How John Danaher’s Leg Lock System Re-shaped Jiu-Jitsu

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BJJ World
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How The John Danaher Leg Lock System Re-shaped Jiu-Jitsu

Okay, so THAT Joe Rogan Experience Podcast episode finally materialized. The black belt comedian managed to get one of the most elusive and enigmatic BJJ personalities on his MMA SHow. More specifically, the 11th episode of the JRE MMA Show. 3 weeks ago the world got exposed to the captivating brilliance of Coach John Danaher. The famed Renzo Gracie black belt did not disappoint and spent about half of the show dissecting JIu-JItsu with Rogan.

Not only did Rogan manage to get John Danaher on the show, but he got him talking. Now, three weeks and multiple replays later, the dust has kind of settled. After the original awe died down a bit, it is time to analyze Danaher’s philosophy and views. It is irrefutable that his approach has changed BJJ forever, but it was (and still is) a very tightly kept secret. For die-hard John Danaher fans like myself, who closely follow the New Zealander on Instagram, there weren’t that many new things. However, the few previously undisclosed principles are pure gold. In truth, even the stuff he’s already written was well-spoken and explained in detail.

Who Is John Danaher?

John Danaher is a Renzo Gracie black belt who is originally from New Zealand. Interestingly, he started grappling at the ripe age of 28, while working as a bouncer in New York.

His original intention when he migrated to New York was to become a professor of philosophy. Correspondingly, he enrolled in Colombia University’s Philosophy Ph.D. program where he held a teaching job. In addition to teaching, he worked as a club bouncer which is how he got exposed to BJJ.  Always looking to improve in martial arts terms, he ended up at Renzo Gracie’s Academy in NYC. After demonstrating pure obsessions with the art, he became an instructor when he was a purple belt. From then on, it’s history.

John Danaher went on to develop the most effective BJJ leg lock system, along with the athletes to prove it. Curiously, it was Dean Lister that influenced Danaher’s decision to start exploring the realm of lower body limb attacks. His Danaher Death Squad reigns through heel hook terror on the No-Gi competition scene, from EBI to ADCC, leaving no doubt about the efficacy of the system.

John Danaher

John Danaher’s opinion on Reasons Why Leg Locks Were Ignored

In traditional Jiu-Jitsu, leg locks were considered a cheap move. Even the rules of the world’s largest organization, the IBJJF, outline this school of thought. Up until the white belt, only ankle locks from a very specific position are allowed. Later on, toe holds and kneebars can be introduced, but would still be considered “lesser” moves than upper body attacks.

According to John Danaher, there are two main reasons why people avoided leg locks for so long:

  1. Leg locks are too dangerous for both training and competition
  2. Leg locks have a low percentage chance of working

During the Rogan podcast, Danaher debunked both these myths without question. In terms of the “danger”, that leg locks present, Danaher’s first evidence was statistics. It is clear that most of the career-ending injuries in BJJ actually come from techniques considered safe even for white belts. It is mostly the takedown game and jumping guard that result in horrifying knee injuries. Leg locks are no more dangerous than armbars, resulting in the expected and not serious odd injury here and there.

As far as the second point goes, there’s no need to look for proof further than the Danaher Death Squad. Holding most of the EBI titles as well as ADCC titles and medals, the squad has proven that leg locks are just as, if not more, effective as the highest percentage submissions in BJJ.

To sum it up, as Danaher puts it, the two points contradict each other completely. It took Danaher to point out that if leg locks were as low a percentage as advertised, then how could they be so dangerous? Makes you smile, doesn’t it?

Main Principles Of John Danaher’s Leg Lock System

Let’s take a look at the main principles behind the system that John Danaher developed to perfection. To begin with, he doesn’t see leg locks as one-off moves, but rather as a complete system of controllable positions that end in submission. As such, he has developed his system as a hierarchy, with clear transitional paths from lower towards higher control positions.

His leg lock system (along with his other successful systems) revolves around four main principles:

  1. LEVER AND FULCRUM
  2. The principle of WEDGE (inclined plane)
  3. DIRECTIONALITY OF FORCE
  4. The principle of kuzushi (off-balancing)

In the words of John Danaher, they are force multipliers that can make the weakest man strong. As such, they lead to the one thing Danaher seems to value above anything else – control.

Control over position

In the Rogan interview, Dahaner pointed out that he prefers control over the position. That said, positional mechanics are essential for a high degree of control. In terms of utilizing the aforementioned principles, he mentioned two aspects that involve most of the four. For one, Danaher stated that for a successful leg locking game, one must aim to have both feet on the inside of the opponent’s legs. Considering that this mostly takes place during entries into leg locking positions, this is where the Kuzushi principle comes in.

In terms of controlling the position, dubbed Ashi Garami by Danaher, on the podcast he focused on control of the opposite leg. What he meant is that control over the free leg takes away the opponent’s possibility to base. All three remaining principles apply here – Lever and fulcrum to control the leg, Wedging to restrict movement, and Directionality of force to apply to break mechanics for the submission. As I said, brilliant!

Fitting Leg Locks In The Overall BJJ Philosophy

One more captivating philosophy of Danaher is his definition of Jiu-Jitsu. After grilling Rogan on his 10th Planet roots, Danaher put him in the hot seat in true professor fashion. He interrogated Rogan leading him to the answers to the main principles behind the whole art of BJJ.

Namely, what Danaher made Joe realize is that BJJ is essentially made up of four distinct steps. The first one is the standup portion of BJJ, revolving around throws and takedowns. After the fight hits the ground, getting past the opponent’s legs becomes imperative. Once the legs are out of the way, it’s time for the hierarchy approach. Namely, Danaher preaches working through pins and positions that gradually increase the control you have over someone, while at the same time, taking away their defense options. The last step of the process is applying a finishing move in the form of a submission.

When the system fails

What made most of the BJJ world facepalm is the place of leg locks in this foundational Jiu-Jitsu pattern. Danaher fits leglocks in the scenario where this traditional system fails. In accordance with the four-step method of BJJ, the top position is emphasized throughout the pattern. As such, the bottom position is seen as inferior and that is where most of the leg lock attacks start from. Originally, leg locks were seen as a way to cheat the system for those who couldn’t get through it.

Danaher, however, realized that leg locks are subject to systematization as everything else. Instead of insisting on the top position, he gave a structured dimension to the bottom position. From there, one can attack going through the leg lock hierarchy or attain the top position, in which case, the four-point system is back on.

The rashguard-loving coach definitely left the BJJ community with much to ponder!

10 Best Leg Locks DVDs and Digital Instructionals

Craig Jones – Down Under Leg Attacks

https://bjj-world.com/danaher-philosophy-jiu-jitsu/

Why Does John Danaher Always Wear a Rashguard? Mystery Solved!

 

Mario Yamasaki Breaks Silence on Controversy in Shevchenko-Cachoeira Fight

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BJJ World
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Mario Yamasaki Breaks Silence on Controversy in Shevchenko-Cachoeira Fight

Last few days Mario Yamasaki received a lot of critics on his performance on UFC Fight Night 125’s Co-main event in Belem, Brazil. He was first criticized by Dana white who called Yamasaki’s performance disgusting. And Dana’s critics was followed by many other UFC and MMA fighters.

