Reprinted from http://www.bjjweekly.com/blog/post/how-to-win-every-time-you-roll

There are always going to be people in BJJ who can beat you. Even world champions have problem match-ups. Someone in your school probably taps you on a pretty regular basis and it seems like there isn’t much you can do about it except get frustrated. That’s when it is time to change the rules of the game.

The rules of the game dictate how the game is supposed to be played, and what constitutes winning and losing. The rules of today’s UFC are a good example. Today the rules are designed to promote more stand up and less intricate ground fighting. Dana White doesn’t have to be a marketing genius (although he undoubtedly is) to understand that the population of knowledgeable BJJ enthusiasts is dwarfed by the population of casual fans who get bored unless there are plenty of punches and kicks flying. Dana knew when to change the rules of the game.

Even the early Gracie Jiu-Jitsu fights and the very early UFC were subject to rules of the game. The Gracies were very well known for preferring their own rules, namely no time limits and no judges. Those rules favored a certain type of fighter and style of fighting. Today’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments have different rules.

And if you find yourself in the middle of a bar fight, don’t pull guard and expect that the drunks and their friends are going to play by the same rules as your training partners back at the dojo or you’re going to wake up in the emergency room with your head sewn together.

So what’s stopping you from making up your own rules? You don’t have to play by the same rules as everyone else. You are free to set your own criteria for how you are going to play, and more importantly, what constitutes winning and losing.

For instance, if there is someone in your school who you have never beat, and they always get you in a triangle, change the rules of the game. Instead of trying to submit them the next time that you roll, decide for yourself that a victory in this game is to avoid getting triangle choked. Force them to move outside of their comfort zone and take away their favorite move. Not only do you have a much higher chance of winning this new game, it may create an opening if you force them to a submission they are not as skilled with. You might be surprised how easy it is to avoid their traps when you have a clear focus and a single minded purpose.

Another example of changing the rules of the game is when you are sparring with a new white belt. If you’ve been rolling for a couple of years, choking out the new guy and ‘winning’ should be pretty easy. But what have you really gained? How about changing the rules of the game and deciding that the only way to win this match is if you can successfully execute a certain move you have been having difficulty with. Or maybe you decide winning is actually showing him how to maintain posture in your guard. Now you both get a much more beneficial roll.

When you allow others to dictate the rules of the game you are going to be at their mercy. You’ll win some and lose some. But when you make up your own rules, you can win every time your roll.

Review from Western Mass MMA

Fight 10: 150 Ray Wood 4-0 vs Shane Manely 3-1

Ray gets a front kick and they clinch up against the cage. They fall to the ground and get right back up. They swing but miss and clinch and fall right back down. Shane takes the back but is not able to sink anything in and Ray stands back up. Shane gets a takedown and is now working the back again from the side. He gets in a few punches to the body and Shane twists out and stands up. Shane is pushing Ray up against the cage and the break and Ray gets in a high kick to the head as the round ends.

Shane Manely 10-9

Rd 2: Shane starts us off with a takedown via trip and is working the back again. Ray gets up with ease and they are now clinching up against the cage. Shane is pushing Ray up against the cage and working the underhooks. Ray swings his way out. Ray gets a takedown of his own but Shane gets right back up. Shane is pushing Ray up against the cage and getting some knees to the body. Ray is getting some knees of his own. Kevin the ref breaks them and Shane gets another takedown via trip as the round ends.

Shane Manely 10-9

Rd 3: Shane gets a double leg takedown and is now working the half guard. Ray active again on the ground and they get right back up. Shane gets another takedown via trip. Shane is on top full mount and getting in some punches but nothing taking too much damage. Kevin the ref calls stalemate and stands them up. Shane gets another takedown and finishes off the round on top.

Shane Manely 10-9

Shane Manely defeats Ray Wood via unanimous decision 30-27. First decision of the night and Ray Wood is handed his first loss.

Reprinted from http://www.kevinseaman.net/313

Probably the most challenging issue for all athletes, whether you’re a potential Olympian or just trying to lose those few pounds and Buff Up a little and stay there, is maintaining your personal training schedule as a HABIT. You’ve been there before. You start doing something, an activity, and then you have a setback, something that throws you off your path. In reflection, you may say, “I used to do that without even thinking twice, why did I stop?” You have fallen victim to a Pattern Interruption.

