Thursday, March 1, 2012
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Lesson from the Past
“Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security” - Benjamin Franklin
“Indifference is the essence of inhumanity." - George Bernard Shaw
“The price of greatness is responsibility.” - Winston Churchhill
“It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so.” - Mark Twain
“Indifference is the essence of inhumanity." - George Bernard Shaw
“The price of greatness is responsibility.” - Winston Churchhill
“It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so.” - Mark Twain
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Hidden Training Opportunities
Many of you know that I was once a rather large individual.
Now this blog entry isn't some new diet fad or really even going to tell you things you don't already know, but just maybe in this instance a picture can be worth a thousand words and may give you just enough pause to hear me out.
So where are these hidden training opportunities?
Try some of these:
1. Roll out a Yoga Mat and during Television Commercials; hold plank position; do some Hip Bump Sit-ups, flutter kicks, Air Squats.... You get the idea - 2 minutes about every 15-20 minutes is a great way to keep the metabolism in high gear and shedding calories during your favorite shows.
2. Got Stairs? Now there is no need to make unnecessary trips up and down them but when you are going up the stairs do a deep knee bend on every tread, when going down don't skip any steps and do a 10 second Chair Pose (use the handrails as necessary).
3. Drink Ice Cold Water, when you drink a single 8-ounce cup of ICE COLD water, your body will burn 7.69 calories just to heat that water up to body temperature.
4. Practice your Cartwheels and walking on you hands; in the yard, with the kids, have a laugh and have some fun. Not to mention its a great sport specific way to build your kinetic awareness while inverted.
5. Try walking, jogging, or running without letting your heels touch the ground, this amplifies every step into a isometric calf contraction.
There are a few, if you would like more just let me know. I hope you all have a wonderful & blessed day!!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Less is More!!
Recently I have been rolling more frequently for longer durations of "Live" or should we say "Active" Rolling.
I say Active because recently my training partners & I have been rolling with intent to execute specific movements or techniques; and though the rolls are still 80-90% effort, the results is specifically targeted for each of us, one person focusing on executing the movement or technique, while the other focuses on countering. This has been a great addition to our rolling paradigm, upon the completion of an "active" roll, we discuss in detail the positions & movements we experienced, recreate them statically, and evaluate them.
So Less Time on the Mat, more Frequently, has been producing the results of More time "actively" rolling, more small detail exposure & comprehension, and lastly; just a heck of a lot more FUN!!!
I say Active because recently my training partners & I have been rolling with intent to execute specific movements or techniques; and though the rolls are still 80-90% effort, the results is specifically targeted for each of us, one person focusing on executing the movement or technique, while the other focuses on countering. This has been a great addition to our rolling paradigm, upon the completion of an "active" roll, we discuss in detail the positions & movements we experienced, recreate them statically, and evaluate them.
So Less Time on the Mat, more Frequently, has been producing the results of More time "actively" rolling, more small detail exposure & comprehension, and lastly; just a heck of a lot more FUN!!!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Thinking about Thinking
Be assertive, act on your intent
Be dynamic, flow between your intent for yourself and your intent as a partner
Be fluid, allow your intent to lead you
Be receptive, continually discover facets of your intent
Be dynamic, flow between your intent for yourself and your intent as a partner
Be fluid, allow your intent to lead you
Be receptive, continually discover facets of your intent
Walking the Path of a BJJ Lifestyle
Its an interesting endeavor to begin the processes of starting my own adventure in the lifestyle of BJJ.
Through many successes, failures, disappointments, obligations, introspective moments, communications with friends & family, and some personal planning; I have come too these conclusions.
Though we all seek a similar destination, we all must either follow in an other's footsteps or clear are own path.
Though we all seek a similar destination, we all are driven to seek that destination for different reasons.
Though the path and destination are important, they are secondary to the consequences of how we pursue them.