What exactly happened is that Mario Yamasaki did not stop the fight on time. Priscila Cachoeira was getting beat by Shevchenko and, according to many, Mario Yamasaki did a very late stoppage.

Mario Yamasaki, defended his decision by saying, “MMA is a contact sport and no fighter likes his fight to be stopped with no chance to revert the result. “

If you’re interested in what happened in that fight and you want to bring your own judge whether it was a late stoppage or not check the video of Shevchenko vs Cachoeira HERE.

Today, Mario Yamasaki decided to breaks silence on this controversy and he gave a statement to MMA fighting:

“During the second round, I signaled to ‘Pedrita’ that if she didn’t move I’d stop the fight, and every time I’d stop, I told her and she moved to try to escape from the punches. Unfortunately, I also can’t control the number of blows thrown — again, when a fighter is trying to come back she’s game.

Fighters go through times of hard effort and dedication to be there. MMA is a contact sport and no fighter likes his fight to be stopped with no chance to revert the result. In my opinion, I allowed Pedrita to be a warrior and keep fighting. I could have stopped the fight in the second crucifix or in the mount, but she moved the whole time.

I also recognize that I should have stopped when she tapped the first time to the rear-naked choke. I only stopped a few seconds later.

About other people’s opinions, it’s their right to say.”

After the fight, UFC made a statement that they will work with Brazil’s athletic commission to avoid another controversial stoppage like this one in the future.

UFC executive David Shaw told reporters the promotion is upset with referee Mario Yamasaki’s performance that night indicating changing referees for future events. He said:

“We’ll be working with the commission to make sure a situation like that doesn’t happen again,” Shaw said after the FS1-televised event at Mangueirinho Gymnasium in Belem, Para, Brazil. “First and foremost, Priscila’s health is the No. 1 priority. We’ve got a team with her at the hospital, and we’ll be taking very good care of her to make sure she recovers quickly.”

How to Choose The Best BJJ Rashguards

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BJJ World
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BJJ Rashguards Guide

BJJ rashguards come in all shapes and sizes. They are an as unique part of the sport as the berimbolo is. Despite the Gi’s prevalence in the sport, modern times have seen the rise of the rashguards. In no small part, this is due to the rise of the No-Gi BJJ scene. Lately, thanks to events like EBI, Submission Underground, and others, No-Gi practitioners got a platform for professional competition. Aside from that, they got a platform for displaying all kinds of BJJ rashguards. From all black, through sponsor and club markings to as wacky full body designs as you can imagine – they’re all out there. Don’t forget to check our list of the best BJJ Rashguards available today.

However, BJJ rashguards are far more than just coll attire. Let’s be honest, BJJ is an art where innovation and experimentation are encouraged. Today, you have thousands of Gi designs to choose from, so why would rashguards be any different? In truth, rashguards have been a part of BJJ for a long time, often worn under the Gi or during rare No-Gi classes. Exceptions were certain exclusive No-Gi schools, like 10th Planet, for example, that never went the Gi way. So, it is no wonder that with the rise of No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu, BJJ rashguards with all sorts of designs came to the forefront.

BJJ Rashguards 101

The rise of MMA in the ’90s is the main culprit behind the subsequent development of No-Gi Jiu-JItsu. Namely, the always increasing popularity of MMA and the need to be legit on the ground brought about the rashguard industry. So much so, that even the IBJJF organizes No-Gi events that culminate in the No-Gi European and World championships. Not only that, but they have a strict dress-code when it comes to rash guards.

In the beginning, the person that most people associate with rashguards was undoubtedly Georges St. Pierre. He was rarely seen training without one, which prompted most aspiring MMA athletes to copy him. In terms of MMA training, rashguards turned out to be very popular during BJJ practice. Was it a question of style, an aversion to naked sweaty men or simplicity, we’ll never know. What we know for sure is that you’ll rarely see someone in No-GI class or competition without at least an upper body rashguard.

In training environments, BJJ rashguards often represent the academies where a student trains. For example. Gracie Barra students have a rashguard line to choose from, as do 10th Planet members. More often than not, competitors have a bunch of sponsors all over their rashguard and spats, not giving much thought to brand or design.

The IBJJF has, since the introduction of No-Gi, defined strict rashguard rules for competitors. First, the rashguards have to be ranked and they have to be  IBJJF approved, which does not include every brand. Ranking displays the student’s belt rank somewhere along the rashguard, often on the sleeve.

BJJ Rashguards

Types Of BJJ Rashguards

To begin with, BJJ rashguards are not the same as compression shirts. Compression shirts are usually made of 4 layers and do not support constant contact. They restrict movements due to their thickness and do not fit the body as tight as rashguards do.

A proper rashguard, on the other hand, is made up of at least 6 layers. The sleeves are quite resistant to pulling and the stitching is tough and durable. Rashguards are typically made of spandex and nylon or polyester.

Rashguards are designed for a tight fit on the body, allowing unrestricted movement. This is crucial for BJJ or MMA training. Most BJJ Gi brands also make rashguards, with Tatami, TapOut, Bad Boy, OTM and Volcan among the most popular ones. Other, more generic sports brands like Nike, Under Armour and Reebok, also have rashguard designs, although these are not BJJ-specific.

In terms of basic design, they come in long and short sleeves for both rashguards and spats (leggings). Personal preference or training/competition requirements determine the type of rashguard an athlete uses.

What To Look For In A BJJ Rashguard

When it comes to choosing a BJJ rashguard, there are a few things to take into consideration. Of course, personal preferences are crucial, but there’s more to it than just a cool animal design.

In general, rashguards are designed to remove moisture from the body. This allows an athlete to stay cool and as dry as possible. The material should be tough enough to endure constant contact and friction. In that sense, BJJ or MMA specialized brands should be your first choice. Also, it is important to look at the stitching pattern. Flatlock stitching is by far superior to others for grappling training. Make sure the rashguard has at least 6 layers, as previously mentioned. This is going to allow for maximum mobility while staying tight. So quality should be your first priority.

Secondly, it is important to gar a rashguard that fits correctly. If it is too small or too big, it won’t fit your body the way it is supposed to. This will decrease the rashguard’s efficiency in friction prevention and will likely cause performance issues. Most manufacturers have size pretty precise size charts.

Furthermore, make sure you are within the bounds of your academy’s requirements. Some academies are pretty laid back while others insist that students wear matching attire. The same goes for the competition. It would be dumb to get disqualified because you showed up in a non-regulation rashguard.

Finally, you can think about style. If you are a competitor make sure you do your research to see if the tournament(s) have rules regarding fight attire. If so, your choices might be limited, because not all brands and designs are approved for certain competitions. Given there are no such requirements, though, you’re free to get the design you like the most.

BJJ Rashguards

Benefits Of Wearing A Rashguard

So, now that composition, types, style, and things to look for are out of the way, let’s see why you actually need a rashguard. Because it is not all style and flair when it comes to BJJ rashguards.

