How to Stick with BJJ for the long term!!!

Whilst the training floors at most BJJ gyms are mostly made up of men, there is no doubt that there is an increase in the number of women taking up the sport of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. This could be due to a number of factors including the popularity of the UFC and MMA becoming one of the fastest growing sports in the world. The creation of Female BJJ affiliations such as the Women’s Brazilian Jiu Jitsu League (WBJJL) and Australian Girls in Gi, which offer women only BJJ tournaments and camps. Women only BJJ seminars such as the recent one with Sophia Drysdale. Social Media has certainly made it easier to communicate to a larger audience the benefits of BJJ, particularly for women.

Once upon a time I would be the only female training in our mixed BJJ classes. Now it’s not uncommon for me to be able to train with other ladies.

Whilst BJJ for women is on the increase, it still evident that at a higher level the men still significantly our number the women. Under the  BJJ organisation – Will / Machado, we have one female black belt Sophia Drysdale and many more men. There are only a handful of women above blue belt in BJJ.

At the recent Abu Dhabi Pro Australian Qualifier tournament the female white to blue belt had 16 competitors while the Purple belt and above divisions only had 3. In the future, if all the ladies now taking up BJJ stick with the art then we will see a big increase in the number of higher ranked female BJJ participants in the future.

 So what can we do to stick with BJJ for the Long Term

Patience, the BJJ journey is a long never ending journey. In comparison to most other martial arts the road to black belt is indeed long. Remember patience is a virtue and a must if you are to stick with BJJ for the term.

Staying on track or better still, getting back on track. For women so much can happen between when they start their BJJ journey and progress through the ranks, kids, career, injuries, family commitments etc can easily impact on your BJJ training. These things are important and as such breaks in training may occur at different times in your journey. That’s ok and a part of life. The key is to get back on track as soon as possible.

Enjoy yourself. The beauty of BJJ is that you can have great fun even if you are losing night after night. Although it’s not really about winning or losing, it’s about immersing yourself in the BJJ art and learning from each grapple.

Be smart about your training. BJJ should have a positive impact on your life. Be careful not to overtrain or injure yourself. Though injuries are part and parcel of BJJ, try to minimise them. If someone gets you in a lock don’t be afraid to submit. Better that then not being able to come back to continue with training due to injuries. Pick your partners carefully, someone without ego that you can train, grapple and drill technique with in a safe manner. Don’t underestimate the importance of rest. It’s vital so you can have energy for the other important aspects of your life and come back to training refreshed and raring to go.

Be dedicated. Success and progression in BJJ takes dedication. Be serious with your training and give it 100%, not a half arsed approach.

Find other female BJJ participants to train with. It’s always easier to commit to something if you have  someone to do it with or you enjoy the company of those you are training with. Campbelltown Martial Arts has a women’s only BJJ class. This is a great introduction for women to the art of BBJ. Attend women only BJJ seminars and tournaments together. Socialise off the mats to. Makes it all the more fun.

Be inspired by other higher ranking BJJ women. If they can do it so you can you. Don’t be afraid to get to know them and ask for guidance or assistance should you need it.

Women’s only BJJ class at CMA

For more details on the women’s only BJJ class at CMA visit http://www.hapkidobjj.com/index.cfm?page=7

One of the most influential BJJ Coaches – John Will to visit Campbelltown Martial Arts.

John Will began his martial arts training in 1972.

With a basic grounding in amateur wrestling, Goju Kai Karate and Taekwondo. He first left Australian shores in 1975 to study the indigenous martial arts systems of South East Asia; with many of those years spent in Indonesia learning Pentjak Silat.

In the late 80’s, a friendship with Rigan Machado allowed John to travel to and train in Brazil. There, he was exposed to a wide cross-section of Brazil’s best BJJ coaches, and so began his serious study of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He was finally awarded the rank of black belt by Rigan and Jean Jacques Machado in 1998; making him one of the ‘BJJ Dirty Dozen’, the first twelve non-Brazilian BJJ black belts in the world. Up until that time, John had taught Shootfighting, a street-oriented blend of Groundfighting and Stand-up work; but upon being graded to black belt under the Machado’s, he felt the time was right to promote and develop the Brazilian art here in Australasia. Hence, BJJ Australia, the Australasian branch of the Machado Organization, was formed.

His schedule is a demanding one, even by international standards. John now conducts in excess of fifty BJJ seminars throughout Australia and overseas, each calendar year. He also works with law enforcement groups and Special Operations personnel to improve their arrest and control procedures. Between writing books, running seminars, travelling and training with the worlds martial arts elite, John as found the time to visit Campbelltown Martial Arts.

Why you should attend the John Will BJJ Seminar

Take your BJJ to the next level. Experience a big jump in your BJJ game. Take advantage of this rare seminar and learn from not only one of the most experienced BJJ practitioners you are likely to meet, but also one of the best coaches  in the world. John has taken the art of teaching and coaching to a new level. He has a unique ability to break down the most complex BJJ techniques and teach them to the most inexperienced grapplers. You will also come away from the seminar with much more than just BJJ. John is more than a BJJ coach, he is also a life coach and will offer you insights into his way of thinking and operating which has brought him much success. Make the commitment to attend the John Will Seminar on Saturday March 24 at 2:00. This is an investment into your BJJ.

How to make the most of the John Will BJJ Seminar!!!

Keep an open mind and be fully engaged into what you are learning. If you find the techniques a bit overwhelming or unrelated to what you are focusing on in your current BJJ game, then the following analogy may help.

Have you heard of the “70/20/10 rule” that has helped make Google a multi-billion dollar company?