First we make our habits,
Then our habits make us.
-JOHN DRYDEN

Just as a Habit can be positive or negative, so can a Pattern Interruption. A habit is actually just a pattern that has been developed through repetition. Have you ever heard the term “repetition is the mother of skill?” As a patterned habit is reinforced, it becomes ingrained deeper and deeper into our subconscious. It is the continued repetition of any action or thought that makes that specific action or thought increasingly natural. This is why habits are hard for some people to recognize and difficult for them to alter. There’s a saying, “good habits are hard to develop and easy to live with. Bad habits are easy to develop and hard to live with.” Yet, doing things in a habitual manner is essential toward our personal development. The more habitual our daily routines and activities become the less thought and energy we need to use to achieve them. There for the more energy, focus and brainpower we can devote to new projects, skills and achievements.
Sometimes we get into bad habits that initially don’t seem to be overly negative. Rather, they appear to be just a slight shift in what we had been doing, not noticeable, really. Perhaps it is a few errors in judgment, repeated every day, that can over time land us in hot water!
Utilizing the twin Winning Mind Set principles of Pattern Interruption and Visualization can help you wipe out those debilitating habits.

“Good habits are hard to develop and easy to live with. Bad habits are easy to develop and hard to live with.”

How Can You Use This?

Habit Awareness Exercise
Take a moment to think about various positive or desired habit patterns you use to make your life easier or better. List them on a sheet of paper.

Great! Now take a moment to think about various negative or undesirable habit patterns you no longer want in your life.This can sometimes be very challenging because it is hard for us to identify our negative habits. Many of these types of habits are so ingrained that we often don’t even realize we are doing them. Now, as you think of them, list them on a sheet of paper as well. This is your Master List! Now, take just one (just maybe the one you like the very least) and write it out on a post-it note. OK, place it in a very prominent place, say…your car’s dashboard or your bathroom mirror.This is a place that you look at a few times each day. Consistency is important, after all, that’s how you got this habit in the first place!

Now pick that habit that you like the very least and use a pattern interrupt to change the negative habit to one more desired. Your pattern interrupt for this exercise is to visualize the worst possible outcome you can muster from this continued negative habit, and see it clearly in your mind’s eye! If your exercise consistency is the issue or if you overeat or always have more than your share of dessert, you may see your personal image as HUGE! Visualize your pants splitting and your belly hanging over them. Got that image? Is it painful? If so, continue. If not, get even more extreme in your visualization. Get really gross. GET GRAPHIC! Now see yourself working out hard and eating fresh healthy foods, morphing into the hard body athlete you want to be as you do these activities. A little extreme you might say? A little too unrealistic? Your mind thinks in pictures, the more extreme, the more pronounced the image and the greater the impression. Remember to be extreme!

Be sure to continue the pattern interrupt until you become conscious of when you are about to perform the negative habit and no longer need the pattern interrupt to aid you. If you find yourself falling back into your negative habit, run the program again. Sometimes just running the program in your head visually over and over will be very effective. In this case you see yourself performing the unproductive habit and then run the interruption program in your head numerous times. We’ve had great results with this technique.Let me know how you do!

We are what we repeatedly do.
Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.
-ARISTOTLE

Each Blog Issue I will help you add another facet to your Mental Toolbox and guide you to develop your Mind Game. I look forward to hearing your results and feedback.
Kevin@thewinningmindset.com

© Copyright 2012 all rights reserved, Kevin Seaman

For more Winning Mind Set Strategic Wisdom To Live By…
Go to: www.thewinningmindset.com or check the product page on kevinseaman.net

This list is not complete. Please see Bottom Note about Blue Belts

Brown Belt Stripes

Marc Stevens
Matt Moore
Anthony Johnston
Kevin Hotchkiss
Joe roach

NEW Purple Belts

Alec Kearns
Phil Mitsiell
Mike Mucitelli
Jamie Frier
Chris Anderson
Brandon Ashby
Kevin MacDougall

Purple Belt Stripes

Ben Tallini
Darius Collinson
Dave Briest
Brody Neville
Jesse Jacobs
Chris Roach

NEW Blue Belts

Saldin Cumurovic
Jesse Carbone
Dickie White
Nate Musick
Jerry Unger
Mark Troendle
Dan McCarthy
Scott Griffin
Matt White