One major benefit of wearing a rashguard during training is preventing “mat burn”, or rashes. This holds especially true for competitions. BJJ mats are sturdy surfaces that are built to last. They’re made up of foam covered in very durable vinyl that provides certain traction. Exposed areas of the skin are often subject to burn because of the texture of the mats. What better case for wearing a long-sleeved rashguard and spats?

Similarly, they protect the body against possible skin infections. In BJJ the danger of skin diseases like ringworm is never far given the availability of sources. It is not only the gym or mats that have the potential to spread diseases. It takes just one person that’s not big on hygiene to put a gym in a precarious position.

From a more BJJ-specific perspective, rashguards provide more traction allowing for better grips. The more we roll, the more sweat accumulates, making gripping extremely difficult. People start to slip out with ease after the first few minutes. A rashguard allows you to connect way better and even hold on, making escapes harder for your opponent.

Lastly, BJJ rashguards provide good compression of the muscles. There have been several studies that show that rashguards help speed up injuries thanks to compression. Think about rashguards as compression braces for the whole body. They can not only help heal an injury but prevent one from happening in the first place.

Which BJJ rashguards are your go-to when it’s time to pick yourself a new one?

Best BJJ Rash Guards In 2023 – Reviews And Guide

Why Wearing A BJJ Rashguard Under The Gi in BJJ Is Important

Why Does John Danaher Always Wear a Rashguard? Mystery Solved!

Helio Vs. Carlos Gracie – Gracie Jiu-Jitsu History And Politics

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BJJ World
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Helio Vs. Carlos Gracie - Tradition vs Sport - BJJ History And Politics

The Gracie Jiu-Jitsu history is as complicated as the founding family itself, if not more. Brothers Helio and Carlos Gracie did a lot to create and promote the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. However, the also had personal differences which slowly formed two distinctive currents in Jiu-Jitsu.

Believe it or not, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu started off as a family affair. Originally it was a couple of brothers from Brazil that got things going. As everyone who has siblings knows, competitiveness is never far away. Helio and Carlos Gracie were no different. Granted, they were only two and got along great in the beginning. But when you add in offspring that starts to act in the name of their lineage, things get messy. So, as all family affairs, Jiu-Jitsu got messy. To understand what really happened we need to turn to the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu history for some facts and some hear-say.

As a matter of fact, both brothers contributed massively to what we know today as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. So, before we dig into this complicated Gracie Jiu-Jitsu history, let’s give them the recognition they deserve. Whether you find yourself supporting one school of thought or the other, be sure to show respect for both of them. Because, without one or the other, there would be no Jiu-Jitsu as we know it.

A Family Affair: Gracie Jiu-Jitsu History

When BJJ came to be, the two main culprits behind it were Carlos Gracie Sr. and his brother, Helio. Before it got really complicated it was actually quite simple. Carlos Gracie was the one that founded BJJ. He successfully modified the Judo techniques he learned from Maeda and came up with a style of his own. His brother, Helio learned Jiu-Jitsu from Carlos himself. Back then they worked together towards the development of the art. So far, Gracie BJJ history is simple.

Gracie Bjj History and PoliticsAfter a while, Carlos took up a different role to that of a teacher. His mindset was different from Helio’s which was reflected in his work. Carlos went on to become a business-oriented visionary. He ran everything, from telling Helio what to teach to promoting the art and organizing fights. Carlos at that time was more focused on spreading Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, creating the Gracie diet etc, than teaching. Helio was the embodiment of everything Carlos did, he followed the diet, taught classes and fought. As such, Carlos was prone to change in order to spread the art as far as possible. Helio, on the other hand, was fiercely loyal to the original teachings that they had developed and continued to teach as he originally did under the tutelage of his brother. This is where the first differences appear to have begun, albeit everything was kept friendly competitive.

The 12 Commandments Of Carlos Gracie

Carlos Gracie was arguably the most important person in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu History. The firstborn son of Gestao Gracie, Carlos was a small but lively kid. His relentless energy resulted in Gestao introducing young Carlos Gracie to Mitsuo Maeda. the rest, as they say, is history.

Maeda quickly grew fond of the young Carlos Gracie and dedicated a lot of time to his student. Carlos spent three years under the tutelage of Maeda, before moving to another town. Later in life, Carlos Gracie met up with an old friend from the Maeda school and slowly started working towards the creation of Jiu-Jitsu. Before handing teaching duties off to his younger brother Helio Gracie, Carlos came up with the 12 commandments of Jiu-Jitsu that still hold true to this day:

1. To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
2. Speak to every one of happiness, health, and prosperity.
3. Give all your friends the feeling that they are valuable.
4. Always look at events from a positive point of view, and turn positivity into a reality in life.
5. Think always in the best, work solely for the best and expect always the best.
6. Always be as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
7. Forget about past mistakes and concentrate your energies on the victories ahead.
8. Always keep your fellow men joyful and have a pleasant attitude to all that address you.
9. Spend all the time you need in perfecting yourself but leave no time to criticise the others.
10. Become too big to feel unrest, too noble to feel anger, too strong to feel fear and too happy to tumble in adversity.
11. Always have a positive opinion about yourself and tell it to the world, not through words of vanity but through benevolence.
12. Have the strong belief that the world is beside you if you keep true to what is best within you.

Helio Gracie Vs. Carlos Gracie

To sum Gracie Jiu-Jitsu history, Carlos Gracie represents the sports side of Jiu-Jitsu, while Helio represents the self-defense side. The latter is the traditional side of the art. Now, in the beginning, it all worked quite well, despite these differences.

It must be noted that the Gracies are a huge family. Both Carlos and Helio had many children, which is where things actually got complicated. It was the offspring of the original brothers that took the views of their respective predecessors to extreme lengths. While Carlos was still alive, the family worked in unison, as he managed to keep everyone together. After his death, the family’s split opinions can into the spotlight. From there, Jiu-Jitsu went in two separate ways – one geared towards sport (today’s BJJ) and the second towards self-defense (GJJ).

Helio’s side of the family, represented by his sons, stayed true to the traditional self-defense spirit of the art. Rorion, Relson, Rickson, Royce, Rolker, and Royce Gracie were all representatives of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (GJJ). To this day, they remain fierce believers in this philosophy and teach their Jiu-Jitsu accordingly. They didn’t compete in sports Jiu-Jitsu and placed heavy emphasis on practical techniques. Even those that did, like Rickson’s son Kron, are famous for disregarding the point system and going for the finish when they did compete. Kron has an astonishing record of almost a hundred wins by submission, most of which while he was behind on points.

Read everything about the history of BJJ and the Expansion from Brazil to the world.

True Fathers’ Sons

As mentioned, both brother’s offspring took their fathers’ views out of proportion in the name of loyalty. In one such example, most of Carlos Gracie’s sons, Carlson, Robson, Reylson, Carley etc. claimed to have been trained by their father, rather than by their uncle, Helio. In contrast, one of Carlos’ eldest sons, Reyson claimed that Helio taught everyone.

Helio Gracie was known as a hard man to deal with. He was stubborn and strict and was not beyond demonstrating clear favoritism. He always claimed that his sons were invincible, which obviously didn’t go down well with his nephews. This is just one more complicated reason why the family is divided by such a huge rift today.

