What is the first thing I should learn to do in BJJ?

What is the first thing I should learn to do in BJJ?

Everyone once in awhile I get asked by a new student what is the first thing they should learn to do in BJJ. There are some stock answers:

• Check your ego at the door
• Get comfortable with being uncomfortable
• Shrimp
• Tie your belt
• Wash your gi

These are all great, but I would like to submit the thing I wish I would have learned first in grappling/BJJ. So, if you will indulge me, I want to take you back to January 2004. I am a college students at Iowa State University (Go 'Clones), 

This is CY, the ISU mascot

I have more hair, my waist is trimmer, and I am still able to party until 3am, roll out of bed for an 8am class and rip off a 12 mile run.* I have one remaining general education credit (personal wellness) and I decide to enroll in Judo. 

After the precursory first few days of learning to break fall and shrimp, we start to learn the goods (throwing, joint locks, choking, etc.). One day our instructor (Master Pak) tells us to pair up. I pair up with a blue belt that is close to my size. Master Pak says we are going to learn collar chokes.

Sliding lapel choke

He also explained the concept of tapping out. For those of you reading this that do not know, tapping out is the way you tell your partner, "good job, you could have strangled me to death."  

Master Pak demonstrates a sliding lapel choke and then has us go to town. Well, "Johnny Blue Belt" proceeds to grab my collar and apply the choke with the chutzpah of a 9' anaconda. I freaked out and instead of tapping, I waved my arms around, grasped at the air, grabbed at the mat until I started to go out. Mast Pak ran over and told Johnny Blue Belt to let go. He gave him a bit of a tongue lashing about applying chokes full force to new guys and asked me if I understood what tapping out meant. I told him I did, but I just panicked. The previously mentioned blue belt applies the collar choke again and I tap really quick, he keeps going and I am now tapping violently. When he finally let go, I asked him why he didn't let go right when I tapped. He replied, "You got to feel the choke to know the power."** For the next year of my training, anytime someone got remotely close to my neck I started getting flashbacks of "Johnny the Blue Belt Strangler" living out his "Green River Killer" fantasy and tapped out before the choke was even applied. It was a pretty big mental block for me. 

For those of you unaware of who the Green River Killer is...

Now, in BJJ we tell people to tap early and often, and I agree with that sentiment. Tapping when someone has you in a submission is a good practice. It saves you a ton of injuries. However, there comes a time in everyone's training where they need to start pushing the envelope and trying to find ways out of bad situations. Essentially, this means that you need to trust your training partners to let go if you tap, even if that is a split second before a submission is really locked in.

When you don't tap early and often....

At first glance, that seems pretty easy, trust the person you are working with to respect you enough not to injure you. But, it takes one instance of a partner holding on a little too long and you can become gun-shy lickety-splitsville. With that being said, you will never get better unless you try to work out of really tight submissions.  Personally, my offense never really improved until my defense progressed to the point where I wasn't worried about getting subbed. I didn't stop worrying about getting subbed until I allowed myself to work out of some really precarious situations. The only way you can push your boundries is to find and train with people you trust and then really trust them. 

So, my advice to a new student is to learn to trust your training partner, be the training partner that they can trust, and learn to work out of some bad spots. 

*Writer's note: I can still do any of these thing independently, just not all in the same day. 

Just look at that mane

**Writer's note: This dude would have totally join Cobra Kai

Des Moines - Submission Challenge

Submission Challenge – Des Moines

Tournament Review

Three weeks ago we took a group of guys to compete in the Submission Challenge tournament in Des Moines. I have been thinking about how to write this review in a way that suggests I appreciate having a tournament in central Iowa, but also offer some constructive criticism. So, here goes my best shot.

The SC organization runs submission only tournaments with rules similar to the EBI rule set. It is a great chance to compete and work for submission, without worrying about scoring points. Our team competed well, though we could have taken sometime to go over specific situations that are inherent to the rule set. Overall, I really like the format of a submission only tournament.