Blue Belt Stripes

Tamdan McCrory -4 Stripes
Phil Acuri- 4 Stripes
Zac Maneri – 4 stripes
Jerry Reed-4 Stripes
Chris Leet-4 Stripes

Don Patti
Matt DeGonzaque
Ben Siragusa
Matt Thompson
Ralph Habib
Brian Kelly
Brendan Cope
Saboor Coleman
Desmond Chestnut
Steve Elsenbeck
Kevin Seaman
Erik Charles
Trevor Pastor
Jeff Callahan
Robert Matrone
Sam Saba
Tom Cooney
Mike Spuches
Matt Spack
Jeremy Hobbs
Cory Laplant
Pat Dwyer
Logan Walker

And I know I left some people out. So all other Blue Belts that did not receive their initial Blue Belt in the last 5 Months are also eligible

Also I want to get as many people there as possible for partners and rolling so everyone no matter what your rank is from Tai Kai or any affilated schools are invited

Reprinted from The Thai Boxing Association

http://www.thaiboxing.com/node/346

You put your money with a certified financial planner. You take your car to a certified mechanic. Wouldn’t you want a certified Muay Thai instructor, aswell?

Certification means quality. It is proof that the instructor meets a minimum standard, and shows the difference between an experienced instructor who has devoted the time to develop themselves professionally–and someone who hasn’t. Who wants a coach whom isn’t devoted, nor professional?

What certification an instructor possesses also makes a big difference. In the personal training world you can get a certification on the internet. A friend of mine, to prove a point, got his dog certified as a personal trainer. Mounted on his living room wall is a framed certification for “Sparkles”.

There are lots of Martial Arts certifications out there. Just like in the personal training field, anyone can give out a certification. That means that Larry next door can wake up one morning and start certifying Muay Thai instructors. He can print up certifications, build a website, make videos, and charge money for people to apply and test for his certification. He can travel around the country holding seminars and spreading the word about Larry’s 2-Day Muay Thai Certification.

In the personal training field there is a third party certification body that certifies certifications. (Say that three times fast!) But, there is no such thing in the Martial Arts world.

So how do you tell the difference?

Well, first of all, a certification that has been around for a long time and has a reputation is better than one with no history. On top that, a certification that requires years of study, instead of a weekend certification, has more weight. Additionally, one that requires continuing education is more legitimate than one that does not.

There are a handful of Muay Thai certifications in the United States. Out of all of them, the TBA is the oldest and largest in the nation. TBA Instructors have produced fighters like Sean Sherk and prepared World Champions like Brock Lesnar. Formed in 1968 by Ajarn Surachai Sirisute, the TBA has branches all over not just the U.S.A., but throughout the world.

At minimum, one must study at a TBA branch for three and a half years before being allowed to test for an Apprentice Instructor level certification. Beyond that one must continue their education with the TBA for at least two years to test to become an Associate Instructor, and another two more years before testing to be a Full Instructor. That’s seven-and-a-half years of devotion and education.

These are just minimums, too. At the time of this writing I personally have been studying Muay Thai with the TBA for eighteen years now, and I am not a Full Instructor, yet. So, when you see a TBA Certification you can rest assured that you’re receiving the best training from the best instructors out there, and not just some guy who says he’s this amazing instructor who went to Thailand for a month. And, if you’re looking to be an instructor one day yourself, then why not join the oldest, largest, and most legitimate association of devoted and professional Muay Thai Instructors in the nation–the Thai Boxing Association of the U.S.A.

A conversation with Gracie Jiu Jitsu Master Rickson Gracie and TOOL singer/songwriter, Maynard James Keenan.

Rickson: Jiu Jitsu is like a philosophy. It helps me learn how to face life.

Maynard: In what way?

Rickson: In every way. To understand our society, to relate myself to people, to compete in an actual self defense tournament, to feel confident to walk on the street and to be able to help people, to be strong enough to forgive…

——–Balancing the Scales of Justice——

Maynard: Do you think it is better to avoid a fight rather than to provoke a fight?

Rickson: I believe that you must do what you believe you have to do. If I don’t believe I should fight, I’m not gonna fight. My decision is based more on my personal honor than it is on who I’m channeling my anger towards. For example, if I see a guy smacking an old lady I’m going to do something about that. I don’t care who it is. It’s a moral concern. I cannot live with this on my mind without taking action just because I don’t know who it is. In cases like this my honor, my dignity, and my moral code is much more important than my physical body.