A curious and fascinating story coming out of the family is the one of Rolls Gracie. Rolls is biologically the son of Carlos Gracie. However, he was an illegitimate son that Carlos gave to Helio for adoption. Helio didn’t have any children at the time, so Rolls is technically his eldest son. However, not soon after, Helio go his first biological son, Rorion. Not shy about displaying favoritism Helio gave more attention to his biological son than his adopted nephew. This led to Rolls fighting for his attention, which molded him into the formidable fighter he later became.

Carlos and Helio didn’t help the matter by often betting on which of their heirs is better and matching them up. This was a very serious matter for each of the brothers’ descendants, deepening the modern rift. For example, Helio organized a match between Jean Jacques Machado (Carlos’ nephew) and his son Royler, which Machado won.

Gracie Barra And The IBJJF

Perhaps the most famous modern-day descendent of Carlos Gracie is his son Carlos Gracie Jr. He is the biggest promoter of the sport and the business side of Jiu-Jitsu. He founded Gracie Barra, the biggest organization in BJJ today. It is a network of academies all over the world, often more than one in a city. They all work in accordance with the same curriculum and the principles that Carlos Gracie Sr. established. They operate as a corporation and are the people behind another huge organization in BJJ – the IBJJF.

The IBJJF is the largest competitive organization in Jiu-Jitsu. It is a federation that reigns supreme on the tournament scene. it is also the premier governing body of BJJ, determining a lot of essential aspects of the sport. One such example is the belt system, and in particular, the kids’ belt rankings. Originally, kids had to go through white, yellow, orange and green before adopting the adult rankings. Today there are not only more belts, but also combinations of colors that make little sense. It is the modern business side of BJJ.

Gracie Bjj History Another example is the rules of competition. A much-debated subject, IBJJF’s rules are a clear representation of the sports side of BJJ. As in Judo, an IBJJF match has to have a winner. In Judo, the best way to win is by Ippon or a complete point. In BJJ, the Ippon’s counterpart is the submission. If there’s no clear ippon, Judo has a system of half and quarter points. In BJJ there is also a point system, as well as the notorious advantages. Ultimately, even a referee might decide who wins, with all things square. Furthermore, there are lots of “illegal” techniques such as slams or neck cranks. It is a long way from the traditional Jiu-Jitsu.

Modern Day Evolution

If anyone is really into going deep in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu history, there is a great source to read from. Roger Gracie’s mother, Reila Gracie has a book on the family’s history. It took her an upward of ten years to put “Carlos Gracie: Creator of a Fighting Dynasty” together. There, you will find everything that might interest you regarding the history of Jiu-Jitsu’s most complicated family.

Once again, I’m going to highlight the fact that both streams of thought were essential to the creation of modern-day BJJ. You might be more inclined towards one of them because of lineage or personal opinion. However, both Carlos and Helio deserve recognition and respect. Furthermore, all their hard work should result in a unified community instead of a divided one.

Rickson’s federation, JJGF represents an attempt to merge Helio’s traditional approach with modern sports elements. This is a great example of how Gracie Jiu-Jitsu history can be respected while it is modified to fit the modern age.

Helio Gracie: Making Love is an Unnecessary Expenditure of Energy

https://bjj-world.com/carlson-gracie-interview-helio-gracie-just-telling-lies/

Rickson Gracie: 9 out of 10 Black Belts Are Practicing Anti Jiu Jitsu

 

Dana White Calls Yamasaki’s Performance DISGUSTING In Shevchenko-Cachoeira Fight

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BJJ World
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Dana White Calls Mario Yamasaki's Performance DISGUSTING In Shevchenko-Cachoeira Fight

After the fight between Valentina Shevchenko vs Priscila Cachoeira, Dana white didn’t choose the words for referee Mario Yamasaki on UFC Fight Night 125 live on FOX Sports.

It’s not a secret that Dana doesn’t like Mario for a long time. Almost every time Mario Yamasaki is in UFC’s octagon Dana white has some negative words to say about Mario.

This time Dana White called Mario Yamasaki’s performance disgusting according to what happened in that fight. Check out what Dana White said and you have a video below of what happened in that fight and what made Dana white to react like this.

“Priscilla Cachoeira, you showed so much heart and toughness in that fight. I’m honored to have you fight in the UFC. Unfortunately, the ref is there to protect you and Mario DID NOT do that. This isn’t his first disgusting performance in the octagon. Another unfortunate thing is that I can’t do anything about I️t only the Brazilian commission can and i am hoping after this scary, incompetent showing he hopefully will never set foot in that Octagon again. Strikes landed was 230-3.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bew4_FBHJJ2/?utm_source=ig_embed

Here is the reason why Dana White said that Mario Yamasaki’s performance is Disguisting. As you can see Mario Yamasaki didn’t stop the fight after the first tapping of Priscila Cachoeira.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bew4xQJjdip/?tagged=shevchenko

But Dana White isn’t the only one who think Mario Yamasaki did very late stoppage in this fight. There are numerous MMA fighters claiming the same.

Jared Gordon, UFC Lightweight was very surprised with Yamasaki’s late stoppage: “Jesus Mario, could you wait any longer?”

Gilbert Burns, multiple world champion didn’t hide his disappointment with Mario Yamasaki calling him the worst MMA referee ever:

Patrick Cote, was obviously very angry on Yamasaki’s oversight at the of the match between Valentina Shevchenko and Priscila Cachoeira:

Rafael dos Anjos, Former UFC Lightweight Champion, gave his opinion on throwing a towel in octagon like in other sports. But, there’s a rule in UFC that even if the towel is thrown in octagon it doesn’t mean that referee should stop the fight. And in this case, it’s pretty questionable would Yamasaki see a towel if he wasn’t able to see that Priscila Cachoeira was hurt badly before she tapped TWICE.

BJJ In A Street Fight & The Most Effective Moves

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BJJ World
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BJJ In A Street Fight & The Most Effective Moves

Nowadays, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a grappling martial art, is a highly organized sport, spread worldwide. It features competitors of all ages, gender, and experience levels. It is organized in weight divisions, belt ranks, and year of birth. Everything is under the control of a strict rule-set that has not changed much over the years. In short, it is a sport that’ll probably get an Olympic sports contender status soon. However, this was not always the sole intended use of BJJ. Back in the early days of art, Jiu-Jitsu was a formidable self-defense art. So, knowing this, there’s one burning question that arises. How effective is modern, sport-oriented BJJ in a street fight?

Helio Gracie, the founder of The Gentle Art was not a huge man. He was sickly as a boy and grew up to be a slim but wiry fighter. As such, when he and his brother Carlos went about modifying Mitsuyo Maeda’s Judo teachings, they had but one goal in mind. That goal was effective self-defense for the smaller person. In those early days, it was common for them to use BJJ in a street fight or two around Brazil. And they did, having great success along the way, which only helped popularize Jiu-Jitsu.

