TFS#6: Small Adjustments For Big Changes

It's been a busy week catching up with you and also working on some tweaks to this newsletter.

As you know, the goal of this newsletter is to share resources and insights to help with your overall Jiu-Jitsu training.

With your honest input, I've improved this newsletter. Seriously, thank you for writing in.

Now, let's start rolling...

Small adjustments for big changes.

The best way to learn a new technique is to try to pull it off on an upper belt. This way, you can fail and ask them what went wrong.

Two things will happen:

1. They will be happy to share how you can fix your technique and their defense against it. (two for one, good deal!)

2. This will make them pay more attention to you and in turn give you more advice. (the gift that keeps giving!)

Make those small adjustments the next time you attempt the move.

Do you see the progress you're making?

Repeat the process until you solidify your knowledge of the technique.

Small adjustments will result in big changes, maybe not immediately but over time, they will.

Technique For The Week

The closed guard is a place many people don't want to be in, whether on top or bottom.

For newer people, it's a great way to learn a sequence of attacks since the situation is actually quite simple: the person in the guard is trying to break out of it, the person on bottom is trying to attack.

Let's take a closer look in this video: Attack Chain for Closed Guard

I like the emphasis placed on starting with a collar grip set-up to a cross collar choke. The cross collar choke is highly telegraphed and most likely will be defended...but it forces your opponent to be on the defense, exactly where you want them.

Now that they are reacting to you, they are a step behind.

From there you can transition into an arm bar attack, then into triangle, from there into omoplata, and finally sweep when they stack you.

Word On The Tweet

Too often we don't recognize we are burnt out until we are burnt out.

Whether that's mentally or physically, we need to pay attention to ourselves and where we are in the present.

This is why I followed up with this tweet:

Knowing why we train helps us be more aware of our current state.

It doesn't make sense to train until burnout or train without a goal either.

Maybe you train just because it's a good exercise...maybe it's a release outlet...or maybe you've met a great support system at the gym.

Whatever it may be, don't forget where your training fits in your life and where you fit into training.

Before you start your next Jiu-Jitsu class...

Make sure to start your next Jiu-Jitsu class the right way and have your coffee before you choke people.

I can't guarantee your results but I can guarantee it's more exciting this way.

Check out other great products from Down Culture here.

Closing Thoughts

I realized the previous newsletters were too technique-driven. There are already so many instructionals out there and I was just adding to the noise.

So I took everyone's input and decided to make a small adjustment.

I want to focus on what's not being talked about: the nuances of your Jiu-Jitsu training.

Whether it's the things you're supposed to "figure out" on your own or the unique challenges. Whatever it may be, I want these topics to have a place in my newsletter.

I know that was a long one, but that's it for this week's issue.