gone (May the Fourth be with you) and while watching the beloved series in the "Machete Order" and heading to training I started to think about this post and tying together jiu jitsu and Star Wars. It's been done before, by this time you have heard the famous quote by Olavo Abreu comparing the jiu jitsiero and the Jedi. “Jiu Jitsu is like being a Jedi Knight… The knowledge is with you all the time. You dream it when you sleep. You can see it walking. It surrounds you. You go out alone but you are never alone because you have Jiu Jitsu.” Much like The Force, jiu jitsu is an ever present being that binds us together, controls our actions, but also obeys our commands. While the movies begin to introduce us to this omnipresence, the Expanded Universe really dives into what it means to be a Jedi. Being the nerd that I am, while studying the Jedi Creed, it really started to resonate with my jiu jitsu philosophy. If Star Wars is not your thIng (that's ridiculous, but ok) I hope that this post will have you rethink that course of action but also help to develop your thinking as a jiu jitsu philosopher. Are you ready to learn about the Jedi and The Force? Good! This is your first step into a larger world!

There is no emotion, There is peace

There is no ignorance, there is knowledge

There is no passion, there is serenity

There is no chaos, there is harmony

There is no death, there is the Force

There is no emotion, there is peace

There are several reasons to start jiu jitsu. Some may have come from previous grappling arts, some come for self defense, some come just to learn a martial art that has been known to dominate in situations. When we first begin as white belts, we are fearful of what to expect in class. Usually, the beginner takes this emotion into their drilling and their rolling. They are fearful of getting destroyed on the mats and left for dead by the bigger, stronger and more experienced grappler. Their movements are jerky and their bodies are stiff. Due to this, they use death grips and paralyze themselves in positions, burning through energy while holding on for dear life. They continue to expend themselves until they are left as a shell,  their tanks empty and their ego bruised. Unfortunately this is when many beginners get angry and quit. They first let the fear prevent them from tapping into the flow and energy of the Force, they become angry that they are not better, then discouraged, then their disappointment prevents them from coming back. Instead, if the emotions and ego were checked at the door, they would find a burning desire to return and learn. 

Upper belts are not immune to letting their emotions get the better of them either. As we progress and add wrinkles to our game, we start to build a shield of ego on the mat. We can become consumed with winning by any means necessary and when things are not going our way we become angry and let that fire consume us. This can be reflected in overly aggressive rolls with lower belts, forgetting our technique and relying on brute force to subdue our opponents. Cracks in our shield will appear if we are tapped by lower belts. Instead of enjoying the roll as a learning experience between to practitioners, we bring aggression to the roll. If we experience trouble with the lower belt we may begin to avoid the lower belt that got the better of us in the last roll or worse, tap too deeply into emotion and injure our training partner. Rolling with too much emotion prevents us from opening up our game and taking chances as we try to be king of the hill. Stunting our development of new techniques and the creative process.

"There is no emotion" is not to say we are void of emotion, rather it is to temper our emotions to find a deeper connection with our jiu jitsu. As you bring good energy to training and your rolls with your partners, it is returned! The rolls become significant. The shared energy results in a synergy with your partner and contentment with your training.

There is no ignorance, there is knowledge

I touched on this part of the creed in my last post. We must be open as learners from a variety teachers not only in our own martial art, but also in other martial arts. We must be sure to learn new techniques from different professors, travel to different academies and schools, and be open to spread our own techniques to others. While training with Marcos “Yemaso" terragrossa this past week, after he handed me a thorough thrashing I commented that I was probably not much of a challenge to him. His response: "it does not matter if one is technically superior or inferior, every roll is a chance to learn. As a visiting student, I have never rolled with you before, so you have new movements, new entries, new twists to techniques and it's a learning experience for me." After I caught my breath and thought on his comment, I realized that what we say is true: Even white belts can teach us new things, maybe not small details on a technique, but feeling their movements and reactions to our movements contribute to our understanding of jiu jitsu. It allows us to study action and reaction, expanding our knowledge base for new situations.

Secondly, lately I have noticed a disturbing trend of jiu jitsu players to dismiss many traditional martial arts and practices. Though definitely a more modern marital art, we must not lose touch with the traditions and roots of our history. Many traditional martial arts can tune our jiu jitsu by teaching us different positions and movements that we can integrate. While there is surely some "less than authentic" martial arts out there, do not be so quick to tune out what it may be teaching you under the surface. Legends in marital arts like Rolls Gracie and Bruce Lee would integrate whatever they found useful into their own art. To never experience an art form because of our first impression would be short sighted. Never stop in your pursuit for a deeper understanding of jiu jitsu, even through different forms.