BJJ In A Street Fight

During the conception of BJJ, its birthplace was a violent and volatile place. Street fights were a common sight all over the country, especially in the poorer parts. No wonder that the Gracies looked to devise a system for protection and dominance. The original BJJ concept was a practical one. Leverage and technique are the equalizers of strength for the smaller person in a fight. There were no unnecessary philosophies or restrictions to the art. The Gracies practiced only what was effective, and were willing to prove it by fighting anyone.

Today, this aspect of Jiu-Jitsu is all but not effective. People tend to focus on intricate lapel guards and flashy inversion that’ll probably lose you a street fight if you attempted them. Even in class, self-defense is either down to a bare minimum or skipped altogether. Gracie Barra, Carlos Gracie Jr’s organization still has a lot of self-defense concepts in their curriculum. However, it is a far cry from the original system that was based on a no-nonsense approach.

Below we’re going to go through the moves that still make BJJ in a street fight effective today. We’re going to present them as two different scenarios, an offensive, and a defensive one. So without further ado:

Attacking With BJJ In A Street Fight

Let’s say you find yourself in a violent situation on the streets, where you have to defend yourself. Most violent alterations begin on the feet, with people usually going for a grab or headlock instead of striking directly. No matter if it’s grabbing or striking, BJJ’s strengths are on the ground. With this in mind, the fight needs to get to the ground before controlling the opponent and ultimately, finishing them. Here’s one way to do it:

Taking The Fight To The Ground: The Double Leg

The double leg takedown is a tried and tested move that works in different environments. From wrestling mats, through BJJ academies to MMA cages, and in turn, the street. Undoubtedly effective, the double leg is as safe a move as possible to take a street fight to the ground. Whether it is strikes or grabs that you’re countering, the level change is going to take most people by surprise.

It does take perfect technical execution, though, in order to utilize it fast enough that it is safe. From that aspect, you need to be able to perform a penetration step in your sleep. it is the base of the move’s effectiveness and quick execution. Penetration steps are easy to drill and can become second nature really fast. From there, the execution is as easy as correct angling and strong driving with the legs.

Ground Control To Mount or Back Control

Once down, you’ll most likely end in top Side Control. However, in a street fight you do not want to dwell here, so mounting or taking the back are the best options. Striking-wise, there’s no better position than the mount. It effectively immobilizes the opponent while opening up both striking options and submissions. The most important aspect is being able to maintain the position until the conclusion of the fight. The best mount variation for this is the high mount. It makes you very heavy while allowing you to create a huge distance for strikes by posturing up.

If you want an even more controllable position, back control reigns supreme over any other. While on the back, you are safe from almost any threat. At the same time, you have the upper hand of being in total control. Again, retention of the position is important and you should have a firm grasp of the positional nuances to be effective. Striking is not a great option given the close proximity that back control requires to be effective. However, even better-attacking options are available. Read on.

Rear Naked Choke

As the name suggests, this is a strangle done from the rear. It is a must-know move for law enforcement officers around the world. There’s a good reason for this – it works. The Rear Naked Choke is actually the highest percentage finish in MMA, as well as among the top moves in sports BJJ. IT is a blood choke, that puts pressure on the blood vessels on both sides of your neck, cutting out the oxygen supply to the brain. This results in the opponent going to sleep in a matter of seconds. This is great for self-defense purposes because you leave the opponent neutralized while unharmed. Good for avoiding legal trouble, isn’t it?

Defending With BJJ In A Street Fight

Now, let’s say that the fight started off wrong and you end up on the bottom. Not just the bottom, but with you in the bottom of the mount. The mount is a reflexive position for untrained people, given its efficacy. But, as a BJJ practitioner, you know how to escape and turn the tables.

Getting Out Of Mount

Whether it is BJJ, MMA, or the street you DO NOT want to be mounted. Even if the opponent doesn’t know what they’re doing, it is a dangerous position. Similarly, it is very dangerous in sports BJJ too, which is why lots of emphases is put on escaping it. So, an untrained opponent mounting you shouldn’t worry you if you’ve mastered the Upa escape. Once out, you can work towards a dominant position for yourself.

Gooing Back On Your Feet With The Technical Stand Up

Given that street fights are messy affairs, getting out of mount is most likely going to result in someone, or both of you, getting you up on the feet. If you’re still the one on the bottom, in a disengaged scenario this time, turn to the Technical Stand Up for help. A fundamental BJJ movement taught at the white belt is a multiple-use tool. First, you can safely keep your distance with the extension of the free foot. Secondly, the two opposite points of your body (arm and leg) that are in contact with the ground provide a quick route to the feet.

Street Fighting Clinch Game

The clinch involves upper body manipulation, mostly via head and arm control. The idea behind the clinch is primarily distance management. When you’re entangled in a clinch, you’re not in striking range as you are too close to your opponent. Add to that the high degree of control, and you’re in a great position during a fight. Although there are certain dangers, like knee strikes, if you know what you’re doing the fight will end quickly. For instance, you could easily decide to take the fight to the ground and take the offensive route. But, seeing as in our scenario, you just got up, it’s better to end things quickly.

A Guillotine For The Finish 

The guillotine’s top advantage is that it can be finished from everywhere. On top, on the bottom, or even standing, the guillotine choke is never far away. If you ever end up using BJJ in a street fight, this move is probably your safest bet. speaking of which, now that you’re on the feet and in a clinch, it’s guillotine time. The clinch position allows for a few different guillotine setups. In all, however, it is crucial to use the clinch to break the opponent’s posture down. From there, you wrap an arm around his neck and connect your palms. Whether it is an arm-in guillotine or a regular one is entirely up to you. Both are effective and you don’t even have to go to the ground to finish.

Unlike the Rear Naked Choke, though, the guillotine is mostly an air choke. That means that it’ll take longer to put your opponent to sleep. Just be patient and hold the choke. After all, you’re the one in control.

In Conclusion

All in all, you can combine all of the attacking and defensive moves however you see fit. The point you need to take away is that BJJ can still help you out in a street altercation. You just need to know what works in such a scenario. Make sure you drill all of the above moves, just in case.

In general, the best course of action is to try and avoid street fights. If you’re in one though, and there’s no other option, at least you know that BJJ has your back.

Do you still think that BJJ in a street fight is ineffective?

Should Lower Belt Student be Able to Submit a Higher Belt in BJJ?

By
BJJ World
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Should Lower Belt Student be Able to Submit a Higher Belt in BJJ?

As we all know, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has a belt system in place to designate the rank of students. It ranges from white to black for adults, while juveniles and kids have a few more belts to go through. All in all, it takes about ten years to truly earn a black belt in BJJ. You could even attempt to go further and get a Coral belt and Red belt. Despite this clear ranking system, it is not that uncommon to see a lower ranked belt submit a higher belt in BJJ. Granted, doesn’t happen every day, but every now and again, even a black belt is going to tap to a lower ranked student. Is this such a big deal?

Well, to start with, it is never a big deal to tap into a properly executed submission, regardless of belt level. It doesn’t matter if you made a mistake, just got caught or you gave it away. Furthermore, the belt system is not a very precise way of defining a student’s abilities. The length of time it takes to get through all the belts certainly has lots to do with it. A student can be a purple belt with 4 and with 6 or 7 years of training. This is the time most people get a real grasp on BJJ so a more seasoned one is definitely going to catch brown belts from time to time. And, in some occasions, even black belts.

