Some readers commented on my previous post, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu belt promotions. You can check out the comments for yourself in the entry. I wanted to bring up the question as a separate blog, just in case some of you don't get to read the comments.
So, do you think a lower belt, let's say a purple or brown, should be able to promote if a black belt isn't around? The answer depends on who you ask and whether there are special situations that require a lower belt to promote. Did you know that most people who answer, "it's okay" are lower belts? I find that amusing--just thought I'd share that with you. Personally, I think it's better to get promoted by a black belt: it follows tradition, generates more respect for your rank, and it helps ensure that a promotion is genuine (of course, there are some black belts who just give belts away).
Sometimes, if it's impossible for a group of students to visit their black belt or for the black belt to visit, then in special circumstances, I think a brown belt could promote, but there are some conditions. First, the black belt must really know the brown belt and be confident in his or her abilities. Second, the black belt must know the person the brown belt wants to promote (i.e. has seen the person move, knows how the person performs, etc.). Third, the black belt must give the brown belt his/her blessing. Fourth, the brown belt doesn't ask to promote someone. Rather, the brown belt indicates to the black belt that he/she thinks this person is ready and waits to hear what the black belt has to say. Yes, even with this all done, I still think only black belts should promote. Now, if the black belt can visit or the students can visit the black belt, then they should wait until that time comes.
A belt is a belt. Don't be too pre-occupied with it. If you deserve it, it will come.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
What if there's no black belt around to promote you?
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Belt Promotions
What do you guys think? Can or should a person go through a test for a belt, or is competition/mat performance and time really more important? Personally, I value performance much more than giving any kind of belt test. I do see the value in a belt test though, and for some academies, it's probably the best way to go. However, I like the old school way of having to train long and hard, making a lot of mistakes, and having to discover things on your own (instead of having a curriculum handed to you). It makes everything more challenging, and to me, much, much more fulfilling.
Whatever your opinion is though, to promote a person based on performance is something that takes longer. What do i mean? It takes time for me to see if a student knows what he or she has to know for a particular level and can apply those techniques and strategies. For example, if a student I met only 2 or 3 times came in to take a class, and was killing all the blues and purples, I wouldn't automatically say he is a blue, purple, or even a brown belt. Because I don't know the person well and haven't seen the person roll many times (and haven't rolled with the person myself many times), I don't really know if he or she has the technical skills of a blue, purple, etc. belt. Maybe the person is whipping ass because he or she is really strong rather than technical. This person may not know anything about escaping the mount or passing the guard. How could I promote this person to a higher belt? The answer's simple. I wouldn't. They'd have to spend as much time as everyone else on the mat.
I bring this all up because a MMA fighter who has trained for quite some time wants to finally move up in the BJJ ranks. He asked if I can test and promote him if he passes. I have never rolled with this guy with a gi though. Who knows? He might not even know how to do a lapel choke! In similar scenerios, maybe a formal test would work better. But, I didn't go that route. I simply said, "There's no test. Just start coming to class and rolling . . .If you deserve it, in time, you'll get it."
Monday, July 21, 2008
Manny Pacquiao versus Miguel Torres???
No, this match isn't going to happen, but some people have been fantasizing about this match. I came across the thread on the PinoyMMA forum. Apparently people around the world have posted about this in international forums. In any case, I thought I'd add my two cents to the mix.
Who would win in an MMA match? Miguel. Hands down. MMA isn't boxing. Who would win in a boxing match? Manny. Hands down. Boxing isn't MMA. Get the point? I think Manny is a superb athlete. He's proven it many times in the ring. He's a great boxer. However, for him to enter the MMA world and be successful would take some time. Personally, I say 2-3 years of solid MMA training. He would have to devote most of his time learning MMA and would not be able to work on his boxing as much as he does right now.
I don't think a year would be long enough. I think 2-3 years would give him a very good foundation and he could start fighting against some decent MMA fighters. I don't think he could face top competitors like Miguel Torres. (Coincidentally, Miguel and I used to train with Carlson Gracie Sr. in Chicago before Carlson passed away.) Just like any sport or art, it takes some time to get good. Who knows? Maybe Pacquiao is a natural in MMA and picks everything up real quick. Conversely, he might be a natural in boxing, but for some reason, MMA might not come easy to him. It happens to a lot of people. They are good at one sport, and aweful at another.
It would definitely be interesting to see a match up between Pacquiao and a noted MMA flyweight. I think he could do good if he devoted a couple of years to MMA, but I don't think that's going to happen any time soon.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Thoughts on Brandon Vera's Recent Fight, Anderson Silva, and Affliction Banned
Brandon Vera fought on Ultimate Fight Night tonight against Reese Andy. Brandon moved down in weight and looked leaner, but I think cutting weight negatively affected his performance. Reese didn't perform like you would expect a UFC fighter to, yet, Brandon had difficulty finishing Reese off. After Reese threw several kicks, it was clear Brandon's stand up was much better. In fact, I didn't think this was a good match up. I thought Brandon was going to murder Reese. However, the fact that Brandon cut weight probably was what made the match go the distance. Dehydration and a lack of energy are common side effects of cutting weight. Some people can do it well, some people can't. It will be interesting to see what weight class Brandon continues to compete at. If he decides to stay at the light heavy division, I'm sure he'll have to change his eating/training habits.
Anderson Silva. Textbook counter. The punch was perfectly placed. The first punch is what started it all, and the second punch that landed flush on Irvin's face was the nail in the coffin. I was curious to see the match and thought the match might have some good exchanges. Well, there was one very good, very quick exchange. Silva is awesome.
Affliction Banned had some great fights tonight, too - 3 KOs, 1 TKO, 3 submissions...I thought the match ups were good overall, but I had my favorites. All of the people I thought would win did win. I had no doubt that Fedor was going to win, and win he did (rear naked choke in round 1). Barnett versus Rizzo was one match I was excited about. I think Barnett is a great fighter - a great balance between power and technique. I thought he was going to win and he didn't disappoint (KO round 2). Barnett has been in the game for a long time, but I still hope to see much more of him. Curious to know what Affliction has in store for their next event.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Respect & Training Etiquette
When people talk about mixed martial arts, it's usually about training, competitions, motivation, techniques, and even nutrition and supplementation. You don't hear many people talk about proper training etiquette or respect. Well, I decided to write about that today. Here's why. . .