For me, my path lies in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as a Martial Art and Sport, focusing on connecting Spirit, Mind and Body with Truth, Self Discipline, Perseverance, and Integrity. My path does not need or lead; to a transition from the controlled and graceful Martial Art of BJJ, to the more widely popular MMA. Though I respect those that desire the MMA path, it is not in my heart to contribute to that industry or practice.
My view of BJJ as a Martial Art is similar too that of many Martial Arts; the purpose of becoming fluent in any given Martial Art is to provide the confidence and knowledge to be able to diffuse the need for physical combat, to resolve a situation; and should only to be used in the event that there is no alternative.
My view of BJJ as a Sport is that of a combat sport akin to Kinetic Chess, that focuses on truly being "The Gentle Art". It is fun and invigorating to compete in the sport of BJJ, but as I have grown in the sport and moved into also Refereeing the Sport , I have become aware of a distinct difference or (defining line if you will) between two predominant paths in our Sport of BJJ.
One path is that of the more Vale Tudo style, where the Coaches are actively promoting to competitors to "Break that Arm", "Grind your elbow across the Face", "Crush the head with your Shoulder" and in short actively promoting and teaching Sport BJJ Practitioners to abandon movement and grace to achieve victory through punishment and pain, and in defeat these competitors and Coaches are much more likely to abandon dignity and composure by refusing to Shake their Opponent's Hand or will Argue profusely with the Referee. Here I must add that this seems to be more of the Americanized epidemic.
On the opposite spectrum we have the Traditional BJJ Academies that begin by Bowing to each other at the beginning of the Match, Shaking the Referee's and their Opponent's Hand at the conclusion of a match, and using position and superior technique to execute the "Submission". From these coaches and competitors I have rarely heard a competitor encouraged by his coach to "Break that Arm" or "Crush that Head" and have next to never, seen displays of poor-sportsmanship or rude/disrespectful conduct.
Here is where my soul, heart and mind lead me too redirect my own journey and destination.
I am concerned for the Martial Art & Sport of BJJ. Where the need to prove one's self, intentional physical violence and aggressive intent are added to the powerful and dynamic Martial Art of BJJ, truly dangerous consequences may arise.
The sport of MMA is yet in its infancy here in the USA, my fear is that we as Americans will begin to train MMA exclusively, without providing the fundamentals taught with a Traditional Martial Art Form such as respect, self-discipline, self-control, honesty, and integrity. The now young MMA practitioners may be left without the tools and fundamentals required to "Leave it in the Cage". I also fear that Academies will begin to Promote their BJJ Practitioners into MMA to help generate a revenue stream and "Fighter Stable" from which they can promote their own MMA Events and feed on Fighters from their own "Stable". An instructor or coach has a powerful influence over those that they lead and I fear that not all will put those they lead first and foremost.
I believe that MMA is not the evolution of Martial Arts, but the beginning of a dramatic regression in the human condition.
My Path leads me to train only BJJ as a Martial Art Form, and where I can, provide opportunities for others that share a similar path.
*NOTE*
This post is only my opinion, and is not directly related to any individual person or organization. Nor do I believe that all MMA Academies or Practitioners fail to provide the Necessary Fundamentals and Traditional Martial Arts training opportunities that I believe to be of paramount importance to an individuals growth and self-preservation. I also do not mean to make the point that MMA is the "wrong path", only to clarify that it is the WRONG PATH for me.
Through many successes, failures, disappointments, obligations, introspective moments, communications with friends & family, and some personal planning; I have come too these conclusions.
Though we all seek a similar destination, we all must either follow in an other's footsteps or clear are own path.
Though we all seek a similar destination, we all are driven to seek that destination for different reasons.
Though the path and destination are important, they are secondary to the consequences of how we pursue them.
For me, my path lies in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as a Martial Art and Sport, focusing on connecting Spirit, Mind and Body with Truth, Self Discipline, Perseverance, and Integrity. My path does not need or lead; to a transition from the controlled and graceful Martial Art of BJJ, to the more widely popular MMA. Though I respect those that desire the MMA path, it is not in my heart to contribute to that industry or practice.
