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Monday, November 04, 2019
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Hyundai Excels and new variations on old techniques
Before I bought this little bus I knew what they were and had seen a few of them. However, after I owned one I couldn’t believe how many of them there were “in the wild”. Surely there weren’t more 10 year old Excels flooding the market? I came to realise that this was in fact my mind’s filters at work. In short, in order to protect your brain from exploding under the sheer weight of data bombarding us, our brains are pretty good at shutting out things that aren’t important to us. In other words, my awareness of the existence of Excels increased my likelihood of seeing them. Mind you, I don’t know whether that came at the cost of not seeing something else…
This pertains to Jiu Jitsu in that this tendency to filter out information sometimes prevents us from taking in detail. I have noticed this a number of times recently when teaching a technique that is familiar, but with a new variation. When observing the practice of students who just been shown a new variation on a technique, they will tend to do the move the way they always have or only make one obvious change to the technique. I must confess that in the past I would have considered this to be laziness or stubbornness, but now I am not so quick to judge. In more recent times I have made the point of questioning a student as to why they were not attempting the variation that I had shown and actually seen surprise on the student’s face. It seems as though the new information was accepted into their mind, but not implemented. To the point that the students believed I had actually shown an old variation that they were practicing.
As a learner I try to look at techniques in terms of asking the question “what does it do?” This includes, the overall technique as well as the particular movements and grips the body makes. Asking “what does it do?” helps me to find detail, but perhaps only because I always expect a variation when being taught. I was once told that if someone wants to teach you a technique you should listen, because you don’t what you will pick up from it. This perspective has shaped my mind to always look for a new variant or detail and has helped me a lot.
So next time you are on the mat, don’t pay too much attention to Hyundai Excels, instead focus on what you don’t know about the technique being taught, rather than assuming that you already know it.
Have fun on the mat!
Saturday, May 13, 2017
Something New
However, it is not these talents that have made her a virtual household name in the Aussie combat sports scene (although they didn't hurt), it is her beautiful giving nature and the sheer amount of work she does for others. When someone is friends with damn near everyone they meet it speaks volumes about them.
Fiona has made my day as a photographer and an artist a number of times, check out some examples below.
The day I was awarded my Black Belt, Fiona was there and gave hours of time to make beautiful images as a momento for me.
Then when I wanted some lovely portraits of my boys, Fiona made these for me.
Hell, she even made my gym's logo...
And now she has made me this beautiful personal logo, it is just what I wanted, but what I could never come up with or even describe, I love it.
Thanks so much Fiona, for EVERYTHING!
Monday, February 20, 2017
Top & Bottom: The first two postures in Jiu Jitsu
Chest pointing down is Top Posture, like a push up (except I NEVER do push ups...) |
Chest pointing up is Bottom Posture, like a sit up or a dying fly (which is what my sit ups look like...) |
Sunday, October 16, 2016
A New Beginning
Thursday, August 18, 2016
My New Project
The project is to write the definitive history of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Tasmania since it's introduction in August of 1996. I have now released the first three chapters with up to 13 more to come.
Here is an excerp from the first chapter:
"The idea of writing this history came to me in April 2015, I was talking to my friend Pete Rogers about the first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu seminars in Tasmania and it dawned on me that the 20th anniversary of BJJ was rapidly approaching. Being that I had at that time been involved as a student and coach of BJJ since 2002 I realised that things had changed, the number of practitioners had increased, clubs had grown/split/changed and the methods and purpose of training had diversified as well."
Check out the project here http://www.tasbjjhistory.com/
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Shoot holes in your goals
This is a great article for anyone interested in competing or in improving themselves in anyway. It is set in the context of sport shooting but in reality it applies to anything in life. Just change the words 'shooting' and 'range' with 'grappling' and 'gym' and it applies perfectly.
Essentially consider that there is a difference between goals and desired outcomes and so it is important to focus on what you can control not what you can't. For example if I say to myself I want to win Gold at the 2016 Pan Pacific Championships, that isn't a goal, it is a desire. It is also something that I can't really impact on by setting it as a goal. However, I can set as goals which will have an impact on my chances of winning gold...
I can:
* Attend every training session
* Ensure my Nutrition is on point
* Listen to my coaches direction
* Be disciplined with my rest days
* Practice self-motivational techniques
These are all in my power and will make me a better grappler and competitor, and it is being a better grappler and competitor that will get me the gold.
https://www.ssusa.org/articles/2016/5/24/shoot-holes-in-your-goals/