A few weeks ago, I was teaching a class and a "sandbagger" (i.e. someone who pretends to be a beginner) came to train. We talked before class a bit and he said he's trained for a couple months. It took me only a few seconds to realize this guy was full of it (which I honestly didn't care much about him lying to me). When I explained a technique, the guy wouldn't listen and gave the impression that he knew it all. When he partnered up to do technique, he didn't listen to me call out the steps and used a lot of resistance when beginners were trying to do their reps on him. When it came to sparring time, this guy was toying with all the beginners and basically disrespecting them.
Now, it takes a lot to get me truly pissed off, about anything. I hardly get angry and I rarely am "violent." But certain things at certain times put me over the edge. This guy, well, he pushed all the right buttons. I don't care if people disrespect me by not sticking to the technique I teach or if they don't continue to do reps like I instruct. I don't mind because if they think they know a technique enough to not practice, then that's up to them - even though I know they aren't "masters" at the technique. However, when someone disrespects other students, especially beginners, the way this guy did, it's another story.
To my delight, the guy called me out to spar. I've been telling people for the past few years that since I started my law and mba studies, I haven't been able to turn on that "killer instinct" when I train. I've even told people that they have to get me pissed off and angry or else I'll just be on cruise control when training. I used to be able to turn "it" on whenever I wanted to and always did my best in that zone. But these days, my brain is busy working on other things. Anyway, for the first time in almost 3 years, I found myself extremely pumped to train. In a nutshell, I tried to rip off the guys limbs off. After our round, he stopped sparring, wouldn't talk to anyone, and sat to the side by himself. He no longer was disrespecting the other students and me.
Fast forward to this week. Someone very close to me tells me that this same "sandbagger" went to another school to train. Same story. He was disrespectful. What did the instructor do to the guy? Let's say he did something I wanted to do but couldn't at that time (there were a number of older women watching while waiting to take a boxing class).
What's the whole moral of the story? Learn to show some respect and use proper training etiquette. This is not an exhaustive list and merely reflects some of the more common things I encounter, in no particular order.
1. When someone is teaching, listen. It's simple. Show respect and be polite. Even if it's the most basic technique in the world and you know it like the back of your hand.
2. If an instructor tells you to do a certain technique a certain way, do it. You can experiment and that's often encouraged, but first put in a good amount of time doing the technique as explained.
3. Keep doing reps until you're told to move on - again, it's about being respectful of others. This happens a lot, especially with the arrogant students in class. They do a technique a few times, then either stop, or worse, start to play instructor themselves. As I mentioned above, I usually let them be. I will tell them to keep doing the reps a couple of times, but if they persist, they won't hear from me again.
4. Use control in all of your techniques. First, this will increase your performance because if you can execute techniques without a lot of strength and speed, imagine what you can do when you add all of your physical attributes to your technique. Second, you won't injure your training partners. Third, other students will be more willing to spar with you.
5. If a lot of you are training on a mat, ring, or cage, the area can get cramped quickly as partners get near each other. In these situations, it's normally the lower ranking or less experienced students who have to move and find space. The senior guys normally can stay where they are. Now, I believe that everyone should be treated equally, but this process actually makes sparring and drilling run smoother.
6. If you are rolling, doing take downs, etc. and you accidentally hit or bump the pair next to you, be polite. Say sorry. You won't believe how many people fail to do this. In my experience, I'd say less that 20%.
7. Keep you, your equipment, and the gym clean. For instance, I can't understand how people can go walk barefoot into the restroom, then out to the street, then all over a gym floor, then start sparring on the mats. Ringworm or staph anyone?
Again, there's a lot more. The basic point is to make sure you're respectful and practice a decent degree of training etiquette. Everyone will like you more for doing so.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
I'm back!
Yes, I know it's been a very long time. I did myself a favor and committed myself to a lot of projects. I've wanted to write but I've either had no time or if I did, I was dead tired. Instead of writing a half-assed blog entry that's forced, I rather hold off and write something with more substance.
A lot has happened since I last blogged - personally and in the Philippine and International MMA scene. I don't even know where to start. So, I'm not going to. lol I've been keeping updated with what's going on in MMA in the Philippines and it's great to hear that the FFC and URCC had events recently. I still wish more skilled fighters would compete...hopefully sooner than later. I also heard about an incident at Embassy that involved one of my friends, an old student, and a number of other people. When I think about these kinds of occurrences back home, I always wonder when, and if, it will ever end. I guess that's just the way it is.
Taught today, but didn't train. I think I'm coming down with something, so I took things easy. My head hasn't really been focused on training lately. Too many things to do. The past several weeks, it seems like I've just been going through the motions. I haven't been going hard at all or trying any new moves. It's one of those times where I have to get a number of things off my plate then I can place more attention on training.
My shoulder is still not well. It makes me sick, but I don't want to put myself out for a long time by getting surgery. I've started to do some weight training again, and am going real slow, babying my shoulder. Hopefully the pain doesn't get to the point where I have to stop again. We'll see what happens.
Anyway, been keeping busy doing a lot of stuff and surfing more and more. My classes are starting up again so who knows what my schedule is going to be like then. I will get back to writing regularly on this blog, however, I am extremely busy these days. A lot of things I want to do. I can't make any promises, but I will do my best to write at least 5 times a week. I don't think I can manage 7 days a week anymore. As long as you guys are getting some value through my blog and I can give some added insight to you, I'll keep writing.
I'll end with this for today...Damn, can you believe what Rampage did??? That's crazy!
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Great Fights at WEC; Heading to San Francisco, Las Vegas, and New York
I finished watching the fights a few hours ago, and I really liked the Torres v. Maeda fight, and the Faber v. Pulver match. Torres and Maeda was an entertaining striking match. Maeda had some really nice takedowns but didn't want to have anything to do with Torres's guard. Maeda seemed to be playing it safe while inside of the guard. Unfortunately, his right eye was swollen shut and the fight had to be stopped. Torres won all rounds in my opinion, but it would have been fun to see the fight continue. It was an awesome match--at one point they had each other in toe holds and neither would tap.
The Faber v. Pulver fight was quite a surprise. I chose Faber to win. What I didn't expect was that the match would go to a decision. Faber clearly out fought Pulver and it seemed like Faber wasn't even tired at the end of the fight. Pulver, who showed clear signs of fatigue (i.e. he was moving slow, had no power in his punches, etc.), still managed to finish the fight and not get tapped or knocked out! Pulver did a good job of defending takedowns and getting out of bad positions. I liked how Pulver was able to defend well while on his back. Usually, Uriah messes up all his opponents from within the guard. Another awesome fight.
