BJJ Experiment

[Justin W.]

BJ did nothing but live at that gym. Huge difference between that, and occasionally grabbing somebody to roll with you in your garage. It's about time on the mat, not days.

I respectfully disagree. You can't just force your mind to continue learning for as long as you want it to. There is a threshold. If you're at something for too long, your mind starts to become overwhelmed and you stop comprehending as well. Like when a computer has too many applications open and starts to freeze up, it needs a reset. I usually take a quick nap to reset, then go at it again unless I feel myself too wrapped up in whatever I'm learning, then I just play some video games or get out or just anything where I can throw myself mentally into a different environment and continue whatever it is I'm learning, the next day. This is why I would attribute the main reason for BJ Penn getting good is not from repetition (even though it was probably a factor, just like being flexible, strength, speed etc... are factors) but from his unwavering competitiveness and momentum. He aims high, then once he reaches there, he aims higher and still has everything fresh in his mind. If he's losing in the boxing aspect, rather than taking it to the ground, he tries to beat them in the boxing. Others give up to quickly IMO, where as people like BJ Penn don't know when to give up. There's good and bad about both but you can have both by always being honest with yourself. Anyways, point is, it's not all about putting mindless hours of physical repetition in, otherwise you would never see white or blue belts who have been there for 6+ years and I know a lot of them.

[Justin W.]

Then how do you plan on proving your mastery? hearsay?

I will enter the one tournament when it comes along. I will enter in as high of a division as they let me. Record and post it. Then I might even travel to some 10th planet gyms so you guys can see for yourself.

[Jay Chow]

Like when a computer has too many applications open and starts to freeze up, it needs a reset.

Your computer is outdated. Upgrade the RAM!

[Justin W.]

Your computer is outdated. Upgrade the RAM!

my i7 930 Quadcore OC 4GHz, 6GB RAM (just ordered 6GB more), ATI 5870 GPU (just ordered ATI 6970), 1TB HDD, 850W PSU is an outdated computer?

[bobby rivers]

The computer you used in your simile is.

Can't wait for the vids.

[Justin W.]

The computer you used in your simile is.

Can't wait for the vids.

well obviously browsing the web isn't going to lag my computer but I use a lot of power hungry software that can bring computers even better than mine to its knees. I suppose that simile was for the wrong crowd, sorry.

oh and more RAM doesn't mean anything nowadays. RAM isn't much of an issue as it used to be, so saying you need more RAM is a somewhat outdated thing to say. rarely do I use over 3GB of RAM. the bottlenecks usually come from your CPU and GPU and an SSD wouldn't hurt to have as well.

[bobby rivers]

You so sound like Jimmy Fallon as Nick Burns, your companies computer guy, from SNL.

[Jon Watkins]

I really like the "cast away the illusions being thrown at you" line. Thanks, and of course I know, no matter how good or great even I get, I will never be as good as Jon Watkins.

A little update on progress - the 10th planet combining of my already solid basics has resulted in my black belt instructor straight up telling me that all he can hope for now, is to get a leg lock because he knows I have not even bothered learning them yet. those are last on my list.

As for the people telling me to join a tournament, it's kind of hard when there is just one real one per year where I live. Believe me, I live for competing. I do better with pressure and I would prefer it. This is basically why I am saying I want to "Master" not "get decent" at this in 6 weeks.

I like you.

[Andy Lopez]

just to comment on jusloves video, no disrespect to the guy you were rolling with but you seemed to outclass him in every way for the most part. Maybe hes new to the game, but i noticed many opportunities for him to apply techniques in which he simply overlooked or just doesnt know yet. IMO your already good, so you can only get better. As much fun as entering in tournaments are, there not necessary in order to prove your skill. There is a purple belt you helps coach at most of the classes where I go, and he doesn't compete at all and his jiu jitsu is unquestionably SICK. I personally plan to compete, but that isnt really what matters to me, as long as I know I have achieved a certain level, I don't care about being the next big name in jiu jitsu or whatever. As for your theories and opinions on advancing your skills, I believe it to be true. I have watched the mastering the rubber guard dvds tons of times and really only drill half the techniques in training, yet I pulled off most of the stuff in the dvd during my sparring just because i have seen it over and over. Of course drilling will always make technique tighter, but its scientifically proven that at least some percentage of individuals can learn things (whether its martial arts or arts and crafts) just by watching it being performed.

[Jon Watkins]

Please don't take this as thread hijacking. I really appreciate the themes and reactions in this thread. But I'm going to take this chance to thank those who have mastered the system and those who have mastered other systems of Jiu Jitsu who have walked before us. My accelerating growth as a grappler would not be possible if your techniques (through competition and instructional videos) weren't made available for me to obsess and philosophize over hours on end. I would also like to thank my Sensei who runs an open minded class room packed with student feedback and questions and free form solutions. Sometimes I long for more structure, but sometimes he offers more structure. I don't know where I would be without Jiu Jitsu so I'm going to name some names right now:

Thank You (In no particular order)

Eddie Bravo, Royler Gracie, Marcelo Garcia, Pablo Popovitch, Rafael Mendes, Rickson Gracie, Denny Prokopos, Sean Bollinger, Chris Herzog, Demian Maia, Chris Brennan, Mario Sperry, Helio Gracie, Bruno Frazatto, Ryan Hall, Jeff Glover, all the ninjas at Cobra Kai, Rener Gracie, Bill Cooper, Javi Vasquez, Baret Yoshida, Cyborg, Rubens Charles, Rigan Machado, Royce Gracie, Joe Rogan, Fabio Gurgel, Ari Bolden, Sensei Noah (for if nothing else giving me an open place to train and experiment) and many many more...if I've missed anyone and someone else wants to join in...go for it.

The grappling videos you guys have put out have changed my game and made me want to be great and if luck and fame ever flies away for me, I'll remember you all and try in some way to pay all of you back.

JusLove baby!!!

Peace