How was the tournament run?

It was a pretty standard setup. There was some confusion on if people could do day of registration when we showed up (though the website said you could not). People who were pre-registrations showed up, checked-in and weighed-in. Competitors could weigh-in up to an hour before their match, but were “encouraged” to weigh-in earlier. If you have been around BJJ guys, “encouraging” them to do anything usually means they will do whatever they want. In general, the organizers kept the tournament moving. It is a major pain when there are 5 open mats and workers just kind of chilling. This phenomenon was avoided for the most part. The medals were great and the people running the tournament were super friendly.

Pros of the tournament?

-It is local. Normally, we have to drive to Minneapolis, StL, or Milwaukee to compete. A two-hour drive was super-nice.

 

For those of you who are not down with the 515.

-People running the tournament were friendly and helpful.

-For the most part, competitors and coaches were able to be both competitive and friendly. So much so, that we had a referee make a rule mistake and I was able to talk with the opposing coach and come to a pretty fair compromise on how to resolve the issue. There are always people yelling, “break his arm”, “take his F*cking knee home” which I think is ridiculous. The person yelling “break his jaw if they won’t tap” is probably also making social media posts about how BJJ is a brotherhood and we need to respect each other, blah blah blah, OSS! For the most part, it was a great group of competitors and coaches.

-

The medals were beautiful.

-We had several kids compete and the refs were great working with the kids.

-For the most part, the refs did a great job. I realize they are paid minimally and would probably like to be taking a nap on Saturday. So, I really appreciate what their service.

-There were a ton of white and blue belts competing, so it was a great tourney for our white belts to get a lot of rolls in.

Cons of the tournament?

-We had two guys who didn’t get a match. They signed up in advance, were placed in a bracket, weighed-in, waited all day and then didn’t get to roll. Let me first say, they got their money back with little issue. However, if there is no day of registration and people check in an hour before their bracket, this should not happen. Also, the guys who didn’t get to compete were upper belt gi competitors. So, they waited all day to do nothing. Honestly, the tournament is small enough that purple, brown, and black should be combined and the age groups should be folded into each other.

-This has nothing to do with the people working the tournament, but the rule set (as it was explained to me during a somewhat terse interaction with a ref) is, when there is a submission (loosely defined) and competitors go off mat, they keep competing until there is an escape or the sub is finished. That is great if there are spare mats lining the “out of bounds” area. However, this venue is just hardwood floors. On several occasions people were on the basketball floor, with spectators walking around them, sometimes rolling under the folding tables. The referees were instructed to “let them work through the submission.” I understand, people want to finish subs, but safety should be paramount. We had a competitor get a concussion because he got suplexed on concrete at a different tournament with a similar setup. His opponent felt like crap about it, our guy was out for a few weeks, it was a pointless occurrence when it could be easily solved by resetting the match to the center. The rule should be something like, the second guys touch a non-mat service they stop and reset on the mat. Competitors and coaches can debate position if they like, when they reset in the center of the mat. Having an annoyed competitor is way better than dealing with a brain bleed or concussion. Seriously, Submission Challenge needs to fix this. Final note, after my terse interaction with the ref I explained my concerns and we hugged it out like true jitz-broz.

Dramatic interpretation....

-White-belt leg reaping (banned for white belts) and stopping overtime when there was a transition from one submission to another (time should continue to accumulate) happened multi-times. The way these issues were addressed varied from mat to mat, and form referee to referee. There should be a consistent protocol to deal with those two issues. Before people flip-out on me, this is a referee training issues, not a personal attack on the referees, they are just doing their best.

-Finally, the venue is not ideal. There are a lot of people around the mats, on them…just milling about like cattle. It is cool, to have such an up-close experience. But, it is a safety issue. A high school gym with roped off mat areas is the way to go. I understand you work with what you have, but a change in venue would really take the tourney to the next level.

Even more dramatic interpretation....