Mark Munoz won his match by TKO. His opponent was playing guard and attempting a leglock. Mark was able to pin his opponent down in a bad position and threw down some heavy blows. The ref had to stop the match. I was a little worried Mark was going to have a rough time dealing with his opponent, Chuck Grigsby, because Mark had some difficulty with his initial takedown attempts. But after Mark managed to get in deep and secure a leg to takedown Chuck, it was pretty clear that Mark had the advantage on the ground. Chuck didn't really have a good guard and was just taking blows. I was surprised he didn't even try to stand back up on his feet. I think Mark has great takedown/grappling skills, and after working on his striking more, he will be a major threat. He has some creative moves by the way: cart-wheel passing but leading in with a punch (guess you have to watch the match to know what I mean).
If you guys have a chance to check out the two title fights, Torres v. Maeda, and Faber v. Pulver, check them out. Good action.
I'll be heading out of town for a little while and am not sure how busy I'll be, but I will definitely post some entries when I get the time. Ali Sulit, Ralph Go, and Carlos Bergante from New Breed Philippines are coming over to Cali for the Mundials. I was originally planning to go to LA to watch the matches. I'll be in Las Vegas during the competition, but will try to go. I hope they all do well and show that Pinoys have good jiu jitsu.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Training When Injured - Revisited
UFC 84 was a great card. I loved Silva's match a lot, especially when he was holding Jardine down by the throat in a "where's my money" posture. Awesome. I didn't expect the match to end so soon. I did think it was going to be an exciting stand up fight, but thought Jardine would land some solid blows. He didn't even get to turn on the entire fight! BJ's fight. I guess no one was surprised. I was pretty shocked that only 55% of the people who voted in, thought BJ was going to win. I was expecting much more votes for BJ. Machida, great strategy and continues his winning streak. (For those of you who may not remember, Machida beat BJ in Japan in 2005. Of course, he outweighed BJ by a ton back then and BJ did very well, taking the match all the way to a decision.) Anyway, this weekend should be good, too. Uriah, Jens, Munoz...good fights.
So I received an email from a blog reader who was asking about training while injured, and I thought I'd go into more detail in my answer. I touched up on this subject before, but here's another go.
We all know how it feels to get injured. It sucks. Besides the pain, injuries prevent us from training. Knowing how to train around injuries is an important part of getting better at any sport. For minor injuries, a little bit of ice, some rest, tape and/or braces, and easing back into training often do the trick. However, major injuries are more tricky.
Major injuries do not go away quickly and it's important to not let an injury get worse. Hence, you have to be very smart about how you train, if you are even capable of doing anything physical. For hand, arm and shoulder injuries, for example, you probably won't be able to strike effectively, but you might be able to grapple lightly if you tuck your arm into your belt and work your open guard using just your legs and one arm. If your opponent passes your guard then stop; let your opponent go back into your guard; and then start again. I've done this countless times when I've jacked up my arms in the past, and it helped me really improve my open guard game.
Athletes are stubborn and usually train despite injuries. Smart athletes, however, will train smart when their injured and know how to control their training sessions. Here are some things to keep in mind if you plan to train while healing an injury:
- Only roll or strike lightly. I think any takedowns are a bad idea when injured.
- Roll or spar with people who are more advanced and know how to control their power, speed, etc. Stay away from beginners who can injure you.
- Avoid positions that will place your injured body part in dangerous situations. (e.g. If you have a shoulder injury, don't even bother resisting when someone tries to go for an american/figure four lock on your arm--immediately tap).
- Tap right away if you even think you are near a position where your injured body part will be affected
If you keep up with a similar program while you're injured, when you've recovered, you'll still be in the game mentally and ought to still have decent conditioning. Hope this helps.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Beginners and Mixed Martial Arts
As MMA is growing, it's obvious that more people are getting into the sport. A lot of gyms offer kickboxing/muay thai, bjj, boxing and wrestling classes. A good number of schools also offer MMA classes. What I've noticed, however, is that these "MMA" lasses are really just BJJ, Muay Thai, or Wrestling classes (I'm talking about classes for beginners). Many people want to get into MMA but hardly anyone wants to train in the particular styles that "make up" MMA. It seems like everyone wants to just put on grappling gloves and learn how to fight in the cage or ring. It's unfortunate that a good number of students get discouraged because they realize it takes time and a lot of sacrifice to get good in MMA. What can make matters worse, you have some MMA instructors who actually think they can just teach "MMA" and have people with no background spar MMA rules after a class or two. The students get hurt because they really don't know what they're doing and the instructor doesn't know what he/she is doing, too.
When a person is completely green with no background in grappling, striking or takedowns, and the person wants to do MMA, they inevitably will be taught the basics of each area. They need to have solid ground work, know how to strike, and know how to execute and defend takedowns. As a result, MMA classes, again particularly for beginners, turn into a regular BJJ, Muay Thai, Wrestling class. When it comes to more experience athletes, they can mix everything up and truly focus on the finer details of MMA training.
I see this happen in the Philippines and the U.S. often; I'm sure it happens all over the world. It makes me wonder whether a true MMA curriculum can be created. I don't expect the curriculum to be static because the sport and its techniques/strategies evolve. However, maybe a basic MMA curriculum is possible. It would clearly entail all aspects of the fight game: ground, takedowns, striking, etc. I know of some teams/gyms that have tried this but many of them weren't successful. It seems their training was (is) too broad, and athletes never get enough focused training on a certain area. The best fighters still are the people who come from a solid background in a particular style.
Will programs progress to a point where a person with no background can enroll in a fight gym and learn a strict "MMA curriculum?" I don't know. Until that happens, new students ought to understand that they have to spend time training in grappling, striking, and takedowns. There aren't any shortcuts.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
UFC 84 and 85; WEC and Pinoy Mark Munoz
I don't know about you guys, but I'm looking forward to the next few weeks. There are going to be a lot of great fights and I'm looking forward to watching BJ and Mark Munoz fight. UFC 84 is this weekend with a good fight card. I see BJ dominating the fight and don't think Sherk has anything on BJ. The only way I see BJ losing is if he isn't his "normal self." June 1 is WEC which also has a good fight card. I'm looking forward to watching Uriah and Mark Munoz. Mark is definitely someone to reckon with and I hope he goes far in the sport. I think he will do very well in his upcoming match. He has a solid background in wrestling and is training with a great fight camp. June 7, UFC 85, we'll get to see Brandon fight. I think he'll take the fight and can inflict the most damage striking. If the fight goes to the ground, then Fabricio has a better chance.
For those of you who do not know much about Mark Munoz, check out these YouTube clips I found.