Submitting A Higher Belt In BJJ

Martial Arts Background

The belt around a student’s waist is not always a correct gauge of their abilities. The example with the purple belt above is just one specific to BJJ. There are, however, other examples of people wearing a white belt who have had success rolling against a higher belt in BJJ.

Not all people that enroll in BJJ are complete grappling martial arts novices. Some come with strong wrestling, judo, sambo or combined backgrounds. For example, it is not unheard of a wrestler dominating at a BJJ tournament without any previous experience in the art. Now, when you top level wrestlers or Judokas on the mats, you can expect taps even as high as brown and black belts. Years of experience in grappling martial arts are years of experience and despite an imaginary judoka getting tapped a dozen times in a roll, they still might get the advanced BJJ student a couple of times. It is as legit as it gets.

Even people that come from non-grappling martial arts might “get lucky” and get a tap. Karate or Muay Thai folks are pretty sturdy, wiry and often flexible fighters. Despite lack of knowledge on the ground, they do end up being successful, albeit more rarely than grapplers.

Factors That Lead To Black Belt Taps

For starters, black belts often work on a very specific part of their game. So, if they’re in a phase of defending guillotine, they’ll give away the position in order to experiment from there. It is only normal that some of those attempts will fail miserably and they’ll tap. Even if they’re caught legitimately, a lot of it has to do with being in the position in the first place. Try setting up a guillotine on a resisting black belt and you’ll be in for a rude awakening.

Another big aspect is technical style. You often hear of NO-Gi oriented people with a blue belt tapping out seasoned black belts. One reason behind this is the technical gap between the two. Don’t get me wrong, it works the other way around too. A No-Gi black belt is going to get taken for a ride by a lapel manipulating specialist. In truth, Gi competitors were in for a surprise via heel hooks, not so long ago, when Danaher’s system hit the scene.

On a different note, one not specific to black belts only, there are a few more factors to take into account. BJJ is a brutal art and most of the people that have a brown belt or above have already been through the proverbial grinder. Bad knees, herniated disks, and shoulder popping out are huge limiting factors. So much so, that they lead to taps regardless of who’s applying the pressure.

Age is another big one. The 23-year-old white belt stud is going to get a few over the 35-year-old purple belt. Having a 250 lbs deadlift also helps, which brings us to the next factor – athleticism. Oh, and having a 100 lbs more will do the trick as well.

Higher Belt In BJJ Taps To White

Higher Belt In BJJ Still Tap

In conclusion, even a higher belt in BJJ taps and they have always done so. It is not unheard of, it is just a part of the art. No, tapping out to a white belt is nothing to be ashamed of. It is a learning tool just like everything else in BJJ. So, all you advanced students losing sleep over getting tapped by the new guy, suck it up. It’ll happen again, so you better not sulk over it. And all you new guys that think you’re now ready for the UFC, ask yourself this – how many times did you get caught in the round when you tapped out a higher belt?

https://bjj-world.com/female-bjj-white-belt-defeats-male-bjj-black-belt/

Black Belt Coach Gets Tapped By Blue Belt

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7 Awesome Tips To Make You A Formidable White Belt

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BJJ World
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7 Awesome Tips To Make You A Formidable White Belt
Being a white belt in Jiu-Jitsu is a difficult period. No matter how much you thought you knew about BJJ, you’re inevitably going to be shocked. After surviving “initiation”, or being destroyed by everyone, you start to comprehend the complexity of it all. It is as difficult psychologically as it is physically to keep pushing through. It is, undoubtedly, the only way forward and it is more than worth it to endure. Believe me, I know, I went through all of it too.

A white belt has a long road in front of them. Have no illusions, it is going to take around a decade before you get to strap the black around your waist. Now, knowing that it is going to require blood, sweat, time, and sacrifices, are you still willing to persevere? If you decide that you are, here are 7 crucial tips that will make your life easier at white belt:

1. Accept The White Belt Struggles

Get to terms with the fact that you’re at the bottom of the food chain. BJJ takes time, there’s no way around it. So do not get discouraged at your apparent lack of success. Although you might consider tapping so often a failure, you’re in fact, improving with every second spent on the mats.

It is completely normal to “lose” to higher belts. Actually, accept that you’re going to get beat by more experienced white belts as well. After all, they do have more experience (however slightly) and more knowledge than you. What is inevitable is that you will catch up, or even surpass them. You only need to keep working and do not get discouraged. Like everything else in life, you have to start slowly and gain momentum as you go. Trust me, nobody is perfect from the start.

White Belt Struggles

2. Take It Easy On Yourself

As much as you might be a perfectionist, you will never, ever be flawless at Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This is another extremely important notion that you have to understand from the get-go. After all, perfection is a moving target that can never be completely reached.

In BJJ everyone makes mistakes. Even black belts are capable of making a wrong move or two. As a white belt, you will be prone to mistakes more than any other belt. You can’t expect anything else from art where opponents actually try to force you to make errors. Instead of getting furious with yourself over doing something stupid, accept it as part of BJJ and move on. Dwelling upon it is not going to make you better. Learning from it is. Trust me, you will never repeat the mistakes you make in competition unless you sulk over them.

3. Constant Curiosity

The defining trait of a white belt should be a constant question asking. White belt is the time to be curious about everything and anything. There are no stupid questions when you are a beginner and you should not shy away from asking them.

First and foremost, instructors are not divine creatures that you can’t approach. Quite the opposite, they should be the person you talk to most during class. Never be unsure about asking your instructor anything about BJJ. They are there for that very reason, to try and make things clear for you. The best way to gather knowledge is to inquire about things that you do not completely comprehend.

Apart from your instructors, higher-ranked belts are also there to clear up uncertainties. Ask your training partners every time you’re unsure about a move or technique.

4. Everyone Is A Good Partner

Whether it is rolling, drilling, or just learning new moves, as a white belt, you cannot be picky about who you train with. It is simple, everyone is a good fit regardless of belt level.

The more people you work with, the more experience you will gain. The aim should be to work with as many different kinds of people as possible. Both heavier and lighter partners, members of the opposite sex, beginners and advanced students, no one is out of bounds. This kind of diversity will teach you how to act in as many different situations as possible and help you grow much faster.

Not every move works the same for everyone. Higher belts are more experienced and will see you coming from a mile away. If you’re not a lanky person, your triangle won’t work on that broad-shouldered giant with the blue belt. And, despite being heavier, you won’t even know where that brown belt girl is when she kicks your ass. So, gather as much experience as you can, because it will be the foundation to build your own game later on.

5. Do Not Underestimate The Warm Up

The warm-up is by far the most despised part of BJJ class. People do all sorts of things just to get around those boring 20 minutes or so. Well, guess what? It is the wrong thing to do and that holds true in particular for white belts.

It is needless to say that during up to class late just to skip warming up is unacceptable. It is disrespectful towards your instructor, the academy, and your training partners. Slacking your way through the warm-up is even worse! Does it really take that much to really engage? After all, you’re already there.