There is no passion, there is serenity

This statement relates closely to the first line of the creed. Again, as jiu jitsukas we are not devoid of passion. We must display passion for the art everytime we step on the mat.  That passion must se surrounded by serenity and grace under pressure. During your path to black belt, you will be tested multiple times (physically and mentally). If we let our passion go unchecked we become one dimensional, meaning that we are not able a to connect with people on any other level. We must be sure to enjoy ourselves outside of Jiu jitsu as well. I love to train and spend time in the gym, but as a father I must make sure I make time for my family as well. This benefits my Jiu jitsu as well as the positive energy that they bring to me also transfers to my extended mat family as well. 

My passion for the art is amplified by knowing that I will be able to share this with my daughter and future kids as well. This puts my mindset more to learning intricacies and details in technique rather than domination of the mats. My passion is not unchecked, instead I use it to form my goals in learning the art. With clear goals to my training, it brings a solid foundation that I can depend on when I'm not able to train as much as I would like. 

My serenity is found in knowing that Jiu jitsu will always be a part of my life.

There is no chaos, there is harmony

I know for myself and many others, Jiu jitsu serves as a centering point in their lives. With the madness that can be brought on in life and career, when I'm on the mat everything seems to make sense. I can clear my head completely in combatitive meditation. Much like the Jedi who trained their body for brutal missions and light saber battles, jiu jitsu tempers the body with the physical effort of training as well as hardening the mind to confront the difficulties you may experience in life. Several times during e fantastic documentary, Jiu Jitsu vs The World by Eat Films several long time practitioners recounted experiences In their life where they were able to apply principles learned in Jiu jitsu to a hardship and came out on the other side better for it.

While the Jedi were known for meditating several times per day, a Jiu jitsukas meditation comes in the form of drilling techniques, working through positions, and rolling with training partners (combative meditation). At those times, your mind is empty from distraction and you are a vessel to be filled with information. Constantly you are reminded to be present in training or get ready for a thrashing.

There is no death, there is the Force

Truly if you are reading this you are already a big fan of and practice Jiu jitsu. You may also love Star Wars and we can be best friends. I know its just a movie, but the idea of an ever present Force is how I try to live my life and shape my training. In the end, we are all trying to become better versions of ourselves, whether that be mentally or physically, thru Jiu jitsu. We are trying to create something lasting in ourselves and something for the future. For me personally, i hope to pass my Jiu jitsu to as many as I can and one day to my own children. Using the idea of the Force and the Jedi philosophy around it, I was trying to show you how I approach my training and life. I keep my emotions and ego in check on the mats to open my understanding to my professor, training partners, and Jiu jitsu without restriction. I understand (although cemented recently) that knowledge can come in many forms, even that white belt trying to pull a reverse berimbolo to heel hook that he learned on the YouTube dojo the night before. My passion for the art does not become a limiting factor in my relationships to others, but can be used to make many friends, brothers and sisters across the world. It's cemented by knowing I will practice for the long run. My mind is kept present and thankful for each day that I can train. For the life lessons Jiu jitsu has taught me: How to approach hard times with fluidity, leverage and the right amount of strength.

 While I may not be immortalized among the champions of the sport, my Jiu jitsu will live on with my training partners that I have taught and learned techniques from, in my daughter and future children that I will roll with, and of course by putting into writing my thoughts on how a boy from humble beginnings can one day hope to become a Jiu jitsu Jedi.

May The Force be with you, Always.

For the Love of Jiu-Jitsu /// By: Lea Young

I giggle a little every time I see memes about people who get upset when their significant other goes to jiu-jitsu or when I hear teammates talk about how they need to leave immediately after class before their significant others (both girls and guys) get mad.

Luckily, I don’t have that problem. I met my husband in 2012 while he was visiting my academy on Kauai. He trained there before but had moved back to the mainland prior to me moving home.  At that time, I was in the middle of training for a couple of competitions coming up, including Worlds. So after hearing about how much of a “killer” he was on the mat, I asked him for help and the rest is history.  

Our life, collectively and singularly, revolve around jiu-jitsu. Our vacations always include new places to visit and train, our free time outside of work is spent at the academy, and our gifts to each other most always include fancy new gis.

I’ve had numerous people (guys) tell me that they wish they had a girlfriend/wife like me. Not just so that they can get the “nagging” about gis and time spent at jiu-jitsu to stop, but so that they can genuinely share their love of jiu-jitsu and their lifestyle with someone that they love or care about.

While there’s no quick fix for a hesitant significant other to at least like jiu-jitsu, or even get them to try it, there are a few ways that may help ease them into it.