——–Balancing Aggressive Nature with Physical Limitations——–

Steve: Do you think that Gracie Jiu Jitsu has something for the person who doesn’t have a natural talent?

Rickson: Definitely. I can’t think of any one with less physical ability than my father, Helio Gracie. When my father was twelve the doctor said that he couldn’t do any exercise because of vertigo. If he ran 200 yards in a sprint, he would pass out. But he is a very short tempered, tough guy. So with the impossibility of using power while training with his uncle in Jiu Jitsu, he was forced to develop his own technique thus balancing his inability. We like to say that Einstein was to mathematics what Helio Gracie is to Jiu Jitsu. He totally invented 80 percent of the Jiu Jitsu we have today. Leverage and sensitivity and using the opponent’s energy against himself are basic to Jiu Jitsu, but the application of these principles was never done in the way my father developed them. My father broke the mold. He initiated a different perspective. It used to be that when someone told you, “hey, there’s a tough guy coming here to kick your ass,” you imagine this big guy with and ugly face. He’s 280 pounds and has big fists. You don’t imagine a guy who weighs 135 pounds.

——–Balancing Wants and Needs——–

Maynard: I don’t know if you realize how significant it is but, seeing your whole family showing up in support of Royce at the UFC is a very moving image for many people. It seems that you don’t see that kind of family love and pride much anymore.

Rickson: Especially in the big cities. People don’t make the time to give to each other. I think that’s just a sign of our times. Smart are the ones who try to preserve those old elements. People today just want to make money. I understand that and respect that but… I find myself in a very fortunate position because I love what I’m doing and I’m good at it. So I make a living.

Maynard: It seems that here in the states, people are more concerned with doing something to make money than they are with doing what it is that they love to do. They decide that money is the goal and then begin to figure out what they’ve got to do to get it. They forget to listen to themselves to find out what it is they really are not only best suited for but are passionate about as well.

Rickson: Yes. I think exactly the opposite. You need to make money but it should never be the priority. What you like to do is what you should try your best at doing. The money is gonna come. That’s the way people really get rich, you know? They just enjoy what they do and the money comes in some way. It’s the same with the work out. Some people think that the workout is to increase heartbeats or flexibility or endurance or coordination. So they make up exercises to improve one of more of these areas. When I’m doing exercise, what I’m trying to do is meditate. Get in a state that I feel a balance between body, mind, and spirit. It’s just enjoyment. When I train in Jiu Jitsu I don’t have a clock in mind. I’m just feeling and flowing. When playing or surfing or hiking there are no timings or special rules. If you love it you just get into it with your whole body. You don’t care that it’s exercise.

Maynard: …and the endurance comes.

Rickson: I can’t imagine going on a stair master or lifting weights or whatever to get in shape.

——–Balancing Perspective/Points of View——–

Rickson: I believe that you should have an evolutionary point of view. You must meditate, you must pray, you must be thankful, you must give. I think those things are very important spiritually for you to be at peace with yourself. Once you’ve tried to improve spiritually, physically, and mentally your are in a good way. Even if I lost my two legs now I don’t think that it would make me lose the sense of life. Of course I’m not gonna be a fighter anymore, but I’m able to allow myself to do other things. I’m gonna try to swim. I’m gonna try to surf. I don’t know what else, but I’m definitely going to still be in love with life and learning. I’ve always wanted to learn how to play the piano, but I’ve never had the time. Or play the guitar. So many things. Some people have legs and they don’t use them because they’ve focused on something else. I think every bad thing has a good way to look at it. Of course I love to do what I’m doing, but if I get sick…understand? The mind is so beautiful and so wild and you can have so many different things. There’s always a good side to everything. Nothing is totally desperate. Like “Oh…I lost my job.” You lost your job? Go to the beach, man. Get some waves.

Maynard: If you have a clear mind like that, and if you have confidence in life and in yourself you’re going to get fed.

Rickson: Definitely. You can’t be negative all the time.

Maynard: You can, but don’t expect for things to come to you very easily.

This was from Jamesville Dewitt Physical Education Class. Mike Bidwell taught a few gym classes and Ryan Buck assisted.