Apart from getting you ready for the upcoming training session and preventing injuries, they have an even more important role. In BJJ, warm-ups often consist of movements specific to the art. As a white belt, your focus should be mostly on mastering the basic movement patterns of BJJ. So, you need to take warming up seriously in order to have any hope of advancing in the art. You’re doing the work for you, not your instructors so buckle up and show some enthusiasm!

6. There’s Nothing Scary About The Higher Belts

Despite all the memes suggesting that white belts are only food and the higher belts are hungry, circling sharks, this is not the case. Well, no completely. The fact that you’re at the bottom of the food chain shouldn’t be a reason to avoid more advanced students.

Rolling with your peers or people near your level is a recipe for disaster when you are a white belt. Despite being extremely humbling and uncomfortable, you need the experience from those rolls. It is the best way to learn what not to do, which is kind of the point of a white belt. Later on, you’ll be the one inflicting the discomfort, but that comes only after being on the receiving end.

Moreover, when it is time for drills, it is wiser to look for a more experienced partner. That way you’ll get a partner who knows what they’re doing, as well as someone to consult during the drills. Again, do not hesitate to ask higher-ranked partners anything. They all went through what you’re going through and are generally more than willing to help out.

White Belt Tips To Grow

7. Keep Showing Up

To end with, nothing is going to help you learn BJJ as fast as consistency. There’s no better advice than to just keep showing up for class. Get as many hours under your belt as you can, and it’ll start changing colors in no time.

That said, there’s no need for A white belt to pull off double sessions in a day. Make sure you train at least 4 times a week, and that your time in classes is spent wisely. Ask lots of questions, be mindful when drilling, and be on time to warm up. Al those confusing names of the moves and elusive details will become much clearer if you are consistent with your training. Don’t believe me? Give it a go and see for yourself!

10 Obvious Reasons Why You’re still a White Belt

BJJ Fundamentals Every White Belt Have to Know

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Common Blue Belt Mistakes Caused By Bad White Belt Habits

By
BJJ World
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Common Blue Belt Mistakes Caused By Bad White Belt Habits

As time goes by, rank in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gets less and less important. Do not get me wrong, a brown belt still looks to get to black belt and beyond. But at that level, belting up is not the primary focus. Getting from white to blue belt, on the other hand, is a whole different situation. The blue belt is arguably even more desirable to the average practitioner than the black belt is. The reason is simple – nobody wants to be a white belt. At anything!

When people get that life-changing promotion and wrap up the blue around their waist, they feel invincible. What people usually misunderstand is that they’re not quite the expert that they think they are. It takes an average of 18 months to get to blue belt, whereas a black belt takes in excess of 10 years. So, no, you’re not an expert just yet. Even more so, you’re still dragging along bad habits from your white belt days. In order to settle at blue, these mistakes have to be eradicated.

Inflated Ego from white to Blue Belt

In accordance with the misguided notion of high-level expertise is their often witnessed stubbornness during rolling. Reality check – even black belts tap in training. So, acting as you are invincible is definitely above your level. One thing is certain to happen if you act a though no one can submit you. You’re going to see the tunnel with light moving away from you and wake up to class-wide laughter. Or, even worse, you’re going to get a serious limb injury. In short, stop resisting well-placed submissions and accept the outcome. You’ll only learn from the experience.

There are also justified situations where you’ll get caught before having the chance to tap. A quick sub from a higher belt or a perfectly guessed one from a white belt, someone is going to get you. These situations are different and they are going to happen. It is the ones that you cause that are not suitable for the level of blue belt.

Remember that tapping out is also a defensive option. When a counter doesn’t work, and an escape is blocked, tapping out is surely going to work. It is better than having your arm in a sling for 6 weeks no matter how you look at it.

Blue Belt Mistakes

Relying On Strength

Although no one expects blue belts to be efficient in movement as brown belts are, there are still certain standards. Namely, jerking your way in or out of a position or pulling on submission like it’s a tug-of-war world final is a white belt trait. Even white belts are reminded to correct such behavior as they gain experience.

Relying on muscular power to achieve a goal in BJJ is a sign of inexperience. And having a blue belt does count as experience, right? So, start acting your rank and focus on improvement rather than the bad old habit. It won’t work against higher belts more than it did when you were a white belt.

Blue belt is the perfect time to let go of the habit of strength being your go-to concept. Instead, it is the period of your journey when you should focus on getting to know the principles of control and leverage. After all, it’s going to be a while before your next promotion, so you might as well make the most out of it.

https://bjj-world.com/blue-belt-requirements/

The Blue Belt Spaz

Similarly to using strength, “spazzing” is another characteristic of white belts. As such, it should stay at white belt. Uncontrollable movement during rolling is a hard thing to deal with for every belt level. If you are the blue belt that is unpredictable and going berserk every time you roll, very soon you won’t have anyone willing to roll with you. Stop being stiff and tense. After all, you’re not a white belt anymore, right? So learn to relax and reduce the accidental elbows, knees and awkward falls to a minimum.

In truth, spazzing is an expected phase during the white belt. It is one that most of the students go through and it is perfectly normal. Spazzing is a sign of a lack of more precise technical knowledge, which is understandable at white belt. Maturity should come with experience, and spazzing should fade away as you learn more about the art.

Panic Tapping

Here’s one to confuse the s#*% out of you. We already covered that you should tap early and often now that you’re more advanced. Well, you have to find a balance to it too. A blue belt has to know when to tap and when to keep going. It is not uncommon to see a white belt surrender because of pressure. This, however, is unacceptable at blue belt.

Since you’re not new to BJJ you know that “the gentle art” is all about discomfort. Actually, at blue, you need to have a level of comfort in uncomfortable positions. By the same token, you can’t allow yourself to tap to pressure or discomfort. Yes, there are heavier opponents. Yes, you’ll get tired while rolling. And yes, higher belts tend to have brutal cross-face pressure. You know what? None of these are justifiable reasons to tap. Suck it up and learn to be comfortable in discomfort. It’s only going to get tougher along the way.

Proximity Alert

As previously mentioned it takes about a year and a half to get the beginner label off of you. By then, there’s no way that you do not understand the basic concept of BJJ. You are going to tangle up with people in all sorts of positions. There will be sweat, close contact, and awkward positions. It is the nature of the sport.

In truth, nobody that’s been training for longer than a month should be surprised at this. North-south is a very good attacking position that shouldn’t make you uncomfortable. People are going to touch your body, there’s no way around that. You’re going to roll with members of the opposite sex. There’s nothing sexual about it, as you might know after being tapped 27 times in 5 minutes by that 115-pound girl with a purple belt.

Blue belts need to be comfortable with all of this. Actually, this shouldn’t even be brought up as a subject from blue belts and higher ranked students. Otherwise, you might be in the wrong sport.

Blue Belt Proximity Alert Error

Attitude Check

Finally, a word or two on BJJ etiquette. Everyone that steps on the mats should respect the academy’s code of conduct. Even if one is not written, each school has them. Blue belts are actually examples for the beginners, as they can relate more closely to them as opposed to brown belts. As such, it is the duty of the blue belt to be mindful and act accordingly.