1. Introduce them to your “other” family, your jiu-jitsu family. More likely than not, some of your closest friends will come from the gym. Once your significant other sees what kind of relationship you have with your gym family, the better chance that they might lighten up and even want to spend time with them too!

2. Bring them to the gym and let them watch you train. They might be so inspired or intrigued that they might want to try it too. On that same note, if your gym has a women’s program, see if they would be interested in observing that class as well.

3. Include them in important jiu-jitsu decisions, like what gi to wear for competition or which gi you should buy next (admit it, those are pretty big decisions). The more pride they can put into your lifestyle, the more support you’ll get.

So what's the key word in all of this? Involvement! Happy wife, happy life... and happy rolls. :)

2016 Brazilian Nationals re-cap /// Photos by: Marco Aurélio Ferreira

Not All Who Wander Are Lost /// By: Anthony Chin Loy

In the early days of Jiu Jitsu visiting another gym or professor was unheard of. Secret techniques and style stayed within the gym walls unless you wanted to be labeled that “C” word.  The evolution of the art and the sheer number of gyms across the country has opened up opportunities to sharpen your game with some of the best in the world and you should absolutely take advantage of it. 

I started BJJ in 2007, after my first year of medical school. I was promoted to blue on the spot after an extended roll with my professor on a particularly empty night in the gym. I was able to train in that academy for 2 and a half years but during your 4th year of medical school you are allowed to visit other medical schools and programs in order to learn from different professors and work in different hospitals. This is partly to expand your horizons but also to audition for a coveted residency position. I spent 6 months away from my home institution but also the gym where I had been training for years. This was essential to my growth as both a doctor as well as a BJJ player. 

During my 1-2 month long external rotations in Gainesville, Tampa, and Miami it was necessary for me to find places to train. In fact, every time I visit a new city I always try to see what academies are around. Before heading to the facility, I make sure to browse their website to learn a little about the gym, the head instructor, see what classes are offered and schedule. Having some idea of the culture of the gym is very worthwhile. It helps you adjust to the new surroundings and their style of Jiu Jitsu. 

After medical school, I was blessed to move to the Mecca of Jiu Jitsu, Southern California. The options for gyms in this area are enormous. While everyone hits the stalwarts, I found a home at Valhalla Jiu Jitsu in Irvine. A smaller school with top instruction. The instructor at Valhalla was adamant on expanding your Jiu Jitsu education by training with and learning from as many outside professors and grappling styles as possible. This was huge for my Jiu Jitsu growth. Being able to visit other schools and gain different perspectives on positions and techniques is invaluable. Training in SoCal with Cleber Luciano, Buchecha, Tim Cartmell, Rickson, Felipe Fogolin, among others has pushed my game to evolve. Rolling with their students has constantly reminded me that I have so much more to learn. Traveling to other gyms gives you the ego check you need. Inherently, upper belts in the school want to protect their mat. Not in a malicious way, but to let visitors know “This is how we train here”. Many times when visiting a gym, you get the top game and many times are rolling with some of the toughest guys in the academy. Over time, training at only your school will allow you to become comfortable with most of your training partners. You may become the big dog and never know what it's like to be pushed or challenged. Rolling with unfamiliar training partners that test your knowledge will remind you to always keep working on developing your game.

Since leaving SoCal last year I have spent time in DC and Orlando. Due to time and cost (without year contracts, academy dues can be expensive) I haven't been able to join a gym for an extended period of time. As I said before, when visiting a new gym it's always good to let the instructor know you are dropping by. Let them know your situation and see what can work with pricing for the time you are going to be there. It never hurts to ask, most professors want you to train! Always be gracious to the academy and instructor for letting you visit. When doing randori, I try to work up intensity slowly to make sure that I establish a relationship with the students. If you get smashed that's ok too, remember that ego checks are good for the soul!

Finally, while we all love to wear fancy pajamas. Make sure you check the uniform rules of the academy. I personally only wear a white gi until I see a white belt wearing other colors. Then I know it's open season. Anyone that has rolled no-gi with me knows that I like to go full spats, I feel like if I’m going to spend 50+ bucks on a pair of spats, I might as well show off the whole shebang. However, after rolling no gi while at a visiting academy, during the handshakes after the class, Professor points at my spats and I THOUGHT I was going to get a compliment. However he just turns incredulously to the one female in class and shakes his head. Trust me, you don’t want to break the rules of a 7x World Champions gym, you’re not going to have a good time…Observe cues and learn the rules.

Get out there, visit academies, expand your horizons, and May the Force be with you.