Did you know that we do lots of Community Service projects at Tai-Kai? We will come in and teach (FREE!) for any local organization (Schools / Groups / Boy Scouts / Girl Scouts) Classes focus primarily on self-defense applications, fitness, etc.
To schedule an event – email MikeJitsu1@gmail.com

Reprinted from Jiujitsu Mania

The Mighty Mitochondria…..The Engines that Drive Endurance

As a combat athlete, one of your primary goals should be building your endurance capacity. All the positions and techniques in the world tend to go out the door when you’re your gassed and your body ultimately seizes up. The good news is that you can seriously increase your engines gas tank by some well structured and intense exercise. Your mitochondria are those engines that are at the base of your endurance system.

… one of the best ways to increase your mitochondria is to perform intense endurance exercise….

Mitochondria are microscopic structures inside your muscles where carbohydrates, proteins and fats can be broken down in the presence of oxygen to create the energy you need in order to compete at intense levels. As the density and quantity of your mitochondria increase, so does your endurance capacity.

There is enough research available to suggest that one of the best ways to increase your mitochondria is to perform intense endurance exercise within a training period of up to one hour. What is more important than the “time” spent exercising, is the intensity over a given time.

In non-athletes, studies have shown an increase of mitochondria density of up to 70%. Again, these were individuals who had been sedentary and had nearly zero exercise in their daily lives. In the case of elite athletes, an increase of mitochondria density has been regularly increased in density by 20%. An increase in 20% of mitochondria density in an elite athlete is substantial. Especially in the case where most elite athletes and the events they compete in are decided by a “razors edge”. So imagine outlasting your opponent on the mat or in the cage due to the capacity of your endurance. Your ability to “recover” more efficiently and ultimately breaking him first is always your goal.

Establishing a Baseline
One of the best ways to establish a baseline and reference point for the level of intensity required for your training is to have a VO2 Max test performed. VO2 Max testing is regarded as one of the best tools to establish the level of efficiency. VO2 Max refers to the maximum amount of oxygen that an individual can utilize during intense or maximal exercise. The more oxygen you can use during high level exercise, the more ATP (energy) you can produce. This is often the case with elite endurance athletes who typically have very high VO2 Max values.

These tests take place in human performance labs under strict testing protocols and are typically pretty pricey. So for the assumption of this article instead of using VO2 Max values, we will use maximum heart rate as a reference. Use the equation of 220-(athletes age) = Max Heart Rate (MHR).

Managing your MHR will require you to purchase a good heart rate monitor of which you can get at your local Sports Authority or online at any runners site or a triathlete training site. I personally like the tri sites as they tend to be more scientific in their approach to the endurance components of training.

… there is no easy path on this one…”Go Hard or Go Home”

Your training target for increasing your mitochondria density should take place at 90% of your MHR. Your ultimate goal for the ideal balance of increase mitochondria development in relation to time training should be 90% MHR at a 30 minute clip. Remember, that is your goal for optimum returns on your training regimen. Working up to that is the key. Even an elite athlete will not likely be able to reach those levels without at least a 6 week training plan. It is highly likely that you will have to work your way up to the 90% MHR / 30 minute target.

Working Specific Body Parts
Also keep in mind that mitochondria are muscle specific. This means that as you train, you have to develop a training program that will address your legs, torso and arms. The effect is not “systemic”, instead it is body part specific. So if you are working on your aerobic base on a treadmill or stationary bike, you will only be developing your mitochondria in your legs. Not your arms or torso. So for sake of developing it in your arms and legs at the same time you may want to consider using a rower or a stationary bike like a Schwinn Aerodyne which has push-pull handles on it. In the training of our athletes we use treadmills, cable machines, truck tires, car pushes, dumbbells with squats, etc in order to best develop that body parts mitochondria. All the while keeping the 90% MHR target in mind.

Here is what I suggest specifically addressing the 90% MHR / 30 minute target. As mentioned, even an elite athlete will not be able to step right up to the 90 / 30 goal. What is non-negotiable though is the 90% MHR number. So if you can only perform the exercise modalities selected for 5 minutes or 10 minutes, thats OK. Continue to work towards your goal of 90% MHR for the 30 minutes. Keep the workout going and be sure to mark your metrics on heart rate and duration.