Lots of other great fights will be on the three cards. I am definitely not going to miss any of them.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Using the Right Kinds of Protein and Carbohydrates
I'm back. I was planning to write entries daily after school ended, but I took some well deserved time off to "clean the saw." I figured that I've been so busy with school and everything else, that I needed some time to really relax. I believe one can't push him or herself hard mentally, physically, and even spiritually, for too long or you will burn yourself out--it's always good to recharge your batteries.
I bought a new surf board and have been hitting the beach early mornings to surf. I got up early this morning and was in the water by about 5:30am. I've been teaching regularly, but I haven't been training hard. I've decided to take things easy until the middle of June. I will be out of town the first and second week of June, so I don't want to get into a good training rhythm than have to break it. Also, I will be working with a new company starting next week and it will probably take a week or two to get ramped up and normalize my schedule. Other than that, I've still been working on one of my own business projects, and I've been reading a lot. I've gone through 3 good books (only read non-fiction) in the past few days. I was planning to buy more books tonight, but decided to write this blog entry instead. . .
I received an email yesterday from a reader who was asking questions about using the right kind of protein and supplementing with carbs such as dextrose. One area where I think a lot of our Pinoy brothers lack knowledge of is in proper nutrition/supplementation - particularly for people who train a lot. So, I thought it would be a good topic to write about. Now, I'm not a nutritionist, but I have studied nutrition for years, tried many different programs and supplements, and have made myself a guinea pig to a lot of "training experiments." Here's my take on using the right kinds of protein and carbohydrates (again, I'm not a nutritionist, but believe someone who is certified in the field could and would confirm much of what I'm going to write).
Protein
I don't plan to discuss every single kind of protein and/or amino acid in existence. First, there are so many different kinds that it would take forever to right about them all. Second, I'm sure you guys can find the information easily in a bookstore or on the Internet. What I do what to share are some insights as to what kind of protein to use, depending on the time of the day or your goals.
Here are some tips you can use to assess what kind of protein in right for you:
- Pre-workout
- Whey or a blended protein supplement
- Do not overload on the protein because you do not want to feel bloated before a training session
- Avoid protein with a lot of fat
- Post-workout
- Primarily whey, but a blended protein formula will work well, too
- Take it within 30 minutes from the end of your training session
- Avoid protien with a lot of fat
- Increase body weight
- I wish I had the problem of needing to increase weight! Anyway, use a lot of casein protein instead of whey because casein tends not to decrease hunger the way whey protein does
- Meal Replacements
- Mixed protein blends with whey and casein, or milk protein and carbs
- Avoid casein protein because they are low in calories and do not provide a lot of energy and won't satisfy your hunger
- Late at Night
- Any kind of "slow release" protein like milk protein
- Fat and fiber will help slow down the digestion of the protein as well
- Dieting
- Whey protein because it tends to decrease hunger more than the other kinds of protein
- Use fiber to also help slow digestion and decrease hunger
- Strength/Power
- A mixed protein blend with whey and casein is best
- Keep eating! Strength and power increase more effectively when you provided your body with the energy/food it needs
- When I go through these phases, I eat anywhere from 6-8x a day.
Just like proteins, you should understand the different kinds of carbs out there and how and/or when to take which kinds and when. Know more about the types of carbs can help you make better choices.
- Simple carbs: They're commonly known as sugars and without getting detailed, they have a more pronounced effect on your insulin levels, making them better before (right before) and after workouts when the body seeks to build and repair muscle.
- Dextrose is a type of simple carb that can be found in any Mercury drug in the Philippines. It's "quick" energy, but not "quality/long term" energy. You can use it pre-workout but take only a little because you will crash hard and fast if you use too much. It's best taken with protein after training or a workout.
- Sucrose is the another common simple carb. It's regular table sugar. If you have to choose between dextrose and sucrose, I would go with dextrose.
- Complex carbs: Complex carbs provide an advantage over simple carbs because they deliver energy with a less dramatic insulin response (less likely to crash), making them good choices as meal replacements an hour or so before training.
- Maltodextrin is probably one of the most popular. You can buy it alone, but it's normally included in good protein powders or meal replacement drinks. It's a good source of energy without having to take in sugar.
- Oat bran (or similar) are good complex carbs from oats that provide a longer lasting form of energy, making them good for pre-workout meals/shakes.
- Fiber is another carbohydrate that is nondigestible. It's great to use when you are trying to slow down digestion. It can make you feel "fuller" so you won't eat as much, too.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Quick Update!
My finals are almost over! My last two are tomorrow and after, I will have more time to write blog entries. For the people who have emailed me with questions and comments, I apologize for not getting back to you soon. I have been very busy and will make sure to reply to each one of your emails.
On another note, I'm looking forward to the UFC on May 24. Seems like it's going to be a great fight card! I doubt I will be heading to Vegas then because I will be busy, but I will be traveling around in a couple weeks: San Fran, LA, Vegas and NYC. I'm going to try and get some training in at each city.
Friday, May 9, 2008
I've Said It Before, and I'll Say It Again. . .Focus.
Focus. If you want to get really good at something, you have to focus a lot of your time and effort on that certain thing. The more you put in, the better the results. . .
As I said in my last entry, finals are next week and I will probably miss a few days here and there. I went to LA Boxing today to train and didn't feel like I performed well. I got tired very fast and my movement seemed sluggish.
My mind has been all over the place: thinking about several new job opportunities I have, studying for finals, working on my own business project, training, teaching, etc. etc. Honestly, my mind has been "awake" even while I'm sleeping--I've been waking up constantly the last few nights because of a thought that pops into my head. Clearly, I haven't been sleeping well.
Normally, I can balance everything pretty well, but there are times (like now) where things aren't in perfect harmony. I haven't had the time to really think through my training sessions and devote time to working specific moves or drills. Hopefully, after this crazy weekend of studying, and next week's finals, everything will go back to normal.
I can't emphasize it enough; if you guys want to improve your game, make sure you're working specific areas instead of spreading yourself too thinly. Right now, I feel my training is suffering a bit because of everything else I have to do. I guess it doesn't help that I'm passionate about everything I'm doing and will not give-up one thing for another. (As a side note, I don't believe in the saying "do what you love" because it assumes you can choose one thing over another and your "passion" doesn't change.) However, after exams I'll have more time on my hands and will make sure I'm "focusing."
Hope everyone's training is going well.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
A Busy Week
Today was pretty much my last day of class for the semester, so I'm glad. But next week are finals and I'll be studying pretty much throughout the weekend and all of next week. During this time, I will try to write a blog entry each day, but it will depend on my schedule. Hopefully I'm not too busy.