In essence, do not be late unless in exceptional situations. Be respectful during class and do what you’re told. Keep a clean Gi, wear a rashguard underneath and keep track of basic personal hygiene. There is no scenario in which shoes on the mat are justified. You should know this by know.

The mental attitude of a blue belt is different from a white belt. Justify the belt that you’re wearing and act appropriately. After all, you also were a white belt not that long ago and looked up to blue belts. The belt doesn’t just raise your rank. It also raises your responsibilities within the academy.

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https://bjj-world.com/blue-belt-requirements/

BJJ Mental Attitude For Each Belt Level

By
BJJ World
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BJJ Mental Attitude

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is an art that demands a lot from one’s body. As with all competitive sports, Jiu-Jitsu requires practitioners to be in good physical shape. Likewise, good body awareness and coordination are essential in order to grasp the complex techniques of the sport. Unlike most sports though, the requirements of BJJ go further than the physical. As Joe Rogan once put it, “BJJ is complex problem solving under extreme stress”. The BJJ mental attitude is just as important as the physical component. Actually, at the highest level, it might even be more important.

Jiu-Jitsu presents people with more than just a physical challenge. The nature of the art is such that it requires practitioners to be mentally engaged at all times. Mental mistakes often cost more than physical ones. Furthermore, the BJJ mental attitude of the practitioners evolves along with their technical knowledge. A black belt has a completely different mindset than a blue belt, for example. Such is the complexity of Jiu-Jitsu that both the mind and the body get a workout. No wonder it is referred to as “The game of human chess”.

BJJ Mental Attitude Guide

In BJJ the ranking system outlines more than technical knowledge. It doesn’t matter what number of moves you know, or how efficient you are in rolling and competition. You won’t progress through the BJJ belt system. The correct attitude of students is fundamental to an instructor’s decision to promote. It is not just general attitude on and off the mat that matters. The mental attitude of a student is also subject to grading. Not only that, but it is expected to evolve and mature along with the technical knowledge.

Along the belts, students get exposed to situations of different physical and mental difficulty. At white belt, it is crucial to guide the new student towards the right direction. The mind of a white belt is a “Blank Slate” in BJJ terms, and needs to be carefully guided towards correct conclusions. Later on, more complex responsibilities come along with maturity in the art. As the experience grows, so does the mindset. And much like the enormous changes in technical abilities, the BJJ mental attitude changes entirely during the Jiu-Jitsu journey of students.

BJJ Mental Attitude

White Belt – Wrong Even In Intuition

The mental attitude of a white belt is like that of a first grader. It is all about gathering as much info on the workings of the art as possible. This is the time to learn the BJJ alphabet. It’s not yet the time to form sentences, but to learn how the letters look and how they are organized. Of course, by letters, I mean techniques and moves.

During this phase, most of the cognitive focus is placed on the technical aspect of BJJ. Learning the basics of the art requires the careful guidance of instructors and the help of more experienced training partners. As with all things new, the beginning phase of BJJ is the toughest one both physically and mentally.

A white belt has to come to terms with the fact that they can’t learn everything by the time they get to blue belt. There’ll be a lot left to discover, later on, so try to focus on the very basics. You won’t understand much, but don’t let that worry you. Rolling is notoriously difficult during this time and this is reflected in the mental attitude. Just make sure you learn the letters and survive, and you’re on the right mental track.

Your BJJ mental attitude phase is now unconscious incompetence.

Blue Belt – Good Intuition, Wrong Analysis

As your experience grows and your knowledge of technique increases, so does your mind. Your mental game should develop and evolve along with your technical game.

At blue belt, you have more tools than at white. Now you know the alphabet and can try to formulate words. Keep in mind that sentences are still somewhat far away. A blue belt usually has one or more favorite moves that are the centerpiece of their game. However, as much as you think you’ve got these moves down, the truth is – you don’t. Huge gaps still exist in your technical game, and your inability to recognize them demonstrates that your mental attitude is on the same level.

Despite increased knowledge and understanding, blue belts still make fundamental mistakes. In a mental attitude context, they lack the information to successfully put things together. This leads to inconsistent performances and can result in developing erroneous habits. It is important for instructors to be aware of the lack of cohesion in a blue belt’s game, and lead them accordingly.

Inconsistent performances hugely affect self-confidence. The most important point to take away is that this is normal and expected. Recognizing the limits of your abilities is a step towards the right direction.

You are now fully consciously incompetent.

Purple Belt – Analytical Competence

A purple belt is now fully equipped to put together strong sentences. Their BJJ mental attitude is one of clarity. This is the first period when BJJ starts to make sense.

Technically speaking, your game goes beyond just moves now. Weight distribution, utilization of angles and a more conceptual approach come into the spotlight. Attacks are now more complex with a view towards anticipation of the opponent’s reactions. A huge aspect of a purple belts game is fighting from the bottom.

A purple belt’s most characteristic mark is fluidity. Movement is continuous as a result of a clear mindset. During this period, students know what they’re doing, but more importantly, when to do it. Timing is a huge accomplishment for any student, and a purple belt is when most succeed in achieving it. The main goal of a  purple belt is smooth movement and execution of techniques while being completely aware of what is happening.

On a personal level, purple belt is the most defining period in a student’s game. As your technical game takes shape, so does your mental one. Congratulation, you are now in the conscious competence phase.

BJJ Mental Attitude

Brown Belt – Intuitive Matureness

Efficiency best describes the brown belt. Now you can write complex essays with apparent ease. You may pick up a move just by seeing it. PIcking the move up is done both physically and mentally. It is not just your body that can learn fast at this point – your mind does too. This connection allows for the successful integration of a new move in a brown belts game.

You can now not only learn a new move quickly but see all the follow-up possibilities that might stem from it. This gives your abilities the take place before your complete comprehension of a situation. That is why brown belts seem to easily shrug off most counters and/or defenses of their opponents. Consistency is key at brown belt and tapping out is scarce. Just don’t let this get you off the tracks when it inevitably happens. After all, you’re not fully mature just yet.

As far as BJJ mental attitude goes, you have become unconsciously competent. Almost there!

Black Belt – The Sixth Sense

Talk about as close to perfection as possible. Complete awareness is best suited to describe a black belt’s abilities. Of course, we’re talking about both mental and physical abilities. Now you don’t just know, you can think in a way that allows you to modify and/or create new moves or techniques.

This ability is not limited to techniques though. it is not a coincidence that most game-changing philosophies of Jiu-Jitsu come from longtime black belts. Purple and brown belts can also invent or modify moves, but they can’t get the whole picture. A black belt has the ability to completely improve a whole part of the art, giving inspiration to others to do the same.

It is as easy as being happy. A black belt does BJJ for the love of it. Although someone can fall in love with Jiu-Jitsu from the start, the understanding only comes with the black belt. And understanding is a sign of maturity. You are now on top of the BJJ mental attitude hierarchy pyramid.

https://bjj-world.com/blue-belt-requirements/

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