Summary:

If you are a white belt or blue belt and want to do a tournament where you don’t have to count points, this is a great start (especially if you are in central Iowa). The staff is helpful and friendly, the tournament moves at a nice clip and the medals are really cool. If you are an upper belt, you may get a match or two…or none. At $80 for two divisions to roll with the same guy 2 times seems steep. However, some of that is on the Iowa BJJ community. A tournament can only put out competitors who pay and show up. Hopefully, all those white and blue belts keep coming to the tourney when they are purple and brown.

Fuji Sekai, Suparaito and Tatami Estilo 5.0 - Throw down!

Hello All!

At our gym and online there are a lot of questions about a specific gi vs another gi. Usually the questions are specific (like which has the stiffer collar). Well, I had the good fortune of buying a new Sekai and Estilo 5.0 during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday deal period and my friend Cop John let me borrow his new Suparatio...and with that a plan was hatched. Below is my best attempt at an in-depth assessment of the Fuji Suparatio, Sekai, and Tatami Estilo.

Some things to know for the review below:

• I have taken my picture in each of the gis. Sorry, Chris Pratt was unavailable, so you will have to do with my less than stellar mug. 
• I am 5'8", 165 pounds. I have a 71" wingspan. My torso is longer than my legs. 
• All 3 of the gis are A2. 
• I am a 1 stripe purple belt. I have been training for about 6-8 years (a few of those were judo and sambo years). Currently, I try to train 5-6 times a week. This means I go through a lot of gis.
• An incomplete list of the gi brands I have owned:
• Fuji (superlight, double weave, Sekai)
• Howard Combat Kimonos
• Atama 
• Keiko Raca 
• Bad Boy
• 12NV
• Probably others I am forgetting

• I have linked to the companies' webpages, in each description. This should help you if you want to know more about the company. 

FUJI Suparaito

The super burrito (what we call it in our club and how I will refer to it for the rest of this blog) is Fuji's super light offering in their Summit collection. The main points:

• Amazing Ripstop pants 
• Pearl weave jacket, 350 gsm (couldn't find an official weight from Fuji, but his was cite several places)
• Ripstop collar 
• Contrast stitching

Fuji Sekai

The Sekai is Fuji's "light" gi. They do not suggest on their page that it is part of their Summit line, but they do suggest it is a competition Gi. 

• The jacket is thicker than the super burrito, but not by much. 
• Jacket is pearl weave and around 420 gsm...but that is my best guess.
• The collar does not appear to be ripstop like Suparaito
• Awesome ripstop pants (same as Suparatio)

Tatami Estilo 5.0

The Estilo is another competition gi. Tatami is based in Europe. They report that the gi is the culmination of years of R&D. 

• 550 gsm pearl weave jacket
• The collar is much stiffer than the Super burrito or Sekai. 
• Canvas pants, with a bungee cord string.

Below are videos of me breaking down each of the components of the gis. 

Fit:

     Sekai - Super Burrito

In general, the Sekai and Super Burrito have exceptionally similar fits. Obviously, the Super Burrito top is going to be a little lighter fabric/weave, but the cut is really similar. They both have great range of motion for me. The shoulders, lat and chest fit close with minimal additional fabric, but do not restrict motion. The sleeves on the Super Burrito are a little more narrow (in circumference) than the Sekai. That seems like a small advantage (for the Super Burrito over the Sekai) when people are gripping for sleeve control. The lapel is pretty pliable, which helps with the jacket laying flat, but also allows for easier choking and manipulation when using lapel based guards. 

The pants are amazing. They are super soft ripstop. I have had a Sekai for about a year and wear it 2-3 times a week. They show no sign of breaking down. Several guys at my gym have a Super Burrito and have not reported any issues with the ripstop tearing. The pants fit great and stay tied. Several people have said they really make my booty pop. 