Because I'll have a bit more time on my hands when finals are over, I've been doing a little research on "high performance" cardiovascular training. The training method calls for different cardio routines and the use of some pretty high tech equipment. I'm planning to make myself a guinea pig and try everything out for 2-3 months. I'll also have more time to focus on my new power and strength program (which I've started because I can no longer do power lifts because of my shoulder injury). I'll give some updates on my progress once in a while.
I'll be teaching tomorrow at LA Boxing and plan on training at Undisputed on Thursday. I'm pretty sure John (War Machine) will be training for his UFC fight on May 24, so I'll probably help out and train after. Anyway, that's it for now. It's been a long day.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Sparring/Grappling with Bigger Opponents--Some Tips for the "Little" Guys
Yesterday I took a pretty hard head butt to my left ear while grappling. So what happened? Can anyone say cauliflower ear? My left ear has been messed up for years, but now it's worse. It hurts like hell and I'm forced to wear headgear while sparring--which I don't really like. I guess I'll have to deal with it though for a couple of weeks so I can give my ear some time to "heal."
In any martial arts school, particular in North America or Europe, you're going to get some really big guys who enroll and want to learn how to fight. If you're a decent instructor, you'll make it a point to spar with all of your students--small or big. As I'm beginning to teach again, I'm noticing a lot of different people joining who have various training backgrounds and body types. As one of the 140 pounders out there, most people are bigger, heavier, and stronger than I am. So, I thought I'd give some pointers to the other featherweights who have to spar with bigger guys often.
First, face it. Strength and size does really matter. As a "small" guy, we can be a placed in a very disadvantageous situation. If we are talking about grappling, you are likely going to play guard and will have to deal with a lot of pressure and strength. In terms of weight and strength, we're already at a disadvantage. When it comes to striking, you will clearly be at a disadvantage as well. Your sparring partner will have a reach advantage and they will hit much harder.
Don't think a heavier sparring partner will understand that they outweigh you, are stronger, or have longer reach. Don't expect them to take it easy on you. For most people, it comes natural to use all of their physical attributes when sparring. As a result, it's important to get good position/distance, use your speed, and use your brain! (You have to be wiser than your sparring partner.)
Here are some grappling tips that might help you (in no particular order):
1. Although this doesn't apply in every situation, it seems to hold true for most situations when a smaller guys is sparring a bigger partner. If you have to play guard, try using your butter fly guard or open guard more (e.g. x-guard). You're in better position to keep your opponents weight off of you and are more mobile. If you are sparring against a heavier and stronger person who is technical, it can be difficult to mount an attack from closed guard because they may be able to control your hips better. Likewise, you will have to deal with more of the weight because you won't have a leg in between your bodies and there will be much less space for you to move.
2. This should be common knowledge--try and get the person's back. You have a much better chance of finishing your opponent because you will not have to worry about them mounting a serious attack on you. You will have more time to focus on your offensive techniques without have to worry as much about your opponents strength, size, etc.
3. Use arm drags. They may or may not work. But they don't require a lot of strength, and if executed properly, you have a great chance of getting the person's back or even turning them over.
4. Use guillotines. When you're sparring a person who has good core strength and powerful arms and legs, it can be hard to hold them down in many positions and secure a tight armlock or even a footlock. However, if you can secure a good hold around a person's neck, you have a much better chance of submitting them.
Now for some striking tips:
1. Keep your guard up! It's obvious that a bigger opponent will be able to land some heavy blows, so make sure you have your arms up in position to block.
2. Understand how to control the distance between you and your opponent. This requires good footwork and angling. Respect your opponents strength and reach.
3. Work on your counter striking. Bigger opponents often get over confident when fighting smaller guys. They may throw their techniques without setting them up in combinations and you can possibly capitalize on this. If you counter and land a good strike, you have a great window to enter in and land a solid combination.
4. Stick and move. Once you land a good combo, get out (unless you know you've hurt them and put them on the defensive). You don't want to be in your opponent's range when he recovers.
5. Work on your timing and power. When opportunities to attack arise, you will have to be ready for them. So make sure you can time your moves properly. Likewise, develop power behind your strikes so when you have the chance to hit, you can land solid combinations. You don't want to waste your strikes by throwing weak punches or kicks.
There are countless tips and ways to approach sparring/grappling/fighting against a bigger opponent. However, I find that these tips work well for me and I hope they help you too.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Back to the Basics
(LA Boxing in Rancho Penasquitos)I spent pretty much the entire morning today at LA Boxing. It was their grand opening. They have a good number of students who've enrolled and it's going to be interesting to see how crowded the place gets during weekday evenings.
I taught group classes yesterday and today, and also a private lesson. The students were beginners, but I hear there are a good number of experienced people who joined. They will probably start training during the week. Because most of the students will be beginners, it's going to be a great way for me to review and train basic techniques. I plan to limit the number of moves I use and focus primarily on one fundamental movement or position every night or week. It's been a long while since I've had a chance to dedicate a good amount of time simply focusing on particular techniques and timing (because of school), so teaching at LA Boxing will give me that opportunity.
So far everything is looking good. The facility is nice and the people are great. Ali, the owner is a a great guy and really wants to provide a solid program for people who want to compete or those who just want a good workout. Chris, Donovan--the staff--and the trainers all bring a lot of energy to the gym and it will be fun seeing them regularly. After giving our comments to Ali, there will be a few "improvements" to the gym to provide a better training environment (e.g. the mat area will have a padded wall or cage).
I noticed there are a lot of Filipinos in the area. There's even a Filipino restaurant a few doors down from LA Boxing. I saw huge signs with "Lumpia" and "Pancit." I have a feeling there will be a lot of Pinoys who enroll. It was cool to hear that some of the Pinoy students I taught this weekend have been reading my training blog, even before they knew I was going to teach at LA Boxing. Anyway, it will be nice to have a good number of Pinoys training hard in the gym.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Interested in Training with Zach Light and "Razor" Rob McCullough?
In the past, I've talked with a number of professional MMA fighters about going to the Philippines to help train some of the locals--not simple seminars, but something more like a week or more of intense training. One of Rampage's coaches, Zach Light (who also fought in the Philippines at the Ring of Fire event) and Rob McCullough (former WEC Champion), are both interested in coming over and helping our fighters. I've been in touch with Zach and we'll see what we can possibly do. I would love to bring the guys over and will have to make sure that my schedule permits. Right now, I'm not 100% about my plans for the next few months. I'll be talking to Zach in the coming days and will get a better idea of how long they could stay, when they could go, etc.