My view of BJJ as a Martial Art is similar too that of many Martial Arts; the purpose of becoming fluent in any given Martial Art is to provide the confidence and knowledge to be able to diffuse the need for physical combat, to resolve a situation; and should only to be used in the event that there is no alternative.
My view of BJJ as a Sport is that of a combat sport akin to Kinetic Chess, that focuses on truly being "The Gentle Art". It is fun and invigorating to compete in the sport of BJJ, but as I have grown in the sport and moved into also Refereeing the Sport , I have become aware of a distinct difference or (defining line if you will) between two predominant paths in our Sport of BJJ.
One path is that of the more Vale Tudo style, where the Coaches are actively promoting to competitors to "Break that Arm", "Grind your elbow across the Face", "Crush the head with your Shoulder" and in short actively promoting and teaching Sport BJJ Practitioners to abandon movement and grace to achieve victory through punishment and pain, and in defeat these competitors and Coaches are much more likely to abandon dignity and composure by refusing to Shake their Opponent's Hand or will Argue profusely with the Referee. Here I must add that this seems to be more of the Americanized epidemic.
On the opposite spectrum we have the Traditional BJJ Academies that begin by Bowing to each other at the beginning of the Match, Shaking the Referee's and their Opponent's Hand at the conclusion of a match, and using position and superior technique to execute the "Submission". From these coaches and competitors I have rarely heard a competitor encouraged by his coach to "Break that Arm" or "Crush that Head" and have next to never, seen displays of poor-sportsmanship or rude/disrespectful conduct.
Here is where my soul, heart and mind lead me too redirect my own journey and destination.
I am concerned for the Martial Art & Sport of BJJ. Where the need to prove one's self, intentional physical violence and aggressive intent are added to the powerful and dynamic Martial Art of BJJ, truly dangerous consequences may arise.
The sport of MMA is yet in its infancy here in the USA, my fear is that we as Americans will begin to train MMA exclusively, without providing the fundamentals taught with a Traditional Martial Art Form such as respect, self-discipline, self-control, honesty, and integrity. The now young MMA practitioners may be left without the tools and fundamentals required to "Leave it in the Cage". I also fear that Academies will begin to Promote their BJJ Practitioners into MMA to help generate a revenue stream and "Fighter Stable" from which they can promote their own MMA Events and feed on Fighters from their own "Stable". An instructor or coach has a powerful influence over those that they lead and I fear that not all will put those they lead first and foremost.
I believe that MMA is not the evolution of Martial Arts, but the beginning of a dramatic regression in the human condition.
My Path leads me to train only BJJ as a Martial Art Form, and where I can, provide opportunities for others that share a similar path.
*NOTE*
This post is only my opinion, and is not directly related to any individual person or organization. Nor do I believe that all MMA Academies or Practitioners fail to provide the Necessary Fundamentals and Traditional Martial Arts training opportunities that I believe to be of paramount importance to an individuals growth and self-preservation. I also do not mean to make the point that MMA is the "wrong path", only to clarify that it is the WRONG PATH for me.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Some of My Favorite Inspirational Quotes
The important thing is to not stop questioning. -- Albert Einstein
An error can never become true however many times you repeat it. The truth can never be wrong, even if no one hears it. --Mahatma Gandhi.
Failure is taking the path that everyone else does, success is making your own path. --Unknown
People are lonely because they build walls instead of bridges. --Unknown
Never look down on anybody unless you’re helping him up --The Reverend Jesse Jackson
If you don't run your own life, somebody else will. --John Atkinson
It's easy to make a buck. It's a lot tougher to make a difference. --Unknown
An error can never become true however many times you repeat it. The truth can never be wrong, even if no one hears it. --Mahatma Gandhi.
Failure is taking the path that everyone else does, success is making your own path. --Unknown
People are lonely because they build walls instead of bridges. --Unknown
Never look down on anybody unless you’re helping him up --The Reverend Jesse Jackson
If you don't run your own life, somebody else will. --John Atkinson
It's easy to make a buck. It's a lot tougher to make a difference. --Unknown
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