     Estilo 5.0

The Estilo has a much different fit. The jacket has a much tighter cut through the lats. This leads to less fabric to grip, but also a little less range of motion. I have a feeling I will like the restricted fit once I get used to it. Right now, I feel like I can lift my arms as high as I can in the Super Burrito or Sekai. The collar is much stiffer than either of the Fuji gis. In the pictures above you can tell that the fit is far different in the way the gi lays on my body. Several training partners have said it is harder to manipulate the Estilo gi/collar. The down side of the stiffness, is that the Estilo comes out of the belt and has to be tucked in... a lot. I have washed 10-15 times now and the stiffness seems to remain. So, if you like a stiff collar, this is your jacket, if not....  The opening in the sleeves is closer to the Super Burrito, so a little more narrow than the Sekai. 

The pants are canvas. I don't like canvas pants, so I am a little biased. I sweat like a yeti in a sauna, which means they are heavy and soppy (is that a word) after 2 hours of rolling. That being said, the fit and durability is great. If you prefer canvas pants, this is your gi. If you sweat like it is your job, be prepared to waddle around like a pregnant hippo getting out of a marsh. 

Aesthetics:

All 3 gis are pretty great looking. I tend towards minimalism, so the Super Burrito and Estilo are really my speed. I don't love the embroidery on the Sekai shoulders, but I love everything else about it. Obviously, the Estilo also has embroidery on the shoulders, but the white on white gives it a clean look. The contrast stitching gives the Fujis a fun touch. The Sekai has a large rubber map on the inside (it is cool, but annoyed my skin when rolling without a rash guard), the Estilo has a silky neck yolk... it is fun to look at. 

Durability:

     Sekai

This is my second Sekai. I love it and it is impressively durable. Over the course of a year, my first Sekai has been through several comps, 2-3 days of training a week and washing after every use. There are a few pulled stitches, but it has held up better than a majority of the previous gis I have owned (Atama, light weight and double weave fuji, Howard Combat Kimono, etc.). Minimal shrinkage after all the washes (I line dry my gis), I would estimate less than 10%. 

    Super Burrito

Cop John is on his 2nd and 3rd (he bought to on Black Friday) SBs and reports similar durability to the Sekai. He has competed in several tournies with his gi, rolls in it 2ish times a week and washes/line dries after use. He reports minimal wear and tear. I actually took a picture in his new and old SB and couldn't not tell any shrinkage.

     Estilo

I do not have the durability experience/data on the Estilo that I do on the Fujis. That being said, I have worn the Estilo 10-ish times, it seems to be wearing really well. Some of the stitching on the nape of the neck embroidery is starting to pull out. This is really not a big deal, other than it is annoying on a really new gi.

Performance:

All 3 gis perform pretty similarly. As I mentioned above, the main differences:

• The collar is much stiffer on the Estilo 
• The ripstop pants are amazing on the Fuji gis
• The sleeve opening is bigger on the Sekai
• The heaviness of the fabric from lightest to heaviest goes - Super Burrito - Sekai - Estilo. 

Really, those are the only meaningful competition/performance differences.

Overall/Summary:

First off, I don't think you can go wrong with any of these gis. All 3 of these gis were purchased for between $80-$99 on Black Friday deals. So, if you can get any of these 3 gis between $80-$99, go for it. Honestly, if you have the money, buy two. The only deciding factor would be preference on the differences listed above. 

Normal prices for each gi are around:

• Super Burrito - $133
• Sekai - $169
• Estilo - $169

If you are basing your decision off of these prices, I think the Super Burrito is the way to go, with the near exact durability, construction, and look for $30 less. When I got my blue belt, I bought an Atama Mundial 7 for $189. It held up for a few year, but wore down pretty quick. I amazed at the quality you can get in a lighter gi, for less money. It would appear the adage "you get what you pay for" only rungs true up to a certain price.

Hope this helps. Please email me if there is info. left off you would like to know. 

Bill

Combat Corner Tournament Recap - Milwaukee, WI

Last weekend we took 8 fellars up to the Combat Corner tournament in Milwaukee, WI. 