If you guys might be interested in some good and hard MMA training with the two, drop me an email or leave a comment.
Tomorrow's going to be a pretty busy day. I have a 11am BJJ class to teach and am planning to get in a little training before then. In the afternoon, I'll be heading to Mexico for the fights. That's going to take up the rest of the day/evening. I'll be lugging around my camera all day, so I'll take some pics, and maybe some video, of the place I'm teaching and of the fights.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Teaching Schedule at LA Boxing in Rancho Penasquitos
I've set up my final teaching schedule at LA Boxing. I will start teaching this Saturday morning and will also be there Sunday morning for the grand opening. My regular teaching schedule will start on Monday.
Mondays
- 4:15pm Kids Program (12-16)
- 5:30pm BJJ
- 6:30pm BJJ
- 4:15pm Kids Program (12-16)
- 5:30pm BJJ
- 7:00pm Muay Thai
- 10:00am BJJ
- 11:00am BJJ
I'll be heading to Mexico on Saturday evening to check out a MMA competition. A number of fighters from Undisputed will be competing. I'm sure they'll all put on a good show. I'll make sure to take some pics.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
How to Get Better When You Can't Train Often
About a week ago, I got an email from a blog reader who asked for some advice. The reader (a Pinoy) is living abroad and working at an investment bank. As any banker knows, that line of work is time consuming and leaves little spare time to train. He was seeking my opinion on how to approach his training and "get good" with the limited training time that he has. I've had more time to think about his question, and below is the answer I gave to him with additional thoughts I've come up with since I was originally asked.
We've all been in similar situations. If you work, projects and deadlines take priority, and if you're in school, training time might need to be replaced with studying time. In the Philippines, it's not out of the ordinary to hear students complain about missing training because of traffic, too. Training time can be severely limited if or when we get injured.
So what can be done? If your training time is limited, let's say you only training once or twice a week, what's the best way to progress in BJJ, MMA or Muay Thai. First, I think that a person should really focus on technique and timing. If you're only training a couple times a week and have no time for exercise or training, it's unlikely that you can build the endurance and conditioning required to hang with your school's "top dogs." When you train with your team members, they may always get the best of you because you gas early. This is simply something you have to accept. Think of it this way, they are only beating you because they have the luxury of training more. However, you can become very technical by focusing on the many variations and details to different positions and moves. You can also develop good timing, again by focusing on technique, while you spar at 25%-50% intensity with a partner. It's easier to build your cardio than it is to learn the details of many different fighting arts. As long as you focus on technique, you'll be able to catch up to your peers by training your cardio when you have more time.
Second, if you want to get good at BJJ, MMA, or whatever fighting art you're concerned about, then make sure you focus only on that art. You only have a limited amount of time to train, so focus on what you want to improve. I notice it many times in the Philippines. For example, some people want to get good at Muay Thai, but they spend a lot of their time doing BJJ. With limited training time, it's very important to "master" one area before moving on to something else. Essentially, if you want to "get good" at a martial art, make sure you are training that martial art.
Now I'm not saying that rapid progress can be made training only 1-2 times a week. It's just a fact of life--if you want to get good at something fast, you have to make sacrifices and focus a lot of time and effort to one particular activity. But, progress can be made even if your training time is limited. Just remember to make technique and timing your priority, and focus on the art you want to improve at.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
MMA Apparel Brands
I have a lot of work to catch up on so I can't write much. I did want to quickly rant about how it seems like there are so many new MMA brands coming out in the apparel market. I'm amazed at how many new companies are trying to enter the market but do not realize they have little value to offer consumers. No real benefits. No differentiation. It's getting pretty ridiculous. There are new brand names that are just plain horrible, but I'll refrain from stating names because I don't want to step on any toes. I'm not really sure what the people behind these companies are thinking. I hope they didn't invest that much in their clothing ideas because I think they are wasting their time, money and effort.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Copa De Hong Kong Jiu Jitsu Competition
I'm back in San Diego after another long day of traveling. In several weeks, I'll be heading to San Francisco and back to Vegas. In the meantime, I have a lot of work to catch up on because I didn't get much work done while in Chicago.
I wanted to send a shout out to the Philippine contingency who competed in Hong Kong this past weekend, namely Ali Sulit and Ralph Go from New Breed Jiu Jitsu Philippines. Both performed well and brought home gold medals. (PinoyMMA will have a report with pics/video in the coming days.) I believe they will also be competing in the coming Pan Asians in the Philippines this weekend.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The skill level of a good number of BJJ practitioners in the Philippines is definitely on par with athletes around the world. Keep up the good work.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Back to San Diego
(Beluga Whale Exibit at the Shedd Aquarium)Last night was fun, although the "bar" we went to seemed more like a club in the Philippines, rather than a Chicago, or even, Hawaiian bar. There were a ton of Filipinos at the place. My friend even sported a Philippine jacket! He had no clue that the majority of the people would be Pinoy. I was surprised to see a girl (Janet) I knew from 6th to 8th grade working at the bar (I dated one of her friends for a while). When I walked into the place, we looked at each other a number of times and she looked really familiar. When my brother mentioned her name, it all came back to me. I knew it in Jr. High. I knew she was going to be a very "talented" woman.
(With one of my best friends in grade school, Nick .)
(Very talented...)Some reporters from ABS-CBN were covering the opening of the club. They took footage of the activities inside and also pulled people aside for interviews. While the reporters were interviewing an owner (I think), one of our friends (Kuan)--who always has too much to drink--decided to get some camera time. Btw, Kuan decided to take a leak in a trash can instead of a toilet (I have evidence!), and he pretty much got us kicked out of the next place we went to!
(Kuan showing his abs to the video camera.)
(Nick and Mark rolling before the seminar.)
(Some rolling before the seminar.)I didn't get to take the video footage that I wanted, so I won't be posting video. However, I will eventually put some video clips up that cover some of the techniques that I taught during the seminar.
To the guys in Chicago reading this, it was good seeing all of you and keep training hard. Hopefully I'll be back in Chicago again soon.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Sore Necks and Throats
The No-Gi Chokes seminar went well. I saw a number of familiar faces, including my best friends in elementary school. IFL fighter Chris Albandia, who looks like a Filipino version of Wolverine--I mean that in a good way, also attended the seminar and was very open and receptive to learning new techniques. I covered three main submissions: the guillotine, the brabo choke, and the rear naked. I taught how to transition into the chokes and showed a number of variations and positions that can help one effectively execute the techniques. I also went on to show defenses to the chokes, including the anaconda choke.
