Having a one-track mind sucks!!!

[Brandon Woolsey]

Yeah, that could make sense.

[hamzatu]

Problems with relaxing usually come from breathing. Don't hold your breath. And get in a lot of sparring sessions. Don't think about winning or losing. Put together 3 or 4 moves that you really like and make them your moves. Trained them until no one can stop them even if they know they are coming. The best fighters know many moves but they have three or four that are bread and butter which no one can stop.

[Jesse Bell]

^^^ Laranja for President.

[Matt Wallace]

Why would training with a gi help? I have watched a 10th planet person go to gi and now everything is very loose. I dont understand how doing something with a gi that you can grab onto is going to help when you have to clinch without it. Maybe Im missing the point. Can somebody help me understand that?

The friction, as well as the extra handles, make you learn escapes and counters in a very technical manner as u can't just power out or slip through. You have to use leverage and technique. There are many people who could benefit from that and some who may ONLY get it that way. I tell my guys all the time that it takes discipline to learn & apply no gi technically because there are some lazyman's shortcuts. Not everybody takes those, so for many/most the gi may not be necessary.

[Chris Patton]

I agree with Matt on the gi issue. The gi has made me a lot more technical in my setups, escapes, counters, and especially in submission defense. As for Hedi, I've always heard that on the path to blackbelt you have to tap 1 million times. Getting submitted is a learning experience when you quit getting so frustrated with yourself. When your in the gym your not competing, your learning, so relax and go for it and if you get tapped learn from it.

[Brian Beaumont AKA Thor]

Once or twice a week try jiu-jitsu chess. I think Ari has an older post on it on his site. Break your roll down to 1 second moves with your partner. Take as much time as you need between moves to examine your position and options. Then your partner does the same. Move counter, move counter now you can create the future in advance before attepting new options in a live roll. I takes some disipline because it seems so slow but you'll be amazed at the difference in a reltively sort period of time. Not to mention it lets you trouble shoot problem positions without getting your arm torn off. B

[Aab]

Once or twice a week try jiu-jitsu chess. I think Ari has an older post on it on his site. Break your roll down to 1 second moves with your partner. Take as much time as you need between moves to examine your position and options. Then your partner does the same. Move counter, move counter now you can create the future in advance before attepting new options in a live roll. I takes some disipline because it seems so slow but you'll be amazed at the difference in a reltively sort period of time. Not to mention it lets you trouble shoot problem positions without getting your arm torn off. B

That could be a whole new sport Brian lol

[Heidi McCreery]

Once or twice a week try jiu-jitsu chess. I think Ari has an older post on it on his site. Break your roll down to 1 second moves with your partner. Take as much time as you need between moves to examine your position and options. Then your partner does the same. Move counter, move counter now you can create the future in advance before attepting new options in a live roll. I takes some disipline because it seems so slow but you'll be amazed at the difference in a reltively sort period of time. Not to mention it lets you trouble shoot problem positions without getting your arm torn off. B

I really like that idea. Thanks! And thank you again everyone for the encouragment.

[Ryan Cook]

I like the drill/spar advice. My first year, I just wanted someone to tell me what to focus on because there were so many things that seemed important to learn right away. What works is drilling and sparring. A way you can make this work better is to find the position you are in most while sparring and ask for a few techniques from there. Then drill them immediately. Next time you spar, go to them and see where you fail (you will probably fail the first time, obviously) and then drill again. Keep drilling/sparring the same few techniques until you feel like you "get it" mentally and then move on. Try and come back to it again later in drills and definitely use it if it works while sparring.

Another good thing to do is to focus on how to transition from your most common position to another position. Moving where you want to go and having options of different places to go is really helpful.

Also, on the gi note... I've trained in it a little and I can tell you that it won't kill you. So I do recommend trying it and seeing if you like it. Most of you probably won't because it's hot, but it's kind of fun sometimes because there are more things to attack/defend. Collar chokes for example.

[Will Thaxton]

I've drilled/seen most of Eddie's stuff but right now rolling I'm just trying to go chill dog to jiu claw, old school/electric chair. Just basic stuff. It works.