In order to build your endurance engine you have to “Go Hard…or Go Home”. There is no easy path on this one. Your results are directly related to the accumulation of intense exercise over time. If you are diligent and work the metrics, you will get phenomenal results.

OK, Lets Get Started
Keep in mind that mitochondria development is “site specific”. Meaning that if you are hitting your legs hard, the mitochondria density is being developed in that region. If you are hitting your arms and shoulders hard, the mitochondria density is being developed there. Here is a suggested program to get you started :

For all programs you will need heart monitor and your goal is to keep your heart rate at 90% Max Heart Rate (MHR). To address full body development, I will usually develop 5 to 6 minute “rounds” that hit legs, arms, and shoulders in each round. Repeating these rounds will allow you to eventually work up to the 30 minute minimum for best results.

• Burpees for 1 minute
• 400 meter run for appx. 1 minute or 100 meter sprints for 1 minute, no resting.
• Push Ups for 1 minute
• Body Weight Squats for 1 minute
• Bear Crawls for 1 minute

In between each set the athlete can take a as much as 2 minutes to recover. This is not ideal, but if this is your first attempt at this type of training and conditioning, you will need it. As the athlete is able to recover more efficiently the time between sets can be reduced and in some cases perhaps eliminated.

Address Your Recovery
As always, be sure that you finish your training. It is not done until you give the body the building blocks it needs to repair the damage from this training session. The bodies adaptation to the abusive workload is what makes the body stronger. You need to give the body the fuel to heal. That means immediately after the training session you need to drink your protein, engineered carbs, BCAA’s, Argnine, Glutamine and Creatine shake. Sip it, don’t down it. Best wishes with this program. Let us know how it worked for you. It is not for the feint of heart.

In this day and age of modern Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competition, Submission Wrestling and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) competition, it is easy for people to forget why Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was created. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was created as a means of survival and self-defense for a smaller, weaker individual to overcome an attack from a stronger and more aggressive attacker! Helio Gracie spent his life developing and refining the techniques of Jiu Jitsu that we now know today as Gracie Jiu Jitsu (or more commonly Brazilian Jiu Jitsu).

Helio Gracie was the pioneer who applied the theory of leverage to the techniques of Jiu Jitsu and in the process began a revolution that allows men, women and children of all ages, shapes, size and athletic ability learn techniques to defend themselves with maximum efficiency and minimal effort. Gracie Jiu Jitsu was the catalyst for modern MMA competition and the UFC. And although MMA is soaring in popularity, it is important that we do not forget Helio’s original teachings and intention for Gracie Jiu Jitsu and that is Self Defense.

One of Helio’s many famous quotes regarding Gracie Jiu Jitsu is: “Always assume that your opponent is going to be bigger, stronger and faster than you; so that you learn to rely on technique, timing and leverage rather than brute strength”. Through the techniques of Gracie Jiu Jitsu, an individual is able to develop confidence, awareness and a sound technical arsenal to protect themselves should the need ever arise. Another great Helio Gracie quote is: “Jiu Jitsu is personal efficiency to protect the weaker, which anyone can do. It is the force of leverage against brute force”.

Just last Friday I began training a new student, Kimberley who had no prior Martial Arts experience, yet was keen to develop more confidence and learn how to protect herself. Kimberley took to Gracie Jiu Jitsu training like a fish to water and within the first 10 minutes was starting to develop some serious base! I at around 95kg was not able to push her or drag her around once she understood the basic principle of dropping her weight and establishing base even though I outweighed her by around 35kg!

Once Kimberley saw the results of good technique and the correct application of leverage we moved onto Bear Hug defenses both Front and Rear. Within minutes Kimberley was able to escape and throw me with remarkable ease and confidence! Again no small feat considering this was her first exposure to Gracie Jiu Jitsu and Martial Arts in general. After being beaten up and thrown to the mat over 50 times we moved onto mount Escapes, specifically the “Upa”. Again we started slowly and gradually added progressive resistance as she her technique improved and she gained confidence with her “Upa”. To say I was impressed with how fast she learnt and understood the movements would be an understatement… Shocked actually! Kimberley soaked up the techniques like a sponge and was showing some real promise, all while smiling and having fun… As a coach I felt both proud and inspired by her progress and her new-found confidence in Gracie Jiu Jitsu!