I was glad to have participants come to me after the seminar to let me know they were happy with the new techniques and details they learned. Unfortunately, no one took notes. So, I hope they remember everything.
I'm heading out in a little while so I won't be able to post pics or video right now, but I will tomorrow, hopefully. Tonight should be interesting. A bunch of the guys are getting together at a place called Tiki Terrace. From the name of the place, I like it already--hula girls, friends, drinks...good fun. If I'm not too lazy, I may carry my camera around and take some pics. If I do, I plan to get some of the guys drunk and video them hitting on girls. Haha.
New Breed Jiu Jitsu Chicago
The seminar starts in a couple hours. I'll post pics and some video later.
Friday, April 25, 2008
I'm Beginning to Dread Air Travel
I just arrived in Chicago-- it's been one long day. I was up at 3am in San Diego, and because of a pretty bad thunderstorm in Chicago, I was stuck in Salt Lake City for a long time. It's now 3:30pm in Cali (5:30pm here). I feel like I've wasted my entire day!
To my surprise, it's actually warm here. It's about 80 degrees. But, the rest of the weekend is supposed to be much cooler.
I'm waiting for my sister-in-law to pick me up, and then will probably meet up with my brother.
Sent from my iphone.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Leaving for Chicago in a Few Hours
I'm finally "done" with my day. I'm pretty much done with my packing and will be leaving for the airport in a few hours. I trained for a little bit earlier. A few of us started by helping Jon (aka War Machine) prepare for his UFC fight in May. However, the training ended after a few rounds because Jon was feeling a little pain in his body from his earlier training session. We all just started to train with one another. I rolled with Baret for 5 or 6 rounds and called it a day. I was thinking about hitting the bag or rolling longer, but wanted to make sure I had everything in order for my trip.
I'm going to try and get a couple hours of shut eye before heading to the airport, so I can't write much again. I'll be online regularly while I'm in Chicago and will write about what's going on in the Windy City.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Mark Munoz - Pinoy MMA Fighter
I have a lot of things to do tonight, so I'm going to keep this entry short. I did want to mention that I am eager to see Mark Munoz fight in the WEC in June. Mark is one of the few heavy weight Filipinos out there who excel in MMA. He has a strong background in wrestling and is a 2x NCAA Champion. That alone says he has a lot of intensity and has the potential to go far in the sport. I'm looking forward to watching him fight, and I hope he becomes successful in MMA.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Training for Peak Performance During Competition
How many of you believe that the best way to peak for a competition is to train hard for 6 weeks, more or less, and then completely stop training a few days before the competition? I'd say 95% of you have learned and adopted this method without bothering to question it. I'll go out on a limb and say that the people who taught you to do this, also probably never questioned the individuals that taught them. "Everyone" said to do it, so "everyone" did it. Does it work? Yes, it can help people peak at the right time. Is it the best method? Not necessarily. Also, if you've never tried a different method, you have absolutely no idea if it is the best method for you. Well, here's some food for thought.
Some time in 2002/2003, I learned a "new" method of peaking. Many of the people who I've told about this method, and shared the details with, have never heard of it (if they did hear of it, they never tried it and had very little details about the method). This technique is used by some of the world's best athletes (e.g. mixed martial artists, Olympic athletes, professional boxers, etc.) Who knows? Maybe it's one of their "secrets." Here's the gist. . .
Let's say you have a competition that is two weeks away (14 days). Most people would keep training hard until the 10th or 11th day. The rest of the days would be for rest to prepare for day 14. Now, let's take a different approach to training. Instead of training hard until the 10th or 11th day, certain athletes would stop training hard on the 7th day. From the 8th to the 11th day, these athletes would have complete rest. No athletic activity whatsoever. On the 12th day, a light intensity workout would be on the agenda. On the 13th day, the athlete would train at no more than 50% intensity. The 14th day, it would be "game time."
The method is rooted on the principle of tapering up as competition day approaches. It also considers the mental aspect of training/over-training--in a nutshell, athletes are more driven when they are fully rested, physically and mentally.
There are more details to this training method and it would take me a short book to convey the details and various timing schemes. I wanted to give you some insight into this training method to open some eyes to different methods. Again, if you have never tried a different method, how do you know what will work best for you? Keep in mind, this is a proven method used by world class athletes. It's the same technique I've adopted in the past as well.
I predict that after reading this, the majority of you who plan to compete will go on to experiment with this . Awesome. Please do. Take off your blinders and realize that everything evolves, even methods for peaking. Play with the principles and see how it works out for you.
Monday, April 21, 2008
How to Hit a Boxing Heavy Bag - One Method
When I was a teenager, one of my Muay Thai instructors told me that it was a good idea to do a few rounds on the heavy bag throwing nothing but 6-8 punch/kick combos. The reasons were two fold: 1) throwing that many punches/kicks in combination would work my cardio more, and 2) doing so would help me flow from one hit to the other and make my combinations faster.
As I was hitting the heavy bag today, I remembered this. Through the years, I got used to "standard" heavy bag rounds. Generally executing 2-5 hit combos, with the normal footwork and defensive movements incorporated in my bag work. Today, I reverted back to throwing 6-8 hit combos. (Keep in mind, this is not done for all bag rounds.) It demanded more energy and forced me to think more about my combinations, all the while, using footwork and angling to ensure I was not standing right in front of my opponent (i.e. the heavy bag).
This is a great method to use if you want to develop endurance and combination speed. Clearly, a skilled opponent is not going to just stand and take a 6-8 hit combo without countering or moving away. The importance of this heavy bag is not rooted in practical application. Rather, it is geared to test your ability to throw punches and kicks, in fluid combination, for full rounds without tiring.
When you hit the heavy bag with 6-8 hit combos, do so with speed and power. I often see people throwing quick combinations on heavy bags with little power behind them. You need to throw your punches and kicks with conviction and intensity to get the most out of this heavy bag technique. Don't hold back.
I plan to start doing this again one or two rounds when I plan to hit the heavy bag. If you're bored with you're present bag routines, or want to improve your cardio, try this technique out for yourself. Let me know how it works for you.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
No-Gi Chokes Seminar @ New Breed Jiu-Jitus Chicago
I was going to write a blog entry yesterday, but I fell asleep early. I guess my lack of sleep caught up with me. It's Sunday here and I'm not planning to train today. I have a couple of things I have to do before I leave for Chicago this weekend.
I'll be in Chicago from Friday to Monday, and will be conducting a "Chokes" seminar at New Breed Chicago on Saturday (noon to about 3 or 4pm). Other than that, I'll just be hanging out there.