A special thanks to Dan Knipp for loaning us his van, probably not the most ideal vehicle for the blizzard we drove through (in April, yeah Midwest). However, Mike D conquered the inclement weather with the steely nerves of a Green Beret taking enemy fire.

We arrived in Milwaukee around 7:30, were approached by a pastor looking to tell us about the good Lord and all the guys made weight. We jumped back in the van, Mike drove through another blizzard, we made it to Dostal’s parents’ house and we ate ourselves sick (I was just coaching, so I was sympathy eating).

 

The next morning we rolled to the tourney around 9:30. I was under the impression there was a seeding meeting, turns out I was wrong (the first of many poor coaching moments for me). The tournament got underway relatively on time (major victory for a BJJ tourney). They were pretty organized and efficient on running the whole shindig.

The Positives

We took our coach’s son, Gabby (not his real name, he just talks a lot) to compete for the first time. I think he is like 14 or 16, or something like that. Anyway, I have been coaching him since he was 9ish. He lost his first match due to an issue we have been trying to help him correct for a few years. It would have been easy for him to pack it in and get beat in his next 3 matches. However, he corrected the error and went 3-0 to win silver and gold. Really cool to see him put it all together.

Cael with his Gold

Trav, another one of our white belts won bronze and silver. He has been training BJJ for less than a year. To have success at a fairly large tournament was a really good start for him. He also corrected mistakes in each one of his successive matches, which is really promising to see.

Trav thinks looking at the camera is for losers....

Our two brown belts had the unfortunate draw in the absolute division of facing off against Dante Leon and Gutemberg Pereira, look them up (spoiler alert, they are pretty good). They both had good matches but ended up losing. Really two ways we can look at those losses; 1). real bummer to lose your first match in any division, 2). if you are going to lose, lose to the two best guys in the division and learn from the rolls. I think our guys will view the matches through the lens of the latter option.

Other than that, everyone else had good showing, the matches just didn’t go their way. I came away with a few things we can work on to help our guys that want to compete.

 

The Negatives

I try not to criticize the refs at tournaments, it is a crap job that ends with the ref being yelled at. That being said, we had one of our guys get DDT’d (see head first slam) into the concrete near the mat. In addition, we had several matches where action was continued when one or both of the competitors’ heads were on the concrete boarding the mat. I realize that no one wants their match to be stopped while the action is still going. But, when it comes to the hierarchy of a ref’s responsibilities, competitors’ safety has to be number one. Letting action continue into dangerous areas was borderline habitual and needs to be addressed for the next tournament. One of our guys ended up with probable concussion from an easily avoidable situation.

Something like this. 

One of our white belts got his arm broken in a bicep slicer. It was a real freak incident that I am not sure was avoidable. To his opponent’s credit, there was a loud crack and he let off the sub immediately. Robocop (our competitor) had never seen a bicep slicer before, so this was a great way to learn the move. Unfortunately, he has 6-8 weeks to watch videos of bicep slicer escapes.

 Watch this one at your own risk...

I certainly could have studied the rules more in-depth. There was more than once I was getting the modified rules they use and standard IBJFF rules confused. This is totally my fault and I should have prepared better.

Could have used something like this.

Misc.

•  Trav is impressive in his ability to eat. He order a Fire House sub for dinner and one for the road, but ate the second one while we were still at dinner.
• Clarence (a converted wrestler) has really started to integrate BJJ into his game, it is fun to watch.
•  Calley and RoboCop are tough dudes! One got a concussion and one broke his arm. Both stayed for the whole tourney and neither went to the hospital. It is a fine line between tough and stubborn, they walk it well.
• Dostal’s Mom and Dad are great hosts. I would suggest invading their house to anyone in the area.

Sans the freak injuries and WWE style rules regarding competitor safety, we had a great time. I got to spend time/get to know several of my teammates that I had not interacted with much. I would suggest the tournament to both beginners and advanced BJJers.