On a side note in case you missed it, there was a little secret to success mentioned in the previous chapter and that is the idea of having fun while you are training. If you don’t enjoy what you are doing you wont put in the necessary time required to learn the techniques and develop your reflexes. A teaching principle I try to apply to every class is that of “S.S.L.”. “S.S.L.” stands for Smiling, Sweating and Laughing. If you can have your students doing all three while working hard on developing your technique you have the recipe to develop lifelong Martial Artists and Jiu Jitsu practitioners. Remember Gracie Jiu Jitsu has so much more to offer than just physical self-defense techniques, it can literally change your life as it has mine but that is a topic of another post! For now always keep in mind that Self Defense is the foundation of Gracie Jiu Jitsu and should always remain so.

Good Luck With Your Training And Happy Rolling!

Felipe Grez

What we say and how we say it has an amazing power sub-consciously in our determination and perception of the events in our life. I had a friend say to me the other day, “I have GOT to go to the Gym. I have a really hard time motivating myself. I’ve been putting it off for two weeks, and I just can’t make any more excuses, I have to go.” As I reflected on this statement and the message it projects, I was immediately prompted to remit, maybe you just need to change, “I have got to go to the Gym to I get to go to the Gym?”
He stared at me with disbelief and said, “You’re right!” I’m acting like it’s a dirty job that I have to do, not something I love.” There was no doubt in my mind as to why he has a hard time motivating himself. When you begin to perceive something you love to do as a chore, you naturally reduce your drive to do it.

Some of these annoying human qualities edge their way into my life as well. I also sometimes find myself using words, metaphors or phrases that distort or exaggerate the meaning of something and it absolutely affects the way I view that task or event at that moment. At that moment I will stop and correct myself, using a positive, empowering twist to my phrase and it always brings a smile to my face.
Let’s look at our work time for example. You can always tell when someone dislikes their job by the way they view time on the job. Do you have four more hours before you get to leave or is your perspective “I only have four more hours left to finish this?” Do you have to do this or do you have the opportunity to do this?

Now, let’s focus on competition! Have you ever amplified the meaning of an event with a phrase like, “I got crushed, they killed us or they trashed us! “How about, we were beaten? Now, let’s think about what these statements imply? What sort of images do they conjure up?
What if those were replaced with a de-amplified version, a more realistic description, like, “We didn’t play to our potential, I learned a lot from my match, or I’ve got some things to work on.” These statements portray a different image and a different emotion, don’t they?
When we use empowering, solution-oriented statements, they help us see how we can improve our outcome. Negative amplification of events have an opposite affect, because they are problem focused, rather than solution oriented by nature, they have a tendency to make things seem much worse than they were and make it difficult to move to a solution. It’s a little hard to recover and shake it off when you’re CRUSHED, KILLED, TRASHED or BEATEN.
It’s also very hard to ask yourself, “What did I learn from this?” while licking your emotional wounds, when you’ve subjected yourself to these colorful terms.

“Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones,
you’ll start having positive results.”
-Willie Nelson

How can you use this?
Pay attention to the metaphors and analogies you use to describe events for one week. Pay particular attention to the figures of speech that you use. The reason is, that while some of these are empowering, others can be quite debilitating. Did you get yelled at or was there a difference of opinion? Did you get dumped on or confided in? Was it the worst day or challenging? Are you at the end of your rope or looking for more creative solutions? Are you hanging in there, not too bad, surviving? Or feeling awesome, great, terrific! You get the picture. Now, for that ONE WEEK de-amplify the terms that exaggerate the meaning of your negative experiences and amplify the areas that need a boost. In life we don’t really experience reality, we experience our representation of (our) reality. What representation do you want to experience?

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
-Eleanor Roosevelt

The Bottom Line: Remember in life, we don’t experience reality. We experience our representation of reality. It is how we Re-present our experiences, that determines our outlook on those experiences. Ultimately, it is your outlook that creates your Winning Mind Set!
Have an incredible Life!
Kevin Seaman

“Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain, and most fools do.”
-Benjamin Franklin

Sifu Kevin Seaman teaches both Thai Boxing and Filipino Kali on Monday and Wednesday nights at our main Tai Kai location in Liverpool. He is a Master Coach with 40 years of experience. Training in his classes will broaden your skill base and sharpen both your physical and mental training. His books are available at the front desk.