As for last night's UFC. GSP--was there any doubt? He made Serra look like a complete beginner. Lutter? It seems like he didn't train much for the fight. I think the fight card was pretty lame. But, I'm looking forward to next months UFC in Vegas! Another trip perhaps?
Anyway, that's it for today. I'll get back to writing more tomorrow.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Training for a Mixed Martial Arts Fight - Some Footage
Today I woke up and felt like it was one of those days. My shoulder was really killing me from training last night; I've been thinking non-stop about some projects; and I've been busy doing a lot of other things. So, today I said, "F--- this." I decided to take the day off and do no work at all.
This morning, I did some power training followed by sprints. Early in the afternoon, I was craving deep dish pizza, so I ate some "healthy," greasy pizza. An hour and a half later, I felt like training so I headed over to the gym. Two Undisputed fighters have a match next week and it's the tail end of their training. I wasn't planning to train today because of my shoulder. That's one of the reasons I thought it would be okay to go crazy on some pizza. But, I'm stubborn when it comes to injuries. Again I said, "F--- this." So, I went--it wasn't a great idea. I felt like hurling each round, and after sparring with Baret for my third round, I had to call it quits for the day.
Because the competition is next week, we aren't trying to kill one another. The last thing we want to do is hurt the fighters when fight night is around the corner. I didn't film all the rounds but Philip, the first guy you'll see doing consecutive rounds, did 3 continuous rounds, then rested a round, then sparred a fourth. The second guy, Herman, did 3 continuous rounds with guys rotating in every 3 minutes. It sucks to be the "man-in-the-middle." Rounds are 6 minutes with 45 seconds rest. You can easily see as the rounds progress, the fighters get tired quickly. Anyone would get tired if they were sparring consecutive rounds while fresh guys rotate in to spar. Anyway, here's some sparring footage from earlier today.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Filipino Martial Arts Schools in the Philippines
I remember when I first visited the Philippines and looked for a good Filipino martial arts school to train at, it was really difficult, and known options were limited and not necessarily the best choices. I looked in the Yellow Pages, checked the Internet, kept my eye open while driving the streets, and asked a ton of people. Yet, it was real difficult to find the "top" schools. In the end, I had to rely on my network of martial arts friends to get more information.
Many years have passed, and more Filipino martial arts schools and clubs have opened, but there hasn't been much improvement in regards to exposure. A lot of foreigners want to go to the Philippines to train, but when they try to get more information, their choices are limited. The Internet has helped people all over the world find many different things easily; however, when it comes to finding a complete list of the "top" schools in the Philippines, it's still difficult.
It's nice to know that their are FMA associations people can call to get school addresses, but finding these associations is not an easy task--especially for a foreign visitor. As MMA and BJJ is growing in the Philippines, more and more schools and clubs are popping up that need more exposure. A great way to get your school's name out in the public is to have your team compete in different competitions. If your team puts on a show and displays good skill, people will ask about your team and through the grapevine, others will hear about your team. Also, list your school with an official association (e.g. if you are into Filipino Martial Arts, make sure Arnis Philippines has your information). If your art has a local, Filipino site that lists school, make sure your school is on there even if you have your own website. Sites like PinoyMMA probably get a lot more visits and have international and local visitors. Ultimately, it still seems that the best way to find out about the "best" schools in the Philippines is through contacts. With that said, if you're looking for a school and need some help, feel free to contact me. You can also ask about schools in the forums. There are a lot of people who are kind enough to help.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
A Lot of Conditioning and Endurance Training, But You Still Get Tired. Why?
Great! So I see that my mobile blogging worked. Now I can write short entries and send in pics even when I'm away from my laptop. I probably will take more pics now throughout the day and add them to the blog.
To all the blog visitors, thanks for dropping by and reading regularly. I re-read a few of my posts earlier and realized that I sometimes mix up words and have typos here and there. I write my blog entries on the fly (i.e. quickly in between classes, when I'm taking a break from working, and/or late when I'm sleepy). I don't go back and re-read my posts and check for mistakes. So, forgive me if I don't make sense sometimes because of any mistakes in spelling/wording, etc. None of the typos were so bad that you couldn't understand what I was trying to say. I don't suspect it will ever get that bad.
I've wrote a number of posts dealing with developing athletes' physical attributes, such as intensity, power and strength, and conditioning. I wanted to change things up a bit and hopefully get some of you thinking about your training from a different angle.
If you've been training in the martial arts for a long time, especially if you compete, you probably have worked hard to improve your cardio. However, you've probably experienced the situation where you wonder why you get so tired quickly despite the fact that you train your cardio religiously. How many of you feel this way? You run a lot (sprints and long runs), you do a lot of pad work, you spar for hours; yet, you seem to get tired easily. What's the reason?
I believe most endurance problems stem from a lack of condition or improper training methods. Nonetheless, there is another reason that people tend to overlook. You might lack technical knowledge and strategy--in other words, you might need to develop more skill.
I've taught a number of great athletes--people who were hardcore wrestlers, runners, boxers, etc.--but when they spar MMA or BJJ for the first few times (maybe even longer), they remark that they've never been so tired or that they are gassing too soon. But why? These people have great endurance. Yes, they do; but they lacked "know-how." If you are not as technically skilled as your opponent, do not have solid strategies to make an opponent play your game, or cannot adapt well to changing situations, you will fall back on your physical attributes. You'll have to use more speed and power. Basically, you will use up a lot more energy than you need or want.
Let's take a hypothetical example. Say you are in a MMA match and you drive a person against the cage or the ropes. Great, you are in a pretty good position and situation. But, what do you do now? A skilled professional fighter will have an entire game plan just for that position/situation. The fighter will have a lot of techniques to go to, will understand different strategies he/she can use, and will be able to adapt to his opponent's different reactions because the fighter is "skilled" in the area of taking down his opponent against the ropes/cage. The professional fighter will be able to use his energy efficiently and effectively.
In contrast, take a fighter who may have great conditioning, but lacks "know how." What do you think is going to happen? You guessed right. He/she is going to get tired pretty quick. Although the fighter may be in a better position, if the person doesn't know what to do, there will be a lot of wasted movement. Likewise, because the person is not skilled in the position, he/she will constantly worry and mentally tire themselves out, trying to figure out what to do next or how to react. It happens all the time.
Proper technique, strategy development, and skill development go a long way. Combined with great conditioning, an athlete can go places. If you lack one though, it's a weakness that can be exploited.
If you're tiring easily these days, don't just tell yourself you have to do more conditioning. The problem may be rooted somewhere else. Think about improving your technique.
At the Grocery Store Testing My Phone
